I continue the systematic four-day march to my projected Final Four field today, with Nos. 12 to 9 of my preseason Top 16 . . .
No. 12 BAYLOR
Why: The Bears are loaded with big and gifted frontcourt talent, the most notable of those players being Perry Jones III, and have a cluster of “impact” newcomers who will help on the perimeter, including JC All-American point guard Pierre Jackson and deep-shooting freshman Quincy Miller.
Why not: What if those touted newcomers can’t jump-start a program that underachieved (at 7-9) in the Big 12 last season?
No. 11 CALIFORNIA
Why: Mike Montgomery returns four starters, including a first-team all-conference selection last spring (guard Jorge Gutierrez, the consensus preseason choice as Pac-12 Player of the Year) and the conference’s Freshman of the Year (Allen Crabbe), from a squad that was 10-8 in conference during a “rebuilding” season.
Why not: What if the Bears don’t get much post production from anyone other than Harper Kamp (14.2 points and 5.6 rebounds a year ago?)
No. 10 FLORIDA
Why: In returnees Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton, and newcomers Bradley Beal and Mike Rosario, the Gators have enough high-quality guards to stock the starting backcourts for two Top 10 programs.
Why not: What if one of the most impressive physical specimens in college – 6-9, 245-pound sophomore Patric Young – isn’t able to coax, say, 15 points and 10 rebounds per game out of that marvelous physique and give Billy Donovan a viable post presence?
No. 9 MICHIGAN
Why: There are four starters back from a team that won 21 games (9-9 in the Big Ten) and smacked the Rocky Top out of Tennessee before losing by two points to Duke in the NCAA Tournament.
Why not: The offense might not run quite as efficiently if senior Stu Douglass or freshman Trey Burke can’t do a reasonable job of replacing Darius Morris as the squad’s primary ball-handler.
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