April 15, 2003

  • more pictures in a bit, but first...


    you can read the whole article, but here, i'll highlight the best parts:


    UConn has players in place to claim '04 crown

    By Andy Katz
    ESPN.com

    NEW ORLEANS -- To pick a 2004 preseason top 25 the day after the 2003 national title, one must first predict who will be playing college basketball in 2003-04 and who won't.


    Otherwise, Syracuse -- with two freshmen, two sophomores and only one senior in the starting lineup -- would be an pretty popular pick to repeat in 2004.











    High Fives
    A couple more opinions when it comes to 2004's title favorites:
    Dick Vitale
    1. Connecticut Huskies
    2. Texas Longhorns
    3. Kentucky Wildcats
    4. Duke Blue Devils
    5. Michigan State Spartans

    Digger Phelps
    1. Texas Longhorns
    2. Connecticut Huskies
    3. Michigan State Spartans
    4. North Carolina Tar Heels
    5. Arizona Wildcats



    So, before wondering why the Orange didn't crack the top 10, check out a few crucial decisions to be made in the month of May. Obviously, we could be wrong -- way wrong. But these predictions are based on who's leaning toward declaring early for the NBA draft, based conversations with NBA scouts and those close to the programs.


    For example, if Carmelo Anthony leaves (as expected) for the NBA, well the Orangemen will be at least ranked in the preseason next year with the likes of Gerry McNamara, Hakim Warrick, Billy Edelin and company coming back. But, the Cuse won't be among the favorites to cut down the nets in San Antonio.


    Fellow Big East member Georgetown is in the same situation with junior Michael Sweetney leaning toward the NBA, as are Texas (T.J. Ford), Marquette (Dwyane Wade) and Oregon (Luke Ridnour). All could be top 10 teams next season, if they're star underclassmen return.


    One Big East team, however, won't have such questions surrounding their programs until the NBA's early-entry deadline in May -- Connecticut. The Huskies overachieved somewhat this season after losing Caron Butler early to the 2002 draft. UConn reached the Sweet 16 despite losing Butler, and unless something strange happens between now and November, will have its core of players in place for the season opener.


    UConn lost just two seniors who played significant minutes this season and likely preseason All-America forward Emeka Okafor (15.5 ppg, 11 rpg, 155 blocks), leading scorer Ben Gordon (19.5 ppg) and senior-to-be point guard Taliek Brown. This year's freshmen -- Rashad Anderson, Denham Brown, Hilton Armstrong and Marcus White -- each gained invaluable minutes in NCAA Tournament games, and for those reasons, Jim Calhoun's squad earns ESPN.com's nod as the early favorite to win it all next year.


    Here is the rest of the top 25 teams, which will change based on recruiting coups, off-season transfers and bad decisions by players when it comes to the NBA.









    No. 1: Connecticut Huskies

    Again, the Huskies bring back maybe the best all-around post player in Okafor and one of the top scoring guards in Gordon. Neither has ideas of bolting early for the NBA, which means Connecticut has the balance and the hunger to make a run to San Antonio in April, 2004. Connecticut also had one of the more underrated freshmen classes in the country. And, while it may not have resulted in a title for Kansas, a senior will be running the show at the point in Brown.


     


    booyah!


     


    ok PART 2 - SPRING BREAK CONTINUED...


    meimei elaine making a face at the camera:



    us at karaoke:


     


    the next day...eating some chinatown food, chicago style!



    hey look, i'm mathching the color of this porsche, oh how sweet it was..



    the girls @ hooters, then the guys..:



    and so, i leave on this picture. the future apartment-mates and me, taichi is the "a" for apartment. I'm the "2" and mike is the "4" aka, apartment 24.  aka, 24 hours, aka, how much we'll be up studying... =b



    ok, peace, time to study for an exam.


    Don't forget God, especially during this passion week. 


    next time....


    PART 3 coming soon...final piece of the spring break puzzle..


     


    GIG

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