Top 10 Int'l

Top 10 International Players of All Time

Today we see players from other countries like Marc Gasol, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anderson Varejao, and others. Ten, twenty, even thirty years ago there were not that many players from other countries. This is because players from other countries have taken a liking to basketball and have helped make it popular in other countries. These international players have brought their styles and have incorporated them into the game of basketball we see today. This list is to illuminate some of the greatest players from other countries that played in the NBA.

10. Detlef Schrempf

Detlef Schrempf was a versatile 6'10 forward who could play every position except the point guard spot. However, his passing ability would allow him to be a point forward. During his career, he would earn three trips to the All Star Game and he was a two time Sixth Man of the Year award recipient. His career would start off slow in Dallas as he could not get stable minutes and he was often injured. Indiana must have seen some potential in him as he was traded to the Pacers. In Indiana and Seattle, Schrempf would average well over 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game. His solid shooting would help the Seattle Supersonics to a finals appearance against the Chicago Bulls where they lost in six games. He would go on to finish his final two seasons in Portland. 

9. Peja Stojakovic 

In addition to being one of the greatest shooters of all time, Peja Stojakovic was able to crack this list of all time international greats. He averaged 17 points per game and shot 40 percent for his career. His scoring ability helped open up the lane for players on his team and at 6'10 it was hard to defend him on the perimeter. He was never a defensive stopper, but his size allowed to him rattle other players. Stojakovic would average 20 points over a three-year span and earn a trip to three All Star Games. Along with Chris Webber and Mike Bibby, Stojakovic would help power the Kings to the Western Conference Finals where they lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers. They would earn their way into the hearts of many fans and show the NBA that small market teams could maintain success over the years. 

8. Dikembe Mutombo 

Dikembe Mutombo was more than a solid basketball player. He was the ultimate humanitarian in all of sports. He has traveled the world to spread the game of basketball to Africa, improved the living conditions in the Republic of Congo, and he is a longtime advocate of the Special Olympics. Mutombo's play on the court was sensational as well. He was a crowd favorite wherever he played. Standing at 7'2, Mutombo would block shots with ease, be a vacuum on the boards, and be enough of a threat to score off rebounds. He would experience a resurgence in his career in 2001 when he would help Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals. They lost in that series, but Mutombo won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award that season. He was an eight time All Star and was even selected to the All NBA second team once. When he blocked a player's shot, Mutombo would often sway his finger and say, "No No No". 

7. Manu Ginobili 

Manu Ginobili is always mentioned as the third member in the Spurs trio of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. However, Ginobili's impact was as significant as the other two players because of his versatility and sacrifices. He is a good slasher and streaky shooter from beyond the arc and defensively he used to be able to guard the best players in the NBA. Ginobili is the main reason why teams in the NBA look for instant offense off the bench. Ginobili has bench a fixture in the Spurs second unit as he has sacrificed some of his production in order to help the Spurs maintain success. His sacrifices may have cost him millions and better numbers as a pro, but his career has lasted longer. With the Spurs, Gregg Popovich manages Ginobili's minutes well and has made sure he is ready for a postseason run.

6. Yao Ming 

Because of a multitude of injuries, Yao Ming's promising career was cut short as he was forced to retire. He was the face of China's nation and was the reason Chinese fans and players became interested in the NBA. Yao was the first rookie since Grant Hill to start in an All Star game. Yao was 7'6 and well over 250 lbs which made it hard for the Houston Rockets to pass him up. He had good skills for a player of his size as he could shoot 19 footers, easily post players up, and pass well enough. Yao did struggle his first year with the speed of the NBA, but was fine after about 15 games. He turned into a brick wall on defense and asserted himself well on offense. After his rookie year, he was mentioned as one of the best centers and could have gone down as one of the best centers of all time. Along with Tracy McGrady, Yao formed a dynamic duo that figured to be title contenders. Early playoff exits and injuries robbed the Houston franchise and have many fans wondering what could have been.

