College Basketball Predictions: 13 Teams That'll Be Most Fun to Watch in 2011

One of the great things about college basketball is the variety of playing styles available for fans. Whether it’s Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone, Roy Williams’ fast break or Bo Ryan’s suffocating man-to-man defense, there’s something for everyone in the college game.

On top of that plethora of options is the potential for enormous change from year to year.

Julysses Nobles and Arkansas didn’t earn much notice on the national scene last year, but the arrival of new coach Mike Anderson and his high-speed approach will make them a more dangerous (and much more exciting) team in 2011-12.

Whatever the taste of the individual fan, the upcoming season will have some team that gives them just what they want to see.

Herein, one (naturally subjective) take on the 13 most entertaining teams to watch for this year.

13. Iowa State

Like most ventures into mad-scientist territory, there’s a fair chance that coach Fred Hoiberg’s experiment in team chemistry will blow up in his face. If it doesn’t, though, the Cyclones could have their best team in years.

Hoiberg has brought in four high-profile transfers (largely from the Big Ten) who become eligible to play this season.

Two of them—ex-Spartan shooting guard Chris Allen and ex-Golden Gopher power forward Royce White—bring major character questions after battling suspensions at their previous schools, but there’s no denying the talent being added to the Iowa State roster.

With Diante Garrett gone, there’s no doubt that this will be a very different team than it was a year ago. If the high-flying White and the high-scoring Allen play up to their potential, it will also be a far better one.

12. Michigan

Admittedly, not every opponent is going to make the Wolverines look as good as they did in their 30-point blowout of Tennessee last March.

That said, Michigan’s subsequent near-upset of Duke suggests that the talent level in Ann Arbor is closer to what they showed against the Vols than many fans would’ve expected.

The loss of Darius Morris will curtail the high-precision Michigan attack somewhat, but Tim Hardaway Jr. appears ready to take over more of Morris’ play-making duties.

With Hardaway and Zack Novak still around to lead the charge, this will again be a team that can execute with the best of them on the offensive end.

11. Missouri

What Missouri’s offense will look like in the absence of Mike Anderson is an open question. What’s not up for debate is that the Tigers are loaded with talent on both ends of the floor.

Even if new coach Frank Haith dials back the pressure, mobile bigs Ricardo Ratliffe and Laurence Bowers will make for a dangerous transition team.

Add in high-speed guards Phil Pressey, Marcus Denmon and Kim English, and Mizzou will be able to run the floor with anyone, even if the half-court offense is still prone to stalling.

10. Louisville

For those who prefer more variety in an offense than “get the ball to Jimmer Fredette and wait for him to score,” Louisville has the remedy.

The Cardinals’ top five scorers from last season (three of whom return) were within five points of each other.

The core of the offense is junior point guard Peyton Siva, who piled up 5.3 assists a game last season. Even if this roster doesn’t quite have the talent to compete with its coach’s great teams of yore, the ball movement and offensive flow will be vintage Pitino.

9. Arkansas

New coach Mike Anderson probably doesn’t have the personnel quite yet to get the most out of his version of “40 minutes of hell.”

Still, the system that made Arkansas a national power under Nolan Richardson is a good bet to turn last year’s also-ran Razorbacks into a competitive team.

With junior guard Julysses Nobles providing leadership for B.J. Young and a host of other talented freshmen, Arkansas should make the transition to Anderson’s press-and-fast-break game fairly smoothly.

Even without the three-point gunners who made it so successful at Missouri, Anderson’s system will make the Razorbacks must-see TV this season.

8. Washington

Lorenzo Romar’s backcourt-focused offense has produced some tremendously entertaining teams at UW, and this year’s edition looks to be no exception.

Isaiah Thomas may be gone, but the combination of high-powered freshman Tony Wroten Jr. and a healthy Abdul Gaddy should hold down the point guard spot just fine.

Even better, the Huskies return electrifying sophomore Terrence Ross, whose thunderous dunks are only going to become a bigger part of the offense now that he’s likely to be one of the featured stars instead of getting lost on a deep bench.

Question marks in the frontcourt may hurt Washington’s win total, but when this offense is clicking it’s going to be a sight to see.

7. Ohio State

The Buckeyes may not dominate the highlight reels like many teams on this list, but for anyone who wants to see a team that can make plays in all facets of the game, Ohio State is a terrific option.

Star power forward Jared Sullinger isn’t a Blake Griffin-style dunking machine, but he has the size and skill to control games as much as Griffin ever did at Oklahoma.

On the outside, Aaron Craft is a star in the making at the point guard spot, while backcourt mate William Buford will provide plenty of three-point marksmanship.

Add in a play-making defense (even with the loss of Dallas Lauderdale in the middle), and Ohio State brings a little of everything to the table.

6. Virginia Commonwealth

The Rams’ high-risk, high-reward defensive approach carried them as far as last year’s Final Four, and there wasn’t a more exciting team in the tournament.

They may not be quite as good with Jamie Skeen and Joey Rodriguez gone, but don’t expect coach Shaka Smart to take his foot off the accelerator.

Bradford Burgess is one of the most dangerous perimeter players in the country, and his three-point barrage will be the heart of VCU’s offense.

If big man Juvonte Reddic can build on his limited freshman role to provide a presence on the inside, the swarming Rams will surprise a lot of opponents again this year.

5. Florida

In all fairness, this probably isn’t the team to watch if you like physical post play or big-time shot blocking. What the Gators do have is speed to burn, thanks to what might be the country’s most talented group of guards.

Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton arrived on the national scene during last year’s NCAA tournament, and the high-energy duo will doubtless continue to pour in points from all parts of the floor.

This year, though, they’ll be joined by heralded frosh Bradley Beal, who not only brings more scoring but also (at 6-foot-4) some much-needed length to the undersized backcourt.

4. UConn

In the grind-it-out Big East, few teams have both the defensive toughness to win and the offensive chops to look good doing it.

With Shabazz Napier ready to take over for Kemba Walker, the defending national champs have both sides of the ball covered.

Setting aside the execrable national title game, the Huskies’ mix of clutch heroics and playground flair turned into must-see TV last year.

With largely the same talent base returning (and the fiery Napier looking like a reasonable facsimile of departed star Walker), it’s hard to imagine the Huskies disappointing the fans this year.

3. Vanderbilt

Rooting for an underdog is even more fun when the underdog has some bite. Vanderbilt, rarely much more than an also-ran in the stacked SEC East, is set up for a star turn this season.

The Commodores return a veteran lineup led by last year’s SEC scoring champ, John Jenkins.

With the country’s best shooting guard flanked by two more perimeter weapons in Jeffery Taylor and Brad Tinsley—and supported by shot-swatting center Festus Ezeli—Vandy is going to be in for some big numbers and big wins in 2011-12. 

2. Memphis

Coach Josh Pastner’s rebuilding effort kicked into high gear at the end of last season, when his freshman-laden team won the C-USA tournament and nearly upset Arizona in the NCAAs.

With basically every key contributor back for another go-round, the Tigers are going to be a force in 2011-12.

Memphis wins with balance and athleticism, led by high-energy guards Chris Crawford and Will Barton.

That size in the backcourt (6-foot-4 and 6-foot-6, respectively), not to mention speedy 6-foot-8 forward Tarik Black, lets Memphis keep the pressure on opponents defensively, then get out and run with a fast break that’s going to be one of the nation’s best this year.

1. North Carolina

With four players on the preseason watch list for the Wooden Award, it’s hard to argue with the Tar Heels’ depth and talent.

The return of all five starters from last year’s ACC champs makes this year’s edition a favorite for the national title.

The headliner is high flyer Harrison Barnes, a potential No. 1 overall draft pick. He’s complemented by two of the country’s best specialists—defensive stopper John Henson at power forward and distributor Kendall Marshall—and soft-shooting seven-footer Tyler Zeller.

Even for basketball fans (like this writer) who have no particular allegiance to North Carolina, it’s hard to find a team likely to put on a more impressive show in 2011-12.