Road to The Final Four: Irrefutable Statements About The Upcoming Season

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Pretty much the same premise as last year's article: The following statements can be debated, argued, and squabbled over, but in the end the counterarguments against them aren't strong enough to make the statement debatable.

Last year's turned out pretty well...North Carolina was undoubtedly the best, the Big East was insanely strong, Indiana defined terrible, no mid-major league stood out, and the freshman lacked significant impact.

1. When not violating the law, Kansas is the best team in the country.

The Jayhawks have certainly had their issues during the offseason. Players fighting with fellow student-athletes, facebook wars, drunken driving incidents would have Kansas fighting with Binghamton for the top spot of the Fulmer Cup (if basketball had such a version).

If Kansas can ignore the distractions and focus on the hardwood, then this team will be practically unstoppable. Bill Self has himself a collection of talented players that rivals the strength of last year's North Carolina team which steam-rolled to a title during the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas better get its act into gear right now. While the Jayhawks are confidently the best team entering the season, the gap between KU and other teams like Texas, Michigan State, and even Kentucky isn't as wide as North Carolina's gap.

Bill Self's team makes the above statement true because he has a wide variety of superior talent. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich form the best one-two, inside-outside punch in the nation. Both could easily be All-Americans by the end of the season.

The talent doesn't end with Aldrich and Collins. The Jayhawks are the premiere team in the land because of the support Aldrich and Collins have. Freshman Xavier Henry will start from day one and provide the extra punch KU needs from a swing man.

The rest of the backcourt is loaded with players like Tyshawn Taylor who will eventually be a first round NBA pick when he leaves Lawrence and also incoming freshman Elijah Johnson.

Aldrich also has forwards around him that will take the pressure off him to dominate the paint. Aldrich was looked to for significant contributions last year as forwards Markieff and Marcus Morris developed as freshmen. Now as sophomores, in addition to stud transfer Jeff Withey and freshman Thomas Robinson, the Jayhawks' frontcourt shouldn't be as much of a one-man band.

2. The Big 10 is the best in not just the Midwest, but the whole nation...

This one is actually quite debatable, but in the end, the Big 10 will dominant this year.

Yes, the Big 10 brand of basketball is generally somewhat of a snooze fest with those great 37-33 games, but that doesn't mean it can't be the best basketball this year (besides the Pac-10 is quickly catching up in the category of ugly basketball).

It will be undeniable how good the Big 10 really will be this season. Michigan State and Purdue are interchangeable at the top of conference. Both squads bring back the majority of their rosters from excellent teams last season.

The Spartans are missing a few replaceable parts from last year's National Runner-Up team while Purdue returns everybody from a Sweet 16 squad.

After Purdue and Michigan State, there is a cluster of top 25 worthy teams that can really be ordered anywhere from third to sixth.

Ohio State has an All-American in Evan Turner who excelled in his first test at point guard in the Buckeyes first exhibition game. Thad Matta has a stellar starting five that should be thinking Sweet 16.

The Buckeyes' old time rival, Michigan has an outstanding one-two punch with Manny Harris (another potential All-American) and DeShawn Sims. Another year in John Beilein's system means another push towards incredibly efficient basketball.

Minnesota has hit a speed bump in its quest for a Sweet 16 after Devron Bostick and Royce White were suspended indefinitely. But even without those two, the Golden Gophers are still a borderline top 25 team and a threat to overachieve with Tubby Smith, a great x's and o's coach, at the helm.

Illinois should also figure into the mix with reliable point guard Demetri McCamey and the Mike and Mike's, Davis and Tisdale in the frontcourt. The Fighting Illini also have a superbly talented freshman class that should give Illinois a jolt off the bench.

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