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Friday, July 20
Updated: July 26, 4:26 PM ET
More than a few worthy challengers to Duke's crown
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
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The talk in July isn't just about recruiting and who is getting commitments. Coaches are still wondering who is going to beat Duke.
|  | | With Jason Williams, Duke has a pretty good shot at being back in the Final Four. |
The Blue Devils will be the consensus No. 1 preseason pick in the fall, even though some magazines will likely pick another team simply to pick another team.
Sure, it's difficult to repeat. Only one team has done it since UCLA in 1973 -- yes, it was Duke in '92. And, of course, the Blue Devils are flawed because they won't have Shane Battier this year. Battier was "Mr. Everything" to the Blue Devils -- their top defender, leader in the locker room and on the court, a deadly 3-point threat who caused matchup problems and a threat to score inside if he decided to move toward the lane.
But the Blue Devils return the best backcourt in the nation with player of the year candidate and NBA-coveted point guard Jason Williams. Williams can take over a game and win it on his own with his 3-point shooting and ability to get to the basket.
Next to Williams is Chris Duhon, a co-point guard who gives the Blue Devils little dropoff when he's in the game and Williams is on the bench for a breather. Mike Dunleavy Jr. has the ability to score from the perimeter, get inside for putbacks and is difficult to match up with on the perimeter because of his size.
Oh, and the addition of Dahntay Jones -- with his deft shooting touch and defensive reach in their press -- makes the Blue Devils even tougher.
Now bring back Carlos Boozer's force inside as a finisher and defensive rebounder, put Casey Sanders as the defensive shot-blocker and altering presence inside and the Blue Devils have a super six. Nick Horvath is the seventh man, a skilled shooting big man who can help offensively, where Sanders struggles.
That's enough to make a repeat run at the title. If everyone stays healthy (read: Boozer's feet and any limb of Williams), then the Blue Devils should be in Atlanta in late March 2002.
But there will be plenty of road blocks. The teams below will likely change when practices begin, injuries occur and eligibility issues shake out, but for now, keep them in the back of your mind.
Contenders
|  | | Juan Dixon should have Maryland back in the mix. |
Maryland: The Terps fell one game short of the national title game and couldn't beat Duke once again. But the battle will rage again this season as the Terps replace North Carolina as Duke's toughest opponent. Maryland returns Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Tahj Holden, Lonny Baxter, Byron Mouton, Drew Nicholas and Chris Wilcox. The team got through its bad stretch last season to make a run at Duke in the ACC tournament and for the national title. Gary Williams doesn't have to worry about advancing to the Final Four anymore after getting that done last season. The pressure is still on Duke this season and Maryland can almost be like a marathon runner, pacing itself for the right moment to catch the Blue Devils.
UCLA: The Bruins are back. UCLA added one of the best recruiting classes in the nation to an already stable team that didn't lose anyone except senior point Earl Watson. Jason Kapono, Dan Gadzuric, Rico Hines, Billy Knight, Ray Young, Matt Barnes and T.J. Cummings welcome the addition of star recruits Cedric Bozeman, Dijon Thompson, Andre Patterson and redshirts Spencer Gloger and Josiah Johnson. The Bruins have depth, quickness, scoring and a new-found love for a pressure defense that make them the team to beat in the Pac-10.
Illinois: The Illini will miss the interior toughness of Sergio McClain and Marcus Griffin, but the return of point guard Frank Williams, along with Cory Bradford, Brian Cook, Lucas Johnson and Robert Archibald means the Illini still have the most talent in the Big Ten. Illinois will still be a rugged defensive team that will bully you before they beat you. Williams has the ability to dictate the outcome and can be the Big Ten player of the year again.
Florida: The Gators lost Kwame Brown but still have one of the toughest scoring big men in Udonis Haslam. He would have had to share time with Brown in the post but now it's his domain. The backcourt is as strong as any team in terms of depth, with Brett Nelson, Teddy Dupay, Justin Hamilton and Orien Greene. The additions of David Lee and James White mean the Gators can play a frenetic pace once again.
Kentucky: Jason Parker is out indefinitely with a torn ACL but the Wildcats still have Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans, Jules Camara, Marvin Stone, Marquis Estill, Cliff Hawkins, Gerald Fitch and newcomer shooting guard Rashaad Carruth. Think that's enough? Kentucky might be the deepest team, even without Parker. The Wildcats have their best shot to reach the Final Four since winning the title in 1998.
