2008-09 Men\'s College Basketball Thread

[NickNels]

First Men\'s College Basketball Top 25 Poll was released today:

ESPN/USA Today Poll
 
 1. North Carolina (31) 0-0 775
 2. Connecticut 0-0 707
 3. Louisville 0-0 694
 4. UCLA 0-0 650
 5. Duke 0-0 578
 6. Pittsburgh 0-0 576
 7. Michigan State 0-0 572
 8. Texas 0-0 538
 9. Notre Dame 0-0 525
10. Purdue 0-0 465
11. Gonzaga 0-0 437
12. Memphis 0-0 425
13. Tennessee 0-0 408
14. Oklahoma 0-0 387
15. Arizona State 0-0 304
16. Miami (FL) 0-0 233
17. Marquette 0-0 219
18. Georgetown 0-0 175
19. Florida 0-0 161
20. Davidson 0-0 158
21. USC 0-0 153
21. Wisconsin 0-0 153
23. Kansas 0-0 130
24. Wake Forest 0-0 129
25. Villanova 0-0 122

Others Receiving Votes
UNLV 60, Saint Mary\'s 59, Ohio State 54, Baylor 47, Xavier 27, Syracuse 23, Texas A&M 19, LSU 19, Arizona 18, Virginia Tech 15, Brigham Young 13, West Virginia 10, Washington 8, Siena 8, Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 7, Oklahoma State 4, Clemson 2, Washington State 1.


Connecticut with a strong #2 ranking to start the year.  We would have been #1 if Hansboro didn\'t come back for UNC...not really sure what else he has to prove?

Anyway, UCONN is returning all their starters from last year with the exception of Stanley Robinson (who may or may not be back spring semester).

In addition we have added three new members to the team:

Scottie Haralson
Freshman
Guard
6-4, 215
Jackson, Miss.
 Before UConn: Averaged 22.1 points per game during Junior and Senior years at Provine High School in Jackson, Mississippi, leading the team to the state crown both years. Earned First Team All-State honors. Named the 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Mississippi.
Personal Information: Alex Scottie Haralson…born February 17, 1990 in Jackson, MS… Ranked third in his graduating class with a 3.75 grade point average… son of Al and Debra Haralson.

Charles Okwandu
Sophomore
Center
7-1, 255
Lagos, Nigeria
Before UConn: Graduated from King’s High School in Nigeria in 2004. Attended Harcum Junior College in Pennsylvania from 2007-08, playing half a season for the school’s basketball team.
Personal Information: Charles C. Okwandu…born October 24, 1986 in Lagos, Nigeria…son of Basil and Angela Okwandu…has 4 brothers: Victor, Godwin, Paul, and Stanley.

Kemba Walker
Freshman
Guard
6-1, 172
Bronx, N.Y.
Before UConn: Was a standout for the Rice High School basketball team in New York, averaging 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. A 2008 McDonald’s All-American. Named to 2008 U18 USA Team and FIBA Americas Tournament MVP averaging 13.4 points, 5 assists, and 4.6 rebounds.
Personal Information: Kemba Hudley Walker…Born May 8, 1990 in Bronx, NY. Son of Paul and Andrea Walker. Has 3 siblings, Sharifa Nesbitt, Akil Nesbitt, and Keya Edwards.


LET\'S GO HUSKIES!!!!

[zuke583]

Connecticut with a strong #2 ranking to start the year.  We would have been #1 if Hansboro didn\'t come back for UNC...not really sure what else he has to prove?

he probably wants to win a championship

LET\'S GO HUSKIES!!!!

and 7 big east teams in the top 25 (4 in the top 10) with two more getting votes

this conference is too good...we beat each other up all year

[NickNels]

he probably wants to win a championship

You\'re right...i thought he won a championship as a Freshman.  I guess that was the year before

[wildcoyote]

We would have been #1 if Hansboro didn\'t come back for UNC...not really sure what else he has to prove?

He needs to prove he can play the 3.  He\'s going to measure short for the draft.  They list him at 6\'9" but he\'s more like 6\'6".  He\'s not the freak athlete Michael Beasely is either so it\'s going to be a concern.  He could slide as far back in the draft as the 20\'s.

