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Healthy and ready Arizona stronger than ever heading into preseason
Practice officially begins this weekend, and in Tucson, Arizona, Lute Olson will start working with the best combination of talent, experience and depth that he's ever had going into a season. The good news for the Wildcats starts up front, where senior center Loren Woods is completely recovered from the back injury that kept him out of the NCAA tournament. Junior swingman Richard Jefferson is also showing no lingering effects from the foot injury that ended his season last January. Look for Olson to ratchet up the halfcourt pressure defense to try to take advantage of his team's speed and depth, and don't expect him to play possum in the face of predictions that Arizona will be the team to beat. "Our kids want to be in this position," Olson told me. "I'm a firm believer that if you want to get it done, you have to think you can get it done."
Frontcourt sleepersHere are three versatile big men you may not have heard of who could be superstars this season. Joe Johnson of Arkansas was named SEC freshman of the year last season, even though though he didn't become eligible until late December. Johnson was the first freshman in school history to lead the Razorbacks in scoring and rebounding, and he is the odds-on favorite to be SEC player of the year.Georgetown's Lee Scruggs also didn't become eligible until late December because he was finishing up some junior college credits. But the 6-11 center made a huge impression on NBA scouts with his ability to stroke three-pointers, and he should be the Hoyas' No. 1 option this season. And even though Illinois' Brian Cook was the Big Ten's co-freshman of the year, he was plagued by inconsistency last season. But the 6-10 Cook is stronger and wiser, and with his ability to beat defenders on the perimeter, he's the biggest reason why the Illini have a chance to return to the Final Four for the first time in 12 years.
Feuding TigersAn SEC recruiting battle got a little testy last week when LSU coach John Brady asked the league office to look into a recruiting visit that Auburn assistant coach Charlton Young paid last month to a junior college in Florida. Also in attendance at the visit was Bret Bearup, the Atlanta-based financial advisor who played forward for Kentucky in the early 80s.Bearup represents several dozen NBA players, and has been accused in some circles of improperly influencing recruits. After the SEC contacted Auburn, Tigers coach Cliff Ellis called Brady to say that Bearup's presence that day was a total coincidence. Bearup told me the same thing last week. It's unlikely that any penalties will come out of the SEC's inquiry. But the sequence of events will certainly provide an interesting backdrop when Auburn and LSU meet on the floor this season. Sports Illustrated writer-reporter Seth Davis covers the college basketball beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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