Wisconsin will be good. Don't know if they can repeat another tournament run, but they'll be at the top of the polls all year.

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/10839638/uconn-deandre-daniels-leaving-nba-draft

DeAndre Daniels leaving for the draft. Probably not a bad move dude had a great tournment but probably should have stayed. Don't know if he goes in the first round this year but he probably would next year.

Laley23;1609130 wrote:Just like this year?

No doubt

Not sure why YOU, TT, posted that. However, regardless of the talent, those talks should be tabled. I definitly wouldn't want the pressure of being an unbeaten Kentucky team coming off a runner-up the year before going into the Tournament.

Azubuike24;1609217 wrote:Not sure why YOU, TT, posted that. However, regardless of the talent, those talks should be tabled. I definitly wouldn't want the pressure of being an unbeaten Kentucky team coming off a runner-up the year before going into the Tournament.

Just remember there was some obnoxious UK fans (not you or Goon at all, you guys are normal fans like the rest of us) that talked a lot about it so was throwing the reverse jinx out there early. In all seriousness though this may be Cals best chance at it. Can't believe so many guys actually returned. That's what he would need to have it actually happen.

They are going to get challenged too. These are their known OOC games so far...

vs Kansas in Indianapolis
vs UCLA in Chicago
at Louisville
vs North Carolina
vs Texas
vs Providence

With the Harrison twins returning, Kentucky probably starts the season No. 1. Had they opted for the NBA, Wisconsin was the hands down favorite IMO. That's pretty great news for UK fans. I doubt many, if any, of them expected that many guys to return for another run.

Jordan Adams changes his mind. He's going pro. This leaves UCLA in a pretty dire spot next year. Only like 9 scholarship players.

Texas just cemented a spot in the preseason top ten next season, perhaps even top five. All five starters return for the Longhorns, led by Isiah Taylor, Jonathan Holmes and Cameron Ridley, and now the addition of the number two recruit in the class of 2014, Myles Turner. Turner and Ridley will compose one of the most versatile front-courts in the nation with a strong inside-out combination. The Horns have to be the early favorite to win the Big 12 with all the experience returning.

While Rick Barnes isn't a great coach, he's proven that with the right talent -- T.J. Ford, LaMarcus Aldridge, D.J. Augustin -- he can win in the NCAA Tournament. The team that Texas fields next year might have the goods to get him back to the Final Four.

That said, Kansas has won like 25 straight Big XII titles, so Texas will certainly have something to prove. Still, the Longhorns may have just acquired that missing piece to make a Final Four run.

I'll call another big 12 team the early favorites when someone finally dethrones Kansas. Until then, ku is the favorites.

Besides, rick Barnes is a shitty coach.

Rick Barnes is awful. Him and Jamie Dixon are always easy picks in the first round.

As we've been over before, with the right talent, Rick Barnes is a more than capable coach, especially with the squad he'll have in Austin next season. For as mediocre a coach as he is, three Elite Eights and a Final Four isn't a bad resume.

Either way, Texas will be loaded with talent. The Horns are my Big XII favorites simply due to being the most experienced and IMO talented team in the conference heading into 2014-15. But obviously Kansas has won a lot of Big XII's in a row. Don't mistake that for being the defending champ, though. Kansas will have a completely different team without Wiggins and Embiid. I think they'll be better than last year, but it's still a different team that will have to earn a title.

GOONx19;1611381 wrote:Rick Barnes is awful. Him and Jamie Dixon are always easy picks in the first round.

Well, this year, Texas won in the Round of 64, and has actually only lost in the Round of 64 twice in its last eight NCAA appearances. I do agree that Barnes is an average coach, at best.

Still, with the sheer amount of talent he'll have at his disposal next year, he's more than adequate.

Kentucky/Texas at Rupp just became a much better game. Can't wait. Playing Kansas, Texas, North Carolina, Louisville, UCLA, Providence and likely heading to somewhere in Europe to play some pro teams in August.

