Top 5 Dunks of the 2012-13 NBA Season

There is perhaps no play in the game of basketball that can get a reaction out of the crowd like a dunk. The sheer power and force alone is incredible, but then factor in the did-he-just-do-that?! element of them and that's enough to bring anybody out of their seat. What makes a dunk so special? Jason Terry is half the size of LeBron James. Brandon Knight is half the size of DeAndre Jordan. They aren't supposed to stop those two from putting down the hammer and they didn't. Still, fans went bananas and rightfully so. It's an amazing sight to see.

There have been some jaw-dropping dunks of late and it got us thinking: we need to rank these throwdowns. So that's exactly what we did. Here are the top five dunks of this season so far and there are some great ones. Obviously, only five made the list so there are some certain snubs. That's where you come in. Reply with your comment and a link to the video of the dunk you think was top-five-worthy. Until then though, check out who made our list...

5. Kobe Bryant dunks on Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace
You have to show love to Kobe Bryant this season. The Lakers obviously aren't having the kind of season that everyone thought they would, but we can always count on Kobe. He has done everything he can to try and get his team to the playoffs and that certainly looks like the direction they are headed in. Check out this play by Bryant in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. For an "old man" he showed he can still get up and he dunked on not one, but two guys. This is vintage Kobe Bryant and it's also one of the best posters of the season.

4. Blake Griffin windmills off Jamal Crawford through-the-legs alley-oop
Lob City never ceases to amaze the masses and this may be their most creative act yet. Jamal Crawford, who has never been known for his passing, is on the fast break and has a clear path to the hoop. However, rather than just doing the simple layup or dunk, Crawford gets a little fancy and goes through his legs before leaving it for Blake Griffin. Griffin has been on the receiving end of several alley-oops and he knows how to finish a dunk. On this particular play he puts the exclamation point down with an impressive windmill.

3. Harrison Barnes dunks on Nikola Pekovic
This is a dunk that has been forgotten about a little bit, but make no mistake, this is nasty. Harrison Barnes comes down the middle of the lane and gets a nice feed before dunking all over Nikola Pekovic. What makes the play even better is the reaction from the Warriors bench following the jam. Barnes goes up and Pekovic stops his momentum, but it doesn't matter...Barnes still puts Pekovic on a poster and I'm not so sure this dunk isn't worthy of the two spot for that reason. This is no Jason Terry or Brandon Knight. This is one of the strongest guys in the league and Barnes still managed to throw it down on him. Impressive.

2. LeBron James dunks on Jason Terry
Jason Terry got what was coming to him. He mouthed off before the game and then happened to be the one guy back while three Miami Heat players spun him around like a top before LeBron James destroyed him. Terry doesn't stand a chance on this play, but I will give him credit for trying to stop the play. However, when he went up in the air you just knew this wasn't going to end up well for him. Sometimes people complain that LeBron doesn't have enough "signature" plays, but to those people I say here you go. This one will be shown for a long time.

1. DeAndre Jordan catches alley-oop from Chris Paul and dunks on Brandon Knight
We already wrote about this dunk once and there is no doubt that this is the number one dunk of the season and it will take something unbelievable to top it. Near the end of the first half Jordan streaked down the middle of the lane and caught an alley-oop from Chris Paul. What happened after that was an annihilation of Brandon Knight. For whatever reason, Knight jumped and attempted to block the pass, but Jordan would have none of it. With thunderous power Jordan slammed the ball home, sending Knight crashing to the floor and sending the arena into a frenzy. It blew up social media sites and it's going to be shown for quite some time.

Breaking Down the Brackets

The Madness is set for the next 22 days after the NCAA Tournament brackets were unveiled on Selection Sunday. It signaled the end to a wild regular season and an even wilder few weeks of conference tournaments. More importantly, it signaled the beginning of the wildest time in college basketball, and perhaps, in sports. There is always the talk about who had their bubble bursted, who belonged in, who is lucky to be in and all that. Those discussions are for the so-called experts to discuss on ESPN and CBS, but here on the World of Wadley it's all about the actual games and matchups. Here is a breakdown of the bracket.