5. Tony Parker

The talent was always there for Tony Parker, but he lacked maturity as a young player playing for Gregg Popovich. Parker would learn the hard way playing under Coach Pop, as he would be benched for silly turnovers and playing out of control on offense. In the playoffs, he would always perform admirably as he helped the Spurs win three NBA championships and earned himself a Finals MVP. However, three years ago the switch seemed to turn "on" for Parker as if he finally got "it". Hypothetically speaking it seemed like the torch was passed from Tim Duncan down to Parker. He became the voice of the locker room and the focal point of a well-balanced Spurs attack. Over these past three seasons, Parker has catapulted himself in the discussion of many MVP, best point guard, and top 10 player talks. Last season, Parker led the Spurs to the Finals where they lost to the Miami Heat in seven games. He can most certainly fly up this list with more accolades. For Parker and the Spurs it is about winning not individual achievements.

4. Pau Gasol 

Pau Gasol is the most gifted seven footer in league history. Before an unexpected growth spurt, Gasol was a point guard. His days as a point guard are usually on display with his passing and ability to drive around bigger defenders. His size allows him to post smaller defenders, shoot over them, or find the open man. Early in his career he was scrutinized because he was thought to be the next Dirk Nowtizki. There were also rumors that Gasol did not like being the focal point of his team and opposing teams. As a result, the Lakers pulled off one of the greatest heists, at the time, as they traded the rights to Marc Gasol to Memphis for Pau. It was a great move as it sent shock waves throughout the league and made the Lakers instant title contenders. Gasol would help Kobe Bryant and the Lakers go to three straight finals as well as winning back-to-back finals. Pau has also been a part of those Spain teams that won two gold medals.

3. Steve Nash

Mavericks fans can only wonder what magic Steve Nash and Dirk Nowtizki could have made if Nash stayed in Dallas. Nevertheless, from a basketball resume standpoint, Nash's career benefited from his departure. He ended up being one of the faces of the NBA for a short span. In addition, he transformed himself into a two time MVP while making the Suns a perennial power in the Western Conference. He might have been the pioneer for Mike D'Antoni's uptempo offense that is still popular today. He even helped Canada gain respect as a basketball country. Nash has done everything there is to do as far as individual accolades, but he has never been able to win a championship. Or even get to the NBA Finals for that matter. His soccer background helped him run the show as a point guard with his nifty passing. He was always a threat to score 30 every night as well. Nash also was a great leader and competitor. His defense was always shaky, but that's one of the risks a coach would deal with. At this point in his career with the Lakers, Nash is more concerned with his health and one last run for a championship next year.

2. Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon meant a lot to the people of Houston as he played his collegiate and professional career in that city. He brought two championships to the Rockets organization in addition to being a force on the low block. In his heyday, Olajuwon was an all around center as he could score, pass, rebound, and be a defensive anchor on the other end. His versatility made him extremely difficult to deal with because of his overall girth. His footwork was impeccable and his signature move, “The Dream Shake", was automatic. He might have been so gifted because of his days as a soccer player when he was a kid. Despite being a native of Nigeria, Olajuwon played for Team USA because of Nigeria's lack of immersion in the basketball world. Olajuwon is a forgotten star as he was a part of a draft and era that consisted of Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. He continues to be an ambassador of the Houston Rockets organization.

1. Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowtizki, when it is all said and done, will go down as the best international player to ever play in the NBA. His career averages are phenomenal at 23 points per game and 8 boards. Also, his resume speaks for itself as he has won a regular season and Finals MVP. Nowtizki has been to numerous All Star games and selected to many All-NBA teams. He is the Mavericks all time leader in scoring, a world champ, and not to mention he has single handedly carried Germany to a bronze and silver medal finish. It is hard to dispute Dirk as being number one on this list because he is a superstar that does it the right way. He is loyal to Dallas and has always found ways to extend the longevity of his career. Nowitzki's new found resurgence has him in a position to play for another championship for another three or four years. Dirk could also go down as one of the best shooters of all time.

