Post draft top Pirate prospects.

                       The 2013 draft was an important event for the Pirates organization, simply because they added two first round picks. The two players technically have not signed, so you have to be mindful of that, because we all know what happened with Mark Appel last season. Also, another significant event would be the promotion of Gerrit Cole. I would still label Cole as a prospect, because there is no guarantee he will remian with the big club for good. Although, you would obvioulsy hope he can assert himself as a dominant major league pitcher. I will not include him in the list, just announcing he is still a "prospect" as of now.



1. Jameson Taillon 21yo RHP AA Altoona
Stats - 3-5 3.11 ERA 71 K's 27 BB 66.2 IP


Taillon is now the next in line to be called to the majors. He is having a productive campaign in AA to date, and has really done well with his strikeout numbers. His command has been on par for the most part, but it can still be better. Taillon is just like Cole, he is a power right hander with an electric fastball. Taillon is a former number two overall pick, but he came from high school. His development has taken time, but he is still just 21. I expect to see Taillon finish this season in AAA, even if it is just for a couple starts. He should start next year in AAA regardless, with a good chance to be in Pittsburgh by next June.


2. Gregory Polanco 21yo OF High-A Bradenton
Stats - .313 6 HR  30 RBI  23 SB 66 Hits

Polanco is the crown jewel of position players in the organization. He is also one of many talented young outfielders in the bottom levels of the farm sysem. Polanco could be the right fielder of the future with his 6-4 frame, and could make some significant jumps soon. He should be approaching AA, after doing exceptionally well in two levels of class A the past two seasons. It is believed his power will grow with age, and could be a solid bat in the middle of an order.


3. Luis Heredia 18yo RHP Extended Spring Training
Stats- N/A

 Heredia is an exciting player that is being who is being brought along slowly. He was signed out of Mexico as a 16 year old, and has all the tools to be a front end of the rotation guy. He pitched in short season last year, and it would be ideal if he made it to low-A this season. I do not see a big rush with this kid, especially with some of the depth that has been devloping elsewhere in the system. In a few years, his debut could be bigger than Cole's or Taillon's. Heredia has that kind of promise.

4. Alen Hanson 20yo SS High-A Bradenton
Stats - .278  3 HR  24 RBI  14 SB 62 Hits

Hanson is a very important player to the Pittsburgh organization. They have really struggled drafting and developing a middle infielder from within, and it really shows. AA and AAA are littered with plenty of guys that do not appear to be anything more than career minor leaguers and MLB bench players. Enter: Hanson. The 20 year old has great athleticism and showed some promise offensively last season. Like many young infeilders, defense is not all the way there yet. He has high expectations, and you have to hope he can pull through.

5. Stetson Allie 22yo 1B Low-A West Virginia
Stats - .322  16 HR  55 RBI  73 Hits

The Pirates drafted Stetson Allie as a pitcher that boasted an 101 MPH Fastball. So naturally, Allie has developed into one of the best power hitters in the minors. Allie has his some mammoth bombs this season, that have caught a lot of people's attention. Is he for real? It sure would be nice is he is. Allie has a long way to go, but he is having the best season of any minor league hitter for the Pirates. It is still hard to project his promotions at this point.

6. Austin Meadows 18yo OF Unsigned
Stats - N/A

It could be premature to put Meadows here, but I really think the Pirates drafted a big time player. Any draftee is hard to predict, but Meadows was the 5th best player in the entire draft. He fell to Pittsburgh at number 9, and the Pirates must persuade him away from his Clemson commitment. I do not think it will be a big deal, and he will join a talented group of young outfielders. Meadows has been compared to Cincinnati Reds star, Jay Bruce. He has a big, strong frame that can add power as he gets older. It will be at likely be 3-4 years until we see Meadows, unless he pulls a Mike Trout acceleration through the farm system.

7. Josh Bell 20yo RF Low-A West Virginia
Stats - .277  8 HR   45 RBI   65 Hits

Bell is another special outfielder in Class A. The Pirates took him in the second round of the 2011 draft, although most deemed him not draftable due to his strong commitment to Texas. A huge signing bonus played a role in luring a first round type talent to Pittsburgh. He missed large parts of last season with an injury, so he is repeating in West Virginia. He is still striking out a bit, but it appears Bell is going to be a power hitter in his career. He is a switch hitter, but more power comes when he hits as a lefty. I could see him moving up a class this year, but I could also see Huntington wanting him to get a full year in low-A.

