Links Fit For a Hoops Junkie

• I have just posted a new article in which I rank the five best backcourts in college basketball for the upcoming season. You might be surprised.
• I've also been contributing to the NBA Roundtable Discussions over at InformativeSports.com. Here's the latest.
  

The Bleacher Report File

• The Article of the Week: Coby Karl and Chris Lofton Share the NBA Road Less Traveled by John Lorge
• An Argument Worth Your Attention: Which NBA team has made the best moves this summer? Brandon Ribak thinks it's Orlando.
• Everybody's Got an Opinion! (Most Comments): Kevin Durant: Trying to Put Fallen Oklahoma City Thunder on the Map by Tyler Pollard

From the Professionals...

• The SLAM Contribution of the Week: Camp Report: LeBron James Skills Academy/King City Classic by Ryan Jones
• The Dime Magazine Rumor Mill: Harden, Thabeet Face Off in Vegas; D-Wade Gets Max Offer From Miami
• The 2K Sports Interview of the Week: Duke's Andre Dawkins: The Country's Top Recruiting Recruit by Jason Jordan
• The ESPN High School Hoops Check-Up: Reebok versus Nike. The war never ends, but it goes far beyond just sneakers. The two companies battled for the top recruits and the title of the best camp of the summer. Nike's LeBron James Skills Academy and King City Classic and Reebok's All-American Camp featured the best of the best of high schoolers.
• An Interesting Basketball-Related Find: Who is Frank Matrisciano and Why Is He Trying to Kill Blake Griffin? by ESPN's Andy Katz

To contact this writer, email him at marchmadness14@gmail.com. If you would like to read more from him and other great writers, visit InformativeSports.

3 Burning Questions & the Games to Watch

It's been awhile since I've checked in and written about what's going on in college basketball. In fact, I haven't even said anything since the non-conference schedules were still being played. A lot has changed, yet many things remain the same. The Big East is still the best conference (no matter what those ACC people are trying to make you believe), and the power conferences are continuing to dominate the top of the polls each and every week. Without further delay though, I would like to start off on the three hottest topics in the college basketball world today.

1. Who is the best team in the country right now?

Even though UConn has been playing extremely well since their loss to Georgetown (who now seems to be floundering with a loss last night to the previously 0-6 Seton Hall Pirates), I am not completely sold on them. AJ Price is far too inconsistent to be relied on every game, and Thabeet has struggled against good, versatile bigs this year, like he did against Greg Monroe in the G'Town game. If Thabeet gets in foul trouble and Price has an off game, then Jim Calhoun's team is very, very beatable.

My pick, therefore, is Duke. Coming off a 41-point thrashing of rival Maryland, the Blue Devils could not be playing any better, and it all starts with Gerald Henderson. He is having a great season on both ends of the court, being the defensive stopper and offensive force for Coach K. Another key player for Duke right now is Kyle Singler. At times, he can force shots and make bad decisions, but, for the most part, Singler is great at keeping the defense on their heels.

More important, though, is their team defense. Not only do they present fantastic on-ball defense with each and every player, but they also provide great help-side D in case their teammate gets beat. After something like this happens, their rotations happen very quickly and very precisely, which doesn't allow the offense much time to get the ball to the open man for a high-percentage shot.

North Carolina also comes into the discussion for this, as does Wake Forest and a few others, but all have shown weaknesses that can be exposed. For the Tar Heels, you need to get Ty Lawson in foul trouble, because he is the motor that makes the team go. Without him, they are a much worse team. Next, you need to attack Tyler Hansbrough and send a double-team at him whenever he puts the ball on the floor. Finally, you need to close-out on the shooters. Danny Green, Bobby Frasor, and Wayne Ellington cannot be left open, period. If you do that, keep composure, and execute on offense, North Carolina can be beat.

2. Does Kentucky have what it takes to get to the Sweet Sixteen (or possibly further) in March?

Maybe; so much of it depends on the draw (as usual). Any team with a potent perimeter scorer, Jodie Meeks, and solid interior force, Patrick Patterson, will be capable of such a run late in the season. What this team lacks in experience, they make up for in heart and desire, which is something that has definitely been missing from the Kentucky basketball program as of late.