Shooters

Deadeye Shooters

Today, I will take a look at some of the best shooters that the NBA has to offer. Some of these players are household names while others are hidden gems. They can shoot the ball well from beyond the arc, possess a good midrange game, or excel at both. Elite shooters are at an all time high in demand in the association. These players do have off nights and can go on cold streaks, but the good outweighs the bad for these marksmen. Having an elite shooter can be the difference between a deep postseason run or an early exit.

10. Danny Green

 
 






If it was not for Ray Allen's late game heroics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Danny Green might have been the Finals MVP. He broke the Finals record for three pointers made. His shooting display throughout the playoffs earned him the right to be recognized as one of the game's best shooters. His shooting is not flashy by any means. His career average of 41% beyond the arc is something opposing teams cannot overlook.

  9. Jamal Crawford

One of my favorite shooters in the league is Jamal Crawford. Crawford is a scintillating shooter because he has an array of moves. He can come off of screens and picks. Finally, my favorite, he can cross a defender and line them up for a contested look. He even shoots rainbows to get his shot over bigger defenders. Crawford does not get a lot of credit as a shooter because he can have dry spells. However, for his career he shoots 35% from beyond the arc and 41% overall. When Crawford digs into his bag of tricks before he shoots, it is definitely something to marvel. Defenders worry about getting embarrassed by Crawford.

8. Bradley Beal

Up until the Three Point Shootout, many had no clue of Bradley Beal’s shooting ability. Beal plays for the Washington Wizards who do not get much national attention. He has been compared to Ray Allen in regards to his pretty jumper and fast release. Beal is the beneficiary of being one of the only shooters on the Wizards. Basically, because teams load the paint to stop John Wall and Nene, Beal gets a lot of open looks. Come playoff time, Beal will solidify himself as a household name and one of the game's best shooters.

7. Ray Allen

At this point in his career, Jesus Shuttlesworth is nothing more than a supreme marksman. He is still up to his old antics as he comes off screens to knock down shots. He is still clutch from time to time. If you do not believe me, turn on Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Ray Allen is usually lost in the shuffle during games because he is not as lethal as Lebron, D-Wade, or Bosh. Allen has done a good job of mastering his craft as a shooter. It is very hard for even younger plays to keep up with Allen coming off of all those screens.

6. Carmelo Anthony  

People forget about Carmelo Anthony's ability to shoot because of his "bullish" mentality down in the paint. Never mind the word bullish that's my prerogative coming into this article. Melo likes to shoot the ball in many different ways. He likes to pull up or shoot threes as a trailer in transition. As far as his midrange game, Anthony will body his defender up then suddenly rise up and shoot. When he is hot, it is a sight to see and no one can stop him.

5. Klay Thompson

  









Since his arrival in the NBA, Klay Thompson has surpassed expectations as a professional. At Washington State, he was considered a bad shot taker and an underachiever. With the Golden State Warriors, Thompson has helped, prematurely, form one of the all time great shooting tandems in league history with Stephen Curry. Thompson is a volume scorer that likes to move around when he scores. He is a silent assassin because he is always emotionless when he is hitting his shots. He could be better on offense if he did not exert so much energy on defense. His full potential has yet to be reached.

4. Kyle Korver

Kyle Korver has made it possible for athletically challenged shooters that cannot play defense to last in the NBA. Coming out of Creighton, many did not think Korver would last in a league with such gifted athletes. Hard work and dedication has kept him in the league. He has floated from Philadelphia, Utah, Chicago, and now Atlanta, but his shooting always follows. Korver is the record holder for most consecutive games with a three pointer made. He comes off screens, but he is a stationary shooter. 

3. JJ Redick 

Playing in Orlando, JJ Redick never received any spotlight attention because of players like Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, and Rashard Lewis. With the Clippers, Redick has shown his phenomenal shooting abilities. He plays in an offense Doc Rivers used to orchestrate for Ray Allen to run off screens and knock down shots. Basically, he is a shooter that prefers to shoot in motion. It certainly helps Redick when opposing defenses have to focus on Chris
Paul and Blake Griffin. This makes it easier for him to shoot a boatload of jumpers. 

