<p>Well, the season has started, so it only makes sense to get a thread started about it as well.</p>
<p>Notable storylines so far this season:</p>
<p>-Kentucky looks to move forward under Calipari and a star-studded recruit class
-North Carolina reloads and tries to repeat as national championship contenders
-Michigan State looks to avenge its title loss last year by returning to the Final Four</p>
<p>And, of course, there area always the Cinderellas. Who will emerge this year?</p>
<p>-Duke hopes to beat Carolina at home at last.</p>
<p>GO DEVILS!</p>
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<p>Yeah, must have been tough losing to Carolina 4 times in a row at Cameron…err Hansbrough…Indoor Stadium. :)</p>
<p>You forgot the notable preseason game Syracuse played :P.</p>
<p>Um, Dayton is trying to win their first regular season A-10 title and starts off as a predicted lock for the tournament. They also return almost all their players from last year and have NBA prospect Chris Wright leading the team.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech is looking to introduce one of the most highly touted recruiting classes led by Derrick Favors and starts the season ranked even after a 2-14 finish in the ACC last year. </p>
<p>Kansas looks to win their 2nd NCAA title in 3 years, with a team led by double-double machine Cole Aldrich.</p>
<p>This is the year. That is all.</p>
<p>Go to hell, Duke!</p>
<p>Look for the Badgers to return to the tourney for the ninth straight year. Possibly upset Michigan State and Purdue for the Big Ten title? I’ll be hoping so!</p>
<p>My Big Ten Predictions:
1)Wisconsin
2)Michigan State
3)Minnesota
4)Purdue
5)Illinois
6)Michigan
7)Ohio State
8)Penn State
9)Northwestern
10)Indiana
11)Iowa</p>
<p>Six tourney spots for sure in the B10, seven likely, eight possible.</p>
<p>Ohio State will finish in the top 3… along with Mich St and Purdue. Wisconsin, not so much…</p>
<p>Oh we will - you just watch. Ohio State is going to start off strong but falter big time in Big Ten play, mark my words. They will still manage to scrape up a tourney spot though. Minnesota will make a strong surge towards the end. Otherwise Wisconsin, purdue, and msu will look like the strongest three all year.</p>
<p>Boiler Up!</p>
<p>My Big Ten Predictions:
<p>I also feel like Purdue may make it to the Final Four in Indy this year. The fact that the Final Four is in Indy makes it as though we’d have the home advantage like Mich St at Detroit last year. There is currently so much energy in the team and the fans along with the fact that the starting five is most likely going to be the same like the past three seasons. I hope Hummel, Kramer, Johnson, Moore have the opportunity to advance to the Final Four. Such a talented squad they are along with sophomore Lewis Jackson.</p>
<p>Florida State to win the ACC this year. Book it!</p>
<p>It’ll be interesting to see how Cal blows it in the Pac-10</p>
<p>Unlike as in the football thread 
I don’t see USC accomplishing much this year. making it to .500 would be a huge win for the new coach.</p>
<p>Kansas will do ok, maybe final 4, but they’re not winning the title. Neither is north carolina. This might be a breakthrough year for the big-10, though.</p>
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<p>Agreed! I see at least six teams with enough talent to go to the sweet 16 atleast, and four good enough to get to the final four.</p>
<p>
not happening</p>
<p>We lost Jonny Flynn. Syracuse is def going to plummet.</p>
<p>
Hellz no. But we Dukies would like to thank FSU for kindly losing to us twice in the regular season, then taking out Carolina in the ACC tournament before obligingly losing to us once again in the final. So, thanks =)</p>
<p>Michigan State is winning the title this year. </p>
<p>My Big Ten Predictions:
1)Michigan State
2)Purdue
3)Ohio State
4)Michigan
5)Illinois
6)Minnesota
7)Northwestern
8)Penn State
9)Wisconsin
10)Indiana
11)Iowa</p>
<p>The Big 10 is definitely the conference to beat this year. I see them getting 6 teams into the tourney, and they might actually win the ACC/Big Ten Challenge this year. I’d also like to see how Michigan St. fares against UNC @ Chapel Hill. Personally, I think UNC is overrated and they will be overtaken by Duke this season. but we’ll see…</p>
<p>Strong performance by UNC tonight as the Heels take down NCCU 89-42. Good to see our young players getting a chance to refine their skills before we take on Ohio State and Cal/Syracuse a little over a week from now.</p>