After starting the season 0-2, the Wildcats have gone 16-2 with impressive wins over West Virginia and Tennessee, both of which were played away from home. Also, the Sweet Sixteen would not be something new for Coach Billy Gillispie. He has been-there, done-that with Acie Law IV and Texas A&M a few years ago. Finally, Kentucky has some depth, with eight guys registering at least 12 minutes per game. The depth, coaching, and play of Meeks and Patterson will be ever-vital to their postseason aspirations.

3. Blake Griffin is the odds-on favorite for the National Player of the Year Award, but who is the closest to him as of now?

Most would expect the Stephen Curry Cop-Out Answer here.But his stats aren't so great as you would expect. Yes, he's averaging 29 points per game despite having every defense ever created thrown at him. Yes, he is still making 39% of his threes, even with guys draped all over his 6-3 frame. Yes, he is dishing out 6 assists and grabbing 4 rebounds per contest. However, he is not doing what James Harden is doing.

Harden's averages might be a lot less spectacular than Curry's, but the Arizona State sophomore is not shooting nearly as much as Steph. Curry is averaging 20.5 shots per game to get his 29 points. Harden? 13 shots per game to get his 22 points per game average. Seven or eight more shots just to get seven more points?

Yet it gets better for ASU's All-America candidate. Arizona State likes to slow it down and run their halfcourt offenses. Very rarely do they get into high-scoring track meets with opponents. The result is simple. Harden's scoring is 31% of his entire team's points. Add his 4 assists per game, and the 6-5 Harden is responsible for 42% of Arizona State's scoring. Talk about carrying your team.

Finally, he shoots 54% from the field and 40% from deep. In other words, he is efficient in putting up points. James Harden is, in my opinion, one of the most over-looked superstars in college basketball. He does it all for his team and then some.

Games to Watch

Wednesday

Villanova vs. Pittsburgh: Two Big East foes face off at 7 o'clock on ESPNU (for those of you who actually get that network). It will be interesting to see the point guard matchup of the two teams: Levance Fields against Scottie Reynolds.

Duke vs. Wake Forest: Arguably the two best teams in the ACC will be on display at 7 o'clock on ESPN. Coach K may be forced to use 7-footer Brian Zoubek more than he has recently against the Demon Deacons, who have a very good frontcourt led by the freshman Aminu.

Thursday

Saint Mary's vs. Gonzaga: Patty Mills against Jeremy Pargo. The up-and-coming Gaels against the usually-dominant Bulldogs. This game is a must-see event, even for those who don't follow mid-major basketball. Hope you're a night owl though: 11 o'clock start on ESPN2.

To contact this writer, you can email him at marchmadness14@gmail.com. To read more of his works, or to just read more great sports articles, visit Informative Sports.

5 Minutes of Basketball

Basketball is finally in full swing, but that does not limit it to the United States. Two future lottery picks, Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings, faced off in Barcelona this past week. Jennings is known for his decision for forego college altogether and play in Europe for a year. Ricky's team, Joventut, ultimately defeated Brandon's, Roma, 97-93 in a game that proved both players have the ability to play in the League right now. Rubio was just coming off an injury and was essentially playing with one good arm so he didn't even attempt a shot yet still had a solid game playing defense and making good decisions on offense. Jennings, on the other hand, had 12 points and two assists in 22 minutes of playing time. Ricky and Brandon currently rank one and two, respectively, at the point guard position in the 2009 draft class.

From my point of view, Jennings is a better playmaker and will create more offense than any other player in next year's draft. Rubio, however, plays a much more well-rounded game. He plays superior defense, is bigger and stronger, and is one of a few players in the draft that can boast a resume that includes Olympic play.

They also have their weaknesses. Rubio is certainly not so fast nor so quick as other point guards like Ty Lawson, Jennings, and Jrue Holiday. His jump shot needs a little work as well. Brandon needs to become a better defender, first and foremost, and needs to add some bulk in the weight room before entering the L.

