AthlonSports.com - Preseason Top 25

No. 1 – North Carolina

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 13:00:00 -0500

This season, Roy Williams returns six of his top seven scorers and adds six freshmen who comprise the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. The days of the free pass are over, and it’s time to compete for the NCAA title again.

No. 2 – Florida

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:00:00 -0500

Coach Billy Donovan faces a new challenge — motivating players who have already reached the pinnacle of their sport. Florida returns all five starters and two of its top three reserves. The Gators also welcome four freshmen who should push the veterans hard enough to eliminate any sense of complacency.

No. 3 – Kansas

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:51:00 -0500

Kansas’ string of postseason disappointments seems destined to end in 2006-07. The Jayhawks return all five starters from a team that shared last year’s Big 12 title with Texas. Mix in a pair of freshman McDonald’s All-Americans, and it’s tough to find a squad as deep and talented as KU.

No. 4 – Alabama

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:50:00 -0500

Both point guard Ronald Steele and big man Jermareo Davidson elected to return to school in the offseason but the Tide will not be a two-man show. Toss in forward Richard Hendrix and swingman Alonzo Gee and Alabama should be able to match firepower with some of the top teams in the nation.

No. 5 – Pittsburgh

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:45:03 -0500

Coach Jamie Dixon enters the upcoming season with a recently signed contract extension, a future NBA first-round draft pick in center Aaron Gray and the return of three starters and nine letterwinners from a team that finished 25–8 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

No. 6 – UCLA

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:45:02 -0500

The Bruins have talent in Arron Afflalo, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Josh Shipp, and highly regarded incoming freshman James Keefe. But what UCLA doesn’t have is a senior.

No. 7 – Arizona

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:45:01 -0500

Arizona won’t pause to miss last year’s leading scorer, Hassan Adams, or its defensive stopper, Chris Rodgers as coach Lute Olson is eager to move past the most turbulent season of his Arizona career and most back among the NCAA elite.

No. 8 – LSU

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:00:03 -0500

LSU made its first appearance in the national semifinals since 1986 last season, and despite losing Darrel Mitchell and Tyrus Thomas, Glen "Big Baby" Davis returns to help the Tigers make it two Final Fours in a row.

No. 9 – Ohio State

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:00:02 -0500

Greg Oden is perhaps the most ballyhooed basketball player to enter the collegiate ranks in a lifetime, and will help Ohio State defend its regular season Big Ten title this season.

No. 10 – Georgetown

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:00:01 -0500

Only three of the 21 players who received either first- or second-team All-Big East honors are back this season. Two play for the Georgetown Hoyas — juniors Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert – and they will be a big reason why the Hoyas will challenge Pitt for the Big East title.

No. 11 – Wisconsin

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:33:00 -0500

Wisconsin should have a deep team that can defend and play at any speed it chooses this season thanks to some gifted newcomers and the return of eligibility for Marcus Landry and junior center Greg Stiemsma.

No. 12 – Texas A&M

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:30:00 -0500

No one should be shocked by what new heights A&M climbs this season. Not even a conference crown or a deep March run appear to be out of the realm of possibility for an A&M team that narrowly missed a Sweet 16 NCAA appearance last year.

No. 13 – Duke

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:30:02 -0500

As one of many programs lacking senior leadership, the expectations will be significantly different for Duke this season. The Blue Devils do have five McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster and one of the game’s premier coaches in Mike Krzyzewski.

No. 14 – Connecticut

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:30:00 -0500

Jim Calhoun has discovered the fountain of youth in Storrs. Entering his 21st season, Calhoun can’t wait to welcome his youngest team ever, with eight freshmen and five sophomores and no scholarship juniors or seniors on the roster.

No. 15 – Southern Illinois

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 14:18:00 -0500

An inconsistent bench and inexperienced roster forced a seven-man rotation on coach Chris Lowery last year. Yet the Salukis overcame a roller-coaster regular season to earn their fifth straight berth in the NCAA Tournament.