2001 NCB Preview

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Thursday, September 6
Updated: November 10, 11:58 PM ET
 
Long Road Winds Down to Tipoff

Duke & Contenders
Is Duke up to the challenge of repeating this season?
From Bowling Green Ky. to Iowa City, Iowa; Chestnut Hill, Mass. to Albuquerque, N.M.; Lawrence, Kan. to Gainesville, Fla., and back to Bristol U. ESPN.com's Andy Katz has plenty of observations after spending two months on the road leading up to the start of the season.

  • ESPN Predictions | Katz: 'Good & Bad' | 'Don't Miss' Games | Hot 'n Not List

  • What do you get when you combine the best aspects of the best players in the country? An unstoppable force on the court. ESPN.com has created the Ultimate Player.
    ESPN.com's Ultimate Player

  • Final Four Credentials
    Duke Blue Devils
    No reason to doubt the Blue Devils
    KATZ POSTCARD


    Florida Gators
    Still enough in place to challenge for title
    KATZ POSTCARD


    Illinois Illini
    Tough plus talent may equal title
    KATZ POSTCARD


    Kansas Jayhawks
    No monkey to haul around come March
    KATZ POSTCARD


    Kentucky Wildcats
    A Jules to add to another crown?
    KATZ POSTCARD


    Maryland Terrapins
    Not much of a gap atop ACC
    KATZ POSTCARD


    Memphis Tigers
    Pyramid scheme? Not with this talent
    KATZ POSTCARD


    Missouri Tigers
    Getting better each season under Quin
    KATZ POSTCARD


    St. Joseph's Hawks
    Simply put: Best chemistry in country
    KATZ POSTCARD


    UCLA Bruins
    Best bet to challenge out of the West


    In Search Of ...

    A Leading Man
    Is he the 'Ultimate Player'? Kareem Rush is the closest ESPN.com could find this season.
    Katz: The 'Ultimate' Rush | Chat wrap: Kareem Rush

    Dynamic Duo
    Looking for the best bookends in college basketball? Try the heartland of America, first.
    Katz: Big trouble in Kansas, times two

    Best Coaching Decision
    The NBA beckoned, but Tubby Smith coach stuck around to try to win another national title at Kentucky.
    Katz: Tubby's final stop? | Chat wrap: Tubby Smith

    Impact Freshman
    The myth. A legend. The kid who scored 100 points in a H.S. game. Welcome to college, Dajuan Wagner.
    Katz: Polishing up super skills | Chat wrap: Wagner

    Secret Weapon
    Hey, want to know a secret? Matt Bonner may be Florida's best player this season.
    Katz: Florida can't keep Bonner a secret

    Best Backcourt
    Jason Williams and Chris Duhon: Are they the best college backcourt EVER?
    Katz: Give Devils guards their due | Chat wrap: Duhon

    A Final Destination
    Yeah, Temple seems to do things the hard way. But getting John Chaney to Atlanta will be tough.
    Katz: Owls no easy out in March

    A Return Trip
    Georgetown should remain on the NCAA's guest list, unless its freshmen don't act like mature Hoyas.
    Katz: Fresh spin on old glory? | Postcard

    Two More Wins
    Whether it's in the ACC or NCAA Tournament, Maryland is prepared to dethrone Duke this season.
    Katz: Closing in on the champs

    Staying Power
    As long as Troy Bell stays in town, Boston College will be a contender.
    Katz: Bell still tolls, for now | Postcard