[Yoda]

First Men\'s College Basketball Top 25 Poll was released today:

ESPN/USA Today Poll
 
23. Kansas 0-0 130 QUOTE]

This is complete and utter BULL SHIT! KU won the national championship and they\'re not even ranked in the Top 10?  ESPN and USA Today can kiss my hairy white ass.

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NickNels]

This is complete and utter BULL SHIT! KU won the national championship and they\'re not even ranked in the Top 10? ESPN and USA Today can kiss my hairy white ass.

That\'s what happens when you lose 3 starters.

[Yoda]

I didn\'t go to Kansas, but my brother did and was friends with Vaughn and Ostertag.  So, I guess you could say that I\'m a fan, but I do have ties.

[zuke583]

We would have been #1 if Hansboro didn\'t come back for UNC...not really sure what else he has to prove?

He needs to prove he can play the 3.  He\'s going to measure short for the draft.  They list him at 6\'9" but he\'s more like 6\'6".  He\'s not the freak athlete Michael Beasely is either so it\'s going to be a concern.  He could slide as far back in the draft as the 20\'s.

if that\'s the case, then he\'s going to be a great addition to a playoff team...i\'ll take a guy who plays his heart out for winners over a kid with great upside any day

This is complete and utter BULL SHIT! KU won the national championship and they\'re not even ranked in the Top 10? ESPN and USA Today can kiss my hairy white ass.

That\'s what happens when you lose 3 starters.

exactly. but the preseason polls need to be taken with a grain of salt...polls are fun to discuss for the fans, but they are pretty much meaningless (except for the last one of the season)

[NickNels]

Highlights so far:

Kentucky is 0-2!?!?!

Davidson almost knocked off Oklahoma behind 44 from Steph Curry.  That kid is nasty

UCONN 3-0; Undefeated in Novemember and December in Gampell Pavillion since it opened in 1990...against some fierce competion might i add

US Virgin Islands Tournament this weekend

I was also watching the pre-season special on ESPN.  Joe Lunardi (AKA Joey Brackets) thinks there will be 9 Big East teams dancing this year (maybe even 10)

[Drew_Kingsley]

Andy Katz picked Yale to win the Ivy League. Yale almost knocks off national powerhouse Stanford (losing 75-67) and then gets blown out at "powerhouse compared to Yale" Vermont (89-58).

Whatever, I got my Ivy championship ring from the volleyball team. See you in 10 years, when I\'m at a bar pretending I was quarterback for the 2006 Yale team that won the league.

[tyzack]

Nothing is going to make me more mad every morning when sports center will cover North Who Gives A Shit State  vs. Peice of Crap College from now until March instead of hockey.

Not that they cover hockey that much anyway.

[zuke583]

Nothing is going to make me more mad every morning when sports center will cover North Who Gives A Shit State  vs. Peice of Crap College from now until March instead of hockey.

Not that they cover hockey that much anyway.

there\'s still a hockey league? is it a live feed from russia or something? i didn\'t think people still cared about that stupid shit sport

[NickNels]

Nothing is going to make me more mad every morning when sports center will cover North Who Gives A Shit State  vs. Peice of Crap College from now until March instead of hockey.

Not that they cover hockey that much anyway.

Sport of hockey = great to watch and play

Following hockey = who gives a shit.  There is a reason there is only 1 hockey analyst on ESPN and he gets about 5 minutes on Sportscenter a week.  Call me when the playoffs start because an 82 game schedule is way too much hockey for my tastes.

[tyzack]

Nothing is going to make me more mad every morning when sports center will cover North Who Gives A Shit State  vs. Peice of Crap College from now until March instead of hockey.

Not that they cover hockey that much anyway.

there\'s still a hockey league? is it a live feed from russia or something? i didn\'t think people still cared about that stupid shit sport

I\'m a Canadian in hiding:

Sport of hockey = great to watch and play

Following hockey = who gives a shit. There is a reason there is only 1 hockey analyst on ESPN and he gets about 5 minutes on Sportscenter a week. Call me when the playoffs start because an 82 game schedule is way too much hockey for my tastes.

I feel the same way about college basekball.

Call me in March because watching 63 college games is just about enough for my tastes.

[zuke583]

big east is fucking OWNING right now. i know it\'s only november, but all these big out of conference wins are going to pay off in march