Two weeks into the NCAA season and we’ve already seen a ton of unexpected storylines. From emerging powerhouses to stunning struggles, college basketball is providing a ton of interest early. Let’s take a look at five of the biggest storylines so far.

5. UCLA falls out of rankings

UCLA was ranked No. 11 in the AP Week 3 poll, but just a week later and they’ve tumbled out of all the rankings.

The Nov. 19^th loss to Georgetown was certainly survivable, especially considering Otto Porter and the Hoyas are better than anyone expected. But a Nov. 25^th loss to Cal Poly AT home? That is unforgivable.

With Shabazz Muhammad, Jordan Adams and Travis Wear the Bruins have the potential to be a top 10 team, but they need to right this ship quickly.

4. Western squads are excelling

Aside from the disappointing UCLA, the Western half of the United States has a ton to be celebrating in college basketball.

Colorado is 5-0 and won the Charleston Classic after going unranked in the preseason. While their emergence wasn’t exactly a surprise (I ranked them third in the Pac 12 in preseason), the fact that they are No. 19 in the nation while Andre Roberson is fourth in points per game (10.6) tells you just how deep this squad really is.

Next is Gonzaga, who were No. 21 in preseason but now sit at No. 12 after a 6-0 start. The Zags are 21^st best in the nation in points per game (82.2 a contest) and have solid wins over Clemson, Oklahoma and Davidson. Senior Elias Harris is averaging 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals a contest for Gonzaga.

Other squads out west are matching expectations, as No. 9 Arizona (3-0, but without any real competition), No. 23 San Diego State (4-1, the only loss coming against No. 6 Syracuse) and No. 25 New Mexico (6-0 with a win over UConn) all finding themselves ranked.

3. Oklahoma State is matching their potential

With LeBryan Nash and Marcus Smart on their roster, the Cowboys had the potential to excel and be an elite team.

It didn’t start so well—they looked bad in a 73-65 win over UC Davis, and needed overtime to beat Akron in the Puerto Rico Tip-off. But the next day they smashed Tennessee 62-45, and then went on to upset then No. 6 North Carolina State 76-56 to win the tournament.

A 5-0 start puts the Cowboys in excellent shape to excel this season. Le’Bryan Nash is averaging 19.2 points and 6.4 rebounds on 46.4 percent shooting and looks more like a lottery selection every day. If Marcus Smart (13.4 points and 7.0 rebounds but on 37.7 percent shooting) and up his field goal percentage, this could be a look for a top 10 slot the rest of the way.

In my preview of the Big 12, I said I was betting the farm on this young and inexperienced team when I ranked them 5^th in the conference. Turns out I might have been too harsh on them.

2. The 2013 Draft Class is looking really good

Early indications have the cream of the 2013 potential draft crop looking exceedingly bright, even some players we didn’t expect to excel quite this much.

UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad has only played three games, and while his 42.9 percent field goal percent isn’t great, his 17 point/5 rebound average puts him in contention for the top draft spot.

Indiana’s Cody Zeller is right back to being a monster, averaging 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds on 63.5 percent shooting.

We had some reason to worry about Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel, but he’s averaging 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.6 blocks a game while shooting 62.5 percent from the field. If these three all keep up their stats, they’ll make it one crazy exciting June for the NBA clubs.

Other names like Maryland’s Alex Len (15.2 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 blocks), North Carolina’s James McAdoo (15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds), North Texas’ Tony Mitchell (15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks), Kentucky’s Alex Poythress (18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 67.4 prcent shooting) and LeHigh’s C.J. McCollum (26.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 50.8 percent shooting) are all doing exceptionally well. This has the makings of a surprisingly good draft class.

1. Duke is No. 2 team in the nation

I was as skeptical of Duke as I was of any team this year, but so far the Blue Devils look like a serious title contender.

Mason Plumlee is averaging 19.7 points 10.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game while shooting 67.2 percent from the field. If that wasn’t enough, Seth Curry is doing his best Steph Curry impression and averaging 17.0 points on 46.2 percent shooting.

They’ve snagged wins over No. 8 Kentucky and No. 5 Louisville and have a very VERY nice schedule until the start of ACC contests. We could honestly be looking at an unbeaten Duke squad before thy meet up at North Carolina State on January 12^th.

Welcome to October… I mean, November! Continuing to count down to the start of real game action, I present to you the last of my major conference previews.

The Big Ten—and perhaps the NCAA Championship—will run through Indiana, as the Hoosiers have regained their place in basketball glory. Can anyone else in the Big Ten keep pace with Cody Zeller and company?

Top Five Squads:

1. Indiana Hoosiers

Let’s skip over the big fish (Zeller) for just a moment and focus on the rest of the Hoosiers.

Yogi Ferrell gives Indiana a second superstar, and more importantly, one they can build around when Zeller goes pro next year. He’s an electric quick guard with good floor general skills and a dynamic shooting range.

Next to him is Jordan Hills (11.7 points last year), Christian Walford (12.6), Victor Oladipo (10.8), and of course Zeller (15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds). That isn’t even mentioning the four other Indiana freshmen, all of whom can make an immediate impact.

Tom Crean has built a powerhouse in Indiana, one that will be very fun to watch.

Hit the jump for the rest of Bryant’s preview…

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Jared Sullinger is gone, but in slides DeShaun Thomas to take his place. Add in returning point guard Aaron Craft—among the top five in all of college basketball at his position—and the Buckeyes aren’t going anywhere.

Craft is an elite defender (98 steals last year) and a sharp floor leader, and his numbers (8.8 points and 4.6 assists) will both go up this year.

Expect a breakout season for LaQuinton Ross, who will get much more playing time this season. The only thing that might keep the Buckeyes down this list is their depth, which isn’t as scary as Michigan or Wisconsin. Still, the talent is there.

3. Michigan Wolverines

Trey Burke is a dynamic point in a conference of dynamic points, and he seems a logical fit for the POY honors should anything befall Mr. Ziller.

Tim Hardaway Jr. is a great scorer as well, and Michigan added in some excellent freshmen in Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III. A lot hangs on the ability of those two (McGary in particular) to contribute immediate. The Wolverines desperately need some size to rival Indiana, and McGary offers that on paper.

4. Wisconsin Badgers

A Sweet Sixteen team last year, Wisconsin returns four starters from last year’s squad. That would be excellent news, but the departing senior was point Jordan Taylor, and his absence leaves a huge hole for the Badgers.

In a conference of so many stellar points, the lack of one for Wisconsin offsets some of their other assets. They have great depth and versatility, from center Jared Berggren to off-guard Josh Gasser to swingman Ryan Evans—but they’ll be starting redshirted freshman George Marshall, and we’ll have to wait and see just how good he is before we’ll know how far Wisconsin can go.

5. Michigan State Spartans

The loss of total all-around star Draymond Green is devastating to the Spartans, but they can survive.  Adreian Payne will be the go-to player in the paint, and he’s more comfortable as a post scorer than Green was.

