Whatʼs better than playing basketball in Disney Word? Thatʼs a question that youʼd have to ask the eight teams participating in the 2008 Old Spice Classic. The Old Spice Classic is an eight team basketball tournament held every year on Thanksgiving weekend at the Milk House in Disney World, Florida. This years participants are: Georgetown, Gonzaga, Maryland, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Siena, Tennessee, and Wichita State. This is a non-elimination tournament, so one team will finish off the tournament with a 0-3 record, while the winner finishes with a 3-0 record.
Game 1: Tennessee vs. Siena
This could be our upset game. Siena, who only lost one player from last years team, won the MAAC conference last year, beat Vanderbilt in the first of the NCAA tournament in the first round by over 20, and nearly beat Villanova in the second round. As for Tennessee, they return Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism from last year and added two freshman that should make an immediate impact in Scotty Hopson and Emmanuel Negedu.
Final Score Prediction: Tennessee- 85 Siena- 79 POG: Scotty Hopson.
Game 2: Wichita St. vs. Georgetown
Wichita St. struggled last year finishing second to last in the Missouri Valley Conference, and it doesnʼt look like they will improve to much this upcoming season. On top of that they lost last years Senior leader in P.J. Couisnard. This could be a long tournament as well as season for the Shockers if they canʼt find someone new to step up this year. Donʼt be surprised is Wichita St. is the team that finishes 0-3. The Hoyas, last yearʼs regular season Big East Champs, lost a lot of its players from last years team. Georgetown lost its starting PG, SF and C, as well as, their backup PG and backup PF/C. Although Georgetown did lose all theses players, I believe they have enough talent with the return of DaJuan Summer and Jesse Sapp. They also add Freshman Center Greg Monroe, which shold help Georetown make some sort impact in this tournament as well as season.
Final Score Prediction: Georgetown- 78 Wichita St.- 65 POG: DaJaun Summers
Game 3: Maryland vs. Michigan St.
Maryland may be the team that needs to prove themselves more then any other team in this tournament. This could be considered a make or break season for Coach Gary Williams of the Terrapins. Maryland has made it to the NCAA Tournament only once the last four years and lose in the 2nd round of the NIT last year to Syracuse. The problem is Maryland has the hardest road of any team to get to the finals of this tournament, as they have to face Tom Izzoʼs Michigan St. Spartans in the first round. The Spartans are the front runner to win the Big 10 this year and consider by some, including myself, a top 5 team, to start the year off. Although MSU lose its Senior leader in Drew Neitzel, I see Sophomore Guard Kalin Lucas, stepping in and filling Neitzelʼs shoes. The team to look out for in this tournament has to be the Spartans.
Final Score Prediction: Michigan St.- 83 Maryland -71 POG: Raymar Morgan (Above)
Game 4: Oklahoma St. vs. Gonzaga
It looks like Oklahoma St. is going to have a long season ahead of them, and this tournament isnʼt going to help. OSU will be riding the shoulders of James Anderson a lot this year, and playing a team like Gonzaga, their going to need more then just Anderson to even come close to this talented team. After Gonzagaʼs PG James Pargo decided to pull out of the draft and Austin Dayeʼs injury turned out to be nothing major, the Bulldogs became the mid-major team to avoid this year (along with Memphis).
Final Score Prediction: Gonzaga- 81 Oklahoma St- 69 POG: James Pargo
Tournament Results:
Michigan State- 3-0 (Champions)
Tennessee- 2-1
Georgetown- 2-1
Gonzaga- 2-1
Siena- 2-1
Maryland- 1-2
Oklahoma St.- 1-2
Wichita St.- 0-3
Game 1: Tennessee vs. Siena
This could be our upset game. Siena, who only lost one player from last years team, won the MAAC conference last year, beat Vanderbilt in the first of the NCAA tournament in the first round by over 20, and nearly beat Villanova in the second round. As for Tennessee, they return Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism from last year and added two freshman that should make an immediate impact in Scotty Hopson and Emmanuel Negedu.
Final Score Prediction: Tennessee- 85 Siena- 79 POG: Scotty Hopson.
Game 2: Wichita St. vs. Georgetown
Wichita St. struggled last year finishing second to last in the Missouri Valley Conference, and it doesnʼt look like they will improve to much this upcoming season. On top of that they lost last years Senior leader in P.J. Couisnard. This could be a long tournament as well as season for the Shockers if they canʼt find someone new to step up this year. Donʼt be surprised is Wichita St. is the team that finishes 0-3. The Hoyas, last yearʼs regular season Big East Champs, lost a lot of its players from last years team. Georgetown lost its starting PG, SF and C, as well as, their backup PG and backup PF/C. Although Georgetown did lose all theses players, I believe they have enough talent with the return of DaJuan Summer and Jesse Sapp. They also add Freshman Center Greg Monroe, which shold help Georetown make some sort impact in this tournament as well as season.
Final Score Prediction: Georgetown- 78 Wichita St.- 65 POG: DaJaun Summers
Game 3: Maryland vs. Michigan St.
Maryland may be the team that needs to prove themselves more then any other team in this tournament. This could be considered a make or break season for Coach Gary Williams of the Terrapins. Maryland has made it to the NCAA Tournament only once the last four years and lose in the 2nd round of the NIT last year to Syracuse. The problem is Maryland has the hardest road of any team to get to the finals of this tournament, as they have to face Tom Izzoʼs Michigan St. Spartans in the first round. The Spartans are the front runner to win the Big 10 this year and consider by some, including myself, a top 5 team, to start the year off. Although MSU lose its Senior leader in Drew Neitzel, I see Sophomore Guard Kalin Lucas, stepping in and filling Neitzelʼs shoes. The team to look out for in this tournament has to be the Spartans.
Final Score Prediction: Michigan St.- 83 Maryland -71 POG: Raymar Morgan (Above)
Game 4: Oklahoma St. vs. Gonzaga
It looks like Oklahoma St. is going to have a long season ahead of them, and this tournament isnʼt going to help. OSU will be riding the shoulders of James Anderson a lot this year, and playing a team like Gonzaga, their going to need more then just Anderson to even come close to this talented team. After Gonzagaʼs PG James Pargo decided to pull out of the draft and Austin Dayeʼs injury turned out to be nothing major, the Bulldogs became the mid-major team to avoid this year (along with Memphis).
Final Score Prediction: Gonzaga- 81 Oklahoma St- 69 POG: James Pargo
Tournament Results:
Michigan State- 3-0 (Champions)
Tennessee- 2-1
Georgetown- 2-1
Gonzaga- 2-1
Siena- 2-1
Maryland- 1-2
Oklahoma St.- 1-2
Wichita St.- 0-3
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