Josh Fendrick > Sophomore > Broadcast Journalism > University of Maryland, College Park
CM asks Eric Prisbell about Duke’s chances to repeat as national champions, which major conference team sleeper will make some noise this year and which players to watch for breakout seasons.
College Magazine: How would you assess Duke’s chances to repeat as national champions?
Eric Prisbell: Duke has a great chance to repeat because it has the nation’s best coach and a roster
stronger than last season’s. Add sharp-shooter Seth Curry and dynamic freshman Kyrie Irving
to a nucleus that includes Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler, and you have the ingredients for a
national champ. But there are no guarantees, there is more parity than ever–so the Blue Devils
join Michigan State and Purdue, my pick, on the short list of title favorites.
CM: Which major conference team do you see as a sleeper to make some noise this year?
EP: Illinois is my No. 1 sleeper. Bruce Weber has size in seniors Mike Davis and Mike
Tisdale and more experience in leading returning scorer Demetri McCamey. This team will be
overshadowed much of the season by MSU, Purdue and OSU in the nation’s best conference, but
it will enter March as a sleeper Final Four pick. Florida and San Diego State are other sleepers I
like, but not quite as much.
CM: Which player(s) are you looking at to have breakout seasons?
EP: Fans have different levels of familiarity with some of these guys. Jimmer Fredette, an
accomplished scorer, is a national player of the year candidate for BYU that some fans may not
know about. Perry Jones will be a stud in his first and last season at Baylor. I also like Durand
Scott of Miami, Aaric Murray of La Salle and Kawhi Leonard of San Diego State to have big
years and get more on the national radar. And expect Kyrie Irving at Duke to be sensational.
