As
the elite high school football players in North and
South
Carolina plan to do battle this weekend, I
figured it was as good time as any to survey both states’ basketball
programs. I for one, revolve my sports world around football. Because
J.H. Rose was still playing until this past weekend, I turned a blind
eye to the first month of basketball season. That is, until now.
I, along
with many others (I hope) didn’t realize that there are a total of 26
schools competing within the Carolinas. Here
(for fun) are my rankings based solely on what the programs have done
thus far. If you think I’m a bumbling idiot or preferably somewhat of a
prodigy, then feel free to shoot me some feedback.
Carolina’s
Top 26
(Rankings of Dec. 15)
1. Duke
Last
Game: vs. Texas 97-66 W
Next Game: vs. Valparaiso
(Dec. 18)
Doubters
questioned lack of blowout wins, Redick’s 41 point outburst against
then-No. 2 Texas
silenced critics, solidified Carolinas’ and
nation’s top ranking
2. UNC
Last
Game: vs. Saint Louis 75-63 W
Next Game: vs. Santa
Clara (Dec. 17)
Tar Heels
could roll into 2006 with only one loss, may show possible rust after a
10 day lay-off for exams, cross-country showdown with streaking USC
looming
3. Clemson
Last
Game: vs. E. Tenn. St.
80-72 W
Next Game: at PR Mayaguez
(Dec. 19)
Undefeated
Tigers have four players averaging in double figures, may finally get
that coveted win in the Dean Dome, NCAA tournament invite isn’t out of
question
4. N.C. State
Last
Game: vs. UNC Asheville
(Late)
Next Game: vs. Miami
(Dec. 18)
Wolfpack
must win in the RBC Center
for the ACC opener versus Miami,
only have one quality win over Notre Dame on the road, Cedric Simmons
must continue hot shooting touch
5. Wake
Forest
Last
Game: vs. DePaul 84-81 L
Next Game: vs. Princeton
(Dec. 17)
21-game
home winning streak ended abruptly by former UNCW head man Jerry
Wainwright, DePaul had lost previously to Bradley, Northern
Ill. and Bucknell
6. Winthrop
Last
Game: at South Carolina
(Late)
Next Game: vs. ECU (Dec. 18)
Eagles
are three points away from being undefeated, Gregg Marshall has a
really talented team that could do big damage in both the Big South and
NCAA Tournament
7. South
Carolina
Last
Game: vs. Winthrop (Late)
Next Game: vs. Wofford (Dec.
17)
Gamecocks
need to regroup from embarrassing Clemson loss, veteran team doesn’t
have a freshman, NIT champions tout Tarence Kensey who is averaging
17.4 points per game
8. UNC Wilmington
Last
Game: at Wisconsin 54-51 L
Next Game:
Coastal Carolina (Dec. 17)
Buzzer
beater road loss to nationally ranked Wisconsin a heartbreaker,
Seahawks already have two CAA wins, surprisingly ranked No. 24 in
Sagarin ratings
9. Charlotte
Last
Game: vs. Valparaiso 80-77
L
Next Game:
vs. Indiana (Dec. 19)
49ers got
popped by Crusaders, Bobby Lutz hasn’t found pieces to replace Eddie
Basden and Martin Iti, home win over Hoosiers could solve problems
10.
Davidson
Last
Game: vs. Catholic 80-56 W
Next Game:
vs. St. Mary’s (MD) (Dec. 15)
Still
excited about upset home over Missouri,
Wildcats will have to keep poise to be a bracket buster at Syracuse
on Dec. 18
11. UNC Greensboro
Last
Game: vs. Gardner-Webb 76-68 W
Next Game: Greensboro
College (Dec. 16)
Mike
Dement’s club had big wins over ECU and Gardner-Webb last week to climb
up the rankings, Spartans will have trouble cracking top 10
12. Gardner-Webb
Last
Game: at UNC Greensboro
76-68 L
Next Game: Western
Carolina (Dec. 22)
Bulldogs
suffered bad loss to UNCG, travel to Western Carolina
before possible upset bid at Ohio St.
