College Ball Begins

It's a long way from March Madness, but NCAA basketball is in full swing and I'm excited. A couple of matchups between some big dogs last night has me salivating for a season full of upsets and milestones. Here's just a few things to watch out for between now and March:



1. Demarcus Cousins

The freshman out of Mobile, Alabama made waves even before joining the Kentucky Wildcats for his first NCAA season. He comes into the league as the top ranked power forward out of high school, second in the nation overall. He proved his worth last night by amassing 27 points and 18 rebounds against Sam Houston State in a 102-92 victory for the Wildcats. Now if only Kentucky can get things to click as a team, winning two close games against unranked opponents. Coach Calipari has already been quoted as saying, “Our execution stinks right now. It stinks because everybody’s trying to get theirs.” Well who can blame a freshman who is already considered a top 5 pick in next year's NBA draft as showing off a little bit...





2. Dayton Flyers

Having already upset No. 19 ranked Georgia Tech by a score of 63-59, and beating a tough Creighton team 90-80, the Flyers are looking strong in a conference that is theirs for the taking. With ten of twelve players returning from last year, including Chris "Top Flyght" Wright, look for Dayton to win their first Atlantic 10 championship since 2003, and only their second in team history. They face another challenge in Puerto Rico tonight against a struggling Villanova team, ranked 6th in the nation, but with a victory Dayton has the chance to solidify themselves as a legitimate sweet 16 contender.





3. The Race to 2000

It's no Death Race 2000 with Sly Stallone and David Carradine, but it's just as exciting. Both North Carolina and the University of Kentucky have a chance to make history as the first team to amass 2000 total NCAA wins. UNC trails the race right now with 1988 wins compared to UK's 1991, but a December 5th matchup between the two teams could even the playing field; either that or give Kentucky an insurmountable lead. One thing's for sure, that's gonna be one hell of a game.





4. Tennessee Volunteers

The Volunteers just celebrated their 100th victory under coach Bruce Pearl (100-37) and they look fantastic. I know they have played against some not-so-great teams, but a convincing 124-49 win over UNC Asheville (the most points ever allowed in Asheville history) has me looking forward to another sweet sixteen berth, which would be their third in five years. The Vols scored the first 18 points of the game and were led by sophomore Scotty Hopson with 25 points, but what is most impressive about this team is how they are getting production from everyone. They will need it in a strong SEC, but this will definitely be a team to watch this year.





5. Cole Aldrich & The Big 12

Kansas is the number 1 ranked team coming into the season, and this big man is a big reason why. His sophomore year he was allowed to shine, averaging a double-double over the course of the year. He now returns as a junior giving the Jayhawks another shot at an NCAA championship. However, the Big 12 is looking absolutely ridiculous right now with rivals Texas (no. 3), Oklahoma (no. 17), and four other teams who just fell short of ranking in the top 25 all competing for a berth in the championship come March. This should be the most entertaining conference in all of NCAA this season.