Missouri: Quin Synder added Najeeb Echols to go along with player of the year candidate Kareem Rush and versatile Clarence Gilbert. If Wesley Stokes stays on the floor at the point and the committee inside is productive, then the Tigers could be a sleeper team to get to the Final Four. Rush is more mature and ready to lead this team to the promised land.
Kansas: The pieces are in place for Roy Williams to make a Final Four run. The Jayhawks have two of the better forwards in the nation in Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. The guard play can get the Jayhawks through a tough matchup, but as long as Gooden and Collison are active around the basket then Kansas will be tough to stop. Kansas wants to run even more and few players run the floor as well as Gooden.
St. Joseph's: The Hawks are no longer a fluke. With Jameer Nelson and Marvin O'Connor, St. Joe's has the best scoring backcourt next to Duke. The team's chemistry is unquestionably strong. The non-conference schedule is tougher and the Hawks have a chance to make a statement early in the season. But they'll need to be tougher in the post to last deeper in the NCAA Tournament and possibly to get past Xavier and Temple on the road or in the A-10 tournament.
Iowa: The return of Luke Recker and Reggie Evans makes the Hawkeyes a Big Ten contender and a potential top 10 team. The two transfers transformed the Hawkeyes last season from an average team to one of the better scoring teams in the Midwest. Steve Alford's intensity rubs off on his players and there was no better example then Iowa's run to the Big Ten tournament title. They looked like they were out in the first round before cruising through the rest of the weekend.
On the fringe
Boston College: The Eagles are still flying high with Troy Bell, Ryan Sidney and Uka Agbai. Boston College added a scorer in Jermaine Watson and expects a lot out of redshirt Andrew Bryant. The Eagles are still the team to beat in the Big East.
Virginia: The Cavs have one of the most explosive undersized big men in Travis Watson, a helter-skelter approach to the game that can disrupt any opponent and confidence that they finally made it to the NCAA Tournament. Pete Gillen's crew is on the verge of another breakthrough season and ready to secure itself as the third choice, above Carolina, in the ACC.
Georgetown:The Hoyas return one of the most talented crews of any team in the nation, with Kevin Braswell, Michael Sweetney and Wesley Wilson. Georgetown can rise above BC, Syracuse and Connecticut in the Big East if it can avoid a midseason slump. The Hoyas are starting to be feared again.
Temple: The Owls will miss Quincy Wadley, but Lynn Greer is one of the top scoring point guards in the nation. Having Kevin Lyde back is huge for the Owls, literally and figuratively. David Hawkins' ineligibility for the first semester doesn't help, but once he's back the Owls will likely go on one of their typical late-season runs.
|  | | Dan Dickau and Gonzaga should find themselves back in the NCAAs. |
Gonzaga: Dan Dickau could be the second best point guard in the nation, behind Duke's Williams. Having Blake Stepp next to him gives Dickau a legitimate scoring threat and Zach Gourde is developing into a typical Gonzaga finisher in the post. The Bulldogs will be challenged with a tough non-conference schedule, but should have enough wins to get into the tournament yet again, regardless of the WCC tournament.
Memphis: If DaJuan Wagner, Chris Massie and Duane Erwin are as good as advertised then the Tigers will be a legit top-10 team. Kelly Wise and Scooter McFadgon form a nucleus that these three newcomers should easily fit around. John Calipari is poised to get this program back in the NCAA Tournament. Wagner knows he might only be in school one year and is driven to maximize the season.
Oklahoma State: The top five scorers -- Maurice Baker, Fred Jonzen, Victor Williams, Melvin Sanders and Andre Williams - all return to an emotionally-charged team that wants to forget the first-round loss to USC. Members of the Cowboys coaching staff said they've never seen a team closer and more driven then this one. Expect a Big 12 contender.
Syracuse: The Orangemen were a surprise contender in the Big East last season, but Preston Shumpert shouldn't be a shock this season. He's one of the best pure shooters in the nation and his offense, to go along with the Syracuse zone, makes the Orangemen another tough read for opposing teams. Expect them to be a factor in the Big East.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs have every right to be a top 20 team after beating Cal and giving Michigan State a game last season. Melvin Ely might be the best returning big man outside of Chris Marcus. He'll get needed experience in China at the World University Games. Tito Maddox is back at the point and small forward Chris Jefferies is one of the toughest defenders at his position. Adding Hiram Fuller should help Ely in the post. The Bulldogs could make some national news with a strong showing in the Preseason NIT.
