good comments on Wisconsin. they're very young, both in age and in experience (as they play some upper classmen who've not seen many minutes). in Bo Ryan's program, he is very patient in developing players (Whites frequently mature later than blacks), and the best basketball of this group is very much in front of them. one of the youngsters to keep an eye on is
Ethan Happ. if i recall correctly, the forward is only the third (or perhaps fourth) freshman to start the season opener since Bo Ryan has been at Wisconsin (though Happ redshirted last year). he's got talent.
it's also typical that the NCAA would screw a foreign White kid (Andy van Vleit). i'm "certain" he isn't academically comparable to all those biochemistry-mechanical engineering double-majors from Haiti, Nigeria, and "France" who are cropping up all over the collegiate landscape. *smirk*
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a few other quick notes ...
Gonzaga returns what is probably the best frontline in all of college basketball:
- many people's pre-season PoY, Kyle Wiltjer is a scoring machine as a stretch four
- Przemek Karnowski is a HUGE man with nimble feet at center
- sophomore Domantas Sabonis is a
FIERCE athlete attacking the basket on both ends
all three of the aforementioned players will be playing for money after they finish their collegiate careers. the Zags also feature athletic wing (and gifted passer) Kyle Dranginis.
Butler features one of the nation's elite backcourts with their three-guard lineup:
- baby-faced, cold-blooded scorer Kellen Dunham is among the top players in the nation
- point guard
Tyler Lewis, a transfer from NC State, is arguably the nation's best passer ... as well as fast as hell
- the unconventional Roosevelt Jones (a black player) is the team's best post scorer despite being only 6-foot-4
undersized power forward
Andrew Chrabascz is another matchup problem for opponents, as he can guard bigger players while also pulling them away from the basket with his ability to shoot from long range. Butler plays a couple of other White men off the bench.
Utah, while playing an unfortunately dark lineup, has perhaps the nation's most talented center,
Jakob Poeltl. the Austrian is a true 7-footer who is very long and athletic. the NBA is definitely in his future.