Expectations For The SWO Sports Basketball Teams

By:  Cooper Ledford

Here are my expectations for the 2010-2011 basketball season for each team we cover.

Kentucky-SEC Champions.  Making the NCAA tournament as a #1 or #2 seed.  I see no reason why they could not get the #1 overall seed.  They have some good returning players, along with some great recruits.  Even though John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Pateterson, etc. were all lost in the NBA Draft, they can still be a great team.  UK could play for a National Championship.

Ohio State-Compete for the Big Ten Championship.  They will have a tough shot at winning the Big Ten, after all, there is Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois, who I think will make it tough for the Buckeyes to win it.  They are the defending Big Ten Champions, so they could repeat.  I see OSU being a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament, even without Even Turner, as he was lost in the NBA  Draft.  Ohio State could make it to the Final 4.

Xavier-I think Xavier will be great this season.  I see them competing with Temple for the Atlantic 10 Title.  XU has a great chance at winning the A-10.  They have some tough games to play, like against Butler, Wake Forrest, Dayton, and Florida.  It will be no easy ride for the Musketeers, but I think they can handle it.  I see the Muskies being a #4-#7 seed in the NCAA tournament, and having a great season.  XU can get to the Big Dance, and once they are in, they play amazing and can beat a lot of teams.  Watch out for them in the tournament.  It would be no shock to me if they were playing in the National Championship Game, even with no Brad Redford (out for the season with an injury), and Jordan Crawford and Jason Love, as they entered their names in the NBA Draft.

Cincinnati-I do not see the Bearcats having much of a season.  They are in the Big East, which could really hurt them.  With teams like Syracuse, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh also in the Big East, UC does not have much of a chance.  I see The Bearcats finishing 10th-12th in the Big East.  They still have some good players, but like I said, they are in the Big East.  If they were in a weaker basketball conference, like the Pac-10, perhaps they would be able to compete for the division title.