Could be dangerous
|  | | Caron Butler could have Connecticut flying high again. |
Connecticut: Caron Butler is a candidate for national player of the year. Butler will be one of the key players on the U.S. national team this summer. He's also more comfortable as a leader the second time around. The Huskies should be able to get more out of Taliek Brown as a sophomore and you can bet Jim Calhoun isn't about to endure another subpar season.
Indiana: The Hoosiers lost Kirk Haston but still have Jared Jeffries, one of the top talents in the game. Adding Donald Perry at the point means Jeffries will be free to roam a bit easier. Mike Davis got a lot out of Dane Fife and Tom Coverdale last season and could get even more the second time around. The same could be true for Jeffrey Newton.
Michigan State: The Spartans lost seven players, including five seniors, but don't weep for the Spartans. Michigan State has one of the best backcourts in the nation, with Marcus Taylor and newcomers Kelvin Torbert and Alan Anderson. The inside game will be by committee led by Al Anagonye. Expect Tom Izzo's crew to be in the thick of the Big Ten race.
California: The Bears return everyone of note except Sean Lampley. That includes Shantay Legans, Joe Shipp and Brian Weathers. The recruiting class of Jamal Sampson, Julien Sensley and Erik Bond is one of the best in the nation. If the Bears can get Amit Tamir eligible, they'll be a lock for the top 25. They might sneak in there even without him to start the season.
Ole Miss: The Rebels will still be one of the top defensive teams in the SEC. The return of Justin Reed, Aaron Harper and Jason Harrison, even with the loss of Rahim Lockhart and Jason Flanigan, means the Rebels will be tough to put out in the SEC. Rod Barnes has elevated himself into one of the rising stars in the game and he has another strong nucleus to work with next season.
Tennessee: The Vols have a new look with Buzz Peterson and no more Charles Hathaway, Isiah Victor and Tony Harris. But the Vols still have a 1-2 punch of Ron Slay and Vincent Yarbrough that makes them one of the most talented teams in the SEC.
Xavier: Thad Matta inherited one of the better jobs in the country when he replaced Skip Prosser. The Musketeers will center their team with David West and could be the team to beat in the Atlantic 10 if St. Joe's and Temple slip.
Keep an eye on
Miami (Fla.): The 'Canes might be the most feared team in the Big East because of their athletic prowess and the fact that they are long and lean. Look out for Darius Rice, John Salmons and Elton Tyler.
Stanford: No Collins twins but still possess player of the year candidate in Casey Jacobsen. Inside game is suspect, but could develop into a tough defensive crew if Curtis Borchardt and Justin Davis are healthy. Julius Barnes could be the sleeper in the backcourt.
Cincinnati: Lost Kenny Satterfield, but still return Steve Logan, Immanuel McElroy and Leonard Stokes. The inside game is weak but Bearcats still have Bob Huggins leading the way and are the team Memphis will have to go through if the Tigers are going to replace Cincy atop Conference USA.
Louisville: The Cardinals need help inside but have a perimeter led by Reece Gaines and newcomer Carlos Hurt that should play into Rick Pitino's hands. Don't believe for a second that Pitino will finish at the bottom.
Arizona: The Wildcats won't fall that far with Jason Gardner, Ricky Anderson and Luke Walton returning. Will Bynum is a star on the rise and Lute Olson will have this team challenging in the Pac-10 by January. The non-conference schedule will make things bumpy in November and December.
Utah: Rick Majerus is back and so is Chris Burgess, Travis Spivey and Britton Johnsen. The nucleus is in place to be the team to beat in the Mountain West once again.
Western Kentucky: Chris Marcus is the best big man in college basketball. Repeat, he's the best big man in college basketball and good enough to carry Western Kentucky into the second round of the NCAA Tournament depending on the matchup.
Oklahoma: The Sooners still have Hollis Price and have Jabahri Brown eligible after transferring from Florida International. One of the top junior college recruiting classes and Kelvin Sampson's knack for getting a lot out of a little means the Sooners will be a tough out in the Big 12.
|  | | USC's Sam Clancy is just one of the Trojans' weapons. |
USC: The Trojans lost Brian Scalabrine and Jeff Trepagnier but still have the potential Pac-10 player of the year in Sam Clancy, the best second option in the league in David Bluthenthal and a lethal third option in Desmon Farmer. If the Craven brothers, Errick and Derrick, can give them help at the point, then USC could be a sleeper team in the tournament again.