South Region

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Kentucky was the obvious choice for the overall number one seed despite losing to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament final. However, that does not mean their path to New Orleans is an easy one. Do not sleep on UConn at the nine seed. The Huskies were picked in the Top 10 before the season, but had a disappointing year. Still, they looked good in the Big East tournament and they have the players to match up with the Cats in the second round. I also like the 5-12 match up between Wichita State and VCU. Those are two quality mid-major programs and while I do think the Shockers are the better team, I am going to pick VCU. That's not to say Shaka Smart and the Rams will be making another Final Four run. In the second round they would be faced with Indiana most likely. The Hoosiers have turned it around and I would love to see them take on Kentucky in the Sweet 16 again. UNLV is a mid major to fear and I have them making a run to the Elite 8. They can beat Baylor and they will beat Duke. In the end though Kentucky will win the South Region in Atlanta.

Kim English

West Region

The West is a very interesting bracket because it contains some of the best mid major teams in the tournament. It also has arguably the best top four seeds with Michigan State, Missouri, Marquette and Louisville. Throw in Murray State, a team that only lost one game this season, and this is a tough bracket. Missouri may feel snubbed that they didn't receive a one seed from the committee, but they actually have the best half of any bracket they could have asked for. I say that because every team is like them. Florida, Marquette and Murray State are all teams without dominant big men. Mizzou does not play with a dominant big man and that's why I see them meeting Michigan State in the Elite 8. This makes for a very appealing matchup. It's hard to pick due to the fact that Michigan State has the size advantage. However, Mizzou has beat teams like Kansas and Baylor who play big. I am picking Missouri to advance to their first Final Four in the end. Also, sleeper team of the West is Long Beach State.

Kris Joseph



East Region
I do not regard the East as a very tough region. I see it as a very tough one to pick because I don't view very many teams as Final Four worthy. Vanderbilt and Florida State are hot right now and I've seen people picking them to face each other in the Elite 8. That is wishful thinking because Syracuse and Ohio State are too good to not be in Boston. I love Jim Boeheim's Syracuse team and have them playing in New Orleans. Ohio State is a solid team, but I see loopholes in their game. I do believe that Florida State and Vanderbilt will be in the Sweet 16. West Virginia and Gonzaga in the 7-10 game is going to be a very good matchup and I think the Mountaineers will win. Kevin Jones is too tough and has not been given his due this season. To me, this is the easiest bracket and it makes the path for the Orange an easier one than other number one seeds have.

Harrison Barnes

Midwest Region

Contrary to the East Region, the Midwest has some very good teams and some very enticing potential matchups. I like the first round 6-11 game between San Diego State and NC State. The Wolfpack were denied a chance to play in the ACC championship on a bad no call against North Carolina, but C.J. Leslie is a player to watch. Look for NC State to pull off the upset and meet Georgetown in the second round. St. Mary's is going to beat Purdue in the first round and it will mean the end for Robbie Hummel. I think Kansas is going to lose to North Carolina in the Elite 8 due to UNC's size. However, while that will be an exciting matchup, I can't help but be intrigued by the first round game the Jayhawks have against Roy McCallum and Detroit. KU has a bad history of being upset in the Bill Self era, and while I don't think Detroit can do it, I think this game could be a little closer than the Jayhawks would like.

So as of now my Final Four is Kentucky vs. Missouri and Syracuse vs. North Carolina. I have Kentucky and North Carolina in a rematch for the championship. They are clearly the two best teams in my mind and I think Kentucky will win the title. They are too talented and actually have some veterans on their team this season. There will be no Butler or VCU this season and the heavyweights will strut their stuff. The Madness begins Tuesday with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

Carolina Primed For Third Title in Six Seasons

The NBA will come calling for these four, but for now it's all about a ring

Walking into the Dean E. Smith Center at North Carolina is similar to walking into a museum. Banners honoring the five championship teams hang from the rafters along with 47 banners that pay tribute to some of Carolina's finest players ever such as Jordan, Worthy, Perkins and Hansbrough. Those who make the banners may want to get ready for a heavy workload because this year's crop of Tar Heels looks ready to write their names in the history books. Rarely is one team so favored to win the national title during the preseason but coach Roy Williams has assembled a roster that would look good on NBA All-Star Weekend. Three would-be first round picks decided to stay at school and that gives Carolina a complete team, led by a pass-first point guard. It's easy to see that this team has all the ingredients for a title run.

When Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller announced they would return to campus for at least one more year it instantly vaulted the Heels into the discussion for the national championship. Barnes is a sophomore who entered college with an enormous amount of hype, yet failed to live up to it in the beginning of the season. However, halfway through the season Barnes turned it around and became a scoring machine, his year highlighted by a 40 point outburst in the ACC semifinals against Clemson. Look for Barnes to build on his 15.7 points per game from last season. For Zeller, this year is once again all about staying healthy. He struggled through his first few seasons at Chapel Hill simply because he couldn't stay on the court. Last season he stayed healthy and became the force he was expected to be. His back-to-the-basket prescence is invaluable and, even better, he is a big man who can run the floor very well. The other big man, John Henson, can be described in one word: athletic. A 6'10" forward with a wingspan of 7'2", Henson is a shot-blocking machine (3.1 per game) and he also cleans the glass (10.1 per game). Those three players will make a scary frontline that will arguably makeup the best one in the country.

Roy Williams is looking for his third title in Chapel Hill

However, point guard Kendall Marshall will have to most important role on the team. After Larry Drew's departure last season Marshall took the reigns for the final 16 games and the team went 13-3. The sophomore averaged over eight assists per game and it's his pass-first mentality that makes this team go. Surrounded by scorers and players who demand the ball, Marshall is one of the best in the nation at finding the open man. He is viewed as the leader on the team and it's his role to keep this group of stars happy. That's not an easy task considering there is only one ball to go around. If he continues to develop at point guard there will be no stopping Carolina on offense. Marshall is simply too quick too defend and too good at finding the open man.

The question most teams will face is how do you guard North Carolina? Well, pick your poison. As stated before, Marshall is quick enough to get around defenders and that penetration creates kickout opportunities to reserve sharpshooters, Reggie Bullock and P.J. Hairston. Those two have the ability to stretch a defense, something the Heels desperately missed last year. If Marshall gets into the lane a team cannot send a big to help because then will simply lob an alley-oop to Henson, Zeller or freshman phenom, James McAdoo. Offensive rebounding is no problem with those three either. On defense North Carolina may not be as sharp as other teams but Dexter Strickland has proven he can shut down the other team's best perimeter player and getting to the hole is hard with Henson's long arms awaiting.

Don't believe the hype around this team? Check the latest SLAM Magazine and several other basketball publications. Check the top of every poll. North Carolina definitely has a target on their back. It takes several pieces to complete the championship puzzle but UNC appears to have them all. Of course, several teams with extraordiary talent have failed to win a title because anything can happen in March but early signs point to Carolina being the last one standing in New Orleans. NBA riches will come soon enough for most of this team but for now, it's all about hoisting another banner in the Dean Dome.

NCAA College Basketball Preview 2011-2012

With the way things are right now, it seems that college basketball is going to be the only basketball for the fans this winter because the NBA can't solve their lockout. It's a real shame that the NBA won't be playing after having such a great year but college basketball never disappoints. This year will be no different with so much talent returning for a change. Sure, some players left prematurely (I'm talking to you Jereme Richmond) but others (Jared Sullinger, Harrison Barnes) decided to stay on campus at least one more year and it appears they made the correct decision. It only benefits the college game. Here's a quick look at several teams, players and games you will want to make sure you keep an eye on during the season.

The World of Wadley Top 5 College Basketball Preseason Rankings
1. North Carolina Tar Heels

Barnes

   It seems that every few years Roy Williams assembles a team that seems destined to win the national championship. A team so loaded that it looks like there's no way they couldn't win. He did it in 2005 and again in 2009 and now he has done it for 2011-12. When Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson announced they were coming back to campus it immediately made Carolina the favorite. Barnes had tremendous hype surrounding him during his freshman campaign and he lived up to it in the second half of the season. His 40 point outburst against Clemson in the ACC Tournament demonstrated his talent and he is also a clutch scorer. Starting with him in the frontcourt will be Henson and Zeller and both, when healthy, can also be All-Americans. Henson is extremely athletic and a defensive force with his shot-blocking ability. Zeller is a true post man who can run the floor.

