Draymond Green is going to miss Kalin Lucas

Today's 78-76 loss to UCLA was a microcosm of Michigan State's season.

The Spartans dug themselves an enormous hole, finding themselves down 64-41 with just 8:30 left in the game, but as they turned their defense up, the points started to come. For a while, it looked like it was going to be another case of Tom Izzo wielding his NCAA Tournament wand, but the comeback fell short when Kalin Lucas traveled trying to get off a potentially game-winning heave.

Therein lies the NCAA Tournament's ultimate juxtaposition.

Amid the choas and excitement of the upsets and buzzer beaters that envelope the first few days, we get the untimely end of the careers of some of the sports most notable names.

And I'm not just talking about the freshmen that already have one foot in the NBA Draft's early entry pool.

I'm talking about players like Kalin Lucas.


The 2009 Big Ten player of the year was never able to recapture the magic of his sophomore season, which ended when his Spartans ran into the buzzsaw that was Tyler Hansbrough's North Carolina Tar Heels. As a junior, Lucas had an up and down season come to an end in the second round when he ruptured his achilles tendon against Maryland. Lucas never seemed to fully heel from that injury this season, as he looked a step slow and lacking the explosiveness that made him so good.

Its a shame to see such a terrific player go out in such an anti-climatic, disappointing way.

And I could probably write 1,000 words on it. But nothing that I write would be able to compare to what Draymond Green said about Lucas in the post game press conference. (If anyone has the video, please pass it along. I couldn't find it and I'm writing this at 4:00 am.)

A clearly distraught Lucas couldn't answer a question about what was going through his head during such a tough shooting night, so Green stepped in:

I know it had to be rough for him. I mean, I'm just going to answer from my perspective. I feel like he had a great career, and he hasn't had many games where he just couldn't get anything to fall. You know, they did a great job defensively on him. They pretty much keyed on him the whole entire defense, and he did a great job of still getting everybody else involved. He still had five assists and he did some great things for us and got me some open shots. It hurts me. You know, I'm a big fan of my guys reaching milestones, and the loss hurts me, but I think I'm kind of hurting because he came up four points short of 2,000. And for everything he did for this program, you know, I get to come back for another year so I can be sad about the loss later. I think I'm hurting more about him not getting them four points.

Later on, when Lucas finished answering a question about reflecting on his career, Green again jumped in:

Can I add something? I just want to add something to it. In the locker room, I think playing with Kalin has made me a much better player, just his heart, everything about him. I think when I came in as a freshman, nobody expected me to be nothing. He was one of the guys telling me, just keep on going hard, and one day he's like, just keep going hard and you're going to start feeling it. It's going to start to feel like high school all over again. You're going to do what you want to do out there on the court, and it's just going to feel like high school all over again. I think that was one of the reasons -- my freshman year things didn't go right for me. I didn't play as much as I wanted to at the beginning and things was just rocky. But he was one of the guys that just stayed there with him being one of the leaders of our team at that point. It's been great to play with him. Like I say, he's made me a better player, and I've been -- the last couple years a lot of people has labeled me as a winner, but along with that winning, he's done a lot of it for me just helping me out and pulling this team along. And like I said to him in the locker room, I want to thank him for all the great times he gave me here as a player.

I don't need to add much to that.

Its straight from the horse's mouth.

So if you are going to criticize Lucas for a subpar senior season, keep those quotes in mind. Remember the kind of effect he had on his teammates.
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2010 NBA Draft Early Entrants: So who came back?

The NBA Draft's Early Entry deadline came and went on Sunday. Today, we will provide you with a bit of fodder over how some of this year's decisions could sway the 2010-11 college basketball season. For a complete list of this year's crop of early entrants, click here.

You wouldn't be wrong if you said it seems like half of the college basketball ranks declared for the 2010 NBA Draft. Believe it or not, there were some NBA prospects -- fringe or otherwise -- that decided returning to school was their best option. Now this was nothing like last year, when guys like Cole Aldrich, Willie Warren, and Greg Monroe decided to go to school for another year. There really was only one surprise. But that doesn't mean there isn't some talent that will be hitting the books next season instead of cashing checks.

Keep in mind, this list will (hopefully) grow as players come to realize their true standing in regards to this year's draft class.

So as of today, who's coming back?


Kyle Singler, Duke, forward: Singler was the one surprise that I was referring too. After struggling to acclimate to a more perimeter-centric role with the Blue Devils early on, Singler went crazy over the last six weeks of the season. He capped his junior year off with a fantastic performance in the NCAA Tournament, culminating in the Final Four MOP award as Duke won their fourth national title under Coach K.

