Prediction Time! OCS experts weigh in on the 2011-12 college basketball season
Photo: Britney McIntosh | UK Athletics
Anthony Davis is quickly becoming one of the most dominant big men in the nation.
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ESPN’s 24-hour hoops marathon earlier this week ushered in the most hyped college basketball season in years. The combination of an NBA lockout and a preseason top ten list filled with many traditional powers — North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State and Connecticut rounding out the top four respectively — has resulted in a greater national spotlight on the college game.
Many of our college basketball writers chimed in with their thoughts on the 2011-12 season, complete with predictions on each conference’s champion, a few under-the-radar teams that will make some noise during the regular season and/or in the NCAA Tournament, the best players in the nation, and, of course, the national champion.
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Mychal Anderson Minnesota |
Ryan McDonald Boise State |
Matthew Villanueva Texas Tech |
Greg Mendell Miami |
American East |
Vermont |
Vermont |
Boston University |
Boston University |
Atlantic 10 |
Xavier |
Xavier |
Temple |
Xavier |
ACC |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
Atlantic Sun |
Belmont |
Belmont |
Belmont |
Belmont |
Big 12 |
Baylor |
Kansas |
Texas |
Baylor |
Big East |
UConn |
Syracuse |
Syracuse |
Syracuse |
Big Sky |
Weber State |
Weber State |
Northern Colorado |
Weber State |
Big South |
UNC Asheville |
Liberty |
Coastal Carolina |
UNC Asheville |
Big Ten |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
Big West |
Long Beach State |
UC Santa Barbara |
Long Beach State |
Long Beach State |
Colonial |
George Mason |
George Mason |
George Mason |
Drexel |
Conference USA |
Memphis |
Memphis |
Memphis |
Memphis |
Horizon |
Cleveland State |
Butler |
Butler |
Detroit |
Ivy |
Harvard |
Princeton |
Harvard |
Harvard |
MAAC |
Iona |
Siena |
Rider |
Iona |
MAC |
Akron |
Kent State |
Miami (OH) |
Kent State |
MEAC |
Hampton |
Morgan State |
Hampton |
Hampton |
Missouri Valley |
Creighton |
Creighton |
Creighton |
Creighton |
Mountain West |
New Mexico |
UNLV |
San Diego State |
UNLV |
Northeast |
Robert Morris |
Quinnipiac |
Quinnipiac |
Long Island |
Ohio Valley |
Austin Peay |
Murray State |
Austin Peay |
Tennessee State |
Pac-12 |
Arizona |
Arizona |
UCLA |
UCLA |
Patriot |
Bucknell |
Bucknell |
Bucknell |
Bucknell |
SEC |
Kentucky |
Florida |
Kentucky |
Kentucky |
Southern |
Davidson |
Wofford |
Appalachian State |
Charleston |
Southland |
UT – San Antonio |
Sam Houston State |
Sam Houston State |
UT – San Antonio |
SWAC |
Prairie View A&M |
Texas Southern |
Prairie View A&M |
Mississippi Valley St. |
Summit |
North Dakota State |
Oakland |
IUPUI |
Oakland |
Sun Belt |
Florida Atlantic |
Florida Atlantic |
Florida Atlantic |
North Texas |
WCC |
Gonzaga |
Gonzaga |
Gonzaga |
Gonzaga |
WAC |
Utah State |
Utah State |
Utah State |
Nevada |
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Sleeper Team(s) |
Iowa State Wisconsin Alabama Florida State |
Boise State St. Johns Air Force Notre Dame |
Belmont Memphis Creighton Gonzaga |
Belmont Cleveland St Detroit Iona |
National Player of the Year |
Harrison Barnes, UNC |
Jared Sullinger, Ohio St. |
Jeremy Lamb, UConn |
Jared Sullinger, Ohio St. |
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First Team All-America |
G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Terrence Jones, Kentucky F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn G- Tu Halloway, Xavier F- Tyler Zeller, UNC F- Chris Gaston, Fordham F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
G- Marquis Teague, Kentucky G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Terrence Jones, Kentucky F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Terrence Jones, Kentucky F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
National Freshman of the Year |
Anthony Davis, Kentucky |
Austin Rivers, Duke |
Marquis Teague, Kentucky |
LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State |
Final Four |
North Carolina Ohio State Kentucky UConn |
North Carolina Syracuse Ohio State Florida |
Kentucky Ohio State Louisville North Carolina |
North Carolina Syracuse UConn Kentucky |
National Champion |
Kentucky over UConn |
North Carolina over Syracuse |
Kentucky over North Carolina |
North Carolina over Syracuse |
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Evan Bailey Arizona |
Nick Fowler Michigan State |