8. Tyler Glasnow 19yo RHP Low-A West Virginia
Stats - 3-1    2.92 ERA    80 K   35 BB   52.1 IP

Glasnow is having an outstanding season. 80 strikeouts in 52 innings is pretty ridiculous. He is not really pitching anymore than 5 innings a start, so its evident the Pirates are letting him develop slowly. He had 11 starts last season, and this will be his first full professional season. Glasnow was a highly thought of prospect, and Pittsburgh used their 4th round selection in 2011 on him. He is a big, lanky pitcher that sticks out at 6-7. He has been pretty overpowering, simply by looking at his strikeout rate. It will be a while before we see Glasnow.

9. Reese McGuire 18yo C Unsigned
Stats - N/A

The Pirates had two top draft picks, and McGuire was their second selection at pick 14. McGuire is regarded as one of the better defensive catchers in recent memory. That alone should make McGuire have a bright future ahead. His bat obviously needs work, but that will be worked on in the minors. He has already declared that he will go with Pittsburgh over college baseball. Hopefully his deal can be worked out soon, and make his way to short season ball this year.

10. Barrett Barnes 21yo OF Low-A West Virginia
Stats - .200   3 RBI   3 Stolen Bases

It is obvious by his stats that Barnes has been hurt this season. Barnes just returned this week with two stints on the disabled list already. He is essentially last year's top draft pick with Appel not signing. He has some athletic ability, and looks to be a centerfielder down the line. He is in a log jam of excellent outfield prospects in the lower levels, that could potentially mean that one could be a piece in a deal at the deadline, if they need to make a move.

Pirates land two high school bats in 2013 draft.

                               The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to add two quality pieces into the organization tonight as they drafted twice in the first 14 picks in the draft. That was due to the Pirates failing to sign Mark Appel in last year's draft. The Pirates were compensated with the 9th pick, as Appel's gamble paid off as he was selected first this time around.  With their first selection, the Bucs chose Austin Meadows of Georgia. A few picks later the Pirates took Washington state catcher, Reese McGuire.  The Pirates seemingly have loaded up in pitching in recent drafts, but clearly offense was the priority in 20123 We now know the names, but its time to take a look into the picks a little further.

Austin Meadows 6-3 215 CF Grayson, Georgia.

 

 

 The Pirates made Meadows their first pick, and it seems like a very good one. The name Jay Bruce comes up when scouts look for a player to compare to Meadows. If the Pirates can find that kind of player with the 9th pick, it was well worth the Mark Appel gamble of last season. Meadows is a left handed batter, and should figure prominently into the future at PNC Park. He played exceptionally well in the IBAF tournament two summers ago for USA, by hitting .537 with 28 RBI. Meadows is regarded as a very good athlete, and was one of the higher rated ones in the draft. He can certainly hit, and could add some power down the line. For the most part he looks like he can play center field, but after doing some reading, some think a move to the corner could happen.  Meadows has a Clemson verbal commitment, but the Pirates should not have trouble signing him. Meadows also joins a very good crop of young outfielders on the farm. Yes, McCutchen and Marte are with the big club, but in the lower levels there are names like Gregory Polanco, Josh Bell, and Barrett Barnes that will be competing for jobs down the line.  It is a good problem to have.

 

 

 

Reese McGuire 6-1 190 C Kentwood, Washington.

 

Most, it not all, major mock draft experts had the Pirates linked to this kid at some point. Many thought McGuire's name would be called in the 9 spot, but luckily for the Pirates, he fell to 14. McGuire had a strong showing this Fall with the U18 USA Team, and ultimately rose as the top catching prospect just this Spring. His defense is highly regarded, and it will be his bat that needs developed. From what I have read, he can run, he has an arm, and is strong behind the plate. He has all the tools to be a polished major league catcher. He is also a left handed bat that should work well at PNC Park. The Pirates should have little trouble prying him away from his San Diego commitment.

 

 



 

 

I'll be sure to update if the Pirates make any exciting moves as the weekend goes on. 



So many kinds of fans.

                        Twitter is a weird place, but also a funny one. If you like sports, then you follow sports related people on there. It is a good way to watch a game, by getting thousands of opinions and comments from hundreds of different people on your feed. You also get to see breaking news unfold, again with up to the second opinions from sports writers, bloggers, tv personalities, or just common fans. You also get to learn quite a bit about certain people, and what they like to do. Let's learn about the different kind of fans.