after Christmas
13. Charleston
Southern
Last
Game: at St. John’s 64-50 L
Next Game: at
Robert Morris (Dec. 17)
Buccaneers
played St. John’s and
Clemson tough, have nine players that average more than 10 minutes per
game, could make noise in Big South play
14. High Point
Last
Game: at Elon 73-71 W
Next Game: at Longwood (Dec. 17)
Panthers
have wins over Western Carolina and Elon, in
the middle of a five-game road trip, JUCO transfer Arizona Reid
averaging 22.5 points per game
15. Western Carolina
Last
Game: at ECU 56-48 W
Next Game: vs. Citadel (Dec. 18)
Larry
Hunter’s Princeton-style offense confused ECU, could slide in the
rankings with tough schedule looming
16. East Carolina
Last
Game: vs. Western Carolina 56-48 L
Next Game: at Winthrop
(Dec. 18)
Most
disappointing team in N.C. outside Charlotte
thus far, Wake transfer Jeremy Ingram eligible will help improve
perimeter defense
17. App. State
Last
Game: at N.C. State
92-68 L
Next Game: at Marshall
(Dec. 17)
Mountaineer
football team in I-AA finals for first-time ever, basketball team could
beat Marshall on the road,
5’8” point guard D.J. Thompson averaging 17.1 points per contest
18.
Wofford
Last
Game: at Miami 71-40 L
Next Game: at South Carolina
(Dec. 17)
Terriers
beefed up non-conference schedule is destroying confidence, have close
losses to Purdue, ECU and Clemson, will improve ranking when SoCon play
starts
19.
Coastal Carolina
Last
Game: vs. South Carolina St.
(Late)
Next Game: UNC Wilmington
(Dec. 17)
Buzz
Peterson is struggling in his first year in Conway,
Chanticleers had tough loss to Jacksonville
St. to open the season, upset at UNCW would
boost Coastal up the rankings
20. College
of Charleston
Last
Game: vs. North Florida (Late)
Next Game: at VCU (Dec. 17)
Normal
tough schedule thrown out the window, Tom Herrion’s club have only
played five games and only two have been against Division I opponents
21. Elon
Last
Game: vs. High Point 73-71
L
Next Game: at IUPUI (Dec. 17)
Heartbreaking
home loss to High Point, Phoenix
now start tough five-game road trip before SoCon play begins
22. UNC Asheville
Last
Game: at N.C. State
(Late)
Next Game:
vs. Brevard (Dec. 17)
Bulldogs
got first win over Furman, size isn’t a problem with two 7-footers and
a 6’8” shooting guard, killer schedule likely will leave two wins
heading into Big South play
23. Furman
Last
Game: at UNC Asheville
79-65 L
Next Game: vs. Sewanee (Dec. 15)
Paladins’
only Division I win is over Campbell
by a single point, another Moussa (Diagne) is averaging 11.7 points per
game
24. South
Carolina State
Last
Game: at Coastal Carolina
(Late)
Next Game: at Rutgers
(Dec. 17)
Bulldogs
have wins over Southern Utah and N.C. A&T,
depth not a problem as eight players average more than 20 minutes per
game
25. Campbell
Last
Game: vs. N.C. A& T (Late)
Next Game: at
Evansville
(Dec. 17)
Fighting
Camels loss to Furman was brutal, Eric Smith averaging 18 points a
game, have already totaled last year’s win total
26. N.C. A&T
Last
Game: at Campbell (Late)
Next Game: Nebraska
(Dec. 19)
Aggies two games into brutal eight-game road trip, Jerry
Eaves is 9-51 since taking over the program, ranked No. 331 (of 334) in
Sagarin ratings
Eric Gilmore
ejg1102@mail.ecu.edu
