UK to the Final Four Baby....

[UKTopher23]

well, once he clears up paying the NBA teams back for hotels and food, and propbably sits for 2 games like Lawrence Roberts did, Randolph Morris will anchor the inside for UK again in 2005-2006.

.......Starters
PG....Rondo
SG....Sparks
SF....Sims
PF....Perry
C.....Morris

Bradley and Moss will back up Rondo at PG (as well as Sparks)
Crawford, Bradley and Williams will get Sparks remaining SG minutes that will increase as the season progresses

Sherray Thomas will give us more rebounding at the PF or SF spot

and 21'6" of back-up for Morris at Center

the rest get garbage minutes

There it is boys, there is the UK lineup.

Im very confident that Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford will make up for the loss of Azabuike. The new kid (#1 JuCo player last year) Sims will give us offense that Hayes couldnt, but well still lose some Defense there. But Sherray Thomas is healthy again and back to his normal strength/weight. Our Centers are 6'10", 7'1", 7'2", and 7'3", come in the middle and get .....and every guard except Adam Williams played in that E8 thriller and most of the big games in the tourney run last year.

UK is looking awesome baby.

[Rock]

I do like your chances next season, but only if Crawford becomes the superstar of that ball club. I don't know what is going to happen with Morris, but even without him, y'all ought to be good.
Early Final Four projections.....
UConn - Rudy Gay is sick
Texas - Loaded with talent, Daniel Gibson, PJ Tucker back, Lamarcus Aldridge, Buckman, Mike Williams and company off the bench, two JUCO shooting gaurds, if either one steps up I really like their chances at winning it all
Kenutcky - with the caveat that Crawford has to be the star for them to get as far as they can go, I like the line up but he is the one kid that absolutely take over on that roster
I hate to say it but Dook: given 1)Paulus is as good as advertised on the pont, and 2)McRoberts becomes what Deng was 2 years ago put Shelden and JJ with that type of talent around them and they might be scary. They had the freshman last year whose name is escaping me that is a SG/WF to add to the mix plus Dockery as a steady hand, good defender in the backcourt. Front court depth is again an issue, but I think Lee Melcioni is back so Shelden, Melch, and McRoberts is a tough lineup, get em in foul trouble or your in trouble

Sleeper: Reyshawn Terry lights up the world, a point gaurd emerges between QT and Bobby Frasor, and Tyler Hansborough is good as advertised, UNC struggles out of the gate, but add DAvid Noel, Byron Sanders, Danny Green, and Marcus Ginyard to the mix and they get hot at the right time......ok maybe I'm just being ridiculous optimistic, but I am going to like watching them try this year.....

Sleeper 2: Louisville, returns everyone but Garcia I think, and I'm sure Pitino is bringing in some talent
Sleeper 3: Arizona: Hassan Adams has to take over, Shakur gets comfortable without Stoudamire breathing down his neck.....

OVerrated: OU, looses 2 players to transfer, including their starting PG and are preseason top 10 in every poll I've seen....

[UKTopher23]

Louisville lost Miles, George, OBannon, and Garcia, so there a ways away....

UNC, yes, you're right, it was pure optimism, they didnt reload what they lost

and UK, I dont thing Crawford has to be the star, I think if he and Bradley can give a combo that is greater than Kaz, that will be enough

[Rock]

Didnt realize Lousville lost that much......oh well throw them out...
As for UNC I am slowly starting to believe my optimism, It's looking like they are going to compete with Ohio State for the number 1 class in 06, they allready got the #1 PG and #1 SG coming in, if they can add Hawes #2 Center and one of the 3 -4 PF's that are in the top 10 PF's in the nation that all have them listed top 3, then I think they will pass OSU......but back to the current season......
IF Quentin Thomas or Bobby Frasor turn out to be good(they don't even need great but that would be nice) PG then UNC will at least make some noise next year. It's kind of hard to reload from that much talent so quick, but Reyshawn Terry will be a candidate for ACC POY, and David Noel is a solid solid roll player. Danny Green will add valuable scoring and has good range at the 3, and Marcus Ginyard will be solid. We are thin on the front line, but outside of the final four teams above, who isn't? I think Roy goes into a serious up tempo pressing offense and UNC minimially turns some heads from all the doubters out there, finishes up the top 15, and hopefully make a run at the right time.........

[UKTopher23]

I see Lawson and Ellington and akid named Graves, but QT I wouldnt expect much from...we'll see