Pitt fans - We ( I say we because I am one) are a strange bunch. We basically assume the worst at all times, because that is the kind of streak we are on. Between failed recruiting fiascos, coaching changes, and transfers.....Its been a hell of a ride lately. Not to mention having a basketball team be a dominant regular season program, but flop in March does not help spirits. Having a football team that can't live up to expectations, just causes mass hysteria every Fall. We as a whole are a mess.

Penguin fans - Pens fans are weird, because there are different kinds of them. Some like to point out

they watched them before Sidney Crosby, and they won't let you forget it. Some like to think they are "tough" because they watch Hockey, and Hockey players are tough, so that in turn makes them "tough". Some like to think they know more about hockey than the players and coaches themselves, and are not afraid to tweet the world hopelessly about it. Also, most if not all, ride the tide. If the Pens are on a 17 game winning streak phrases like "best team ever come out" but if they are losing "Fire Bylsma" and "Trade Malkin" also are said. And that basically goes from game to game.

Pirate fans - Pirate fans are goofy, and it probably comes from being terrible for many years. The team can be 15 games over, but people are constantly in panic mode. They like to come up with little twitter expressions and use them constantly.  #Tootblan #Hurdled #raiseit #Free(insert minor leaguer doing well) #WeirdBaseball #JerryMealsSaysItsSafe and too many more to mention. Case and point, if things are going right, Bucco fans just assume they will go wrong in a matter of games.

Steeler fans - Steeler fans are some sick people. They routinely forget that other things exist other than the Steelers. These are the people that are too old for Twitter asking the writers, "Do u think the Stillers will be able to run the ball n'at enough dis year?" They also like to brag about 6 Super Bowl rings, and will never let you forget that. They always like the backup quarterback, and will commonly refer to anyone on Baltimore a bitch, despite the Steelers playing the same way. They also believe "The Rooney's won't draft guys with character issues, we're too good for that." Or they like to bash a free agent like James Harrison for not resigning for less money. Like its some crazy notion that a player would rather play somewhere other than Pittsburgh? Are you serious? Really? I dare you to tell him that to his face.

Penn State fans - You are, we get it. Stop saying it.

Notre Dame fans - Are you Irish? Maybe. Are you Catholic? Maybe. Did you or your family go to Notre Dame? Nope.  You fit the criteria.

People that root against Pittsburgh teams just to be different fans - You guys are the worst. You really are. You revel in all of your friend's heartaches and just cause problems. Just stop it.

LeBron James fans - I can't stand you guys either. Everyone that doesn't like LeBron is a hater. Cool dude.

Soccer fans - Sorry, I just feel bad for you.

Hockey fans - "Hockey players are so tough, screw basketball"  No, screw you.

Basketball fans - I don't have a favorite team. I just float around to my favorite player, than act like its my favorite team.

Smart guy fan - I beat my opinions to death, and if you argue against me, I know more than you. So don't do it.

Twitter coach fan - I know what they did wrong, I would have done it this way. Call me Captain Hindsight.

Mention and criticize professional athlete fan - Its one thing to be upset with a player, mentioning him?  Really? You just ate a bag of potato chips and watched the game on your couch.  relax.

Ask for a retweet fan - I'm a grown man asking another grown man for a retweet on twitter.

Mention college athlete/recruit fan - Its just weird.

Call out bandwagon fan - Must prove over and over again that you grew up watching this team, and everyone else sucks.

Casual fan -  "Oh the game is on, cool i'll watch it."

Always going to the game fan - Just twitpicing away your awesome seats, while we are all at home or in a bar.


I think that covers most of it. A good number of those describe myself, so don't feel bad. Stay calm and Tweet on.

Carmelo Anthony is the true MVP

                            LeBron James won his fourth MVP award this week, and for the most part,  rightfully so. LeBron James is a fantastic player, and you will not hear me say differently. I firmly believe he is the best player in basketball. In fact, I truly believe he may be the best basketball player ever. But of course, that is a different debate in itself. The current debate stems from a simple interpretation of the award itself.  Does the MVP actually mean "valuable", or does it mean the best player?  I take the award as this.....what player provides more valuable skills to his team? I obviously think Carmelo Anthony did that for the Knicks more so than LeBron James did with the Heat. Here is how....

