Bleacher Report - College Basketball

Ranking the 10 Most Talented College Basketball Teams for 2013-14 Season

Doug Brodess — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:00:50 -0400

College basketball fans: we are five months away from preseason practices and exhibition games.

Coaches and their staffs have been working tirelessly since the close of the 2012-13 season to bring in more talented players and begin to develop them during the offseason.

Let's take a quick look at the the 10 most-talented college basketball teams.

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Will Another Mid-Major Reach the Final Four in 2014?

C.J. Moore — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:13:16 -0400

The relevancy and strength of the mid-majors can be measured by simply looking at Final Four fields throughout history.

From 1999 through 2005, the Final Four was filled with the big schools. Utah, a WAC team at the time, made it in 1998, and then the next mid-major in the Final Four was George Mason in 2006.

Another mini-drought took place from 2007 through 2009. Since that time, it has become a good bet that at least one mid-major will make it to the Final Four each season.

In 2010, it was Butler. The next season was Butler and VCU. And then this past year, Wichita State crashed the party.

So what are the odds a mid-major makes a trip to the Jerry Dome in 2014? I’d say about 60 percent, as in if I had to bet on it, I would take the mid-major gamble.

Reason to bet on the other side is that some of the best programs that fit the mid-major definition are ending up in power conferences. Utah, for instance, is now a Pac-12 school. Butler and Creighton are off to the new Big East next season.

Since the little guys like to root for each other—they even have their own website—here’s a look at the teams that could continue to carry the mid-major banner through March and into April in 2014.

Gonzaga

Before you jump to the comment section and shout about how overrated Gonzaga is, think about this.

Which team did Wichita State have the most trouble beating on its way to the Final Four? I’ll save you the trouble of re-watching the games; it was Gonzaga.

If not for the Shockers hitting 14 threes and knocking off the Zags, Mark Few’s team could have been the one in Atlanta.

Few has another really good team returning. He loses Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris up front, but he returns Sam Dower and Przemek Karnowski. That duo, which came off the bench last year, will be the best frontcourt of any of the mid-majors. You could probably make the argument for Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell as the most talented backcourt of any of the mid-majors as well.

We should probably stop calling Gonzaga a mid-major school, but since the Zags still play in the WCC, they qualify. And one of these years they’re going to finally get to the Final Four. Few recruits too much talent not to get there eventually.

VCU

Shaka Smart is 7-3 in his first 10 NCAA tournament games. Only nine active coaches that have coached at least 10 tournament games have a better winning percentage in the NCAA tournament, according to this list. All nine of those coaches are either in the Hall of Fame or will eventually be in the Hall of Fame.

Smart’s style works in the tournament. It’s a nightmare to prepare for because most teams haven’t faced that kind of full-court pressure all season, and it’s even more devastating to prepare for in the round of 32 or the Elite Eight when you only have one day to get ready.

VCU led the nation last year in steals per game (11.7) and turnover percentage (28.5—according to KenPom.com). They return four of their five best thieves, including Briante Weber, who averaged 2.7 steals in only 20.9 minutes per game. They also return their two leading scorers—Juvonte Reddic and Treveon Graham.

Smart is also adding an athletic big man in Terrance Shannon via transfer from Florida State. Shannon averaged 1.2 steals in 21 minutes per game last season and fits in perfectly at VCU. Weber will likely become a starter.

Every year Smart seems to figure out a way to force even more turnovers. Getting more minutes from Weber and adding Shannon could be the recipe next year.

Atlantic 10 teams, you have my sympathy.

Wichita State

Brad Stevens and Butler figured out a way to get back to the Final Four in 2011 even after losing two starters, including leading scorer Gordon Hayward.

Wichita State is losing two starters. Gregg Marshall is one of the best recruiters at the mid-major level and never has any trouble replacing talent with talent. Last year’s team included five new starters. What I’m saying here is don’t count out the Shockers.

Wichita State should also get a chance next season to navigate its way through the tournament with a higher seed. With Creighton leaving for the Big East, Wichita State has the potential to win the Missouri Valley Conference convincingly.

What will help in 2014 as well is tournament experience. Cleanthony Early proved during the tourney he’s a great scorer. Ron Baker proved he’s a great shooter. Fred VanVleet played plenty of meaningful minutes at point guard.

It will be pretty easy to pick a team with those pieces and that coach in your 2014 bracket.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

Ranking the Top 10 3-Point Threats in NCAA Basketball for 2013-14 Season

C.J. Moore — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:36:49 -0400

The best two three-point shooters in college basketball (in my subjective opinion) play in the same state.

Can you name those players?

Here’s a hint: One is from Canada and the other is about to set an NCAA record.

If I were commissioner of the college basketball offseason—a job I’d be willing to take on—I’d want these two to square off in a three-point shooting contest. And you could go ahead and throw the other eight shooters on this list in as well.

Feel free to name shooters I should have included. I’ll put them on the waiting list for my imaginary offseason competition.

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Ben McLemore Speaks Out About AAU Coach Allegedly Receiving Money

Ethan Grant — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:11:26 -0400

Former Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore, expected to be a top pick in the 2013 NBA draft, spoke out on Friday about allegations that his AAU coach took money in order to steer him in a direction that would have otherwise never happened.

Speaking to Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated at the NBA combine, McLemore denied any knowledge of the money exchanged between those in question and his former AAU coach, Darius Cobb, who came out in early May and admitted to accepting money to help McLemore make a final decision that benefited Rodney Blackstock, the man who reportedly gave Cobb the money.

No longer under any NCAA rules after leaving Kansas and declaring for the 2013 NBA draft, McLemore spoke out on Friday in a willing and guilt-free manner, telling Davis he was ready to cooperate with the NCAA should an official investigation take place.

"I would tell them the truth and tell them what I know, and just cooperate with them," McLemore said. "Hopefully they'll cooperate with me and hear my side."

He continued by expressing shock about the Cobb confession and admitted that the parties involved have been pushed away from his inner circle in the wake of Eric Prisbell's USA Today report that implicated Cobb and Rodney Blackstock, the head of Hooplife Academy, in exchanging money:

"My reaction was like, 'Wow,'" he said. "That was someone that I could trust, and I put a person in my circle that I felt comfortable with and I know a long time that I wanted to help me through this process [of selecting an agent]. And for him to say the things he did and put that out there like that, I wish it wasn't true ... [Cobb] put me in jeopardy and my family in jeopardy."

McLemore said that he has not spoken with Cobb since the article was published -- "I've pushed him out of my circle," he said -- and that the story was the first he had heard about payments from Blackstock to Cobb. "I didn't see no money going around. My mom hasn't seen no money going around. We don't know nothing about it," he said. "So it was kind of new to me."

The money was intended to help Cobb decide to sway McLemore toward Blackstock—who attended Kansas games, per multiple reports—when he was ready to hire an agent.

McLemore finished the interview by stating that he hopes the allegations do not harm Kansas University, and that he does not want to be an athlete "that can't be allowed to come back" because of the events that have transpired.

While the allegations do not directly implicate Kansas in any of this scandal, it's an issue that could come back to bite the Jayhawks in the form of an NCAA sanction should the entity choose to launch an investigation.

One of the most explosive players during the 2012-13 college basketball season, McLemore averaged 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists during his redshirt freshman season for coach Bill Self and staff.

He wowed us all with his ability to get above the rim, buckle down on defense and drill the three-point shot—McLemore finished with a 42 percent clip from deep during his only season in Lawrence.

In Chicago this week for the NBA combine, McLemore is not participating in the drills portion of the event (like most lottery picks avoid) but is part of the athletic and measurement process.

Expected to be a top-five pick in the draft with his sights set on being No. 1, McLemore's candid confession of naiveté could prompt the NCAA to declare his time at Kansas void and not representative of having "amateur" status.

SI.com's Andy Glockner is among those who feel that McLemore doesn't need to say anything at all:

With recruiting violations a part of the NCAA now on what seems like a daily basis, McLemore maintaining innocence in this matter shouldn't be a shock. However, if the NCAA decides to launch a full-scale investigation, it could come back in the form of vacating wins or a postseason suspension for Kansas.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

Ranking the 20 Most Dominant College Basketball Players in History

Doug Brodess — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:36:10 -0400

While there are many college basketball players who would be considered "great" or "outstanding," dominant players are more rare.

In fact, this past college hoops season was a good example of how there were many excellent players, but not a truly dominant player in the mix.

Dominance is more than just a review of simple statistics. While a player's numbers are definitely a part of the equation, other factors such as team success and national award recognition also help determine how dominant a player really is.

The following is a list of the 20 most dominant college basketball players of all time.

Let's go!

Note: Player career statistics are provided by Sports-reference.com

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Duke Basketball: Ranking the 5 Most Hyped Recruits in Blue Devils History

Chad Lykins — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:33:39 -0400

High school recruiting has come a long way. From the days of bare minimum media attention to today where social networks, a vast assortment of recruiting publications and recognition from the media is highly warranted, the landscape of recruiting has become the driving force behind college and professional athletics.

For the Duke Blue Devils, they've experienced an inordinate amount of success on the recruiting trail that has spanned for decades. Year after year, highly coveted recruits have viewed the Duke basketball program in Durham, N.C. as a preeminent step towards paramount player development, major national media coverage and above all else, excellence.

With that being said, how do you go about selecting five Duke recruits that exemplified greatness while being attached with an excessive amount of hype and expectations to succeed?

That is an extremely tough question to answer. Nevertheless, it has to be done.

Without further ado and through careful consideration, these are the five most heavily hyped recruits in the storied history of the Duke basketball program.

Agree or disagree? Be sure to express what you think in the comments section. Also, to add to the debate, include your five most heavily hyped Duke recruits.

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Updated Predictions for 2013-14 NCAA Basketball Preseason Top 25 Poll

Thad Novak — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:02:27 -0400

It’s been over a month since our first look at which NCAA basketball teams might top the preseason polls in the fall, and a lot has changed in that time. Some players expected to jump to the NBA haven’t; some who were expected to stay are gone, and the biggest name of the recruiting class has finally made his decision.

