November 8, 2009

Rivals.com

MORE: Top backcourts

While it's nice to have good guards, there's something to be said for having a big man - or two - who can score consistently in the low post, block shots, hit the boards and start the break with a nice outlet pass.

Think about those traits for a minute, and you won't have that tough a time figuring out our top 10 frontcourts this season.

Some of those on the list could've gone pro but instead decided to stay in school. And even better for their coaches is that some of those big guys were joined by highly touted freshmen.

Two or three teams on our list are blessed with a plethora of big men. Expect those teams to play physical defense; hey, what's the use of having five fouls if you don't make use of them?

Here are our top 10 frontcourts, along with five more to keep an eye on and the three best frontcourt groups from the low-major leagues.

(projected starters denoted by asterisks)

TOP FRONTCOURTS

1. Kentucky
KEY PLAYERS: DeMarcus Cousins*, Josh Harrellson, Darius Miller*, Daniel Orton, Patrick Patterson*, Perry Stevenson
THE BUZZ: Patterson's return for his junior season was huge for UK. So was Cousins' decision to become a Wildcat. They could form the best center-power forward combo in the nation. Patterson is tough in the low post on both ends of the court, and he can pop the occasional 15-footer. Cousins has great size, but one knock is that he is too enamored with his perimeter game; he's highly skilled for a big man but you can expect John Calipari will have him focused on playing inside. Miller has all sorts of talent, but needs to become more consistent. Stevenson was a starter last season, and he should provide a boost off the bench. Orton is another freshman who has a ton of talent, but he won't see a lot of minutes.

2. Texas
KEY PLAYERS: Clint Chapman, Jordan Hamilton*, Matt Hill, Damion James*, Gary Johnson, Dexter Pittman*, Alexis Wangmene
THE BUZZ: Pittman has lost weight and should be a big-time low-post presence on both ends of the court. James surprised some by staying in school for his senior season, and he should benefit from a stronger backcourt this season. He has the potential to average a double-double. Hamilton, a touted freshman, should provide plenty of perimeter punch. Johnson will be a solid rebounder off the bench.

3. West Virginia
KEY PLAYERS: De'Sean Butler*, Devin Ebanks*, John Flowers, Danny Jennings, Kevin Jones, Wellington Smith*, Cam Thoroughman
THE BUZZ: Ebanks, a sophomore, is poised for a breakout season; he can score, rebound, pass and defend. Butler is a veteran of the bumping-and-grinding that goes on in the paint in the Big East. He's an effective scorer and a tough rebounder. Smith is a complementary player who does all the little things. Depth is excellent, with Jones, a sophomore, the guy to keep an eye on. If he fulfills his potential, he will replace Smith in the starting lineup.

4. Kansas
KEY PLAYERS: Cole Aldrich*, Marcus Morris*, Markieff Morris, Thomas Robinson, Jeff Withey
THE BUZZ: Aldrich might be the best big man in the nation, and the Morris twins are able complements. But depth is a bit iffy. Robinson is a freshman, and Withey is a transfer from Arizona. KU is loaded in the backcourt, and other than Aldrich, these guys might not get a lot of shots.

5. North Carolina
KEY PLAYERS: Ed Davis*, John Henson*, Deon Thompson*, David Wear, Travis Wear, Tyler Zeller
THE BUZZ: Thompson is an overlooked big man. He's not flashy, but he's a dependable scorer, defender and rebounder. Watch for Davis, a sophomore, to become a bona-fide star this season. He has all the tools and can run all day. He should average a double-double. Henson is a big-time freshman who needs to add weight and bulk (he's 6 feet 9 but only around 200 pounds), but he knows how to put the ball in the basket. Zeller is a 7-footer off the bench. The Wear twins add even more size.

