1. Kentucky- It has to be Kentucky, right? The Wildcats welcome six of the nation's top 20 high school seniors. Andrew and Aaron Harrison become one of the nation's best backcourts instantly. Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson, and Marcus Lee will look to fill the void left by Nerlens Noel. Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress are returning to make it a star studded team with some experience. The Wildcats are easily the odds on favorites to win it all, and its pretty remarkable they can go from bounced in the first round of the NIT to preseason number one. If anyone could swing that, it would be John Calipari. 2. Duke - I really like what Duke has lined up for next season. Quinn Cook returns as a solid, veteran point guard. Rasheed Sulaimon returns from a good freshman campaign and can be one of the best guards in the ACC. From there, Duke welcomes Jabari Parker in to the fold. Parker is arguably the nation's top recruit, and at 6-8 can be a very difficult player to defend. Rodney Hood comes in as a very talented transfer from Mississippi State. Having the benefit of practicing with team this season, Hood should hit the ground running. Duke has tons of depth and talent, and with Coach K, the final four never seems too far away.
3. Michigan State- Assuming Adreian Payne and Gary Harris stick around, the Spartans will be returning just about everyone from last season's sweet 16 team. Keith Appling and Gary Harris were the top two scorers from last season in the backcourt. Brandon Dawson proved to be a good small forward, and Adreian Payne emerged as a top player. Coach Izzo has a ton of depth with this squad, and they should be the frontrunners of the Big Ten.
4. Marquette - The Golden Eagles have plenty coming back from an Elite Eight team, and they have an outstanding recruiting class. It does not seem right that a Buzz Williams team has this kind of preseason recognition, but they won't be sneaking up anyone this season. Vander Blue(assuming he withdraws his name) will be back to lead the guard oriented attack. Devante Gardner emerged as a serious threat down low, and he also will be back. Jamil Wilson and Juan Anderson are two very good wings as well. Marquette will welcome prize recruit, 6-4 shooting guard JaJuan Johnson along with solid in-state recruits, Duane Wilson and Deonte Burton.
5. North Carolina - UNC still has one big piece that could return, and if James McAdoo decides to stay, the Tar Heels will be in good shape. They should be in good shape either way. PJ Hairton is an excellent start to the team. He should be one of the top scorers in the ACC. His running mate is no slouch either in Reggie Bullock(if he withdraws). Marcus Paige returns after a strong freshman season at point guard. Along with a solid cast of role players, UNC has the talent to be a top tier team. Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks are two freshmen that should see minutes in the post, and Nate Britt will be a good backup to Paige.
6. Arizona - Sean Miller will have a very talented group this season, and could make some serious noise in the postseason. The touted 2012 recruiting class did not come in and dominate right away, but the talent is still there. Kaleb Tarczewski should develop into a top flight big man. Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett will battle for minutes at the four, but the two sophomores should be improved. Miller was able to snag Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Aaron Gordon as five star small forwards in the recruiting cycle. Duquesne transfer, TJ McConnell will come in and be able to compete for a wide open point guard position and team up with Nick Johnson in the backcourt.
7. Louisville - The defending national champions will have some noticeable pieces missing going into next season, but should have enough to remain a final four contender. Russ Smith still being on the fence makes a difference. Chane Behannan and Wayne Blackshear are both back at the forward spots, along with sophomore, Montrezl Harrell there for depth. Luke Hancock had an excellent tournament run, and he will be one of the go to guys this season. Peyton Siva will be missed, but Terry Rozier should step right in and play. The lack of a Center is a big concern, but they still have enough athletes at the forward spots to contend.
8. Ohio State - The Buckeyes lose leading scorer, Deshaun Thomas, but bring back everything else. Aaron Craft is one of the best point guards in the country, and could be walking into his best offensive season yet. Lanzelle Smith should develop into a top scoring threat. LaQuentin Ross will need to step up his scoring this season. The Buckeyes need to offset the scoring loss of Thomas, and find a reliable big man, but they do have good guards and wings. Marc Loving is a true freshman that could contribute early in the post.
9. Connecticut - After a season on probation, the Huskies should climb back into the national scene. UConn played well throughout the season, and Kevin Ollie appears to be the right guy to uphold the strong tradition for the Huskies. Shabazz Napier is going to be a senior point guard that has a national championship under his belt, so you have to like his experience. Ryan Boatright and Omar Calhoun are excellent off ball scoring options, and should really form a lethal backcourt. DeAndre Daniels proved to be a good forward. UConn also has experienced role guys like Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander, and Enosch Wolf.
10. Memphis - Memphis has ao wealth of talent returning, and another wave coming in. The backcourt trio of Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, and Geron Johnson is outstanding. Shaq Goodwin will be the most experienced big man in the rotation, and he stands to improve heading into his sophomore season. The talent coming in for the Tigers will help make this a championship contender. Austin Nichols is the most highly touted of the bunch, and he should play immediately. Kuran Iverson and Nick King are two wings that should also see early time. Memphis does lack that force in the paint, but they are easily one of the most athletic teams in the college game.
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