College Basketball 2010-11 Predictions: 50 Biggest Questions This Season
Oh, it's that time of the year again when the snow starts to fall, the kids quit going to school, the turkeys get killed and, oh yeah, college basketball season starts.
Yes ladies and gentleman, college hoops season tipped off on Friday night and it is starting to become part of my daily life again, thanks to the 24-hour hoops tip-off marathon on ESPN.
This season is shaping up to be another great one as it looks as though it's an even field and the championship is up for grabs.
Now that Selection Sunday is only 115 days away, here are the 50 biggest questions that face us this season.
James Evens is a Purdue student and College Hoops Featured Columnist, along with being the Football/Basketball FC for the Boilermakers and a Writing Intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.
Which Conference Will Be the Best in the Nation?
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This isn't even a question this year. The Big Ten will pull away with this one easily. Being especially strong toward the top of the conference, the Big Ten will have a chance to get seven teams into the Big Dance, including Northwestern, which could earn its first trip to the tournament.
The Big Ten is led by No. 2 Michigan State, a team that is expected to contend with Duke for the national title this season.
The Big Ten also has No. 5 Ohio State and No. 9 Purdue, both of which will be strong this season.
Having such a strong conference from top to bottom, it will be hard to argue for any other conference as the best in the nation.
Who Will Win the Big East?
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The Big East is, by far, the conference that receives the most attention in the media and, as a consequence, it is also the one with the largest debate on who is going to win the conference.
Syracuse is an annual favorite but lost a lot of talent to the NBA last season. It is definitely a dark horse this season for the conference title.
Pittsburgh is ranked No. 4 and has the ability to put up ridiculous numbers on opponents. Through the Panthers' first three games, they have had two players who have risen above everyone else. Brad Wannamaker, the senior guard, is averaging 19.3 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc.
The Panthers are also led by Ashton Gibbs, who has also averaged 19.3 ppg and shot 45 percent from beyond the arc.
Although Pittsburgh is led by these two flashy guards, they won't win the Big East—because that is left for Villanova.
Villanova—which is led by guard Corey Fisher, who started the season with 24 points in the first game—will have enough power to win the conference. Villanova's high-flying, fast-paced offense will allow it to win another Big East title this season.
Who Will Win the ACC?
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The ACC, unlike the Big East, is an easy conference to call this season. Although a resurgent North Carolina team is on the prowl, the ACC will have a repeat champion this season.
Duke will retain the conference title and could go undefeated in conference play if it can get by those two games against the Tar Heels.
Duke is led by a player who many consider the best in the country: 6'8" senior forward Kyle Singler, who averaged 17.7 points per game and seven assists last year.
Duke is most experts' favorite for the national title, but more on that later.
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Who Will Win the Big 12?
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There are four major favorites for the Big 12 title this season. Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State and Baylor are all ranked in the top 25, but it's easy to determine who the favorite is in this one.
There are two main leaders in this conference that will, more than likely, fight it out to the end to determine the winner of the conference. This race will be between in-state rivals Kansas and Kansas State.
Kansas State is ranked No. 3 in the nation will look to knock Kansas from its perch atop the Big 12. The Wildcats are led by senior guard Jacob Pullen, who had 20 points in the opening game for the Wildcats.
Kansas is led by junior forward Marcus Morris, who has averaged 20 points a game in his first two outings of the season.
This race is too close to call, but expect a shared championship between Kansas and Kansas State.
Who Will End Up on Top in the Big Ten?
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This is going to be one of the most interesting conferences in the country this season. It is highlighted by Michigan State, Illinois, Ohio State and Purdue.
Purdue would have been everyone's favorite for the conference if senior forward Robbie Hummel hadn't been lost for the season because of an ACL injury. Although the Boilermakers are lacking the scoring Hummel brings to the table, they should still be strong, led by seniors E'twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson.
Ohio State comes in with an outstanding freshman class, including possible freshman of the year Jared Sullinger. Ohio State definitely has what it takes to once again be a contender for the title, even without Evan Turner.
Illinois is led by senior center Mike Tisdale, who has had a dominant career at Illinois. Along with Tisdale, the Illini return Mike Davis and Demetri McCamey. Illinois could have a legit shot at the title this season.
