More preseason love

[Sir Lawrence]

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/blog/marchmadness/

Unlike last season, when several teams made a case throughout the early part of the season to be considered the No. 1 team in the country, this season has a clear-cut favorite heading into the summer. Once North Carolina's trio of Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green announced their decision to return to school rather than enter the NBA Draft, the Tar Heels were entrenched as the top team in the nation. After UNC, it is wide-open, as a handful teams -- or more -- have a legitimate argument to be ranked in the top five. With the NBA Draft in the rearview mirror and most of the comings and goings finished, it is time for March Madness All Season to release its Top-25 rankings heading into July. This will change as the summer progresses, and I take a more in-depth look at each team's roster and personnel. For now, though, this should spark enough debate.

1. North Carolina
2. Connecticut
3. Duke
4. Louisville
5. Notre Dame
6. UCLA
7. Pittsburgh
8. Purdue
9. Michigan State
10. Gonzaga
11. Tennessee
12. Memphis
13. Texas
14. Marquette
15. Georgetown
16. Arizona State
17. Villanova
18. Miami (Fl.)
19. Florida
20. Oklahoma
21. USC
22. Arizona (If Brandon Jennings goes to Europe, the Wildcats will drop out)
23. Wake Forest
24. Wisconsin
25. Syracuse

Five More to Watch:
- West Virginia
- Baylor
- Davidson
- Kansas
- Ohio State

[Sir Lawrence]

Someone help me understand why ND is getting so much respect for next season.

[avid1010]

Someone help me understand why ND is getting so much respect for next season.

+1

You have to love the BE filling up that list though.  This will be the last year you won't see WV in the top 25 every preseason.  I couldn't stand Huggins at Cincy, but the guy can coach.  Although I hear the NE Patriots are looking for a camera man

[bilsu]

They basically have everyone returning and they do not lose at home.
Also why I agree theat North Carolinia is the number one team, they are not as talented as the last North Carolina championship team.

[RawdogDX]

ND is getting too much respect from some places but not enough from the fans on this board.  It's tough to tame 10 teams i'd pick to beat nd.  One of them is us because of our quickness but not every team (even top teams) have that.  They are top 10.

[nola03]

I think West Virginia will end up higher in the table then both Notre Dame and Marquette.

[avid1010]

I think West Virginia will end up higher in the table then both Notre Dame and Marquette.

A very reluctant +1.  By the end of the year he'll have them playing tough.

[77ncaachamps]

Even MORE preseason love...

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2008/07/02/my-updated-college-basketball-top-25-for-2008-09-post-draft-deadline-rankings/

My updated college basketball top-25 for 2008-09: Post draft-deadline rankings

Posted by Jon Wilner on July 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 am

Welcome to the third and final installment for the early top-25. You won't see another college basketball poll from me until the fall.

Yes, we're about two weeks past the draft declaration deadline, which basically set the collegiate rosters for next season.

I had planned to wait for one last item to be resolved before posting my final ballot: The undrafted players who didn't hire agents have the option to return to school.

But then I got tired of waiting for those decisions and figured they wouldn't changed my rankings, anyhow ...

So here we are. After re-examining the rankings and taking draft decisions into account, here's the final, revised, not-so-early-anymore, preseason top-25:

Teams that just missed the cut: Miami, Tennessee, West Virginia, UNLV, Kentucky, Arizona, BYU and Syracuse.

25. Davidson: Stephen Curry.

24. Wisconsin: Bo Ryan.

23. Wake Forest: My sleeper pick. Demon Deacons have everyone back and add one of the five best recruiting classes in the country.

22: Oklahoma. A late addition to the rankings. Blake Griffin will be a top-five pick next June.

21. Ohio State: Dropped the Buckeyes after Kosta Koufos stayed in the draft.

20. USC: All-everything recruit Demar DeRozan replaces O.J. Mayo, and most of the '08 core returns.

19. Kansas: Had to drop the Jayhawks after Mario Chalmers opted to stay in the draft. Best of luck to Sherron Collins.

18. Memphis: With Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier returning, Tigers could make a run at the Sweet 16.

17. Villanova. Probably shoulda had the Wildcats on my initial list. Most everyone's back from a Sweet 16 team.

16: Arizona State: James Harden, Jeff Pendergraph and Ty Abbott lead a long list of returnees. Consider the Sun Devils the best bet to challenge the L.A. schools for Pac-10 supremacy.

15. Pittsburgh: I'm not as high on the Panthers as others. For all their experience and toughness, they're a bit lacking in NBA talent.

14. Notre Dame: Big East POY Luke Harangody should be back, along with three-point specialist Kyle McAlarney.

13. Duke: The good news: Just about everyone's back, including Gerald Henderson. The bad news: Just about everyone's back.

12. Texas: A.J. Abrams pulled out of the draft just before the deadline.

11. Georgetown: Dropped the Hoyas two spots from the early-May rankings.

10. Purdue: Lots of returnees, including Robbie Hummel. Should be a three-team race for the Big Ten title with Michigan State and Ohio State.

9: Texas A&M: DeAndre Jordan's gone but Josh Carter is back, and he was he better college player, anyhow.

8. Gonzaga: Jeremy Pargo's decision to pull out of the draft gives the Zags one of their best lineups ever. Austin Daye is bound for the Lottery in '09.

7. Marquette: After comparing what the Eagles return on the perimeter to that of other teams in this range, had to move 'em up a few spots.

6. Florida: Even without Marreese Speights, Gators will be loaded.

5. UCLA: Lost Love, Westbrook and Mbah a Moute. Retained Collison and Shipp. Return Roll and Keefe. Welcome the best recruiting class in the country.

4. Michigan State: Three of the top-four scorers (Raymar Morgan, Kalin Lucas and Goran Suton) are back from a Sweet 16 team that won 27 games. And recruit Delvon Roe will help immediately on the frontline.

3. Louisville: Earl Clark, Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Terrence Williams and mega-recruit Samardo Samuels — that's a Final Four core.

2. Connecticut: No last-minute draft issues for the Huskies, who return most of their roster. It all depends on A.J. Price's knee.

1. North Carolina: Lawson, Ellington, Green — they're all coming back, along with Mr. Hansbrough. Heels will be the heavy favorite to win the title. Maybe not as heavy as Florida in '07, but close.

[Sir Lawrence]

Even MORE preseason love...

That's more like it.