Keith Appling would be a top three point in any conference that didn’t already have guys like Burke, Craft and Ferrell in it. His numbers of 11.4 points and 3.9 assist should climb this year and he handles the ball even more.

Add in talents like Branden Dawson and perhaps Derrick Nix (should he regain his job following an offseason arrest) and Michigan State has the depth to climb as No. 2 on this list.

Four Players to Watch:

1. Cody Zeller, Indiana

Zeller was dominant last season, scoring 15.6 points and nabbing 6.6 rebounds while shooting an absurd 62.6 percent from the field.

The scary part? He’s still very, very raw. We might be looking at the next Kevin Love type player here.

Zeller has a basketball IQ off the charts and an excellent scoring feel, but he’s still got plenty of room to grow as a post man, as a rebounder and as a defender. He’s a lock to win not only the Big 10 POY honors but to hear his name called in the top five of the 2013 NBA Draft.

2. DeShaun Thomas, Ohio State:

Thomas isn’t even the most important player on his team (that would be Aaron Craft) but keep an eye on him to have a breakout season.

Thomas was dominant in the NCAA tournament up until the Final Four matchup with Kansas Aside from that final game, he averaged 21.8 points a contest in the tournament and proved the Buckeyes fans didn’t have much to worry about with Jared Sullinger going pro.

He’s a big undersized for his position, but he’s a determined worker and knows how to command his weight in the paint.

3. Trey Burke, Michigan

In his rookie season last year, Burke averaged 14.8 points and 4.6 assists a contest. Both numbers should go up, considering the wealth of talent surrounding him.

He wasn’t as good a defender as he was a scorer, and his handles need work, but Burke will be right up there with Ferrell and Craft as the Big 10’s top guards.

4. Jared Berggren, Wisconsin

Berggren is an odd center. He’s a big man who is much more comfortable at the top of the key (or even at the three point line, where he took 3.4 a game and made 37.2 percent of them) on offense, but on defense he’s a terror to attack down low. He averaged 1.7 blocks a contest in a conference where he faced excellent opposition.

One of the more unique players to watch, he pretty much sums up Wisconsin—quirky, tough and versatile.

Three Award Predictions:

Player of the Year: Cody Zeller, Indiana
Newcomer of the Year: Yogi Ferrell, Indiana
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Craft, Ohio State

Two Storylines to Pay Attention To:

1. Is Indiana back as a NCAA powerhouse for the long-term?

Cody Zeller exceeded all expectations, but it’s now about far more than one player. In comes Yogi Ferrell, forward Jeremy Hollowell, Peter Jurkin, Hanner Mosquerea-Pere and Ron Patterson. ESPN ranks the Indiana recruiting class at No. 12, but I’d put them much higher than that. This is a group that will contribute to a Championship run immediately, and it proves Indiana is back in a big way.

Coach Crean has finally got that pipeline over and the talent is pouring in. It’ll hopefully be a long time before it dries up again in the Hoosier state.

2. How long will Illinois be in a rebuilding stretch?

From 2003 to 2007, eight Illini players made it into the NBA, including Brian Cook and Deron Williams. Since 2007, only one player—Meyers Leonard, the No. 11 overall selection in 2012—made it to the big league.

Now that Leonard has headed pro and Illinois has a new coach in John Groce. They also have no proven players outside of Brandon Paul (who dropped 43 on Ohio State last year) and perhaps D.J. Richardson.

Now that the NBA prospect pipeline through Illinois has apparently gone dry, it’ll take a couple of years for Groce to return the team to an NCAA worthy squad. It’s just a shame that when one college (Indiana) returns to power, another crumbles.

One Conference Championship Winner: Indiana Hoosiers

Don’t expect these Hoosiers to pull a Kentucky and falter away a conference title while thinking about the real deal. These Hoosiers are young, but they are extremely talented and well coached.

Projected Final Standings:
1. Indiana Hoosiers
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Michigan Wolverines
4. Wisconsin Badgers
5. Michigan State Spartans
6. Minnesota Golden Gophers
7. Purdue Boilermakers
8. Northwestern Wildcats
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
10. Illinois Illini
11. Nebraska Cornhuskers
12. Purdue Nittany Lions

Welcome to October! For the next month leading up to the start of actual NCAA Games, I’ll be breaking down some of the biggest conferences.

The Big 12 is perhaps the most under-appreciated conference this season, with five teams who could legitimately run for the conference title. Does Kansas have enough to repeat in the Final Four?

Top Five Squads:

1. Kansas Jayhawks

Taking away a superstar like Thomas Robinson will crush any squad, but Kansas still has the most depth and total talent in the conference.

Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford and Kevin Young all return for the Jayhawks, as does defensive stud extraordinary Jeff Withey. All are expected to up their scoring in the absence of Robinson and point guard TyShawn Taylor.

Freshman Ben McLemore could start, and he’d certainly help in the scoring department. He sat out last year with academic issues, but was compared to Florida’s Bradley Beal (the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft). If he can provide top scoring instincts to Kansas’ already deep roster, the Jayhawks could go right back to the Final Four.

Hit the jump for the rest of Bryant’s preview…

2. Kansas State Wildcats

The Wildcats squad won with defense and rebounding last season, scooping up 22 victories and shocking most of the country. They return four of their starters and add two solid freshmen in hopes that they can keep up last year’s success.

Coach Bruce Weber came over after being fired by Illinois last season. While it may hurt the Wildcats in terms of continuity, Weber just has too much talent here to expect any sort of dropoff.

Rodney McGruder averaged 15.8 points last year, and when you factor in depth like Jordan Henriquez, Will Spradling and Angel Rodreiguez, the Wildcats could contend for the Big 12 title. If they keep up their defense from last year, some more NCAA noise is a lock.

3. Texas Longhorns

Texas adds in four stellar rookies to a squad with high hopes but not a ton of experience to back that up.

Sophomore Myck Kabongo had a disappointing year last year, but now that he has eight freshmen to work with. The best of those are forwards Cameron Ridley, Prince Ibeh and Conner Lammert—all of whom are 6’9” or taller. In a conference with some tough big men, Texas has the lockdown on big man depth.

The Longhorns will run only as far as Kabongo can take them, but with a year under his belt and a ton of new talent to work with, I expect a better season than last year. The loss of J’Covan Brown hurts big time, though.

4. Baylor Bears

Out goes the infuriating Perry Jones, in comes 7’0” center Isaiah Austin. Call that a win for Baylor. (More on Austin in our four players to watch.)

Pierre Jackson and Brady Heslip, both key parts in their NCAA tourney run, return and figure to see a greater role this year. The two combine to make the best guard combo in the conference aside from Oklahoma State.

It’s a shame that Scott Drew’s success at Baylor is now overshadowed by the NCAA probation for recruiting indiscretions. He’s great at getting talent, even if he doesn’t always develop them all the way (see Perry Jones).

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

I’m betting the farm on this young and inexperienced team, but I’m hedging on huge seasons from both sophomore LeBryan Nash and freshman Marcus Smart. More on Nash in a minute, so let’s focus on the rest of the Cowboys.

Smart is a top 10 freshmen by nearly all accounts, and his all-around game gives he Cowboys a much needed second option to Nash. Add in guard/forward Brian Williams (9.6 points, 3.3 boards) and some solid wing depth and Oklahoma State looks sharp this year.

Their big loss is in the middle, where Phillip Jurick was set to start but was arrested in summer on drug charges. In a league with tons of power in the paint, this is a huge weakness for the Cowboys.

Four Players to Watch:

1. LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State

Nash was one of the more highly watched freshmen last year, but efficiency issues kept him (13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds) from becoming the star he has the potential to be. If he works on his range and picks his shots better, he could easily be in contention for Big 12 player of the year. His all-around potential is enormous, and a NBA lottery pick is within reach.

2. Jeff Withey, Kansas:

Is it crazy to expect that Withey can become “the man” now that Thomas Robison is gone? Not especially. He’s the NCAA’s best defensive presence and will be impossible for anyone to go against down low next season, and he’s a solid rebounder to boot.

We just haven’t seen Withey ever be an offensive “go-to” player. He has the work ethic and the size to be that kind of post player, but it isn’t a sure thing.

3. Myck Kabongo, Texas:

After averaging a disappointing 9.6 points and 5.6 assists last season, Kabongo returns to an improved Texas squad that has many new freshman but that will miss J’Covan Brown.

Kabongo has elite NBA level point guard skills, but needs to prove he can score efficiently. His jump shot needs serious work, and he cannot just rely on his athleticism.

If he improves this season (13 points, 6.5 assists or so) he is a lock for a top 20 pick next June.

4. Isaiah Austin, Baylor:

There are some rumblings that the new big man in Baylor may share Perry Jones’ spotty consistency. Certainly hope that isn’t the case, because there aren’t many big men that come with Austin’s raw potential.

He combines size, strength and athleticism with a sharp rebounding game and solid defensive skills. He’s a bit raw in the paint, but should struggle to score. If he can prove he’s a harder worker/more consistent player than Jones ever was, a bright NBA future awaits.

Three Award Predictions:

Player of the Year: LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State
Newcomer of the Year: Isaiah Austin, Baylor
Defensive Player of the Year: Jeff Withey, Kansas

Two Storylines to Pay Attention To:

1. What does TCU bring to the Big 12?

The Horned Frogs are easily a step below anyone in the Big 12. They’re a very safe lock to finish No. 10 in the conference barring huge injuries to any other squad.

What exactly does TCU bring to the Big 12? What can Coach Trent Johnson do to make the Horned Frogs a contender? He’s going to need a few seasons, and not to mention a big influx of talent.

Credit to TCU for taking this plunge. The next few years will be brutal, but you can’t even pass up the chance to join a powerhouse conference.

2. Which freshman will take the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award?

This is a real tough one to figure out. Isaiah Austin of Baylor, Ben McLemore from Kansas and Marcus Smart from Oklahoma State all have huge potential. Throw in Texas’ Cameron Ridley and Kansas; Perry Ellis as longshots and you have the deepest freshman conference outside of the Pac 12.

One Conference Championship Winner: Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas State could make a run with their depth and defense. Texas could if Kabongo clicks with the freshman. Baylor could if Isaiah Austin dominates the paint while Pierre Jackson and Brady Heslip crush from the outside. Oklahoma State could walk away with it if LeBryan Nash and Marcus Smart dominate to their full potential.

Give the nod to the deeper, smarter, more experienced Jayhawks. Bill Self will turn these guys into winners even if they lack a superstar.

Projected Final Standings:
1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Kansas State Wildcats
3. Texas Longhorns
4. Baylor Bears
5. Oklahoma State Cowboys
6. West Virginia Mountaineers
7. Oklahoma Sooners
8. Iowa State Cyclones
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
10. TCU Horned Frogs

Welcome to October! For the next month leading up to the start of actual NCAA Games, I’ll be breaking down some of the biggest conferences. After a Final Four run last year, many are picking Louisville to win the NCAA Championship this season. They certainly can, but they’ll have competition in their own conference, as the Big East is just about as tough as any other this season.

Top Five Squads:

1. Louisville Cardinals:
There might not be a more “complete” team than Louisville this season. The Cardinals have everything you want in a Championship caliber squad, minus the NBA prospects.

Peyton Silva is one of the best point guards in the country, while Gorgui Dieng is one of the better big men in the game. That alone makes the Cardinals pretty dangerous, but add in defensive stud Russ Smith and a hopefully healthy Mike Marra and this squad should be contending in April.

That’s without even mentioning Wayne Blackshear, who will most certainly lead the squad in points this year. Yeah, the Cardinals are that dangerous.

Hit the jump for the rest of Bryant’s Big East preview…

2. Pittsburgh Panthers:

Freshman Steven Adams very well could be the next Meyers Leonard. He’s a smart, tough kid who scouts rave about for his work ethic. He looks like a NBA center and will hopefully make a huge impact this year.

Tray Woodall returns as the stud guard (11.7 points, 6.1 assists) and around him the Panthers are a very deep (if unsexy) squad. Trey Zelgier should lead the team in scoring, while Lamar Patterson and Dante Taylor are both excellent starters.

If not for Louisville, this would be the most complete team in the Big East. Don’t sleep on the Panthers.

3. Syracuse Orange:

The Orange lose their stars in Dion Waiters and Fab Melo, which leaves Brandon Triche and sophomore Michael Carter-Williams to lead the squad. That combo could certainly do it, but we may be putting too much expectation on Carter-Williams. He needs to prove his small flashes of brilliance last season weren’t a mirage.

Rakeem Christmas is an excellent defender/rebounder, but this squad is even more scarce than last year at post scoring. Freshman Dejuan Coleman comes in with big expectations if he can stay in shape.

4. Georgetown Hoyas:

Going out on a limb here because I’m a bit too fascinated with Otto Porter. For a man who had just 97. Points and 6.6 rebounds last year, he sure did a ton of stuff that doesn’t show in the stats.

His shooting needed extensive work, but hopefully for his sake (and the Hoyas) he worked on that all summer. Add in Markel Starks (7.1 points) and you have a dangerous wing combo.

They have legitimate issues in the paint, where Mikael Hopkins, TylerAdams and Bradley Hayes could all emerge as big time bigs but all come with big question marks.

5. Cincinnati Bearcats:

The Bearcats begin (and almost end) with Sean Kilpatrick, but more on him later. Around their sharpshooter, Cincinnati is solid, but not as deep as some of the other Big East squads.

Yancy Gates is gone and leaves a hole in the middle. Justin Jackson is a solid returner (5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds) and freshman Shaquille Thomas could be a surprise if he adds some weight (he’s listed at 180 for a 6’7” forward). Thomas has the athleticism to be a breakout, and Jackson could well breakout on his own thanks to his stellar blocking skills.

Cincinnati may be a bit underrated here (you could easily argue for them at No. 4) and they sure have the star power to do it. They’re just not as deep as the top four squads.

