The start of college basketball practice gave us our first chance to check out some of the nation's top teams.
I visited nine programs in seven whirlwind days. Most are ranked in my preseason Top 25, including No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Kansas State, No. 9 Missouri and and No. 11 Kansas.
I blogged and shot video at each stop after watching practices, visiting with coaches and talking to players.
It was a blast. Thanks to all the programs for giving me such great access.
Friday, October 15
At Memphis Midnight Madness
Blog: Stellar recruiting has Memphis poised for success after Calipari
MEMPHIS – I wasn’t sure I’d return to the FedEx Forum.
Ever.
Shortly after John Calipari bolted and dragged just about every recruit with a pulse with him to Lexington, Ky., the Memphis basketball program was carried down to the morgue.
Dead and buried.
No one wanted this job. Not Baylor’s Scott Drew, not Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton, not even then-USC head man Tim Floyd — who was being investigated by the NCAA at the time.
It was career suicide to follow Calipari — who had built the Conference USA program into a legitimate national power.
Saturday, October 16
More thoughts from Memphis: Not many holes to plug
MEMPHIS – I’m sitting in the Memphis airport ready to board a flight to Kansas City – where I’ll drive to see Mike Anderson’s Missouri team practice this afternoon.
Memphis Madness was pretty impressive. I finally figured out that Yo Gotti isn't related to Abdul Gaddy.
I wish I could have stayed in the city a little longer, but this trip is all about ripping and running.
Josh Pastner has just about everything.
Blog: Why I'm the only one high on Missouri
MANHATTAN, Kansas – I’m working on my Frank Martin scowl right now and think I have it down just prior to heading over to Kansas State practice this morning.
This should be a good day with K-State and then Kansas practices.
But first let’s recap yesterday’s visit to Columbia, Missouri:
I watched Missouri practice, spoke to Tigers coach Mike Anderson a few of the players and then grabbed something to eat at Shiloh with Kim English and the Pressey Brothers – Matt and Phil.
I really like the prospects of this Missouri team – talent-wise and also chemistry (the one area that scares me with Memphis).
So much so, in fact, that I’m just about the only one that has the Tigers ranked in the Top 10 in the country.
Sunday, October 17
Blog: K-State has Pullen plus great size
KANSAS CITY – I’m ready to fly to Indianapolis, where I’ll drive to Illinois for practice this afternoon afternoon.
Not a bad day at all Sunday with two more Top 15 practices (with no disrespect to Dick Vitale, this Kansas team should be ranked higher than No. 25 entering the season): Kansas State and Kansas.
I’ll give my thoughts on Frank Martin’s Wildcats now and then write up a recap of KU soon.
The first thing you notice – and it’s nearly impossible to miss – when you see K-State is the size and length.
The next thing is the intensity displayed by Martin throughout the entire practice. The guy is vocal and never takes a break.
Blog: Kansas can be elite ... if Selby is eligible
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The first three stops on my week-long tour were Memphis, Missouri and Kansas State. All have questions, but the answers will be determined on the court.
Kansas coach Bill Self hopes that’s the case in Lawrence as well.
The bottom line for the Jayhawks is that their success will be largely determined by whether talented freshman point guard Josh Selby is cleared by the NCAA.
With Selby, the Jayhawks will have two guys that can run the team – which is when Self’s teams have done their best work.
Monday, October 18
INDIANAPOLIS – I’m sitting here in the same downtown hotel where I spent nearly a week this past April for the Final Four.
It feels like more than six months have passed – maybe it’s all the offseason turmoil.
Anyway, I went to Champaign on Monday afternoon and checked out Bruce Weber’s Illini – who underachieved last season and were left out of the NCAA tournament.
Weber said he doesn’t plan on making the same mistake this season of focusing on offense. He plans to get back to his foundation – which is stressing defense.
"I think I listened to too many people on how ugly our offense was,” Weber said. "Two years ago, we couldn’t score and mentally last year I did a bad job early and worried about offense.”
Tuesday, October 19
Blog: Purdue still strong without Hummel
INDIANAPOLIS - Matt Painter doesn’t want pity.
"We’re pretty fortunate,” Purdue’s coach said. "We had three All-Americans and now we still have two.”
And while the mood of his team is far more upbeat and focused than it was when Robbie Hummel tore his ACL last February in the middle of Big Ten play, they still realize achieving their goal won’t be nearly as easy without their versatile senior forward.
However, the goal hasn’t changed.
"We still believe we can go to the Final Four,” said senior guard E’Twaun Moore, one of the remaining All-Americans.
"It’s going to be harder,” added the other, senior big man JaJuan Johnson. "But it can be done.”
Blog: Hummel: 'I feel guilty'
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – E’Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel stood next to one another in the back hallway at Mackey Arena following Tuesday afternoon’s practice as the topic turned to the new practice facility being built next door - slated to be ready sometime next summer.
"It’s just too bad we won’t be able to play in it,” Moore said.
Then he caught himself.
"I will,” laughed Hummel.
Hummel will be back next season in a Purdue uniform. There was never any alternative.
"What else am I going to do?” Hummel said with a smile. "Work?”
This was typical Hummel – just days after Saturday morning’s practice in which he tore the same ACL that ended his season late last February.
Finding a way to remain upbeat despite yet another injury, the latest ending his senior campaign on just the second practice of the year.
"He’s mature beyond his years,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said.
Blog: Very comfortable at Butler
INDIANAPOLIS – Just a half-dozen blocks away from the campus, Brad Stevens sat and devoured his omelette at Café Patachon in peace. He got up a couple times to refill his coffee and no one said a word to him.
This is why Stevens remained at Butler instead of taking a heftier paycheck and bolting to a BCS conference.
He’s comfortable here.
But Stevens wasn’t the only one who didn’t go anywhere. The Butler Bulldogs are going to stick around a while longer as well.
Trust me.
Wednesday, Oct. 20
Blog: Suiting up for the Buckeyes
When I walked into the arena on the Ohio State campus, Buckeyes coach Thad Matta wasted no time:
"I’m giving you an all-access pass during practice,” he said.
I was pumped. A chance to sneak into the huddles and watch how the players took to instructions from the coaching staff – and also an up-close look at a team that could reach the Final Four.
But there was a string attached to Matta’s proposal.
"You have to change in full Ohio State gear from head to toe,” he laughed.
Done deal.
So, I went in the back, was given a pair of Ohio State shorts, shirt and even a pair of red size 15’s that I proceeded to wear for the next couple of hours while I watched Ohio State get after it.
Thursday, October 21
Blog: Spartans trying to get healthy
The final stop on my week-long tour was East Lansing, where Tom Izzo’s practice was somewhat un-Izzo-like.
The intensity wasn’t at the level it’s been in the past when I’ve been in attendance.
But Izzo is being cautious for now with a group that resembled the M.A.S.H unit over the summer with just about everyone hurt at one time or another.
Thus the reason for going with the format of three consecutive practices followed by a day off.
The good news, however, is that everyone was on the floor – except for freshman Russell Byrd (knee surgery) – for practice.
Kalin Lucas may not have had the explosiveness yet in his return from a ruptured Achilles, but he still showcased the speed at times that makes him one of the most feared point guards in the country.
