SEC Week 5 Preview

We're still a week away from a really good SEC slate. But SEC football is still better than any alternative*.

Garbage Time: Duke, Detroit, and the Volunteers

Teach's Story: The Georgia Tech win against Duke last week was huge, not because I personally love seeing Duke lose, but because the ACC desperately needs a third team to be involved in the conference race, which over the last few years has been dominated by Duke and Carolina. This two team domination not only makes everyone else at the table feel awkward because all the drama centers around the Devils and Heels, but it also eats away at the idea that the ACC is the premier basketball conference.Insert a joke about the auto industry. Make a call for compassion about the state of Michigan's economy. Offer up a cliche Motown reference. Any of the above will work as an analogy for what's happening this season with the Detroit Pistons, but after watching them against the Wizards yesterday, a game that Detroit won 99 to 90, I can't help but look at Rip, Tayshaun, and Big Ben and think about General Zod, Ursa, and Non from Superman. It just feels like these three have seen better days and are just wasting time in the Phantom Zone. If you listen closely, you can even hear Rip yelling, "You will bow to me," but it's unclear whether he's speaking to Joe Dumars or the opposing team. On the bright side, Rodney Stuckey, the reason Billups seemed expendable, does lead the team in scoring with 18.2 ppg on 41% shooting; of course, the team he leads is only 12-25 and fourth in their division.

Lastly, how does John Hollinger have San Antonio number two in his Power Rankings? I'm a great hyperbolizer (word?) of the Spurs, and even I have a hard time comprehending what formula he plugged into his T-81 that backed up this claim. For the record, his number one team is Cleveland.

Langston's Story:
For much of the past two seasons, it seemed as if the rest of the basketVols stood around waiting for Tyler Smith to lead them to victory. Not unlike the Lakers before landing Pau Gasol, but all that changed when the Tennessee Four got locked up. The rest of the squad was forced to stand up and try to fill the shoes of their discarded teammates, and somehow, they managed to come out as a better team. This was never more evident than on Sunday, when they upset the Kansas Jayhawks playing with just six scholarship athletes and three walk-ons, with the biggest shot coming from freshman walk-on Skylar McBee. I'll let Bruce take it over from here:



Yesterday it was announced that Melvin Goins and Cameron Tatum passed drug tests administered shortly after their New Year's Day arrests and could be reinstated within the next two weeks. But after the way they played against Charlotte and Kansas, should they even want them back? Or do they just keep the chemistry they've built and bring them back next year?

The Vols move into SEC play against Auburn at 7:00 on Thursday, it can be seen on ESPN2.

Game of the Week:
#11 Georgetown vs. #4 Villanova, Sunday, 12:00 pm
Last Saturday, Austin Freeman had the best game of his collegiate career. One that saw him score 28 of his career-high 33 points in the second half, leading the Hoyas to a come back win over No. 13 Connecticut 72-69. On Monday, Scottie Reynolds scored 30 of his season-high 36 in the second half. Carrying his team from being 17 down in the first half to defeat Louisville 92-84 at Freedom Hall during a “white out." If this game is anything like these two splendid comebacks, it will be must-see TV.

Garbage Time: Charleston, Guns, and the Mavericks

Teach: The washing machine in my apartment is an old clunker. As it goes through its spin cycles, one can hear it bang against the dry wall and linoleum, like a Wright Brothers contraption it longs to fly, and while my washing machine turned the dryer into a passionate lover by rocking and swaying, Kentucky and Louisville slugged it out against one another, in a sloppy game made appealing only by the soap opera plot lines of Pitino and Calipari's lives, that is until John Wall took over with about nine minutes left, propelling Kentucky into full-fledged flight.

As Wall mounted the run that took the game out of Louisville's grasp, my washing machine finished dry humping the dryer, except it wasn't that dry--the water was still running. I got a pair of pliers and cut off the supply, but I was too late. I could already fill my gym socks absorbing the half inch of water that now sat on my laundry room floor, running under the door and soaking into the carpet and floorboards of the hallway. I used every towel in my apartment to control the flood, but the damage was done; and I felt as foolish as a Cardinal defender trying to keep John Wall from being John Wall.

