I like to build up the anxiety and write you my top one is very last.  Some of these you can take issue with and frankly I wish someone would. 

#5…Steve Alford- New Mexico-Alford undperformed at Iowa and was basically run out of town.  As an Illinois fan i was praying that he would be offered the Indiana job when it was available and take it.  Sadly that didn’t happen and soon Alford was found accepting a job in Albuquerque.  I have him on the list because he’s already made a big recruiting splash there which is something he struggled with in Big Ten country.  Alford will win in the Mountain West if he can continue to get some 4 star recruits.  Nobody has won in New Mexico consistently for some time now so time will tell on this one.

#4…Tubby Smith- (Minnesota via Kentucky)-  Tubby left Kentucky the same way Alford left Iowa, basically being forced out.  He faced so much pressure there that is probably very happy to be at Minnesota.  He will be able to get some good kids in there and make Minnesota a competetive program, which is something Dan Monson never could do.  Tubby has won at every stop including a National Title at Kentucky so this was a great hire for Minnesota.

#3…John Beilein (Michigan via West Virginia)-  Michigan hired a proven winner who has shown the ability in the past to be able to win in a hard conference with an exciting style of play.  Beilein lets his players play and is very creative offensively.  Michigan is a recruting hotbed of talent but Beilein has never been known for his recruiting prowess.  Again, I have never been a big fan of Tommy Amaker so I was sad to see him go.  With him coaching Michigan wasn’t much of a threat.  Adding Beilein and Tubby definitely bring a greater presence and credibility to the Big Ten.

#2…Bob Huggins (West Virginia via Kansas St.)-  Huggins left Cincinnati under a lot of pressure and took the next year off to really look at his options.  He also took that year and was able to establish some very strong relationships with high school kids all over the country.  He laid a great groundwork at Kansas St. by getting Bill Walker in there as well as Michael Beasley.  Then he left when the West Virginia job became available.  Huggins can recruit and has a reputation of signing some questionable characters.  Huggins teams always win and play a fast paced hard nosed style of basketball that will be welcome in West Virginia.  Beilein and Huggins coach different styles so i can see an adjustment period setting in there but Bob Huggins can coach.

#1…Billy Gillespie (Kentucky via Texas AM)-  Gillespie is a disciple of Bill Self at Kansas and coached with him at several stops before landing on his feet very solidly it seems at Kentucky.  Is he ready for this?  Billy has changed jobs 10 times in the past 19 years and has been all over the map.  Kentucky is considered the highest pressure basketball job in the country and he’ll be under a microscope.  Rick Pitino left despite great success and Tubby Smith walked away with a National Championship in hand.  Both those coaches had more head coach seasoning than Gillespie.  He has proven that he can win as a head coach with quick stops at UTEP and Texas AM.  At A&M he turned around a program that was winless in conference the previous year to a 20 win season so it can be done with this guy.  The man is  a basketball junkie who nobody will outwork.  I will be following this one very closely.

There you have it.  I’d like to mention new Illini assistant coach Jerrance Howard just came from Kentucky where he was an assistant for Gillespie.  Hopefully he doesn’t change jobs 10 times in 19 years. 

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Someone explain to me why David Stern isn’t doing anything about the mess in New York that’s going on.  With all the other leagues taking tougher stances we haven’t heard one thing from the Commissioner on the Isiah Thomas/James Dolan Madison Square Garden issue.  Honestly, football commish Goodell has had his hands full and is sending a clear message to the league as to what he will or won’t tolerate and has drawn his line in the sand.  Meanwhile, David Stern is like the rest of us, watching Sportscenter drinking a diet coke.  This kills me.  How does Isiah Thomas still have a job? If this guy was running your company you’d can him completely by now.  The Knicks had to pay 45 million in a luxury tax situation and now another 11 mill for this.  The word on the street is that the owner believes Isiah did nothing wrong here.  It doesn’t matter.  In the past we’ve seen players commit crimes and still have jobs because they were good players.  In this case, Isiah Thomas isn’t even good at what he does.  He’s spent money like crazy for a losing product and to top it off they have over 18 players under contract for next season when you can’t go over 15 when the year starts.  He’s drafted poorly and the team underperforms.  Now this.  The NBA needs the Knicks to be good and if James Dolan, Knicks owner, isn’t going to do anything then Stern needs to step up and act.  It’s time.

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1.  Spurs-  Always start with the defending champs.  They played so well last year during the playoffs that you have to believe that they will be tough to beat again this year.  They have had some distractions with Tony Parker becoming Mr. Longoria and everything.  They are a year older and you never know when the feeling of content sets in for this bunch.  They have one of the best coaches in the league and that goes a long way.

2.  Dallas Mavericks-  The Mavs have been upset the past two seasons with none worse than last years debacle against Golden St.  That will either prove to be a solid starting point for them or set them back.  They’ve resigned Devin Harris and Dirk is an MVP candidate again.  Josh Howard will come into his own even more this year and I expect them to be #1 or #2 seed in the Western Conference again.

#3.  Boston Celtics-  I had to put them here.  On paper these guys look great.  I keep hearing and reading that no team with 3 20 ppg scorers ever one the title.  That’s why I didn’t pick them first.  I just don’t see a lot of strength in the Eastern Conference at this point.  I would’ve selected Cleveland but they have some issues of their own and I can’t see them beating Boston in a head to head series with this many weapons.

#4.  Phoenix Suns-  I actually like these guys as a top 3 but I felt some self imposed pressure to put an Eastern Conference team in the top 3.  Phoenix has some question marks like Shawn Marion wanting out, but any team with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire are going to be very tough to beat.  Plus, whomever they acquire for Marion is going to be able to help this team.  Marion would be a fool to leave in my opinion.  I like the fact that Amare is another year removed from his microfracture surgery and I expect big things from him.

#5.  Detroit Pistons-  I like them better than Cleveland.  Word is that Rasheed has lost some weight and is really preparing for a big season.  That’s a big sign for things to come.  Billups is an all star point and Hamilton is a great scorer for them.  Mix in Prince and an improving Maxiell and I really like these guys.  You don’t want to play them in the playoffs that’s for sure.  This is my sleeper this year.

Every so often I’ll go back and revisit these.  Other teams to watch for:  Utah, Rockets, Cleveland and Denver. 

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