Because I have a website, I’ve decided to rank every college basketball team I see this year, with games seen, based ONLY on the games and action I have seen:
Duke (Seen vs. Gonzaga). Wow. This is a very complete, very good team with a TON of talent.
Gonzaga (Seen vs. Duke). Also an excellent, super talented team, but somehow I don’t think this is their year.
Michigan (seen early). They have a couple of strange losses because when I saw them they were outstanding.
Connecticut (seen when #17 against Grambling). Excellent team with Hawkins and Akok and plenty of others. Probably will be a very dangerous high seed in the tournament.
Ohio State (seen vs. Duke). They beat Duke on the day I saw them. The big guy Zed is pretty great now, and a lot of hard working excellent talent.
Illinois (Seen multiple times). Kofi Cockburn is their centerpiece and that’s a real weakness I think. He’s absolutely dominant, but how far Illinois goes depends on everyone else.
Tennessee (Seen when 5-1 vs. Colorado). They have a couple of very nice big players, a great freshman guard, and a lot of what I would describe as pretty typical Tennessee players. Ranked #13 when I saw them, and you can see why. Very good component parts.
Iowa State (seen vs Iowa). Looks like a really solid competent team.
Michigan State (Seen multiple times). Pretty average talent, but Izzo guaranteed to coach them up to a much higher level. And he is. They can execute and just outplay you in every possible way. No stars, just super solid and super competent. Will have to be beaten in the tourney with better talent having a good night.
NC State (seen versus Louisville). I like their guards. Big and strong in the few minutes I watched them. I’m not a big fan of Seebron (sp?).
Louisville (seen twice, vs. NC State early and before that). Seem like a very beatable team this year. Not a lot of discipline. Chris Mack is supposedly a great coach but I think his recruits are not on board.
Providence (Seen when 7-1 vs. Rhode Island). Very powerful big man. Lots of physicality and athleticism. Could be a threat for the tournament based on what I saw.
Mississippi State (seen when 6-1 vs. Minnesota). Excellent team overall with a great scoring guard and numerous big, talented athletes. Rocket Watts, formerly from Michigan State, comes in off the bench which helps on offense. Minnesota beat them but played almost perfectly.
Colorado (Seen when 6-2 vs. Tennessee). Pretty physical for a Pac 12 team. One super talented big. Simpson the guard seems quite explosive.
Iowa (seen vs Iowa State). I don’t think it is going to be a great year for them given the quality of the Big Ten. Bottom half of the Big Ten, I bet.
BYU (Seen when 6-1 vs. Missouri State). NOT impressive in the few minutes I watched them. Could of bigs kind of clueless. Missouri State gave them everything they could handle. BYU does find ways to win even when they don’t deserve it so there’s that.
Rhode Island (seen when 6-2 vs. Providence). I don’t see a lot to love on this team. I’ll be surprised if they end up high in their conference.
Missouri State (seen when 4-3 vs. BYU). They have a great mostly controlled big man who just dominated BYU, but then lost his temper at the end. BYU beat them but honestly I was more impressed with Missouri State as a team in some ways.
Rutgers (seen vs. Illinois). Seemed very overmatched against Illinois, but that’s fair.
Minnesota (Seen or Heard every game. Currently 7-1). MUCH better than anticipated. Hung in with Michigan State, kind of (but not really). Will be a tough year.
Nebraska (seen in the big 10 acc challenge). MIGHT be worse than Minnesota, which is saying something. Not impressed with their overall talent level.
Pittsburgh (Seen vs. Minnesota). Not a very good team.
Grambling (seen against Connecticut 12/4). I didn’t see anything really noticeable about this team except being overwhelmed against Connecticut.