2. Stephen Curry

  






Like his "Splash Brother" Stephen Curry is a high volume scorer. He tends to take a lot of jump shots during the course of the game. This could be due to his thin frame. Nevertheless, Curry can light it up with his three point shots and midrange game. Curry is a dancing shooter that means he likes to make a defender move to his rhythm and suddenly launch one over his head. Also, he prefers shooting after his big man sets a pick to free him up. This makes for entertaining basketball in the Bay Area.

 1. Kevin Durant 

 








"The Slim Reaper" holds the top spot on this list because he can go on a shooting streak like no one else in the NBA. Kevin Durant can pull up from anywhere and knock shots down with ease. Defenders try their best to stay in front of him and force him to take contested jumpers but to no avail. Two things separate Durant from the other shooters on this list. First, he is extremely efficient with the shots he takes. Shooting 39% from beyond the arc and 51% overall, Durant rarely takes a bad shot. Second, he is clutch. Durant is just too long and agile for defenders to deal with. As a result, most teams look to double team him late. Good luck with that.

 

March Madness

10 Teams Under the Radar

Stanford

The Cardinal is a team that is flying under the radar, nationally, because they are not a top three team in the Pac-12. They play consistent ball as they play consistently on offense and stifling defense. Four double-digit scorers in Chasson Randle, Dwight Powell, Josh Huesteis, and Anthony Brown lead them. Stanford is firmly in the field of 64 for the NCAA tournament. Unless they lose their last two games and get sent home early in the Pac-12 tournament, they should make the big dance. This will not be an easy team to beat because they manage to stay calm like their coach Johnny Dawkins. This team has upset ability as they beat Connecticut and Michigan earlier in the year.

 

BYU

BYU has big wins over Stanford and Texas. In addition, they played Iowa State, Wichita State, Oregon, and Massachusetts, which were all losses. The out of conference schedule and overall strength is there. However, the Cougars are firmly on the bubble and will more than likely have to play into the tournament. This team will have to win its final game and have to make a deep run into their conference tournament. Any losses would result in BYU missing the NCAA tournament. If they win out, this team is loaded with guys that can score the basketball. They are led by one of the nations best scorers in Tyler Haws as he scores well over 20 every game. Haws is a 6'5 guard that can score in many different ways. Matt Carlino, Kyle Collinsworth, and Eric Mika each do a good job at scoring and rebounding. With so much offensive firepower, this team will need to put the clamps down on defense. Nevertheless, the NCAA is built on elite guard play, which means Carlino and Haws can help BYU get a win or two. If Haws scoring ability translates to the tournament, think Stephen Curry at Davidson or Jimmer Fredette at BYU.

 

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys finally ended their seven game losing streak when Marcus Smart returned from his three game suspension. Although they slipped into quite a funk, they have a good chance of making the tournament. Markel Brown, L'Bryan Nash, and Phil Forte III are solid scorers that compliment Smart. These four players are volume scorers so they can get a little cold from time to time. The Big 12 is ultra competitive so the committee may be magnanimous and grant this team with a berth. If that is the case, no team wants to face a lowly seeded Oklahoma State team. They have too much firepower not to win a game and possibly go on a bit of a run like last year's Oregon team. Smart and Brown's ability to takeover can propel this team to a possible Sweet 16 appearance.

 

Oklahoma

Lon Kruger's ball club is an inconsistent ball club. They have the talent to compete with Kansas and Iowa State, but the youth to lose against a team like Texas Tech during conference play. Buddy Hield is he leading scorer for this Sooners team, but he is the most inconsistent player out of all of them. He can erupt in one half and go extremely cold in another. Jordan Woodard, Ryan Spangler, Cameron Clark, and Isaiah Cousins are double-digit scorers as well. Tyler Neal and Je'lon Hornbeak provide three point marksmen off the bench as well. This team probably seems inconsistent because of the overall depth in the Big 12. With that being said, this team is one of the toughest to prepare for because they have so much depth. It really comes down to how interested and if they view the other team as a threat for this Sooners team.

