College Basketball: Preseason Predictions For All-Defensive Teams

Last season’s NCAA tournament provided a valuable showcase of the power of an elite defense.

Bernard James, Chris Singleton and the Florida State Seminoles snuck into the Sweet 16, stunning No. 2-seeded Notre Dame in the process, almost entirely on the strength of a suffocating D.

Although many college basketball conferences name All-Defensive teams at the end of the season, there’s no real equivalent of All-America honors on the defensive side.

That’s no reason, however, to ignore the players who deserve that recognition.

Herein, a projection for the country’s best on the defensive end, broken down into first, second and third teams.

Third Team: G Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s team defensive approach doesn’t lend itself to impressive numbers (no Badger recorded more than 0.7 steals a game).

The team finished fourth in the country in points allowed (58.6 per game).

The leader of that effort, for last season and this one, is star guard Jordan Taylor.

Though Taylor’s greatest asset is his efficiency in running the offense, he’s a physical defender at 6’1”, 195 lbs.

Expect his senior year to feature another top team defensive effort, this time with more individual credit for the standout PG.

Third Team: G Chris Crawford, Memphis

Memphis’ late-season surge included a near-upset of Arizona in the NCAA tournament in which the Tigers forced 14 turnovers.

With a year of hard-won experience for what had been a very young squad, Memphis’ defense will only be tougher in 2011-12.

Leading the charge will be 6’4” point guard Chris Crawford.

As a freshman, Crawford averaged 1.6 steals a game (the best of five Tigers at 1.0 or better). His long arms will cut off plenty of passing lanes again this season.

Third Team: G Duke Mondy, Providence

The graduation of Marshon Brooks leaves a gaping hole in the Providence offense.

The Providence defense, however, will be rather better off thanks to the return of Duke Mondy.

Coming off the bench as a sophomore, Mondy led the Big East with 2.1 steals a game in 2010-11.

It’s not hard to imagine him improving even on that figure now that he’ll have a chance to move into the starting lineup.

Third Team: F C.J. Aiken, St. Joseph’s

Playing for an 11-22 St. Joe’s squad, C.J. Aiken was easy to overlook in 2010-11.

Nevertheless, the freshman established himself as one of the most imposing defenders in college hoops.

The 6’9” Aiken was third in the nation last season with 3.5 blocks per game.

He’ll need to improve his offensive performance (7.4 points a night) to earn more minutes, but on the defensive end he’s clearly ready for prime time.

Third Team: C Ty Walker, Wake Forest

Ty Walker didn’t get on the court very often for Wake Forest last season, but he certainly made the most of his opportunities.

The 7’0” center blocked 2.5 shots in just 18.1 minutes per game in 2010-11.

Walker’s wretched offensive game (3.6 points a game) will make it tough for him to play true starter’s minutes even as a senior.

Still, his numbers speak for themselves when it comes to defending the paint.

Second Team: G Aaron Craft, Ohio State

Although he gets more attention for his outstanding passing—4.8 assists a night as a freshman—Aaron Craft is a dangerous defender as well.

Craft led the Big Ten with 2.0 steals a game in 2010-11.

Without Dallas Lauderdale’s shot-blocking to hold down the middle, there will be more pressure on the Buckeyes’ perimeter defenders this season.

Craft’s raw numbers may dip in his sophomore year, but he’ll still be a dangerous backcourt stopper.

Second Team: G Phil Pressey, Missouri

If new coach Frank Haith doesn’t slow down the high-pressure Missouri defense too much, Phil Pressey is set for another outstanding season.

Last season, in Mike Anderson’s attacking scheme, the freshman guard posted a team-high 2.0 steals a game.

With ball-hawking teammates like Marcus Denmon and Kim English around him, Pressey will have plenty of opportunities to make plays again this season.

Now that he has a year of college experience under his belt, expect the son of former NBA All-Defensive honoree Paul Pressey to continue making his own name in the Big 12 this season.

Second Team: F JaMychal Green, Alabama

There are bigger power forwards out there than the 6’8”, 228-lb JaMychal Green.

Few, however, do a better job of punishing opponents for entering the paint. 

Green blocked 2.2 shots a game in 2010-11. The Alabama junior has experienced teammates around him who know how to funnel opposing scorers into his range.

Don’t be surprised to see him among the nation’s blocks leaders this season.

Second Team: F Alex Oriakhi, UConn

While Kemba Walker’s offense justifiably dominated the headlines, defense had a lot to do with UConn’s national championship run.

No player was more important to that defense that 6’9” Alex Oriakhi.

The sophomore came into his own in 2010-11, anchoring the middle for the Huskies and blocking 1.6 shots a game.

Expect him to be a dominant force this season, even in the physical Big East.

Second Team: C Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt looks to be set for one of the best seasons in school history thanks to a talented pool of upperclassmen.

While scoring star John Jenkins will be the centerpiece of the Commodores’ squad, the actual center—Festus Ezeli—will be a top-tier weapon in his own right.

Ezeli finished 18th in the nation last season with 2.61 blocks per game.

With his NBA body (6’11”, 255 lbs) and defensive instincts, he could top even that figure in 2011-12.

First Team: G Jorge Gutierrez, Cal

Cal is going to lean heavily on senior leadership this season, and as often, that approach will start with the point guard position.

Jorge Gutierrez took home the Defensive Player of the Year award in last year’s Pac-10.

Gutierrez has size (6’3”, 195 lbs) and experience in a conference where many point guards will have neither.

Expect him to improve on his 1.6 steals a game from last season.

First Team: G Jared Cunningham, Oregon State

One outstanding player isn’t enough to make Oregon State a contender in the Pac-12, but that won’t stop Jared Cunningham from trying.

As a sophomore last season, Cunningham not only led the team with 14.2 points a game but finished fourth in the nation with 2.8 steals per contest.

The long-armed, 6’4” Cunningham should be in for another big year in 2011-12.

With several freshmen likely to become starting point guards in the Pac-12’s inaugural season, a veteran like Cunningham will have plenty of opportunities to make plays.

First Team: F Khris Middleton, Texas A&M

Few teams in the country played a man-to-man defense to match the Aggies’ version last season.

The core of that effort, and the returning star of this year’s squad, is Khris Middleton.

The 6’7” Middleton averaged a pedestrian 1.2 steals a game.

His pressure keyed defense-first victories like A&M’s conference tournament win over Missouri (in which the Tigers shot 33.9% from the field, including 3-15 from long range).

Expect more of the same from Middleton, and the Aggies, in his junior season.

First Team: F John Henson, North Carolina

North Carolina’s biggest body is 7’0”, 250-lb Tyler Zeller, but the heart of their defense is power forward John Henson.

No small fry himself at 6’10”, 210 lbs, Henson led the ACC with 3.2 blocks a game last season.

Henson is only a junior, and last season was his first as a starter.

The prospect of his defensive game getting even more refined can only be a scary one for ACC foes.

First Team: C Bernard James, Florida State

With Chris Singleton gone to the NBA, Florida State isn’t likely to equal last year’s historically impressive defensive performance (the lowest field-goal percentage allowed by any team in a decade).

With Bernard James in the middle, though, the Seminoles are hardly going to fall apart.

James led FSU with 2.4 blocks a game in 2010-11. With a year of experience at the Division I level, the former Air Force M.P. is set for a huge senior season.