Trevor Lowry Colorado State |
Robbie Leach Oklahoma |
American East |
Vermont |
Vermont |
Maine |
Boston University |
Atlantic 10 |
Xavier |
Xavier |
Xavier |
Xavier |
ACC |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
Atlantic Sun |
Belmont |
Belmont |
Belmont |
Belmont |
Big 12 |
Kansas |
Baylor |
Kansas |
Kansas |
Big East |
Syracuse |
Syracuse |
UConn |
Notre Dame |
Big Sky |
Portland State |
Weber State |
Weber State |
Weber State |
Big South |
Liberty |
Coastal Carolina |
Coastal Carolina |
Coastal Carolina |
Big Ten |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
Big West |
Long Beach State |
Long Beach State |
Long Beach State |
Cal Poly |
Colonial |
VCU |
George Mason |
VCU |
George Mason |
Conference USA |
Memphis |
Memphis |
Houston |
UTEP |
Horizon |
Detroit |
Detroit |
Butler |
Cleveland State |
Ivy |
Princeton |
Harvard |
Harvard |
Harvard |
MAAC |
Iona |
Niagara |
Manhattan |
Iona |
MAC |
Kent State |
Kent State |
Akron |
Kent State |
MEAC |
Hampton |
Hampton |
Delaware State |
Hampton |
Missouri Valley |
Missouri State |
Creighton |
Creighton |
Wichita State |
Mountain West |
San Diego State |
San Diego State |
San Diego State |
New Mexico |
Northeast |
Robert Morris |
Robert Morris |
Robert Morris |
Long Island |
Ohio Valley |
Murray State |
Murray State |
Murray State |
Murray State |
Pac-12 |
Arizona |
Arizona |
Arizona |
Arizona |
Patriot |
Navy |
Bucknell |
Colgate |
American University |
SEC |
Kentucky |
Florida |
Kentucky |
Kentucky |
Southern |
Davidson |
Davidson |
Davidson |
Charleston |
Southland |
Texas State |
Texas State |
Sam Houston State |
McNeese State |
SWAC |
Prairie View A&M |
Prairie View A&M |
Prairie View A&M |
.Texas Southern |
Summit |
North Dakota State |
Oakland |
North Dakota State |
Oral Roberts |
Sun Belt |
Florida International |
Western Kentucky |
Middle Tennessee St. |
Florida Atlantic |
WCC |
Gonzaga |
Gonzaga |
Gonzaga |
Gonzaga |
WAC |
Utah State |
Utah State |
New Mexico State |
Utah State |
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Sleeper Team(s) |
Oregon Nevada |
Michigan State Wichita State Dayton Georgetown |
Cleveland State Iowa State Minnesota Oregon |
Temple Cleveland State Texas New Mexico |
National Player of the Year |
Harrison Barnes, UNC |
Harrison Barnes, UNC |
Jerad Sullinger, Ohio State |
Jerad Sullinger, Ohio State |
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First Team All-America |
G- John Jenkins, Vanderbilt G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G/F- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Tu Holloway, Xavier F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Jared Sullnger, Ohio State F/C- Mason Plumlee, Duke |
G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Tu Holloway, Xavier F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Terrence Jones, Kentucky F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Anthony Davis, Kentucky F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
National Freshman of the Year |
Anthony Davis, Kentucky |
Austin Rivers, Duke |
Anthony Davis, Kentucky |
Anthony Davis, Kentucky |
Final Four |
North Carolina Duke UConn Baylor |
Syracuse Xavier Baylor Michigan State |
North Carolina Ohio State Kentucky Baylor |
North Carolina Ohio State Kentucky Memphis |
National Champion |
North Carolina over UConn |
Syracuse over Xavier |
North Carolina over Ohio State |
Kentucky over North Carolina |
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Deven Rall San Jose State |
Joe Tichy Arkansas |
Steven Kerstein Illinois |
Dane Bolton Western Kentucky |
American East |
Vermont |
Stony Brook |
Vermont |
New Hampshire |
Atlantic 10 |
Xavier |
Temple |
Xavier |
Xavier |
ACC |
Duke |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
North Carolina |
Atlantic Sun |
Belmont |
Belmont |
Lispcomb |
Belmont |
Big 12 |
Kansas |
Baylor |
Texas |
Kansas |
Big East |
Pittsburgh |
Louisville |
UConn |
UConn |
Big Sky |
Montana |
Weber State |
Weber State |
Eastern Washington |
Big South |
Coastal Carolina |
UNC Asheville |
Coastal Carolina |
Coastal Carolina |
Big Ten |
Ohio State |
Wisconsin |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
Big West |
Long Beach State |
UC Santa Barbara |
Long Beach State |
Long Beach State |
Colonial |
Old Dominion |
VCU |
Old Dominion |
George Mason |
Conference USA |
UAB |
Memphis |
Memphis |
Memphis |
Horizon |
Butler |
UW Milwaukee |
Butler |
Cleveland State |
Ivy |
Harvard |
Princeton |
Cornell |
Harvard |
MAAC |
Rider |
Iona |
Siena |
Siena |
MAC |
Akron |
Kent State |
Buffalo |
Akron |
MEAC |
Bethune-Cookman |
