cre·scen·do
noun
Music.
b.
a musical passage characterized by such an increase.
c.
the performance of a crescendo passage: The crescendo by the violins is too abrupt.
2.
a steady increase in force or intensity: The rain fell in a crescendo on the rooftops.
3.
(yahoo images)the climactic point or moment in such an increase; peak: The authorities finally took action when public outrage reached a crescendo. (http://www.dictionary.com/)
40. Creighton Blue Jays
Last Year: 23-16
League: Missouri Valley
Studs: Doug McDermott, Soph. F, Antoine Young, Sr. G, Gregory Echenique, Jr. C
All I know is that Harrison Barnes' ex high school teammate McDermott blew up this summer playing for the U19 national team. Combine that with Young, and former Rutgers player Echenique and you have a team that not only is a threat in the Valley, but also could do some damage nationally. Gonzaga transfer Grant Gibbs will add another option on the perimeter.
39. Long Beach St. 49ers
Last Year: 22-12
League: Big West
Studs: Casper Ware, Sr. G, Larry Anderson, Sr. F, T.J. Robinson Sr. F
The 49ers have former Gonzaga and Minnesota coach Dan Monson at the helm, and possibly the best player in the league in Ware. They've been waging war with UC Santa Barbara in the Big West the past couple of seasons, and I look for this year to be breakthrough time. Plus I'd pay money to see both Snoop sitting courside behind their bench at the tourney, followed by Gus Johnson making obscure hip hop references throughout the telecast.
37. Purdue Boliermakers
Last Year: 26-8
League: Big 10
Studs: Robbie Hummel, Sr. F, Lewis Jackson, Sr. G, Ryne Smith, Sr. G
The major key with the Boilers will be how much Hummel has left after two knee surgeries. If he can regain the form of two years ago, when he was arguably the best player on a team with two future pros (Etwan Moore and Jajuan Johnson), then Purdue can be a factor in the Big 10. They have pretty much everyone back except for Moore and Johnson, so this could be a team that jumps much higher than this ranking.
36. Kansas St. Wildcats
Last Year: 23-11
League: Big 12
Studs: Rodney McGruder Jr. G, Jamar Samuels, Sr. F, Jordan Henriquez, Jr. C
(yahoo images)I picked Kansas St. to go to the Final 4 last preseason, and they basically didn't get their collective shit together until the very end of the year. Losing Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly will hurt them, but I think with Frank Martin scaring referees and his players all season, they won't slip as much as people may think. It also might be a matter of addtion by subtraction, as the seniors looked a bit distracted last year. I look for McGruder to break out and become a star, and the Wildcats to finish in the upper half of a wide open Big 12.
35. Butler Bulldogs
Last Year: 28-10
League: Horizon
Studs: Robert Nored, Sr. G, Andrew Smith, Jr. C, Khyle Marshall, Soph. F
As we know from the past two seasons, this is probably way too low of a ranking. The Dawgs have one of the best coaches in the country, and while they've lost a lot, they have a roster littered with deep tourney experience. Hopefully Nored found a jumpshot this summer, because outside of that problem, he's an ideal point guard and leader. Marshall gained valuable experience playing overseas with the U19's, and look for newcomers Roosevelt Jones and Jackson Aldridge to make an impact before all is said and done. Sleep on Butler at your own peril.
34. Oklahoma St. Cowboys
Last Year: 20-14
League: Big 12
Studs: LeBryan Nash, Frosh. F, Keiton Page, Sr. G, J.P. Olukemi, Jr. G/F
I'm taking a big leap of faith in the abilities of Nash with this pick. I think in a balanced league that lost a lot of talent to the NBA, that he'll come in and have a huge impact. Page is smaller than me, but makes plays and has range from 30 feet in. If they get bruiser Darrell Williams back from legal troubles, and contributions from JC transfer Phillip Jurick, they'll have two big bodies to go along with the skill on the wings. I'm loving the Big 12 race already.
33. UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Last Year: 24-9
League: Mountain West
Studs: Chace Stanback, Sr. F, Oscar Bellfield, Sr. G, Anthony Marshall, Jr. G
New Coach Dave Rice inherits four starters back from a team that was pretty good last season living in the shadows of Jimmer and San Diego St. Rice played on the Rebs' early 90's teams, as has vowed to put the Run back in the Runnin' Rebels. They have a little bit of everything with experienced guards combined with impressive size up front. Stanback has the ability to be conference player of the year, and with their depth, UNLV should compete with New Mexico for the top spot in the conference.
32. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last Year: 20-14
League: Big 10
Studs: Brandon Paul, Jr. G, D.J.Richardson, Jr. G, Meyers Leonard, Soph. C
Another addition by subtraction team, as the Illini lost a ton, but it could be for the best. All of last years seniors underperformed for much of the season, leaving Illinois with a new group that, best case scenario, will gell and play with much more intensity. Noted Chicago Area talent scout Wayne Brody (my father who goes to a shit ton of high school games in Illinois) says that the class they brought in is really good. I grew up going to Chicago Catholic League games throughout my early childhood, and Illinois brought in 3 players from that conference in Tracy Abrams (Mt. Carmel), Mike Shaw(De La Salle) and Nnanna Egwu( St. Ignatius). This has to count for something.
31. New Mexico Lobos
Last Year: 22-13
League: Mountain West
Studs: Drew Gordon, Sr. F, Phillip McDonald, Sr. G, Kendall Williams, Soph. G
After a great season two seasons ago, New Mexico fell back a bit last season, missing the tournament. They'll be much better now, with Gordon likely battling with UNLV's Stanback for The Jimmer Fredette Memorial Cultural Phenom Player of the Year Trophy (I renamed it). The Lobos are a little guard heavy, and they need senior A.J. Hardeman to help Gordon with the dirty work.
(yahoo images)It's time for college basketball, and I'm going to start slow with my top 40, beginning today with my 40-31 ranked teams, some of whom I don't know too much about. I'm going to pick up the intensity over the next couple of days as I get into my top 25, as I know a lot more about the majority of those teams. Hence the definition at the beginning of this post. While I might not have much to say about the St.Mary's and the Long Beach State's of the world, I can and will make a lot of noise once we get to the Duke, UNC, and Kentucky portions of the program. Without further ado, my top 40.
40. Creighton Blue Jays
Last Year: 23-16
League: Missouri Valley
Studs: Doug McDermott, Soph. F, Antoine Young, Sr. G, Gregory Echenique, Jr. C
All I know is that Harrison Barnes' ex high school teammate McDermott blew up this summer playing for the U19 national team. Combine that with Young, and former Rutgers player Echenique and you have a team that not only is a threat in the Valley, but also could do some damage nationally. Gonzaga transfer Grant Gibbs will add another option on the perimeter.
39. Long Beach St. 49ers
Last Year: 22-12
League: Big West
Studs: Casper Ware, Sr. G, Larry Anderson, Sr. F, T.J. Robinson Sr. F
The 49ers have former Gonzaga and Minnesota coach Dan Monson at the helm, and possibly the best player in the league in Ware. They've been waging war with UC Santa Barbara in the Big West the past couple of seasons, and I look for this year to be breakthrough time. Plus I'd pay money to see both Snoop sitting courside behind their bench at the tourney, followed by Gus Johnson making obscure hip hop references throughout the telecast.
38. St. Mary's Gaels
Last Year: 25-9
League: WCC
Studs: Matthew Dellavadova Jr. G, Rob Jones, Sr. F, Mitchell Young, Jr. F
(yahoo images)The Gaels have been around before, and are once again Aussie heavy with their lineup. Dellavadova was their point guard on the Sweet 16 team two years ago, and Jones averaged 14 pts and 8 rbs as an undersized post player last season. Their RPI will be better with BYU joining the conference.