Four Players to Watch:

1. Peyton Silva, Louisville:

He may not be the most dangerous player on his squad (he’s third behind Dieng and Blackshear) but he’s my favorite for Player of the Year. He notched 9.1 points and 5.6 assists last year, both numbers you can bet will go up. He’s got as deep a team to run as any guard in the league, and he’s got the skills to back it up.

He won’t wow you, but at the end of the day, he’ll be the conference’s most important player.

2. Otto Porter, Georgetown:

Porter was quietly one of the best freshmen in the country last year even if he only scored 9.6 a contest. He shot 51.6 percent from the field, but just 22.6 percent from beyond the three—which tells you just how efficient he was midrange.

He’s a fluid athlete with good all-around skills and will hear his name called in the first round next season. He’ll be up there with Silva, Kilpatrick and Blackshear for Player of the Year.

3. Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati:

After averaging 14.3 points and 4.3 rebounds last year, I expect Kilpatrick to put up even more numbers than last year. Dion Dixon is gone, which leaves even more offensive work into Kilpatrick’s hands. He shot 42.8 percent last year but sank 2.5 threes a game—both numbers should go up.

4. Steven Adams, Pittsburgh:

I’ll put the freshman here because he’s one of the most NBA quality players in the conference. The 240, 7’0” center can apparently bang in the post and hit from outside the paint, and he’s god the skills on the boards and defensively as well.

He won’t be a 15 point per game scorer, certainly not as a freshman, but as we’ve seen with Gorgui Dieng at Louisville a big man can shape the Big East.

Three Award Predictions:

Player of the Year: Peyton Silva, Louisville
Freshman of the Year: Steven Adams, Pittsburgh
Defensive Player of the Year: Gorgui Dieng, Louisville

Two Storylines to Pay Attention To:

1. How much will the loss of Jim Calhoun hurt UConn?

I wrote a long piece on Jim Calhoun when he retired, but Kevin Ollie is in charge. (And the award for sleaziest plug goes too….) How much will that change UConn’s fortunes?

Not a ton, especially not with this roster. The Huskies squad is basically Shabazz Napier and a handful of unproven talent—I’d rank them out of the top 10 in the conference. Would Calhoun be able to coach these guys to a higher record than Ollie? Perhaps, but Calhoun was very confident in Ollie’s abilities. Keep an eye on the Huskies this year.

2. Is this the year Notre Dame moves from pretender to contender?

Yes, they won 22 games last year and got into the NCAA tournament. So why do I have them out of the top 5 in the conference? Honestly, I like all five teams better than them.

Louisville is obvious, as is Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Georgetown has a star in Otis Porter, while Cincinnati has Sean Kilpatrick. That leaves the Fighting Irish at No. 6, even though they return all five starters.

I’ll give the nod to Jack Cooley (12.5 points, 8.8 rebounds) and the rest of the Irish’s depth. They have the talent to prove me wrong, maybe even to be a top 25 lock. I’ll hedge my bets on them till they prove it.

One Conference Championship Winner: Louisville Cardinals

I can’t get cute, not with this squad. They have the most depth in a conference that is deeper than any other. They have the most star power in a pretty powerful league. They are, without question, a championship caliber squad. Could they pull a Kentucky from last year and lost the Big East (to say, Georgetown?) while winning the NCAA Championship? Sure, but you wouldn’t put money on it.

Projected Final Standings:

1. Louisville Cardinals
2. Pittsburgh Panthers
3. Syracuse Orange
4. Georgetown Hoyas
5. Cincinnati Bearcats
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7. Marquette Golden Eagles
8. St. John’s Red Storm
9. South Florida Bulls
10. Providence Friars
11. Connecticut Huskies
12. Seaton Hall Pirates
13. Villanova Wildcats
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
15. DePaul Blue Demons

Welcome to October! For the next month leading up to the start of actual NCAA Games, I’ll be breaking down some of the biggest conferences.

It’s the battle of the North Carolinans, as my top three teams all hail from the Old North State (sorry Wake Forest, you aren’t one of them). Is this the year that someone besides Duke or North Carolina wins the ACC Regular Season AND Championship crowns?

Five Top Squads:
1. North Carolina State Wolfpack

For the first time in forever, the state of North Carolina belongs to the Wolfpack. At least, that’s how it should be.

While bot the Tar Heels and Blue Devils lost a combined six players to the NBA, the Wolfpack retained their top four players AND added in three fantastic freshmen.

NC State has two of the top five players in the conference, with both guard Lorenzo Brown (12.7 points, 6.5 assists last year) and forward C.J. Leslie (14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds). Add in big man Richard Howell and forward Scott Wood and you have a dangerous lineup—and that’s without mentioning their explosive freshman (Rodney Purvis may be one of the NCAA’s most exciting guards in a few years).

I ranked the Wolfpack No. 4 in my early preseason rankings and my confidence in this squad only grows as I do more research. This squad is a legitimate NCAA Championship threat.

Hit the jump for the rest of Bryant’s preview…

2. North Carolina Tar Heels

I have North Carolina at No. 5 in my early preseason rankings, and while that’s higher than most I expect great things from Roy William’s squad—just not as good as NC State.

James McAdoo is poised for a breakout year after playing behind John Henson and Tyler Zeller last year, but he isn’t the only one who will benefit from extended playing time. Guards P.J. Hairston, Reggie Bullock and Dexter Strickland all have NBA potential, and I expect big things out of all of them. (I particularly like Strickland as the breakout player of the year, but he needs to earn the playing time first).

Add in Marcus Paige, a freshman point who is penciled in as a probable starter. He won’t be Kendall Marshall right off the bat, but he’ll be good enough to win the ACC Newcomer of the Year award.

3. Duke Blue Devils

To be honest, everything about Duke scares me this season (more on that later), but they have too much talent to leave off at this point.

Seth Curry and Mason Plumlee are the biggest names, and I’m not so sure that is a great thing for the Blue Devils. Quinn Cook and Curry will run a balanced offense that doesn’t have any huge scoring threat but doesn’t exactly lack depth either.

Ryan Kelly may be the best shot they have at a true No. 1 option, but that might be hoping for too much.

4. Florida State Seminoles

The ACC Champions from last year retain only one starter, but Michael Snaer has a great shot at winning the Player of the Year award.

He averaged 14.0 points and 3.8 rebounds last season and is the league’s top defender. The rest of the Seminole’s talent is primarily young players, including guards Monty Brandon and Aaron Thomas, as well as Slovakian center Boris Bojanovsky.

The Seminoles are a deep team that lack experience, but they have a legitimate No. 1 option in Snaer. I could very well see them passing Duke.

5. Miami Hurricanes

I can hear the doubts already. “How can you have Miami ranked No. 5? Have you forgotten the past three years of Miami luck? You remember that their best player was suspended and they lost in the NIT?”

Yes, I’ve got the Hurricanes at No. 5. Everything HAS to go right, though. Durant Scott has All-ACC potential, as long as he doesn’t get suspended again. If Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble can both keep their knees healthy, they have legitimate size in the paint—Johnson is particularly good and he can dominate with his 6’10”, 285 pound frame.

