Post by BeastModeCowboy on Oct 24, 2007 11:58:14 GMT -4
1. North Carolina
Everything is coming together at the right time for UNC. While the bulk of the ACC teams appear to be regressing – eight other teams lost their best player – the Heels remain loaded. Going undefeated in ACC play is a reasonable goal. Postseason success will depend largely on outside shooting and defense. If the Tar Heels do a solid job in both areas, they will have their second national title in four seasons. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
2. Memphis
The Tigers are primed for a run at the national title. They have talent, size, quickness and depth at every position. The non-conference schedule is a doozy, but it's designed to push this team in a way that Conference USA has been unable to in the past two seasons. Anything less than a Final Four appearance would be a disappointment. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
3. UCLA
The main difference between the Bruins and the other national-title favorites (Memphis, Kansas and North Carolina) is depth. The Bruins lack it at certain positions. But if they remain injury-free, there's no reason this team can't make another deep NCAA Tournament run. The Bruins have a difference-maker at point guard, a roster full of players with postseason experience, one of the best coaches in the game and the kind of big man they long have coveted. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
4. Kansas
Kansas coach Bill Self returns an experienced team that boasts as much talent as any squad in the country. The Jayhawks are eyeing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and hoping to avoid another postseason disappointment. Forward Brandon Rush is expected to return from an ACL injury in Dec. 1 to complement one of the nation's deepest and most explosive backcourts. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
5. Louisville
The Cardinals will be up-tempo on both ends of the floor, and they have the horses to pull it off - for the most part. The coach wants his team to be better defensively than it was a year ago (fifth in the Big East in scoring defense), but there's no reason to believe that can't happen. No team in the conference can throw more big, able bodies at you than Louisville. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
6. Tennessee
The Vols appear loaded for a run at the national title. The roster is brimming with great athletes who fit into Pearl's system. The Vols lose only one player from last season's team, which led eventual national runner-up Ohio State by 17 points at the half in the Sweet 16. The only questions are on defense, where the Vols don't rebound well and are devoid of a real shutdown guy. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
7. Indiana
The arrival of five-star recruit Eric Gordon to the Indiana basketball program has Hoosier fans as hyped as ever. The ultra-talented guard is set to make a huge impact the first time he steps on the floor for a team that checks in at No. 7 in our Top 64 Countdown. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
8. Michigan State
Star guard Drew Neitzel carried the offensive load last season, but coach Tom Izzo would like to see his star guard shoot just as much but take better shots and play fewer minutes. That's possible with the depth in the backcourt. There is quality depth up front, too. If the big men can make some strides from last season, this could be a Final Four team. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
9. USC
With as many as three freshmen set to start, a lot of critics like to talk about the Trojans' youth. But this team is oozing with talent. O.J. Mayo is a one-and-done player. Davon Jefferson and Taj Gibson will leave for the NBA before their eligibility is exhausted. The backcourt lacks depth, but the Trojans will make a legit run at the Final Four if Mayo stays healthy. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
10. Georgetown
The Hoyas have a chance to return to the lofty heights of last season. They have arguably the nation's best center in Roy Hibbert, and they have a solid backcourt in Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp. Georgetown's success - for our purposes defined as getting at least as far as last year - hinges on DaJuan Summers. He has all of the tools to be the next Jeff Green. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
11. Kansas State
With Bill Walker back from injury and his former AAU teammate Michael Beasley on campus, Kansas State may have the nation's most athletic frontcourt. The Wildcats' biggest question is whether a new coach can capitalize on that talent. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
12. Arizona
The roster is full of talent. Budinger is one of the most gifted players in the nation, and Bayless is good enough to be an instant star. If Hill can make some big strides, Olson will find a way to get back into the Sweet 16. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
13. Stanford
We haven't seen near the best this Stanford team has to offer. Their ultra-young lineup combined for 460 assists and 459 turnovers last season. That's alarming news for the rest of the Pac-10 considering they still found a way to make the NCAA Tournament. Expect fewer mistakes in 2007-08. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
14. Washington State
The Cougars enter the preseason with heavy expectations for maybe the first time ever. The longtime Pac-10 doormat hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game for 24 years until last season. Don't expect them to start another streak like that in 2007-08. As long as they stay healthy, the Cougars won't have any problems getting back into the field of 65. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
15. Marquette
The Golden Eagles have plenty of reason for optimism with the top seven players back from a team that won 24 games. Their guards can play with anyone, so if Ousmane Barro and Lazar Hayward can produce consistently inside, Marquette is easily a Sweet 16 team - and possibly more. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
16. Duke
The Blue Devils have the personnel to start another streak of trips to the Sweet 16; their run of nine in a row came to an end last season. But without an inside scoring threat and a frontcourt full of questions, this team has a ceiling that stops short of the Final Four. We think they'll land a solid seed in the NCAA Tournament, but don't expect them to advance past the second weekend. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
17. Mississippi State
The Bulldogs have Elite Eight potential if they can develop a little depth and maintain team chemistry. There will be games when this team looks unbeatable. If it can avoid melting down after losses, Mississippi State should post 23-25 wins and help Tennessee carry the SEC's banner late into March. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