    More Features
    Wednesday, Nov. 7
    WAC Preview
  • Graney: Whole new winning image
    Team Previews: Boise State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Louisiana Tech | Nevada | Rice | San Jose State | SMU | Tulsa | UTEP
    Tuesday, Nov. 6
    SEC Preview
  • Forde: Still sharing SEC spotlight | Chat wrap: Jim Harrick
    Team Previews: Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | LSU | Mississippi | Mississippi State | South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt
    Monday, Nov. 5
    Pac-10 Preview
  • Graney: It's tourney time (again) | Bilas: Lavin right man for UCLA job | Chat wrap: Ben Braun
    Team Previews: Arizona | Arizona State | California | Oregon | Oregon State
    Stanford | UCLA| USC | Washington | Washington State
    Sunday, Nov. 4
    Mountain West Conference Preview
  • Graney: MWC losing RPI numbers game | Katz: Lobos loaded backcourt
  • Chat wrap: Tubbs | Team Previews: Air Force | BYU | Colorado State | New Mexico | San Diego State | UNLV | Utah | Wyoming
    Saturday, Nov. 3
    C-USA Preview
  • Forde: More Style ... Enough Substance? | Katz: Cincy still best in C-USA show
    Team Previews: Charlotte | Cincinnati | DePaul | East Carolina | Houston | Louisville | Marquette | Memphis | Saint Louis | S. Florida | So. Miss. | TCU | Tulane | UAB
    Friday, Nov. 2
    Big Ten Preview
  • Potrykus: Spartans rule over? | Katz: Less stress in Indiana | Chat wrap: Izzo
    Team Previews: Illinois | Iowa | Indiana | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue
    Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota | Northwestern | Wisconsin
    Thursday, Nov. 1
    Big 12 Preview
  • Will Big 12 take Final step? | Chat wrap: Eddie Sutton
    Team Previews: Baylor | Colorado | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | Missouri | Nebraska | Texas | Texas A&M | Texas Tech
    Wednesday, Oct. 31
    Atlantic Coast Conference Preview
  • Doyel: North rises to challenge Duke | Katz: Terps closing on champs
    Team Previews: Clemson | Duke | Florida State | Georgia Tech | Maryland
    North Carolina | N.C. State | Virginia | Wake Forest
    Tuesday, Oct. 30
    Atlantic Ten Preview
  • Doyel: A-10 richer for adding Richmond
  • Katz: Nearly 'elite' Hawks | St. Joe's blended backcourt | 'Tough' Temple
  • Team Previews: Dayton | Duquesne | Fordham | George Washington | La Salle | UMass | Rhode Island | Richmond | St. Bonaventure | St. Joseph's | Temple | Xavier
    Monday, Oct. 29
    Big East Preview
  • Doyel: Best of Big East missing | Katz: Bell still tolls at BC
  • Katz: Fresh Hoya glory? | Katz: Linehan in charge of lock down
  • Team Previews: Boston College | Connecticut | Georgetowne | Notre Dame| Miami | Pittsburgh | Providence | Rutgers | Seton Hall | St. John's | Syracuse | Villanova | Virginia Tech | West Virginia
    Saturday, Oct. 27
  • Katz: Don't ask, Alford's new home is Iowa
  • Katz: Recker makes Hawkeyes healthy contender | Iowa Postcard
    Saturday, Oct. 20
  • Katz: Marcus' giant talents no myth | Western Kentucky Postcard
  • Potrykus: Midwest full of major mid-major teams
  • Graney: Trying to build the next 'Gonzaga'
  • ESPN.com's Mid-Major Top 10 | Players to Watch
  • Bilas: 'Professor' Prosser teaching Wake his proven system
    Thursday, Oct. 18
  • Bilas: My 72 hours in Lubbock
    Sunday, Oct. 14
  • Katz: The 'Knight Effect' on Big 12
  • Katz: Opening old wounds at OSU
    Saturday, Oct. 13
  • Midnight therapy for Pitino | Katz Postcard: Lousiville
  • Mid-Knight Madness hits Lubbock
    Friday, Oct. 12
  • ESPN.com Preseason Top 25 | Top 25 In Pictures
  • Katz: Duke dynasty | Bilas: Don't doubt Coach K | Forde: A 'non-believer'
  • Battier: Duke more 'dangerous' | Repeating pitfalls
    Top 25 Player Chat Wraps
  • Duke's Jason Williams
  • Illinois' Frank Williams
  • Virginia's Chris Williams
  • Oklahoma's Aaron McGhee
  • Oklahoma State's Maurice Baker
  • Boston College's Troy Bell
  • USC's Sam Clancy
  • Kansas' Kirk Hinich








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