September 13, 2006
I am looking forward to the 2006-07 season and one of the reasons is because there are several players who must step up to help their respective teams succeed. These guys are must-do players and are in the spotlight this season.
Down at Memphis, John Calipari's team lost a lot of talent with Rodney Carney, Darius Washington Jr. and Shawne Williams gone. It is a must for Chris Douglas-Roberts to have a big season. The 6-6 sophomore provides versatility and the multi-talented player should build off of last year's success. He averaged 8.3 ppg. and started 25 games as the Tigers made the Elite Eight and finished with a 33-4 mark.
UCLA fans will miss Jordan Farmar, who left for the NBA draft early and was selected by the Lakers. Not a bad combination, playing for the Bruins and then Phil Jackson's club! Ben Howland will rely on Darren Collison to step in and give them the speed and consistency at the point guard slot. Collison averaged almost 20 minutes a game last season and was second on the team in assists with 88.
At Connecticut, A.J. Price has battled illness and off-court issues and now he must step up on the perimeter. Jim Calhoun needs him to perform in a positive way and live up to all the accolades. Price must come in and become a major factor right away as the team's lone goal is to be the best. They have high expectations in Storrs, Connecticut.
Villanova lost a lot of backcourt talent with Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Kyle Lowry gone. Jay Wright is relying on 6-2 senior Mike Nardi to have a big, big year. Nardi averaged over 10 ppg. last season while shooting over 41 percent from behind the three-point arc. He is so important penetrating and creating for his teammates too. Nardi will be a positive force.
At Kentucky, it is time for former McDonald's All-America Randolph Morris to come through and dominate in the lane. He must be a factor as a scorer and a rebounder for Tubby Smith.
Keep an eye on these five and see if they come through this season.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
