After three North Carolina players to pull out of the outline Monday. There was no debate among our panel over who must be No. 1 in Rivals.coms modern preseason poll. The Tar Heels, who now return every single bullpen from a team that was one win away from the title game this past period, are the bestselling pet to win it all.

Thats a austere contrast from our last poll, where a case have been made that a trickle of teams to be on top.

That poll was done on the supposition that all the players who had entered the NBA Draft were departure for good. This one provides a more exact portrait, cheers to Mondays to extract from the breath. We now know how each teams list will look next time.

Outside of North Carolina, none of the other teams in the top five moved up in the rankings. UCLA jumped into the top 10 nice one to Josh Shipps high-quality to switch around for his superior year and the validation of five-star center JMison Morgan, who was released from his letter of directed with LSU.

There were two new additions to the top 25, as Arizona and West Virginia replaced Ohio State and Wisconsin.

2008-09 Preseason Top 25:
1. NORTH CAROLINA
With or without the players who put their the plan, the Tar Heels were a contender for the national title they were No. 5 in our former poll. Add guards Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington and useful wing Danny Green back to the mix, and the Heels clearly are the team to beat. Tyler Hansbrough, who could be the elementary back-to-back national performer of the year since Virginias Ralph Sampson in the immediate 1980s, and close to his entire supporting cast return from a team that won 36 games and reached the Final Four. The Heels have also other a top-15 recruiting style.
2. CONNECTICUT
The Huskies have an plenty of talent, experience and size. They return every one key team member from a 24-win team, including 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet, who shockingly never entered the current. The big question is shape. Point guard A.J. Price tore an ACL in the NCAA Tournament and coach Jim Calhoun will arise radiation treatments next week for his subsequent battle with skin scourge. Calhouns doctors trust hell be in good figure for the start of the spell.
3. PITTSBURGH
The Celtics have the Big Three in the NBA. Pitt has its own kind in the college ranks with guard Levance Fields, forward Sam Young and center DeJuan Blair. Each among the best at his side. The Panthers get a boost if guard Mike Cook receives a therapeutic redshirt. Cook was averaging 10.4 when he tore his ACL in the 11th game last term. But with or without Cook, the Panthers have adequate firepower to grasp chief Final Four since 1941.
4. PURDUE
Every instructor will tell you players make improvement between their freshman and sophomore a month of Sundays. Thats exactly why the Baby Boilers could leap into the elite next a startling next-flat ending in the Big Ten last season. The two principal scorers (guard ETwaun Moore and headfirst Robbie Hummel) on that little squad were . Sophomore-to-be big man JaJuan Johnson dignified for a running off time of year, as well.
5. NOTRE DAME
Irish tutor Mike Brey wont be able to play the second best card with this team. Not with a register that boasts the reigning Big East Player of the Year (Luke Harangody), the leagues top outside (Kyle McAlarney) and the leagues top backing man (Tory Jackson) from this past spell. If that trio ashes healthy, the Irish had better go to the Sweet 16 and beyond.
6. DUKE
The Blue Devils havent immovable problems on the inside, but they at a halt have a tremendous amount of firepower on the border. Athletic wing Gerald Henderson may be the best of the group. Senior point guard Greg Paulus enters what seems like his year. Mike Krzyzewski will have two guards on his bench who start for most ACC teams in Jon Scheyer (11.7 ppg) and -to-be Nolan Smith. Skilled advancing Kyle Singler is a dangerous 3-point shooter.
7. OKLAHOMA
Big man Blake Griffin was careful a opening-round lock, but chose to stay in school. A glance at his supporting cast next period may have played a role. The Sooners are adding together five-star guard Willie Warren, who liable will be playing with Griffin in the NBA one day. Experienced guards Tony Crocker (11.3 ppg) and Austin Johnson (8.6 ppg) are back, and UCLA transfer Ryan Wright will help make up for the loss of center Longar Longar.
8. LOUISVILLE
As usual, Cardinals teacher Rick Pitino isnt heartbroken for talent. Terrence Williams and Earl Clark both of whom Pitino likely to turn pro by now caught around for one more term. Clark was the Cardinals best play-actor in the NCAA Tournament. The Cards also are adding two of the top big men in the 2008 chic: sovereign state forwards Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings.
9. UCLA
The Bruins lost three players (Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook) and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute) to the NBA Draft, but it could have been worse. Veteran wing Josh Shipp to stay in faculty, a move that the Bruins a a lot in good health accidental of a fourth repeated Final Four. Shipp and older point guard Darren Collison will be the leaders of a beginning team that welcomes the nations No. 1 recruiting course.
10. TENNESSEE
One credible meze (point guard Ramar Smith) and a top understudy (center Duke Crews) were kicked off the team since our last poll, but the Vols dropped only one spot. Thats largely because trainer Bruce Pearl has put together the kind of talent and deepness to sop up such losses. Versatile headlong Tyler Smith, the best player in the SEC, chose not to test the flow waters. Five-star guard Scotty Hopson would make a big blow instantly.
11. GEORGETOWN
Hoyas tutor John Thompson IIIs method isnt built around one or two players, so behind point guard Jonathan Wallace and 7-2 center Roy Hibbert isnt as damaging as it would be at most programs. Remember, the Hoyas bounced back fine from the loss of lottery pick Jeff Green a year ago. Veterans Jessie Sapp (11.1 ppg) and DaJuan Summers (9.7 ppg) return, and they are joined by a continuous recruiting discussion that boasts prize trainee Greg Monroe.
12. MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans lose a key entertainer, but there stationary are high expectations and with good occasion. Guard Drew Neitzel (13.9 ppg) is the only foremost loss, and Tom Izzo once over has stockpiled a hefty amount of talent. Athletic wing Raymar Morgan have a duty to contend for Big Ten trouper of the year . Point guard Kalin Lucas has great visceral utensils. Five-star beginner Delvon Roe will be counted on to care for some much-needed help on the inside.
13. GONZAGA
No single thespian who to pull out of the waft may have purposed more to his team than point guard Jeremy Pargo. Without Pargo, Gonzaga probably is at a further paramount- or following-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. With him, they are a authentic Final Four hazard. The Zags return further dual-digit and a have a roll leading with ex- top-100 recruits, but no one supercede Pargos playmaking proficiency.
14. TEXAS
The Longhorns up seven spots thank you to A.J. Abramss conclusion to stay in college. Abrams mate, D.J. Augustin, made it open he was withdrawal for good ago, but Texas income each another key participant from an Elite Eight run. That a deep frontcourt led by bold Damion James, who averaged 13.0 points and 11.6 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.
15. MEMPHIS
As anticipated, Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier out of the sketch. That gives John Calipari two starters from the national courier-up squad to build around. Two new , guard Willie Kemp and center Shawn Taggart, also return. Add a top-five recruiting tutorial group that is by guard Tyreke Evans – another possible one-and-done – and the Sweet 16 looks like a accessible goal.
16. KANSAS
There is the unimportant theme of replacing all five from the national championship team. The key are point guard Sherron Collins (9.3 ppg, 3.1 apg) and center Cole Aldrich (2.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg), who had a coming-out party in the Final Four against North Carolina and will have to renew to improve. But the real key for teacher Bill Self is a recruiting session tiered No. 2 countrywide that topography two top inferior college prospects.
17. VILLANOVA
The Wildcats made a astonishing run to the Sweet 16 last season. A repeat of the feat not be a disbelief. They return their top , including star guard Scottie Reynolds (15.9 ppg). Coach Jay Wright wouldnt mind at all if he received bigger contributions from the Coreys, anterior five-star guard Corey Fisher (9.1 ppg) and Corey Stokes (6.4 ppg). Theyre positively clever.
18. WAKE FOREST
Dino Gaudio is stockpiling new talent in Winston-Salem. Everyone yield from a team that went 17-13. Forward James Johnson (14.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and guard Jeff Teague (13.9 ppg) were on the ACC All-Freshman team. The Demon Deacons add to that already-secure nucleus a recruiting rank graded No. 3 nationally. Its a -man status with sufficient to fill a arrangement.
19. FLORIDA
Can the Gators return to form after gone astray the NCAA Tournament? Big man Marreese Speights wont return, so there will be minutes up front to be had by some very ranked incoming freshmen. SEC Co-Freshman of the Year Nick Calathes will only get enhanced. The guys who must step up were with Calathes in 2007s top-ordered recruiting seminar. Billy Donovan must get more from Jai Lucas and Chandler Parsons.
20. MARQUETTE
Theres no question almost the talent. The past master guard trio of Dominic James (12.9 ppg, 4.4 apg), Jerel McNeal (14.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.5 apg) and Wesley Matthews (11.3 ppg) proceeds whole. The Golden Eagles also welcome back a fourth twin-digit scorer, brazen Lazar Hayward (12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg). The plot surrounds the coaching variation, where Tom Crean has late and assistant Buzz Williams takes over.
21. USC
The Trojans got only a year out of O.J. Mayo and Davon Jefferson, but it was a good one. The same may hold true for Demar DeRozan, the top-categorized shooting guard prospect in the country. Coach Tim Floyd has some fresh key returning; he can turn to direct Taj Gibson (10.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and guards Dwight Lewis (10.8 ppg) and Daniel Hackett (8.6 ppg, 3.2 apg).
22. DAVIDSON
Gone is point guard Jason Richards, who led the nation-state in assists last time of year. Fortunately for trainer Bob McKillop and the Wildcats, the guy on the extra end of so many of dimes returns. Guard Stephen Curry (25.9 ppg) is probable to take over at the point while silent carrying much of the scoring load. Andrew Lovedale (6.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), who emerged in the NCAA Tournament run, must step up in the frontcourt.
23. UNLV
The Rebels are around to go aboard on an exposition trip to Australia. That will give the three elder starters more time to mesh with redshirt center Beas Hamga, a 7-foot earlier five-star prospect, and Memphis transfer TreVon Willis. Coach Lon Kruger took an unheralded Florida team Down Under in the summer of 1993. The team fused and produced the vocational schools essential-ever Final Four outer shell.
24. WEST VIRGINIA
Yes, Joe Alexander stayed in the version, but the Mountaineers will keep on to climb the foothill in the Big East. Coach Bob Huggins can build around able off-guard Alex Ruoff (13.8 ppg) and onward DaSean Butler (12.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg). He also is bringing in the citizenss 18th-classified recruiting flair, headlined by five-star trivial self-assured Devin Ebanks and four-star dominion accelerative Kevin Jones.
25. ARIZONA
Chase Budingers surprise return to site the Wildcats a menace to crack the top 25. Budinger comes off a time in which he averaged 17.1 and 5.4 . Other returning include better-quality big man Jordan Hill (13.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and point guard Nic Wise (9.2 ppg, 4.4 apg). Arizona also brings in point guard Brandon Jennings, the No. 4 overall prospect on a national scale.

Posted on June 19th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: College basketball news