The Hurricanes need good fortune to place this high, but they have potential to be even higher.

Four Players to Watch:

1. James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina

McAdoo could have been a top ten selection if he’d joined the NBA Draft this season, even though he’d been a benchy all last season for the Tar Heels. He’s got everything you want in an NBA big man—he’s got size, strength, excellent athleticism and a great all-around game.

He has solid depth around him, but everyone knows it’s his team this year. A Thomas Robinson type out-of-the-shadows star season isn’t out of the question—I bet he’ll average around 16 points and eight rebounds.

2. Lorenzo Brown, North Carolina State

Brown doesn’t have the NBA potential that his teammate C.J. Leslie has, but he’s an excellent NCAA guard. He’s a quick scorer (12.7 points on 45 percent shooting) but an excellent point guard (6.5 assists) and one of the more unselfish guards in the nation. He’ll certainly have plenty of talent to pass to this season.

3. Seth Curry, Duke

I had to put a Duke player up, and I figured it might as well be their most scrutinized player. Seth will never be his brother, but he shouldn’t have to be—he’s an efficient player who lacks the real point guard skills he needs for his size.

The reason I put him here over guys like Durand Scott or Virginia Tech’s Erick Green is because the Blue Devils will NEED someone to break out this season. If there is gonna be someone, why not Seth?

4. Michael Snaer, Florida State

The NCAA’s best defender, Snaer is relentless on both ends of the court. He booked in 14 points last year and shot 40 percent from three, and I expect he’ll score even more in his senior season. He’ll be the lone seriously sharp veteran on an otherwise young but exciting squad.

Three Award Predictions:
Player of the Year: James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina
Freshman of the Year: Marcus Paige, North Carolina
Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Snaer, Florida State

Two Storylines to Pay Attention To:
1. Can Miami return to legitimacy?

They have the talent. They have the scorer (Durand Scott) and they have the size (Reggie Johnson. They have the depth (Kenny Kadji, Ron Brown) and they have the freshmen (Melvin Johnson).

If something is going to delay the Hurricanes this season, it will be a real shame. This squad has all the making of an NCAA tournament team, if they stay healthy AND off the suspension list.

2. How good are the returners for North Carolina?

Ignore McAdoo here for a moment. I legitimately like three non-McAdoo returners from the Tar Heels—Dexter Strickland, Reggie Bullock and P.J. Harison.

We know Bullock already (8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 42.8 percent shooting). I expect those numbers will rise this season. P.J. Hairston (5.7 points, 30.8 percent shooting) has the makings of an NBA guard if he fixes his efficiency problems. He’s a great shooter, but that didn’t show much of last year.

I know I’m probably overhyped on Dexter Strickland (7.5 points 2.5 assists, 57.0 percent shooting), but I think the main factor that could hold him back is playing time. Freshman Marcus Paige is set to start, but if he falters, Strickland is a great backup. He’s got NBA level athleticism and scoring instincts, although he needs to improve his floor general skills.
One Conference Championship Winner: North Carolina Tar Heels

While I pencil in NC State as the regular season winners, in a head-to-head matchup for all the marbles, I’ll give the nod to Roy William’s Tar Heels. I don’t think Duke has the talent to keep up with either of these squads, and Florida State is a bit too young. This could be Miami, though, if everything goes right for the Hurricanes.

Projected Final Standings:
1. North Carolina State
2. North Carolina
3. Duke
4. Florida State
5. Miami
6. Virginia
7. Georgia Tech
8. Clemson
9. Wake Forest
10. Maryland
11. Virginia Tech
12. Boston College

Welcome to October! For the next month leading up to the start of actual NCAA Games, I’ll be breaking down some of the biggest conferences.

The Pac-12 is back, baby! Or, at least it should be… it has four top 10 recruits according to pretty much any ranking services. Will the talents of Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson, Kaleb Tarczewski and Grant Jerrett restore a Arizona/UCLA rivalry and kickstart the Pac-12 back into NCAA relevance?

Five Top Squads:

1. Arizona Wildcats

Nick Johnson and Solomon Hill are both excellent players in their own right, but they’ve got a ton of talented company. Guard Mark Lyons comes over from Xavier and won’t have to sit out a year since he graduated—he adds some electric scoring from the guard position but needs to prove he can be a floor general as well.

The Wildcats also have three HUGE recruits—literally. Forwards Grant Jerrett and Brandon Ashley join center Kaleb Tarczewski to form the most dangerous big-man core on the West Coast. This is easily the most talented Wildcats squad in the past five years.

Hit the jump for the rest of Bryant’s PAC-12 preview…

2. UCLA Bruins

UCLA snagged two top five recruits of their own in Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson. Both are excellent scorers and top-tier NBA talent, but I’m concerned it may be hard to fit both of them into one offense. Center Joshua Smith is another concer—he has the size and strength to dominate, but was exceptionally inconsistent last season.

Add in my increasing doubts about Ben Howland’s coaching abilities/integrity and you’ve got a squad that can either blow up the NCAA or blow up in their own faces. I struggled between having UCLA at No. 2 and No. 3, but finally went with No. 2 simply because they have the more potential.

3. Colorado Buffaloes

It starts and ends with Andre Robinson for the Buffaloes, but they have some other players to be excited about.

Senior Austin Dufualt should have a nice season, and Colorado also added freshman center Josh Scott to help bolster the paint. If there is one team that can challenge Arizona down low, it’s Colorado. Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker are two other returnees who will play a big role in keeping the Buffaloes in contention.

4. Stanford Cardinal

I’m putting huge pressure on guard Chasson Randle, but he had a spectacular freshman season last year (13.8 points, 2.2 assists on 43.8 percent) and I expect he makes a play for Pac-12 Player of the Year. Add in a decent supporting cast with wing Anthony Brown and forward Dwight Powell and the Cardinal could be the sleeper this year.

5. Cal Golden Bears

The loss of 2011-12 POY Jorge Gutierrez hurts a ton, but the Bears have too much talent to knock out of the top five. Where Arizona controls the paint and UCLA controls the wings, Cal might control the guard spot—the combo of Allen Crabbe and Justin Cobbs makes Cal a dangerous squad.

Four Players to Watch:

1. Forward Andre Roberson, Colorado

Colorado is anchored by Andre Roberson, who has the potential to be the best player in the conference this season. I’m putting a big caveat on that “has”, though, because it’s a pretty decent risk.

Last season, Roberson lead Colorado in rebounds (11.1), steals (1.3) and blocks (1.9). Defensively, he’s the best player in the Pac-12. Offensively? If he can make the leap this year, he could be a top 15 draft pick next June.

He’s not bad offensively and scored 11.6 points on 51 percent shooting last season, but he’ll have a bigger workload this season with Carlon Brown’s departure. Roberson needs to prove he can score, and I’d hope to see him in the 15 points per game range.

2. Forward Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA

Muhammad is a lock for a top two spot in next year’s NBA Draft should he declare (and I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t). He may be the best wing scorer since Kevin Durant, although I doubt he has a Kevin Durant level rookie year (when Durant averaged 25.8 points a contest). Somewhere between 15-18 points on 45% shooting seems a safe expectation.

3. Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona

While Tarczewki may not be the most important player on Arizona’s roster, he’s the one that has the most NBA potential. He could be a top 10 pick if he declares next season. With his NBA size and excellent skill set, he’s got everything you want in a big man. He’s tough, determined and has an unmatched work ethic. I’ll pencil in 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks a game for the freshman, even with Arizona’s depth.

4. Guard Allen Crabbe, Cal

With Jorge Gutierrez gone, the pressure goes on Crabbe, who actually outscored the Pac-12 POY last season (15.2 points to Gutierrez’s 13.0). Can Crabbe take the next step and be the full-time option?

He won’t be completely alone—he has Justin Cobbs playing the opposite guard spot, but he’ll need to average around 17 points a game for Cal this season.

Three Award Predictions

Player of the Year: Andre Robinson, Colorado
Freshman of the Year: Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA
Defensive Player of the Year: Andre Robinson, Colorado

Two Storylines to Pay Attention To:

1. Can USC bounce back?

1-17 in conference last season and a 6-25 record overall, last season was one of the worst in Trojan history. You can chalk off some of the failure to injuries (both Aaron Fuller and Dewayne Dedmon missed significant time) but as a whole it was just a dismal failure for USC.

Things are looking up this year. The squad should be healthy, and they add two sharp newcomers in UC-Irvine transfer Eric Wise and freshman forward Strahinja Gavrilovi. The Trojans could see a huge improvement this season.

2. Can the Pac-12 send more than four schools to the Big Dance?

Last year, only two teams (Colorado and Cal) got into the Big Dance. Pac-12 hasn’t been the power conference of old in the past few years, but can they change that thus year?

I’ll pencil in Arizona as a near lock for a NCAA Tournament bid, and I can’t keep UCLA or Colorado out. That leaves Cal and Stanford. Both have the talent to get an at large bid (or even contend for the Conference Championship) so there is about a 50/50 chance that the Pac-12 gets four teams in this year.

One Conference Championship Winner: Arizona Wildcats

In the end, it’s hard to bet again Arizona’s experienced players and their addition of talented newcomers. They very well could be a top 5 team in the nation if they click together.

Projected Final Standings:
1. Arizona
2. UCLA
3. Colorado
4. Stanford
5. Cal
6. Oregon
7. Washington
8. USC
9. Oregon State
10. Washington State
11. Utah
12. Arizona State

One of the greatest coaches in NCAA history retired on Thursday as Jim Calhoun officially announced his intentions to leave a UConn program that he turned from a conference laughingstock into a national powerhouse.

Not only is Calhoun one of the game’s top coaches, but he’s also the most underappreciated. Three NCAA Tournament Championships, four trips to the Final Four, seven Big East Tournament titles, nine Big East regular season titles and a 618–233 record in 26 years at UConn.

Add those 26 years to his 14 years at Northwestern, and Calhoun holds a 866–369 career record. His squads were 50-19 in the NCAA Tournament.

He’s sent a dearth of talented players onto the NBA, highlighted by future Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen. Other big names include Clifford Robinson, Donyell Marshall, Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Rudy Gay, Hasheem Thabeet and Kemba Walker. 27 of Calhoun’s former players went into the NBA, the CBA or playing careers overseas.

Yet despite all his success on the court, despite all his titles and wins, Calhoun was never as lavished with praise as he should have been. He never reached the “panicle” of the coaching world occupied by Mike Krzyzewski.  He’s a member of the 800 win club, joining just seven coaches—Knight, Krzyzewski , Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Jim Phelan, Eddie Sutton and Jim Boeheim—to reach that number. He’s also one of only five coaches to win more than one National Championship—Kryzyewski (4), Rupp (4), Knight (3) and Smith (2).

What makes those numbers even more impressive is when you consider how bad the Huskies were before he took over. None of the coaches in the Two-Title club had half as bad a starting spot as Calhoun found himself in when he took over the UConn squad in 1986.

In his first year, his squad went 9-19. It was his only losing season with the Huskies—the next year, they went 20-14 and won the NIT Tournament. Two years later, they went 31-6 and made it to the Sweet Sixteen. It was a turnaround none of his competitors really ever had to deal with.

Calhoun had his fair share of scandals, which certainly diminish his “reputation” amongst the NCAA’s elite coaches. In 1997, UConn was stripped of the 1996 NCAA tournament wins after the NCAA decided that recruits Kirk King and Ricky Moore had received improper benefits.  In 2011, he was suspended for the first three Big East games during the 2011-12 season after more recruiting violations surrounding recruit Nate Miles in 2009. His former squad has also been plagued by academic issues in the past few years that threatened their eligibility for the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

But to Calhoun’s credit, he lived up to his mistakes. In a perfect world, he would have retired in 2011 after his third NCAA Championship, but he refused to retire in part because he didn’t want his replacement to have to serve his three conference game ban.

And while you can question the complete integrity of all of his career decisions, there can be no doubt of his dedication to the program. He survived three rounds of cancer, coached after spinal surgery last season, and even considered coming back this season after having hip surgery last month. Calhoun was a fighter, and he demanded the same out of his players… at least on the basketball court.

In an ESPN column by Jason King, Calhoun’s former star Ben Gordon remembered back to the 2003 season when his Huskies were in the race for the Big East title. Calhoun had his prostate removed a week earlier, but he still made it to practice, determined to help his squad with the title.

“He showed up at practice and everyone was so excited to see him,” Gordon told King. “You could knew he was in a lot of discomfort, but he never complained… I just remember walking up to him and saying, ‘Coach, you’re one of the toughest people I know.’” UConn did not win the Big East title that season, but a year later they won Calhoun his second NCAA Championship.

Calhoun was always a coach I respected because of his dedication to the game despite his growing age. You could tell that whenever he was at the helm, his squad would fight to the end no matter their talent level. When his teams were good, they had an incredible swagger and confidence around them (that was the main reason I picked UConn to win in my 2011 Bracket—a decision I continue to lord over all my friends.)

From Ray Allen to Donyell Marshall to Rip Hamilton to Kemba Walker, Calhoun put out some monster players and some monster squads in his time. “I never, ever, ever said that I was mistake-free,” Calhoun said. “But I was always trying to do the right thing. It didn’t always work that way, but I was always trying to do the right thing.”

It worked well enough, coach. It worked well enough.

UCLA’s golden recruiting class of 2012 may never step onto the floor if an ongoing NCAA investigation of two of their top recruits finds any evidence of improper benefits being received. An ESPN report says that Shabazz Muhammad, who was the #2 recruit in the nation this year and the top perimeter player, and Tony Parker, the #26 recruit in the country and the seventh ranked center, are currently under the NCAA’s microscope. Kyle Anderson, the #5 recruit in the nation and the second best perimeter player behind Muhammad, was also under investigation but was recently cleared.