In the NBA, the Cavs' 11-game win streak was put to an end while the Lakers and Celtics continue to dominate and only further stoke the thoughts of a Finals rematch. LeBron James has been averaging 27, 7, and 6 in less minutes per game than last season. But don't mistake Cleveland for a one-man team because everyone is doing their part in having one of the best offenses and defenses the League has to offer. (LeBron, Mo Williams, Big Z, and Delonte West are all averaging double figures in points.) This team could be the Celtics' toughest test in the playoffs.

I find it particularly interesting that the Lakers, who featured a prolific offensive attack last season, have taken great strides to improve their defense, while Boston, home to last year's best defense, decided to change and improve their offense this year. Boston and LA are both outscoring their opponents by more than ten points per game so the changes seem to be working. The Lake Show (21-3) and the World Champion Celtics (24-2) are set to meet on Christmas Day. Stay tuned.

In college hoops, North Carolina may be the most impressive team, but Chapel Hill is possibly no longer home to the nation's most impressive player. The reigning National Player of the Year, Tyler Hansbrough, may be averaging 23 points and seven rebounds, but three other studs are making names for themselves as well.

Blake Griffin of Oklahoma has been annihilating opponents on his way to 23 points and 15 rebounds per game. Not only can he get out and run in transition, but Griffin can also use a very good spin move to drive around the defense and dunk or hit the fadeaway jumper from ten feet. I do, however, expect his averages to dip somewhat when the Sooners begin their conference schedule in January.

Another on my list is the boy who killed every single bracket last spring, Stephen Curry of Davidson. What's scary is the thought that he actually got better since last March. Currently, he's averaging 32 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals per contest. Only nine games into the season, Steph has already notched six 30+ plus scoring nights. His quick release and ability to move without the ball make him even harder to guard.

Some basketball heads would stop their lists after those two. They are forgetting one tremendous player out West when they do this though: Arizona State's James Harden. His averages of 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals don't do him justice if you can believe it. The Sun Devils have failed to score 65 points in a game three times this season, making his scoring even more remarkable. Add to that the fact that he attracts double teams and traps quite often, and you have one hell of an overlooked player.

So that's what's new in the world of basketball. Have a good rest of the week. I personally cannot wait for the Gonzaga/UConn game Saturday. I'm really liking some of the matchups, such as the "Senior Floor General Battle" (Pargo versus Price). Four o'clock on CBS, fellas.

Game-Planning 1: Is Blake Griffin Human?

Welcome back to another year of Game-Planning from yours truly. It will be similar to last year's but with a more in-depth analysis on fewer games. This way, you'll better understand each team's strengths and weaknesses as opposed to "kinda" getting what's going on in the biggest games of the week.

The main storyline this week will certainly be the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The obvious elite matchups (Duke/Purdue, UNC/Michigan State) are on the schedule while the not-so-obvious good, yet lesser-known, games will be there as well (Ohio State/Miami, Michigan/Maryland). So let's get to it.

#7 Duke vs. #10 Purdue

Purdue's overtime loss in the NIT Final to Oklahoma proved to be very telling for the Boilermakers. They did not get to the line nearly enough (only 5 attempts to the Sooners' 46), and will absolutely have to attack the basket against Duke and expose their lack of depth in the frontcourt. If Zoubek is out, it depends on the true freshman Plumlee to do the heavy work down low. Plumlee is averaging only two points and two rebounds in ten minutes per game. He's also shooting a sub par 1-for-4 from the line.

The Blue Devils, on the other hand, need to take advantage of their superior guards and speed. Their best plays of the season have all come in transition. It also helps that Duke is playing a lot of guys (ten averaging 10+ minutes per game) so the fresh legs may tire out Purdue in the second half.

Purdue must also protect star players E'Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel, who fouled out at the end of regulation against Oklahoma. (One can only speculate on how overtime would have been different with him on the floor.) The duo has combined to average 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists in six games this season.

In the five games they have won, Purdue has allowed an average of only 58 points while Duke has been averaging 84 points of offense each game. To say it quite plainly, something has gotta give, and that something won't be Duke's offense. I'll take the Blue Devils in this one.

