The House of Blue

I think IU is the best IMO, still IU and UL lack top shelf talent at a couple positions on the floor so I think we'll be good to go by March if we face them. NC State is actually a nice squad this year.

I wonder what Athlon is thinking having KU at #4? I find half of their top ten bizarre.

Indiana is Definetly the top team to start the season but they remind of Unc last year...had a good year the year be4 but was never really a national title threat( I kno Unc had a 2 seed but was never really scared of them)and return there whole team with one big time recruit addition(macadoo/Ferrell)...but I think they will slip up a Lil bit but will be a tough out come march cause experience and talent

I'm really quite surprised that NC State wasn't in Athlon's top 10.

They also had Syracuse and Michigan in, both teams which seem rather suspect to me.

Interesting take about first rounders. Makes me feel every better about UK's chances. The Cats likely have potentially 6 first rounders. Some much more likely than others. Realistically they have 4 likely first round picks with Noel, Goodwin, Poythress, and one of Kyle, WCS, and Harrow.

1st rounder theory is a good one to me. It's one reason I'm so optimistic for our chances this year. The one noticeable weakness I thought we had was 3 point shooting and with the addition of Mays for that specific role a lot of those concerns are assuaged. Hope we can find a 3rd shooter to pair with Mays and Wiltjer though by the time March rolls around.

If you look at the last few champions I think the 3 1st rounder theory holds up.

2012 Kentucky: Davis, MKG, Jones, Teague
2011 UCONN: Walker and J Lamb with Napier and Smith both having a shot still
2010 Duke: Nolan Smith, Miles Plumlee (whether he should've been a 1st rounder or not is another debate) Mason Plumlee likely
2009 North Carolina: Hansborough, Ellington, Lawson, Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller. Danny Green was a 2nd rounder and may be the best pro on that team.
2008 Kansas: Mario Chalmers, Cole Aldrich, Darrel Arthur, Brandon Rush
2006/07 Florida: Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Marrese Speights

Using this theory coupled with the 2013 and 2014 projections on Draft Express right now this many teams qualify for next year.

Kentucky: Noel, Poythress, Goodwin, Harrow,
UCLA: Muhammad, Anderson, Josh Smith
Arizona: Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley, Grant Jerret

That's the entire list. Of course that will likely change once play starts.

Using the projections from NBAdraft.net here's what you get

Kentucky: Noel, Poythress, Harrow, Cauley-Stein
NC State: Lorenzo Brown, CJ Leslie, Rodney Purvis
Syracuse: Rakeem Christmas, CJ Fair, Michael Carter-Williams

Again likely to change once play starts but that's their entire list as well. Think this is a good sign on how good our perceived talent is compared to the rest of the country.

And the only constant in that measure is Kentucky! I like it.

Don't steal my thunder! He's a chump.

Seriously, has there ever been a more Duke appropriate player that didn't actually go to Duke? This kid is like the second coming of Christian Laettner. It's like Danny Ferry and Bob McBoberts had a baby.