                      The Miami Heat have a pretty good roster. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh without
LeBron James still have a top 4 team in the Eastern Conference. LeBron obviously takes that team to a level where they are the undisputed best team in basketball. The fact of the matter is, they could at least compete for a championship or win a series or two without LeBron James. Now, look at the New York Knicks. They are the oldest team ever assembled. The spent most of the season without Melo's running mate, Amare Stoudemire. This left the Knicks with a hodge podge of NBA vets like Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, Kenyon Martin, Jason Kidd. The Knicks also ran with no names like Pablo Prigioni, Chris Copeland, and Iman Shumpert. I feel strong in saying, the Knicks are not even a playoff team without Carmelo Anthony, let alone the second best team in the Eastern Conference.


                    Now of course, some may look at numbers. Carmelo averages 28 points (by taking a lot of shots) and roughly 7 rebounds and less than 3 assists per game.  LeBron averages 26 points per game, with 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. It is clear, LeBron is more efficient, and he makes his teammates better. BUT, that is the kind of player he is. Carmelo Anthony has never been taken for a passing forward, or a guy that is going to bang down low. He is a scoring forward, and one of the best ever at doing just that. Carmelo should not be penalized for the style of game he plays, simply because that is exactly what the Knicks needed him to be. New York needed Anthony to score and take shots, and have the offense run through him. He is not a facilitator, he is a scorer. Miami has a couple of game changing players, the Knicks have just one, the MVP....Carmelo Anthony.

Analyzing the Steelers draft.

--  Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia - The Steelers addressed adding a solid impact player on defense. The

defensive side of the ball is still effective for the Black and Gold, but it is not getting any younger. Jones adds a dynamic player that will help bring youth to the position. A Linebacker unit of Timmons, Woodley, Jones, and perhaps Foote could be a force next season.. Jones had some injuries in his career, even some career threatening ones. He has always been a highly regarded player, and his season at Georgia even had him being projected as a top 10 talent. His combine workouts caused some doubts, but I firmly believe he was the best player available to the Steelers. This team needed to address plenty of holes, but getting Jones was a big one. With James Harrison moving on, the Steelers needed this type of guy. Jones should start right away, and it gives the Steelers a type of player that they can build a defense around.

-- Le'Veon Bell RB Michigan State - The Steelers lost Rashard Mendenhall, and Jonathon Dwyer and Isaac Redman do not appear to be the every down type of option. Le'Veon Bell has the typical Pittsburgh running back build. He is strong, physical, not outwardly fast, but quick enough. Bell is a workhorse, and in an era where you need more than one running back, he seems like a guy that could carry the load on his own. Obviously that will not happen, but examining his numbers at Michigan State, Bell carried the ball an astounding 382 times last season, which led the nation in carries. Bell was effective, and has surprising athleticism with the hurdles in his highlight reels. Perhaps Bell's best asset is his pass catching ability on third down. Bell has caught 67 passes in the past two seasons. He may not have been the back most were expecting, but with a young blossoming offensive line, this style could fit in with what the Steelers are looking to do.

-- Markus Wheaton WR Oregon State - After losing Mike Wallace to free agency, the Steelers needed to address the receiver position. With Antonio Brown being the firm number one option,

Emmanuel Sanders back for another season, and veterans Plaxico Burress and Jericho Cotchery in the fold, Pittsburgh needed an athlete to stretch the field. Wheaton is very fast vertically, and he could be the new Mike Wallace to the offense. While Wallace's hands came into question last season, his deep threat still provided a threat and opened it up for guys like Heath Miller and Antonio Brown. That is what Wheaton will likely do. He turned in a very productive season for Oregon State last season, and essentially can do almost identical things Wallace did. He will see the filed early on, and the Steelers certainly addressed that need.

-- Shamarko Thomas S Syracuse - A very good pick for the fourth round, and if he was any bigger, the guy would have been a second day pick. Thomas can lay down some big time hits, and should give the secondary some much needed athleticism.  With the injury prone Polamalu these days, Thomas should be on the field quite a bit. I have seen some Bob Sanders comparisons out there, and I can see why. Very physical and he is always around the ball. The theme of this draft screams "getting back to Steeler football" and that is a good thing.


