Interesting video from ESPN’s Andy Katz and Doug Gottlieb below where they wax about the SEC East and seem to make Florida the clear cut favorite … due to their five returning starters and the addition of Patric Young. I can’t really say that I agree with their assessment as Gottlieb acknowledges that Florida was barely a NCAA team last year and if not for two amazing finishes vs NC State and Vandy, the Gators would have been NIT bound for the third straight time. Granted, Florida does have five solid starters, yet the lack of bench depth and the fact this Gator team still has just one real PG would indicate that the Gators are not a lock to be the favorite. Here is the video and I will share a couple of other thoughts after you watch that.
That said, it appears that everyone is dictating the eligibility of Enes Kanter as to the barometer of Kentucky’s success this season. I agree, that It will be a huge hit if Kanter is not eligible to play, but we should note that this still has two months to sort itself out. Do keep in mind that John Wall was not deemed eligible until the last minute last season.
Am I concerned about Kanter? I am concerned due to the fact that the extremely inconsistent NCAA appears to have his fate in their hands, but in the end, I think this will still be resolved favorably for Kentucky and Kanter. And if Kanter is eligible, there is no way Florida, even with Patric Young can keep up.
And I do want to stress here that even in the worst case scenario and there is no Kanter …. there is no reason for a full fledged BBN panic. As we saw on the trip to Canada, Kentucky is going to have a vastly different style of play from last season and Kentucky fans will get a very healthy dose of the DDMO this season. If worse comes to worse, Josh Harrellson or Eloy Vargas can play the traditional post position while Terrence Jones can play the four and also play the role of yet another playmaker. Kentucky will still have good size and trust me … Kentucky has not seen a player like Terrence Jones.
Bottom line on Kanter on August 26?: I still think he will be found eligible, but in the unlikely event he is not, this Kentucky team is going to unleash the DDMO on the SEC and are still a co-favorite with Florida, even without Kanter. But he will be here. Stop worrying.
Adam Zagoria had a bit more last night on Quincy Miller and his apparent desire to play college basketball with his good buddy Deuce Bello and it is looking more and more like that likely destination may be the Ville.
"We’ve got to find a school that fits both our styles,” Miller, the No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2011, said by phone from the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game in Venice Beach, Calif.Right now it looks like Louisville could fit the bill."
"Miller has an official lined up for the Big East school Sept. 4 and he and Bello cancelled a Sept. 12 official to Baylor."
"“Right now we only got the Louisville visit,” Miller said."
As I said a few hours ago, it seems like Kentucky’s added pursuit of Chane Behanan could seal the deal of Miller to Louisville …. but there are simply too many variables for Kentucky in 2011 concerning the number of available scholarships, the impact of an NBA lockout, and how many players bolt to the NBA. Right now it appears that either Behannan or a Bello-less Miiller have the opportunity to commit now. For the other player, it may be a long wait before there is an opportunity to join the Cats while things sort themselves out.
Miller even seemed to imply that he is really confused with this comment in the Zagoria story:
"‘We don’t know yet,” Miller said. “We don’t know if we’re going to the same school yet. I would like to play together but it probably won’t be best for us.”"
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