2012 Final Four Predictions
The 2010-11 NCAA men’s basketball season is officially behind us (congratulations to the University of Connecticut for winning its third national title, by the way) and rather than wax poetic about the season that was, we’re going to look forward to next season.
With a lockout looming in the NBA, players who might otherwise declare themselves eligible for the draft have to take a long, hard look at returning to school where at least one thing is certain: basketball will be played.
Based on the information we have regarding early entries, here is HOOPSWORLD’s 2012
Final Four:
North Carolina Tar Heels
After a slow start, North Carolina played as well as any team in the country over the final few months of this season and is in prime position to make a Final Four run in 2012. Big men John Henson and Tyler Zeller (who combined to average 27.4 points, 17.3 rebounds and 4.4 blocks this season) have announced their intentions to return to school. UNC, which advanced to the 2010 Elite Eight, will likely lose freshman swingman Harrison Barnes to the NBA but six of the team’s top seven scorers will be back, assuming Barnes is gone. Add to the mix another stellar, albeit small, incoming freshman class and Coach Roy Williams has the UNC team ready to compete for its third national championship in Williams’ tenure. Forward James McAdoo (the nephew of former NBAer and current Miami HEAT assistant coach Bob McAdoo) is a versatile combo forward who can impact the game on both ends of the floor. Wing P.J. Hairston has terrific range and outstanding scoring ability. With or without Barnes, this is going to be a deep, talented Tar Heels team poised to make a deep run in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Kentucky Wildcats
Year after year Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari manages to bring in as much talent as any coach in the country and the class of 2011 is no different. Yes, Kentucky lost a record five players to the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft and will likely lose a pair of one-and-done players (Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones) to the lottery of the 2011 NBA Draft. Regardless of all that talent bolting for the NBA, Kentucky still managed a trip to the 2010 Final Four and appears ready to reload and do it all again in 2011. Coach Cal has signed the top recruiting class of 2011 with all four signees ranking among the Top 25 players in the class. Marquis Teague continues Calipari’s long line of outstanding point guard prospects (which includes Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and Knight) while Michael Gilchrist should slide right into Terrence Jones’ wing position. Anthony Davis is a versatile forward who can play all three front court positions and Kyle Wiltjer is a 6-9 forward with deep range and a great all-around offensive game. Once again, Kentucky is a favorite to not only return to the Final Four, but win a national championship. {AUTHOR_BOX}
Ohio State Buckeyes
Coach Thad Matta’s team has advanced to the Elite Eight in each of the past two NCAA Tournaments and, while he will lose seniors Jon Diebler, David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale, Matta returns Jared Sullinger, the best big man in college basketball, William Buford, Aaron Craft and DeShaun Thomas. Freshman guards Jordan Sibert and Lenzelle Smith, Jr., saw limited action this season due to the depth in the Buckeyes’ backcourt but came were both among the top guards in the class of 2010. Add to that mix another deep, solid recruiting class and Ohio State will be a team to be reckoned with in 2011-12. Small forward LaQuinton Ross should help replace some of the outside shooting that is on its way out with Diebler and Lighty. Center Amir Williams is a long, athletic big man who runs the floor well and blocks shots. Small forward Sam Thompson will bring athleticism on the wing and point guard Shannon Scott will provide depth in the Ohio State backcourt. After falling short of its goals the last two seasons, expect OSU to breakthrough to the Final Four in 2012.
Texas Longhorns
The University of Texas is expected to lose small forward Jordan Hamilton to the 2011 NBA Draft (although no official announcement has been made) while seniors Gary Johnson, Dogus Balbay, Jai Lucas and Matt Hill are definitely gone. Regardless, the Longhorns will have plenty of talent on the roster next season. Freshman forward Tristan Thompson emerged late in the season as one of the country’s top big men and guards J’Covan Brown and Corey Joseph give Barnes a talented, experienced backcourt duo. Incoming point guard Myck Kabongo is a tremendous playmaker who can create shots for his teammates and is a great on ball defender who should help ease the loss of Balbay, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2010-11. Sheldon McClennan and Julien Lewis give the Longhorns some scoring and athleticism on the wing while Jonathan Holmes brings size, the ability to finish at the basket and rebounding to the front court. Hamilton’s decision will impact the Longhorns national title hopes, no doubt, but either way Texas is a threat to cut down the nets next May.
Clearly, with so much yet to be decided by early entries, this list remains somewhat fluid. Syracuse has one of the top incoming freshman classes and remains a viable Final Four threat. Duke will have a ton of talent on the roster, but must find a way to offset the losses of Kyrie Irving, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler. Vanderbilt should return everyone from an NCAA Tournament team in 2010 and has a Top-25 recruiting class coming in.
The next few weeks will be pivotal in how the upcoming college basketball season shakes out, so be sure to check back at HOOPSWORLD as we continue our expanding coverage of NCAA basketball and the NBA Draft.
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