[Hot Rod]

In case you haven`t been paying attention, college basketball season has just started with some of the preseason tournments like the Preseason NIT. Everyone is welcome to talk about everything college basketball, hype your team, and talk some smack. Here`s the preseason top 25:

AP Top 25

1. Kansas (25)

2. Wake Forest (22)

3. Georgia Tech (10)

4. North Carolina (10)

5. Illinois (2)

6. Syracuse

7. Oklahoma St. (2)

8. Connecticut

9. Kentucky (1)

10. Arizona

11. Duke

12. Mississippi St.

13. Michigan St.

14. Louisville

15. Maryland

16. Texas

17. Pittsburgh

18. Alabama

19. N.C. State

20. Notre Dame

21. Wisconsin

22. Washington

23. Florida

24. Memphis

25. Gonzaga

I think that the top 25 is right on target with Kansas, Carolina, Wake, and Georgia Tech in the top 4. Kathie your Fighting Ilini are at #5. They have a very good team returning and are capable of making a run to the final four. Meanwhile Alabama is at #18. The Tide also has a very good team returning, which makes them among the favorites in the SEC. I would love to see them built on their great run to the Elite 8 into a great season. Of course i can`t forget to mention that Chris` beloved Bearcats aren`t in the preseason top 25 for the first time in many years. However i have a feeling that they`ll be back during the season, which will tease Chris into thinking that they`ll win it all again.

[MoodyExplorer]

I'm all for Kansas!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, baby!

[The Daywalker]

I think we'll crack the top 20 this year. Max should rock shht, but Nick will be out a bit, that'll hurt. And we'll be without Field and Tony now. I hope White steps up, kid has skills.

[MTVVJ08]

Im a Carolina fan(I attend the school) and Im going to the UNC vs. Kentucky game so hopefully it will be a great one!!!!


**Colie**

[Carmelo Anthony]

Damn, Colorado lost 69-60 to Michigan in the second round of the Preseason NIT. They'll have a decent team this season, they have some good young talent.

Nice showing by Air Force, who lost 69-65 to Marquette in the BCA Classic Championship Game. Air Force will show last season was no fluke.

[Chi159]

Wow! A No. 5 ranking for the Illini. Me likes.

Originally posted by Hot Rod Kathie your Fighting Ilini are at #5. They have a very good team returning and are capable of making a run to the final four.

I’ve heard a lot of talk about the Final Four this year. That makes me kind of nervous. Illinois certainly has the backcourt talent and firepower in Dee Brown, Deron Williams, and Luther Head to make a deep run in the Tournament, but I’m still not sold on Illinois’ frontcourt. Outside of James Augustine and Roger Powell, there just isn’t much there. We saw that in their loss to Duke in the Sweet 16 last year. If Illinois is going to have a real shot at advancing to their first Final Four since the ‘89 Flying Illini squad, 7’2” center Nick Smith will have to step up and stop playing so freakin’ timid. He has a lot of size. Now, it’s time to use it.

I think UConn is rated a little too high. The losses of Okafor and Gordon are HUGE. While they still have a lot of talent on their roster, it's going to be difficult to live up to the billing. I expect Syracuse and Notre Dame to rank higher than the Huskies at the end of the season.

[Uh Blah]

I'll be visiting this thread come March Madness. If there's a fanforum pool count me in.

[Carmelo Anthony]

I forgot to mention, that Air Force has a tough schedule this season, well not really tough...

at #3 Georgia Tech
at Iowa

and the MWC.

Colorado's non conference schedule is Northwestern, Colorado State, UMKC, Radford at home,

Oregon State, Cal, Utah and Richmond on the road.

[Chi159]

Originally posted by Uh Blah I'll be visiting this thread come March Madness. If there's a fanforum pool count me in.

As if you had to ask...

Of course there is!

I hope to see you still posting around that time.

[Hot Rod]

Originally posted by Uh Blah I'll be visiting this thread come March Madness. If there's a fanforum pool count me in.

You`re more than welcome to be a part of the March Madness pool, where i`ll be going for a repeat.

[Uh Blah]

Originally posted by Hot Rod You`re more than welcome to be a part of the March Madness pool, where i`ll be going for a repeat.

Is that right. Well I have a method to my madness. Let's just say I'm a big fan of ACC college hoops.

[The Daywalker]

Originally posted by TaRhEeLPrInCeSs08 Im a Carolina fan(I attend the school) and Im going to the UNC vs. Kentucky game so hopefully it will be a great one!!!! **Colie**

I Hate All Carolina schools. Just rubs me wrong. Good we haven't had a problem with the schools down there, other than one tournament loses in Nick's senior season. And UNC lost to Santa Clara, that's crap, i'd rather see teams go a long time then lose, builds more drama, though i had UNC and DUke, and seeing them loses every game is a treat, i'd still like to see them get high on their pedestal before losing

[capesidefan]

UofW huskies all the way

[Chi159]

I'm not surprised by UNC's early loss. They have typically come out of the gates slow the past few seasons. When March rolls around, I'm sure they wil be ranked high only to choke in the second round of the Tourney. I have nothing against the Tar Heels, but I don't care for a few players on their team. The talent is definitely there. Not necessarily the right attitude.

Originally posted by Hot Rod You`re more than welcome to be a part of the March Madness pool, where i`ll be going for a repeat.

You're going down, Rod! It's time for me to retain my original crown.

[Chi159]

Who handed Gonzaga a smackdown today?

That’s right. Illinois, baby!

The game was over within the first five minutes of action. How ridiculous is that? At one point, the Illini were up 37 pts. in the first half. They lit it up from ALL spots on the court. It was a beautiful thing to watch. They even shut down Turiaf, which is no easy task. The only reason the final score was somewhat respectable is because the bench was brought in to play the last five minutes of the game.

Bring on Wake Forest! The game is going to be played at home Wednesday. It should be a great match-up! It wouldn’t surprise me if the No. 1 Deacons go down that night. Illinois is certainly capable of knocking off the top dogs, especially if they continue to be unselfish and dominate from the outside.