November 13, 2006
I am so excited about the start of my 28th year calling games on ESPN. Wow, it seems like yesterday, when on a December night in 1979, I called DePaul-Wisconsin, the first major game ever televised by the network. I am 67 but I act about 12 and being around the beautiful college kids across America keeps me full of energy and enthusiasm.
This should be a thrilling college basketball season. There are all kinds of questions running through my mind at the start of this season. It is time to play a little game of 20 questions:
1-Will Florida become the first team to repeat as national champion since the Dukies with Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner in 1991 and '92? Billy Donovan has all five starters back as the Gators will be legitimate contenders to go back-to-back. Donovan also has several newcomers to bolster the bench; they will be contributors in this run.
2-When will Bob Knight become the winningest coach in the game, passing Dean Smith's win record of 879? The General needs 11 more Ws to pass the Michelangelo of coaching. Texas Tech has a talented newcomer in Charlie Burgess to help Knight get to the milestone.
3-Hey, last year was a shootout between Adam Morrison and J. J. Redick for National Player of the Year. Will the same scenario play out between the Gators' Joakim Noah and the Tar Heels' Tyler Hansborough? These two should battle for the honor all season long.
4- Can't wait to see how Thad Matta's diaper dandies perform in Buckeye Country. Who will be the BIG MAN on campus in Columbus? Will it be Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Troy Smith or seven-foot Greg Oden, the new version of ex-Georgetown superstar Patrick Ewing. (We must wait and see on Oden as he is recovering from wrist surgery. He should be ready for the Big Ten season. Could this be the first year ever that we have a national champion in football and basketball? Keep an eye on the Buckeyes, baby!
5-Last season it was shock city when George Mason beat Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and Connecticut in succession to make it to the Final Four. Who will be this year's version of Jimmy Larranaga's Patriots? (Will it be Hofstra, Creighton, or Bucknell?). There are a lot of talented teams in the "mid-major" world.
6-Can this year's edition of Jayhawk basketball break its postseason schneid of losing in the NCAA first round? (2005-Bucknell, 2006-Bradley). Bill Self's squad will be deep, talented and explosive, led by my first team All-Rolls Royce star Brandon Rush. Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers will have something to say about rock, chalk, Jayhawk winning this season as well.
7-Big question on the west coast, how will Gonzaga's Zags shape up in the post-Adam Morrison era? By the way, super choice by Michael Jordan taking Morrison for the Bobcats – he will be my choice for Rookie of the Year. Mark Few will keep this program running strong and Micah Downs will be a major addition when the Kansas transfer becomes eligible.
8-Down in Bloomington, Indiana, there was controversy galore over the hiring of ex-Oklahoma mentor Kelvin Sampson. Many felt the administration should have gone for one of their favorite sons, namely current Iowa coach Steve Alford or Randy Wittman. Now that the NCAA inquiry into Sampson's excessive phone use in recruiting has been completed, it is time to concentrate on a new Hoosier era. Will Sampson win over the Indiana faithful and put this all behind him? He got recruit Eric Gordon in the fold for next season and the return of DJ White is a plus.
9-Can Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun continue to wheel his magic after losing four players in the first round of the NBA draft? Gone are Rudy Gay, Josh Boone, Marcus Williams and Hilton Armstrong. Don't cry for the Huskies as they will be loaded with new, fresh talent that must learn to adapt to the Calhoun system. A. J. Price will be a key.
10-Last season, Ben Howland sent a message loud and clear that UCLA basketball is back. It led to the journey to the Final Four. The question facing the Bruins is: can this edition put up a 12th national championship banner in Pauley Pavilion? (At UCLA, the standard is simple … win it all, baby!). Arron Afflalo and company should make a strong run at another Final Four.
11-Always one of my favorite times of the year is the start of hoops. Who will be this year's instant impact diaper dandies? Look out for Chase Budinger of Arizona to help contribute right away, and this freshman class has some great names.
12-It is always intriguing to see which players moved on and got playing time elsewhere. Who will be the top All-Marco Polos? (Keep an eye on former Oklahoma star Drew Lavender at Xavier; ex-Jayhawk JR Giddens out in the Lobos uniform at New Mexico; and former Mississippi State guard Gary Ervin, now at Arkansas).
13-It is great for a roundball debate … which will be this year's best conference? My early choice is the Big East with its depth. I'm open to any suggestions you may have.
14-Down in Lexington, where they have some of the most passionate hoops fans, reality is clouded by expectations. It seems like Tubby Smith's achievements are never good enough in the eyes of many. So will this Wildcat team surprise many any be better than what is being advertised? This squad will have limited depth but its success will depend on a dominant year by Randolph Morris on the post and a brilliant season at the point from Ramel Bradley.
15-Rick Barnes has done an amazing job building a national power in Austin. This year, he must survive without underclassman LaMarcus Aldridge, PJ Tucker and Daniel Gibson; all three moved on to the NBA. Can Kevin Durant, a future collegiate superstar, have sufficient firepower around him to have the Longhorns in a battle with the Jayhawks for Big 12 honors.
16-Speaking of the Big 12, get ready in Manhattan for hoops hysteria as the Bobby Huggins is about to begin.There is a lot of enthusiasm in Manhattan and I'm not talking about the Big Apple, baby! Can he bring his winning touch from Cincinnati to Wildcat country. (Watch out, Big 12 opponents because defense + shot selection and offensive efficiency leads to victory and that is a Huggins staple).
17-Will this be the year that football powers Notre Dame and Michigan both make a return to the Big Dance? It's hard to believe that the Wolverines have not been in the tourney since 1998 (under Brian Ellerbe) and the Irish have fallen short the last few seasons. It was heartbreak hotel for Mike Brey losing so many close calls last season.
18-Will Curtis Sumpter, Villanova's multi-dimensional star, be the comeback player of the year? Remember, Sumpter missed last season due to knee surgery. He is truly needed by Jay Wright and the 'Cats.
19-Will this be the best Louisville Cardinals team since Rick Pitino made his imprint on the school's campus? A major factor will be the physical condition of center David Padgett and guard Brandon Jenkins.
20-It is certainly going to be strange not seeing Hall of Famer John Chaney strutting the sideline at Temple. How will Fran Dunphy respond in the transition from the Ivy League (Penn), taking over for one of my favorite, the legendary Chaney?
I am so excited to tip it off with my first game.
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.