Can Kyle Singler win another one?
(photo credit: B/R)

Singler likely would have been a first round pick if he had gone pro. Instead, he decided to return to school to try and lead the Blue Devils to a second straight national title. While the decision was a great one from the perspective of a Duke fan (or a college basketball fan in general, regardless of your feelings about the Blue Devils), it probably won't hurt his potential NBA career all that much. While his stock may never be higher than it is right now, the thing about Singler is that he is a known commodity. Nothing he can do next season is going to hurt his draft stock, and likely won't improve it all that much. He's a combo-forward that is going to play hard and compete, can knock down a jumper, and may be big versatile enough to create mismatches is a team decides to go small and use him at the four.


Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt, sophomore: A lot of fans don't know who Jeff Taylor is, but it is a safe bet that NBA scouts do. Taylor has all the makings of a guy that can develop into an impact small forward in the NBA. He's an explosive athlete with good size (6'7") and length that can defend and rebound. His is still a bit raw on the offensive end, but a jump shot and ball handling can be developed. Tools cannot.

Taylor probably made a good decision to return to school With Jermaine Beal graduating and AJ Ogilvy entering the draft and hiring an agent, Taylor is going to be Vanderbilt's first option next season. If he puts in the work this off-season and can up his production, there is no reason he can't vault himself into the back end of next year's lottery.


Kemba Walker, UConn, sophomore: Walker plays a different position than Taylor -- he is a diminutive point guard as opposed to a "power wing" -- but he is facing a lot of the same problems that Taylor is. Simply put, Walker relies far too heavily on his absurd quickness and ball-handling ability but doesn't quite understand how to run a team. He can lead a fast break as well as anyone at the collegiate level, but can he get a team into an offense and run a system. Next season, Walker will have a chance to work on that as UConn will need to play as much more of a team with talents like Stanley Robinson and Jerome Dyson graduating.

The other thing Walker will have a chance to work on next year is learning his limitations. There are few players that can keep Walker out of the paint, but quite a few that can block his shot or force him into a tough layup at the rim. If Walker wants to be a successful NBA point, he is going to need to learn how to score in the mid-range; to learn when he should pull up for a 10 foot jumper or a short floater as opposed to trying to finish around the rim in traffic.


Elias Harris, Gonzaga, freshman: Harris wasn't considered an NBA prospect when he arrived in Spokane, but he certainly is now. He reminds me a lot of Josh Howard. What I mean is that he is a four at this level, but he has the athleticism and the ball skills to project as an effective three at the next level. Harris is explosive enough to dunk over you and strong enough to bully his way through you, but he also has a finesse game, showing an ability to weave his way through traffic, and can knock down a three.

Elias Harris surprised a lot of people this season.
(photo credit: ESPN)

Harris was a bit inconsistent this past season, which probably had more to do with the fact that he was the third or fourth option most of the season than any knock on his game. With Matt Bouldin gone, it is going to the Harris and Steven Gray show for Mark Few next season. Expect big numbers ffrom the 6'8" 20 year old, and if he can show some development in his ability to play on the perimeter, Harris could be a lottery pick next season.


Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers, Michigan State, juniors: Both of these guys made the right decision to come back to school. Neither had a great junior year, and it wasn't just an issue of their basketball ability. Lucas was the 2009 Big Ten player of the year, but he dealt with leadership and injury issues throughout the season and is currently laid up with a torn achilles tendon. Lucas likely isn't going to be a lottery pick or a primetime player in the NBA, but if he can lead the Spartans to a third straight Final Four, you don't think NBA teams are going to take notice? He's a point guard that can create his own shot, can make a play for a teammate, and is a proven winner. Leadership aside, Lucas seems like he is going to be the kind of player than hangs around the league for 12-15 years as a solid back up point guard.

Summers has a much higher ceiling than Lucas, but it just seems like he doesn't want to tap into that potential. He looks almost apathetic on the court at times. He proved what kind of player he can be as he stepped his game up in the NCAA Tournament without Lucas, earning the Midwest Region's MOP, but one good month doesn't make up for a career's worth of inconsistency.


Other notable names back for another season:

• Scotty Hopson, Tennessee, sophomore: A big time recruit coming out of high school, Hopson needs to prove that he is more than an athlete that can hit a jumper.
• Chris Singleton, Florida State, sophomore: Singleton might have been able to sneak into the first round this season, but like Hopson, he still relies too heavily on being toolsy.
• Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State, freshman(?): Sidney never saw the court this season due to issues with being an amateur. But a 6'11" big man with his talent will always be a prospect.
• Aaric Murray, La Salle, freshman: Murray is a big man with a jump shot, but he needs to prove he can also play in the paint.
  
• Malcolm Lee, UCLA, sophomore: The Bruins just didn't have a good enough season to warrant anyone going pro. Lee is a gym rat, however. I expect him to come back much better next year.
• Trey Thompkins, Georgia, sophomore: I know I wasn't the only one that was impressed by the big man's play towards the end of the season.
  

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Georgetown won't be a top five team, but Michigan State should be

Earlier this week, we took a look at the three biggest names that we were still waiting to hear from in regards to the NBA Draft.

Today, we got an answer from one of those three.

Georgetown's sophomore center Greg Monroe has declared for the NBA Draft. He will be signing with an agent, eliminating any possibility that he could return to DC for his junior year. After the Hoyas were upset by Ohio in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Monroe said that he would be returning to school for his junior season.

Greg Monroe will be in the NBA next season.
(photo credit: iSportsWeb)

Monroe is making the right decision. As much as I hate seeing talent from the college ranks leave with eligibility remaining, the goal is to make a career out of playing basketball. Monroe has a chance to make a life-changing amount of money -- and with the impending lockout, the same may not be true if he stayed for his junior season -- and he should capitalize on that opportunity.

If Monroe had stayed, Georgetown would have been the favorite to win the Big East and likely a consensus top five team in 2011. Without Monroe, the Hoyas are probably going to hang around the top 25. They bring back one of the best back courts in the country with Chris Wright, Austin Freeman, Jason Clark, and Hollis Thompson. Julian Vaughn is a solid post player, and is one of Henry Sims, Moses Abraham, or Nate Lubick can become a solid contributor, the Hoyas have a team that could possibly be able to compete for a Big East title.

While today brought bad news for Hoya fans, it brought fantastic news for basketball fans in East Lansing.

Both Kalin Lucas, the 2009 Big Ten player of the year, and Durrell Summers, the 2010 Midwest Region MOP, decided to forego the NBA Draft and return to school for their senior seasons.

With those two back in school, the only player that Tom Izzo loses from a team that has made back to back Final Fours is Raymar Morgan, adding two top 50 recruits -- guard Keith Appling and big man Adreian Payne -- to the mix. Michigan State should be a top five team in the preseason, and depending on what happens with the players from Purdue and Illinois with their names currently in the draft, they should be considered the favorite in the Big Ten as well.

Will Lucas and Summers lead Sparty to third straight Final Four?
(photo credit: NYDN)

It will be interesting to see what happens with Lucas and Summers. Lucas may have snuck into the back of the first round if he had left school after his sophomore season, but decided to return to school. This year, Lucas really had no choice but to return. There are quite a few players clustered in the 20-45 range, and with Lucas' injury (torn achilles), he would be unable to improve his standing with workouts, even in a draft short on point guards. Lucas is not the kind of player that is going to be a lottery pick -- his size limits hit NBA potential -- but earning a guaranteed contract isn't out of the question.

Summers is a different story. He has a ton of talent -- he can score in bunches, he is an NBA athlete, and he can knock down shots from the perimeter. Summers has the potential to be an all-american next season. The issue is whether he will ever live up to that potential.

If he does, don't be surprised to see Sparty in a third straight Final Four.

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Kalin Lucas going pro next year?

UPDATE: The Lansing State Journal has a full rundown with Izzo regarding Kalin Lucas missing practice. Definite must-read if you are a Spartan fan.


We mentioned in today's dump that Kalin Lucas had been punished by Tom Izzo at a recent practice. Whether he was suspended, benched, or kicked out of practice, the bottom line is that Lucas has done something to anger Izzo.

Yesterday, Izzo spoke to reporters, and its pretty clear what the issue is:

If he wants to assume the position of being the best player and this and that, he has the assume the position of taking some leadership responsibilities. And I don't think he's done that, so that's where I'm at with it... A leader has got to lead in the locker room, in hotels, in the streets, on the floor, on the bench... I just think there a lot of things we need him to be. I don't think right now his focus is on our team. I think this is one of the things that happens often. People start focusing on things that are beyond here, and then you start listening to people and then you have problems, and I'm just trying to nip those things in the bud.

It isn't all that difficult to see what Izzo is getting at. Could it be that Lucas was suspended because he was focusing more on his draft status than on the Spartan's season?

Regardless, it is obvious that Izzo is very unhappy with the way his captains - Raymar Morgan and Lucas - are handling their leadership roles. In addition the suspending Lucas, whose status is unknown for the Spartan's next game against UT-Arlington, he also named Draymond Green and Isiah Dahlman captains. Dahlman doesn't get a lot of minutes, while Green might be Michigan State's best big man, a versatile 6'6" power forward that can really pass the ball well.

Michigan State is 9-3 on the season, with losses to Florida, UNC, and Texas and has not looked as good as many thought they would be in the preseason. Based on comments from Izzo after the Texas loss, this seems to be an issue that has been building.

"Leadership and chemistry are what's got to improve," Izzo said. "Its not an issue people getting along off the court."

That second statement is something that is not stressed enough. A team may be the best of friends, but that doesn't mean they play well together. Seton Hall, who lost last night to Syracuse, is another example. With guys like Jeremy Hazell, Herb Pope, and Eugene Harvey, Bobby Gonzalez has a team with as much raw talent as anyone in the Big East. But the Pirates just don't always seem to be on the same page, whether it is Hazell taking 25 footers off of one pass, miscommunication on a pass, or losing a man defensively and giving up an easy bucket.

It works the other way as well; you don't have to be friends to win. Ask Shaq and Kobe.

So, yeah, now we have a reason for the Spartan's early season struggles.

But don't the Spartans always seem to struggle early in the season?

Its just a matter of time before Izzo gets this group playing well.
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No. 4: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Michigan State Spartans

2008-2009 Record: 31-7, 15-3 Big Ten (1st)

Key Losses: Goran Suton, Travis Walton

Key Returners: Kalin Lucas (14.7 ppg, 4.6 apg), Raymar Morgan (10.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Durrell Summers (8.6 ppg), Delvon Roe (5.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Newcomers: Garrick Sherman, Derrick Nix

Kalin Lucas will lead MSU as Sparty looks to make a return trip to the Final Four.
(photo credit: MLive)

More than any other team in the top five, Michigan State lost some valuable pieces in the off-season. Leader and defensive stalwart Travis Walton graduated, as did versatile big man Goran Suton. But, if it is possible for a team that reached the title game while beating Kansas, Louisville, and UConn along the way, Michigan State was operating at a diminished capacity last season.

Delvon Roe and Raymar Morgan, who are the likely starters in the two forward spots, were both limited last season, Roe due to microfracture surgery on his knee the season before and Morgan because of a bout of walking pneumonia and a broken nose. Roe's knee injury really cost him last season. More than anything, it was due to how weak his knee was. He didn't have the explosiveness he had as a high schooler and he wasn't able to defend as well as he is expected of a Tom Izzo post player. But when healthy, Roe is dangerous. He is athletic, energetic, and really able to get up and down the floor. His post game is still developing, but Roe should add an extra dimension offensively for the Spartans with his mobility and ability to finish above the rim in traffic.

Morgan is a bit of a conundrum. He came into last season hyped as one of the best combo forwards in the country, but he was extremely inconsistent and unreliable as a result of his injuries and illnesses. When Morgan is at 100%, the guy is as strong and aggressive a player as you will see on the wing, to the point that he is essentially a perimeter oriented power forward. Morgan's weakness at this point in his career is his relative lack of ball handling skills and his poor jump shot. With his ability to slash to the basket and score inside, especially on the offensive glass, if he has improved his perimeter game, Morgan will be a terror offensively for Izzo.

Joining those two up front is a solid group in sophomore Draymond Green, junior Tom Herzog, and freshmen Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman. Green will probably see the most minutes, at least early on. At 6'6", 235 lb, Green isn't going to impress anyone with his offensive ability or his athleticism. But where he will be effective is on the defensive end and on the glass. He is a strong guy with a lot of determination in the paint. Herzog is a seven footer that saw very limited minutes last season, but expect him to get more consistent playing time this year as size off the bench with Idong Ibok's graduation. Nix and Sherman are similar players. Both are big, strong kids (Nix is 6'8", 280 lb, and Sherman is 6'10", 235 lb) and excellent on the glass. Sherman is probably a bit more polished offensively at this point, but given the talent on this roster, it won't be points that Izzo looks for out of these two - it will be toughness inside, defensively and on the glass.

As good as Michigan State's front court is, their back court is probably better. It will be headlined by reigning Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas. Lucas is as good of a point guard as you will find. Lucas is capable of playing on the ball or off of it. When he has the ball in his hands, he is able to break down a defender due to his crisp handle and an exceptional stop-and-go ability and quickness changing direction. He is good at finding the open man when he draws an extra defender as well. Perhaps his most dangerous weapon offensively is his jumper, which is good enough that a defender must respect it, making his ability to create all the more dangerous. As the Spartans will look to get out and run this year, Lucas will be counted upon to lead the break and orchestrate the Spartan offensive attack.

Joining Lucas on the perimeter will be a number of talented wings. Junior Durrell Summers is probably the best of the bunch. An exciting athlete, the 6'4" Summers developed an effective three point stroke during his sophomore season. Summers is going to be a terror running a lane on a fast break, but as he continues to expand his offensive arsenal, Summers may be primed for a break out season. Chris Allen and Korie Lucious will also see significant minutes this season. Allen entered East Lansing with a reputation as a big-time scorer and shooter, but has yet to really find a level of consistency playing at this level. Lucious averaged just 3.2 ppg in limited minutes as a freshman, but he showed flashes of being a good scorer. As minutes open up with Travis Walton's graduated, don't be surprised is Lucious turns into a consistent and effective scoring option.

Outlook: As you should be accustomed to by now, Michigan State will once again be the class of the Big Ten. While they do lose some key pieces from last year's team, the Spartans may be better than last year simply due to the natural development of some of their younger guys and playing this season at 100%. While the loss of Walton will hurt them - he was easily one of the most dominant perimeter defenders last year - it will provide increased minutes for more offensive-oriented guys like Chris Allen and Korie Lucious. The loss of Suton's size should be mitigated by the expected emergence of Delvon Roe and the addition of a couple big freshmen. Michigan State should be expected to run a little bit more this season than last, and if Morgan and Summers provide two legitimate scoring threats on the wings, another Big Ten title and Final Four trip should be expected.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Point Guards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.

Best Freshman:

• John Wall, Kentucky
• Abdul Gaddy, Washington
• Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Best of the Rest:

• Charles Jenkins, Hofstra
• Chris Warren, Ole Miss
• Courtney Fortson, Arkansas
• Jimmer Fredette, BYU
• Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin
• Mac Hobson, Idaho
• Corey Fisher, Villanova

Top 10:

• 10. Talor Battle, Penn State: Talor Battle was the major reason that Penn State was relevant down the stretch last season. Battle's offensive game is based on his ability to shoot, where he is excellent, especially in the clutch as he knocked down a couple game-winners last year. When he puts the ball on the floor, Battle is good at getting into the paint and is a solid finisher in the lane despite lacking outstanding explosiveness. If he improves his ability to create for his teammates (he averaged 5.0 apg last season, but a lot of that was simply the result of moving the ball around the perimeter), this ranking may end up being too low by the end of the year.


• 9. Shelvin Mack, Butler: Mack is one of the more underrated point guards in the country. Playing on a team with Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard in the Horizon League will do that to you. But don't doubt his ability. Mack is an effective scorer, capable of carrying the Bulldogs if Hayward and/or Howard happen to be struggling. A big, strong kid (6'3", 215 lb), Mack is an excellent defender and a good rebounder from the guard spot. He needs to improve on his quickness getting into the lane, as well as add some consistency to his perimeter jumper, but the bottom-line is that Mack is the guy that runs the shows for Butler, who most believe will be a top 10 or 15 team this season.

Shelvin Mack is one of the most underrated point guards in the country.
(photo credit: Horizon League)

• 8. Nic Wise, Arizona: Arizona caught a huge break when Nic Wise decided to return to school. With all the turnover in the Arizona program, Wise declared for the 2009 NBA Draft and expected to end up playing overseas this season. But when Sean Miller was able to sign five top 100 recruits this summer, Wise decided that the Wildcats just might have enough talent to be a factor this year. Arizona is going to go as far as Wise carries them. After slimming down before his junior season, Wise had an exceptional junior campaign, at times carrying a Wildcat team with two NBA draft picks on it. While he is capable of creating opportunities for others, Wise is going to be asked to shoulder much more of a scoring load this year as the young Wildcats adjust to the college game.


• 7. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova: Reynolds doesn't get the national credit that he deserves. He's not a guy that is going to be a great pro, as his athletic limitations will limit his effectiveness at the next level. But at the collegiate level, his smarts allow him to get by. Reynolds is a deadly three-point shooter, but when he is playing his best, he is putting the ball on the floor and going to the rim. Despite an underwhelming vertical, he finishes well in the paint because he is able to use his body to shield his man. He has had his play-making duties reduced with the emergence on Corey Fisher along side him. Where Reynolds is at his best in the clutch. He is the guy that Jay Wright is going to go to when he needs a basket.