According to the initial report by UCLA’s Scout.com hub, Muhammad allegedly received improper benefits during his recruitment from boosters of his AAU team. The NCAA is said to be seeking information on flights that were purchased for some of Muhammad’s recruiting visits. As of now Muhammad’s eligibility for this season is in question.

We’ll have more on this situation as it develops.

There will always be surprises and no preseason predictions will ever be 100 percent correct, but here is my best shot at predicting the awards coming out next season.

All-American 3^rd Team:

Guard Myck Kabongo, Texas (So.)

Kabongo averaged just 9.6 points on 39.1 percent shooting last year, but he also averaged 5.3 assists per game and showed he did have NBA level skill. If he works on his shot, I fully expect Kabongo to show his true potential and end up as a top point guard in the nation.

Guard C.J. McCollum, LeHigh (Sr.)

An  NCAA Tournament darling, McCollum could have gone into the NBA Draft and been a late 1^st round pick. Instead, he returns to LeHigh for another run at the college game and a chance to make himself a top 20 pick next season. He averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds on 45.5 percent shooting—I expect those numbers to climb even higher.

Forward Mike Moser, UNLV (Jr.)

I’m surprised Moser when back to school. After averaging 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds last year, he was a sure fire top-20 pick. UNLV has added even more inside talent, but expect Moser to be among the most consistent big men this year.

Forward Patric Young, Florida (So.)

Young was woefully inconsistent last year for Florida, (10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds)  but the Gators need him to take over if they plan to be relevant this season. He has all the tools to do just that.

Center Jeff Withey, Kansas (Jr.)

I may be too high on Withey (he is very raw offensively), but he was as dominant defensively as anyone in the NCAA Tournament last year. Kansas lacks the star power of the past, and Withey may be their best hope as a strong season. He averaged 9.3 points, 6.3 boards and 3.3 blocks last season.

Hit the jump for the rest of Bryant’s All-American projections…

All-American 2^nd Team:

Guard Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State (Jr.)

With the loss of Kawhi Leonard in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Aztecs were supposed to be gutted. Franklin (17.4 points, 7.9 rebounds) led a well-rounded squad that should be even better this year. He needs to improve his jumper, but he’s among the best guards in the NCAA.

Guard Nate Wolters, South Dakota State (Jr.)

One of the most underappreciated players in the country, the electric scoring guard averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.1 rebounds last season. His small conference will hold him back a bit, but in terms of stats, he should be at the top of the league.

Forward Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State (So.)

Nash had a disappointing freshman season, averaging just 13.3 points and shooting 39.4 percent from the floor. He’s got excellent all-around potential, and I predict he’ll prove it this year with a dominating season for the Cowboys.

Forward James McAdoo, North Carolina (So.)

You can make the case for McAdoo as a 1^st teamer easily (I battled between him and Muhammed) because he has the biggest chance to explode of anyone on this list. Last year he was held back in playing time behind John Henson and Tyler Zeller—this year he’s the star. He’s got serious NBA talent.

Center Gorgui Dieng, Louisville (Jr.)

The Louisville season rests on the big broad shoulders of Dieng, who dominated the NCAA tournament last season and proved he could be in the elite class of NCAA big men. He averaged 9.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks last year—but if he doesn’t average a double double I’ll be shocked.

All-American 1^st Team:

Guard Isaiah Canaan, Murray State (Sr.)

It was incredibly tough to decide between Canaan and Wolters for this spot, but I’ll go with Canaan. First, I think that Murray State will have a better record and will get more attention. Canaan may not get the same stats as Wolters, but he’ll play against better competition. Last year he averaged 19.0 points, 3.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds on 48.4 percent shooting—expect all those numbers to raise even higher this season.

Guard/Forward Doug McDermott, Creighton (Jr.)

McDermott is the one player who won All-American 1^st team last season who didn’t enter the NBA Draft, and he’ll win it again this year. He averaged 22.9 points and 8.5 boards a contest. It’s a shame his team lacks any other big talent, but he can carry the Bluejays to the tournament by himself.

Forward Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA (Fr.)

Muhammad could probably enter the NBA right now and do just fine. Like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist last year, Muhammed will dominate with tough defense and an unparalleled work ethic. He’ll be UCLA’s focal point offensively and he’ll need to prove he has a consistent jumper.

Forward Cody Zeller, Indiana (So.)

Insanely smart and quick, Zeller was able to blind us all to the fact last year that he was pretty dang raw. With a year of experience and plenty of practice time, Zeller will easily improve on his 15.5 points/6.6 rebound/62 percent shooting freshman season. His incredible offensive abilities will make him a top 10 pick in the 2013 draft easily.

Center Nerlens Noel, Kentucky (Fr.)

Like Anthony Davis before him, I expect Noel will explode into a college superstar right off the bat. He’s a defensive titan and a die-hard worker. He may struggle to score when he gets to the NBA but he shouldn’t have any big problem in college. Don’t sleep on Kentucky this year.

Other Names to Watch:

Guard Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary’s (Sr.)

Guard Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan (Jr.)

Center Josh Smith, UCLA (Jr.)

Center Isaac Austin, Baylor (Fr.)

Forward Adonis Thomas, Memphis (Fr.)

1. Kentucky Wildcats

It’s impossible to overrate the Wildcats chances of success. This team may not be as sexy on paper as last year’s Championship squad, but gosh-darn it they’re pretty dang close.

How do you replace a superstar like Anthony Davis? You get a younger Anthony-Davis lite. Nerlens Noel is basically a Davis clone with a little less shine, a 6’10”, 215 pound athletic freak with a defensive motor you rarely see anymore. Pretty much every ranking has Noel at the top of the recruit’s board.

He’s joined by fellow top-15 recruits in forward Alex Poythress (a lower-potential clone of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) and sharpshooting wingman Archie Goodwin. They also added in another top 50 recruit in center/forward Willie Cauley, a raw but all around talented big man who would be a Meyers Leonard type player on any other squad but who will likely get lost in the luster here.

So why Kentucky at the top over squads like Indiana and Louisville, who have more experienced players returning? Don’t bet against Calipari. Indiana has talent, but I don’t think they can keep up with the sheer raw talent of this Wildcat squad. Neither can Louisville, and don’t even bring up UCLA into this equation…not when Ben Howland is their coach. Any day of the week, give me John Calipari, or Rick Pittino over Howland.

2. Indiana Hoosiers

The Hoosiers season begins and ends with Cody Zeller as their star, but you can hardly say that Tom Crean’s squad is a one man affair. Zeller is a fantastic college star with great instincts, a high IQ and an all around skill set you don’t find very often.

Indiana was one of only two squads that beat Kentucky last year (the other being Vanderbilt) and they have some nice depth pieces thanks to a star studded recruiting class. Point guard Yogi Ferrell, forward Jeremy Hollowell and big man Hanner Mosquera-Perea will likely all join Zeller as key contributors.

3. Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals lost their top scorer (Kyle Kuric) to graduation, but this still remains one of the most talented teams Pitino has coached. They return three starters from last year’s Final Four squad, including big man Gorgui Dieng, a dominant inside force who demolished in the tournament.

