NCAA Basketball: 2018 Wooden Legacy Preview and Predictions
By Bryan Mauro
Participating teams
Miami (FL)
The Hurricanes out of the ACC enter this tournament undefeated. Miami is not going to be one of the top finishers in their conference, but they are still a very solid and well-rounded team. Head coach Jim Larranaga has always had a great guard he can build his team around. This year is no different as the Hurricane backcourt is what makes this team go.
Point guard Chris Lykes, off guard Dejan Vasiljevic, and wing Anthony Lawrence III are the players who teams will need to stop if they want to beat Miami. These players account for most of the scoring and when they are going well Miami can light up a score board. The big Ebuka Izundu is currently averaging a double-double. Izundu is a fantastic rebounder and a skilled post who can finish around the rim. Miami has a team who can beat anyone in the country when they are making their shots.
La Salle
The Explorers out of the Atlantic 10 conference have yet to tally a win yet this season. While it is early LaS alle does not have high expectations this year. New head coach Ashley Howard, who is fresh off a national title as a member of the Villanova coaching staff, has his work cut out for him in year one with the Explorers. Howard does have some talent, but this team has been anemic on defense to open the year. Pookie Powell who is a grad transfer from Memphis is the best player on the team. He is the only serious threat the La Salle team has. La Salle looks to be overmatched for much of this year.
Northwestern
The Big Ten conference is going to much stronger this year. It remains to be seen what kind of year the Wildcats are going to have. As the season progresses, their youth is going to get better and will help them win some games, as of now Northwestern has an extremely inexperienced backcourt and have many question marks at the point guard spot. Head coach Chris Collins knew that may be a struggle this year as former star point guard Bryant McIntosh is no longer in Evanston.
Northwestern does have exceptional talent at the wings, which helps make up for their lack of experience in the backcourt. Evansville transfer Ryan Taylor and Chicago native Vic Law have a chance to be one of the better duos in the entire league. Vic Law enters his final season in Evanston and is no secret to anyone in the Big Ten. He is a pure scorer and can keep his team in the game by himself. Taylor is also a pure scorer. The grad transfer enters his first year of major college basketball and he looks every bit the part. Coach Collins is going to need Law and Taylor along with the rest of the roster to step up if Northwestern wants to be successful in the loaded Big Ten.
Fresno State
The Bulldogs out of the Mountain West conference have the potential to make a lot of noise in this tournament. Fresno State is another team who is currently enduring a coaching transition. Former coach Rodney Terry left the program to go try and rebuild the UTEP program. Justin Hutson is the new coach for Fresno State and he has inherited a quality roster that is going to surprise a few teams this season.
Deshon Taylor is one of the best players in the Mountain West conference and one of the best unknown players in the entire country. Taylor when paired with point guard New Williams make an explosive back court that will give every team, they play problems. Hutson always seems to get Taylor and Williams the ball in the clutch situations. Fresno State has an uphill climb in the Mountain West with Nevada being in their conference. If this team comes together, they will be a tough out in their conference even against Nevada.