That last player, of course, is Andrew Wiggins, who immediately becomes the best player on an inexperienced Kansas team. Of course, “inexperienced” is a far cry from “untalented,” and Naadir Tharpe and the Jayhawks jump into the top 10 with Wiggins’ arrival.

Read on for a look at a full, updated projection of which teams will land where when the preseason rankings come out in November.

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Duke Basketball: 5 Burning Questions for Blue Devils' Offseason

David Aldridge — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:03:32 -0400

Can Duke advance past the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament next season? Will Jabari Parker outplay Andrew Wiggins when Duke and Kansas face off in November? Does Alex Murphy have what it takes to earn a regular spot in the rotation?

Duke fans are pondering all these questions over the painful period that is the offseason in college basketball.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to know the answers to any of these until we see the Blue Devils take the court next season. However, that doesn't prevent us from enjoying the speculation of what we hope the answers will be.

As we continue to look forward to next season, let's look at the five most burning questions for Duke's offseason.

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Predicting the Next 5 NCAA Basketball Coaches to Be Inducted into Hall of Fame

C.J. Moore — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:59:54 -0400

Figuring out what makes a Hall of Famer and who isn’t quite good enough will lead to debates that lead to loud noises. (They usually escalate quickly!)

In September, Rick Pitino, Jerry Tarkanian and Guy Lewis will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. For fans of Pitino and Tarkanian, it should have been an “it’s about time” reaction. Both coaches could have been inducted years ago.

The selection committee’s criteria for electing college basketball coaches has been pretty clear. In the last 25 years, 15 college coaches (counting this year’s soon-to-be inductees) have made it to Springfield. Out of those coaches, only two didn’t have at least 500 wins (John Chaney and Al McGuire) and only two didn’t win at least one Division I national title (*Chaney and Guy Lewis).

*Chaney did win a D-II title in 1978 at Cheyney State. Lewis made it to back-to-back title games in 1983 and 1984.

With those numbers in mind, here’s a prediction of the next five coaches to get in.

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Duke Basketball: 5 Early Storylines from the Blue Devils' 2014 Recruiting Trail

Dantzler Smith — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:18 -0400

The Blue Devils are happy to have a stacked team heading into next season. Yet Duke is intent on continuing to attract top high school talent. With all the uncertainty surrounding underclassmen that will surely attract attention from the NBA, Duke may need a serious infusion of new talent.

There are numerous storylines surrounding Duke’s 2014 recruiting. Each one not only has it’s own interesting narrative, but it speaks to the Blue Devils’ future plans.

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Ranking the 10 NCAA Basketball Players with Most Complete Offensive Skill Sets

C.J. Moore — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:10:08 -0400

My generation grew up rooting for Jordan to go for 60 every night, and we weren't happy when Tony Kucok decided he should start shooting. It was just more fun to watch Jordan try to shake someone off the dribble or hit one of those patented fadeaway turnaround jumpers or drive baseline and dunk on Patrick Ewing. Watching Jordan with the ball was a clinic.

Few college players make it into the "pass him the ball so we can watch him score" list. The game is more about motion offenses and the coaches are the stars, but a few of these guys exist. Some don't even realize they have the skill set to be dominant scorers.

Here are 10 guys worth watching every time they touch the ball next season. Set your DVRs accordingly.

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Kentucky Basketball: Ranking the 5 Best Post Players in Wildcats History

Bobby Reagan — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:35:50 -0400

Kentucky basketball has been known recently for its string of point guards coming through the program.

However, it's the presence in the post that has helped key the successful run for John Calipari and his predecessors in Lexington.

Much like the size of Rupp Arena is intimidating to opponents, the rebounding and blocked shots while controlling the paint has helped the Wildcats become the winningest program in NCAA Division I history.

This list will breakdown the five best post players in Kentucky's storied history.

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NBA Combine 2013: Zeller and Oladipo Look to Turn Heads at NBA Draft Combine

Matthew Wolfe — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:07:15 -0400

Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo have both reported to Chicago this Thursday to participate in the 2013 NBA Draft Combine.

Oladipo and Zeller both announced earlier this year that they would leave school early and enter the NBA Draft.

Players at the combine lace up their shoes and participate in various drills while trying to impress NBA scouts, but that is only part of the battle.

The scouts have had their eyes on these two, and many other college players, all season long and have a very good idea of what they can bring to the table talent wise.

The combine is where NBA hopefuls receive their official measurements and participate in interviews with various NBA teams.

Both Zeller and Oladipo have a lot to prove to these teams, especially after their early exit in the NCAA Tournament.

Cody Zeller has been subject to a lot of criticism after his performance in the NCAA Tournament, especially the elimination game against Syracuse.

He produced a double-double, but shot just 3-11 from the field in a game where the Hoosiers needed him most.

Following that game, many people questioned Zeller's toughness and his ability to match up against larger players.

At the combine, Zeller will look to prove to teams that he is big and tough enough to compete against NBA talent, and that he is capable of making other players around him better.

