By Bret Walts
Do you remember your grandparents telling you about the crazy happenings of the good ole’ days or the crazy weather events of their childhood? Be prepared, this year’s upcoming college basketball season could be a story to tell to your grandchildren one day.
Last year’s college basketball season was very memorable for this area. Who could ever forget “Watford for the Win”, Louisville’s run to the Final Four, Kentucky and Louisville’s epic Final Four battle or Kentucky winning the championship? Well if the fans thought last season was crazy, just wait. This upcoming season will be one to remember.
Indiana, Kentucky and Louisville are all in prime position to bring home college basketball gold. What year can one remember that included all three of these great teams at the of top college basketball? It certainly hasn’t happened in NAHS students’ lifetimes.
The three teams are agreeably the most popular college teams at New Albany and this year will be no different. According to the Associated Press College Basketball poll, the three teams will be the top favorites to cut down the nets this upcoming season. Indiana is ranked first followed by Louisville and Kentucky.
#1 Indiana
Last season the Indiana Hoosiers finished with a 27-9 overall record, including victories over the top ranked Kentucky Wildcats and #2 Ohio State. The Hoosiers appeared in their first NCAA Tournament under Tom Crean and reached the Sweet Sixteen before losing to eventual champion Kentucky. Indiana accumulated one less win last season than their previous three combined. A special season for sure and many will remember it as the season of resurgence for Indiana. Junior Ali Eads carried her excitement from last season to now, knowing now that Indiana basketball is officially back.
“I think Indiana surprised a lot of people last year,” Eads said. “They had some rough years, and people used to make fun of you for being an IU fan, but last year really showed people what Indiana basketball is supposed to be.”
For Hoosier fans, like Eads, last season was great, but now they want more.
“I would love a National Championship, but I expect them to surprise a lot of people like they did last year, and I expect them to win a lot of games,” Eads said.
#2 Louisville
The Louisville Cardinals were just having a so-so year last season going into the Big East Tournament, but that is where everything changed. The Cardinals rattled off five straight wins on their way to the Big East Title. Louisville carried that momentum to the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Final Four, where they were defeated for the second time that season by the Wildcats. The question is, will they carry the momentum over to this season? Junior Brandon Knoy believes the Cardinals can repeat last season’s result, if not more.
“Of course we can [continue the momentum],” Knoy said. “I think we will be able to make it to at very least a Final Four. We return four of our five starters and add a few good freshman.”
Louisville is ranked as high as first in one poll and as low as third in others, though they are second in most. The Cardinals are looking for their first Championship since 1986, but can they top number one Indiana and defending champion Kentucky?
“I think we’re right up there with Kentucky and Indiana where we need to be,” Knoy said.
#3 Kentucky
Eight was the number all Kentucky fans had in their head since 1998, until last season. Kentucky returned to their winnings ways and brought home their eighth championship banner, with a stellar record of 38-2. Can Kentucky get banner nine this season? It will be much harder as the Wildcats return no starters. Sophomore Jeremy Mullins knows the Wildcats chances of a title are slimmer, but after last year he won’t count them out.
“I thought Kentucky had an amazing season,” Mullins said. “I don’t think the chances are as good as last year, but you never know!”
They do, of course, reload with another spectacular recruiting class, putting them in prime position to have yet another deep tournament run.
“I don’t think we’ll win the National Championship, but I expect we’ll go far in the tournament,” Mullins said.
What to expect?
Many will remember the Twitter and Facebook fights last year during the NCAA Tournament. With all three teams fighting for bragging rights we’ll be hearing of many more social networking skirmishes.
“I think it’s going to be a crazy basketball season for the Kentuckiana area,” Eads said. “I think there will be a lot of smack talk and crazy fans. I think all the teams are good and when it comes down to it, it all depends on who wins the games.”
“I think this could be a season for the books and we could see a groundbreaking amount of trash talk,” Mullins said. “It’ll really be an interesting season.”
Ready or not, college basketball has returned.