Wiggins Becomes Top Recruit in Class of 2013

Andrew Wiggins becomes top recruit in Class of 2013 after he reclassified from the Class of 2014. (Sam Forencich)

Yesterday, Andrew Wiggins was the top college basketball recruit in the Class of 2014. Today, he no longer is following a drastic decision to reclassify to join this year's Class of 2013. Wiggins doesn't suffer any decline though as he supplants Jabari Parker as the new No. 1 in his new class.

"It's time for him (to show) that he is the best in college right now. I think he is ready for the next step. Academically wise, he is doing great. Maturity wise, he is doing great. He has a lot of talent. He is ready for the next step, and everybody knows it is time. It is Andrew's time. Next year is coming soon and he is ready," stated Mitchell Wiggins, Andrew's father.

There's no doubt that the talent is there. Wiggins was undoubtedly the best player at the LeBron James Skills Academy last summer. He is deeply skilled, able to score in bunches, and has very promising potential. Check out highlights of what he did this past summer at the LJSA.

At 6-7, Wiggins has tremendous athleticism and size. He has the ability to score from anywhere on the court and has demonstrated a consistent perimeter game. His long term potential should not be overlooked either. Needless to say, the move to this year's recruitment class has college basketball powerhouses buzzing.

Kentucky seems to be a frontrunner for every top recruit. Their Class of 2013 already includes commits from the Harrison twins (#3 and #4), small forward James Young (#10), and center Marcus Lee (#39). A pair of power forwards, Julius Randle (#5) and Aaron Gordon (#6), are also reportedly very interested in playing for the Wildcats.

Florida State is the other favorite to land Wiggins. Andrew's father played there. With an up-and-coming ACC program, the Seminoles will at least intrigue Wiggins to a degree. UNC, Kansas, and Ohio State are reportedly going to start pursuing beginning next week.

Wiggins has the talent and potential to change the face of college basketball and the NBA not too far down the road. ESPN's Paul Biancardi went as far to say that he is the best perimeter prospect since LeBron James. One NBA executive stated he believes Wiggins will be the top pick in the 2014 NBA draft and will start his rookie season. Obviously, people believe in the potential and abilities the Canadian possesses. Now, the only decision that remains to be seen is where he will be playing his college ball at next fall.

The First Noel and The Westward Bound Muhammad

Nerlens Noel just secured another #1 recruiting class for John Calipari at Kentucky. Noel revealed his decision in style as he swiveled around in his chair on the ESPNU studio set. Noel is the #2 overall player in the Rivals.com class of 2012 rankings. He is a big, strong athletic center, who can shot-block very well and should anchor the post for the Wildcats. Noel is commonly compared to Anthony Davis. The comparison is limited though as Noel has always been a big man. His shot-blocking ability might actually be better than Davis' and he prefers to stay close to the rim. Noel immeadiately puts Kentucky back in the national championship discussion for next year. It will be interesting to see how he does living up to the hype that is quickly building up around him.

The #1 overall recruit (Rivals.com), Shabazz Muhammad, was the other big name making his decision tonight. Kentucky was on Muhammad's radar, but he was strongly committed to UCLA from the get go. Despite the tumultuous season the Bruins had this past season, nothing could change Muhammad's mind from choosing to go to Westwood and play under Ben Howland. Rather than be discouraged by it, Muhammad embraced the challenge of rebuilding the legendary UCLA program. He said, "Knowing how bad they were the last two years, it's a challenge to get them back up to the top." Muhammad joins fellow top-five recruit Kyle Anderson in what could be a promising Bruins nucleus with returners such as the Wear twins and Joshua Smith. UCLA appears to be headed in the right direction.

Noel and Muhammad chose very different paths. Noel is joining the reigning National Champions. He will be playing on a team full of lots of top talent. Muhammad chose to join a rebuilding program in need of a star. It will be interesting to watch how each embraces their new surroundings. Which will blossom into the next great star? For that, we will have to wait and see.