He must also prove that he is capable of being a multidimensional player, showcasing his ability to knock down the jump shot, which he didn't do as much as he could have during his time at Indiana.

Zeller has opted not to participate in Thursday's drills on the advice of his agent, according to Alex Bozich of insidethehall.com

As for Oladipo, he has been turning heads all season with his explosiveness and his stifling defense.

He currently finds himself at No.6 on Chad Ford's Big Board, and in the top 10 in just about every mock draft.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that he will have a successful NBA career, and he has his freakish athleticism and hard work-ethic to thank for that.

After his sophomore season, the knock on Oladipo was his inability to knock down the outside shot and make threes.

He proved to scouts this season that his outside shot is no longer a concern, improving his three-point percentage from 20 percent to 44 percent in just one year.

Improvement is a major factor that NBA scouts look for in a high draft pick, and the two Hoosiers let their 2012-13 statistics do the talking in that aspect.

Look for Zeller and Oladipo to come out strong in this combine and likely improve their draft stock before this summer's draft.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

One Team in Each Major NCAA Basketball Conference Not to Sleep On

Scott Polacek — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:19:04 -0400

Every college basketball season there is a team or two in each major conference that the preseason favorites overlook or don’t see as a serious threat that pulls off a handful of major upsets and stays in the league race until March.

Even though some of the conferences will look a bit unfamiliar in the 2013-14 campaign, that reality won’t change. Read on to see one team in each major league that the favorites would be wise to not sleep on.

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Michigan Basketball: Strengths and Weaknesses of Wolverines' 2013-14 Roster

Zach Dirlam — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:51:02 -0400

The Michigan basketball program is looking to build off a run to the 2013 national championship game by reloading in 2014. With next season's roster completely assembled, it is time to analyze its strengths and weaknesses.

One of head coach John Beilein's most athletic classes to date will be arriving on campus this summer, which means the Wolverines should be able to run the floor as well as anyone in college basketball.

Michigan's defense cost itself a second straight Big Ten conference title, so will things be shored up this season? There is reason to believe the interior defense will be much-improved, though the same may not be true on the perimeter.

All of these things and more will be evaluated en route to breaking down what the Wolverines will do well and struggle with during the 2013-14 campaign.

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How the Andrew Wiggins Runner-Up Schools Will Cope Without No. 1 Recruit

C.J. Moore — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:54 -0400

Bill Self has to be having a blast right now figuring out how he’s going to build his team around Andrew Wiggins next season.

Life is not as fun for the three coaches who were waiting to see if they would have the luxury of coaching Wiggins. It’s too late to bring in another player, so each team will have to stick with what they have. For one school, there's plenty of talent in that spot already in place. For the other two, they'll be relying on less attractive options.

So who are the lucky saps who get the privilege of spending next season in the spot where fans will be thinking "if only Wiggins were out there"?

Here's a look at those fellas and how each team will cope without the Canadian star.

Wiggins Was the Missing Piece for North Carolina

More than any of the three fanbases, the Tar Heels could spend next season thinking “what if…”

Wiggins was the one piece that Roy Williams was missing to make the Heels a title contender after they lost Reggie Bullock to the NBA. (I imagine Williams dropped a lot of "gosh darns" on Tuesday.)

Wiggins would have given UNC a great combination on the wing paired with P.J. Hairston. A year ago the Heels turned their season around when Williams gave in to what everyone wanted, going small and moving Hairston to the four spot.

Next season Hairston will move back to the perimeter because Williams has a lot of depth inside and not much on the perimeter.

The player who will fill Bullock’s shoes instead of Wiggins is senior Leslie McDonald. McDonald is a nice player. He averaged 7.2 points in 17.7 minutes per game last year and has a good stroke from deep.

What the Heels are missing is a slasher, which is the role Wiggins would have filled. McDonald rarely drives—he shot only 14 percent of his shots at the rim last year, according to HoopMath.com—and when he does shoot inside the arc, he’s not very effective. McDonald actually shot worst from inside the arc (35.4 percent) than from outside (35.9 percent).

That puts a lot of pressure on point guard Marcus Paige to create off the dribble.

Wiggins would have also allowed Williams to play with the small lineup. Without him, Williams is going to have to stick to a more traditional look.

The Heels need to get more production from their post players next year, and that would have been the case with or without Wiggins. But with him, they could have survived on the nights when James Michael McAdoo was having an off game.

Kentucky Doesn’t Need a Contingency Plan

As it is, Kentucky is going to have four McDonald’s All-Americans come off the bench this season. If Wiggins had come to UK, it would have been five.

Alex Poythress and James Young cannot mind seeing Wiggins go to Kansas. Those two will compete for the starting small forward spot. Poythress can also play the 4, but it’s already pretty crowded in the post as Willie Cauley-Stein, Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee and Kyle Wiltjer will all be sharing minutes.

What Wiggins would have allowed John Calipari do was play really big. When Aaron Harrison went to the bench, Calipari could have pushed Wiggins to the 2-guard and played either Poythress or James Young at the 3. But Calipari can still play a really big lineup with James Young sliding over to the shooting guard spot.

