By Trevor Lowry @TheTrevorLowry on November 10, 2014
Bold Predictions For the 2014-15 College Basketball Season
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Although many fans will still be focusing on football and the new NBA season, the die-hard college basketball fans will be looking forward to the start of yet another season of the best sport on the planet.
With the season just days away, let’s take a stab at some bold predictions for the entire year. Remember people, these are bold predictions.
15. A Mid-Major Player Wins the Naismith
Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports
15. A Mid-Major Player Wins the Naismith
Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports
A player from a mid-major team will win the Naismith this year.
Tyler Haws, Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet, Kevin Pangos, a player from VCU, a player from San Diego State, take your pick.
Bold enough?
14. Wayne Selden Jr. Leads the Jayhawks in Scoring
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
14. Wayne Selden Jr. Leads the Jayhawks in Scoring
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas has plenty of talent. That is kind of its thing. Although Wayne Selden Jr. was buried in the headlines last year — thanks to Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid also playing for the Jayhawks — people cannot forget that he was the No. 14th-ranked prospect in the 2013 class. I am expecting big things from the sophomore this year. Maybe too big. Regardless, he will go from averaging 9.7 PPG in 2013 to the leading scorer on Kansas in 2014.
13. Duke/North Carolina Split the ACC
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13. Duke/North Carolina Split the ACC
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Louisville joins the conference in 2014. Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh joined last year. Virginia returns plenty of talent and won both the ACC regular season and conference tournament titles last season. However, it is Duke and North Carolina who are going to get the most attention this year, and they will be worth it. Talent, talent, talent is all you need to know about these two heavyweights.
12. Oklahoma State’s Le’Bryan Nash Will Have the Biggest Breakout
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12. Oklahoma State’s Le’Bryan Nash Will Have the Biggest Breakout
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We all remember Le’Bryan Nash, right? Despite the fact that Marcus Smart stole the headlines last year, and Markel Brown was just as good as anyone, Nash was also a key piece. He is now the only player left on the team out of the three, which will lead to him exploding in 2014-15. Side note: Nash has averaged 13+ PPG all three years at OK State, and he was also the No. 10th-ranked prospect in 2011.
11. North Carolina FINALLY Has a Top 10 Team
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11. North Carolina FINALLY Has a Top 10 Team
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Losing James Michael McAdoo was a big hit, but the main man came back, which is Marcus Paige. He isn’t alone, but he will play the biggest role. Well, he better play the biggest role on the Tar Heels if they plan on actually staying in the top 10 all year long.
10. Florida Gators Actually Don’t Make the Elite Eight
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10. Florida Gators Actually Don’t Make the Elite Eight
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Florida lost four senior starters. Although I have just as much faith in head coach Billy Donovan as the next fan, he is going to have to do some serious coaching this year. Sure, the Gators have the talent to win it all, but the tournament is all about the matchups, and I believe Florida’s Elite Eight streak (four years) will not continue this year.
9. Wisconsin Makes Another Final Four Run
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9. Wisconsin Makes Another Final Four Run
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Wisconsin almost brings back everyone. The Badgers will be one of the favorites to win the NCAA tournament entering the year, and for good reason. This team had its ups and downs last year, but it will be all up for them in 2014-15.
8. Harvard Makes the Dance Once Again
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
8. Harvard Makes the Dance Once Again
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Why not? Harvard has now made the tournament three years in a row. Before those three years, the Crimson only graced the Big Dance with their presence one time. The team brings back some talent, is ranked in the AP to start the season and plays in a conference that they should have no problem capturing the auto bid in.
7. Chris Walker is the SEC Player of the Year
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
7. Chris Walker is the SEC Player of the Year
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Although a player like Aaron Harrison, or any player on Kentucky, has what it takes to win the SEC Player of the Year, I like Chris Walker’s chances. No, he did not play a lot last year, but he did get some experience, even if it was a baby amount. Look for the super talented Gator to capture the SEC POY award in 2014-15.
6. Syracuse Orange Will Miss the Dance
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6. Syracuse Orange Will Miss the Dance
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I can hear Syracuse fans bickering and moaning already. The Orange had a horrible finish last year (lost 6 of 9), and they lost plenty of talent from that team. I’m just not buying Syracuse this year. It doesn’t help that the ACC got tougher, either.
5. Indiana Hoosiers Will Return in a Big Way
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5. Indiana Hoosiers Will Return in a Big Way
Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
I am buying the Indiana Hoosiers, though. The conference, as a whole, lost a good amount of talent (especially Michigan State and Ohio State). However, Yogi Ferrell (17.3 PPG in 2013-14) is still on the Hoosiers and Tom Crean has to do something special with this team, or else he will be sent to the unemployment line.
4. Texas Wins the Big 12
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4. Texas Wins the Big 12
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Kansas who? Just kidding. Bill Self is a machine, there is no other way to put it. His Jayhawks teams always win the Big 12 and this season could be no different. However, Texas won 24 games last year, brings back a bunch of talent and even upgraded by landing the No. 2-ranked prospect in the nation. Game on, Kansas.
3. Connecticut Finishes the Season Outside the Top 25
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3. Connecticut Finishes the Season Outside the Top 25
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Prove me wrong, Ryan Boatright. Boatright is expected to be one of the best players this year. He absolutely has to be if the Huskies are going to make the tourney. Losing a talent like Shabazz Napier is no easy task to rebound from. With that said, UConn doesn’t play in the brutal Big East of old, it plays in the AAC, which lost Louisville.
2. Wichita State Shockers Will Have the Best Record in College Hoops
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2. Wichita State Shockers Will Have the Best Record in College Hoops
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Wichita State lost Cleanthony Early, who showed us how good he really was by splashing 31 points on Kentucky in the 2014 dance, but it does bring back players like Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet. This is more of a hunch than anything, but the Shockers could have the best record. After all, they do play in the MVC. And no, the MVC doesn’t have Creighton anymore.
1. Kentucky Wins the Title, Goes Undefeated?
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
1. Kentucky Wins the Title, Goes Undefeated?
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
The Kentucky Wildcats will win it all. That just rolls off the tongue nicely and I’m not even a Kentucky fan. This team is big, talented and deep. The young Wildcats managed to hit their stride in the 2014 NCAA tournament after disappointing during the regular season. They will be good from the beginning. If, if, if they can gel together right off the bat, who knows, maybe they can really go 40-0? Eh, probably not.
Trevor Lowry is a Content Associate at www.RantSports.com . If you’re a tweeter feel free to follow him @TheTrevorLowry or add him to your network on Google.