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The Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings for next season in college basketball have been updated, and now that rosters are beginning to crystallize, its time to get familiar with each team. Nike Flex Shoes On Sale . Identifying the song that identified each team?was too much fun, so now were looking at movies.?1. Duke Blue Devils: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) After what, by Blue Devils standards, was an off year -- a Sweet 16 loss to Oregon, an 11-loss season overall -- and questions about how the roster could become so short of players, Duke is back. And then some. Coach Mike Krzyzewski will return from coaching the U.S. Olympic team to a squad thats nearly just as loaded with stars. Grayson Allen, Amile Jefferson, Matt Jones, Luke Kennard and Chase Jeter return. And then there are the new kids -- five top-100 players, including top-rated Harry Giles. So much for roster problems. And lets face it, a lot of people still think the Blue Devils are the Darth Vaders of college hoops. -- Dana ONeil2. Villanova Wildcats: Gladiator (2000) Coach Jay Wrights program will enter 2016-17 as a legit threat to win another national championship. Much like Russell Crowes character in this 2000 classic, the Wildcats will only survive and reach the final stages of the NCAA tournament with decisive victories over a ridiculous fleet of contenders in a landscape that contains a competitive breadth that the 2015-16 season lacked. Villanova stands in the middle of college basketballs coliseum as rebooted Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, Kansas, UNC, Big East rival Xavier and others all plot to knock out the champion and snatch its crown. And the Wildcats are wounded without Daniel Ochefu and Ryan Arcidiacono. They wont surrender, however, without a fight. Dont bet against them. -- Myron Medcalf3. Kentucky Wildcats: The Aviator (2004) So, sure, John Calipari presumably doesnt share the devastating obsessive-compulsive disorder that director Martin Scorsese and titular star Leonardo DiCaprio so vividly depicted in the 2004 film. He probably doesnt sit there, unshaven, in a film room, listing his requirements for sanitized cookie delivery. But what makes The Aviator so good is that just as many of its best scenes show Howard Hughes thinking big, pushing boundaries and innovating with abandon -- a man driven by some unseen force that even he barely understands. Sound like a coach you know? (Plus, if Hughes were still alive, he would totally take a private jet to a Drake concert. Hed fly it himself.) -- Eamonn Brennan4. Kansas Jayhawks: The Music Man (1962) Kansas coach Bill Self isnt the conniving swindler that Robert Prestons Harold Hill was, but there are some similarities. Like Hill, Self didnt exactly plant roots at his previous stops: His previous longest stint as a head coach was four years at Oral Roberts. But just as Hill fell in love with River City, Iowa (and a certain librarian in it), Self fell in love with another small Midwestern town. And the citizens of Lawrence have returned the favor, thanks in large part to Selfs run of 12 consecutive Big 12 titles. -- Sam Strong5. Virginia Cavaliers: A Few Good Men (1992) To paraphrase Jack Nicholsons iconic scene as Col. Jessup: The Cavaliers style of play, while grotesque and incomprehensible to fans who want to see an up-tempo game, has helped produce two No. 1 seeds over the past three seasons, as well as two ACC regular-season titles. You dont want the truth because deep down in places you dont talk about at parties, you want the Wahoos to succeed. You need the Hoos to succeed. -- C.L. Brown6. North Carolina Tar Heels: Catch 22 (1970) Here is the plight for the Tar Heels this season: If they are good, the critics will carp that the academic scandal that has been tailing the program for years ought to have long ago rendered the Tar Heels obsolete. A winning North Carolina program only serves to further invoke the ire of the multitudes who cant understand how allegations against the mens basketball team were removed from the NCAAs amended notice of allegations. On the other hand, if the Tar Heels dont win -- well how can that be with talents such as?Justin Jackson, Nate Britt, Theo Pinson, Joel Berry and?Kennedy Meeks?on the roster? -- ONeil7. Oregon Ducks: Guess Who (2005) This is the 2005 remake of a 1967 classic starring Sidney Poitier. In Bernie Macs version, Ashton Kutcher aint exactly what his girlfriends family expects when he first meets them. By the end of the movie, however, Mac and Kutcher are buddies (because everybody loves Ashton Kutcher in every movie/TV show hes in), and they give one another the respect they both deserve. Thats Oregons situation. Even though the Ducks reached the Elite Eight last season and bulldozed the Pac-12 for three months, theyre still mentioned after the blue-chippers in conversations about national title contenders. If, by the end of this season,?Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks have carried Oregon to another Pac-12 title and deep NCAA tournament run, the Ducks might finally earn the respect they did not receive in 2015-16. -- Medcalf8. Wisconsin Badgers: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) Greg Gard hails from a tiny farm town in Wisconsin; most of his players are from the Midwest. On a literal level, they have very little to do with Royal Tenenbaums elite Manhattan family. Thats not the point. The point is that The Royal Tenenbaums is one of the best ensemble movies weve ever seen -- a film, like much of Wes Andersons canon, in which no member of the cast is weak and almost everyone is super-strong. Thats the biggest reason to be optimistic about the Badgers next season: Their entire team (which only hit its stride midway through last season, after a 9-9 start) is back, and both the sum of the parts and the whole look promising. -- Brennan9. Xavier Musketeers: Groundhog Day (1993) Xavier has to be a Bill Murray movie, right? And considering Murrays son Luke, who happens to be a Musketeers assistant, hasnt seen Caddyshack,?were going with Groundhog Day because the same thing seems to keep happening with coach Chris Macks program. Its not a bad thing by any means, but the Musketeers are always steady, having gone to the NCAA tournament in six of Macks seven seasons. Mack has never advanced past the Sweet 16, however. A trip to the Final Four, which seems possible this season, might break the Punxsutawney loop. -- Strong10. Michigan State Spartans: Boomerang (1992) Eddie Murphy hit rock bottom in his love life in this 1992 romantic comedy before winning over Halle Berry as the consolation prize. The Spartans historic loss to No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee State in the NCAA tournaments first round was the kind of depressing upset that could have them sitting in a dark room listening to Sade. But they already look primed to bounce back next season and again be considered a national title contender. -- Brown11. Indiana Hoosiers: Revenge of the Nerds (1984) A year ago, coach Tom Crean started his own Season on the Brink -- on the brink of perhaps being let go, that is. Issues off the court and losses on it made the coach a less-than-popular man in Bloomington. The coach merely pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose, quick-stepped his way down the sideline, ignored the noise and went to work. The result? A 27-8 team that finished No. 9 in the nation and took down rival Kentucky in the NCAA tournaments second round. Now with?Thomas Bryant returning and James Blackmon Jr.?healthy, Crean is having the last laugh. -- ONeil12. Arizona Wildcats: Field of Dreams (1989) If you build it, they will come. Well, Sean Miller didnt build it. But he has extended the legacy of a program that Lute Olson championed for nearly 30 years in Tucson. Once again, Miller will boast a roster, anchored by Allonzo Trier, that can battle the best in the country. No matter what happens, Miller will continue to face questions about the Final Four, the hurdle hes still trying to clear. He, like Kevin Costner, cant escape that pursuit, that journey, that dream. We shouldnt judge coaches on Final Four trips alone. But its a major element of our analysis. And its a lingering question for Millers career. So if he builds another elite team, will a trip to the Final Four come? Well see. -- Medcalf13. Louisville Cardinals: Citizen Kane (1941) The ongoing NCAA investigation into the Louisville program seems ripped from era of yellow journalism: Prostitution! Scandal! University rocked by salacious expose! Its the kind of headline Orson Welles William Randolph Hearst/Harold McCormick industrialist mash-up Charles Foster Kane would have giddily run, particularly about a business rival. Its also the kind of headline Kane earned for himself. Perhaps the key pivot-point on which the movie turns is itself a sex scandal -- one that derails Kanes gubernatorial run and signals the end of the subjects idealistic rise and the beginning of his extended, cynical downfall. -- Brennan14. Purdue Boilermakers: Rocky III (1982) Unfortunately for the Boilermakers, very few people will remember the 26-8 run that carried them to a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. More will remember Arkansas-Little Rocks double-overtime upset of Purdue. And so Matt Painters team can be currently compared to Rocky at the midway point of the third installment of the series. You know, after he gets challenged and beat by Mr. Ts Clubber Lang character. Inspired by Mickeys death (spoiler alert), Rocky comes back to beat Lang. Can Purdue use the tourney loss to get better? -- Strong15. West Virginia Mountaineers: Gattaca (1997) Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman starred in this science-fiction drama. In a critical scene, Hawkes character explains how he had been able to exceed expectations and reach the verge of achieving his dream. His answer? He never saved anything for a safety net. The Mountaineers dont, either. Since Bob Huggins has gone all-out with the pressure defense, they are content to win or lose games playing their style. -- Brown16. Gonzaga Bulldogs: Its a Wonderful Life (1946) Lets face it: Gonzaga coach Mark Few has figured this whole thing out. While the rest of his coaching brethren pop antacids and worry about their job security in the offseason, Few grabs his fishing pole or takes off for Hawaii. Every year his team is good. Outside critics might argue the Zags arent good enough, that they havent found the Holy Grail or the Final Four, but the people who matter -- the ones who sign Fews paycheck -- seem pretty content. This year, as always, Gonzaga will be very good with the addition of Nigel Williams-Goss from Washington and Johnathan Williams III from Missouri, plus the return of Przemek Karnowski. Oh, and the Zags play in The Kennel,?one of the toughest arenas in the country, before retiring to their nice, private college digs in Spokane, Washington. Life is pretty wonderful. -- ONeil17. UCLA Bruins: The Martian (2015) Yeah, Steve Alford isnt trapped in space with limited resources and rations. But whenever a fan flies a banner over campus that demands you