By the time one feels the flood, it's probably too late.

Yes, College of Charleston upset Carolina, giving them their fourth loss this season, but this loss only puts this season into context. A team with ten freshmen and sophomores, that's lost only to top ten teams so far, lost on the road while missing two of its starters, who happen to be a junior and a senior. Yes, College of Charleston is only 8-6 on the year now, but Carolina teams have suffered much more embarrassing losses and turned out alright by March. Santa Clara anyone? And, if any of that didn't help UNC fans to relax, then check out Adam Lucas' portrait of a young team still learning "how to win."

Langston:

On the last day of 2009, the Tennessee Volunteer basketball team appeared to be headed towards a deep run in the NCAA tournament. They were ranked 14th in the country, coming off a big 66-59 win over in-state rival Memphis, and about a week away from hosting the #1 Kansas Jayhawks. Then it all unraveled in a late night traffic stop on new years, all due to speeding. The end result; 4 players facing misdemeanor drug, alcohol, and gun charges. All four scholarship players, all four indefinitely suspended. Leaving the police, coaching staff, university and fans with a lot of questions. Not really about the pot or alcohol, because, well, it's college. But why in the world did they have guns, especially guns with altered serial numbers? I have lived in almost every living situation in Knoxville from dorms to apartments to off-campus houses. And do you know the one thought that never entered my mind? I need a gun. Yet, I guess that's why these stories are so interesting to those of us lacking the talent and ability to play major college sports, as we can't imagine why any of them would risk the opportunities presented to them.

I sometimes imagine myself in their position as a scholarship athlete, thinking I would never make the same mistakes. Leading myself to believe that I would embrace everyday as the most grateful person alive. After all, my only job would be to get good grades, play a game, stay in shape and not get arrested. But who am I kidding? If I was told how awesome I was by everyone I met from the age of twelve to twenty, I would be insufferable and just as likely to get popped by the cops for some idiotic mishap.

Game of the Week:

Dallas @ San Antonio, Friday, 8:30 PM

San Antonio went into December having won five games in a row. The Spurs then lost three in a row to Boston, Denver, and Utah, dropping their record to 9-9. Since that losing streak, they've won 11 out of 14 games, climbing to 21-12 and within two games of the Dallas Mavericks. This game matters not only because the Spurs can pull a game closer to the Mavs, but because the Spurs need to beat a quality opponent. All last year, I said the Spurs role players, not their Big 3, needed to play well against quality teams so they would have the confidence to win in the playoffs. Well, now, the role players and the Big 3 need to win against a quality opponent in order to have the confidence to remain relevant. In their December surge, the only winning team Duncan and company have beaten is Miami, which means this surge sounds more like a whimper than a bang.

College Rankings 15-9

After the amount of writing I've been doing here, I feel like (insert 12th man of your favorite NBA team's name here, preferably a foreign white dude like the retard from Semipro). Anyway, here are my 15-9 teams, with the Elite Eight coming either late Thursday night or early Sunday morning.

15. Marquette( 25-10)
Last Year: lost in 2nd Round
Coach: Buzz Williams
Stud: Jerel McNeal
Glue: Wesley Matthews

I think my brother Dan is going to provide some game recaps about his alma mater during the course of the season, so I won't go into too much depth here. The major loss they will endure isn't a player, but their coach. Tom Crean decided to take on the massive rebuilding effort at Indiana, leaving assistant Buzz Williams in charge.
He inherits a trio of senior guards, who I feel have underachieved in their time in Milwaukee. Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal have all had their moments, but haven't really won as much as people expect. McNeal is probably the best all-around, while James is streaky. They are all suspect from the outside, so it will be interesting to see if the new 3 point line has an effect. Maurice Acker and David Cubillian are pint-sized, but give the Eagles a loaded backcourt. Lazar Hayward is the best inside player, although he too shoots a lot from the outside. If they can get some production out of freshman big Chris Otule, Marquette can make some noise. They get Wisconsin and Tennessee non-conference, then the wars of the Big East to see if the senior guards, and their new coach can make a "buzz" in the tourney (terrible I know).