 

Arizona State

After their controversial win against Arizona, the Sun Devils have managed to climb their way up to an eight seed. Jahii Carson who scores a lot of points for this team leads them. In addition, Jordan Bachynski and Jermaine Marshall have proven to be consistent double figure scorers. The problem with this team, after those three players, is: Can they produce enough offense to win a game or two in the NCAA tournament? They have periods during the course of the game where they go on scoring droughts. Bachynski's defensive prowess can be key for Arizona State.

 

Ohio State

 This Buckeyes team has so much talent from top to bottom. With players like Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr., Sam Thompson, Shannon Scott, LaQuinton Ross, and Amir Williams, this should easily be one of the top teams in the Big Ten and in the country. Somehow, they have struggled with all of this talent. One of the biggest concerns with this team is can they score enough points to win. They play ball-hawking defense, but they have guys that are offensively challenged outside of Ross and Smith Jr. Ohio State loves to play at a slow pace and get good shots to set up their defense. When they are making their shots, Ohio State is the most annoying team in the country to play for 40 minutes.

 

Harvard

Some spectators might remember this Crimson team from a year ago as they ruined most people's brackets. Wesley Saunders was the key to their upset over New Mexico in the NCAA tournament a year ago. Saunders returned for another year as he leads his team to, possibly, another NCAA tournament. His scoring numbers have dipped, but he has a lot of help. Harvard has six players that average more than nine points a game. With that kind of offensive balance, it is really hard to defend them because opposing players do not know where the scoring will come from. This makes Harvard a tough team to go against even if Saunders is struggling.

 

Providence

The Friars are not a deep basketball team as they have five players that play 30 plus minutes a game and a sixth play that plays 20 minutes. They are a talented team led by their senior point guard Bryce Cotton. Cotton scores over 20 points a game on a nightly basis. He also rebounds well at his size; he is a playmaker for his teammates, and an absolute bulldog on defense. LaDontae Henton, Kadeem Batts, and Tyler Harris are efficient scorers that can rebound. This is a veteran ball club that has a lot of players that are lanky athletes. If they make it to the NCAA tourney, this team's length can be their greatest asset defensively. With Cotton's elite play at point guard, this team can upset someone during the first weekend. Having a seven footer in Carson Desrosiers can be beneficial as he averages three blocks per contest. Another win over Creighton and a couple wins in the Big East Tourney should get them in the NCAA tourney.

 

Virginia

Checking this team's stat sheet can be depressing for a person that loves offense, but the Cavaliers make up for it on defense. After getting drubbed by Tennessee, Virginia has won 14 of their last 15 with their lone loss being to Duke. Also, they sit atop the ACC and broke the school record for conference wins. Joe Harris and Michael Brogdon lead this stagnant offense, but Justin Anderson provides valuable minutes with his intensity. Akil Mitchell is the X-factor for this team because he is a scorer who is underachieving dramatically this season. London Perrantes runs this team with no fear, as he never gets rattled despite being a freshman point guard. Virginia's defense and Harris's ability to take over games has many believing they can make a Final Four run. Despite those lofty expectations, many are still numb to the success of this team.

 

Michigan

Despite not having Mitch McGary, Michigan has been able to get on a bit of a roll, as they are in first place in the grueling Big Ten. Many wrote this team off after they lost Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke to the NBA Draft. In addition, when they lost McGary indefinitely, the experts doubted they would even make the NCAA tournament. Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert have been the main reasons why the Wolverines are back in the national spotlight. Glenn Robinson III and Derrick Walton Jr. are no scrubs as they are certainly capable of big time performances. Head coach John Beilein should definitely be acknowledged for the tremendous job he has done as a coach because they are without three players from last year's championship game. With or without McGary, Michigan should make the Sweet 16.