   Despite all that, the most important piece to the championship puzzle could be sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall. After Larry Drew's departure in midseason Marshall got his chance and handed out 6.2 assists per game. It is imperative that he continues to develop as a point guard and continues to find the open man. Also, Carolina needs role players Dexter Strickland and Reggie Bullock to step up and contribute. Strickland can be the lockdown defender while Bullock, a former McDonald's All-American, can stretch defenses with his three point shooting. Freshmen James McAdoo and P.J. Hairston will also be thrown into the mix early and often. It's a loaded Tar Heels team and one that should be raising another banner.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

Jones

   Keeping with recent trends, UK will show off the nation's top recruiting class this season and will rely heavily on the freshmen. However, the difference this year will be the solid group of upperclassmen. Now that's not to say that Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb are wily vets (they are still only sophomores) but the surprise return of Jones may be what John Calipari needs to win a title. Granted, it was the Blue-White Scrimmage game but Jones dropped 52 points and afterwards declared he is a man on a mission.

   He, Lamb and Darius Miller will be joined by a trio of freshmen who could all compete for the Freshman of the Year award. Anthony Davis is the top recruit and a 6-10 center from Chicago. He leaped onto the scene after an enormous growth spurt but there are critics still. He is athletic but don't expect him to play back-to-the-basket. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is an athletic slasher who will provide scoring and rebounding and could become a threat inside and outside. Last but not least, there is Marquis Teague, younger brother of the Atlanta Hawks' Jeff Teague. Marquis is next in line in the the string of elite point guards under Calipari that includes Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall and Brandon Knight. The question for UK is the same one it has been for the past few years: Can they win while relying on so many freshmen?

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

Sullinger

   Few teams could lose the talent that the Buckeyes did and still be a top five team. Jon Diebler, David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale all graduated but one man who was also expected to leave is back in Columbus. Jared Sullinger turned in an impressive freshman season, averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game which earned him National Freshman of the Year and first-team All-American. However, none of that matters to Sullinger who was projected to be the number one pick in the NBA Draft. What matters to him is that Ohio State didn't win it all and he is back to do just that.

   Helping the big fella out will be fellow sophomore stud, Aaron Craft. The point guard played nearly 30 minutes per game last year in the sixth man role but will be starting from day one this season. His numbers should improve his steady play at the point could determine which way the Buckeyes go this season. The lone senior on the roster is William Buford. With Diebler gone that only means more opportunities for Buford, who shot exceptionally well last year from deep (44.2 percent). Everyone knows what to expect from those three players but the major question mark for Ohio State is DeShaun Thomas. The forward didn't play many minutes last year but did produce when he got his chance. His continued improvement would be huge for OSU.

4. Connecticut Huskies

Lamb

   No more Kemba but that hardly means the cupboard is bare for the defending national champions. Loads of hype is swirling around sophomore wing Jeremy Lamb after he was impressive in the NCAAs but what he does as an encore will dictate the Huskies season. There have been players before Lamb who have had great tournaments but never produced like we thought they would the next year (think Durrell Summers). Lamb could bud into the star we expect or merely be another average player. He is still young and so are his teammates around him. Sophomore, Shabazz Napier, will run the point and needs to continue his steady play there. Roscoe Smith will be a bigger factor as a sophomore and his scoring (6.3 ppg) should rise.

   Inside the Huskies have two solid big men. Alex Oriakhi is back as a junior and he was the leading rebounder in the Big East last season. He also had three double-doubles in postseason play and the Huskies need him to be a factor in the points column. Andre Drummond, a freshman, will see plenty of time down in the post. Drummond was able to get into school early and he is a true back-to-the-basket player. His size coupled with Oriakhi is going to be tough to stop.