14. Davidson ( 29-7)
Last Year: Lost in the Elite 8
Coach: Bob McKillop
Stud: Stephen Curry
Glue: Andrew Lovedale
Schedule: Purdue, Duke, Oklahoma, West Va.

If college basketball teams were girlfriends, UNC would be the girl I've been steadily dating and that I'll probably marry someday. Last year, Davidson became the girl that I just met that I devloped a crush on. Nothing is going to come from it, because I'll always be faithful to UNC, but they still keep things interesting. The Wildcats should be in the top 25 all year, and it all starts with Stephen Curry. Probably the best pure shooter in the college game I've seen in my 20-21 years following the sport (sorry JJ), Curry is simply amazing. Watching him shoot them into the sweet 16 last year, and watching him put up 44 on Oklahoma last night proves that Davidson will never really be out of any game. The big issue will be the loss of their point guard, Jason Richards. He led the country in assists last year, allowing Curry to just come off screens and shoot. Now Curry has to be the primary distributor and scorer. Davidson has enough coming back from that tourney run in big Andrew Lovedale, William Archambault, and Max Paulus-Gossling to be just as good if not better than last season. They already played Oklahoma, and will play Purdue, Duke, and West Virginia. Look for them to once again play deep into March, especially if Curry can handle playing the point without losing any shots.

13. Gonzaga (25-8)
Last Year: lost in the 1st round
Coach: Mark Few
Stud: Austin Daye
Glue: Jeremy Pargo
Schedule: Tennessee, UCONN, Memphis, (possible matchups with Georgetown and Michigan St.)

The Zags are underated now to the point where they are almost overated. They've been such a mid-major powerhouse since the days of Matt Santangelo and Richie Frahm, and are consistently in the top 25 every year. They probably got hosed last year having to play Davidson in the first round, but they still should have went further. Almost all of the pieces from that team are still in place, so there's no reason to think they won't go a little further this year. Rail-thin Austin Daye is being hyped for All-American honors, as he can play inside and stroke the 3 ball. I really like Jeremy Pargo. Another Chicago kid, Pargo is a sick athlete who does a little bit of everything. It'll be worth it to stay up late and watch him and Patty Mills from St. Mary's duke it out at the point. Josh "Dude,where's my shrooms" Heytvelt provides more banging inside with Robert Sacre and 7-4 Will Foster. Micah Downs and Matt Bouldin will play the two and the three. The Zags will be deep, with Ira Brown, Steven Gray, and three freshman. The Zags look to once again be loaded. Even though the WCC has caught up to them a little bit with St.Mary's and San Diego, they should still win the league and can go far with a little help from the selection committee this time around.

12. Tennesee ( 32-5)
Last Year: lost in the sweet 16
Stud: Tyler Smith
Glue: J.P. Prince
Schedule: Marquette,Gonzaga, Kansas, Memphis, SEC

How can you not like Bruce Pearl? The guy is probably one of my favorite coaches in the college game, and I'm not biased, and don't get a boner for Tennesee like Michael Langston does. I think he's one of those coaches who if I was 8 inches taller and was a legitimate D1 prospect, I would have loved to play for. That being said, he does do a good job recruiting, and he has arguably turned UT into a bball school for the time being. This year, they lose 2 of the 3 Smith boys, Chris Lofton, and malcontent Duke Crews. They still have plenty back however, as Tyler Smith will be one of the best in the SEC. Smith is a slasher who can do pretty much everything. When healthy, J.P. Prince will cause matchup problems for anyone who has to play him. The Vols are loaded with athletes, with highly-publicized Scotty Hopson to back them up. They still have muscle inside with Wayne Chism, Brian Williams, and Ryan Childress. Tennessee and Florida will more than likely battle it out as the best in the conference, with tough matchups with Marquette, Gonzaga, Kansas, and interstate foe Memphis to get them ready. Replacing Lofton's shooting touch will be a must. If they can find something outside to go along with the athleticsm and turnovers they'll cause with the press, Bruce Pearl will be on tv more. This can only be a good thing.