Kentucky Held On, While Kansas Came From Behind

Kentucky 69 Louisville 61

The first Final Four matchup was the Battle of the Bluegrass between Kentucky and Louisville. Kentucky built the lead early behind great defensive prowess, especially that of Anthony Davis. Louisville looked like it had a chance when they pulled even on Peyton Siva's three-pointer with just over nine minutes to go in the game, but the Cardinals failed to score over the next six minutes. The Wildcats took over during that stretch, and the Cardinals could never recover. In the game, Davis showed why he is the best player in the country. He had 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks. That in and of itself is impressive, but that doesn't even take into account the number of shots Davis altered or influenced. The Wildcats had the better talent on the floor, and it showed in the result.

Kansas 64 Ohio State 62

In the second Final Four game, Ohio State came out on fire. They built the lead to 26-13 and seemed to be in complete control. Kansas head coach Bill Self called a timeout and whatever he said turned things around for the Jayhawks. Over the next 12 minutes, Kansas went on a 25-12 run to tie the game up at 38. Ohio State regained the lead, but were never able to put away the Jayhawks. With 2:22 left in the game, Aaron Craft put the lead at 3 for the Buckeyes. From that point on, the Kansas defense took it up a notch. In the final seconds, Ohio State trailed by 3, so Kansas fouled Aaron Craft before he could get off a shot. He made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose. However, he was called for a lane violation trying to get the rebound. The Buckeye players were so busy yelling at the official that Kansas inbounded the ball and won the game. Everyone will talk about Kansas' Thomas Robinson's dominance on offense in the paint as the difference in the game, I would argue that it was the other Jayhawk big man, Jeff Withey, who was the biggest difference maker. Withey quietly had 8 rebounds and 7 blocks. He bothered Ohio State star Jared Sullinger all night and made every shot in the paint difficult for the Buckeyes. Kansas showed why once again why you can't count them out. Kentucky might be the big favorites on Monday, but don't count out the Jayhawks just yet.

My Five Bold NCAA Tournament Predictions

These are ten unexpected things I picked to happen in my bracket. You can call me crazy if you wish, but it is March Madness after all. Anything is possible, so don't say I didn't tell you so when some or maybe even of all of these happen.

5. This year's double digit seed making it to the Sweet Sixteen will be N.C. State.

The Wolfpack are playing their best basketball of the season right now. They made a great run in the ACC tournament, nearly upsetting UNC in the semifinals. I think the success will carry over to the Big Dance.

4. Belmont, a #14 seed, will win their first NCAA tournament game ever.

Everyone jumped on the Bears bandwagon early when they nearly upset Duke earlier this year. This has been a very talented program for the past several years. The only thing that has eluded them is a NCAA tournament win. I think that changes this years. Belmont will have to play very well, but they could certainly upset Georgetown.

3. Two #13 seeds, Montana and Davidson, will upset #4 seeds in the second round.

Don't get me wrong. Both Wisconsin and Louisville are very talented power conference teams. However, both are defensively oriented and struggle on offense at times. This leaves them both vulnerable to upsets. Davidson showed they are capable of pulling them when they beat Kansas in Kansas City earlier this year. Montana comes into the tournament winners of 14 straight, including an upset of Weber State to earn the automatic bid to the tourney.

(These two have to go together.)

2. #1 overall seed Kentucky will be the first #1 seed to lose in the tournament.

1. This year's Cinderella, Wichita State, will make it to the Final Four.

You probably think I am crazy right now, but Wichita State is very talented. They have experience on their side, having won the NIT last season. I truly believe Wichita State can upset an unsuspecting Kentucky team. If they did that, it wouldn't shock me if they went to the Final Four. In fact, that is exactly where I have them going in my bracket. Call me crazy, but you heard this prediction first here.

Rematches Highlight a Busy Saturday in College Basketball

5. Drake @ #19 Wichita State - 1:30 PM EST

Wichita State has already clinched the #1 seed for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. However, that does not mean they won't be pumped for this one. The Shockers only loss in 2012 came in triple overtime at Drake. This one has thriller potential written all over it yet again.

4. #7 North Carolina @ Virginia - 4:00 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN3

North Carolina and Duke are both tied for the ACC lead for best record. Both teams are looking forward to the big regular season finale. However, both need to be careful to not overlook their games before that. On Saturday, UNC plays Virginia. The Tar Heels beat the Cavaliers by 18 in the previous matchup. The Cavaliers are still looking for that signature win to help their resume. A win in this one would provide just that.

3. #2 Syracuse @ Connecticut - 9:00 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN3

Syracuse has dominated Big East play like no other team has. Connecticut, on the other hand, has disappointed all season. They have simply struggled to win conference games. Syracuse just keeps rolling along. In order to have even a remote chance of advancing, UConn will need Shabazz Napier to have another great game. The crowd should be pumped up for this one.

2. Vanderbilt @ #1 Kentucky - 12:00 PM EST, CBS

When these two teams met earlier this year, Kentucky escaped with a six point win. Vanderbilt made a push late, but it was to little to late. Little has seemed to change since then. Both teams are undefeated since their first matchup. Vanderbilt would have to play amazingly well in order to pull the improbable upset.

1. #3 Missouri @ #5 Kansas - 4:00 PM EST, CBS

This is the last regular season matchup of these two historic rivals for the foreseeable future. Big 12 supremacy and bragging rights are on the line. Additionally, it is likely that the winner of the Big 12 will get a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Missouri won by three in these teams' first matchup. This game should be just as excellent as the first.

This Year's Kentucky Kids are Looking Downright Dominant

John Calipari's team is another young bunch. #1 Kentucky's starting lineup features three freshman and two sophomores. The balance and teamwork they show for their age and experience is remarkable. Sophomore Terrence Jones is the returning star player, but he doesn't demand the ball like one. The other starting sophomore is Doron Lamb. Lamb can light it up from downtown. The trio of diaper dandies have been sensational so far. Marquis Teague runs the point beautifully. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is as consistent as they come. Anthony Davis is a dominant force inside. He is drawing talent comparisons to Shaquille O'Neal. This is a talented team to say the least.

Calipari's teams always seem to be talent laden though. The difference is this team has seemed to play consistently superb basketball since day one. They are 24-1 and 10-0 in the SEC for the first time in seven years. The Wildcats faced their toughest test in over a month tonight when they played the Florida Gators. All they did was blowout the Gators, who are widely considered the second best team in the SEC, by 20 points. Kentucky also has wins on its resume over Kansas, North Carolina, and Louisville. Their only loss was by one point at Indiana.

Kentucky has its toughest road game of the season at Vanderbilt on Saturday. If they escape with a win, they could easily run the table the rest of the way. People are saying this might be Calipari's best team he's had at Kentucky. They are certainly looking like it right now. The Kentucky faithful are starting to get excited about national championship talk. Nothing is guaranteed, especially with a young team like this, but with the way they are playing, they are going to be tough to beat.

Big Week in Conference Play Featuring Some Rivalries

I'm previewing the men's college basketball games to watch this week. There are big conference showdowns and some big time rivalries on display.

Monday

Connecticut @ #25 Louisville - 7:00 PM EST, ESPN

UConn got a much needed win on Saturday when they pounded Seton Hall. Can the victory propel the Huskies to make a run, or was the win just a mirage? Louisville has quietly won four in a row in conference play.

Tuesday

#11 Florida @ #1 Kentucky - 7:00 PM EST, ESPN

Florida has won seven in a row, all of which were in SEC play. The Gators have looked like the second best team in the conference. Kentucky just keeps win basketball games. Freshman Anthony Davis is just a beast. People are saying is the most dominant player to play in the SEC since Shaquille O'Neal.

Wednesday

#14 Georgetown @ #2 Syracuse - 7:00 PM EST, ESPN

Georgetown has played solid in conference play so far and are coming off a win over Connecticut and a demolition of South Florida. Syracuse keeps churning out wins. The got Fab Melo back in Saturday's win as well. Will the Hoyas have enough to pull the upset, or will the Orange display their dominance of the Big East once again?

#8 Kansas @ #6 Baylor - 7:00 PM EST, ESPN2

The top of the Big 12 standings shows three teams tied for the lead with conference records of 8-2. Missouri, Kansas, and Baylor have all spent time in the Top 10 of the polls this season. On Wednesday in Waco, Kansas and Baylor faceoff. Kansas is coming off a tough loss at Missouri. Baylor is building steam once again having won four straight.

