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college basketball top 25

99 in 99: #10 Illinois Fighting Illini

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Without question, this is the most talent the Illinois Fighting Illini has put on the floor since their 2004-2005 Champaign Campaign.  There is a good mix of size, athleticism, and guard play; veterans and newcomers.  The question will be whether or not this group can put it all together and live up to the high expectations entering this season.  The first step begins tonight … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #10 Illinois Fighting Illini

99 in 99:#11 Kentucky Wildcats

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John Calipari was hired away from Memphis to put the Kentucky Wildcats back on the national map.  In just one season in Lexington, Calipari has done that that and so much more. The Wildcats lose eight players from last year’s team including five that were selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.  In what seems like it will become a yearly cycle at UK, the program brings … [Read more...] about 99 in 99:#11 Kentucky Wildcats

99 in 99: #20 Butler Bulldogs

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The Hoosiers analogy was used about 37.4 million times during the NCAA Tournament, but what a story it was.  Mid-major Butler making a run to the National Championship in their home city and coming inches away from a half-court heave of walking away with the title.  With a solid core returning from last season, Brad Stevens is ready to prove that last year was no fluke for the … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #20 Butler Bulldogs

99 in 99: #23 Gonzaga Bulldogs

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The first nationally televised college basketball game is exactly one week from today.  This week, most teams get on the court for exhibition play… a.k.a. beating up on some D-2 or D-3 school to knock the rust off your tires.  (Unless of course you are Syracuse last year.)  The fact that we are this close to the tip of the season makes me happier than Survivor cast members when … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #23 Gonzaga Bulldogs

99 in 99: #24 Texas Longhorns

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Remember when the Texas Longhorns were 17-0 and the top ranked team in the country last season?  I will admit it; I was buying into the hype.  They looked like they were going to be a gimme to get to the Final Four with their well-rounded roster.  Instead, the Horns ended up losing eight of their final fourteens regular season games and were a one-and-done in the … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #24 Texas Longhorns

99 in 99: #25 San Diego State Aztecs

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A bubble team entering the Mountain West Tournament, San Diego State won three games in three days to claim the title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  This season, there should be no worries about having their bubble burst as the Aztecs should be a Top 25 caliber club. The Sports Bank’s “99 in 99” college basketball preview ranks the 72 power conference and … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #25 San Diego State Aztecs

99 in 99: #26 Xavier Musketeers

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Xavier is in that Memphis/Gonzaga/Butler category of technically being a mid-major, but not really being a mid-major.  Year-in and year-out, they are a Top 25 team and despite having to replace dynamic scorer Jordan Crawford, this season should be no different for the Musketeers. The Sports Bank’s “99 in 99” ranks the 72 power conference college basketball teams and top 27 … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #26 Xavier Musketeers

99 in 99: #29 Georgia Bulldogs

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Georgia is the sexy sleeper that really is not a sleeper anymore because everyone is picking them to be a sleeper this season.  I hope that sentence makes sense.  The Bulldogs are on the rise under second year head coach Mark Fox and will be a feisty team in the loaded SEC East. The Sports Bank’s 99 team college basketball preview in 99 days ranks the 72 power conference … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #29 Georgia Bulldogs

99 in 99: #30 St. John’s Red Storm

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I am all aboard the thought that Steve Lavin is going to lead a veteran St. John’s team back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost a decade.  But Rick Pitino had to be smoking something fierce when he picked the Red Storm to win the Big East this season. The Sports Bank’s 99 team college basketball preview in 99 days ranks the 72 power conference teams and top … [Read more...] about 99 in 99: #30 St. John’s Red Storm