College Hoop Poll (February 10, 2008)

Now that the NFL season is over -- once again, congratulations to the Giants and Eli Manning -- and the NBA (and NHL) are at their mid-points and baseball has not yet started, college basketball is in the spotlight. If you have been following the sport at all, you know that is a good thing. Today, I am going to unveil my first college hoops poll, the teams I think that are the best in the nation. For the time being, the poll will be known as the "Super 16" because I still behave like an 16-year-old and because I can't think of a better name. The reason I chose 16? Well, I don't want to admit to acting any younger than 16. The top four teams in the poll represent who I think will make the Final Four. 1. Memphis (23-0) The Tigers are well coached by John Calipari, have a spectacular point guard in freshman Derrick Rose, have an All-American scorer on the wing in Chris Douglas-Roberts, are solid inside with Joey Dorsey and have a good supporting cast, led by Lynn Tech alumni Antonio Anderson. The one problem for Memphis could be the weak competition they face in Conference USA. 2. UCLA (21-2) Watch the Bruins freshman center Kevin Love for a few minutes and you will think you are watching Bill Walton. The 6-11 Love is a force inside, can face the basket, plays sound defense, rebounds with passion and throws the best outlet pass in basketball. Love could put the Bruins, who have made the Final Four the last two seasons only to lose to eventual national champion Florida, over the top in 2008. 3. Indiana (19-3) The Hoosiers have the perfect mix to make a run to the Final Four. Senior big man DJ White dominates inside and freshman sensation Eric Gordon is capable of exploding every night. Fellow freshman Jordan Crawford is another nice piece for Indiana. 4. Kansas (23-1) Kansas is loaded inside and outside and have a very good coach, Bill Self. The biggest issue for Kansas is history. Can they overcome their past failures in March? We won't know for another six weeks. 5. Duke (21-1) The only reason I keep Duke out of the Final Four is their reliance on perimeter shooting. If any of Duke's shooters -- DeMarcus Nelson, Jon Scheyer, Gerald Henderson, Greg Paulus, Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith -- go cold, Coach K will be heading to the golf course early once again. The Blue Devils have one player taller than 6-8, and that is injured 7-1 sophomore center Brian Zoubek. 6. Tennessee (21-2) Bruce Pearl's teams always play with intensity and senior guard Chris Lofton could carry the Vols for six games if he is hot. 7. North Carolina (21-2) I am a huge UNC fan but I don't think that Roy Williams uptempo style -- run to perfection by Ty Lawson -- fits the style of his best player, Tyler Hansbrough. It is not an issue in the regular season but as we saw in last year's loss to Georgetown in the Elite Eight, it is an issue in the closing minutes of big games. 8. Butler (21-2) The factor that is talked about the least in the era of players turning professional at such a young age is the ability of the small schools to build a team of talented, tough, smart four-year players. Butler has a star in A.J. Graves, who is helped by fellow seniors Mike Green, Pete Campbell and Julian Betko. The foursome make up four of Butler's top five scorers. 9. Georgetown (19-3) If Jeff Green had returned for his senior year instead of leaving for the NBA, the Hoyas would be my pick to win the national championship. They have a great group of players but lack that one guy who can carry them when they need it most. I had them higher on this list before last night's loss at Louisville, a game that stressed the need for a go-to guy in D.C. 10. Stanford (20-3) Sophomore twin post players, Brook and Robin Lopez, make Stanford tough inside and junior guard Anthony Goods brings it every night. Surviving the Pac-10 (UCLA, Washington State, USC, Arizona, Arizona State) will have them ready for March. 11. UConn (18-5) Jim Calhoun has the Huskies playing great and I think their best basketball is in front of them. 7-3 sophomore center Hasheem Thabeet is finally becoming a force for UConn, allowing the rest of the team to play their roles. AJ Price is playing well at the point. 12. Texas (19-4) Many people doubted Texas' ability to compete nationally after Kevin Durant left for the NBA. However, DJ Augustin and AJ Abrams have made them a tough team to beat. 13. Kansas State (17-5) Maybe I'm crazy for putting so much emphasis on freshman and sophomores in these rankings but great players are great players. K-State relies on freshman Michael Beasley and sophomore Bill Walker, two of the most explosive players in college. 14. Louisville (18-6) The Cardinals struggled early with injuries but now that big man David Padgett is healthy, Louisville is capable of making a strong run. Also, Rick Pitino may still be considered scum in Boston but his name is gold in the NCAA Tournament (1996 Championship at Kentucky, Final Four runs with Providence, Kentucky and Louisville). 15. Michigan State (20-3) Like Pitino, Tom Izzo knows how to win in March. With Drew Nietzel leading the Spartans, the guys in green from East Lansing could be a surprise team. 16. Kentucky (12-9) The Wildcats aren't a lock to make the Tournament but if they get in, Billy Gillespie's team could be dangerous with Ramel Bradley and Patrick Patterson.