The launch of November Nuttiness

By Alan Rubenstein Sports Central Columnist

The Coaches vs. Cancer Classic (CVC), in its short history, has been one of the premiere events in college basketball and the 2002 edition was no different. Past tournaments have seen eventual national champions (Maryland in 2001), defending national champions (UConn in 1999), and some of the heavyweights of college basketball like Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, and UCLA.

The 2002 edition featured a new format. Instead of a four-team, two-day tournament, the 2002 CVC was an eight-team, two-day event. The new traditional start to the college basketball season also featured some experimental rule changes -- the three-point line was pushed back and the lane was widened.

Memphis and Syracuse kicked off the season featuring a pair of spectacular freshman, Carmelo Anthony of Syracuse and Jeremy Hunt of Memphis.

Memphis enters the 2002-03 season with the focus more on the team than on one player. DeJuan Wagner decided to bolt for the NBA after one tremendous season in Graceland. The Tigers also lost forward-center Kelly Wise, who will be harder to replace than Wagner, according to Memphis coach John Calipari.

The Tigers will be short-handed during the first semester of the season. Senior power forward Chris Massie has been ruled academically ineligible. Seniors John Grice and Earl Barron will provide leadership and solidify the inside game until Massie returns. The Tigers also return point guard Antonio Burks, who is suspended for the first three games of the season.

A 70-63 season-opening win over Syracuse and Anthony was a solid opening for the unproven Tiger team. In Burks' absence, Hunt contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while sophomore Anthony Rice had 10 points and seven assists. Once Burks, Massie, and Vanderbilt transfer Billy Richmond join the team, Memphis could have one of the deepest teams in the country.

They also have one of the toughest schedules in the country this season, as in addition to the Orangemen, they will face Missouri, Mississippi, Illinois, Arkansas, Villanova, and frequent NCAA tournament participant Murray State out of the Ohio Valley conference.

Syracuse finds itself in a similar position to 2001-02, having to answer questions in various positions with unproven performers. Anthony is likely to become one of the best players in Orangemen history, even if he bolts for the NBA after one season. How the season will turn out for the team will depend on many variables.

Anthony exploded onto the scene this weekend against Memphis. The freshman finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds, including a few highlight plays. Prior to the game, the Orangemen received a blow, as point guard Billy Edelin (who sat out last season) was suspended for the first 12 games of the season for playing in an unsanctioned summer league. Freshman Gerry McNamara will keep the point guard seat warm for Edelin. In his first collegiate game, McNamara proved himself admirably, finishing with 14 points, three assists, and three steals.

Swingman Kueth Duany (12.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) on the 'Cuse roster this season will have to provide the Orange with some leadership. Forward Jeremy McNeil has improved and with more playing time should be a contributor on the front line with sophomores Craig Forth and Hakim Warrick and freshman Matt Gorman, giving Syrcause coach Jim Boeheim a few options inside. Once Edelin comes back, the Orange have the potential to be an explosive team.

Edelin, Anthony, and Duany all have the ability to take a game over. Duany scored 37 points in an intra-squad game earlier this fall. Visits from Mid-Continent power Valparaiso on November 24th and Georgia Tech on December 21st will highlight the remainder of the Orangemen's non-conference schedule.

The second half of the doubleheader matched a pair of number two seeds from the 2002 NCAA tournament. The journeys of Alabama and Oklahoma were quite different, however, as the Sooners advanced to the final four and the Crimson Tide's season ended with a second round loss to the Golden Flashes of Kent State.

'Bama came out like it had something to prove and after jumping out to 43-25 lead early in the second half, held on for a 68-62 win over the No. 3 Sooners. Maurice Williams who concentrated on distributing the ball last season showed that he is going to be more a point guard with a scorer's mentality in 2002-03. Williams scorched Oklahoma for 25 points and seven rebounds. With four starters returning, the Tide looks to improve on its first SEC title since 1987.

The win over Oklahoma should provide 'Bama with some momentum to start the season. Williams's performance showed that he is ready for a breakout season, but the strength of the Crimson Tide lies in their balance. Power forward Erwin Dudley is an All-American candidate who averaged 15.2 ppg and 8.9 rpg last season and contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds in the opener. Senior center Kenny Walker should pick up the slack left by the early departure of Rod Grizzard for the NBA draft. Walker contributed 8.9 ppg 5.6 rpg last season and had 14 points and seven rebounds against Oklahoma.

Joining Williams in the backcourt will be senior Terrance Meade and sophomore Earnest Shelton as the Tide will use a three-guard lineup. Antoine Pettway could be the best sixth man in the country; he contributed 14 points and four assists in the opener. Returnees Reggie Rambo and Demetrius Smith and newcomer Kennedy Winston will give the Tide a deep bench. Alabama plays Ohio State in the Tip Off Classic on November 29th and then hosts Providence and Xavier later in the season before starting Southeastern Conference play.

