Savings plans: midseason report: Illinois, our preseason pick to win it all, and a bevy of once-touted final four prospects still have time to salvage their seasons

Sporting News, The, Jan 28, 2002 by Mike Decourcy

Matt Bonner, PF, Jr., Florida. Last year's 13-point average suggested a future star, but it was easy to mistakenly diagnose him as a sharpshooting role player. Bonner's improved body complements his skill level, producing one of the SEC's best players.

DeShaun Williams, SG, Jr., Syracuse. A solid contributor last year, Williams is stepping forward as a scorer and playmaker, helping the Orangemen into the top 15.

Brandin Knight, PG, Jr., Pittsburgh, Knight's improvement from 25.8 percent 3-point shooting to 37.5 percent gives the Panthers an offensive weapon to overcome his lack of size.

Ebi Ere, SF, Jr., Oklahoma, Not many JC recruits deliver this kind of consistency early. He makes the Sooners tougher on both ends.

Curtis Borchardt, C, Jr., Stanford. His potential never was in doubt, but his health was a major issue. He is an inside offensive presence and is one of few players whose shot blocking is feared.

Among players who started the season as candidates for stardom, these are least likely to achieve postseason honors:

Keith Bogans, SF, Jr., Kentucky. Bogans lacks aggressiveness and purpose, which indicates declining confidence. A scorer can't be a scorer without belief in himself.

Demon Brown, PG, Jr., Charlotte. Brown still struggles with the responsibility of running an offense.

LaVell Blanchard, F, Jr., Michigan. One of the most impressive players at last June's USA Basketball trials, Blanchard has not been able to rescue the Wolverines from mediocrity.

Tahj Holden, PF, Jr., Maryland. Though he can make shots--he hit 12 of his first 26 3-pointers--he can only make those he takes. He isn't assertive enough and could use his muscle better around the boards.

Marvin Stone, C, Jr., (formerly) Kentucky. When Jason Parker was injured, Stone had a clear shot at a starting job and immediately lost it.--M.D.

March predictions even Digger could make

Duke's Jason Williams will sweep the player of the year awards. Someone should create one more trophy to go with the Robertson, Wooden, Naismith and Rupp. It could be called the Krzyzewski, because no coach has had three guys named the consensus player of the year in a four-year span.

Kansas will get a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed. Coach Roy Williams will attempt to avoid becoming the first coach to miss the Final Four with five No. 1 seeds. Already, he's the only one to do it four times.

Gonzaga will play its way to the Sweet 16. It happened the past three years, so why don't tournament selection committee members realize it's no longer a surprise and give the Zags a more legit seed?

North Carolina will miss the NCAAs for the first time since 1974. And, yes, the world will keep turnin'.

Dajuan Wagner will play his last game in a Memphis uniform. Then he'll start planning his draft-night ensemble.--M.D.

Final analysis

There is no magic formula for getting to the Final Four, although wearing "Duke" across one's jersey seems to be a good first step. Still, there are four fundamental ingredients that nearly every Final Four team has covered: