Wisconsin’s unrivaled consistency hit a bump in the road last season as the Badgers were absent from the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998 (!!!). Now, with a promising sophomore class returning to support low-post aficionado Ethan Happ, Greg Gard has all the pieces he needs to right the ship back on course.
Read more#35 Cincinnati Preview 2018-19
UC’s mega-meltdown against Nevada in the Round of 32 sent the Bearcats packing before the tournament’s 2nd weekend for the 6th year in a row. Cincy returns a talented perimeter core, but must now re-tool the interior with Gary Clark and Kyle Washington both graduating this summer.
Read more#36 Xavier Preview 2018-19
A great deal of change is afoot in Northeast Cincinnati, as the Musketeers wave goodbye to Chris Mack and Xavier legends Trevon Bluiett and JP Macura (among others). New coach Travis Steele hopes, Quentin Goodin, a promising group of sophomores, and a few grad transfers can maintain X’s streak of 6 straight tournaments…
Read more#37 Butler Preview 2018-19
With Kelan Martin’s departure, Butler is now officially Kamar Baldwin’s team. Is he ready for that responsibility? And who will emerge as his key sidekicks?
Read more#38 Providence Preview 2018-19
Three pillars of the Providence program depart (Kyron Cartwright, Rodney Bullock, Jalen Lindsey), but the Friars still have Ed Cooley and a bevy of young talent with which to work. The biggest question: how big of an impact can Emmitt Holt have in his return from injury?
Read more#40 Arizona Preview 2018-19
Despite dealing with a mass exodus of his entire starting 5, Sean Miller has cobbled together enough talent to maintain respectability in Tucson. Will he be able to piece it all together in time to make a run in the vulnerable Pac 12?
Read moreNBA Draft Big Board 2018 - The Rest
Sneaking in the remainder of my Big Board before Thursday night’s draft, here’s prospects 17-50…
Read moreNBA Draft Big Board - Lottery 2018
Jim’s annual stab at an NBA Draft board kicks off with his lottery rankings. The only non-NCAA player resides atop the board, but how to rank everyone else was a massive headache…
Read moreCoaching Trees: A Family Affair
Ever wonder who the coach of your favorite school used to work for? Or how Frank Martin got his intense style of play? Well, wonder no more!
Read more2018-19 Bracket Outlook - Early Offseason
A Top 25 simply wasn't enough - I needed to go through the entire bracket to fill the sad, dark chasm in my heart now that the college hoops offseason has overtaken us…
Read more2017-18 National Championship Preview
Villanova vs. Michigan, a championship worthy of the stellar basketball we witnessed in 2017-18. The two hottest teams in the country square off for a chance to etch their names in NCAA history. Jay Wright seeks his second championship of his Hall of Fame career; John Beilein seeks his first. It's a heavyweight bout between two brilliant coaches and talented squads.
Read more2017-18 Final Four Preview: Villanova vs. Kansas
The heavyweight bout on the right side of the bracket presents a fascinating matchup - both teams have prolific three-point shooting offenses, and both feature a plethora of versatile weapons with which to attack the other. Who will play for the national title Monday night?
Read more2017-18 Final Four Preview: Michigan vs. Loyola Chicago
And then there were four... Michigan and Loyola enter the Final 4 riding a combined 30-game winning streak, so something's gotta give this Saturday in San Antonio to determine who plays for all the marbles Monday night.
Read more2017-18 Elite 8 Preview: Villanova vs. Texas Tech
Nova Nation and the Red Raiders find themselves one step away from college basketball's most revered stage - will Chris Beard break through for his first ever Final 4? Or will the Nova offensive machine keep rolling and send the Wildcats back to the grand stage after falling short in the Round of 32 last season...
Read more2017-18 Elite 8 Preview: Kansas vs. Duke
Kansas v. Duke - a blue-blooded affair! Two of the all-time great college basketball programs got toe-to-toe in what should be the best game of the Tournament thus far. It's an Elite Eight game with a National Championship feel!
Read more2017-18 Elite 8 Preview: Saturday Games
Two 9-seeds will take the court on Saturday (in separate games), a shocking turn of events that is only topped by Loyola Chicago's appearance on the day's slate. Will the left side of the bracket see more chaos? Will Sister Jean have to book tickets to San Antonio?
Read more2017-18 Sweet 16 Preview: Midwest Region
Duke. Kansas. Syracuse. Clemson. Four teams enter, one team comes out. Will it be an ACC showdown for a spot in the Final Four? Or will Kansas flex its one-seed muscles and crash the Four yet again?
Read more2017-18 Sweet 16 Preview: South Region
Kentucky's impossibly-difficult path the Final Four (according to John Calipari, at least) has opened up completely, as the first region ever to have all 1-4 seeds fail to make the Sweet 16 appears ripe for Big Blue's picking. Kansas State, Loyola-Chicago, and Nevada hope to undermine that goal, though...
Read more2017-18 Sweet 16 Preview: West Region
The West Region contains pre-Tournament darlings Michigan and Gonzaga, as well as two impressive Power 6 upset squads in Florida St. and Texas A&M. Will either upset train stay on the tracks, or will coaching juggernauts John Beilein and Mark Few derail them?
Read more2017-18 Sweet 16 Preview: East Region
The East has become the 'Region of Chalk' with four of the top 5 seeds advancing to the Sweet 16 - All eyes turn to Boston where Villanova, West Virginia, Purdue and Texas Tech will determine the fate of their Final 4 destiny...
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