Already volatile, the top level of college basketball is in for a jolt -- an influx of talent that will impact six teams in the Top 10 and almost half the Top 25. From last season, we can learn this: Talent influx isn't always a good thing.
At this point last season, Alabama was soaring toward No. 1 while Syracuse was simply trying to stay in the Top 25.
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| The return of Trevor Ariza means less court time for two UCLA big men.(AP) |
At Syracuse, freshman Billy Edelin had a galvanizing effect on the Orangemen after finishing out his NCAA suspension. Edelin wasn't necessarily a better player than Winston, but for Syracuse, he was a better fit. With Edelin allowing Gerry McNamara to slide to shooting guard, Syracuse took off. You know how that story ends.
What you don't know -- what you can't possibly know -- is how the story will end this season for teams like Missouri and Cincinnati, Arizona and UCLA, Michigan State and North Carolina. And more. Lots more.
Midseason transfers, one-semester academic casualties and once-injured players are getting onto the court this week, and what happens next is anyone's guess.
Here's a look at some of the teams to be affected, for better or worse:
No. 10 Missouri: It's hard to imagine the Tigers not being radically improved by the additions of point guard Randy Pulley (transfer issues) and 2001-02 NCAA scoring champion Jason Conley (transfer from VMI), who are expected to debut Sunday against UNC-Greensboro. Fill-in point guard Jimmy McKinney has scored 10.8 points per game but barely broken even on the assist-turnover ratio. Meanwhile, Conley's addition should take pressure off All-America candidate Rickey Paulding, whose scoring and shooting percentage are down from 17.4 points and 45 percent last season to 14.8 points and 36 percent this season.
No. 16 Cincinnati: The Bearcats also are working in two players, with Florida transfer James White expected to play Saturday against Middle Tennessee State and center Robert Whaley playing his way back into shape from Dec. 3 knee surgery. There are minutes galore for Whaley, while White will fit into a wing rotation featuring the Bearcats' two leading scorers, Tony Bobbitt and Field Williams.
No. 7 Arizona: With Isaiah Fox (knee) out for the season, the Wildcats needed a big man -- and found a 6-9 Serbian for just such an occasion. Compared to other Class of 2003 recruits, Ivan Radenovic is said to be a top-100 talent. The Wildcats hope to unveil him Monday against San Diego State. As the only true big man in the rotation, Channing Frye has averaged 31.8 minutes but only two fouls per game, suggesting his defensive intensity might be ratcheted up with a skilled big man in reserve.
No. 9 Stanford: Amazingly, the Cardinal has been just fine without preseason national player of the year candidate Josh Childress (foot), a versatile, 6-8 forward. That includes a victory against then-No. 1 Kansas. The addition of Childress ought to make better players of everyone, though it will cut into the minutes of his replacement, junior Nick Robinson, who has shot 54.3 percent while averaging 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. Stanford has been aiming for Childress to return in early January for the Pac-10 schedule.
UCLA: The Bruins already have been working in potential scoring leader Trevor Ariza (lung), and now Ben Howland must figure out what to do with senior forward T.J. Cummings (academics). Cummings debuted Wednesday against UC Santa Barbara, and while he scored 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting, the Bruins lost 61-60. The 6-8 Ariza's minutes were coming at the expense of the twin-big pairing of Ryan Hollins and Michael Fey, and that continued Wednesday.
No. 5 Georgia Tech: So far so good with the incorporation of Arizona transfer Will Bynum into what was already the country's most dynamic backcourt. The Jackets smothered Saint Louis and Alabama A&M in Bynum's first two games. Coach Paul Hewitt hopes to have another addition soon, 6-8 sophomore center Theodis Tarver (knee), who would give the Jackets' thin front line a boost. Not to be pessimistic, but Georgia Tech looks like a potential candidate for chemistry issues since Bynum's playing time will come mostly at the expense of Jarrett Jack, an early ACC player of the year contender, and senior Marvin Lewis.
No. 4 North Carolina: The Tar Heels have been trying to play at new coach Roy Williams' frenetic pace with six players, but any day now David Noel (thumb) will give them seven. Noel, 6-6, 230 pounds, will improve the Tar Heels' depth at every position but point guard. Noel's numbers last season (5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds) were modest, but in the final 16 games, he averaged 9.3 points and 5.5 boards.
Providence: The Friars have two solid wings in reserve. Freshman Gerald Brown (academics) is enrolling during the semester break, with the NCAA possibly clearing him to play as soon as Sunday against Central Connecticut. Brown, 6-4, was ranked the country's No. 64 high school senior last year by the HoopScoop, so we assume he can play. No assumption needed on senior Abdul Mills (back), a 1,000-point career scorer who has missed the last 1 1/2; seasons with various injuries. The Friars have no clue when, or if, Mills will rejoin the team.
Michigan State: No one needs a point guard worse than the Spartans, and 2003 McDonald's All-American Brandon Cotton (foot) is trying to work himself back into playing shape. Michigan State has a negative ratio of assists (102) to turnovers (130) and needs Chris Hill to focus more on scoring. He has played credibly as the de facto point guard, averaging 12 points and 4.3 assists, and may have to stay there if Cotton is a year away from being a major contributor.
No. 19 Syracuse: Freshman Louie McCroskey (academics) gives Syracuse another fearless shooter when teams collapse on Hakim Warrick. McCroskey wasn't the biggest name in the Orangemen's freshman class -- he wasn't the second-biggest name, either -- but he will have the most impact.
No. 1 Connecticut: Freshman Charlie Villanueva (amateur standing) has been the star everyone expected since being cleared to play for the Huskies earlier this month.
No. 22 Wisconsin: Sophomore Alando Tucker (foot) also has been back for several games, and the Badgers needed him more than the Huskies needed Villanueva. Tuckers scores and rebounds and, after Devin Harris, is Wisconsin's best player.
No. 24 Dayton: It's a subtle addition, but the Flyers will be helped by 6-9 freshman Nick Stafford (new enrollee) even if he redshirts. Stafford would give the undefeated Flyers a second quality backup big man in practice, letting Keith Waleskowski bang against someone his own size.
