NCAA Basketball Review

New Season Delivers New Stories

November 8th, 2007 Posted in Florida Gators, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas tickets, Memphis Tigers, basketball, ncaa, ncaa basketball, players, teams

Florida is now gone, at least the Florida that we all knew. Out, as well, are Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. The supernovas are off to the National Baseball Association, and so is the smidge of stability the Florida Gators provided NCAA basketball the past 2 seasons.

Sometimes, it seems that only Jim Carrey can change faces quicker than college basketball.

Life does not move on in NCAA basketball, it careens. When you start to get a grip on a storyline, the match starts a run-out toward a new one. This season, it appears poised to spark between stations like the Memphis Tigers and its crackling style, and the opposite-coast thunder of players like Hansbrough from North Carolina and freshman Love at UCLA.

The 2-time champion Florida Gators are hardly recognizable, as Al Horford, Joakim Noah, and Corey Brewer have given way to Walter Hodge, Marreese Speights, and Jonathan Mitchell. Media picked Florida 3rd in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference and 6th overall in the NCAA.

At least the Florida Gators can count on being coached by the same man. Donovan refused to work with Kentucky, and after his story with the Orlando Magic, Billy can’t coach in the National Baseball Association for 5 years.

Many ask if this is finally the year for Kansas. In case it isn’t, the team’s coach Bill Self will definitely hear about it. The Kansas Jayhawks had awful NCAA 1st-round exits in ‘05 and ‘06. And just when the team seemed ready for the Final Four last spring, the UCLA Bruins stuffed them. A formidable backcourt of Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson, and Sherron Collins is getting help from Rodrick Stewart.