Saint Louis @ Saint Joseph's - 8:30 PM EST

The Atlantic Ten standings have been crazy this season so far. The top of the standings are so crowded right now. In fact, six teams are currently within a game of first place. St. Louis is one of those teams with a 6-3 conference record. The Billikens are coming off solid conference wins at home over St. Bonaventure and Dayton. St. Joseph's is 5-4 in conference play, so they have some work to do. The Hawks have taken some steps in the right direction with wins over Richmond and La Salle.

#5 Duke @ #6 North Carolina - 9:00 PM EST, ESPN

Duke and North Carolina. It is the rivalry of all rivalries in college basketball. Normally, it is also the game to decide who will be in first place in the ACC. That is not the case this year as both teams are looking up at Florida State. Duke is coming off a shocking overtime loss at home to Miami. North Carolina came from behind last Saturday to win at Maryland. The Tar Heels have won five in a row since losing to Florida State.

Notre Dame @ West Virginia - 9:00 PM EST, ESPNU

Notre Dame seems to be as hot as any team in the country right now. The Fighting Irish have beaten three Top 25 teams in their past four games. West Virginia held on Saturday to beat Providence in overtime. The win ended a three game losing skid.

Thursday

Valparaiso @ Cleveland State - 7:00 PM EST

First place in the Horizon League is on the line in this matchup. You might not think this a big deal, but Butler plays in this conference, and we know what they have done in recent years. Cleveland State did upset Vanderbilt earlier this year, so these are two teams to watch out for.

#16 Saint Mary's @ Gonzaga - 11:00 PM EST, ESPN2

St. Mary's has looked downright dominant as of late. The Gaels are winners of twelve straight and undefeated in conference play. They have already beaten rival Gonzaga once and would love to do it again to prove a point. Gonzaga rebounded from a loss at BYU with a win at Pepperdine on Saturday.

Friday

Iona @ Loyola (MD) - 7 PM EST, ESPNU

First place in the MAAC is up for grabs in this game. Both teams are 11-2 in conference play. Iona got revenge on Saturday winning at Manhattan to get a big win. The Gaels have won four in a row. Loyola has won six in a row since losing at Iona on January 15. The Greyhounds won each of those games by double digits.

#23 Harvard @ Pennsylvania - 7:00 PM EST

Despite being ranked, Harvard isn't a lock for an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament. It would be much easier if the Crimson would just win the Ivy League and get the automatic bid. They are undefeated in conference play so far, but they need to get by perennial conference contender Penn. The Quakers are 4-1 in conference play.

Saturday (There are a lot of games Saturday, so I am just going to list them.)

#25 Louisville @ West Virginia - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN

Connecticut @ #2 Syracuse - 1:00 PM EST, CBS

#18 Virginia @ #6 North Carolina - 1:00 PM EST, ESPN3

#6 Baylor @ #4 Missouri - 1:30 PM EST, ESPN3

VCU @ Old Dominion - 2:00 PM EST, Comcast Sports

Cincinnati @ #15 Marquette - 3:00 PM EST, ESPNU

#17 San Diego State @ #13 UNLV - 4:00 PM EST, NBC Sports

Witchita State @ #12 Creighton - 5:00 PM EST, ESPN2

#10 Michigan State @ #3 Ohio State - 6:00 PM EST, ESPN

#1 Kentucky @ Vanderbilt - 9:00 PM EST, ESPN

Xavier @ Temple - 9:00 PM EST, ESPN2

Upsets a Plenty on a Busy Saturday of College Basketball

I will breakdown the Top 25 teams that were in action on Saturday.

Convincing Wins

#1 Syracuse 78 Providence 55 - The Orange showcased their supremacy once again as they routed the Friars. They host Pittsburgh on Monday.

#4 Baylor 106 Oklahoma State 65 - The Bears offense keeps getting the job done in convincing fashion. They scored 15 three pointers and nearly doubled the Cowboys on the glass.

#15 Louisville 76 Depaul 59 - The Cardinals bounced back nicely from losing two straight. The travel to Marquette next Monday.