After Arizona and Kansas, there appears to be a sharp drop-off. The best among the next 10-15 teams appears to be Oklahoma. The Sooners lost star power forward Aaron McGhee and rugged sixth man Daryan Selvy. The Sooners will remain among the elite largely due to the return of point guard Hollis Price and running mates Ebi Ere and Quannas White. Jason Detrick, who was expected to contribute, is going to take a redshirt year.

Along the frontline, Joseph Szendrei and Jabahri Brown will look to provide rebounding and defense, and enough scoring to allow Price, Ere, and company room to drive and shoot. Recruits De Angelo Alexander, Kevin Bookout, and redshirt freshman Matt Gipson will provide depth. For OU to be successful, they are going to have to get offensive production from someone other than Ere and Price. Ere finished with 24 and Price 19 in the season opening loss to Alabama.

Marquette and Villanova kicked off the second night of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and the Golden Eagles conducted a clinic on how to defend the three-point field goal in a 73-61 victory. The Golden Eagles held 'Nova to 3-26 from three point range as the Wildcats misfired on their first 20 three-point shots. Led by led small forward Dwayne Wade with 17 points and sophomore point guard Travis Diener, who contributed 12 points, including three three-point field goals, the Warriors lit it up from outside, going 8-18.

The Golden Eagles enter the 2002-03 season coming off of a 26-9 season in which they passed Cincinnati for Conference USA supremacy. The Golden Eagles will need to build a young team around national Player of the Year candidate Wade. All Wade did last season was lead Marquette in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocked shots. Scott Merritt is the other returning starter for the Golden Eagles, who lost Oluoma Nnamaka and Cordell Henry to graduation and Odartney Blankson, who transferred to UNLV.

Marquette will be huge upfront with four players 6-10 or taller and seven players on their roster 6-7 or taller. Robert Jackson, a transfer from Mississippi State, leads the newcomers up front. Golden Eagle head coach Tom Crean is excited about Jackson can bring to the table. "He is definitely a great low-post presence for us right now, but he can also step out and makes shots."

The loss of do-everything point guard Henry means the Golden Eagles will have to find a new floor general for the first time in four years. Diener led Conference USA in three-point shooting in 2002.

The key for Marquette in 2002-03 will be finding an identity. "We have just have to get everything figured out on how we play and what makes us successful," Crean said.

Marquette will be without highly-regarded freshman point guard Karon Bradley until early December with a tear in his lateral meniscus. Joining Diener, Merritt, and Wade in the starting lineup will be 6-8 junior Terry Sanders and 6-10 freshman Steve Novak.

The final game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic was a showdown between No. 5 Texas and No. 16 Georgia.

The Longhorns capped a very successful 2002 season with a loss to Oregon at the buzzer in the Midwest region semifinals. The Longhorns should have a very balanced team in 2002-03. Led by All-American candidate sophomore point guard T.J. Ford, the 'Horns are poised to be one of the elite teams in what could become a very special season in the Big 12 conference. Fellow Big 12 members Kansas and Oklahoma are also ranked in the pre-season top five.

Texas had a very competitive game against Georgia and after falling behind by 10 points early in the second half, the Longhorns rallied to post a victory. Ford was every bit the floor general, finishing with 22 points and eight assists and with all of the college basketball world watching, served notice why he should be considered one of the best point guards in college basketball.

Ford will be joined by defensive-stopper Royal Ivey, power forward Deginald Eskin, center James Thomas, swingman Brandon Mouton, and C/F Brian Boddicker give the Longhorns one of the deepest and most talented teams in the country. With three straight recruiting classes with a McDonald's All-American, the 'Horns will make it easier for the fans in Austin to forget about Mack Brown, Chris Simms, and company not living up to their potential. Look for Thomas and Ford to garner a lot of postseason award attention.

Georgia enters the 2002-03 with expectations as high as they have ever been in Athens. Jarvis Hayes put on a spectacular show at the United Center in Chicago. Damien Wilkins, who sat out last season after transferring from NC State, has the fans buzzing about the possibilities this season with Hayes and Wilkins playing together.

The Dawgs will not be all about Hayes and Wilkins, however. Ezra Williams joins Hayes on the All-SEC team, and Georgia's depth goes far beyond that. Center Steve Thomas and forward Chris Daniels will provide lifts after returning from one- and three-game suspensions, respectively. Hayes', twin brother, Jonas, gives the Dawgs great depth inside and showed his talent by posting a double-double in last season's NCAA tournament.

The leaves on the trees changing colors, the first snowfall, and Thanksgiving closer than you think, can only mean one thing -- college basketball is back. The upcoming the Preseason NIT, Maui Invitational, and Great Alaska Shootout have provided nearly as many memorable moments as March Madness. With the heavyweights set to start their seasons in the next few weeks, we can refer to the beginning of the season as November Nuttiness.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.