Calipari is already going to have to get creative with his lineups and rotations. Obviously, he’ll take all the talent he can get, but he has two future pros at the small forward position. Those are two really good players. The ‘Cats are going to be just fine.

Seminoles Will Be Searching for Identity

Last season was the first since 2008 that Florida State had not ranked in the top 15 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. The Seminoles ranked 165th.

Leonard Hamilton has built his program on defense, and Wiggins, similar to Marcus Smart at Oklahoma State, could have rubbed off on his teammates with his effort and ability on the defensive end.

Florida State graduated Michael Snaer and is also be looking for a star to replace him. Wiggins would have filled that role.

The other area where Florida State really struggled a year ago was on the defensive glass. Opponents grabbed 36.6 percent of their own missed shots. FSU's best rebounder, Terrance Shannon, transferred to VCU. Wiggins would have helped in that area as well.

What’s left for the Seminoles is a team that could still improve from last year's 18-16 season if Canadian guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes fills the shoes of Snaer. Wiggins and Rathan-Mayes, who are good friends, would have made a nice combination on the wing.

Instead, either Aaron Thomas or Montay Brandon will fill that spot. Both had their turns starting last year. Thomas averaged 6.0 points per game, and Brandon averaged 3.9, but he did score 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in FSU’s last game against Louisiana Tech.

If one of those players takes a big leap as a sophomore and Okaro White, the leading returning scorer, has a big senior year, the Seminoles could be improved. No, they should be improved.

Wiggins would have guaranteed that, but Hamilton still has some nice pieces to build around.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

Villanova Basketball: 5 Early Storylines from Wildcats' 2014 Recruiting Trail

Joe Tansey — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:43:13 -0400

With the Villanova Wildcats about to welcome in the three members of the 2013 recruiting class, the search for the members of the 2014 class has already begun.

While there is still close to a year left in the recruiting process for 2014, some of the best players in the nation have already committed to other schools.

With that being said, Jay Wright and his coaching staff will have to start aggressively pursuing the players that they want to bring to the Main Line for the season after next.

Here is a look at five early storylines to follow in Villanova's chase for recruits in the class of 2014.

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Who's Winning the John Calipari vs. Bill Self Recruiting Battle?

C.J. Moore — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:25:37 -0400

Losing out on Andrew Wiggins wasn't exactly Derrick Rose bricking some free throws and Mario Chalmers offering one of the best stomach-punch shots in the history of the tournament, but it was one of the few moments in recent memory when John Calipari didn't get what he wanted.

Once again, on the other end was Bill Self.

No one is crying for Calipari. Both he and Self got to puff their chests on Tuesday. Self landed Wiggins, one of the most prized prospects of all time, and his class is the best he's ever had at Kansas. Calipari's class, which includes a few players Self coveted, is still perceived as better.

This is not the first time that Self and Calipari have gone head-to-head for a recruit, and it certainly will not be the last.

It's obvious why it happens. Self and Calipari are the two best recruiters in the game right now. They coach at two of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball, and high-profile recruits want to play at prestigious basketball schools.

But there's more to it than that. Both coaches seem to like the same kind of players, and there's a history of some high-profile battles.

From a strictly basketball perspective, history will look back at them as connected in this era. Self won his first national championship over Calipari. Calipari won his first over Self. They both were grad assistants at Kansas under Larry Brown.

From a recruiting perspective, the insiders who follow that side of the sport will be telling stories down the road of the battles between the two men.

If you're keeping score at home, Self is making a strong comeback with his latest victory.

These are the players who have seriously considered playing for Calipari or Self and then ended up signing with one of the two coaches.

Bill Self Recruits	John Calipari Recruits
Andrew Wiggins	Julius Randle
Perry Ellis	James Young
Josh Selby	*Archie Goodwin
Thomas Robinson	Kyle Wiltjer
Xavier Henry	Doron Lamb
Marcus Morris	Brandon Knight
Markieff Morris	Terrence Jones
	Daniel Orton
	John Wall

*Goodwin is the only player Calipari recruited on this list who did not have Kansas as a finalist, but he eliminated Kansas late, according to this ESPN.com story.

Self and Calipari have not expressed any friction publicly, but it would be understandable if there's some there, which could have started with the Morris twins.

The twins committed to Calipari at Memphis, then decommitted, then committed again and then decommitted again. Or something like that. It was like a teenage relationship. It is all explained here in this story in The Commercial Appeal. Eventually, the twins signed with Kansas in October of 2008.

Xavier Henry was also Memphis-bound at one time. This was a loss that had to sting for Self. Henry's parents both played basketball at Kansas.

Then Calipari left for Kentucky, and unlike DeMarcus Cousins, Henry choose not to follow Calipari and wound up signing at Kansas, where his brother transferred after spending one year at Memphis. Calipari won most of the battles that followed.

For Self, it had to sting to lose out on Daniel Orton, Terrence Jones, Kyle Wiltjer and Julius Randle. Kansas has done well developing big men, and all four would have fit well in KU's system.

