Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Are You Ready for College Basketball?

Ready or not, the college basketball season is upon us. Teams are conducting media days this week and then on Friday practice official begins. Many schools take advantage of the first day of practice and hold Midnight Madness events.

I have always considered basketball a cold weather sport. I still don’t understand how people in places like California, Texas or Florida can truly watch basketball while they decide what color shorts and tee-shirts to wear to the arena. We folks here in the Midwest usually wear a heavy winter coat and look forward to escaping into the warm basketball cave.

But it might even take us Midwesterners a while to get into the basketball spirit this season. At least here in Iowa, the fall weather has been wonderful.

I have read a little on the upcoming season but not much. Here in Iowa, I think people will be watching Iowa State closely. Coach Fred Hoiberg had a bunch of quality transfers sit out last season and it will be interesting to see how they perform in actual competition. Royce White, the Minnesota transfer, is the head of that class. With some good breaks, the Cyclones could become the best team in Iowa this year.

Northern Iowa, or UNI as it is called here, should be competitive again. The Panthers have been the best Division I team in the state for the past few years.

Iowa should be improved under second-year coach Fran McCaffery. The Hawks have some experience and talent returning from a team that didn’t even post a .500 record last season.

What college team are you following this season?

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