Chasing History

Jesse Owens

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was a 5'10 165 pound Track and Field athlete from Oakville, Alabama. Owens had an illustrious career in Track and Field as he set many records and won many medals. He lived during a time when segregation was still rampant nationally and internationally. However, he was never deterred as he chased his dreams.

Owens family lived in Alabama until he turned nine. His parents decided to take part in the "Great Migration", which was when 1.5 million African Americans moved from the segregated south. They moved to Ohio where Owens got a job, as a student, to help his family financially. Owens was an outstanding track runner at East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He only did it to bridge the time between work and school, but he realized how much he loved it. He received his first taste of the spotlight during the 1933 National High School Championship in Chicago. He equalled the world record in the 100 yard dash with the time of 9.4 seconds. In addition, he jumped 7.56 meters in the long jumping event.

Owens would go on to The Ohio State University where he ran track without a scholarship and lived off-campus because of segregation. He still had a part-time job to support his family. Owens was recognized as the "Buckeye Bullet" because of his supernatural speed. During his time as a Buckeye, he won eight individual NCAA championships. He had a career day during the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1935 where he set three records. He tied the record of 9.4 seconds in the 100 yard dash, set the record in long jumping at 8.13 meters, set the record at 20.3 seconds in the 220 yard dash, and set the record at 22.6 seconds in the 220 yard low hurdles event. However, his success did not stop there.

Owens would go on to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. This was a time when Adolf Hitler was in control of Germany and believed German athletes would dominate every event. He also believed African Americans were inferior along with the Jews. Olympic officials gave Hitler a stiff ultimatum, which was to congratulate every medalist or do not congratulate anyone. Hitler stubbornly chose not to congratulate anyone. Nevertheless, Owens won four gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter events, long jump, and 4x100 meter relay race. Owens teamed up with Ralph Metcalf, Frank Wycoff, and Foy Draper as they set the world record in the relay event at 39.8 seconds. However, Owens was not commemorated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his efforts when he returned home. Roosevelt was afraid if he acknowledged Owens that he would lose votes from Southern voters. Later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower honored Owens as the "Ambassador of Sports" in 1955. 

Before Owens passed away, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1970. Also, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Gerald Ford in 1976. After passing away in 1980, the USA Track and Field team created the Jesse Owens Award in 1981. It was and still is awarded to the top Track and Field athlete. Finally, his alma mater, The Ohio State University, dedicated the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium for Track and Field events only.

African American QB

Marlin Briscoe

Today, we see Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and others that are African American quarterbacks. Older generations used to watch Randall Cunningham and Warren Moon at quarterback, but the pioneer for black QBs was Marlin Briscoe. 

Marlin Briscoe was a 5'11 178 lb quarterback and wide receiver from Oakland, CA that played high school and college football in Omaha, NE. Briscoe was nicknamed "Marlin the Magician" because he could make incredible plays on the field when his team needed them. He played in the AFL and NFL from 1968 to 1976. Briscoe played for the Broncos, Bills, Dolphins, Chargers, Lions, and Patriots. 

Briscoe was drafted by the Broncos in the 14th round of the 1968 draft. He started out eighth on the depth chart for quarterbacks, but was switched to the other side of the ball to play defensive back. An injury to the Broncos starting signal caller forced Briscoe to go back to his natural position. He excelled as he accounted for 17 total touchdowns and rushed for over 300 yards. His 14 passing touchdowns is still a rookie record for the Denver Broncos. However, his success was short lived as the team had no intentions of letting him start at QB in the next season. As a result, he asked to be released and as he signed with the Buffalo Bills. Ironically, he did not play QB for the Bills as they had a star in Jack Kemp. Briscoe decided to play receiver as he led the team in receptions twice and receiving touchdowns three times. Also, he was named to the All-Pro team and was selected to the Pro Bowl during 1970. Briscoe was traded to the Miami Dolphins where he won back-to-back Super Bowls and was a part of the only undefeated team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in 1972. Following the 1974 season, he bounced around the league for the remainder of his career as he played for San Diego, Detroit, and New England.

