Considering all the optimism surrounding college basketball’s most promising teams this offseason, it’s time to balance it with a healthy dose of skepticism. Even the most impressive rosters have their weaknesses, and even the projected Top 25 for the 2012-13 campaign will have their share of concerns heading into the year. One team that’s sure to have plenty of preseason buzz is the Creighton Blue Jays, led by returning super-scorer Doug McDermott. Of course, unless ...

One-and-done players have become a sickening part of college basketball culture, and the Class of 2012 has several players who will surely be enter the 2013 NBA draft.Freshmen have dominated the recent NBA drafts, with No. 1 overall picks John Wall, Kyrie Irving and (soon-to-be) Anthony Davis all being one-and-done players.While I personally despise the one-and-done rule, it's part of the game that I've had to accept. These are the players in the Class of ...

In almost any other program other than Kentucky last season, Kyle Wiltjer's arrival would have been heralded with great excitement.However, because he arrived for his freshman season at the same time as Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague, the 6'9" forward from Portland's entrance into the wonderful world of college hoops barely created a stir even in Lexington.It's hard to imagine being a 5-star recruit and hardly being noticed.But the upside is that Wiltjer ...

Needless to say, Jabari Parker is a wanted man. When you’re not even in your senior year of high school yet and Sports Illustrated is already calling you the next LeBron James, it’s safe to say every college in the country is going to be groveling for your services. Parker, the number one recruit in the Class of 2013, has a staggering 14 universities fighting it out for his commitment, according to the folks at ...

The 2011-2012 Kentucky Wildcats, the reigning NCAA men's basketball champions, sported one of the best starting lineups ever.All five of those players–and even sixth man Darius Miller–declared for the 2012 NBA Draft.This sensational sextet did so perhaps mercifully in the eyes of non-Wildcat college basketball fans. The wealth of immense talent between them will now be graciously dispersed to various pro teams.According to NBADraft.net's latest mock, none of them are projected to be selected lower ...

The future is now, and the stakes are high. The 2012 NBA draft is every franchise's opportunity to grab the league's next superstar, but history has proven only a select few prospects ever reach their full potential. Sure, Anthony Davis could be the next Hakeem Olajuwon. But he could also go down in history as the next great bust of the hoops world, alongside the Kwame Browns and Michael Olowokandis. In the NBA, nothing is granted—everything is earned.  In ...

South Carolina earned their third trip in a row back to the College World Series Finals after beating Arkansas 3-2.They will need to step up their offensive production against Arizona, though, if they want to three-peat.The Wildcats are an offensive juggernaut.They scored 10 or more runs in four games during the month of June, starting with a three-game stretch in which they scored 47 total runs to start the regionals. The Gamecocks, on the other hand, ...

South Carolina right fielder Adam Matthews must keep his hot bat going against Arizona, because if he starts to struggle the Gamecocks will lose. Matthews isn't the only key player that will either make or break his team's chances to win the 2012 College World Series, though. Obviously, baseball is a team game, but certain players will always drive their team towards success or failure, depending on how they play. With that in mind, I'll take a ...

Winning Game 1 of a three-game series is of the utmost importance in a College World Series final. There are some who can battle back to win the series, but the advantage a team receives from being up 1-0 is extraordinary.We will see it firsthand in the 2012 College World Series finals.Here are three reasons why Game 1 will determine this year's champion.  ConfidenceYou would have two cracks at winning the World Series if you win Game 1. ...

The Finals of the 2012 College World Series kick off Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska. The University of Arizona Wildcats will attempt to stop the South Carolina Gamecocks from winning their third straight championship—a feat that hasn't been accomplished since USC reeled off five straight titles from 1970-1974.Here's a look at the television schedule for this year's best-of-three showdown, as well as some things to watch for as the championship series unfolds. Game 1: Sunday, June 24th, ...