As we're near the halfway point in the regular season I decided to try to come up with some All-American teams. I didn't spend much time actually researching this, so it's possible that I've completely missed somebody obvious. But I think this is a pretty good set of players. If you think I missed somebody, please leave a comment or e-mail me.
Some notes: First of all, I am well aware that there aren't four All-American teams, but I feel like a list of ten players just isn't enough for 347 teams. Also, getting to list more players decreases my chances of missing somebody obvious. Finally, since there is a dearth of true centers in college basketball, three of these four teams have the form of two guards and three forwards. I'll probably put together another one of these teams at the end of the season, if I can find the time:
1st Team
G Stephen Curry, Davidson
G James Harden, Arizona State
F Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
F Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
F DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
2nd Team
G Tyrese Rice, Boston College
G A.J. Abrams, Texas
F Taj Gibson, USC
F Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
F Jordan Hill, Arizona
3rd Team
G Darren Collison, UCLA
G Ty Lawson, UNC
F Nick Calathes, Florida
F Jeff Adrien, UConn
F Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
4th Team
G Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
G Sherron Collins, Kansas
F Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State
F Jon Brockman, Washington
C Luke Nevill, Utah
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5 comments:
Manny Harris...
I put some thought into him, but I have to tell you that I think Harris still has some maturing to go. The way that he was utterly neutralized and frustrated by Wisconsin a couple weeks back was the clincher for me. I don't think that a player like Teague or Collins gets shut down like that.
In fact, the first guard out is probably Kyle McAlarney for me. But like Harris, McAlarney also can occasionally be shut down by the right type of defense.
Manny Harris is a great talent, but he's still working on becoming a great basketball player.
I basically agree, however Michigan's lack of playmakers also plays into the fact Harris can be neutralized by a well planned defensive attack.
It's essentially Harris and Sims, everybody else on the squad is strickly a spot up shooter. Manny does need to pick and choose his shots more wisely.
Perry and Grady are on the verge of becoming solid playmakers, but not quite yet.
What do you think of Jodie Meeks, or any of the guards from Marquette? I haven't gotten to see any of them play this season, but it certainly sounds like they're putting up some impressive performances.
I know Ty Lawson has the reputation, but I don't think his play this season merits being on these teams. I think he's having an off year.
Well, it's easy to reflexively put Jodie Meeks in after that 54 point performance, but I just don't see how we can say that Kentucky has two of the 20 best players in the nation. And Patterson is the best and most important player on the team.
And I did nearly put Wes Matthews on this team. I think his progress has been impressive, as he's moved past his more well-known teammates. He still might get in, because he has basically been carrying Marquette.
And I did drop Ty Lawson to the third team, but I don't think we can ignore just how insanely important his speed on the break is. The fact is that any turnover will be a Ty Lawson layup before the other team can turn around. I've never seen anybody that quick. It has dramatic effects on how North Carolina's opponents play offense. Even though he's not as good in the half court as we all think he should be, he is still really, really good.
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