Final Four

Final Four Contenders

The NCAA season is in full swing as the contenders begin to separate from the pretenders, teams are beginning to realize their full potential, and some teams are just in quite a funk. These teams, on this list, may have the most talent as well as having players that play unselfishly. They each have the same goal that is to win a national championship. All of these teams will not make it to the Final Four, but they each have a shot if they handle their business. Of course, injuries, bad games, or miracles - by the other team- can knock these teams out of the tournament. However, in a perfect world these teams would have legitimate chances at punching their tickets to the Final Four.

Syracuse

The Orangemen are undefeated, thus far, as they are led by CJ Fair, Jerami Grant, and freshman guard Tyler Ennis. Syracuse has made a smooth transition from the Big East to the ACC despite a couple scares here and there. Anytime they face adversity during a game, coach Jim Boeheim settles his group down and gets them to play the way he wants them to. Also, what makes it tough when teams play Syracuse is their ability to pressure ball handlers. Boeheim likes to run a full court press zone to cause turnovers and disrupt the other team's rhythm. If Syracuse finishes the season strong and has good play during the ACC tournament, I look for them to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament like last year.

Wichita State

The "Cinderella" darlings from a year ago have not lost a game since their Final Four loss to Louisville. Gregg Marshall did not like the idea of his team being tabbed with that label. However, during the tournament, his team began to shed that label. Marshall is slowly turning his program into the modern day Gonzaga, VCU, and Butlers of the world. The Shockers are led by, NBA prospects, Fred VanVleet and Cleanthony Early. Another key player is Ron Baker as he can certainly light it up at times. Playing against subpar talent in the Missouri Valley Conference, Marshall is probably finding different ways to motivate his players in a lackluster conference. One thing is for sure, Wichita State is a top five team and likely to finish the regular season in the top five. Any team that takes them lightly will be "shocked" plain and simple.

Arizona

The desert has not received this much national buzz since hall of fame coach Lute Olsen was running the show. This is probably the most complete and deepest basketball team on this list. They have multiple players that can have big time performances so their margin for error is a wide margin. They have Nick Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Brandon Ashley, TJ McConell, Kaleb Tarczewski, Gabe York, and others. Head coach Sean Miller does a great job getting this group to play unselfishly and it starts with their leader Johnson. Arizona is also the most exciting team in the country as they throw dubious amounts of lobs. They boast big wins against San Diego State, at Michigan, and against Duke on a neutral site. The Wildcats have yet to be tested in the Pac-12, but it is hard to see them going unblemished in conference play. UCLA, Oregon, and Cal will give them their best games. Having a seven footer in Tarczewski can be key to Arizona's title hopes.

Kansas

On paper, Kansas is one of the most talented teams in all of college basketball. Andrew Wiggins is more assertive and aggressive on the offensive end. Joel Embiid plays with a certain nastiness and toughness that they need from a center. Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden are the two glue players that a coach needs in his lineup to make a run. The only thing that can stop the Jayhawks is themselves. If Wiggins gets comfortable shooting jumpers, Bill Self's group will experience an early exit in the NCAA tournament. Like Arizona's Tarczewski, Embiid is pivotal to his team's success as a seven foot rim protector.

Michigan State

The Spartans seem to be reeling right now as they look like the college version of the Chicago Bulls. As a result, you can say Tom Izzo is doing his best impersonation of Tom Thibodeau. Izzo has had players go in and out of his lineup all season with Branden Dawson and Adreian Payne being the most notable. Michigan State is a tough group though as they continue to play quality basketball. Gary Harris and Keith Appling continue to carry the load for this injury ridden basketball team. When the Spartans get all of their players healthy, this team has enough talent to get to the Final Four. With Izzo at the helm, they have enough talent to win it all. Another key component for this team is: How much of an issue is Appling's hand injury? The NCAA tournament is designed for elite guards to take over so this team cannot afford to lose a player of Appling's caliber.