be fired after a 15-17 season that ended with a first-round loss to USC in the Pac-12 tournament, youre not in a great place. Alford knows as much. Thats why he returned his extension this summer. But UCLA will add presumed future lottery pick?Lonzo Ball?and others to a talented squad that should erase last years misery. Yet, Alford remains in limbo, wondering if hell ever feel safe in Westwood again. And hes?running out of time. -- Medcalf18. Maryland Terrapins: Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Real talk: This was supposed to be Groundhog Day. Melo Trimble, certain he would be long gone for the NBA by now, wakes up to find himself still in College Park, Maryland, where the only escape is self-improvement (in the form of, like, better perimeter shooting). But my colleague, Sam, stole it. The good news? Tons of movies have blatantly stolen the Groundhog Day formula. Occasionally, one of them isnt even terrible! Edge of Tomorrow is basically just Groundhog Day plus alien invaders, but Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt give fantastic performances (its particularly fun to see Cruise play a character who doesnt automatically start as a hyper-competent superhero), the effects are great and the overall experience is far, far better the generic title or muted reception would suggest. -- Brennan19. Saint Marys Gaels: The Castle (1997) Seven of the 15 players on Saint Marys roster are from Australia, so lets make a motion to nickname McKeon Pavilion, the Gaels home court, The Castle in honor of the late-90s flick that was set in Melbourne. Thats basically where the similarities end. As far as we know, the city of Moraga, California, isnt threatening to knock down the structure in order to build an airport (as is the case with the Kerrigans in the film). Oakland International is less than 25 miles from campus and seems to suit Northern Californias needs just fine. -- Strong20. Creighton Bluejays: Trading Places (1983) The comedy shows Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd what their lives would be like under different circumstances. Coach Greg McDermott has done the same by welcoming transfers to build a top-25 team in Omaha, Nebraska. Last season, it was Maurice Watson Jr. (Boston University) and Cole Huff (Nevada). This year, former Kansas State guard Marcus Foster joins the lineup that has Creighton looking to make moves nationally. -- Brown21. Rhode Island Rams: Cocoon (1985) OK, so the Rams arent a bunch of old geezers, but theyll be similarly rejuvenated (albeit by athletic trainers and doctors, not aliens) in 2016-17. Rhode Islands season essentially went down the tubes when E.C. Matthews, arguably one of the best players in the country, injured his knee. Then as Hassan Martin, Kuran Iverson and Jarvis Garrett each took turns with their own ailments, there wasnt much for coach Dan Hurley to do but finish at 17-15 and hope for better luck next year. Well, next year is here. -- ONeil22. Cincinnati Bearcats: The Last Samurai (2003) Two certainties about any Cincinnati game: Coach Mick Cronin will wear a tailored suit with colors weve never seen, and the Bearcats will punch your team in the mouth. In The Last Samurai, Tom Cruise joined his Samurai captors as they faced an American-Japanese contingent of soldiers in the final scene. They couldnt match their opponents offensive firepower (Cincy finished 81st in adjusted offensive efficiency), but their aggression kept them in the fight. Thats Cincy. The defensive juggernauts who finished 15th in adjusted defensive efficiency last season always have a chance, even when they cant find the late buckets to finish a tight game. -- Medcalf23. Florida State Seminoles: The Fast and the Furious (2001) Something something coming together, something something overcoming differences, something something epic finish: As far as we can tell, this is basically the plot of every Fast and the Furious movie (of which there are now approximately 3,216). Its a bizarrely successful interpersonal template that might well apply to Florida State in 2016-17, as the Seminoles add a well-known outsider (freshman stud Jonathan Isaac) to a mostly established group of variously experienced talents. -- Brennan24.Connecticut Huskies: Garden State (2004) Ignore for a moment, that Connecticut is the Constitution State (or the Nutmeg State, if you prefer) and try to envision a world where Zach Braff didnt cast himself in the lead role of the cult classic that he also wrote and directed. Its kind of fun to picture UConn coach Kevin Ollie in that role instead, awkwardly flirting with Natalie Portman in the doctors office waiting room. The circumstances were different, but after a long NBA career, Ollie, like Braff, returned home to his alma mater to carry on Jim Calhouns legacy. He already has a title under his belt, and he landed the No. 9 incoming recruiting class. Things are looking good for Ollie and the Huskies lately. -- Strong25. Syracuse Orange: Splash (1984) Believe in mermaids? You will after watching the 1984 comedy starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah. The Orange are out to make believers of us, too -- that last seasons Final Four run was not a fluke. Tyler Lydon headlines a roster that could again fly under the radar but has the talent to make a splash when the brackets are announced come March. -- Brown Discount Nike Flex . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. Wholesale Nike Flex China . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. http://www.cheapnikeflex.com/ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. There are many titles that could have been bestowed on Jessica Ennis-Hill during her magnificent athletics career. The Face of 2012? Of course. The nicest athlete in Britain? Almost certainly. The most beloved? Very possibly. The toughest? Well, if you had ever watched her train at her Sheffield base, you wouldnt have had to ask twice.Yet as British sport bade farewell on Thursday to its diminutive heroine with the big heart and the even bigger smile, it was also legitimate to wonder whether our Jess was, pound for pound, the finest, most complete all-round athlete this country has seen in the new millennium.We are talking of a woman who was not just the worlds best multi-eventer but, within Britain itself, brilliant enough to be at various points the nations top high jumper, its finest long jumper, its most outstanding, world-class hurdler and one of its fastest sprinters.Standing at 5-foot-5, she could leap 30cm above her own height -- a feat only ever achieved by a handful of jumpers -- and, though only a fraction above nine stone, she turned herself into one of the countrys top 10 shot putters. At her peak, she was forced through stress fractures to effectively relearn the long jump from scratch, having to take off from her left foot instead of her right, and yet still won the Olympic title within three years.Hers was an odyssey of courage, skill and unreal determination. No one trains harder than multi-eventers and no multi-eventer prepared harder than her.I once had the privilege to spend a day watching her train at the English Institute of Sport in her home town. It was truly wince-inducing.Intense sprints, skipping, sandpit drills, 12 long jumps, 12 puts, throwing technique sessions, circuit training, conditioning. Not as bad as the hill runs and weight sessions of the previous day but a brutal morning. She then sat at lunch just dreading the afternoons killer 800m training and, after those killer 200 metres reps, I actually did hear the unthinkable from her -- dear old Jess in agony, swearing her head off.Watching this workload, I remember later thinking that, after she had taken a break following her Olympic triumph to become a mum, it would be miraculous for her to reprise the same intense daily physical and mental slog that shed need to beat the world again. Thirteen months after giving birth to son Reggie, though, she was world heptathlon champion again. Yes, the mother of all comebacks.When such a natural talent was enhanced by such extraordinary determination, only one thing more was required to create the ideal athlete; a rare spirit when in the heat of competition.Toni Minichiello, the ebullient coach who could always seem to cajole the best out of this self-confessed worrier, once scolded me for suggesting she was Daley-esque, that she had something of the peerless Daley Thompsons ability to produce her best under the most sevvere moments of pressure. Wholesale Nike Flex Cheap. . No, Jessica-esque -- Daleyd learn a thing or two, he laughed.Certainly, Thompson could have taken a lesson or two in charm and how to win friends and influence people from Ennis-Hill. Its not easy having to live up to some fanciful role model notion but she never seemed to have to try; shes just a natural and it was for good reason that she was earlier this year voted ahead of Andy Murray as the sports personality that Britain was most proud of.In an era when athletics had become enveloped by doubt and cynicism, people still always felt that here as someone they could still believe in. Mick Thompson, the coach who first spotted the talent of an energetic 10-year-old schoolgirl when overseeing a summer camp in Sheffield, once told me shes never changed in all the time hes known her. Whats not to like about Jess? Still as good as gold, always friendly and open, he said.Too true. She kept that demeanour even when the pressure was at its absolute height. Like Cathy Freeman in Sydney 2000 and Michael Johnson in Atlanta 1996, she shouldered with wonderful aplomb the ultimate double -- being both the face and the hero of a home Olympic Games.What could have been more challenging than having to burst out of that London 2012 poster and into legend on that Super Saturday with anything less than gold being seen as some sort of failure? As an example of amazing grace under pressure, British sport has seen little like it.So, yes, she was as good as gold yet the funny thing was how she always sounded as if she never quite understood how brilliant she was.With her Olympic heptathlon gold and silver, her two world titles (actually, it should really have been three because she wasnt up-graded from silver in 2011 even after Russian winner Tatyana Chernova was subsequently discredited as a doping cheat), her world indoor pentathlon title and her European crown, there have been times when Ennis-Hill would have had a right to call herself the worlds best athlete. Yet, she just laughed that she couldnt bring herself to think like that because it all sounded a bit too surreal.Lets be clear, though. The woman who had a right to once feel a bit irritated by being faintly patronised as tadpole by one British rival ended up showing everyone that she was a veritable giant in the nations sporting firmament.More than that, Ennis-Hill was living proof that nice guys do finish first. She could have plumped for one final hurrah at next years world championships, back at the scene of her 2012 triumph, but she knew instinctively it was time to go.Like practically everything she did, our Jess, who radiated sunshine while she raided all those golds, got it right even at the very end of her quite glittering career. ' ' '