• 6. Jerome Randle, Cal: I've said it before and I'll say it again - Jerome Randle might be my favorite player in the country to watch. The catalyst for Cal's resurgence last season, Randle should once again carry the team that was picked to win the Pac-10. Randle is the perfect fit for the spread system that Mike Montgomery is running in Berkeley. Very solid with the ball in his hands, Randle is adept at beating his man off the dribble thanks to his fantastic ability to change speeds. But you cannot lay off of him as he is one of the best shooters in the country. If Cal is going to win the Pac-10, it will be Randle's play that will carry them there.

Despite his small stature, Jerome Randle is one of the best scorers in the country.
(photo credit: DailyCal)

• 5. Devan Downey, South Carolina: Downey is small, even for a point guard, but he is unbelievably quick. Downey can flat out score. He is at his best when he is attacking the rim, where an effective floater and an impressive ability to create space through contact with the defender allows him to finish inside. Downey tends to settle for threes, but when he is on he can hit four or five in a row from deep. Downey is a high-risk, high-reward kind of guy. He takes a lot of tough shots, but makes a good number of them. He tries quite a few risky passes and gambles for steals on the defensive end, but again, he is successful enough of the time that it isn't a huge issue. Expect big numbers once again from Downey, as his speed and ability to create in the open court will be instrumental in Darrin Horn's uptempo, pressuring style of play.


• 4. Kemba Walker, UConn: Walker came into UConn as a much-herald recruit out of NYC's Rice High, but was stifled a bit last season by UConn's slower tempo and the presence of all-american AJ Price. With UConn being a smaller, more athletic team this season, expect Jim Calhoun to play a much faster pace with Walker being the catalyst. He is an absolute menace on the defensive end as he may be the quickest player in the country. Offensively, he is near impossible to stay in front of. Despite his small size, Walker can finish at the rim, but he is at his best when he collapses a defense and finds an open man - be it a big at the rim or a shooter on the perimeter. While his jump shot could still use some improvement, Walker is going to be the motor that makes the Huskies engine run this season.


• 3. Greivis Vasquez, Maryland: Simply put, Vasquez will be the most exciting player in the ACC this season. While his time in College Park has been maddeningly inconsistent, Vasquez improved his decision making last year. He didn't force as many tough shots and more often settled for the smart, easy pass as opposed to the highlight reel play. When he is playing well, Vasquez can completely take a game over, even against a much more talented team (see his triple-double is MD's win over UNC last year). He still will need to focus on making the smart play this year, but in terms of pure talent, Vasquez is good enough to carry an undermanned Terp team to a second straight NCAA tournament.


• 2. Kalin Lucas, Michigan State: Lucas is the perfect fit for the team-oriented offense that Tom Izzo likes to run. He can play on the ball or off, and is excellent at picking his spots to attack. Not the quickest player in the world, he is excellent at changing speed and direction when putting the ball on the floor. Lucas is going to be instrumental for the Spartans this season as Izzo is going to look to play a quicker pace than he did last year. Lucas is valuable for a talented MSU team because he can run a team and keep an offense moving without dominating the ball, but if the shot clock is winding down, he is more than capable of creating a good shot, either for himself or for a teammate.

Sherron Collins and Kalin Lucas are the two best point guards in the country.
(photo credit: daylife)

• 1. Sherron Collins, Kansas: Collins is an easy pick atop these rankings. First team pre-season all-american and the star player and leader for the consensus best team in the country. Collins is a great scorer at this level. He is strong enough to get to the rim on just about anyone, but he has three-point range well beyond NBA line. What makes Collins so good is he really developed into a point guard last season. While he had to shoulder a bulk of the scoring load for a young Jayhawk team, he was a good decision maker. He knew when he should pass and he knew when he needed to shoot. But the biggest difference between Collins and anyone on this list is his ability to make a big play when you really need it. If you are down one with 15 seconds left on the clock, is there anyone in the country you would rather have with the ball in their hands?

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Point Guards in the Final Four

It is one of the most cliche things to say during the NCAA Tournament.

You need a great point guard to make a run in the dance.

We have all heard it before, and every bracketologist, whether you are on ESPN or the "expert" filling out your office pool, has more than likely uttered those words yourself. On the surface, it seems to hold true this year. Michigan State's point guard Kalin Lucas was Big Ten player of the year. UNC's Ty Lawson also won conference player of the year, in the ACC. UConn's AJ Price was a second team all Big-East selection, but has been one of the best point guards in the country since Jerome Dyson went down (19.2 ppg, 5.1 apg). Villanova's tandem of Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher is one of the more underrated point guard duos around.

Scottie Reynolds scores the game-winning hoop against Pitt.
(photo credit: Elise Amendola/AP)

So does correlation equal causation here? Easier put, are these point guards the reason that these four teams advanced to the Final Four?

Not necessarily.