Florida

Look regardless of if Chris Walker is named eligible or ineligible for the season, Florida is still a talented basketball club. It is really hard to pinpoint who is the MVG of this team. MVG meaning the Most Valuable Gator. This team is led by four seniors in Scottie Wilbekin, Patric Young, Will Yeguete, and  Casey Prather. Billy Donovan's team plays air tight defense and plays efficiently on offense. This might be Donovan's worst 3-point shooting team in the last couple years, but Michael Frazier has no problem assuming that duty. The Gators seniors have been to three straight Elite 8s and want to finally get over the hump. This group looks hungry and is as hot as anyone in the country. They still have two games against Kentucky to see if they are for real and a possible third meeting if they meet in the SEC tourney. Regardless of what happens in those matchups, Donovan and his seniors experience is something they can rely on when they experience adversity.

Duke

Jabari Parker and Duke have regained their swagger during the most critical juncture in the season. There was a point where Parker and Duke were heading south, but it is hard to keep going south with a hall of fame coach like Mike Krzyzewski. Parker might be the most important player for the Blue Devils, but Quinn Cook, Rodney Hood, Rasheed Sulaimon, and Amile Jefferson are key pieces. Coach K has managed to get his team focused and play unselfish basketball. He also does a good job of making sure everyone stays within their role. Jefferson is a perfect example of that as he rebounds and plays with a high motor. If Duke can continue their unselfish play, this group will make a run at a Final Four bid.

San Diego State

Head coach Steve Fisher's Aztecs do not have a star player. This scrappy group of gym rats plays cohesively as a team and epitomizes their coach's personality. They are led by Xavier Thames and the lanky Winston Shepard as they play tough defense and look to attack the paint. They have signature wins over Creighton, Marquette, and Kansas. The only blemish on their record is a nine point loss to Arizona. The Aztecs struggle with scoring at times because they are an athletic group who relies on its defense to get easy buckets. A few reasons why I like this ball club is because they are led by a fifth year senior in Thames, they play 40 minutes of intense basketball, and they can win ugly games.

Power Outage

Power Outage

Following the AFC Divisional Round loss to their rival, the San Diego Chargers is a team that, many would say, overachieved. They overachieved on both sides of the ball starting with their charismatic leader Philip Rivers. Rivers experienced a rebirth under first year head coach Mike McCoy, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, and quarterbacks coach Frank Reich. The Chargers ran more of an uptempo, yet time consuming, no huddle offense. The Chargers had one of the best offensive units thanks to players like Keenan Allen, Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead, Ledarius Green, and Antonio Gates. They also found some stability in a shaky offensive line with players like DJ Fluker and Nick Hardwick being the anchors along the line. On defense, John Pagano did an admirable job calling plays and making sure that defense got hot during the right time. The defense struggled early on, but Eric Weddle and Donald Butler got that group of 11 guys to play cohesively as they began to force turnovers and cause sacks. 

There are a lot of areas that need to be addressed for this Chargers organization during this upcoming offseason. They have to get more stability along the offensive line through the draft or free agency. San Diego has to find another playmaker to play opposite of Keenan Allen. They can wait and see if Danario Alexander and Malcom Floyd can be of service to them coming off season ending injuries. The Chargers have to find a pass rusher opposite of Melvin Ingram and get some help in that secondary while finding a way to keep Butler at linebacker. This team has a lot of needs and it will be interesting to see how owner Alex Spanos and general manager Tom Telesco handle them.

On a positive note, San Diego was one of the big surprises of the NFL season. They went from a, dead in the water, 5-7 record to a 9-7 playoff team. They had some bad losses early on against Houston, Tennessee, Washington, and Oakland. Three out of those four losses were close games and could have been due to McCoy trying to find his way as a first time NFL head coach. He helped revive the careers of Rivers and Mathews while making sure the Chargers never quit. Sunday's final game against Denver epitomized that never quit mentality. The Chargers accomplished a lot this season and have to be happy, but they cannot become complacent with this year's success. They have to find a way to improve on both sides of the ball and take that next step. Especially, with an aging quarterback in Rivers.