NCAA Power Rankings - Nov. 9, 2009

It’s hard to believe, but as the calendar turns to November, it’s time to tip off another college basketball season. And with it, here is the first College Basketball Power Rankings for the 2009-2010 season.

Unsung Player: Stanley Robinson

The University of Connecticut’s basketball season ended Saturday night with an 82-73 Final Four loss to Michigan State. While stars like A.J. Price and Hasheem Thabeet get much of the credit for this team’s success, it may have been small forward Stanley Robinson who played best this postseason.

College Basketball’s Toughest Job

There’s only one man that Mitch Barnhart needs to call, and when he makes that call, needs to refuse to take no as answer. That man: John Calipari. He is everything that Kentucky and their fans want. And he’s everything they need, if they’re serious about getting back to college basketball’s elite.

NCAA Tournament: Weekend Preview

Well, the NCAA Tournament field has been trimmed from 65 to 16, with that number set to be dwindled to four by the end of the weekend. Before we get there though, a lot of good basketball is still to be played. Here is what to look out for this weekend.

Five Players To Watch In The NCAA Tournament

Every year players emerge from no-where to become household names come NCAA Tournament time. Here are five, that you’ll need to know before filling out your brackets this March.

Important March Madness Trends To Watch

It takes a full season to get to this point. We dissect teams, watch hundreds of games and learn the smallest nuances about our favorite schools and players. While picking your NCAA Tournament bracket will always be an inexact science, there are trends that stand out year to year that can help you when making those tough picks.

A Game For The Ages

Each time anyone hit a basket to start the game, it felt like the roof was about to blow off. The same at the beginning and end of each overtime. And when the game finally did end, there was both cheering and relief from Syracuse nation, and likewise from UConn fans. There are many things that I will carry with me from attending this game, well beyond what the final scoreboard read.

Contender Report: Louisville

Rick Pitino’s bunch is athletic and talented, and may be the deepest team of any of college basketball’s true contenders. Louisville has been great of late, but were the early season losses just blips on the radar, or a sign of things to come?

Contender Report: Pittsburgh

As successful as they’ve been in league play, Pittsburgh is still searching for NCAA Tournament validation because no one on this team - player or coach - has ever advanced past the Sweet 16. This is Pitt’s best team in the Howland/Dixon era, but can they silence their March demons and make it to Detroit for the Final Four?

Contender Report: Oklahoma

Oklahoma is led by everyone’s All-American Blake Griffin, a double-double machine as well as a slew of good guards. The Sooners are one of college basketball’s most talented teams, but will they be able to overcome their relative lack of experience, and make a deep run toward a championship?

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