Barnes is not a shitty coach. No, he isn't great. But he has won everywhere he has been, and won 70% of games at Texas. He has had Texas in the NCAA every year except for one year. He has also recruited pretty darn well. Again, not saying he is anything great. But he is far from a bad coach IMO. When someone coaches as long as he has, and has been as successful overall as he has been, that can't be overlooked.
People put too much stock in winning an NCAA title. There are many fine coaches who have not done it. Hell, prior to Calipari and Self winning a title, many of you argued how great a coach they still were. And they had MUCH more talent consistantly than many other coaches prior to winning a title. Then all of a sudden, they win a title, finally...and they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. But people tend to forget HOW much talent those two guys have had over many years, yet each has ONLY won, 1 title. Maybe they should be questioned for ONLY winning 1 title with all the talent they have had?? And yes, I think Self is a great coach. I am not so high on Calipari. Point being, it is NOT easy to win a title and many very very good coaches have not won an NCAA. Its not the only measuring point in evaluating how good a coach is.

centralbucksfan;1611531 wrote:Barnes is not a shitty coach. No, he isn't great. But he has won everywhere he has been, and won 70% of games at Texas. He has had Texas in the NCAA every year except for one year. He has also recruited pretty darn well. Again, not saying he is anything great. But he is far from a bad coach IMO. When someone coaches as long as he has, and has been as successful overall as he has been, that can't be overlooked.
People put too much stock in winning an NCAA title. There are many fine coaches who have not done it. Hell, prior to Calipari and Self winning a title, many of you argued how great a coach they still were. And they had MUCH more talent consistantly than many other coaches prior to winning a title. Then all of a sudden, they win a title, finally...and they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. But people tend to forget HOW much talent those two guys have had over many years, yet each has ONLY won, 1 title. Maybe they should be questioned for ONLY winning 1 title with all the talent they have had?? And yes, I think Self is a great coach. I am not so high on Calipari. Point being, it is NOT easy to win a title and many very very good coaches have not won an NCAA. Its not the only measuring point in evaluating how good a coach is.

Are you only saying that because Matta hasn't won a title yet, cbf?

Winning a title is not why people think Barnes is a bad coach.

But, I digress.

EDIT: Not bad, but mediocre/overrated

SportsAndLady;1611370 wrote:I'll call another big 12 team the early favorites when someone finally dethrones Kansas. Until then, ku is the favorites.

Besides, rick Barnes is a shitty coach.

KU is still the favorite. If UT can't win with Durant on the team they sure as shit aren't going to win with this kid either.

@GoodmanESPN: Kansas point guard Naadir Tharpe is expected to transfer, sources told ESPN.

Well, that should soften the blow of missing on Turner.

wildcats20;1611599 wrote:@GoodmanESPN: Kansas point guard Naadir Tharpe is expected to transfer, sources told ESPN.

My god

wildcats20;1611599 wrote:@GoodmanESPN: Kansas point guard Naadir Tharpe is expected to transfer, sources told ESPN.

Didn't Tharpe make a porno with a school nurse at Kansas or something? Kid seems like a disaster. He was out of control, but Kansas loses another experienced starter nonetheless.

Whether you like Rick Barnes or not, Texas has the most experience and talent returning in the Big XII, including all five starters. We'll see what they can do. In seasons where Rick Barnes has had this much talent -- 2003, 2006, 2008 -- Texas has enjoyed great success.

Tharpe. Addition by subtraction. I hated watching that kid screw up so much, and I am not even a Kansas fan lol.

A New England native, Tharpe is considered a UMass lean early, according to some reports. The Minutemen will have a big hole to fill in the coming seasons as Chaz Williams graduates after three years manning the point for Derek Kellogg. While Tharpe wouldn't be available right away, he'd present a good pick up for UMass and the A-10 might turn out to be more the kid's speed.