What a time to start a blog about college basketball? Talk about your baptism by fire. The conference tournaments get started this week, there are so many teams on the bubble it is about burst and NCAA and NIT Tournaments are on the horizon.
I thought I would start out with an easy one since this is my first time and just give you a few impressions I have on the college basketball season so far:
1) The Big East is a monster. That goes without saying. I like though how the conference, after being ravaged by the ACC for football schools a few years ago, said “they want football. Fine. We will take them in basketball.” While the ACC is strong this year as well, I don’t think they have the same weight the Big East does, literally. With so many teams in the Big East and so many teams at playing at a high level, the Big East easily wins this battle. I have always love the Big East tournament (I would come home from school and there would be a basketball game on television that really left a mark). But this year is going to be a tournament to surpass all other tournaments.
2) Watch out for the West Coast. While a lot of the attention has been paid to the east coast and Midwestern teams (all the No. 1 seeds are expected to come out of these regions) but quietly the West Coast schools have been slowly beating each other up and what might emerge is a battle tested squad from west of the Rockies. Arizona State knocks off UCLA twice, while Washington State shocks the Sun Devils. All the while the Huskies have put together a solid season. Don’t be surprised if the Pac 10 makes some noise when play begins.
3) Big guys rule the regular season but the tournament belongs to guards. That has always been the rule when it comes to picking the NCAA field. But with so many of the top teams sporting quality big men, that adage may not ring true this time around. That being said post play and the success of post players has always depended on the men in the striped shirts. If they are calling a tight game, that might neutralize the inside game and return the tournament to the back court.
At any rate the next few weeks are shaping up to a wild ride as they usually are. So sit back with your popcorn (or I prefer the peanut butter sandwich cookies from the Girl Scouts) and enjoy.
Keywords: Big East, College Basketball, NCAA Tournament, NIT Tournament, Pac10