18. N.C. State
The Wolfpack generated a lot of preseason buzz by making a shocking run to the final of the 2007 ACC Tournament. For most of last season, the team looked like a rebuilding project, finishing 5-11 in league play. So, which Wolfpack team will show up in 2007-08? We believe it will be the team you saw in March. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
19. Syracuse
Coach Jim Boeheim will have a young squad, but there's a lot of excitement over the recruiting class, and rightfully so. Boeheim would like to temper the enthusiasm, but Flynn and Greene have a chance to be very good very quickly. Look for them to deliver on their promise and for Syracuse to leave no doubt this season that it belongs in the NCAA Tournament. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
20. Texas
On the surface, it's easy to think Texas will take a big step back without Durant. But the Longhorns were a successful program before Durant arrived in Austin, reaching the Sweet 16 in four of the previous five seasons. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
21. Connecticut
Can the Huskies bounce back from a 12th-place finish in the Big East? The short answer is yes. The talent level hardly has eroded, but there is a bit of apprehension because the talent didn't translate last season. It would be more surprising if this team goes belly up like last year than it would be if it wins 20-24 games and makes a run at the Sweet 16. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
22. Oregon
Oregon's Tajuan Porter will have to shoulder the load of being the Ducks' offensive catalyst this season. With a strong surrounding cast, Porter's ability to step in for last year's star, Aaron Brooks, may be the key to Oregon's return to the regional finals. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
23. Pittsburgh
The loss of inside forces Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall leave Pittsburgh with some question marks, but the Panthers return more than enough to find themselves in the thick of the Big East race once again. A favorable schedule in the conference won't hurt either. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
24. Alabama
When we compiled our Preseason Top 64, Alabama looked like a team with Final Four talent. But the news that point guard Ronald Steele will miss the season changes things for the No. 24 team in our countdown. Coach Mark Gottfried will be forced to rely on young point guards to survive in the SEC West. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
25. Southern Illinois
The expectations again will be high for a team that has made seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Randal Falker, the Missouri Valley Conference's top defender, anchors a solid frontcourt, and the Salukis figure to be as talented as last year's regional semifinalist squad. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
26. Arkansas
After some tumult in securing Pelphrey to be its next coach, the Arkansas program is poised for an uptick. The talent is there to contend in the SEC West with Mississippi State and Alabama. He has athletic wing players who can make plays on defense and get out in transition. If the point-guard play is steady and as a team the Hogs can cut down on their turnovers, they should be playing well into March. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
Everything is coming together at the right time for UNC. While the bulk of the ACC teams appear to be regressing – eight other teams lost their best player – the Heels remain loaded. Going undefeated in ACC play is a reasonable goal. Postseason success will depend largely on outside shooting and defense. If the Tar Heels do a solid job in both areas, they will have their second national title in four seasons. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
2. Memphis
The Tigers are primed for a run at the national title. They have talent, size, quickness and depth at every position. The non-conference schedule is a doozy, but it's designed to push this team in a way that Conference USA has been unable to in the past two seasons. Anything less than a Final Four appearance would be a disappointment. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
3. UCLA
The main difference between the Bruins and the other national-title favorites (Memphis, Kansas and North Carolina) is depth. The Bruins lack it at certain positions. But if they remain injury-free, there's no reason this team can't make another deep NCAA Tournament run. The Bruins have a difference-maker at point guard, a roster full of players with postseason experience, one of the best coaches in the game and the kind of big man they long have coveted. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
4. Kansas
Kansas coach Bill Self returns an experienced team that boasts as much talent as any squad in the country. The Jayhawks are eyeing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and hoping to avoid another postseason disappointment. Forward Brandon Rush is expected to return from an ACL injury in Dec. 1 to complement one of the nation's deepest and most explosive backcourts. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
5. Louisville
The Cardinals will be up-tempo on both ends of the floor, and they have the horses to pull it off - for the most part. The coach wants his team to be better defensively than it was a year ago (fifth in the Big East in scoring defense), but there's no reason to believe that can't happen. No team in the conference can throw more big, able bodies at you than Louisville. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
6. Tennessee
The Vols appear loaded for a run at the national title. The roster is brimming with great athletes who fit into Pearl's system. The Vols lose only one player from last season's team, which led eventual national runner-up Ohio State by 17 points at the half in the Sweet 16. The only questions are on defense, where the Vols don't rebound well and are devoid of a real shutdown guy. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
7. Indiana
The arrival of five-star recruit Eric Gordon to the Indiana basketball program has Hoosier fans as hyped as ever. The ultra-talented guard is set to make a huge impact the first time he steps on the floor for a team that checks in at No. 7 in our Top 64 Countdown. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
8. Michigan State
Star guard Drew Neitzel carried the offensive load last season, but coach Tom Izzo would like to see his star guard shoot just as much but take better shots and play fewer minutes. That's possible with the depth in the backcourt. There is quality depth up front, too. If the big men can make some strides from last season, this could be a Final Four team. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