Calipari has won the numbers game, but it's not really fair to strictly stop there. Since both will continue to go against each other regularly—they're both in the mix for the top three recruits in Rivals.com's 2014 class—they should be keeping another kind of scorecard: How the players who wound up at their schools have performed.

I came up with a system for how to score player performance in this battle. This is the scoring system.

Achievement	Points
All-League (2nd or 3rd team)	1
First-team All-League	2
Conference POY	3
All-American (2nd or 3rd team)	4
First-team All-American	5

Here's the scorecard:

Bill Self	John Calipari
21	16

Self benefited the most from both Marcus Morris and Thomas Robinson staying school for three years. Perry Ellis could be the next player in Self's system to thrive his sophomore and junior year.

Usually when a big-time prospect has stuck around for Calipari past his sophomore year, such as Wiltjer, the reward has not been as great.

Calipari has had more success with the one-and-done or two-and-done players. Both Doron Lamb and Jones were major contributors on Kentucky's championship team. John Wall was a first-team All-American and the SEC player of the year in his one season at Kentucky. Brandon Knight helped lead the Wildcats to the Final Four.

Self has not had as much luck with the one-and-done crew. Selby never really had much of an impact in his one year at Kansas. Henry was an honorable mention All-Big 12 player, but he's been a bust in the league. Ben McLemore, who wasn't recruited by UK, will be viewed as Self's first great one-and-done success.

It's not as though Calipari's one-and-dones have always thrived, as Daniel Orton and Archie Goodwin came and went without accomplishing much in their one year in Lexington.

The battle continues next season, which could give both coaches plenty of ammo in the recruiting battles in the 2014 class. Calipari could even the score with Randle, who Kansas really wanted, or Wiggins could give Self a feather in his cap.

The real winner will be whichever coach gets his second national title first. And you know what would be great? KU and UK in the 2013-14 final with Wiggins and Randle squaring off in the final seconds for the win. Bragging rights to the winner.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

Wiggins Signing Sends Kansas March Madness Betting Odds Soaring

Mike Pickett — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:49:25 -0400

Andrew Wiggins was a big deal in high school basketball and will be a big deal in the NBA.

As it turns out, he's such a big deal in college basketball that his decision to play in Kansas completely changed the betting odds for the 2013-14 season.

One sportsbook even declined to post March Madness 2014 future odds until Wiggins signed. When he did sign this week, they opened the Jayhawks as the second betting choice just behind Kentucky (at 5-1).

Another had Kansas at 30-1 last week on the heels of losing all four of last season's starters, but that same shop had Kansas at 10-1 this morning.

"We were waiting on him to sign before opening these odds up," said Kevin Bradley of Bovada sportsbook.

"He is the biggest impact player we have seen in a long time and he is an immediate difference maker on college basketball future odds."

The Toronto-born Wiggins played basketball at a Huntington, West Va school this year. He was the 2013 Naismith Prep Player of the Year and the 2013 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Wiggins, the son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, was believed to be headed to Florida State—where his father played. His brother Nick plays at Wichita State and Kansas could now be headed to the Final Four just like WSU did this past March.

Bovada also made him the early favorite to be picked No. 1 in the 2014 NBA draft. He was sitting at -300 this morning. Bookies also posted odds on how many points per game he will average as a Jayhawk.

"To go to 10-1 from 30-1 on one teenager signing is not something you see every day," said Mark Presley of OddsShark.com. "It's good for business when the marquee schools are threats to win it all and when those schools enjoy the marquee talent."

Defending national champions Louisville was the third betting choice while perennial Final Four threat Michigan State was fourth.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

UNC Basketball: Strengths and Weaknesses of Tar Heels' 2013-14 Roster

Rollin Yeatts — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:58:43 -0400

Now that the Andrew Wiggins saga is over, we can finally focus on the current strengths and weaknesses of North Carolina's 2013-14 team.

At this point in the offseason, there are a lot of questions floating around UNC about how much some of these players will develop. So it is still a little tough to accurately gauge where this particular group of Tar Heels will stand come November.

Marcus Paige and P.J. Hairston are pretty much locks for improvement. James Michael McAdoo is a little suspect after his lack of development between his freshman and sophomore years. But there is no good reason he shouldn't improve.

The rest of the clan consists of three freshmen that have never seen the collegiate hardwood and a bunch of guys that have played limited minutes in limited roles while at Chapel Hill.

But we have gotten a good enough look at most of those guys to know what they have to offer at this time. And that is how the strengths and weaknesses of this team will be gauged today.

As we grind through these six long months of the offseason, any of these categories are open to change. It will all depend on how much these players can develop.

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Ohio State Basketball: Strengths and Weaknesses of Buckeyes' 2013-14 Roster

Scott Polacek — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:34:19 -0400

Deshaun Thomas or no Deshaun Thomas, the goals of the Ohio State basketball team heading into the 2013-14 season remain the same—a Big Ten regular-season championship, a Big Ten tournament title and a run to the Final Four.

