1. Kansas.

Great players, great coach, great system, great tradition, great program. Everyone of

consequence returns from last season's 27-8 squad, including the indomitable Cole Aldrich, the

dauntless Sherron Collins and the ever-improving Marcus Morris. The Jayhawks took the title in

2008 and had to work overtime to do it. Kansas may have it easier this time around and should

roll to the national championship.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Wilt Chamberlain

2. Michigan State

Without any superstars, Michigan State broke through to the Final Four again last spring,

bouncing Connecticut in the semis before running into juggernaut North Carolina in the finals.

Travis Walton is gone but he was the lesser member of the Spartans' splendid guard tandem.

Kalin Lucas returns, and he runs this team. Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe are rising stars and

Draymond Green isn't far behind.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Magic Johnson

3. North Carolina

Only a great program can lose four starters who are all on NBA rosters and be picked not

only to win the Atlantic Coast Conference but return to the Final Four. Forward Ed Davis is

regarded as a certain lottery pick, Marcus Ginyard is a bold defender while Larry Drew II will

run the team. Tyler Zeller returns after missing 23 games with a broken wrist and freshmen

twins David and Travis Wear will make an immediate impact.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Michael Jordan

4. Kentucky

It didn't take long for John Calipari to make Kentucky relevant again, did it? Patrick

Patterson returns but he isn't the star. That job belongs to point guard John Wall, who might

be better than former Calipari recruits Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans. Patterson can now move

out to the wing because of the presence of 6-foot-11 DeMarcus Cousins, one of the nation's top

prospects. The 'Cats lack experience but this team is loaded.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Dan Issel

5. Texas

The Longhorns are always loaded with talent, ranked high in the preseason and usually hang

around long enough to make noise in the NCAAs. Texas could return to the Final Four for the

first time since 2003 with the addition of Florida transfer Jai Lucas and Avery Bradley, who

will provide the outside shooting that was lacking a year ago. Up front, Damion James withdrew

from the NBA draft with the hopes of a Final Four run.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Kevin Durant

6. Villanova

This may be Jay Wright's deepest team. The backcourt of Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher and

Corey Stokes is the best in the country. Dante Cunningham will be missed but the four-man

recruiting class led by 6-9 forward Mouphtaou Yarou is highly regarded. Keep an eye on

sharp-shooter Taylor King, a Duke transfer. If Reynolds can help the newcomers mature quickly,

another shot at the Final Four is possible. They may even win it all.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Paul Arizin

7. Purdue

Five starters return, and all of them can play. So can Keaton Grant, a talented sub. For

all the acclaim afforded Ohio State's Evan Turner and Michigan State's Kalin Lucas,

Boilermakers forward Robbie Hummel could wind up the Big Ten's player of the year. JaJuan

Johnson is a talented center and E'Twuan Moore a solid third guard. The backcourt of Lewis

Jackson and Chris Kramer works together beautifully. If Hummel stays healthy, watch out for

Purdue.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Glenn Robinson

8. Duke

Gerald Henderson stayed three years and left. He'll be missed ... a little. That tells you

much about this program, an old-school national power. Mike Krzyzewski drives the Blue Devils

relentlessly and they always respond. Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler are big-time scorers and

Duke will be bolstered by the arrival of freshmen Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee. Come March,

nobody will want any part of this team.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Christian Laettner

9. West Virginia

Devin Ebanks was a flashy freshman last season and as a sophomore he could be the Big East

player of the year. He'll have much help. Four starters return, and the key loss is Alex

Ruoff. So what did Bob Huggins do to replace him? Signed sweet-shooting Casey Mitchell, the

top prospect from the junior college ranks. He'll blend in with Ebanks and Da'Sean Butler to

make the Mountaineers a legitimate top 10 team.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Jerry West

10. Tennessee

There's no All-American type here, but there is the standard size and depth. Wayne Chism

and Tyler Smith are solid underneath. Bobby Maze is a quick and clever point guard while 6-7

shooting guard J.P Prince is a matchup nightmare in the backcourt. Also back is 6-10 center

Brian Williams and 6-4 guard Josh Tabb while newcomer Kenny Hall figures to make an immediate

impact. The Vols are good enough to challenge Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Bernard King

11. Butler

Everyone should know by now that only the names and faces change at Butler. The Bulldogs

will make national noise again this winter because a lot of those faces who surprised

opponents last year return. Big man Matt Howard is the best player in the Horizon as a junior

and Gordon Hayward is a solid rebounder. Shelvin Mack isn't a flashy point guard but is

effective. The Bulldogs should coast through the Horizon but their non-league schedule is

tough.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Billy Shepherd

12. Washington

Last year, the Huskies won the Pac-10 with a nice mix of youth and experience. The

returning players will only get better. Sophomore guard Isaiah Thomas is a dynamic scorer and

Quincy Pondexter is a do-everything type. Remember the name Abdul Gaddy, the former McDonald's

All-American, who steps in immediately at point guard. If Venoy Overton expands his game and

plays to his gifts, Washington could end up with a long run come March.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Detlef Schrempf

13. California

How odd it sounds to call this a program on the rise, but that's the case. After some

shockingly ordinary years under Ben Braun, under Mike Montgomery the Bears are looking more

and more like a Final Four team. The frontcourt, back and intact, is outstanding. Jamal Boykin

is mean underneath, and Theo Robertson can swing into the backcourt. Point guard Jerome Randle

is hard to defend as is Patrick Christopher. The only weakness is jump shooting.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Jason Kidd

14. Connecticut

Two Huskies ... Hasheem Thabeet and A.J. Price ... were taken in the NBA draft and a third ...

Jeff Adrien ... should have been, which means that Jim Calhoun has gaps to fill. As ever,

though, he has the material. Some are calling much-improved jumping jack Stanley Robinson a

likely first-round pick. Undaunted as a freshman, Kemba Walker could be special as a

sophomore. Jerome Dyson is as talented as any player in the Big East.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Ray Allen

15. Michigan

John Beilein has worked quickly to rebuild a program besmirched by scandal and mediocre

coaching, and this is the year the Wolverines figure to consolidate gains. Four starters

return off a team that made the NCAAs for the first time since 1998. Guard Manny Harris is one

of the nation's true unsung talents. DeShawn Sims is a top forward in a conference overrun by

good forwards. The Wolverines need to rebound better.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Chris Webber

16. Oklahoma

The Sooners absorbed a body blow when forward Blake Griffin, the national player of the

year, left for the NBA after two seasons. That's the bad news. The good is sophomore Willie

Warren, a future Lottery pick, is back. Williams figures to run the Big 12 much like Griffin

did. If freshman point guard Thomas Mason-Griffin and 290-pound Keith "Tiny" Gallon adjust to

college basketball, the Sooners could be very good.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Wayman Tisdale

17. Ohio State

Evan Turner is the nation's finest small forward and a certain Lottery pick. He's versatile

enough to swing into the backcourt and play some point guard but this is far from a one-man

show. David Lighty is back after playing only seven games because of a broken foot. The

Buckeyes could use a little more size and thanks to the one-and-done departure of center B.J.

Mullens there's a lack of it.

Most notable NBA alumnus: John Havlicek

18. Minnesota

When Tubby Smith took the job as the Gophers coach nobody knew if it was going to work.

He'd been at Kentucky for so long and some figured he'd have a tough time recruiting to the

Twin Cities. But to a lot of people's surprise, Smith has sweet-talked a slew of gifted

athletes to come to play at Minnesota. Newcomers Royce White and Rodney Williams are a pair of

top 100 recruits.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Kevin McHale

19. Mississippi State

Yet another imposing frontline. Jarvis Varnado swats away shots at a pace of nearly five a

game and freshman Renardo Sidney is a beast offensively. But before Mississippi State starts

celebrating an SEC championship, Sidney has to clear the NCAA Clearinghouse first and that

isn't a given. Dee Bost is a nice point guard and shooters Barry Stewart, Ravern Johnson and

Phil Turner can stretch any defense. The Bulldogs should win the SEC West.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Bailey Howell

20. Georgia Tech

How does a team with Gani Lawal and Iman Shumpert miss the NCAA Tournament? The Yellow

Jackets are still pondering that question. Lawal and Shumpert are back and they add the best

freshman in the ACC in big man Derrick Favors. If he's as good as advertised, watch out. This

is an up-and-down program that appears on the rise but if they miss the NCAAs again, there's a

big problem for coach Paul Hewitt.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Kenny Anderson

21. Georgetown

The Hoyas will miss DeJuan Summers and Jesse Sapp but they aren't likely to finish at 16-15

like they did last season. They have one of the more experienced teams in the Big East, led

by sophomore forward Greg Monroe and junior guards Austin Freeman and Chris Wright. Hollis

Thompson will play on the wing and Henry Sims on the block. The Hoyas are one of the top teams

in the Big East and should rebound from their lackluster season.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Patrick Ewing

22. Dayton

The returns of Chris Wright and Marcus Johnson push the Flyers ahead of Xavier as favorites

in the Atlantic 10. London Warren is back at point guard but the backcourt gets a much needed

boost with the return of Rob Lowery, who missed the final 10 games with a knee injury. The

Flyers would be ranked higher if they shot better but they ranked in the league's bottom half

from the floor (42.1) and beyond the arc (32.8).

Most notable NBA alumnus: Jim Paxson

23. Siena

The Saints have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament each of the last two

seasons and bring back the experience, talent and depth to do it again. A 30-win season, which

could lead to a favorable seed, isn't out of the question. Kenny Hasbrouck is gone but

swingman Edwin Ubiles takes over his role as the Saints' go-to scorer. Alex Franklin and Ryan

Rossiter are strong up front.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Only a matter of time.

24. Louisville

The Cardinals lost a lot of talent, such as NBA draft picks Terrence Williams and Earl

Clark, and they'll be young along the frontline. But keep an eye on sophomore forward Samardo

Samuels, who could blossom into one of the best big men in the Big East. Playing alongside

Samuels are fellow sophomores Jared Swopshire and Terrence Jennings. The key to the season is

Edgar Sosa, who needs to play more consistently at point guard.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Wes Unseld

25. Illinois

Remember Illinois? Four years ago the Illini were in the national championship game led by

their devastating backcourt. They seemed like the real deal at the time and ready to make a

national splash but they bottomed out after a 16-19 season in 2007-08. But thanks to

back-to-back strong recruiting classes, Illinois is strong again. Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis

lead the way and point guard Demetri McCamey runs the show.

Most notable NBA alumnus: Deron Williams