John Calipari will see a huge roster turnover at Kentucky.
NCAA College basketball future odds are one of the hardest things to predict due to the uncertainty of the players. Many stars use the college game as a one-year apprenticeship for the National Basketball Association, a move that is helping mid-major programs that traditionally have four-year players.
Nowhere is that more evident than at Kentucky, where head coach John Calipari must deal with a completely retooled lineup. Freshmen John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton will all take their game to the next level along with junior Patrick Patterson.
This core of players helped Big Blue to a 35-3 record and a top seed in the NCAA college basketball tournament. Now the Wildcats must reload with another talented recruiting class in an effort to secure their first NCAAB Tournament title since 1998.
Kentucky is currently listed as a 20/1 selection, but expect plenty of movement before the season tips off.
Defending champion Duke got some good news shortly after cutting down the nets when guard Kyle Singler announced his was returning to Durham for his senior season. The Blue Devils have been installed as an 8/1 co-favorite for the 2010-11 campaign along with Michigan State.
Duke players Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek have all graduated, but Nolan Smith is returning. The Blue Devils also have celebrated freshman guard Kyrie Irving in the mix, along with transfer Seth Curry.
It was a good news, bad news situation for Michigan State last season when Kalin Lucas went down with a ruptured Achilles. If the talented guard didn’t suffer an injury, he would most likely be drawing a NBA paycheck right now. Instead, Lucas will return to East Lansing along with Durrell Summers and a talented recruiting class.
The Spartans figure on being in contention for a third consecutive Final Four berth.
Fellow Big Ten Conference program Purdue is a 20/1 selection to win the national title behind an imposing front line. The Boilermakers were a force this past season before forward Robbie Hummel went down with an ACL injury. His return, along with fellow frontcourt mates JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore should make Purdue a serious contender during March Madness.
Butler is an interesting mid-major school that just advanced all the way to the national championship game, coming within a desperation three-point shot of an improbable title.The Bulldogs are currently 20/1, but would have been one of the 2010-11 favorites if talented sophomore Gordon Hayward would have not opted for the NBA Basketball Draft.
Also gone from the mix are Willie Veasley and Avery Jukes, but Butler will remain the class of the Horizon League.
There are a couple of teams with longer odds that may warrant a second look, highlighted by Baylor and Ohio State. Both schools are currently entertaining 40/1 status, but could make a serious push under the right circumstances.
Baylor played eventual champ Duke very tough in the Elite Eight, and should be a force in the Big XII. The Bears will be led by LaceDarius Dunn, while incoming freshman Perry Jones figures on softening the blow by the departures of Ekpe Udoh and Tweety Carter.
The Big Ten will be a loaded basketball conference next season, but lurking right behind Michigan State and Purdue should be the Buckeyes. Ohio State will have to retool without national player of the year Evan Turner, but the team is bringing in the nation’s top recruiting class. Returning to the mix are proven players David Lighty, Jon Diebler and William Buford, making the Buckeyes a deep and dangerous team.