The 2013-14 college basketball season is finally here. We’ve been waiting for the first (and only) season of collegiate ball that includes Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins. And what better way to kick off this year than with these two freshman phenoms facing off?
Despite all the hype of these top two prep basketball recruits in the nation, neither the Kansas Jayhawks nor Duke Blue Devils are ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls. That spot has been reserved for John Calipari’s Kentucky squad that is looking to get back to the Final Four after a more-than-disappointing 2012 campaign. With a reloaded roster essentially full of NBA minor-leaguers, that seems like a real possibility.
Related: Jabari Parker Sets College Basketball On Fire; Duke Forward Is For Real
But Parker and Duke have something in addition to talent that sets them apart from the rest of the country and should prove to be the difference in the 2014 NCAA Tournament: brains. Parker is as smart as they come, which is why he’s a perfect fit in Coach K’s program. Granted, he’ll probably be one-and-done like all of his freshman phenom counterparts, he still has the advantage.
Of course, all bets are off once the tournament starts, so we’ll see if the top-ranked teams can handle the grind of reaching the Final Four or if we’ll see another Cinderella team crash the party. Here’s to hoping March gets here quickly.
Related:
Power Ranking the Major Conferences For the 2013-14 College Basketball Season
10 Teams With the Best Chance to Win the College Basketball National Title
Top 10 Freshmen In the Country For the 2013-14 College Basketball Season
