It’s time for the preview to the previews.
Sept. 17 — hey, that’s Sunday — marks 50 days to the start of the 2023-24 college basketball season on Nov. 6.
If you’re a longtime reader, you know there’s hardly any true offseason for me when it comes to college hoops. I can write about this crazy sport anytime — and obviously still talk about it weekly. (Please subscribe to the Eye on College Basketball podcast, if you haven’t already. Every show also publishes live on YouTube.)
With 50 days until tipoff, let’s get you prepped for the preseason. Here are 50 things I’m excited for, intrigued by, curious on, wondering about, pondering over and predicting to be for the 2023-24 season.
1. What surprises — good, bad, otherwise — await? Before we get into any 2023-24 observations and predictions, a crucial reminder that huge things that will define this season aren’t remotely known, or even sensed, at this point. And they won’t be for months. To wit, here’s an introductory list of doings from ’22-23 — I’m not even getting into the nuttiness from the NCAA Tournament — that took us all by surprise:
Zach Edey, who I will remind ya was not a preseason All-American, put up one of the most statistically dominant player of the year campaigns of the past 20 years.Chris Beard was removed at Texas barely more than a month into the season after a domestic violence incident at his home.A disastrous, preventable tragedy — centered around the killing of a young mother — enveloped the back half of Alabama’s season.Michigan State’s season was briefly halted after a mass shooting on its campus.New Mexico State’s season was canceled after multiple abominable off-court incidents.UNC became the first team in modern history to fail to make the NCAAs after being voted preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25.Marquette — which did not crack the AP Top 25 poll until the week before Christmas…
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Author : Matt Norlander
Publish date : 2023-09-17 22:37:00
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