As with any team, the Buckeyes will need to utilize their strengths and hide or overcome their weaknesses if they hope to achieve those goals. Read on to see what exactly those strong points and areas of concern are for Thad Matta heading into next season.

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Breaking Down How Andrew Wiggins Will Impact Kansas Jayhawks

Alex Kay — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:51:39 -0400

Andrew Wiggins made shockwaves on Tuesday when the superstar recruit finally announced that he would be attending Kansas University and playing ball for coach Bill Self’s Jayhawks.

It ended a long saga of recruiting drama, but opened the door for speculation on whether or not the top-tier prospect will live up to the immense hype and how he will fit in with the Jayhawks roster.

Fortunately for fans around Lawrence, it looks to be a perfect match.

Wiggins should be able to fill the giant void left by Ben McLemore, the team’s top scorer during the 2012-13 campaign.

The freshman shooting guard entered the NBA draft and will likely become a first-round pick along with teammate Jeff Withey—the senior center who served as the second-option on the offensive end last year.

Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor and Naadir Tharpe are the only notable players that will be returning for another season with KU, meaning Self will have plenty of minutes to spare.

Wiggins should be in line to play as much as possible and will likely be the centerpiece of the Kansas offense next season. He’s a major upgrade in the points department, as he is a reliable bucket generator that shouldn’t slack off.

While McLemore was prone to long stretches of inefficient and head-scratching play, the stud recruit should be much more consistent for the duration of games.

Some fresh faces on Kansas’ campus should also be of assistance to Wiggins and the rest of the team. Top-tier recruits Joel Embiid, Wayne Selden, Conner Frankamp and Brannen Greene all will get a chance to play and make an impact this coming season.

It’s not the elite crop of highly touted talent that coach John Calipari assembled at Kentucky, but these young men are hard workers that will provide a perfect supporting cast around Wiggins.

Add in Self’s genius and you can be certain that the Jayhawks find a way to utilize their latest weapon in the most effective fashion.

This should put the team on a collision course with the rival Wildcats come the national championship in a repeat of 2012’s epic showdown.

Kentucky may have the deeper roster, but this time Kansas has the best player and should be able to one-up the competition due to the sheer skill and dominance of Wiggins.

This all of course hinges on the Canadian native panning out, but from everything we’ve seen from this kid during his time at Huntington Prep and in exhibition showcases, he’s the real deal.

Don’t be shocked to see Wiggins hoist the national championship trophy and bring KU its first title since 2008.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

Andrew Wiggins Will Fill Void Left by Ben McLemore at Kansas

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:01 -0400

With Ben McLemore headed to the NBA, Kansas had a major void to fill for next season.

The Jayhawks filled that void on Tuesday with the No. 1 recruit in the country, Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins—who signed his letter of intent at Huntington Prep (h/t CBSSports.com) alongside family, friends and one reporter on Tuesday—has just about everything you would want in a prospect. He has the versatility, length, fluidity, athleticism and explosiveness to be a threat at both ends of the floor, and the shooting range to complete the package.

The son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and former Olympics track star Marita Payne-Wiggins, he averaged 23.4 points and 11.2 rebounds in his senior season at Huntington Prep.

McLemore—who figures to be a top-five pick in the 2013 NBA draft—averaged 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 42 percent from beyond the arc in his freshman campaign at Kansas. In the process, the Jayhawks made it all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing in overtime to Michigan.

The reality is, Wiggins could be better than McLemore ever was. He's being labeled as one of the best basketball prospects to come along in years, particularly because he has an all-around game to back up his jaw-dropping explosiveness. Several draft experts have projected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, including ESPN's Chad Ford.

Of course, McLemore isn't the only starter the Jayhawks lost this offseason. In fact, they lost all five of their starters, including Jeff Withey, Elijah Johnson, Kevin Young and Travis Releford. Wiggins isn't going to make up for all of that himself.

But not only does Wiggins have the talent to lead Kansas deep into the 2014 NCAA tournament, he can play shooting guard, small forward or power forward, which will allow coach Bill Self to mix and match to find the right combination. Naadir Tharpe and Perry Ellis return, while the Jayhawks also boast 5-star shooting guard Wayne Selden and 4-star recruits Joel Embiid, Brannen Greene and Conner Frankamp.

Wiggins passed up Kentucky to join Kansas. Now the Wildcats have some competition for the national championship.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

5 Reasons UNC Basketball Is the Team to Beat in the ACC

Eric Bost — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:17:31 -0400

The North Carolina Tar Heels are in perfect position to take back their ACC crown in 2013-14.

With a favorable schedule and their main competition losing tons of talent, the five-time national champions are primed to improve upon last season after not living up to early expectations.

While there are certainly other teams that can pose a threat to the Tar Heels, the returning experience that they have will play a huge factor as to why they will return to their rightful place among the ACC elite.

The next few slides will explain why UNC fans should be excited about their Tar Heels this upcoming basketball season.

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Duke Basketball: Strengths and Weaknesses of Blue Devils' 2013-14 Roster

Chad Lykins — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:14:43 -0400

Fresh off its 19th Elite Eight appearance in school history, the Duke basketball program will enter the 2013-14 season with even greater aspirations.

