NCAA Basketball Futures Betting – Longer Shots, Longer Looks

UCLA (+2000 in BetUS odds) -- Kevin Love is going into the NBA draft, and that's a blow, but you have to remember that Ben Howland took this team to two straight Final Four appearances before Love arrived. Darren Collison, the cat-quick point guard, had previously declared for the draft but has since said that he is coming back to school. that gives UCLA a great place to start. He's going to be joined in the backcourt by Jrue Holiday, who could be the best freshman guard in the country. The Bruins also hit paydirt with guards Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson, as well as Drew Gordon, a 6'8" shot-blocker out of San Jose who gives them strength down low. Chase Stanback, a big recruit from last year, is transferring, and holdovers like Russell Westbrook, Josh Shipp and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute have made themselves eligible for the draft, but I'm thinking at least one and maybe two of them will return, having not signed with an agent. The big news this week, however, was that J'Mison Morgan of Dallas (6'10", 265), one of the best big men available from the high school ranks, wants out of his commitment to LSU (signed before the Tigers hired Trent Johnson as coach) and wants to go to UCLA. This is a team that could be loaded once again and should challenge for the national title.

 (+2000 in BetUS odds) -- Last year, Thad Matta had the unenviable task of having to replace the stars that had taken his team to the NCAA championship game the year before - Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook among them. But his Buckeyes progressed throughout the season and won the NIT. Now there are key players departing again, with Jamar Butler and Othello Hunter graduating and freshman center Kosta Koufos declaring for the NBA draft. But there is an infusion of new blood that rivals that of anyone int he country. Matta went out and got perhaps the best center available in B.J. Mullens, described this way by Rivals.com, which rates him as the #1 recruit in the country: "He has the type of athleticism that makes you think of Bill Walton and then he has the shooting touch that makes you wonder if he could develop into a Dirk Nowitzki-type player." Mullens could very easily be a #1 overall pick in the NBA. To add to that mix, Ohio State grabbed William Buford, a big guard out of Toledo, and Anthony Crater, a point guard with a lot of upside. After all that, Matta went out and got Jeremie Simmons, who averaged 21 points on his way to becoming the national junior college player of the year. Nicola Kecman, another Juco signee, was actively recruited by other schools, including Kentucky. His eligibility is currently in question because he may have played with pros previously in Serbia. There is a slim chance Koufos, who didn't hire an agent, might return (or he may go overseas). If he does, that's a bonus.