ACC
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech,
Team on the rise:
Biggest question mark:
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Florida State's Drew Kittleson, runner-up at last month's U.S. Amateur, use the confidence built at Pinehurst No. 2 to win at least one tournament this fall and become an all-ACC selection by year's end. (While he didn't win a fall event, he did earn all-ACC honors.)
Would shock me to see:
SEC
Predicted champion: Georgia
Predicted player of the year: Billy Horschel, Florida
Predicted freshman of the year: Bud Cauley, Alabama
NCAA Regional bound: Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU,
Team on the rise: South Carolina (Gamecocks won four times this year and had seven top-fives.)
Biggest question mark: Alabama (Playing three or more freshmen each event, had a win but only four top-fives in nine events; sixth at SECs)
Wouldn't surprise me to see: As many as five Georgia players earn All-American honors of some kind. (Jury's still out)
Would shock me to see: Fewer than three Georgia players earn All-American honors of some kind. (Ditto.)
Big 12
Predicted champion: Oklahoma State
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas, Texas Tech,
Team on the rise:
Biggest question mark:
Wouldn't surprise me to see:
Would shock me to see: Texas A&M senior Bronson Burgoon not return to the All-American form he showed in 2006-07. (One win, three top-fives and a 72.38 average.)
Big Ten
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: Jorge Campillo, Indiana
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota,
Team on the rise: Illinois (Seven wins, including first Big Ten title in 21 years)
Biggest question mark: Michigan State (Finished last at Big Tens)
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Campillo become the third IU player in 11 years to repeat as the conference's POY ... he's that good.
Would shock me to see: The conferences' coaches fail to honor the retiring Jim Brown, Ohio State's coach the past starting his 36th and final year with the Buckeyes, with some kind of special tribute at the Big Ten Championship--perhaps name the coach-of-the-year award in his honor. (Still time for this one to play out.)
Pac-10
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Stanford, UCLA, USC, Arizona State, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California
Team on the rise:
Biggest question mark: Arizona ... have talent, but do they have a legit No. 1 player?
Wouldn't surprise me to see:
Would shock me to see:
Mountain West
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: UNLV, Colorado State, TCU, San Diego State, BYU (Missed New Mexico)
Team on the rise: Colorado State ... Last year's conference title seem out of nowhere; won't be the case this year if the Rams repeat. (Team won five tournaments.)
Biggest question mark: UNLV ... All-American Seung-su Han decides not to turn pro, but will play in Q school this fall. (Rebels lost Han during winter break)
Wouldn't surprise me to see: San Diego State remain competitive despite the loss of departing senior Aaron Goldberg, arguably the best player in school history. (Lost conference title in playoff.)
Would shock me to see: A repeat of Cinderalla story from last year's MWC Championship, where a team ranked sixth in the conference entering the tournament (Colorado State) took home the title. (This year's contenders were all known commodities.)
Conference USA
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound:
Team on the rise:
Biggest question mark: Tulsa ... Took their lumps last year but did the young guys really gain enough experience? (Got regional bid but finished outside top-five more than they did inside.)
Wouldn't surprise me to see: The ".500 rule" keep one or two schools from getting regional berths. (UAB is the victim.)
Would shock me to see:
Atlantic 10 Conference
Predicted champion: Charlotte
Predicted player of the year: Corey Nagy, Charlotte (No award given out.)
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Charlotte
Atlantic Sun Conference
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: Rhys Enoch, East Tennessee State (Award not handed out yet)
Predicted freshman of the year: Mitch Gray, Campbell (Award not handed out yet)
NCAA Regional bound: East Tennessee State,
Big East Conference
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: Mike Van Sickle, Marquette
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Marquette,
Big West Conference
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: John Chin, UC Irvine
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: UC Irvine, UC Davis
Mid-American Conference
Predicted champion: Kent State
Predicted player of the year: John Hahn, Kent State
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Kent State,
Southern Conference
Predicted champion: Chattanooga
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Chattanooga, College of Charleston, Georgia Southern
Sun Belt Conference
Predicted champion: Middle Tennessee State
Predicted player of the year: Brent Long, Western Kentucky (Award not handed out yet)
Predicted freshman of the year: Troy Anderson, Denver (Award not handed out yet)
NCAA Regional bound: Middle Tennessee State, Denver,
West Coast Conference
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: Andrew Putnam, Pepperdine
Predicted freshman of the year: Alex Ching, San Diego
NCAA Regional bound: Pepperdine, San Diego,
Western Athletic Conference
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: Grant Doverspike, Fresno State
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound:
TOTALS
Team champions: 6 corrent, 10 wrong—37.5% success rate
POY: 8 correct, 6 wrong—57% success rate
Top Freshman: 2 correct, 12 wrong—14.2% success rate
Team on the rise: 3 correct, 4 wrong—42.8% success rate
Question marks: 5 correct, 2 wrong—71.4% success rate
Wouldn't surprise me: 4 correct, 2 wrong—66.7% success rate
Would shock me: 3 correct, 3 wrong—50% success rate
Rating
Comments
Post A Comment