Welcome to the latest edition of Talking Hoops With Ted Sarandis. The college basketball season beckons, and in this podcast we talk about some of what we’re looking ahead to.
The first subject is changes in teams, notably two new entrants to Division I: North Alabama, who joins the Atlantic Sun, and California Baptist, who joins the WAC. We get into what this all means for the future of college basketball, including the idea that new entrants should have to meet certain standards in the future.
From there, we look at opening night and how it is the latest instance of the sport not being in a position to maximize the attention it gets at a time when it is most challenging. The season will open on election night in the United States, and despite two great matchups in the Champions Classic, one has every reason to suspect that most people will be paying a lot more attention to the election than college basketball.
Speaking of the Champions Classic, two great matchups are on tap and with a lot of talent. Kansas and Michigan State will open it up, a matchup with a Kansas team many have atop the preseason polls and a Michigan State team loaded with perimeter firepower plus Nick Ward. The nightcap is one whose program names alone will draw attention: Duke vs. Kentucky.
We go on to look at freshman-dominated teams and wonder about this time around. With Duke, there is an open question about veteran leadership; with Kentucky, will Reid Travis be that senior leader to guide the younger players? Kentucky will need it not only nationally, but within the SEC, which looks set for another big year after last season’s success.
After that, we take a look at the American Athletic Conference, which appears to be at a crossroads. The conference’s identity is in question, and geography doesn’t help. The big question is if noteworthy new head coaches can get once-storied programs going again to help lead the conference. Dan Hurley takes over at UConn, who won four national championships in the past two decades, and Penny Hardaway takes over at his alma mater, Memphis, which has been irrelevant since their first year in the conference.
Finally, we get into the Atlantic 10, which appears to be as wide open as it ever has been. Several teams could lay claim, but interestingly, neither VCU nor Dayton, two consistent contenders, has been mentioned much among the contenders.
We hope you enjoy the podcast and share it with your fellow college basketball fans. Be sure to come back soon for our first podcast during the season as we keep up with what is going on around the country.
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