Who's The Best?

By Jon Edwards

After only a couple weeks into the season, we’ve already had some amazing games. They continue as the ACC/Big 10 and Big East/SEC Challenges wrap up in the next couple of days. These teams have been most impressive so far in the early season.

AP Photo/ Darron Cummings

1.     Indiana Hoosiers – There is not a hole on this team. Aside from a nail-biting win against Georgetown, no game has been close, which includes their dismantling of North Carolina. Cody Zeller has proven the hype is for real, and they still don’t give him the ball nearly enough. His numbers are only going to keep going up. Jordan Hulls has been lights out from beyond the arc so far, and forward Will Sheehey hasn’t been too shabby himself. The X-factor for Indiana is guard Victor Oladipo. The kid is tremendously athletic, flies on the court, and has a complete game on both ends of the court. This team is as legit a title contender as there is.

2.     Duke Blue Devils – Duke has come up with the most impressive resume so far, with wins over Kentucky, Louisville, and Ohio State. They are a balanced team, and can attack you from anywhere. The backcourt trio of Seth Curry, Quinn Cook, and Rasheed Sulaimon is as good as it gets on any team. It’s the frontcourt that could pose problems for the Blue Devils. Ryan Kelly is one of the more inconsistent players in the nation, but when he is playing well, Duke will be tough to beat. Mason Plumlee, who had 21 points and 17 rebounds in their latest win against Ohio State, is a stud.

3.     Syracuse Orange – Syracuse hasn’t gotten into the core of their schedule, but they are as sound as any team in the nation. Their game in Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena will tell us a lot more. Sophomore point guard Michael Carter-Williams leads the nation in assists, and is second in steals. Brandon Triche has been assertive on the offensive end, taking double-digit shots in each game so far. Orange big man Baye Moussa Keita has been extremely impressive so far, as have his mates in the frontcourt, Rakeem Christmas and DaJuan Coleman. Expect to see the Orange in the Georgia Dome come April.

4.     Michigan Wolverines – The boys from Ann Arbor have racked up three straight impressive wins, against Pittsburgh, Kansas State, and North Carolina State. Point guard Trey Burke has been one of the best in the nation, averaging almost 8 assists per game, and more importantly for Michigan, has gotten his field goal percentage up towards the 50% mark. Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Glenn Robinson III, both sons of former NBA stars, have played very well, combining for 30 points and 14 boards per game so far. These guys have proven many people wrong so far this season.

5.     Louisville Cardinals – A loss to Duke is the only blemish on their record so far, but that also was the third game in three days for Louisville. The biggest problem for them right now is the status of Center Gorgui Dieng, who is out with a broken wrist. He is the rock of their defense, and also takes pressure off of everyone else. His teammates are struggling, as Peyton Siva and Chane Behanan are both under 40% from the field this year. Leading scorer Russ Smith has been quite the sparkplug so far, averaging just under 20 points per game. This team is going to improve tremendously throughout the rest of the year, which is a scary thought for other teams across the country.

Most impressive non-BCS team:

Wichita State Shockers – Gregg Marshall has this team ready to play. The Shockers are led by their two big men, incumbent Carl Hall, and junior college transfer two time NCAA Division III Player of the Year Cleanthony Early. They have almost identical numbers, both hovering around 14 points and 7 rebounds a game. Hall is more of a bull down low, while Early’s athleticism allows him to fly around the court, finishing some ferocious slams. This team will contend with the big boys when given the chance.