Like he always does, head coach Mike Krzyzewski will reload with a talented three-man recruiting class to go along with a wealth of experience to help soften the blow of losing departed seniors Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee.

With a Top Five-caliber roster that is expected to contend for a national championship, the following slideshow will give you a detailed look at what Duke's primary strengths and weaknesses will be next season.

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Michigan State Basketball: Strengths and Weaknesses of Spartans' 2013-14 Roster

Adam Biggers — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:46:26 -0400

No matter what, anytime the Michigan State Spartans' 2013-14 season potential is analyzed, two names will be mentioned: Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne.

Of course, Nix is no longer with the Tom Izzo-led Spartans; he's graduated and is in the process of moving on to the next phase of his life and basketball career.

In Michigan State's case, it's not so much about what it did with Nix, it's about what it'll do without him.

Not having Nix is a weakness.

Payne is a legitimate Player of the Year candidate. Having him, obviously, is a strength.

There are other factors that will dictate the Spartans' fortunes during this upcoming season, and we'll take a look at them in this handy slideshow.

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Syracuse Basketball: Ranking the 5 Greatest Points Guards in Orange's History

Josh Schoch — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:44:36 -0400

There's nothing like a good point guard in basketball, and the Syracuse Orange have had quite a few.

Point guards control the offense and are like second coaches. The best point guards can lead their teams to titles with just a little bit of help because they have such a big impact on the game.

Let's take a look at the best floor generals in Syracuse basketball history.

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Kentucky Basketball: Why Andrew Wiggins' Decision Stings

Nick Nafpliotis — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:48:15 -0400

When Andrew Wiggins announced yesterday that he would be attending the University of Kansas, his decision took me a bit by surprise.

I'd like to say that I predicted Wiggins wasn't going to choose the University of Kentucky. But like most of the national media, I got his final destination completely wrong. I was fairly certain that if Wiggins wasn't going to UK, he would decide to attend Florida State University this fall.

His family ties to the school and the fact that he had canceled his visit with Kansas back in April made it seem apparent that his decision had come down either the Wildcats or the Seminoles. But according to Keith Morehouse of WSAZ Sports, Wiggins' father declared after his son's press conference today that the final two schools were Florida State and Kansas.

Now to be fair, I agree with my esteemed Bleacher Report colleague Bobby Reagan that the Wildcats will be just fine without Wiggins next season. A phenomenal recruiting class combined with a larger number of returning veterans than is usual for a John Calipari team still make the Wildcats a heavy favorite to win the NCAA title.

But like most of the Big Blue Nation, I had been of the opinion that the best high school basketball player in the country (and one of the best high school prospects of this entire generation) was trying to decide between being a big fish in a small pond in Tallahassee or heading to Lexington to join one of the greatest collections of freshman talent ever assembled.

Instead, he picked a team in Kansas that will always contend with Kentucky for the NCAA crown. It showed that despite his enormous success on the recruiting trail, John Calipari and the allure of playing for the Wildcat basketball program can be beat head to head without the help of having any family ties to a school.

Maybe Kentucky fans (and myself) had just gotten too spoiled while celebrating commitment after commitment from the best prospects in the country. Or perhaps Andrew Wiggins just wasn't able to jell with the other members of UK's 2013-2014 recruiting class; the recent Vine video scandal certainly didn't help things (per Matt Lombardi, CollegeSpun.com).

But even though John Calipari and the University of Kentucky continue to win the college basketball recruiting war, losing this battle means that the fight to build a singularly dominant college basketball program is still far from over.

Please feel free to leave a comment below. If you'd like to sing my praises or tell me how terrible I am more personally, I can also be found on Twitter.

Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com

College Basketball Recruiting: Greatest Asset of Each Top Player in 2014 Class

Thad Novak — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:40:41 -0400

Although Andrew Wiggins’ commitment to Kansas is putting the 2013 recruiting class in today’s headlines, coaches around college basketball are well aware that it’s already time to worry about their 2014 recruits. As the nation’s best high schoolers prepare for their senior seasons, many have already established top-tier skills that they can count on to earn them playing time at the college level.

One prime example of that phenomenon is athletic SF Jalen Lindsey, set to take over Wiggins’ starting job at Huntington Prep. Lindsey may not have his predecessor’s versatility, but he can throw down a dunk with highlight-reel panache.

Herein, a closer look at Lindsey's finishing ability and the biggest strengths of the rest of ESPN’s top 20 recruits for 2014.

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Indiana Basketball: 5 Most Important Traits Tom Crean Looks for in a Player

Scott Henry — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:25:06 -0400

The qualities that make a successful coach are often reflected in the players he recruits. Indiana's Tom Crean is no exception.

When Crean accepted the job in Bloomington, several changes had to be made immediately, leading directly to the undermanned 2008-09 roster that, at one point, famously boasted only two scholarship players.

After a few seasons of rebuilding, Crean has the Hoosiers humming again by adhering to a few particular criteria.

Here's a look at a few of the attributes it takes to become a Hoosier in the Crean Era.

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