11.Purdue (25-9)
Last year: lost in the 2nd round
Coach: Matt Painter
Stud: Robbie Hummel
Glue: Chris Kramer
Schedule: Duke, Davidson,Boston College, and probably Oklahoma. Big 10

It's been a while since Purdue has been up this high. I would have to guess the last time they were sniffing the top-10 was the days of Glenn Robinson. (WTF happened to him). The Boilermakers are loaded with sophmores who serve as the bourbon, while they have talented juniors that serve as the beer. (bartending reference). Robbie Hummel, Jajuan Johnson, and E'Twuan Moore(just wasted 10 seconds I'll never get back figuring out how to spell that) are the sophmores that stepped in and made a splash last year as frosh, with Hummel having the best year. Hummel is in the Tyler Hansborough effort mold, but he is athletic and will make defenders pay if they underestimate him. The development of Johnson as a true post presence will be a big difference. Kramer is not a shooter, but the former high school qb can distribute and defend. Grant is a shooter and scorer, while Moore also shot abover 40 percent from 3. Painter played for Gene Keady, so you know he'll bring an old-school approach that will make Purdue mentally tougher than most. They look really good already, and will get a test from Oklahoma in the NIT final if everything breaks right. Look for them to challenge the boys from East Lansing more top Big 10 honors, and probably at least an elite 8 appearance.

10. Notre Dame (25-8)
Last Year: lost in 2nd round
Coach: Mike Brey (thank god its not Charlie Weis)
Stud: Luke Harangody
Glue: Kyle McAlarney
Schedule: UCLA, Big East, (potential matchups with Texas and UNC in Maui)

I do not have the same affinity for Notre Dame hoops as I do for the football squad. I like separate D1 football and bball teams because I did not go to a D1 school. Plus MJ played for UNC. This is an arugment for another time whether or not you're allowed to this. Back to the informative content. Luke Harangody literally looks like he could be cast in Hoosiers 2k8. (Don't worry, I'm working on the screenplay). Bad haircut and all, Gody is a potential Big East player of the year. He is a load inside, and teams will struggle to stop him. To balance things out, the Irish can bomb from outside with Kyle McAlarney. Tory Jackson will be the primary ballhandler, and with slasher Ryan Ayres, shooter Luke Zeller, and do-everything Zach Hillenstand, Notre Dame has a little bit of everything. They will play UCLA and will probably get to see UNC in the battle of Berndon's favorite teams if they can beat Texas in Maui. If Harangody can be a force like last year, I don't see too many teams who will beat the Irish in conference play. Much like every power team in the conference, if they can emerge unscathed from those battles, they'll be a solid bet to potentially make the Final 4.

9. Pitt (27-6)
Last year: lost in the 2nd round
Coach: Jamie Dixon
Stud: Sam Young
Glue: Levance Fields
Schedule: Nobody really until the Big East punches them in the face

Pitt, while not necessarily the most fun team to watch, is the definition of grind it out basketball. They're like Wisconsin, only without the white dudes. They have been consistently good however for a while now, averaging 26.4 wins since Jamie Dixon took over for Ben Howland. Last year, Sam Young turned into a decent go to guy. After losing Aaron Gray to the Chicago Bulls' bench, Young became the go-to-guy. He can score inside and out, and he has the perfect complement in Dejuan Blair. Normally I make fun of fat people, but Blair is impossible not to like. If he takes a big frosh-to-soph jump, then look out. Levance Fields runs the point while looking like Jermaine Dupri, which is an impressive feat. Fields is straight out the Brandin Knight mold where he's not going to wow anyone offensively, yet gets the job done. They have more experience in Tyrell Biggs, and Gilbert Brown. Travon Woodall will back up Fields, while other freshman Asthon Gibbs, and Dwight Miller should get mintues. I feel like a broken record, but this is another Big East squad who will lose some conference games, yet should be a in a great position to make a late March run.