Daily Skinny (Oct. 1)-Big 10 preview, Ga Tech, Jim Boylen, USC

[coolhandgopher]

Jeff Goodman gives us his Big 10 preview, which places the Gophers at #6 and Royce White as the Big Ten Newcomer of the Year:
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/10149080/Big-Ten-preview:-Can-it-be-even-better

Andy Katz has a nice write-up on Utah’s Jim Boylen who seems destined for the Big Ten someday:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4519748&name=katz_andy

Georgia Tech worst to first in the ACC? I know they have some talent coming on board in freshmen Favors and Udofia, but I think the buzz is creeping towards hyperbole:
http://community.foxsports.com/goodmanonfox/blog/

I hate to agree with Gary Parrish on this point about Duke, but I do agree they'll become awfully relevant again if Barnes and Irving commit to the Blue Devils:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/12290265

The bad news continues for USC basketball:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/colle...eonard-washington29-2009sep29,0,1356635.story

Couple national recruiting notes-former Gopher recruit Casey Prather is headed to Florida and from last week, son of former Gator, Stacey Poole, is headed to Kentucky:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Th...four-star_small_forward_chooses_florida_hoops

http://www.amnews.com/stories/2009/09/28/ukb.150267.sto

 

[Pewterschmidt]

I like Georgia Tech's talent this year. A lot. However, Hewitt has had teams almost as talented and end up underperforming. When Goodman had his team frontcourt rankings, my opinion is he underrated this team's unit. Favors and Lawal will be the best frontcourt combo in college basketball and that should mean more than whatever depth UNC may have. I'd take those 2 over any big on the Tar Heels. I like Kentucky's frontcourt more than UNC's as well. Henson and Zeller for UNC are talented but incredibly raw(Goodman's comment that they can rebound is off base) while Deon Thompson will now have to deal with double-teams with TH in the pros.

As for Duke concerning Barnes and Irving...I've read many places that Irving is almost a guarantee to be a Dukie and while I've heard that Duke is the leader for Barnes, I've never seen any direct quote from anyone in Barnes' camp to suggest as much. I think it's just speculation at this point and that Barnes hasn't come close making a decision yet. If Duke can reel in both and Singler comes back for his senior year(which I think he will), Duke will have their most talented team since '04 and possibly '02.

 

[coolhandgopher]

I agree with you Pewter on Ga Tech's talent, they should be extremely fun to watch this season (I recall one of the national scribes being very high on their PG Udofia) and I also agree with you on Hewitt-led teams. He does have a Final Four to his credit, but it seems more often than not his teams underachieve. I recall the year that Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittendon were playing with the Wreck, they were completely outplayed and outcoached by a lower seeded team in the NCAA tournament and got bounced-I was so underwhelmed with the game plan I witnessed that day, it has made me skeptical of how far Hewitt can take the talent he lands. Seems that Ga Tech is just Wake Forest located further south.