Some Futures Thoughts

Let me start by saying I think Kentucky is the team to beat (like most people) this year.  They bring back a lot of talent/experience to couple with an unreal freshman class.  That being said I will not be taking them as a future bet due to the short odds and anything can happen come March.  I also think Arizona, Duke and Wisconsin bring back teams that deserve to be heavy favorites for the national title, but as of now I haven’t taken any of them.

Gonzaga 30/1:  I’m a sucker for Gonzaga every year, and this year I think they have one of their best teams ever.  Being in the WCC means they are a lock for the tourney and if they can win well in the non-conference they should earn a high seed come March.  Pangos and Bell are seniors and have been starting together for a few years now.  Pangos is also back to full strength after being injured for a lot of last year.  They bring in 6-4 transfer Byron Wesley who averaged 18 and 6 for USC last season.  If he buys into the offense then that trio will cause significant problems for opponents.  Ex-Kentucky forward Kyle Wiltjer is eligble now too.  He is a sharpshooting stretch 4 who has been working on his post play during his year off.  7-1 Karnowski is now a junior and I expect close to a double-double a game for him.  As for depth, Dranginis and Vandy transfer McClellan should play solid minutes.

Texas 25/1: I really like the Longhorns this year.  They bring back all impact players from a solid team last year and add five-star 7-footer Myles Turner.  The frontcourt is big and talented, between Ridley, Holmes, Lambert, Ebeh and Turner they can bang down low with anyone.  The backcourt trio of Felix, Turner and Holland return and they were all very productive last year.  The Big 12 is tough this year so there is no doubt they will be battle tested come March.

SMU 75/1: Larry brown lost top recruit Mudiay to overseas play, but he still returns a team I believe can go deep in the tourney.  Moore is a great point guard and Kennedy is a beast down low.    Ben Moore, Yanick Moreira and Keith Frazier should all take steps forward this season.  And who doesn’t love Larry Brown leading a deep team with a chip on their shoulder after being left out of the dance last year.

Others I’m considering:  VCU 40/1, SD State 50/1, St. John’s 250/1 (stretch, I know).  And then possibly out of Wisconsin, Duke or Arizona.

 

Like the Zags. GL

I'm a sucker for the Zags every year as well. I agree w/ your sediments that Gonzaga is usually an auto-NCCA team. They have a strong OOC schedule that will be great tourney prep w/ the likes of SMU, Zona, and UCLA. Add in games with Wazzu, BYU, Georgia, and St Joes; and they will be battle tested. If they can shore up a lower seed and I like them to make a run. They are due. Ugh, I had a nice ticket with them last year that they burned...

Really like UNC as a deep threat at a solid 12-1 odds. The schedule is an absolute monster starting with the early season Battle for Atlantis in the Bahamas which resembles a Sweet 16 line-up w/ the likes of UCLA, Georgetown, Florida, Wisconsin, Butler, Okie, and UAB). That's a beast of a tourney. Add in OOC games with Kentucky, Ohio State, Iowa, and Davidson and UNC sees the spectrum of the college basketball world. That's the definition of preparation for March.

UNC returns a loaded class (losing McAdoo) that should open Marcus Paige into his natural position. Some new three-point threats in the freshman class should take some burden off of Paige for point production. Meeks (who looked like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man last season has really toned up)  and Johnson should be an athletic force down low. Look for a deep team w/ speed.

Really lean SMU and Wisconsin as well. SMU has beefed up their OOC w/ matchups against aforementioned Gonzaga, Indiana, Arkansas, and Michigan. Team could make some noise. Wiscy is due as well. Similar gauntlet of a schedule as UNC. Suffocating defense and well coached. Don't see them not battling for a conference title this season. Disciplined team that could be in the Final Four.

So far I will be on the Heels with value shots on Gonzaga and SMU.