Southern Cal vs. #11 Oklahoma

The intriguing part about this game is the matchup between Blake Griffin, the best big man in America, versus Taj Gibson, possibly the most underrated big guy in the country. Gibson is averaging an impressive 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks for Southern Cal, a team still dealing with the loss of OJ Mayo. Gibson will have to step his play up if he wants to compete with Griffin though. The Sooners' superstar is averaging a surreal 26 points and 19 rebounds per contest.

Griffin has yet to be contained on the boards, which will be a chore for USC. In fact, he has grabbed over 20 rebounds three times this year, and the BCS-conference record for an entire season is five games (Tim Duncan currently holds it). His toppling that mark is, in a word, possible.

Other than Blake, the Trojans should keep a watchful eye on his older brother, Taylor (averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds), and Cade Davis (Oklahoma's best shooter). For Coach Capel's squad, they will have to deal with not only Gibson, who may put the Griffins in foul trouble, but also Dwight Lewis (15 points per game) and freshman sensation Demar Derozan (10 points and 5 rebounds).

Both teams are frontcourt-heavy, but USC has a better chance at getting Oklahoma's bigs in foul trouble and out of the game. It also doesn't help that if the game goes down to the wire Blake Griffin could be on the bench due to his being a free throw shooting liability. For those reasons, I'm taking Southern Cal in an upset.

#13 UCLA vs. #6 Texas

At the onset of the season, things looked promising in Westwood. Star point guard Darren Collison had decided to return for his senior year. Top recruit Jrue Holiday would be filling the shoes of NBA-bound Russell Westbrook. Even senior Alfred Aboya would be coming back after being a role player, albeit a small one, on three Final Four teams. However, Collison doesn't have the supporting cast he used to have, Holiday is no Westbrook, and Aboya can't make up for the losses of Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Lorenzo Mata-Real. The result? A solid top 25 team but definitely not a Final Four contender.

Texas, similarly, is dealing with the loss of DJ Augustin. The Longhorns' new best player, AJ Abrams, was forced into making the transition from sharpshooter to playmaker/scorer. So far, the transition has gone somewhat smoothly. He's averaging 17 points on 43% shooting from deep, but he's also averaging twice as many turnovers as last season. Texas, in my opinion, is no favorite to be dancing in April either.

In this particular game, Texas must focus on exploiting UCLA's weak interior. 6-7 Damion James, 6-7 Gary Johnson, and 6-10 Connor Atchley should be able to do so. For UCLA, they will be relying on Collison to make plays and find teammates for easy shots. Collison must limit his poor decisions though. Twice this year he has turned the ball over six times in one game. If he wants his team to have a chance at winning, he cannot come anywhere near six turnovers.

My opinion is simple. UCLA's perimeter defense will be able to contain Abrams but their weak frontcourt will be exposed, and the trio of James, Atchley, and Johnson will combine for a minimum of forty points. I'm taking Texas for the win.

Either way you look at it, college basketball only gets better from here. All the Duke/Presbyterian-type games are behind us and many like those mentioned in this article remain. Enjoy whatever is left of your Thanksgiving break.

The First Week of Hoops...

The feeling of waking up knowing you will be able to watch a college basketball game that night is very refreshing for all the diehard fans like myself. Even at this early point of the season, there is a good game to watch almost every night. Last night was Syracuse-Kansas with the Orange pulling out the W in overtime. The night before it was Ohio State over Bowling Green by only four points and Syracuse pulling out another victory (this time over Florida). That same night Stephen Curry had 39 points in a win over Florida Atlantic, which brings me to my first point.

Steph Curry is held to zero points for the first time in recent memory. Loyola had the "genius" idea of double-teaming Curry the entire game. No matter where he went, they went with him. Davidson, therefore, was essentially playing 4-on-3. The Wildcats won 78-48, and Stephen is still averaging a blistering 29.2 points and 7 assists per game. Not so genius after all.

Blake Griffin is the early favorite to win the National Player of the Year Award. His averages of 26 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 steals are remarkable for a 6-10 sophomore. In all four of his games, he's pulled down at least 18 boards and scored at least 20 points. It also helps that his team beat the other very-early frontrunner for the award (Curry and Davidson) and that Tyler Hansbrough hasn't been playing very much as of late.