Sure, they played a vital part. Reynolds hit the game-winner for Nova against Pitt in the Elite 8. Price is UConn's leading scorer through four tournament game. If the tournament ended today, Lawson might be the MOP of this year's dance.

But that doesn't mean they are the sole, or even most important, reason these four teams have advanced.

Take Michigan State. Lucas has been far from dominant through four games. He is averaging 12.8 ppg (down from 14.8) and has shot just 40% (15-37) from the floor. Goran Suton has actually been the best player for the Spartans during the tournament. He is averaging 14.0 ppg and 11.5 rpg (to go along with 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg, and 1.3 bpg). If he didn't score 17 first half points against Louisville, MSU may not have been in a position for the huge run they put on the Cardinals in the second half.

Price has been nothing short of great for the Huskies in their run to the Final Four. He has averaged 20.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 5.3 apg. As valuable as he has been, Price has not been the most important player on the floor. UConn has won their four games simply because they out-big (is that even a word) every team they have faced. Hasheem Thabeet was a dominant force on both ends through the first three games, and when he struggled a bit against an uptempo Missouri squad, the more athletic Stanley Robinson and Jeff Adrien combined for 25 points, 16 boards, and 7 blocks. Price wasn't even the best guard on the floor in that game. Kemba Walker was, as he finished the game with 23 point, 5 boards, 5 assists, and broke the devastating Mizzou press by himself on a number of occasions.

AJ Price scores over DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons of Missouri.
(photo credit: Chris Carlson/AP)

For Villanova, since the first day of practice on October 15th, it has been all about team. It is tough to pick out a best or most valuable player for the Wildcats, simply because they have so many guys that are just solid players. Is Scottie Reynolds leadership really more important than the versatility provided by "posts" Dante Cunningham, Dwayne Anderson, and Shane Clark? Is the dynamic Fisher more valuable than the fundamental play-maker Reggie Redding? More than anything, the reason that the Cats have made it this far is because they have been tougher, especially on the defense end, than anyone they have played (and that is saying something considering they beat Pitt in the Elite 8).

There is no question that Ty Lawson has been the best player on the floor for the Tar Heels. He took over the second half of the LSU game, scoring 21 points and helping UNC rally back after giving up a nine point half time lead. He continued that hot play against Gonzaga, as he scored 17 in the first half to help UNC open up a lead they would not relinquish. Even against Oklahoma, he was the Heels leading scorer with 19 points. But would UNC have won that game if they weren't able to get the lead on the Sooners? Maybe, but it would have been much closer than the final ended up being. Why were they able to build up said lead? Because their interior defense on Blake Griffin was outstanding for the first 11 minutes of the game, holding the player of the year scoreless. That allowed the Heels to stay at home on the Sooner shooters, who were never able to get into a rhythm, starting off the game 0-15 from deep and finishing 2-19.

Blake Griffin was swarmed by UNC's front line for most of the game.
(photo credit: Matt Slocum/AP)

When it comes down to it, no one player or position is going to get you to a Final Four. Yes, having a great point guard is important, but is it necessarily more important than having a great big man? Or playing great perimeter defense? Or having great shooters?

No.

To win a national title, or even to make a Final Four, a team needs to be just that. A team. They don't even really need to be a great one. They just have to play great for four games.

As a team.

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College Basketball Week In Review: The Battle for Conference Supremacy

What We Learned This Week: The ACC is loaded this year. But are they better than the Big East? Depth wise, not a chance. The Big East has nine teams that are legitimately NCAA worthy this year, while there are still a few that have a shot of playing their way in. Outside of the top four in the ACC, there are about four or five teams that can make a run at a bid, but I doubt the ACC gets more than five.

But it is the top four teams are the story of the ACC. Those four teams boast two of the three undefeated teams left in the country and three of the top four teams in the country in both polls.

The best of the bunch is Wake Forest (more on them in a bit), which is a bit of a surprise. A lot of people expected them to be good, but this? Duke and Clemson are also both better than expected. The common thread between all three teams? Defense. While all three play different styles, it is the defensive side of the game that they hang their hat, which is why all three pose a threat to UNC.

Is there a conference that is more balanced, more competitive, or more topsy-turvy than the Missouri Valley? Just a week ago, people were talking about Illinois State as a possible top 25 team. Now? The Redbirds have two losses in conference. Just five games in, and there are six teams within a game of first place, no undefeated teams left in conference play, and the two league favorites (ISU, Creighton) are a game off the lead. The Valley will probably end up with two or three teams good enough to make the tourney, but given how much these teams beat up on each other in conference play, I'd be amazed if more than one made it.

