Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline.com writes that UAB will be the most improved team in the country next season. The reason for the optimism is the addition of three big-time transfers in Robert Vaden from Indiana, Walter Sharpe from Mississippi State, and Channing Toney from Georgia. Additionally, the Blazers bring in another top 100 freshman and a JC All-America. He says: “UAB is the wise man's pick to jump from eighth to second in the C-USA standings.”
Bob McClellan of Rivals.com gives his second Preseason Top 25 since the end of the 2006-2007 season. North Carolina rises from #3 to the top spot, while Memphis, UCLA, Louisville, and Tennessee round out the top five. The most drastic change is Florida, who he had #1 after the NCAA Tournament and is now #25. Ohio State, who was previously #2, is #24 in the newest rankings.
Jeff Goodman of FOX Sports looks at ten coaches who could make the jump to the NBA in the near-future. He also discusses how, despite the lack of success recent college coaches have had in the pros, the NBA should still take a look at them. Florida’s Billy Donovan leads the way, followed by Jay Wright of Villanova, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Rick Barnes of Texas, and several others.
Matt Winkeljohn of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes about Georgia Tech’s freshmen Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young preparing for the NBA Draft. Both players declared for the draft, but neither hired an agent, leaving open the option of returning to the Yellow Jackets. Young is projected to go anywhere from the lottery to the late first-round. “Who wouldn’t go if they’re a lottery pick?” said Young. On the other hand, Crittenton is ranked #3 among point guards, and many think he might stay in the draft because of the lack of point guards. “That’s almost like being scared of who’s coming out next year, and I’ve never been scared of anybody in my life," he said. "That is not a factor at all."
According to FOX Sports’ Jeff Goodman, Florida junior point guard Taurean Green has signed with an agent, leaving him no chance of returning to the Gators for his senior season. Most NBA executives consider Green a second-round pick, and he will attend the Orlando pre-draft camp later this month to boost his NBA stock. He averaged 13.3 points and 3.7 assists this past season for the two-time national champions.
Florida State assistant coach Tim Carter has been named the head coach at South Carolina State, replacing the fired Jamal Brown. "They really, really want to turn that thing around," Carter said. "They're putting a lot of resources into the job, and they really want to be a major player in that league." Carter formerly coached at Texas-San Antonio, going 160-152 in 11 seasons. He was an assistant at Florida State for one season, and was also an assistant at Oklahoma State before taking the job at UTSA.
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