Brutal Big East heads college hoops storylines

Q: I am a huge Tar Heel fan and it is pretty clear that they have the best team in the country this year, but what do you think their chances are of going undefeated?
— Bryan Sasse, Auburn, Maine

A: Forget about it Bryan. Don’t even give it a thought.

Coach Roy Williams has put together a terrific basketball team, a group of players motivated to come back and prove they can become champions. The respect for North Carolina is obvious. The Tar Heels are the first unanimous No. 1 since the AP preseason poll began in 1981-82. But if going undefeated were an easy accomplishment, Memphis would have done it last year.

Williams was asked the possibility of perfection recently and he replied, “Probably not. I don’t think anyone can in today’s game.” There are so many intangibles. Marcus Ginyard and Tyler Hansbrough have already had injury problems — not serious setbacks, but they still have an impact on putting a team together. North Carolina’s non-conference schedule isn’t the toughest but there is a big roadblock at Michigan State on Dec. 3. 

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And getting through the ACC schedule undefeated really is unthinkable. North Carolina has ACC road games against Wake Forest, Miami and Duke — all preseason Top 25 teams. The Tar Heels might come close to perfection. Even if they fall short, they could be remembered as one of the greatest team of all-time by winning just one game — on that final Monday of the season.

Q: I was wondering where a "Back 2 Full-Strength" Syracuse Orange (3-year starter PG/SG Eric Devendorf and 3-point specialist Andy Rautins will be returning to action this season after missing last season with both players succumbing to significant knee ligament damage) would rank among the preseason top 25, preseason Big East coaches poll and eventually among the March Madness dance participants?
— Ryne Conns, Los Angeles

A: We began this column with a discussion of Big East dominance. Syracuse definitely will be part of that movement. Put the Orange in any other conference in the nation and Syracuse would be mentioned as a title contender. In the Big East, Syracuse is one of those teams in the upper half that will be fighting for a good seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Big East coaches picked Syracuse to finish No. 8 in the preseason poll, just ahead of West Virginia and behind Georgetown. Blue Ribbon, Dick Vitale and Athlon Sports all include Jim Boeheim’s team in their Top 25. All reports indicate Devendorf and Rautins are fully healed. The Orange will miss Donte Greene, but Jonny Flynn is one of the top point guards in the nation. I don’t think people appreciate the job Boeheim did last season, keeping Syracuse competitive in the Big East after losing those two players.

I say Syracuse returns to the NCAA Tournament this year and could be playing during the second weekend. When you get that far, anything can happen.

Q: Do you see Sidney Lowe as a coach who can lead the Wolfpack into contention in the ACC and get back into the NCAA, and how can he improve his recruiting?
— Johnny Moore, Greensboro, N.C.

A:  I’m sure many people are ready to give up on Sidney Lowe after last season. Don’t include me in that group. I still think Lowe is a good fit and there’s no doubt he bleeds Wolfpack red.

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In many ways, the 2009 season could end up resembling 2007, when the Pack surprised people. One or two players can destroy team chemistry and that’s what J.J. Hickson did at N.C. State last season. Hickson is gone to the NBA. Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley should be more comfortable in their roles. Lowe knows he must have talent. The biggest need this season is a steady point guard. He also believes in players who “care more about the team than themselves.” Hickson wasn’t that type of person.

If Lowe stays true to his philosophy and recruits more of those players, the Wolfpack will be better down the road. It’s a tough job in Raleigh, surrounded by North Carolina and Duke. But give Lowe a chance to build.

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Q: How long do you think it will take for the Michigan basketball program to get back to an elite level?

— T. Sims, Detroit

A: The first step for Michigan is moving up in the Big Ten standings. John Beilein should be able to position the Wolverines in the middle of Big Ten this season, but that isn’t what you are talking about. Unless Beilein discovers another Fab Five, it may take two more solid recruiting classes to elevate that position.

The Michigan program had grown stale under Tommy Amaker. Beilein can change that. The Wolverines have taken a very patient approach to rebuilding. One of the worst things a new coach can do is rush things and, in the process, make recruiting mistakes. Beilein is smart enough to avoid that. Once he finds the players to carry out his offensive philosophy, Michigan will put the NIT in its rearview mirror and move on to bigger things. Michigan fans need to share his patience.

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