Finally we come to everyone's pick to win the conference and a few experts' pick to win the national title, the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans, a team that has gone to the Final Four the past two seasons, is looking to try to bring home a championship this season. Look for the Spartans to at least share a piece of the Big Ten title, if not win it outright.
Who Will Win the SEC?
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The two main contenders to win the SEC this season are Kentucky and Florida.
Florida is led by Chandler Parsons, the senior forward, who helped lead the team to an NCAA tournament berth last season.
The other main contender for the SEC is John Calipari-led Kentucky. Once again, the Wildcats have reloaded with freshmen and will be starting fresh this season with no one really knowing what to expect.
Florida should win the conference, but one should never count out Kentucky.
Who Will Win the Pac-10?
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In a conference that is looking to rebuild after a horrible season last year, the Pac-10 is still rebuilding. The biggest offseason story in basketball came when Oregon's court got a new look.
The Pac-10 is led by Washington, and the Huskies should run away with the conference. They have a high-flying team able to score a lot of points, putting up 118 in their first outing this season. With another down year for Pac-10 basketball looming, look for Washington to win the conference.
Who Is This Year's Butler?
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Well, the obvious answer is Butler is still Butler. Butler has solidified itself as a major school in basketball regardless of their conference affiliation. That being said, who is going to be this year's surprise in the tournament?
The answer could be San Diego State. The Aztecs are returning an experienced team and could be a force to be reckoned with this season in the tournament.
They are that one team you do not want your team to draw in the tournament. Led by senior guard D.J. Gay, who averaged 10 points a game last season, and stand-out sophomore Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 12 points a game as a freshman, they could surprise a lot of people this season.
Who Is the Top Freshman in the Nation?
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This one is up for debate. One could choose one of Kentucky's star freshmen, they could look to the Big Ten at Ohio State's standout post player or you could pick the youngster at North Carolina.
Kentucky is going to be counting on freshman Terrence Jones to put up great numbers this season. Jones, a 6'9" forward, dropped 25 points and raked in 12 rebounds in his first collegiate game. He is looking to be one of the best freshmen this year.
North Carolina also has a freshman who is arguably the most hyped this year in Harrison Barnes. Barnes, a 6'7" forward, is one of the most-hyped freshman of all-time. He was even added to the Naismith watch list.
The other main candidate for Freshman of the Year is Ohio State's Jared Sullinger. Sullinger, a 6'9", 280-pound forward, is a one-man wrecking crew. In two games, he has averaged 22.5 points and 12 rebounds per game. This is including his game against No. 10 Florida, when he led the Buckeyes with 26 points.
It's looking like the freshman of the year is going to be one of these two studs, who are both likely destined for the NBA lottery.
Is Butler for Real?
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Butler had the year of all years last season. They made it to the national title game when they were hosting the Final Four in their own city. It was a "pinch me" moment.
Butler has been an elite mid-major program for years and will continue to be one. Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the nation, but its run was magical last season, and one can't foresee it happening again.
With the loss of Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs seem to really be struggling offensively and miss his presence on the perimeter. Matt Howard will need to step up and lead this team if they expect to get close to what they did last season and really propel themselves to that elite status. But more than likely they will continue being a normal mid-major that looks to get lucky in the tournament.
Can UNC Bounce Back After a Horrible Season?
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North Carolina was way out of character last season, when it finished the regular season with a record of 16-16 and was invited to the Not In Tournament (NIT). In the NIT, the Tar Heels made it to the championship game before losing to Dayton.
Well, according to the coaches, North Carolina is going to turn it around this season, as it is ranked No. 8 in the coaches' poll.
The Tar Heels will be a much more experienced team and will be led by 7'0" forward Tyler Zeller, who averaged only 9.3 points last season. He was immature and experienced foul problems. If Zeller grew up over the summer and improved his mental game, they could have a great season.
They will also be helped out by the addition of stud one-and-done player Harrison Barnes, who is expected to not only be one of the best freshmen in the country, but one of the best players in general.
North Carolina is talented, there is no doubt about that, and anyone who thinks they won't make the tournament for the second year in a row is crazy. Expect the Heels to bounce back, but don't expect a national title.
Can Johnson and Moore Lead Purdue to the Promised Land Without Hummel?
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Robbie Hummel, the star forward, recently re-tore his ACL in the second practice of the season. He is done for the year, but the Boilermakers are still looking to make a run at the title—but can they do it?
