Written by Aaron Torres on 10 November 2011.
I already know what you’re thinking. “Another 68 Reasons article, Torres? Really bro? Every website in the country has already done one of these lists. You’re two days late and a dollar short. Get some creativity. Jerk.”
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To which I’d respond, whoa, what’s with the name calling?
In all seriousness though, I know I’m a bit late to the fold, as the folks at major media outlets and independent blogs have run similar lists all week long in the lead-up to the season. I get that. But this column has also been a staple of Aaron Torres Sports dating back the days before this was even a real site (the original list premiered when I was a contributor at a place called HoopsAddict.com in 2008 ), and as I’ve explained in previous years , the fun in doing this ever year is to use it as a barometer, and see how far I’ve come over the previous 365 days. Not just in who I’ve met, and how my writing has improved, but also with where I’m at in my career.
So yes, I am a day late, and a dollar short (what can I say, blogging doesn’t pay much), but I’m going to give this list to you anyway. Besides the fact that we are in for an extra special year , college hoops is the sport I grew up with, the sport I defend, and one of the two sports (along with college football) that I truly do love more than life itself. I can imagine my life without a lot of things. College basketball isn’t one of them.
So go ahead and buckle in, and enjoy the ride. Whether you wanted 68 more reasons to be excited for college basketball season is kind of irrelevant, since I’m going to give them to you anyway.
Enjoy.
1. The North Carolina Tar Heels: Ok, ok, I suppose I should probably start with them. You know, considering they’re everyone’s preseason No. 1 and all.
The problem is, I just don’t really find them all that compelling. They’re going to win 30-something games, they’re going to win the ACC easily, and Harrison Barnes is going to be a first-team All-American. Where’s the excitement? If you really want excitement, there’s…
2. Life With Kansas State Coach Fran--- (shaking while typing) ---k Marrrrrr--- (still shaking)----- tin: Who, I’ll admit, I’m terrified just thinking about. I can’t even imagine playing for that nut.
3. A Leaner, Meaner Jared Sullinger: Or as I like to call him, “Another Subway Diet success story!”
4. The First Annual Carrier Classic: Aka, the coolest thing to happen to college basketball … pretty much ever.
5. Because The Return Of College Hoops Means: That for one day, we can stop talking about Justin Bieber’s baby-momma drama.
Ok, who am I kidding? I am never going to stop talking about Justin Bieber’s baby-momma drama.
6. The Kentucky Wildcats: Who- if Monday night’s 125-40 win over Morehouse is any indication- are quite possibly the best team in the history of basketball, at any level, ever.
Now, is that a slight exaggeration? Well, if you watched the game, you might think not.
7. Louisville Point Guard Peyton Siva: Who spent the last season owning the title of “Aaron’s 2011 college basketball man-crush.” What can I say, I love the guy. But can he carry the title into 2012? That’s the question.
8. North Carolina Forward John Henson : Who I nominate as the “College basketball player most in need of a good, hearty meal.”
9. UCLA Forward Josh Smith : Who could take a week’s worth of meals off and still probably tip the scales at 300 lbs. (like I'm one to talk about carrying a little extra weight!)
Actually, speaking of overweight power forwards, I can’t go any further without discussing my boy…
10. Renardo Sidney: Who of course, became well known in college basketball circles last year when he tried to punch out a teammate. Awesome!
My only question entering 2012 is, what could Sidney possibly have in store for an encore? A high-speed police chase? The illegal operation of a cock-fighting ring? A full form tackle of coach Rick Stansbury on national TV?
Sign me up for another season of the Renardo Sidney soap opera.
11. UConn Sophomore Jeremy Lamb: Call me a homer if you must (it’s fine, I’ve been called much worse), but I saw Lamb play in a Pro-Am this summer, and I promise that you’ll be stunned at how much better he’s gotten since last year. I honestly believe he’s talented enough to win National Player of the Year.