There isn’t a high powered recruiting class coming in, but Montrezl Harrell is a top 100 recruit easily, and he’ll make quite the duo with Dieng. The Cardinals have something over every other team on this list—they have big time experience.

4. North Carolina State Wolfpack

The pack was a stellar underdog last year and managed an excellent recruiting class while losing only one key starter. They still retain the services of Richard Howell, Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood while throwing in top 20 recruit Rodney Purvis and top 30 recruit T.J. Warren. Don’t expect the Tar Heels to dominate through the ACC… the Wolfpack can easily be the best the state has to offer.

5. North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels lost Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Kendall Marshall to the NBA, but they still have James Michael McAdoo who would have been a lottery pick if he’d gone into the NBA this year. He’s an athletic big man who can score like Zeller did and defend almost as well as Henson did (just without the blocks).

Added into that is Reggie Bullock, who could finally emerge as the stud we expected when he joined North Carolina two years ago. Dexter Strickland will be healthy again, and the Tar Heels also added in a top recruit in point guard Marcus Paige.

Hit the jump for the rest of Bryant’s pre-season top 25…

6. Ohio State Buckeyes 

The loss of Jared Sullinger hurts, but remember Deshaun Thomas? He ripped up in the NCAA tournament last year and now will get the lion’s share of the offensive opportunities. Aaron Craft returns as well and he’s one of the top point guards in the nation. The Buckeyes don’t take a big step back here.

7. Michigan Wolverines

It’s hard to put big time trust in Tim Hardaway Jr., a talented but inefficient scorer, but the Wolverines added in a great recruiting class with big man Mitch McGary and small forward Glenn Robinson III. The loss of Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, two super efficient players, hurts though.

8. Duke Blue Devils

Here is Seth Curry’s chance to prove he can be the man and not just “Steph Curry’s little brother”. If he can’t do it, Quinn Cook might be that guy. He was crushed by injuries last year. Miles Plumlee has left, but his brother Mason is returning, and redshirt Marshall Plumlee will get his first shot.

9. Florida Gators

Bradley Beal is gone, and so is headache inducing Erving Walker, but they still retain an excellent group lead by big man Patric Young.  Guard Kenny Bonton led the team in scoring last year and the Gators have added top 50 recruit Braxton Ogbueze to run the point.

10. Arizona Wildcats

Solomon Hill has all the tools to be a NBA starting small forward, and the Wildcats add in three top 15 recruits in the paint. Center Kaleb Tarczewski, forward Grant Jerrett and forward Brandon Ashley give the Cats an absolute insane amount of talent, but they’re pretty light on guards.

11. Syracuse Orange

Point guard Michael Carter-Williams had the misfortune of playing behind Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters, but now is his legitimate chance to shine. Big man Rakeem Christmas will need to continue his solid post play, or he’ll be beaten out by top 15 recruit DaJuan Coleman.

12. UCLA Bruins

Anytime you get two top five recruits, you’re going to get attention. Can anyone explain to me why Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson decided on UCLA?

After last season’s disaster, you figured it would take a while for the Bruins to rebuild. But Muhammad is manna from heaven, and Anderson is just gravy. Muhammad is the top wing man in the class, and he’ll be competing with Nerlens Noel for the top spot in the 2013 Draft Class. Anderson is arguably the second best wing… behind only Muhammad.

If Howland can’t get this team on a winning streak, he needs to be canned immediately.

13. UNLV Rebels

UNLV adds in top 10 recruit Anthony Bennett, and incoming transfer Khem Birch will join him as the starting center once he becomes eligible in December. Those two together might have the most big man potential in the nation, except for maybe Arizona. And that’s without mentioning Mike Moser, who would have been a top 20 NBA pick in the 2012 Draft but returned to school.

 14. San Diego State Aztecs

San Diego State can easily contend with any team in the west, and return their top four starters (all guards) from last years’ top 25 squad. Forward Winston Shepard is an excellent recruiting steal and he reminds a lot of people of former Aztec Kawhi Leonard. San Diego State proved last year that they can bounce back from anything, and we need to accept that the Aztecs are a legitimate college basketball force.

15. Creighton Bluejays

Big man Doug McDermott, an All-American 1^st team player last year, leads a talented group that also contains three more of last year’s starters. McDermott averaged 22.9 points and 8.9 rebounds last season.

16. Memphis Tigers

The Tigers have incredible potential that has just never lived up to expectations. Top of that list is Joe Jackson, who will get/be forced to take on the role as the leading scorer. Wingman Adonis Thomas, forward Tarik Black, and guard Chris Crawford all are expected to play major roles.

17.  Kansas Jayhawks

Guard Elijah Johnson and center Jeff Withey lead a solidly built team that lacks a true star. Withey could very well pull a Cole Aldrich a become the go to guy, but don’t doubt on it. He’s incredibly raw offensively.

The Jayhawks do add two nice recruits in Perry Ellis and Andrew White, but someone needs to take on a Thomas Robinson role.

18. Wisconsin Badgers

Top 20 freshmen Sam Dekker leads an already deep team that returns major contributors in forward Ryan Evans, center Jared Beggren and guard Josh Gasser. The Badgers are well coached and won’t fall apart just because Jeff Taylor left.

19. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Robert Sacre leaves for the NBA, but the Bulldogs probably don’t mind much. Polish big man Przemek Karnowski will be one of the biggest surprises of next season and his size will make the Bulldogs fans quickly forget about Sacre. Add in the return of sophomore Kevin Pangos and senior Elias Harris and Gonzaga has scary talent.

20. Murray State Racers

Last years’ 30 win Cinderella squad can thrive again this season, as long as guard Isaiah Canaan still thrives. He was an All-American player last year and should easily be one again this year.

 21. Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols return four starters, including forward Jarnell Stokes, who played really well in the latter half of the season after returning from injury. Combining him with Trae Golden and Jordan McRae, the Vols have the talent if they stay healthy to be a surprise.

22. Michigan State Spartans

Draymond Green was the everything and anything man for the Spartans, and they’ll miss him dearly. Still, they return center Adreian Payne and forward Branden Dawson, and they also add in a top 15 recruit with guard Gary Harris. They’ll give the Wolverines a run for their money.

23. Kansas State Wildcats

Coach Frank Martin leaves the Wildcats after a somewhat surprising season, but Bruce Weber has a good bit of talent to work with. The Wildcats were steller defensively last year a top rebounding team, but they struggled to score. Guard Rodney McGruder is a very efficient scorer but they need more points elsewhere.

24. Missouri Tigers

The Tigers were easily one of the most entertaining teams of 2011-2012, and while they lost Kim English and Marcus Denmon to the NBA they added in former UConn big Alex Oriaki, who was able to transfer without losing a year thanks to UConn’s tournament ban.

25. Cincinnati Bearcats

Sean Kilpatrick has serious star power and showed it in the last two games of the Bearcats run in the NCAA tournament. He averaged 14.3 points last season, but he’s one of those rare players that could easily bump it up to 20 this season. The loss of Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon is a cause for concern, though.