E'twaun Moore, the slashing guard, averaged 16.4 points per game last season and is a real threat on both sides of the ball. He is able to guard anyone and can really score when he gets on it.
JaJuan Johnson, the big-time forward, averaged 15.5 points and seven rebounds last season and established himself as one of the best big men in the country. His ability to drive the lane or step back and take a jumper is matched by almost no one.
For Purdue to be successful without Hummel this season, it will need to have big seasons from these two seniors, and also have other guys step up.
After seeing Purdue play three times now this season in person, it seems to be getting it figured out offensively, with John Hart and DJ Byrd stepping up and showing great ability from beyond the arc.
Purdue has the ability to go far in the tournament, but one would have to be stretching it to see it getting past the Elite Eight.
Will the Pac-10 Have Another Down Year?
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The answer to this is yes.
It will not be as bad is it was last season, but it will be nothing special—one can be sure of that. The Pac-10 will be lucky to get three teams in the tournament and it has only one plausible Sweet 16 contender, in the form of Washington.
Can Kentucky Have a Repeat of Last season With a Whole New Crop of Freshmen?
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Kentucky will be dependent on freshmen once again this season and then again next season, and repeat that until they are finally nailed for recruiting violations—which is inevitable. More on that later.
Kentucky will start three freshmen this season led by Terrence Jones, who could easily become the freshman of the year.
The Wildcats once again have what it takes to be successful, but will struggle again in the tournament due to their lack of experience.
Sure they are talented and Callipari is a great recruiter, but it takes more than recruiting to win college basketball championships.
Can Tennessee Stay Among the Elite Teams Despite Bruce Pearl's Sanctions?
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Despite a slight hiccup against the University of Indianapolis, Tennessee can continue to succeed even after the sanctions being put on Pearl.
The Vols will be led by outstanding freshman Tobias Harris, who will be able to make a big difference in each game.
Along with Harris, they have a lot of returning veterans who will be able to lead the freshman and allow him to have a big season and help them have a successful season as a team.
Can Syracuse Bounce Back After Losing Several Players to the NBA?
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Although they lost a lot of players to the NBA last season, Syracuse is still an experienced team. Last season, the Orange played a huge rotation of players and it's really going to pay off this season, as they will still have the experience that other teams would be lacking.
They are led by one of the best point guards in the nation in Scoop Jardine. They also return Rick Jackson, who is averaging 15.5 points per game right now. The Orange might struggle scoring at the beginning of the season, but look for them to get it together when it counts.
Does Harrison Barnes Deserve to Be the First Freshman Preseason All-American?
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No, he does not. He didn't look all that impressive in the preseason, and how can we really judge a player before he actually plays? Sure Barnes is going to be a force to be reckoned with, but we don't have the evidence needed to give him such an honor as of yet.
Does Jim Calhoun Make It an Entire Season at UConn?
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Yes, he will make it all season at UConn.
Although recruiting violations have surfaced in the program, it is going to be hard for UConn to get rid of one of the best coaches of all-time. Calhoun is a legend and should be treated like one.
Everyone who runs a superior program for that long is bound to have a few recruiting violations, but it's not enough for a school to get rid of the best thing going for them.
Is Kansas State a Legitimate Title Contender?
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Kansas State is a legitimate title contender. It is led by senior Jacob Pullen, who averaged 19.3 points last season and is a difference-maker in every aspect of the game. With the recent win over Virginia Tech, look for Kansas State to start rolling over opponents now.
The Wildcats have what it takes to win the title—it might be a long shot, but they are a good team with a lot of experience.
Will Northwestern Secure Their First Bid to the Big Dance?
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It will be tough for the Wildcats to make their first-ever NCAA tournament. They are playing in arguably the best conference in the nation and will have to beat many tough opponents to even be considered for the tournament.
They have a lot of experience coming back, led by junior John Shurma, who averaged 18.6 points per game last season and dropped 34 in their season opener.
With their experience coming back to help them and their unique defensive style, expect the Wildcats to be the seventh team in for the Big Ten this season.
How Many Freshmen Will Be on the End-of-Season All-America Team?
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Two: Harrison Barnes from North Carolina, who will basically being carrying the team, and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, who will prove to be one of the best players in the nation and have a shot at the Naismith award.