5. Duke Blue Devils

Mason Plumlee

   It will seem different watching a Duke game without first-team All-ACC players Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith on the floor but it was finally time for them to leave and pursue NBA careers. Also gone is the number one pick Kyrie Irving. Irving wowed the crowds when he played but seeing him in uniform was a rare sight. He left Durham after only playing ten games. Those three losses would kill most programs but not the Dukies and that is thanks to their solid recruiting class. Austin Rivers is the highlight and he will most likely start somewhere in the backcourt but where that is has yet to be determined. It appears that Coach K may have a logjam in the backcourt but some speculate Seth Curry will start at point guard with Rivers playing off the ball. Curry would be put in a position similar to the way Coach K used Jon Scheyer his senior year. Playing point means Curry wouldn't find his shot until late in the shot clock but Rivers is a player who demands the ball and he can create off the ball. Quinn Cook will also see minutes as a backup and Andre Dawkins will factor in as well.

   Inside the Blue Devils are set with the three Plumlees and Ryan Kelly. All four are good rebounders and Mason Plumlee led the team last year grabbing 8.4 per game. We know what we are getting from the post men on Duke but the backcourt still has some issues to sort out before we deem this team a national title contender.

3 Players to Watch in 2011-12

Tu Holloway, point guard, Xavier Musketeers

Here's a little man who can fill it up in a hurry. Holloway averaged 19.7 points per game as a junior while dishing out 5.4 assists and was named A-10 Player of the Year. Xavier has won or shared the A-10 regular season title for the last five seasons and it's easy to guess that a sixth one is coming behind the leadership of Holloway. His quickness and strength allow him to get to the hoop and he also finds himself on the free throw line quite a bit where he shot 87 percent last season. 

Perry Jones III, forward, Baylor Bears

That Jones is even still at Baylor is a huge surprise because he was a guaranteed top-10 pick in the NBA Draft. But he did return to campus and he hopes to improve on a season that didn't go as planned. Jones averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game but was suspended just hours before the Big 12 tournament because his mother accepted illegal loans. He will sit out the first five games this season so we will have to wait a few more weeks to see him but when he does step on the court make sure to take notice.

John Shurna, forward, Northwestern Wildcats
Seems odd for someone from a program with zero NCAA Tournament appearances to be on this list but Shurna is that good. He averaged 24.4 points per game through the first nine games last season before an ankle injury slowed him down. During the summer he tested the NBA waters and decided to come back to campus. His only goal now is to take the Wildcats to their first Big Dance.

Kabongo

10 Freshmen to Watch

Austin Rivers, guard, Duke Blue Devils

Anthony Davis, forward, Kentucky Wildcats

Marquis Teague, guard, Kentucky Wildcats

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, forward, Kentucky Wildcats

Brad Beal, guard, Florida Gators

Myck Kabongo, guard, Texas Longhorns

LeBryan Nash, forward, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Quincy Miller, forward, Baylor Bears
Rakeem Christmas, forward, Syracuse Orange
James McAdoo, forward, North Carolina Tar Heels

3 Regular Season Non-conference Games to Watch
North Carolina at Kentucky (December 3rd)
I honestly can not remember a more exciting non-conference game. These two teams will most likely be numbers 1 and 2 and Rupp Arena will be rocking. Viewers will literally be watching the next crop of NBA stars in this game.

Duke at Ohio State (November 29th)
Two top teams go head-to-head in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and this should be a tough, grind-it-out game. Sullinger won't have it easy in the frontcourt and Aaron Craft vs. Austin Rivers is an enticing backcourt matchup.

Cincinnati at Xavier (December 10th)
This is always a bitter crosstown rivalry but this year both teams should enter the game in the Top 25 and, most likely, undefeated. Talk about raising the stakes. Xavier has 7'0" Kenny Frease in the middle but Cincinnati features Yancy Gates, a true physical specimen.

There just isn't a better sport than college basketball and it all gets under way very soon. The first must-see game will be November 11th when Carolina takes on Michigan State in the Carrier Classic and as we all know the season will be filled with great games. Talking predictions, North Carolina will win the national championship for the third time since 2005, Jared Sullinger will win Player of the Year and Austin Rivers will be named National Freshman of the Year. Those are my thoughts and predictions now let me hear yours! Comment below.