--Landry Jones QB Oklahoma - I think it was important for the Steelers to draft a quarterback in this draft. They now have Bruce Gradkowski to be the main backup, as Batch and Leftwhich are

likely done in the Pittsburgh. Still, Pittsburgh needed a young arm to come in and at least grow in the system. Gradkowski is just a plug, but having a guy like Jones can be valuable, though. As you can see, Kevin Kolbs and Matt Flynns can bring you a solid return. Also, with Ben being Ben, Jones will get an opportunity throughout the years because of Roethlisberger's injuries. He has a good pedigree, and he finished his career as the Big 12's all time leading passer. His junior season was a big success, and was considered a top 2-3 round player. His senior season did not go as well, but his talent is there.

-- Terry Hawthorne CB Illinois - At this point, looking for starters is unrealistic. Hawthorne had a productive career at Illinois, and figures to be a 3rd or 4th type corner. He will see some time on special teams, and with injuries, he can work his way on the field. Corner is a tough position to predict sometimes. Hawthorne could be a starter down the line if he adjusts well to the league, but as of now, he is merely a special teamer/backup.


-- Justin Brown WR Oklahoma - The Steelers having already added Wheaton, figured they needed to bring in one more guy. I am fine with that. Sanders does not figure to be a long term guy, and this is a position where you can come from anywhere and make an impact. Antonio Brown will enter 2013 as the top option at receiver, being a former sixth round pick. Brown has some size and potential, and will be there to push veterans Burress and Cotchery.

-- Vince Williams LB Florida State - Williams is a born leader from all reports I have heard, and should come in and give great effort. He is not all that fast or athletic, but he knows how to play. The Steelers needed to add physicality and toughness in this draft, Williams helps in those departments.

-- Nick Williams DT Samford - Williams is a big guy, and could be a hidden gem coming from a small school. He is a perfect fit for an end in a 3-4 alignment, and those guys are not always easy to find. Ziggy Hood and Cam Heyward have been alright, but have not lived up to their potential. Maybe Williams can at least play in some situations.

Roster spots galore for 2013-14 Pitt basketball.

                       Pitt is in a very peculiar position. They return three starters from a 24 win tournament team, and that is usually a sign of good things to come. Now, set in the strangeness. Pitt lost two midseason transfers, a postseason transfer in Trey Zeigler, and an early NBA departure in Steven Adams. Add those losses with the graduation of Tray Woodall and Dante Taylor, the Panthers only have seven returning scholarships players for 2013-14. That is quite a roster turnover. Jamie Dixon has only three commitments to date, thus leaving three spots unused.

                 Pitt has talent, and there is no doubt about that. They still have some glaring holes, and  some noticeable weaknesses. Dixon currently sits without a true Center, and realistically only two true post players in all for next season. Pitt is also weak in the outside shooting department with Durand Johnson as the only true threat from the perimeter. This should certainly create some doubt for Panther fans. It is unfamiliar territory, especially with the transition to the ACC.

 
                      Jamie Dixon has been hitting the transfer and Junior College trail pretty hard, considering most High School prospects have decided on their college future. The Panthers need size and shooting. Pitt has been linked to Junior College Center, Joe Uchebo. Also, NYC guard, Jon Severe listed Pitt is his lists of finalists. Tulane transfer, Josh Davis, has been linked with many big programs, and Pitt is one of them. Still, its hard to imagine Pitt ending up with all three of them, if any at all. Pitt has enough pieces to compete in the ACC, and believe it or not, only a guy or two away from being a top 25 caliber team. There will be some new names at the Pete next season, and it could be for the better or worse depending on who they get.

Third annual insanely too early college basketball top 25.

1. Kentucky- It has to be Kentucky, right? The Wildcats welcome six of the nation's top 20 high school seniors. Andrew and Aaron Harrison become one of the nation's best backcourts instantly.  Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson, and Marcus Lee will look to fill the void left by Nerlens Noel. Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress are returning to make it a star studded team with some experience. The Wildcats are easily the odds on favorites to win it all, and its pretty remarkable they can go from bounced in the first round of the NIT to preseason number one. If anyone could swing that, it would be John Calipari. 