Who Are the Best Seniors in the Country?
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After all this hype of freshmen, we seem to forget about those guys who have been there all four years at their programs. Here are the best seniors:
Kyle Singler, Duke
E'twaun Moore, Purdue
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
Mike Tisdale, Illinois
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
Vernon Macklin, Florida
One for the Women: How Long Will UConn's Streak Keep Going?
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Although almost beaten by Baylor earlier tonight, UConn's streak will end in the national championship game against none other than Baylor.
Baylor will be able to end it in dramatic fashion in the championship and everyone will go wild, except for Maya Moore that is.
Who Is the Most Overrated Coach?
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John Calipari is the most overrated coach in the country. Hear me out on this one.
Sure the man is an excellent recruiter, but being a college basketball coach is about being more than a recruiter. It is about leading by example and encouraging your kids to develop into players as they go through school.
Calipari might as well be called an agent, not a coach.
Who Has the Best Chance to Go Undefeated?
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Duke has the best shot at going undefeated. Although Michigan State is better than Duke, Duke has an easier conference schedule and will have a better opportunity at pulling off this amazing feat.
Although they have the best shot at it, it is not going to happen.
Who Will Be the Best Foreign Player?
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This is kind of a sad story. The best foreign player, who really wanted an education and really wanted to play college hoops, lost his eligibility.
Kentucky freshman Enes Kanter was found to have taken too many incentives while playing on a club team in Europe. It is too bad for the kid because he really wanted to play and he would have been a dominant force.
Who Is the Most Underrated Coach in the Nation?
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Bruce Weber is the most underrated coach in college basketball. His ability to recruit stellar players year after year and make Illinois successful year after year gives great reason to consider him a great coach.
Weber has an Illinois team with a shot at making the Final Four this season. Is this the year he finally gets some credit?
Will Oregon's New Facilities Translate into Wins?
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Oregon's new complex will not translate to success right away, but it will eventually help build up a struggling program. Recruits will see the new facilities and want to go there, naturally.
If you have the best, you generally get the best. So the answer—this year it will not help them win, but in the future, it's a definite yes!
Who Is the Most Experienced Team?
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Michigan State is the most experienced team, closely followed by Duke.
Michigan State will start four players from last year who contributed greatly to the team. The return of Kalin Lucas from injury will be key to their success as they bid for a national title under Tom Izzo.
How Many Times Will We Hear the Words "John Calipari" and "Violation" Together?
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Too many to count. Being such a great recruiter, he will always be accused of cheating, especially with his past history at Memphis and UMass.
If Kentucky gets sanctions placed on it, the Wildcats deserve it because they hired a guy who had sanctions placed on two other programs.
Can Arizona Start a New Streak?
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Arizona is still a very young team that only has one senior.
With their ability to score and playing in a weak conference like the Pac-10, the Wildcats have a shot at making the tournament once again. If they do not make it this year, they are almost a lock to make it next year with so many young players getting experience.
Who Has a Shot to Win the Naismith Award?
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I think this one is an interesting question that is between three guys: Kyle Singler of Duke, Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, and Harrison Barnes of North Carolina. These three guys will really separate themselves from the rest of the group for the award.
Singler is definitely the favorite at this point in the season, however.
Who Is the Most Overrated Team?
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Butler is the most overrated team in the nation right now. They were stomped by Louisville 88-73 in a game that wasn't close from the start.
The Bulldogs really miss the presence of the "kid," Gordon Hayward. They will really need to step it up if they plan on getting back in the polls, because they will almost certainly drop out after that performance against Louisville.
Who Will Be the Highest-Scoring Team in the Land?
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The Washington Huskies will be the highest-scoring team in the nation. They will be able to score all over Pac-10 teams this season and will be able to run the ball up and down the court.
The obvious choice here was Ohio State, which has all the tools to be an offensive powerhouse, but the Buckeyes will be playing in the defense-dominated Big Ten.
Who Will Be the Best Defensive Team in the Nation?
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The Purdue Boilermakers will be the best defensive team in the nation. Although they lost a great defender in Chris Kramer, they still play a hard-nosed brand of defense that rivals the best in the country. They set a standard for getting steals and creating turnovers.
Their ability to get in their opponent's face is a great thing to have on the court. The only question is the strength of their interior defense when JaJuan Johnson is in foul trouble.
Who Has the Best Freshman Class This Season?
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This is not even a question. Kentucky blows away everyone in this category.
The Wildcats will be starting three freshmen who very well could be lottery picks depending on how well they do. More than likely, two of the three will be one-and-done at least. They have a great recruiting class, as usual!
Who Is the Most Underrated Team in the Nation?
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Illinois is the most underrated team in the nation. The Illini have all the key players to make a run at a title, but no one seems to notice them.
They will surprise a lot of people this season.
Who Is the Most Underrated Player in the Nation?
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This player plays for a team that is just darn awful, and it is a shame. Taylor Battle is one of the best guards in the nation but is hardly known outside the conference because he plays for such a horrendous team.
Although Penn State is on the rise, it hopes to at least beat Indiana this year in conference play.
What Program Is on the Decline This Season?
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Besides the obvious answer of Butler, which is missing its key ingredient to success, the team most on the decline right now is Connecticut.
With all the bad press the recruiting scandal is causing, it's making people forget about the great things that have been done at UConn over the years. The Huskies are starting to fall from the elite programs and it's a sad thing to see.
What Program Is Starting to Rise Back to the Top?
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Indiana is a team that is slowly rising up and will make some noise in the near future. Maybe not this season, but Indiana will be back towards the elite soon under the leadership of Tom Crean.
Look for the Hoosiers to have a few big wins this season and pull some upsets. Watch out, Kentucky.
Who Is the Most Important Player to His Team?
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Jacob Pullen is the most important player for his team in the nation. Without him the Wildcats are far less exciting.
Pullen, who averaged 19.3 points per game last season, is essential to the success of Kansas State.
Who Will Be the Best Big Man?
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This is a tough one to call, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Rick Jackson of Syracuse. Last season, Jackson averaged 9.7 points per game while not getting much playing time.
Jackson is going to have a breakout year and solidify himself as one of the best big men in the country.
Does Duke Have What It Takes to Repeat as National Champions?
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Duke definitely has what it takes to repeat as national champions. With the return of Kyle Singler, the Blue Devils will have the opportunity to win back-to-back titles.
They will also need senior guard Nolan Smith to have a great season if they plan on repeating as champions.
The Plumlee twins will be expected to contribute a lot to the team this year as well, but they definitely have what it takes to make another run at the championship this season.
The question is will they?
Who Are the "One-and-Done" Players?
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Every season there are those one-and-done players who would have developed into great athletes if they decided to stay the four years of college, but no one should blame them for taking the money of the NBA to avoid injury in college.
Here is the list of one-and-done athletes:
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Daron Lamb, Kentucky
Brandon Knight, Kentucky
Who Will Be Upset in the First Round of the Tournament?
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Pittsburgh will be the first team to be upset in the tournament this season. They will have a great regular season, possibly only losing one or two games, then face a real defense and be eliminated by a buzzer-beater.
There is always that one team, and this year it just might be Pitt.
Who Will Be the Overall No. 1 Seed in the Tournament?
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Michigan State will be the highest seed in the tournament. After reaching the Final Four two seasons in a row without a championship, the Spartans will be looking to hang a banner after this season.
Who Will Be the No. 2 Overall Seed in the Tournament?
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Duke will be the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
The only reason for the Blue Devils being behind Michigan State is the fact that Michigan State will beat them in the Big Ten/ACC challenge.
Who Will Be the No. 3 Overall Seed in the Tournament?
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Villanova will be the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament.
The Wildcats are going to tear up in the Big East this season and are expected to have a great year. Pitt is the favorite in the Big East, but 'Nova will surprise them.
Who Will Be the Fourth and Final No. 1 Seed?
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Ohio State will finish right behind Michigan State in the Big Ten, maybe even sharing the conference title with them.
Ohio State is a great team and its big loss from last season was Evan Turner—but it replaced him with one of the best freshmen in the country.
Who Will Be in the Final Four and Win the National Title?
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The Final Four is something that everyone predicts before the season starts and this year is no different.
Here are my picks for the Final Four:
Michigan State
Duke
Illinois
Kansas State
Duke and Michigan State will meet in what will be an epic battle for the national title and a rematch from the Big Ten/ACC challenge, although Duke will win this one.
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