If you don’t know Drummond’s story, just go ahead and click here . But essentially, what you need to know is that Drummond is a freak, and could very well be the best center prospect to come through high school basketball since Dwight Howard.
…Sorry, just give me a moment to collect myself. I’m just…so…so (sniffles)…happy!!!!
13. The Beginning Of The Cuonzo Martin Era At Tennessee: Which I suspect will involve fewer bright orange blazers than the Bruce Pearl era did.
Unfortunately, it’ll likely involve many less wins as well.
14. The Third Straight Year We’re Subjected To: A million different “This is the year Mason Plumlee breaks out!!!” columns, articles and blog posts… before we realize that umm, Plumlee is pretty much just another average Duke big guy.
15. The Fourth Straight Year We Go Bonkers Over Vanderbilt: All regular season long, before they end up choking in the NCAA Tournament. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
16. The 11th Straight Year: Or so it seems, of Virginia Tech sitting on the bubble come Selection Sunday, before unceremoniously getting left out of the field.
My only hope that this is the year that we actually see Seth Greenberg break down and cry.
Oh wait, I forgot, these are supposed to be reasons to be excited for the college basketball season. My bad.
18. The San Diego State Aztecs: It may have taken them close to 80 years, but let’s give it up to the Aztecs, who won their first NCAA Tournament game in school history last year!
Of course, given who they return this year, it might be an additional 80 years before they win another one.
19. Gonzaga Center Robert Sacre: I don’t really have much to add here, except umm, how many years of eligibility does this guy have? I’m pretty sure he’s been around since the Reagan administration.
20. The End Of The Run For The Butler Bulldogs?: Ok, so it probably isn’t, and for all we know I fully expect to look up in March and see the Bulldogs in another Final Four. Brad Stevens is just that good.
21. 30. Texas Freshman Guard Myck (Pronounced “Mike”) Kabongo: I don’t know much about Kabongo’s game, but admit it, there is no one in college basketball with a cooler name. No one!
22. ESPN Analyst Fran Fraschilla: I always like to give the media guys a little love here (you know, since I technically am one), and personally, I think Fraschilla is one of the most underrated in the business. He’s smart, knows basketball and presents it in an easy to consume manner.
Basically, he’s the exact opposite of Digger Phelps.
24. Staying In The Media Game: On the web, I give the edge to the guys over at CBS over ESPN, Yahoo or anywhere else. Gary Parrish and Jeff Goodman are probably the two best reporters in the biz, and Matt Norlander and Jeff Borzello both do an excellent job running the blog at the site as well.
Basically, if you’re not reading CBS every day, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice.
24. Ok, Ok, One More Gratuitous Media Plug: And only because I stumbled across Seth Davis’ show “Courtside” on CBS Sports Net (previously CBS College) the other night, and well, it was freakin’ fantastic. If you like college hoops, be sure to find this show.Best hour of college hoops talk anywhere.
Ok, ok, so that was a tiny bit extreme. But with JaMychal Green, Travis Releford and Tony Mitchell back, this should very likely be an NCAA Tournament team.
26. Kansas Point Guard Tyshawn Taylor: Who is in the midst of what seems like his 39th arrest since enrolling at the school four years ago. Basically, he’s the Stephen Garcia of college basketball.
27. Iowa State’s Transfers: Fred Hoiberg’s club welcomes in four very talented transfers, with some very questionable backgrounds. Meaning that Iowa State will either be the most improved team in the Big XII, or the most dysfunctional one. I’m excited to see which.
28. New Providence College Coach Ed Cooley: I’m not sure if Cooley will be better than his predecessor Keno Davis (whose three year record at the school was roughly 11-297), but I can tell you this: It’s been a long time since there’s been this much buzz around the Providence program.
29. Marquette Coach Buzz Williams: Who sounds like he smokes a chain-smoker when he speaks, looks like he's half-drunk when he is in front of the cameras, and oh, by the way, is also one of the top five most fascinating personalities in the sport.
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