Good things in small packages

By Eric Williams Sports Central Columnist

Ever since 1988, when "Danny and the Miracles" cut down the nets, there've been only two teams that stood tall as champions with a post player as the focal point of their team.

In 1990, the Runnin' Rebels of UNLV, behind the inside power of Larry Johnson, throttled Duke and ran away with the championship. Although Anderson Hunt won Final Four MVP with two of the best games of his life, it was Johnson who carried that team on his back and helped make them champions because of his inside scoring and rebounding prowess.

Four years later, Duke was again the victim of a matchup problem inside, as Corliss Williamson bullied his way though Duke's interior defense, enabling the University of Arkansas to hoist the school's only men's championship. However, all anyone will remember about that game is Scotty Thurman's high-arching, rainbow jumper that gave the Razorbacks the victory.

This year, there are many teams that have superior backcourts that could propel them on a run through the tournament all the way to San Antonio. This year's Preseason NIT was a perfect example. Lightly-regarded Georgia Tech came into Madison Square Garden and ran away with the title, behind their explosive backcourt of Jarrett Jack, B.J. Elder, and Marvin Lewis.

The Yellow Jackets were not expected to challenge this year in the powerful ACC, especially after losing center Chris Bosh to the NBA. But the Yellow Jackets started the season with 12-straight victories, before losing back-to-back games to in-state rival Georgia and conference rival North Carolina.

However, they've recently righted the ship, winning three-straight games, including a tough win on the road at Wake Forest. And with the recent addition of Arizona transfer Will Bynum, the Yellow Jackets are serving notice that they are for real and a team to be reckoned with for the remainder of the season.

Speaking of the ACC, there may not be another conference in the country with the quality of guards that are assembled there. The re-emergence of the ACC can be traced directly to the depth of the guards in the conference. Georgia Tech, Duke, North Carolina, and Wake Forest, with their exciting freshman point guard Chris Paul, arguably make the ACC the toughest conference in America.

The Duke Blue Devils, for example, are loaded at the guard position. At any time, Coach K can trot out onto the floor a group that includes the likes of Chris Duhon, Daniel Ewing, J.J. Redick, and freshman Luol Deng, who, at 6-8, has the ball-handling skills of a guard.

Duke, like Georgia Tech, can pressure teams full-court, get out on the break, and shoot it with accuracy from deep. Duke's backcourt is the main reason why they will be among the top-five teams in the nation all year and one of the favorites for the national title. But it doesn't end there.

About eight miles down Tobacco Road, the North Carolina Tar Heels are led by their superb backcourt of Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants, and Melvin Scott. Felton may be the best pure point guard in the country, while Scott and McCants provide the offensive fireworks.

The Tar Heels already have some quality wins this season and again look like they're back among the nation's elite, while Wake Forest, even after losing all-conference forward Josh Howard to the NBA, look like they haven't missed a step with the addition of Paul. Every night in the ACC is going to be like a heavyweight prizefight and it all starts with the talent amassed by the schools at the guard position.

Out on the West Coast, there are a few teams that have a chance to make some noise in March, also, due to their strong guard play. The Stanford Cardinal, led by Josh Childress, Matt Lottich, and Chris Hernandez, are undefeated and look like a possible number one seed in the West. They've already beaten some very good teams this season, like Kansas, Arizona, and America's sweetheart team, Gonzaga. If their guards can keep up their good play, the Cardinal will be a tough out come March.

Another team to watch is Arizona, a team that is absolutely loaded on the perimeter, with Hassan Adams, Salim Stoudamire, and stud freshman point guard Mustafa Shakur. The Wildcats have that scary look about them again this year and will only get better as Shakur becomes more comfortable with the college game. Stanford and Arizona will wage epic battles this year for Pac-10 supremacy and for the number one seed out west.

Back in the East, no discussion about guard play would be complete without mentioning perhaps the best backcourt in the East. Delonte Hill and Jameer Nelson of St. Joseph's form a devastating one-two punch that has St. Joe's on the verge of its greatest season ever. Once Nelson decided to return for his senior year, St. Joe's was set to take off. And so far, Nelson and Hill haven't disappointed, leading their team to an undefeated record and the highest ranking (No. 3) the school has ever achieved.

The Hawks are running roughshod over the A-10 and after watching the Dynamic Duo combine for 61 points on 23-30 shooting in a victory against Xavier, there's nothing to suggest that they won't continue on until the NCAA tournament. The Hawks are a dangerous team that not many people know much about, but will learn more about as the season progresses.

This year, though, all championship discussions eventually make their way back to Storrs, Connecticut. Although the Huskies have had a few losses and some tough games, there is too much talent congregated on the perimeter to leave them out of this debate. Ben Gordon, Taliek Brown, Denham Brown, Rashad Anderson, and Charlie Villanueva give coach Jim Calhoun the kind of perimeter strength some NBA teams wish they had.

The Huskies can shoot it from the outside, get to the basketm and defend with the best of teams. And even though Emeka Okafor is probably the Player of the Year in college basketball so far, North Carolina proved that UConn could be beaten even on a day when Okafor is dominating both ends of the court like a young Patrick Ewing.

So, with tournament time only a few months away, pay attention to the teams that are getting great play from their guards. The eight teams that I mentioned have all had super starts to their seasons. But, there are other teams out there, like Pittsburgh and Kentucky, who also have great guards and will be major factors in the national championship race, as well.

Sometimes, big things come in little packages. And, more often than not, the biggest thing in college basketball, an NCAA championship, is usually delivered by the smallest guys on the court.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.