Hampton |
Florida A&M |
Hampton |
Missouri Valley |
Wichita State |
Creighton |
Creighton |
Creighton |
Mountain West |
San Diego State |
UNLV |
UNLV |
UNLV |
Northeast |
Robert Morris |
Long Island |
Quinnipiac |
Robert Morris |
Ohio Valley |
Morehead State |
Tennessee State |
Murray State |
Murray State |
Pac-12 |
Arizona |
Cal |
Arizona |
Arizona |
Patriot |
Bucknell |
Bucknell |
Colgate |
Lafayette |
SEC |
Florida |
Kentucky |
Kentucky |
Kentucky |
Southern |
Charleston |
Davidson |
Davidson |
Davidson |
Southland |
UT – San Antonio |
UT – San Antonio |
Texas State |
McNeese State |
SWAC |
Texas Southern |
Texas Southern |
Alcorn State |
.Mississippi Valley State |
Summit |
Oakland |
Oakland |
Oral Roberts |
North Dakota State |
Sun Belt |
Florida Atlantic |
Florida Atlantic |
Middle Tennessee St. |
Middle Tennessee St |
WCC |
Gonzaga |
Gonzaga |
Saint Mary’s |
Gonzaga |
WAC |
Utah State |
Nevada |
Utah State |
New Mexico State |
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Sleeper Team(s) |
Oregon Minnesota Long Beach State |
Texas A&M Baylor Louisville |
Alabama |
Bradley Air Force |
National Player of the Year |
Jeremy Lamb, UConn |
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
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First Team All-America |
.G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Terrence Jones, Kentucky F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State |
G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Jared Sullnger, Ohio State F/C- Tyler Zeller, UNC |
G- Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin G- Jeremy Lamb- UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State F- Tyler Zeller, UNC |
G- Tu Holloway, Xavier G- Jeremy Lamb, UConn F- Harrison Barnes, UNC F- Jared Sullinger, Ohio State F- Anthony Davis, Kentucky |
National Freshman of the Year |
Austin Rivers, Duke |
Austin Rivers, Duke |
Andre Drummond, UConn |
Anthony Davis, Kentucky |
Final Four |
North Carolina Duke Kentucky Arizona |
Louisville Kentucky Ohio State North Carolina |
North Carolina Kentucky UConn Alabama |
Kentucky North Carolina Duke Ohio State |
National Champion |
Duke over Kentucky |
Ohio State over Kentucky |
North Carolina over Kentucky |
Kentucky over North Carolina |
Fun Notes:
- Not one team was unanimously selected as its conference’s champion.
- Several teams came close, including Xavier (A-10), North Carolina (ACC), Ohio State (Big Ten), Belmont (Atlantic Sun), Memphis (C-USA), Arizona (Pac-12), Kentucky (SEC), and Gonzaga (WCC).
- Even though Kentucky received more votes into the national title game than any other team, North Carolina had the most national champion tallies.
When you average it all out…
- The 2012 NCAA Final Four in New Orleans will include Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, and UConn.
- North Carolina and Kentucky will meet in the championship game.
- The National Player of the Year will be awarded to Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, and the National Freshman of the Year to Anthony Davis from Kentucky.
- First Team All-Americans: Jordan Taylor, Jeremy Lamb, Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones, and Jared Sullinger.
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catfan1
Very interesting summary! Not only will the Kentucky Wiidcats be carrying the weight of the expectations of the Big Blue Nation to be in the Championship game–now they must carry the added weight of the OCS writers! I think this years version of Cal’s Cats can get it done!
Rusty Nail
There’s North Carolina, and then there’s everyone else. Kentucky is good, but I’m not sure they’re the best “blue” team within a 100 mile radius. Would love to see a UK vs. XU contest deep into March…
Brandon Howard
Man, if Kentucky could have foreseen the NBA crisis…that team would be so STACKED…imagine, John Wall, Brandon Knight, DeMarcus Cousins, Terrance Jones…
Though, some of those guys may have not gone there with all that talent ahead of them…
Anyways…awesome article!!
Sgt Troy
Keep in mind that final fours rarely look like these – with so many highly ranked, big name teams.
Go Big Blue! We’ll take that Xavier game by the way – especially if Tu plays like last game.
Saddle Up!
Rusty Nail
You know what’s great about Tu? He may not even be the most-talented guard on his own team and could still win POY honors. I’ll take the back court of Lyons and Holloway against any team in the country – and that includes Big Blue Moon of Kentucky. If they meet in March, it will be Xaver that keeps on shinin’.