Kentucky Is Going Pro

Not a huge shock, but Kentucky's Top 7 scorers from last year's Final 4 squad have declared for the NBA Draft.  (Don't feel bad, they'll be fine next year with Ulis, Poythress, Lee, and 4+ McDonald's All-Americans on the way.)

As of April 9th, here are my very specific guesses (without knowing the teams) of where these guys will get picked.

Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, freshmen (#1)

Willie Cauley-Stein, PF/C, junior (#10)

Trey Lyles, SF, freshmen (#14)

Devin Booker, SG, freshmen (#20)

Aaron Harrison, SG, sophomore (#25)

Andrew Harrison, PG, sophomore (#30)

Dakari Johnson, PF/C, sophomore (#50)

All-Time Lineups: Final Four Edition

What kind of NBA talent have these teams produced?

KENTUCKY:
C - DeMarcus Cousins
PF - Anthony Davis
SF - Jamal Mashburn
SG - Eric Bledsoe
PG - John Wall

(Dan Issel, Antoine Walker, Tayshaun Prince, Rajon Rondo)

WISCONSIN:
C - Greg Stiemsma
PF - Jon Leuer
SF - Marcus Landry
SG - Michael Finley
PG - Devin Harris

DUKE:
C - Elton Brand
PF - Carlos Boozer
SF - Grant Hill
SG - J.J. Redick
PG - Kyrie Irving

(Luol Deng, Corey Maggette, Christian Laettner, Jabari Parker)

MICHIGAN STATE:
C - Kevin Willis
PF - Zach Randolph
SF - Jason Richardson
SG - Steve Smith
PG - Magic Johnson

(Draymond Green, Scott Skiles, Morris Peterson, Alan Anderson)

Kentucky's "If They Stayed" Roster

Center:

Anthony Davis, Senior

Karl-Anthony Towns, Freshmen

Dakari Johnson, Sophomore 

Power Forward:

Nerlens Noel, Junior

Julius Randle, Sophomore

Willie Cauley-Stein, Junior

Small Forward:

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Senior

James Young, Sophomore

Trey Lyles, Freshmen

Shooting Guard:

Aaron Harrison, Sophomore

Archie Goodwin, Junior

Devin Booker, Freshmen

Point Guard:

Marques Teague, Senior

Andrew Harrison, Sophomore

Tyler Ulis, Freshmen

Feel free to mix and match for the perfect, unbeatable lineup.  

Keefe's 90's All- NCAA Tournament Team

1st Team

C - Marcus Camby, UMass

PF - Larry Johnson, UNLV

SF - Paul Pierce, Kansas

SG - Kerry Kittles, Villanova

PG - Jalen Rose, Michigan 

2nd Team

C - Juwon Howard, Michigan

PF - Chris Webber, Michigan

SF - Stacy Augmon, UNLV

SG - Vince Carter, North Carolina 

PG - Mike Bibby, Arizona

3rd Team

C - Rasheed Wallace, North Carolina

PF - Corless Williamson, Arkansas

SF - Antonie Walker, Kentucky

SG - Jimmy King, Michigan

PG - Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech

Iowa State Screws Me Again

Classic. 

2001 I picked Iowa State to win the whole thing.  They lost to #15 Hampton. Thanks a lot Jamaal Tinsley. 

2014 I picked them to win it all again. They lost in the Sweet 16. 

2015 I picked them to make the title game.  They lost to #14 UAB, before we could even settle in. 

It's my fault really. 

I know you don't care.  But I do. 

The Rich Keefe Project's Top 50 Big Board

1. Jabari Parker, Duke, SF, freshmen
2. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, SF, freshmen
3. Joel Embiid, Kansas, C, freshmen
4. Julius Randle, Kentucky, PF, freshmen
5. Dante Exum, Australia, PG, international/ 18 years old
6. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, PG, sophomore
7. Aaron Gordon, Arizona, PF, freshmen
8. Noah Vonleh, Indiana, PF, freshmen
9. Gary Harris, Michigan State, SG, sophomore
10. T.J. Warren, North Carolina State, SF, sophomore
11. Kyle Anderson, UCLA, SF, sophomore
12. James Young, Kentucky, SF, freshmen
13. Dario Saric, Croatia, F, international/ 20 years old
14. Rodney Hood, Duke, SF, sophomore
15. Doug McDermott, Creighton, F, senior
16. Andrew Harrison, Kentucky, PG, freshmen
17. Adriean Payne, Michigan State, PF, senior
18. Tyler Ennis, Syracuse, PG, freshmen
19. P.J. Hairston, UNC/D-League, SG, junior
20. Jerami Grant, Syracuse, PF, sophomore
21. Aaron Harrison, Kentucky, SG, freshmen
22. K.J. McDaniels, Clemson, SF, junior
23. Shabazz Napier, UConn, PG, senior
24. Nik Stauskas, Michigan, SG, sophomore
25. Elfrid Payton, U. Louisiana-Lafayette, PG, junior
26. Zach LaVine, UCLA, SG, freshmen
27. Glenn Robison III, Michigan, SF, sophomore
28. Semaj Christon, Xavier, PG, sophomore
29. Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, SF, senior
30. Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee, PF, junior
31. Alex Poythress, Kentucky, F, sophomore
32. Cory Jefferson, Baylor, PF, senior
33. Cleanthony Early, Wichita State, F, senior
34. DeAndre Kane, Iowa State, PG, senior
35. Mitch McGary, Michigan, C, sophomore
36. Isaiah Austin, Baylor, C, sophomore
37. Russ Smith, Louisville, PG, senior
38. Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati, SG, senior
39. Patric Young, Florida, PF, senior
40. Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado, SG, junior
41. Jahii Carson, Arizona State, PG, sophomore
42. Deonte Burton, Nevada, PG, senior
43. C.J. Fair, Syracuse, F, senior
44. C.J. Wilcox, Washington, SG, senior
45. Nick Johnson, Arizona, SG, junior 
46. Jordan Clarkson, Missouri, G, junior
47. Roy Devyn Marble, Iowa, SG, senior
48. Keith Appling, Michigan State, PG, senior
49. Bryce Cotton, Providence, G, senior
50. Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico, PF, senior

Note: I only ranked 2 international players (Exum/ Saric).  These are the only 2 I feel comfortable ranking, based off of YouTube clips and reading scouting reports and what not.  Others are probably deserving, but it'd be complete guess work and hearsay.  

Teaser

I've been awful at teasers this year, just awful.  But I got a good feeling about this one... (no I don't.)

Classic 2-team, 4-point teaser for the two late games tonight

UCLA +9.5 vs. Florida
Arizona -3.5 vs. San Diego State


Wish me luck, please.

16 Best Pro Prospects in the Sweet 16

1. Julius Randle, Kentucky, PF, freshmen
2. Aaron Gordon, Arizona, PF, freshmen
3. Gary Harris, Michigan State, SG, sophomore
4. Kyle Anderson, UCLA, SF, sophomore
5. James Young, Kentucky, SF, freshmen
6. Nik Stauskas, Michigan, SG, sophomore
7. Montrezl Harrell, Louisville, PF, sophomore
8. Adriean Payne, Michigan State, PF, senior
9. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, C, sophomore
10. Zach LaVine, UCLA, PG, freshmen
11. Shabazz Napier, UConn, PG, senior
12. Andrew Harrison, Kentucky, PG, freshmen
13. Glenn Robinson III, Michigan, SF, sophomore
14. Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee, PF, junior
15. Aaron Harrison, Kentucky, SG, freshmen
16. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona, SF, freshmen

Two guys who won't get drafted in the 1st Round but who I love:

DeAndre Kane, Iowa State, PG, super senior

Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, SF, senior

Other Players to Watch:

Chris Walker, Florida, PF, freshmen

Jordan Adams, UCLA, SG, sophomore

Nick Johnson, Arizona, SG, junior

Russ Smith, Louisville, PG, senior

Patric Young, Florida, PF, senior

Alex Poythress, Kentucky, SF, sophomore

Cory Jefferson, Baylor, PF, senior

Sweet 16 Teams by Conference

3 = Big 10, SEC, PAC-12

2 = American, Big 12

1 = ACC, Mountain West, Atlantic 10

Updated "VIP" Leaderboard

I see you B. Robb. 

"VIP" Leaderboard

Here's what it looks like after 3 days.  Figured I'd take a picture before I sink like a stone.  

1st Round Results

26-6

Winners I did NOT have: HARVARD, NORTH CAROLINA, MERCER, GONZAGA, STANFORD, ST. LOUIS

My Tournament Picks

Sweet 16

Florida

UCLA

Dayton

Kansas

Virginia 

Michigan State

Iowa State

UConn

Arizona

San Diego State

Creighton 

Wisconsin 

Kentucky

Louisville 

Duke

Michigan 

Elite 8

Florida

Kansas

Michigan State

Iowa State

Arizona

Creighton

Louisville 

Duke

Final 4

Florida

Iowa State

Arizona

Lousiville 

Finals

Lousiville over Florida

The 68 Best Pro Prospects in the NCAA Tournament

Sorted by region and where teams sit in the bracket top to bottom.

South Region:

Patric Young, Florida

Chris Walker, Florida

Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado (hurt)

Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh

Juvonte Reddic, VCU

Kyle Anderson, UCLA

Zach LaVine, UCLA

Jordan Adams, UCLA

Aaron Craft, Ohio State

LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State

Tyler Ennis, Syracuse

Jerami Grant, Syracuse

C.J. Fair, Syracuse

Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico

Kendall Williams, New Mexico

Andrew Wiggins, Kansas

Joel Embiid, Kansas

Wayne Selden, Kansas

East Region:

Joe Harris, Virginia

Shaq Goodwin, Memphis

Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati

Gary Harris, Michigan State

Adriean Payne, Michigan State

Keith Appling, Michigan State

Marcus Paige, North Carolina

James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina

Brice Johnson, North Carolina

Melvin Ejim, Iowa State

DeAndre Kane, Iowa State

Shabazz Napier, UConn

West Region:

Aaron Gordon, Arizona

Nick Johnson, Arizona

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona

Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona

Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State

Markel Brown, Oklahoma State

LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State

Xavier Thames, San Diego State

Sim Bhullar, New Mexico State

Cory Jefferson, Baylor

Isaiah Austin, Baylor

Terran Petteway, Nebraska

Doug McDermott, Creighton

Elfrid Payton, Louisiana Lafayette

Joseph Young, Oregon

Sam Dekker, Wisconsin

Midwest Region:

Cleanthony Early, Wichita State

Fred VanVleet, Wichita State

Ron Baker, Wichita State

Julius Randle, Kentucky

James Young, Kentucky

Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky

Andrew Harrison, Kentucky

Aaron Harrison, Kentucky

Alex Poythress, Kentucky

T.J. Warren, North Carolina State

Semaj Christon, Xavier

Montrezl Harrell, Louisville

Russ Smith, Louisville

Devyn Marble, Iowa

Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee

Jordan McRae, Tennessee

Jabari Parker, Duke

Rodney Hood, Duke

Andre Hawkins, Duke

Jahii Carson, Arizona State

Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State

Nik Stauskas, Michigan

Glenn Robinson III, Michigan

The Bracket

Schools in the NCAA Tournament as of now

1. Harvard, Ivy League
2. Mercer, Atlantic Sun
3. Coastal Carolina, Big South
4. Wichita State, Missouri Valley
5. Eastern Kentucky, Ohio Valley
6. Delaware, CAA
7. Manhattan, MAAC
8. Wofford, Southern
9. Mount Saint Mary’s,  Northeast
10.   Milwaukee, Horizon
11.   North Dakota State, Summit
12.   Gonzaga, West Coast
13.   American,  Patriot

Only 55 more to go.  

Bowl Mania!

Only 35 Bowl games.  Get familiar!

(I need a life.... And ACC, Big 12, Mountain West mini-helmets!)

Best Pro Prospects By Class

The Rich Keefe Project's Top 5 NBA Prospects by class, and I'll even throw in a bonus "International" group.  Here we go.

FRESHMEN:
1. Jabari Parker, Duke
2. Julius Randle, Kentucky
3. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
4. James Young, Kentucky
5. Wayne Selden, Kansas

SOPHOMORE:
1. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
2. Gary Harris, Michigan State
3. Rodney Hood, Duke
4. Glenn Robinson III, Michigan
5. Perry Ellis, Kansas

JUNIOR:
1. James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina
2. Jordan Clarkson, Missouri
3. Roscoe Smith, UNLV
4. Bryce Dejean-Jones, UNLV
5. LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State

SENIOR:
1. Doug McDermott, Creighton
2. Adreian Payne, Michigan State
3. C.J. Fair, Syracuse
4. Keith Appling, Michigan State
5. Cory Jefferson, Baylor

INTERNATIONAL:
1. Dante Exum, Australia
2. Dario Saric, Croatia
3. Ondrej Balvin, Czech Republic
4. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia
5. Alessandro Gentile, Italy

Marshall Henderson Suspended, Come On Ole Miss

My favorite college basketball player, the one and only Marshall Henderson, has reportedly failed one multiple drug tests. Maybe he can transfer to a 5th college and be back on the floor this winter.

Henderson led the SEC in scoring last year (20.1 ppg) after starting his career at Utah, then to Texas Tech (where he did not play), dominated Junior College, before becoming a Rebel. But I smell a 5th school. Good luck Marshall!

Keefe's NBA Draft Big Board: Top 50

1. Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
2. Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
3. Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
4. C.J. McCollum, G, Lehigh
5. Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
6. Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV
7. Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
8. Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana
9. Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA
10. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
11. Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
12. Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
13. Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga
14. Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany
15. Alex Len, C, Maryland
16. Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan
17. Dario Saric, SF, Croatia
18. Glen Rice, Jr., SG, NBDL (Georgia Tech)
19. Stevan Adams, C, Pittsburgh
20. Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
21. DeShaun Thomas, F, Ohio State
22. Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke
23. Rudy Gobert, C, France
24. Shane Larkin, PG, Miami
25. Giannis Adetokoubo, F, Greece
26. Richard Howell, PF, NC State
27. C.J. Leslie, F, NC State
28. Tony Snell, G/F, New Mexico
29. Isaiah Caanan, PG, Murray State
30. Reggie Bullock, SG, North Carolina
31. Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor
32. Allen Crabbe, SG, California
33. Lorenzo Brown, PG, NC State
34. Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
35. Erick Green, G, Virginia Tech
36. Jamaal Franklin, G/F, San Diego State
37. Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona
38. Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
39. Brandon Paul, SG, Illinois
40. Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
41. Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
42. Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
43. Grant Jerrett, PF, Arizona
44. Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
45. James Southerland, F, Syracuse
46. Robert Covington, F, Tennessee State
47. Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
48. Colton Iverson, C, Colorado State
49. Erik Murphy, PF, Florida
50. Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky

My can't miss formula: watching lots of college basketball, reading lots of scouting reports and grades, watching way to much of the combine.  Based on all of that this is my list of 50 best players in the 2013 NBA Draft.  Once we get the draft order I will crank out a Mock.  No Insider Account necessary!