Jeff Goodman of FoxSports Top 25: Gophers #19

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19. MINNESOTA

Record: 21-14 (Lost in first round of NCAA tournament)
Lose: Lawrence Westbrook, Damian Johnson, Devron Bostick, Paul Carter
Key Returnees: Blake Hoffarber, Devoe Joseph, Ralph Sampson III, Al Nolan, Colton Iverson, Rodney Williams
Newcomers: Trevor Mbakwe, Austin Hollins, Maurice Walker, Oto Osnieks, Elliott Eliason

Tubby Smith loses three of his top seven scorers, but the Gophers will be improved with the maturity of Sampson and Iverson up front and the return of guards Joseph, Hoffarber and Nolan – who was suspended the latter half of last season. Smith will also have the services of Mbakwe, who didn’t play at all last season due to legal issues, as well as a freshman class that includes Walker and Hollins.

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/Duke-tops-preseason-top-25-college-basketball

Go Gophers!!
 

Whew! He certainly thinks highly of the Big 10. 5 schools in the top 20, including 3 in the top 4! It will be a fun year if he's correct.
 





The misspelling of Nolen seems to be ocurring more often lately.

Number 4 seems too high for Ohio State. Their core team is good, but after losing Evan Turner, who averaged 20.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg (second in the Big Ten by the smallest of margins), and 1.7 spg according to ESPN.com, I can't see them as being right up there with Michigan State and Purdue. Michigan State and Purdue actually had teams, as opposed to Ohio State just being the Evan Turner Show pretty much. I realize Diebler's three point % is just below Hoffarber's, and that Ohio State still has a good team, I just think top 5 is too high. Illinois also seems a little high at #12 for a team who didn't make the tournament last year.

It's good to see Minnesota ranked though, especially as high as #19, seeing as most of the rankings I saw over the summer had Wisconsin in the 20's, and Minnesota as one of the first teams out. I think this will be Tubby's best Minnesota team yet; basketball season can't start soon enough, especially after the exercise in futility that has been watching the football team this year.
 

I would be satisified if the Gophs finished the year in the top 20. looks like a 5 seed or so in the NCAA's if that is the case...
 

Cayman said:
The misspelling of Nolen seems to be ocurring more often lately.

Number 4 seems too high for Ohio State. Their core team is good, but after losing Evan Turner, who averaged 20.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg (second in the Big Ten by the smallest of margins), and 1.7 spg according to ESPN.com, I can't see them as being right up there with Michigan State and Purdue. Michigan State and Purdue actually had teams, as opposed to Ohio State just being the Evan Turner Show pretty much. I realize Diebler's three point % is just below Hoffarber's, and that Ohio State still has a good team, I just think top 5 is too high. Illinois also seems a little high at #12 for a team who didn't make the tournament last year.

It's good to see Minnesota ranked though, especially as high as #19, seeing as most of the rankings I saw over the summer had Wisconsin in the 20's, and Minnesota as one of the first teams out. I think this will be Tubby's best Minnesota team yet; basketball season can't start soon enough, especially after the exercise in futility that has been watching the football team this year.
Click to expand...

Illinois needs to prove its ranking. But four seniors, some really good sophomores and an outstanding freshman class may make that possible. Wait until you see Jereme Richmond. Wow, is all I can say, and most of you who have seen me post over the last few years can verify that I don't do hyperbole.
 




combes1 said:
Illinois needs to prove its ranking. But four seniors, some really good sophomores and an outstanding freshman class may make that possible. Wait until you see Jereme Richmond. Wow, is all I can say, and most of you who have seen me post over the last few years can verify that I don't do hyperbole.
Click to expand...

U of IL will have a deep and talented roster. 25-30 W (or more) should be the result.
 

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