6. Georgia Tech
KEY PLAYERS: Derrick Favors*, Gani Lawal*, Brian Oliver, Zach Peacock*, Brad Sheehan
THE BUZZ: Lawal's return - he could've gone pro - was a big boost. He has a shot at first-team All-ACC honors. Also big is Favors' arrival; he is one of the best freshmen big men in the nation, and he and Lawal could become a devastating low-post duo. Peacock is a hard worker known for his defense and boardwork. Sheehan is a 7-footer, and it's hoped Oliver - another freshman - can provide mid-range and perimeter offense off the bench.

7. Syracuse
KEY PLAYERS: Rick Jackson*, Wes Johnson*, Mookie Jones, Kris Joseph, Arinze Onuaku*
THE BUZZ: All eyes will be on Johnson, a transfer who began his career at Iowa State. He is athletic and has all sorts of talent; he should be the Orange's leading scorer and also could lead them in rebounds. Jackson and Onuaku are good low-post guys. Depth is a huge question, though.

8. Butler
KEY PLAYERS: Garrett Butcher, Gordon Hayward*, Matt Howard*, Avery Jukes, Andrew Smith, Willie Veasley*
THE BUZZ: Howard doesn't get enough attention. He can shoot, rebound, defend and pass, and he has an effective mid-range game. Hayward, a sophomore, is a stat-sheet stuffer with a nice 3-point stroke. Once he gets a little stronger, he truly will be dangerous. Veasley, a swingman, is a glue guy who plays good defense. Butcher and Jukes add size off the bench, but neither is that offense-minded. This is not the most athletic group, but the bottom line is that these guys are good basketball players.

9. Tennessee
KEY PLAYERS: Wayne Chism*, Kenny Hall, J.P. Prince*, Tyler Smith* Brian Williams, Renaldo Woolridge
THE BUZZ: Smith is one of the nation's best all-around players. He frequently is asked to do too much, and it would help if the Vols' backcourt plays a bigger offensive role this season. Prince, a swingman, is another solid all-around player. Chism is a good rebounder and can score, though he often becomes too in love with his 3-point shot. Williams can bang in the low post. Hall is a touted freshman.

10. Dayton
KEY PLAYERS: Josh Benson, Luke Fabrizius, Kurt Huelsman*, Chris Johnson*, Devin Searcy, Chris Wright*
THE BUZZ: Wright is a phenomenal athlete who sublimates his game for the betterment of his team. He could be a 20-point scorer, but he is content to share the load on a deep Flyers team. He can jump out of the gym but needs to become more productive on the boards this season. Huelsman is a big body who throws his weight around in the paint. Johnson is a swingman who will be asked to score more this season. Fabrizius is 6 feet 9, but he has a nice 3-point stroke. Benson, a redshirt freshman, can make an impact with his defense.

5 OTHER FRONTCOURTS TO WATCH:
Illinois (Bill Cole, Mike Davis*, Dominique Keller, Richard Semrau, Stan Simpson, Mike Tisdale*); Minnesota (Paul Carter, Colton Iverson*, Damian Johnson*, Ralph Sampson III*, Royce White, Rodney Williams); Northern Iowa (Jordan Eglseder*, Adam Koch*, Lucas O'Rear); Siena (O.D. Anosike, Alex Franklin*, Ryan Rossiter*, Edwin Ubiles*, Owen Wignot); UTEP (Claude Britten, Derrick Caracter*, Gabriel McCulley, Arnett Moultrie*, Wayne Portalatin, Jeremy Williams*).

3 BEST LOW-MAJOR FRONTCOURTS:
Morehead State/Ohio Valley Conference (Jason Beharie, Kenneth Faried*, Jamel Marshall, Steve Peterson, Maze Stallworth*, Lee Simmons*); Oakland/Summit Conference (Keith Benson*, Will Hudson*, Ilja Milutinovic, Derick Nelson*, Drew Valentine); Radford/Big South Conference (Joey Lynch-Flohr*, Phillip Martin, Artsiom Parakhouski*, Tommy Spagnolo, Lazar Trifunovic*).