Is it the Year of the Mid-Major? Four mid-majors (Memphis, Davidson, Xavier, and Gonzaga) are ranked in the AP Top 25 and five more received at least a dozen votes (Saint Mary's, UNLV, Siena, BYU, and UAB). There have been many big upsets and almost-upsets as well. VMI defeated Kentucky 111-106 on the road. Saint Louis upset Boston College 53-50, and Northeastern took down the Providence Friars. Both Iona and Vermont took Wisconsin and Maryland, respectively, to overtime, and the mighty Duke Blue Devils defeated Rhode Island by only three after trailing for parts of the game.

Does this mean that there is an equaling of the major and the mid-major? No, but it does mean that the gap isn't so wide as it was five years ago. Never before could Kentucky lose two straight home-openers to two unknowns. Never before could Duke be knocked out over the tournament by VCU one year and then almost get upset by Belmont the next. Let me be the first to say that there will be at least five mid-majors in the Sweet 16 and two in the Elite Eight come March.

The debate for the best point guard in the nation begins. Ty Lawson are undoubtedly the two that come to mind when the topic of college point guards is discussed. One must, however, look much deeper than that. Eric Maynor, the man made somewhat-famous by his team's win over Duke two years ago, is averaging 25 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds. Although Jeremy Pargo has had a rough shooting start to his season, he is dishing out nine assists and is pulling down six rebounds per game.

Not to be outdone, Jonny Flynn is averaging 21 points and 5 assists and is fresh off leading his team to two big wins over Florida and Kansas in the CBE Classic. Levance Fields is possibly the most underrated point guard in all of college, and he plays in the Big East! His averages of 14 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds tell only a small part of the story. Pitt's success depends largely on him and how efficient his is in running their offense.Currently, Fields is shooting 53% on threes, 53% on field goals, and 82% on free throws. He boasts an unbelievable 7.6 assist-to-turnover ratio as well.

Patty Mills of Saint Mary's plays a huge role in this discussion, too. He is the only college point guard in America that can say he scored 20 points and the gold-medal United States Senior Men's National Team. This season, he's putting up 20 and 5 numbers for the 3-0 Gaels. His ability to get to the rim and either score or set up a teammate for an easy shot is uncanny.

Lastly, Scottie Reynolds (13 and 5), Sherron Collins (20 and 3), and AJ Price (9, 4, 5, and 2 steals) all deserve mention for their play this season. They have kept their team in the top 25, and Collins is having to do this after losing practically everyone from last year's title team.

The Big East is as good as advertised. The conference that received so much hype coming into the season is living up to it...for now. Currently, they have eight teams in the AP Top 25, four in the top 8, and three in the top 4. It is also easy to say that Syracuse will be in the upcoming week's top 25 after their impressive run out in Kansas. West Virginia and Seton Hall are also playing well. It's not so crazy to think that they could get nine, or even ten, bids this season.

North Carolina is still the favorite to cut down the nets in April. The Heels are 5-0 with three of those games being playing without the reigning National Player of the Year, Tyler Hansbrough. Last night they beat up on Oregon, who "attempted" to do the unthinkable and run with North Carolina in an uptempo game. Individually, Danny Green and Deon Thompson (the team's top two scorers so far) have stepped up, and the true freshman Larry Drew II proves that the Heels now have three solid point guards to go along with Bobby Frasor and Lawson. Roy Williams is smiling somewhere in Maui.

A three-guard lineup is now the norm. According to Sports Illustrated, 59.2% of Division I programs are planning to start three guards this season. It isn't too surprising either. The three-point line was moved back which means teams want more shooters on the floor. Gone are the days where Roy Hibbert can spot up and nail a game-winning three. #1 North Carolina, shoots 40% from deep, scores 92 points per game, and features the 6-9 Hansbrough as their starting center. Even their 6-6 starting small forward is listed as a Guard/Forward.

So that's it. Enjoy the action from Maui and Florida and New York and every place else hosting an early-season tournament. Enjoy watching the talented group of mid-major teams and the uniqueness of players like Curry or Griffin. Enjoy that college basketball is finally back.

To contact this writer, you can email him at marchmadness14@gmail.com.