By Tyler Smith 11/03/2011

End of Season Rankings

These rankings represent how the top 40 will look by the end of the regular season.
#1 UNC
#2 UConn
#3 Kentucky
#4 Vanderbilt
#5 Baylor
#6 Ohio State
#7 Syracuse
#8 Duke
#9 Memphis
#10 Pitt
#11 Florida
#12 Louisville
#13 Washington
#14 Xavier
#15 Arizona
#16 Alabama
#17 Cincinnati
#18 New Mexico
#19 Illinois
#20 Michigan
#21 Creighton
#22 Gonzaga
#23 Cal
#24 UNLV
#25 Mississippi State
#26 Texas A&M
#27 Marquette
#28 Central Florida
#29 Missouri
#30 Michigan State
#31 Iona
#32 Florida State
#33 Kansas
#34 Marshall
#35 Detroit
#36 Long Beach State
#37 Weber State
#38 Belmont
#39 Harvard
#40 Wichita State

Conference Predictions

All 32 conferences predicted! From the America East to the WAC. 

Players to Watch

My players to watch list consist of high major players, freshman, and mid major players.

Games to Watch

The 2011-2012 college hoops season should be one of the best in many years. On 11-11-11 North Carolina will take on Michigan State on an air plane carrier. Numerous games in the famed Madison Square Garden. An of course all of the hallow grounds at Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, and many more.

Arena Reviews

These are the reviews from the 2010-2011 season. I will be adding 4 or more reviews for the 2011-2012 season.

24 Hours of Madness on ESPN
Nov. 15, 2o11

Do you want 24 hours of college basketball? Well, ESPN has it! The first game is at 12am with Washington St. making a visit to Spokane to face the Zags. The night will end with an NIT Season Tip Off game. Here is the schedule. 
12 a.m. ET -- Washington State at Gonzaga, ESPN

2 a.m. ET -- Northern Iowa at St. Mary's, ESPN

4 a.m. ET -- South Alabama at Hawaii, ESPN

6 a.m. ET -- Drexel at Rider, ESPN

8 a.m. ET -- Morehead State at College of Charleston, ESPN

10 a.m. ET -- Kent State at West Virginia, ESPN 

12 p.m. ET -- Belmont at Memphis, ESPN

2 p.m. ET -- San Diego State at Baylor, ESPN

4 p.m. ET -- Rhode Island at Texas, TicketCity Legends Classic, ESPN 

4 p.m. ET -- Louisville at Texas A&M (women), ESPNU

6 p.m. ET -- Miami at Tennessee (women), ESPN2

6 p.m. ET -- TBD at Virginia Tech, NIT Season Tip-Off, ESPNU

7 p.m. ET -- Duke vs. Michigan State, State Farm Champions Classic, ESPN 

8 p.m. ET -- Florida at Ohio State, ESPN2

9 p.m. ET -- Kentucky vs. Kansas, State Farm Champions Classic, ESPN 

10 p.m. ET -- Austin Peay at California, ESPN2

11 p.m. ET -- TBD at Stanford, NIT Season Tip-Off, ESPNU

Time TBA -- TBD at Syracuse, NIT Season Tip-Off, ESPN3.com

Time TBA -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Oklahoma State, NIT Season Tip-Off, ESPN3.com

New Arenas

New arenas will be popping up around the hoops world.

Bowling Green 
Stroh Center

Opening Date: November 11, 2011

Capacity: 5,000

Cost: 36 million 

Coastal Carolina
Convocation Center

Opening Date: It was slated for 2011 but, delays have pushed it back to 2012.

Capacity: 3,600

Cost: 35 million

Evansville
Ford Center

Opening Date: November 12, 2011

Capacity: 10,000

Cost: 127 million


UNC-Asheville
Kimmel Arena

Opening date: November 13, 2011 vs. UNC

Capacity: 3,200

Cost: 41 million


UT-Arlington
College Park Center

Opening Date: December 2011

Capacity: 7,000

Cost: 78 million

Take a look at my results for my preseason tournament predictions.

Preseason Tournaments

                                My preseason tournament predictions for 2011
Preseason tournaments are gaining more popularity every year. This year we have several great tournaments. My two favorites are the Maui Invitational and Battle 4 Atlantis. The Maui has a great field; some of the most storied programs will be in the tournament. Duke, UCLA, Kansas, and Georgetown bring storied programs to the tournament. Memphis brings in a young but extremely talented team. Michigan has four returning starters and looking to contend for the Big Ten title. Tennessee is in transition mode. Chaminade is always fun to watch, as the host of the tournament. The Battle of Atlantis has the defending national champ leading the field. Florida State should be in the top of the ACC this year. UNC-Asheville tabbed as a preseason favorite in the Big South return Matt Dickey and J.P. Primm who both averaged over 14 points a game.  Harvard is the preseason favorite in the Ivy League and in my top 40. UCF returns Marcus Jordan and 4 other starters. They also bring in a solid recruiting class. Utah is in its first year of PAC-12 play and will have growing pains. UMass loses their  backcourt they will look for transfer Chaz Williams to fill the void at point guard. College of Charleston lost its top 3 scorers but, there is hope to fill that void with a great recruiting class which includes top 40 prospect Adjehi Baru. 

Tournament                                             Winner                   Sleeper
Maui Invitational                                Duke                          Memphis

Coaches Vs. Cancer                            Arizona                      Mississippi State

Charleston Classic                              Georgia Tech              Saint Joseph's

Puerto Rico Tip-Off                            Alabama                     Iona

Hall of Fame Tip-Off                           Kentucky                    Long Island        

Legends Classic                                  Vanderbilt                   NC State

Paradise Jam                                      Marquette                  Virginia

CBE Classic                                         Cal                            Detroit (not able to make the finals but could upset regional host)

NIT Season Tip-Off                              Oklahoma St.              Oral Roberts   

Great Alaska Shoot Out                        San Francisco              Central Mich.

Battle 4 Atlantis                                   UConn                       Harvard  

76 Classic                                            New Mexico              Saint Louis

Old Spice Classic                                  Arizona St.                Indiana St.

Diamond Head Classic                           Xavier                       Long Beach State