GAME OF THE WEEK:
Cal 88, Washington 85 3OT
Washington looked to have this one wrapped up in regulation. The Huskies were up by as much as 11 in the second half, and had an eight point lead with three minutes to go. But Cal would score the last eight points, including a three by Patrick Christopher with 45 seconds left, to force the first OT at 58-58. Christopher hit another three to tie it up at 64 with 2:16 remaining in the 1st OT, but no one would score the rest of the period.

The 2nd OT had some fireworks. Cal was down 75-70 after a Justin Dentmon three-point play, but Jerome Randle would score on Cal's next two possessions, with Dentmon going 1-2 from the line twice. After Dentmon missed a free throw with nine seconds left, Cal pushed the ball up the floor. Christopher missed a jumper, but DJ Seeley got the rebound, scored, and was fouled. He's hit the free throw to send it to a third OT. In that third OT, Cal was down two with 15 seconds left with Theo Robertson completed a three-point play to give the Bears their first lead since 1-0 (how often do you see an overtime game, let alone a three overtime game, where one team essentially did not lead the entire game until the very end?). Christopher would hit two free throws with under a second left for the final margin.

Christopher finished the game with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Randle added 23 and Robertson 18 for the Bears. Dentmon led the Huskies with 24, while Isaiah Thomas added 22 and Jon Brockman had 16 and 18 boards.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
Michigan State has regained their status among the elite teams in the country after impressive wins over Ohio State and Kansas. A big reason for that resurgence has been the play of Kalin Lucas (and not just this week, he has been fantastic in the last five games). This week, he averaged 21 ppg in the two games, but more importantly he managed the games. Lucas showed flashes of his potential last season, but playing along side a guy like Drew Neitzel in a slow down offense is not what Lucas is going to excel at. The Spartans are pushing the ball much more this season, and Lucas is flourishing. It isn't just his speed and quickness that makes him so good playing this style, it is his decision making. You sag off of him defensively, he'll knock down a jumper. You crowd him and he's going to the rim. Most importantly, he doesn't turn the ball over. Only three times in 15 games has Lucas turned the ball over more than once. On the season, he has 85 assists and 18 turnovers. That's a 4.6:1 ratio.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons have a gaudy record and a top 5 ranking, but coming into this week they had yet to really prove themselves as a legitimate contender. They had many doubters, including me, when it came to whether they would be able to knock off UNC. They proved a lot of people wrong on Sunday night when they held off a late UNC rally to beat the Heels 92-89 in Winston-Salem. What made the win all the more impressive is that neither James Johnson or Al-Farouq Aminu really got it going. Jeff Teague went for 34 points, 6 boards, and 4 assists while Chas McFarland added 20 with 9 boards and 2 blocks.

Is there any team in the country with more NBA talent than the Deacs? Al-Farouq Aminu is a future lottery pick. James Johnson is a polished Aminu. Jeff Teague looked like a 1st team all-america last night and the second coming of Monta Ellis. I knew Wake was going to be really good this year, but I don't think anyone could have predicted this. They are so long and athletic, it causes all kinds of problems defensively. UNC shot 35% from the field on Sunday and had at least two perimeter jump shots blocked. The best part about this team is that they are so young. Teague and Johnson are sophomores and Aminu is a freshman. If this team stays together for one more year, they could be scary.

MATCH-UPS OF THE WEEK:
1/12 - Texas @ Oklahoma: The Red River Rivalry, hard court edition.

1/12 - Notre Dame @ Louisville: Watching Samardo Samuels and Luke Harangody square off should be fun.

1/13 - Kentucky @ Tennessee: Battle between two of the favorites in the SEC East.

1/14 - Syracuse @ Georgetown: Who is going to match-up with Monroe?

Look at this Saturday schedule of games:

• Notre Dame @ Syracuse: Can Tory Jackson slow down Jonny Flynn?
• Georgetown @ Duke: Greg Monroe originally committed to Duke. Imagine the Blue Devils with him on their roster.
• Wake Forest @ Clemson: There is going to be an absurd amount of athleticism on the floor for this one.
  
• Arizona State @ UCLA: The two best teams in the Pac-10 square off.
• Illinois @ Michigan State: Can the Illini handle the Michigan State athletes?
• South Carolina @ Tennessee: We will get to find out if the Gamecocks are real.
• Pitt @ Louisville: The Panthers get their first real test as #1.
• Miami FL @ UNC: Can UNC win one in league play?
• Arkansas @ Florida: Not sure anyone on Arkansas can stop Calathes, but I don't think anyone on Florida
  

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