2. Duke - I really like what Duke has lined up for next season. Quinn Cook returns as a solid, veteran point guard. Rasheed Sulaimon returns from a good freshman campaign and can be one of the best guards in the ACC.  From there, Duke welcomes Jabari Parker in to the fold. Parker is arguably the nation's top recruit, and at 6-8 can be a very difficult player to defend. Rodney Hood comes in as a very talented transfer from Mississippi State. Having the benefit of practicing with team this season, Hood should hit the ground running. Duke has tons of depth and talent, and with Coach K, the final four never seems too far away.

3. Michigan State- Assuming Adreian Payne and Gary Harris stick around, the Spartans will be returning just about everyone from last season's sweet 16 team. Keith Appling and Gary Harris were the top two scorers from last season in the backcourt. Brandon Dawson proved to be a good small forward, and Adreian Payne emerged as a top player. Coach Izzo has a ton of depth with this squad, and they should be the frontrunners of the Big Ten.

4. Marquette - The Golden Eagles have plenty coming back from an Elite Eight team, and they have an outstanding recruiting class. It does not seem right that a Buzz Williams team has this kind of preseason recognition, but they won't be  sneaking up anyone this season. Vander Blue(assuming he withdraws his name) will be back to lead the guard oriented attack. Devante Gardner emerged as a serious threat down low, and he also will be back. Jamil Wilson and Juan Anderson are two very good wings as well. Marquette will welcome prize recruit, 6-4 shooting guard JaJuan Johnson along with solid in-state recruits, Duane Wilson and Deonte Burton.

5. North Carolina - UNC still has one big piece that could return, and if James McAdoo decides to stay, the Tar Heels will be in good shape. They should be in good shape either way.  PJ Hairton is an excellent start to the team. He should be one of the top scorers in the ACC. His running mate is no slouch either in Reggie Bullock(if he withdraws). Marcus Paige returns after a strong freshman season at point guard. Along with a solid cast of role players, UNC has the talent to be a top tier team. Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks are two freshmen that should see minutes in the post, and Nate Britt will be a good backup to Paige.

6.  Arizona - Sean Miller will have a very talented group this season, and could make some serious noise in the postseason. The touted 2012 recruiting class did not come in and dominate right away, but the talent is still there. Kaleb Tarczewski should develop into a top flight big man. Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett will battle for minutes at the four, but the two sophomores should be improved. Miller was able to snag Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Aaron Gordon as five star small forwards in the recruiting cycle. Duquesne transfer, TJ McConnell will come in and be able to compete for a wide open point guard position and team up with Nick Johnson in the backcourt.

7. Louisville - The defending national champions will have some noticeable pieces missing going into next season, but should have enough to remain a final four contender. Russ Smith still being on the fence makes a difference. Chane Behannan and Wayne Blackshear are both back at the forward spots, along with sophomore, Montrezl Harrell there for depth. Luke Hancock had an excellent tournament run, and he will be one of the go to guys this season. Peyton Siva will be missed, but Terry Rozier should step right in and play. The lack of a Center is a big concern, but they still have enough athletes at the forward spots to contend.

8. Ohio State - The Buckeyes lose leading scorer, Deshaun Thomas, but bring back everything else. Aaron Craft is one of the best point guards in the country, and could be walking into his best offensive season yet. Lanzelle Smith should develop into a top scoring threat. LaQuentin Ross will need to step up his scoring this season. The Buckeyes need to offset the scoring loss of Thomas, and find a reliable big man, but they do have good guards and wings. Marc Loving is a true freshman that could contribute early in the post.

9. Connecticut - After a season on probation, the Huskies should climb back into the national scene. UConn played well throughout the season, and Kevin Ollie appears to be the right guy to uphold the strong tradition for the Huskies. Shabazz Napier is going to be a senior point guard that has a national championship under his belt, so you have to like his experience. Ryan Boatright and Omar Calhoun are excellent off ball scoring options, and should really form a lethal backcourt. DeAndre Daniels proved to be a good forward. UConn also has experienced role guys like Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander, and Enosch Wolf.

10. Memphis - Memphis has ao wealth of talent returning, and another wave coming in. The backcourt trio of Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, and Geron Johnson is outstanding. Shaq Goodwin will be the most experienced big man in the rotation, and he stands to improve heading into his sophomore season. The talent coming in for the Tigers will help make this a championship contender. Austin Nichols is the most highly touted of the bunch, and he should play immediately. Kuran Iverson and Nick King are two wings that should also see early time. Memphis does lack that force in the paint, but they are easily one of the most athletic teams in the college game.