The Starting Five

On this episode of The Starting Five, I preview the Big 10. Much maligned for its lack of title, the league comes into this year as strong as ever. From top to (almost) bottom, this league is filled with tournament contenders, but now features the top end team to match.

Intro: 0:00-5:45

Purdue: 5:46-7:36

Michigan: 7:37-9:08

Illinois: 9:09-10:38

UCLA: 10:39-12:22

Wisconsin: 12:23-14:26

Iowa: 14:27-16:41

Michigan State: 16:42-17:57

USC: 17:58-19:44

Indiana: 19:45-21:37

Washington: 21:38-23:22

Oregon: 23:23-24:30

Maryland: 24:31-25:30

Ohio State: 25:31-26:46

Nebraska: 26:47-27:48

The rest: 27:49-29:18

Wild Card—Why college basketball non conference is so much better than football, and why I give much more benefit of the doubt to “strength of schedule” in basketball than football:

29:19-35:22

In this episode of The Starting Five, I preview the Big 12. Houston once again enters the season as the favorite, although this rendition has many more questions than usual. Should they falter, a worthy group of contenders remains, featuring star freshmen AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson of BYU and Kansas. With a handful of Final Four contenders, tournament hopefuls, and programs who don’t care about basketball, this program features a something for everyone.

I finish with Wild Card: 06-07 VMI.

Intro: 0:00-6:55

Houston: 6:56-8:45

Arizona: 8:46-9:55

Texas Tech: 9:56-11:35

BYU: 11:36-14:42

Kansas: 14:43-16:51

Iowa State: 16:52-18:34

Baylor: 18:35-20:17

Kansas State: 20:18-21:36

Roundup: 21:37-25:48

Wild Card: 25:49-30:48

In this episode of The Starting Five, I talk about the Big East. While four titles in nine years should cement them as one of the truly great leagues in the sport, I question if that’s the case. We go team by team, and finish with Wild Card: an overview of the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils!

Intro: 0:00-7:02

St. John’s: 7:03-9:40

UConn: 9:41-11:54

Creighton: 11:55-14:42

Marquette: 14:43-17:05

Providence: 17:06-19:06

Georgetown: 19:07-21:02

Villanova: 21:03-22:30

Butler: 22:31-22:59

Xavier: 23:00-24:15

DePaul: 24:16-25:44

Seton Hall: 25:45-26:57

A rant on not adding teams to this conference: 26:58-28:00

Wild Card— Mississippi Valley State is actually more incompetent than you think: 28:01-31:54

On this episode of The Starting Five, I preview the ACC. Duke is once again expected to be the class of the conference, but a worthy group of challengers, led by a crop of new head coaches, are sure to provide resistance along the way!

Intro: 0:00-5:13

Duke: 5:14-9:15

Wild Card—The story of the Boozer Twins: 5:55-7:30

Louisville: 9:16-12:22

NC State: 12:23-15:21

Virginia: 15:22-17:15

North Carolina: 17:16-19:00

SMU: 19:01-20:15

Clemson: 20:16-21:33

Cleanup/Newcomers/Hot Seats: 21:34-28:06

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Welcome! On this debut episode of The Starting Five, I give my introduction to the podcast, and overviews of the WCC, Mountain West, A10, American, and more!

0:00-1:17 Introduction

1:18-4:52 WCC

4:53-10:35 Mountain West

10:36-16:56 Atlantic 10

16:57-20:57 American

20:58-26:36 Clean up/Whip Around