Last Year: 25-9
League: WCC
Studs: Matthew Dellavadova Jr. G, Rob Jones, Sr. F, Mitchell Young, Jr. F
(yahoo images)37. Purdue Boliermakers
Last Year: 26-8
League: Big 10
Studs: Robbie Hummel, Sr. F, Lewis Jackson, Sr. G, Ryne Smith, Sr. G
The major key with the Boilers will be how much Hummel has left after two knee surgeries. If he can regain the form of two years ago, when he was arguably the best player on a team with two future pros (Etwan Moore and Jajuan Johnson), then Purdue can be a factor in the Big 10. They have pretty much everyone back except for Moore and Johnson, so this could be a team that jumps much higher than this ranking.
36. Kansas St. Wildcats
Last Year: 23-11
League: Big 12
Studs: Rodney McGruder Jr. G, Jamar Samuels, Sr. F, Jordan Henriquez, Jr. C
(yahoo images)35. Butler Bulldogs
Last Year: 28-10
League: Horizon
Studs: Robert Nored, Sr. G, Andrew Smith, Jr. C, Khyle Marshall, Soph. F
As we know from the past two seasons, this is probably way too low of a ranking. The Dawgs have one of the best coaches in the country, and while they've lost a lot, they have a roster littered with deep tourney experience. Hopefully Nored found a jumpshot this summer, because outside of that problem, he's an ideal point guard and leader. Marshall gained valuable experience playing overseas with the U19's, and look for newcomers Roosevelt Jones and Jackson Aldridge to make an impact before all is said and done. Sleep on Butler at your own peril.
34. Oklahoma St. Cowboys
Last Year: 20-14
League: Big 12
Studs: LeBryan Nash, Frosh. F, Keiton Page, Sr. G, J.P. Olukemi, Jr. G/F
I'm taking a big leap of faith in the abilities of Nash with this pick. I think in a balanced league that lost a lot of talent to the NBA, that he'll come in and have a huge impact. Page is smaller than me, but makes plays and has range from 30 feet in. If they get bruiser Darrell Williams back from legal troubles, and contributions from JC transfer Phillip Jurick, they'll have two big bodies to go along with the skill on the wings. I'm loving the Big 12 race already.
33. UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Last Year: 24-9
League: Mountain West
Studs: Chace Stanback, Sr. F, Oscar Bellfield, Sr. G, Anthony Marshall, Jr. G
New Coach Dave Rice inherits four starters back from a team that was pretty good last season living in the shadows of Jimmer and San Diego St. Rice played on the Rebs' early 90's teams, as has vowed to put the Run back in the Runnin' Rebels. They have a little bit of everything with experienced guards combined with impressive size up front. Stanback has the ability to be conference player of the year, and with their depth, UNLV should compete with New Mexico for the top spot in the conference.
32. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last Year: 20-14
League: Big 10
Studs: Brandon Paul, Jr. G, D.J.Richardson, Jr. G, Meyers Leonard, Soph. C
Another addition by subtraction team, as the Illini lost a ton, but it could be for the best. All of last years seniors underperformed for much of the season, leaving Illinois with a new group that, best case scenario, will gell and play with much more intensity. Noted Chicago Area talent scout Wayne Brody (my father who goes to a shit ton of high school games in Illinois) says that the class they brought in is really good. I grew up going to Chicago Catholic League games throughout my early childhood, and Illinois brought in 3 players from that conference in Tracy Abrams (Mt. Carmel), Mike Shaw(De La Salle) and Nnanna Egwu( St. Ignatius). This has to count for something.
31. New Mexico Lobos
Last Year: 22-13
League: Mountain West
Studs: Drew Gordon, Sr. F, Phillip McDonald, Sr. G, Kendall Williams, Soph. G
After a great season two seasons ago, New Mexico fell back a bit last season, missing the tournament. They'll be much better now, with Gordon likely battling with UNLV's Stanback for The Jimmer Fredette Memorial Cultural Phenom Player of the Year Trophy (I renamed it). The Lobos are a little guard heavy, and they need senior A.J. Hardeman to help Gordon with the dirty work.
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