North Carolina: Don't think the Tar Heels are going to be hurting. North Carolina still has Jason Capel and Kris Lang up front and brought in super athletes in Melvin Scott, Jawad Williams and Jackie Manuel. All three are impact players in the ACC. The key will be settling on a point guard between the erratic Adam Boone and Brian Morrison.
Texas: The Longhorns picked up one of the top guards in the class of 2001 in Terrance Ford and still return Chris Owens inside. Texas could have used Mo Evans back for a second season in Austin, but the pieces are in place for Texas to be a thorn in everyone's side on their schedule. Rick Barnes should have the Longhorns fighting for a bid again.
Providence: The Friars have the best on-the-ball defender in John Linehan and return one of the better shooting teams in the Big East. When the Friars are on, they're extremely dangerous (just ask Georgetown from last season). But Providence will need to get more inside to feel secure about another movement in the Big East.
Tulsa: John Phillips was retained because of his relationship with his players. The belief is that Tulsa will be even better than last season, when it won the Postseason NIT. If that's the case, Fresno State better watch its backside, especially with the Golden Hurricane hosting the WAC tournament.
New Mexico: The Lobos have one of the most dangerous backcourts, with the eligibility of Senque Carey from Washington joining Marlon Parmer and Ruben Douglas. Getting Moustapha Diagne inside means the Lobos finally have someone who can finish around the basket. The Lobos finished strong last season and could be a darkhorse to win the Mountain West if Utah falters.
Minnesota: The Gophers added Jerry Holman out of junior college and got the state's top recruit in Rick Rickert, making them a threat to climb out of the Big Ten's bottom and back into the NCAA Tournament. Williams Arena continues to be one of the toughest homecourts in the nation and Dan Monson has done little to change that fact.
San Diego State: The Aztecs added Mike Mackell to go with redshirt Tony Bland and returning leading scorers Randy Holcomb and Myron Epps. Head coach Steve Fisher has a chance to upstage Bob Knight's opening weekend in a tournament in Lubbock, Texas, and has the athletes to do so after a few bleak years.
Colorado: Picking up David Harrison means Colorado has a legitimate scoring power forward. The Buffaloes have been a tough team to figure in the Big 12, but they have the inside game to go with perimeter quickness, which could make them a sleeper team to come out of the Big 12.
Wyoming: The Cowboys have no excuse if they don't challenge for the top of the Mountain West with the return of Josh Davis, Marcus Bailey and Uche Amadi. The Cowboys can't afford to lose at home with so few chances. Steve McClain has Wyoming on the road again, because high-profile schools won't come to Laramie.
Auburn: The Tigers lost Jamison Brewer but have one of the tougher starting fives in the SEC with Marquis Daniels, Adam Harrington and Mack McGadney. Picking up Marco Killingsworth gives the Tigers another face the basket scorer. Auburn dipped from the national consciousness last season but should come back again in the fall.
South Florida: Seth Greenberg thought he had everything in place for an NCAA bid last season but stumbled early in the year. The Bulls return the 1-2 punch of Altron Jackson and B.B. Waldon and should be a contender in Conference USA. Not even making the NIT bruised their egos.
Arizona State: The Sun Devils are a sleeper in the Pac-10 with the return of Justin Allen, a more confident Donnell Knight and the arrival of point guard Jason Braxton. ASU's chemistry received a boost with a successful trip to Australia in the spring.
Alabama: The Tide keep getting hit with attrition in the offseason but they still have one of the top point guards in the South in newcomer Mo Williams, an athletic scoring wing in Rod Grizzard and, perhaps one of the best big men in the country in Erwin Dudley. Alabama has a chip on its shoulder too after being snubbed by the NCAA Tournament.
Notre Dame: Ryan Humphrey will have to take on more of a leadership role, but he'll have a more established point guard with the addition of Chris Thomas. The Irish lost Troy Murphy but still have the nucleus to make another run at a tournament berth.
Charlotte: The 49ers lost Rodney White but still possess one of the top shooting teams, with Jobey Thomas and Damone Brown. Bobby Lutz, one of the most unheralded coaches in the country, should position the 49ers to be on the bubble by March again.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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