9. USC
With as many as three freshmen set to start, a lot of critics like to talk about the Trojans' youth. But this team is oozing with talent. O.J. Mayo is a one-and-done player. Davon Jefferson and Taj Gibson will leave for the NBA before their eligibility is exhausted. The backcourt lacks depth, but the Trojans will make a legit run at the Final Four if Mayo stays healthy. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
10. Georgetown
The Hoyas have a chance to return to the lofty heights of last season. They have arguably the nation's best center in Roy Hibbert, and they have a solid backcourt in Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp. Georgetown's success - for our purposes defined as getting at least as far as last year - hinges on DaJuan Summers. He has all of the tools to be the next Jeff Green. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
11. Kansas State
With Bill Walker back from injury and his former AAU teammate Michael Beasley on campus, Kansas State may have the nation's most athletic frontcourt. The Wildcats' biggest question is whether a new coach can capitalize on that talent. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
12. Arizona
The roster is full of talent. Budinger is one of the most gifted players in the nation, and Bayless is good enough to be an instant star. If Hill can make some big strides, Olson will find a way to get back into the Sweet 16. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
13. Stanford
We haven't seen near the best this Stanford team has to offer. Their ultra-young lineup combined for 460 assists and 459 turnovers last season. That's alarming news for the rest of the Pac-10 considering they still found a way to make the NCAA Tournament. Expect fewer mistakes in 2007-08. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
14. Washington State
The Cougars enter the preseason with heavy expectations for maybe the first time ever. The longtime Pac-10 doormat hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game for 24 years until last season. Don't expect them to start another streak like that in 2007-08. As long as they stay healthy, the Cougars won't have any problems getting back into the field of 65. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
15. Marquette
The Golden Eagles have plenty of reason for optimism with the top seven players back from a team that won 24 games. Their guards can play with anyone, so if Ousmane Barro and Lazar Hayward can produce consistently inside, Marquette is easily a Sweet 16 team - and possibly more. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
16. Duke
The Blue Devils have the personnel to start another streak of trips to the Sweet 16; their run of nine in a row came to an end last season. But without an inside scoring threat and a frontcourt full of questions, this team has a ceiling that stops short of the Final Four. We think they'll land a solid seed in the NCAA Tournament, but don't expect them to advance past the second weekend. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
17. Mississippi State
The Bulldogs have Elite Eight potential if they can develop a little depth and maintain team chemistry. There will be games when this team looks unbeatable. If it can avoid melting down after losses, Mississippi State should post 23-25 wins and help Tennessee carry the SEC's banner late into March. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
18. N.C. State
The Wolfpack generated a lot of preseason buzz by making a shocking run to the final of the 2007 ACC Tournament. For most of last season, the team looked like a rebuilding project, finishing 5-11 in league play. So, which Wolfpack team will show up in 2007-08? We believe it will be the team you saw in March. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
19. Syracuse
Coach Jim Boeheim will have a young squad, but there's a lot of excitement over the recruiting class, and rightfully so. Boeheim would like to temper the enthusiasm, but Flynn and Greene have a chance to be very good very quickly. Look for them to deliver on their promise and for Syracuse to leave no doubt this season that it belongs in the NCAA Tournament. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
20. Texas
On the surface, it's easy to think Texas will take a big step back without Durant. But the Longhorns were a successful program before Durant arrived in Austin, reaching the Sweet 16 in four of the previous five seasons. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
21. Connecticut
Can the Huskies bounce back from a 12th-place finish in the Big East? The short answer is yes. The talent level hardly has eroded, but there is a bit of apprehension because the talent didn't translate last season. It would be more surprising if this team goes belly up like last year than it would be if it wins 20-24 games and makes a run at the Sweet 16. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
22. Oregon
Oregon's Tajuan Porter will have to shoulder the load of being the Ducks' offensive catalyst this season. With a strong surrounding cast, Porter's ability to step in for last year's star, Aaron Brooks, may be the key to Oregon's return to the regional finals. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
23. Pittsburgh
The loss of inside forces Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall leave Pittsburgh with some question marks, but the Panthers return more than enough to find themselves in the thick of the Big East race once again. A favorable schedule in the conference won't hurt either. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
24. Alabama
When we compiled our Preseason Top 64, Alabama looked like a team with Final Four talent. But the news that point guard Ronald Steele will miss the season changes things for the No. 24 team in our countdown. Coach Mark Gottfried will be forced to rely on young point guards to survive in the SEC West. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
25. Southern Illinois
The expectations again will be high for a team that has made seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Randal Falker, the Missouri Valley Conference's top defender, anchors a solid frontcourt, and the Salukis figure to be as talented as last year's regional semifinalist squad. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook
26. Arkansas
After some tumult in securing Pelphrey to be its next coach, the Arkansas program is poised for an uptick. The talent is there to contend in the SEC West with Mississippi State and Alabama. He has athletic wing players who can make plays on defense and get out in transition. If the point-guard play is steady and as a team the Hogs can cut down on their turnovers, they should be playing well into March. [ In-Depth Preview ]
MORE: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook