College basketball is here, while professional basketball is not. Here are the teams that will highlight the new season:
1. **North Carolina** – All five starters return from an Elite Eight squad that really grew up down the stretch. At this point, the Tar Heels have no weaknesses.
2. **Ohio State** – It’s not fair that Ohio State got Naismith favorite forward Jared Sullinger to return for another year. The same goes for the talent he has around him.
3. **Kentucky** – The talent continues to brew in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats welcome three of the top eight ESPNU prospects to a team that returns forwards Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb.
4. **Syracuse** – The Orange added a big-time recruiting class to fix the defensive and rebounding issues that held back the scoring three-some of guard Scoop Jardine, forward Kris Joseph and guard Brandon Triche.
5. **UConn** – Kemba is gone, which seemingly means everything. The return of rising star forward Jeremy Lamb and the addition of center Andre Drummond (No. 2 in the ESPNU 100) severely lessen the blow.
6. **Vanderbilt** – Aside from UNC, Vanderbilt might be the most experienced team in the nation this season.
7. **Duke** – The Blue Devils will replace much of their lost talent with guard Austin Rivers (No. 3 ESPNU) and a returning core of guards Seth Currey and the Plumlees.
8. **Pittsburgh** – The addition of a top 15 recruit in center Khem Birch and the return of leading scorer center Ashton Gibbs give coach Jamie Dixon the talent he needs to get over the hump.
9. **Louisville** – Coach Rick Pitino has added two top 30 freshmen to aid guard Peyton Siva with ample talent. And when Pitino has talent, it’s a scary time for opponents.
10. **Wisconsin** – Guard Jordan Taylor’s return to school gives the Badgers back the nation’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio. Let’s also not forget that this _is_ Wisconsin.
11. **Baylor** – Talent hasn’t been an issue for Baylor. Perhaps the experience will finally produce better results.
12. **Memphis** – These Tigers have really collaborated on some talent-building, adding elite recruit forward Adonis Thomas to a tournament team returning its bulk.
13. **Xavier** – The Musketeers will need guard Tu Holloway to carry the load. Luckily for the X, he’s very capable of doing just that.
14. **Cincinnati** – It’s hard not to like what Mick Cronin has built at Cincinnati. Forward Yancy Gates represents a toughness that will keep Cincinnati in almost every game it plays.
15. **Florida** – Few backcourts in the country will be able to match what the Gators bring in guards Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker and others. Billy Donovan’s biggest hurdle will be his lack of returning post presence.
16. **California** – The Cal core returns in guard Jorge Gutierrez, forward Harper Kamp and guard Allen Crabbe, who can rival most threesomes in the country.
17. **Kansas** – Kansas only returns guard Tyshawn Taylor and forward Thomas Robinson to the starting lineup. But that’s more talent than most of the Big 12 has this season.
18. **Alabama** – The Crimson Tide will enjoy a rare dance after adding backcourt talent to a team that dominated the boards almost to the tournament last season.
19. **Michigan** – Coach John Beilien will continue his building project with guard Tim Hardaway in the centerfold.
20. **Marquette** – Coach Buzz Williams is amusing and star Darius Johnson-Odom is electric. The combo spells some Big East success.
21. **Texas A&M** – Few teams have the upperclassman experience that the Aggies do, led by diverse forward Khris Middleton.
22. **Temple** – The Owls will follow up last year’s 26-win campaign with more success behind one of the better backcourts around.
23. **Arizona** – Losing forward Derrick Williams is about as challenging as it gets. The Wildcats take a step back this season, but with the talent coach Sean Miller is collecting, it likely won’t be too far of a step.
24. **UCLA** – UCLA should be able to use the raw talent it has to post another successful year in the limp PAC-12.
25. **Purdue** – The Boilermakers’ success rides on the health and performance of once-star Robbie Hummell, a Naismith candidate prior to preseason injury last year.
**Naismith Trophy**: _Jared Sullinger, forward, Ohio State_. He’s simply the most talented player in college basketball. The off-season work will only further the impact he has down low for the Buckeyes.
**Coach of the Year**: _Jim Calhoun, UConn_. Not many coaches could lose Kemba Walker and come close to duplicating the previous year’s success. Jim Calhoun will do it.
**National Championship**: _North Carolina over Ohio State_. A matchup of North Carolina’s backcourt against Ohio State’s frontcourt would be something to behold.