#16 Connecticut 67 Notre Dame 53 - UConn was without Ryan Boatright (being investigated by the NCAA). The most impressive thing about the Huskies win was the play of two of their big men, Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi.

#25 Harvard 69 George Washington 48 - The Crimson looked convincing in their final non-conference game. Now, they just have to focus on taking care of business in Ivy League play.

Got the Job Done

#9 Missouri 84 Texas 73 - The Tigers just keep winning. They didn't get frazzled by their first loss of the season to Kansas State. They host Texas A&M on Monday.

#10 Kansas 82 Iowa State 73 - The Jayhawks overcame a sluggish first half to beat the Cyclones. This setups a big Top 10 showdown on Monday when they host the undefeated Baylor Bears.

#14 Murray State 82 Tennessee Tech 74 - The Racers are now off to a school-record 19-0 start. They are 6-0 in OVC play, and their next conference opponent is Morehead State on Wednesday.

#19 Florida 79 South Carolina 65 - The Gators improved to 2-1 in SEC play with a road win over the Gamecocks. Their next game isn't until next Saturday when they host LSU.

#24 Marquette 62 Pittsburgh 57 - The Golden Eagles improved to 3-2 in Big East play, while the Panthers fell to 0-5. Who would have believed Pitt would be struggling this badly right now?

Survived a Scare

#2 Kentucky 65 Tennessee 62 - The Wildcats displayed some poise in a tough road win. The Volunteers showed once again this week that they are much better than their 8-9 record would indicate.

#20 Mississippi State 56 Alabama 52 - Both of these teams want to make the NCAA tournament, so this was a big win for the Bulldogs. The Crimson Tide were ranked in the preseason polls, but they need to find an answer to their struggles quickly if they are going to rebound from this loss.

#23 Gonzaga 62 Loyola Marymount 58 - Coming off a blowout loss at St. Mary's, the Zags barely survived a tough win over the Lions. They look to get back to form against San Francisco at home on Thursday.

Upset Victims

Florida State 90 #3 North Carolina 57 - This might be exactly what Florida State needed. The Tar Heels had no answer for the hot shooting Seminoles. The loss was the worst in the Roy Williams era.

Northwestern 81 #7 Michigan State 74 - The Wildcats showed they still have a shot in the Big Ten, as Michigan State's win streak of fifteen games was snapped. The Spartans look to get back on track on Tuesday when they travel to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan.

Iowa 75 #13 Michigan 59 - The Hawkeyes are a tough team to figure out. They have upset two Top 25 teams, but they have also got blown out by two of them.

Oklahoma 82 #18 Kansas State 73 - The Wildcats might be a bit overrated as they now fell to 1-3 in Big 12 play. They will look to recover on Wednesday when they host Texas.

Thriller

#22 San Diego State 69 #12 UNLV 87 - This might be a sign of what is to come in what is a tough Mountain West Conference this year. Aztec guard Jamaal Franklin made the game winning off-balance layup with 0.3 seconds left in the game.

Ohio State's Dismantling of Duke is Just the Start of What Should Be a Revealing Week

A lot of people, including myself, questioned how good the Ohio State players not named Jared Sullinger were. Last night, they made a statement when they routed Duke by 22. In Columbus, the Buckeyes fans booed when LeBron James and his Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade walked to their courtside seats. After the game tipped off, there was little for them to complain about as their team took an early 11-0 lead and never looked back. Ohio State's offense was led by Sullinger's 21 and senior William Buford's 20. Sophomores Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft added 18 and 17, respectively. The Buckeyes defense kept Duke from responding. The Blue Devils made only twenty percent of their three point attempts as they scored a season-low 63 points.

This is just the start of what should be a revealing week. Below is my preview of the best game for each night the rest of this week, starting tonight.

#7 Wisconsin @ #5 UNC - 9:30 PM EST (Wednesday), ESPN

Wisconsin's closest game this season so far is a 17 point win over BYU. The problem is that the Cougars are by far the best team they've played. The Badgers are led by Preseason All-American guard Jordan Taylor. Sophmore Ben Brust is off to a great start to the season as well. UNC is hoping to bounce back from their first loss of the season at UNLV. The Tar Heels are also hoping their Preseason All-American forward Harrison Barnes is able to play well on the ankle he rolled in that loss.

St. John's @ #1 Kentucky - 7:30 PM EST (Thursday), ESPN2

Thanks to UNLV's aforementioned upset of UNC, this year's version of the young Kentucky Wildcats is already ranked #1. Kentucky's starting lineup features three freshmen and two sophomores. The Wildcats have scored 84.4 ppg and won their games by an average of 30.0 points. The big showdown might be Saturday (I'll preview that in a bit.), but this young team can't get caught looking ahead. St. John's brings their own young team to Rupp Arena. The Red Storm might be 4-3, but I watched them played at Madison Square Garden. They are much better than that. This team is figuring out how to play together. Sophmore guard Nurideen Linsey has the looks of an electrifying, budding leader. In addition to Lindsey, D'Angelo Harrison, Moe Harkless, and God'sgift Achiuwa all average at least 11.3 ppg.

#9 Florida @ #3 Syracuse - 7:00 PM EST (Friday), ESPN

The Florida Gators travel to the Carrier Dome to take on the Syracuse Orange. The Gators only loss is by seven points to Ohio State. The Gators offense is being led by guards Kenny Boynton and Bradley Beal. Beal is off to a great start to his freshman season. The Syracuse Orange are 7-0, despite all the chaos surrounding their program. The Barry Fine investigation is ongoing, and head coach Jim Boeheim is getting increasingly frustrated with the media. Boeheim better be careful though because if these accusations turn out to be true, he could experience a similar exit to former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno. On the court, senior point guard Scoop Jardine runs the Orange offense. Senior forward Kris Joseph is the team's leading scorer.

#5 UNC @ #1 Kentucky - 12:00 PM EST (Saturday), CBS

I have already previewed both these teams (if you forgot, look above). This matchup features two of the most storied programs in all of college basketball. The Wildcats offense has been fairly balanced this season. UNC point guard Kendall Marshall is averaging a ridiculous 10.8 apg in leading the Tar Heels attack. The teams seem to matchup fairly equally. This game should be a dandy.

ESPN's Tip-Off Marathon

While the college basketball season has already tipped off, ESPN's Tip-Off Marathon began just an hour ago. The marathon features 21 games, 21 conferences, 15 states, and 14 ranked teams. Here are my Top 5 Games to Watch from the marathon.

5. Northern Iowa @ Saint Mary's - 2 AM EST, ESPN/ESPN3

Two mid-major tournament regulars who frequently do some damage. This game will help to give an early expectation as to what to expect from these teams come March.

4. Belmont @ #10 Memphis - Noon EST, ESPN/ESPN3

Belmont is coming off a 30 win season last year. They nearly upset Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium (lost by one). Memphis is young and unproven. I think the Bruins finish off the upset this time.

3. #6 Duke vs. Michigan State - 7 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN3

The Blue Devils were definitely tested by Belmont. Michigan State played a tough game against UNC, but just weren't good enough. But will they be good enough to beat Duke? This game should tell us a lot about both teams.

2. #8 Florida vs. #3 Ohio State - 8PM EST, ESPN2/ESPN3

The Gators bring a deeply talented backcourt, but Ohio State might have the best big man in the country in sophomore Jared Sullinger. The slim-downed Sullinger should be a beast, but how good will the rest of the team be? This is their first true test.

1. #2 Kentucky vs. #11 Kansas - 9PM EST, ESPN/ESPN3

Two of the winningest programs in the sports history faceoff on a big stage. Terrence Jones and yet another top rated freshman class lead Kentucky. Kansas point guard Tyshawn Taylor will run the show for the Jayhawks.

More complete preview of all of the games: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/Tipoff-game-by-game-preview-of-the-marathon/game-game-preview-college-hoops-tip-marathon

Andy Katz's blog posting previewing Belmont before the season began: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/7147784/belmont-bruins-chance-shine-early-duke-blue-devils-memphis-tigers

Detroit News article about Jared Sullinger and the Ohio State Buckeyes: http://www.detnews.com/article/20111109/SPORTS0203/111090312/Ohio-State-fit-for-Big-Ten-title-run-with-trimmer-Jared-Sullinger