1. Kansas (27-8 in 2008-09)
Upside: Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins, holdovers from the 2008 title, lead the Jayhawks back to the promised land.
Downside: A few more Rock-Chalk rumbles with the football team stymie an incredible opportunity.
2. Michigan State (31-7)
Upside: Tom Izzo might be the game’s most complete coach, but having Kalin Lucas run the show helps.
Downside: Will the Spartans find a tough-guy leader to replace the impressive Travis Walton?
3. Texas (23-12)
Upside: T.J. Ford… Kevin Durant… and now Avery Bradley. Longhorns’ stud freshmen tend to shine.
Downside: Same as it ever was - who is going to run the show on the floor for Rick Barnes’ team?
4. Kentucky (22-14)
Upside: John Calipari nabbed John Wall and quickly reloaded an ecstatic, title-starved fan base.
Downside: Don’t be surprised if asterisks are in fashion again in Lexington before long.
5. Villanova (30-8)
Upside: In a guard’s game, Scottie Reynolds and the Wildcats might have the most backcourt quality.
Downside: The frontcourt matters, too, and Jay Wright needs to find some answers in the paint.
6. West Virginia (23-12)
Upside: With Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks, the Mountaineers won’t hesitate to spread their wings.
Downside: Bob Huggins’ crew must become more consistent in a less-imposing Big East.
7. Purdue (27-10)
Upside: Robbie Hummel’s back issues aren’t a factor, and the Boilermakers reach an in-state Final Four.
Downside: Addressing the rebounding issues that torpedoed last year’s team is a must.
8. Duke (30-7)
Upside: With Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, the Blue Devils have three sure things.
Downside: A thin backcourt is destined to catch up with Coach K’s crew in March.
9. North Carolina (34-4)
Upside: Size matters, and no one possesses as much of it as Roy Williams’ loaded frontcourt.
Downside: The pesky point-guard question surfaces in Chapel Hill now that Ty Lawson is in the NBA.
10. Washington (26-9)
Upside: Isaiah Thomas and Abdul Gaddy make a young - but ubertalented - backcourt in Seattle.
Downside: The loss of Jon Brockman leaves a significant hole in the interior game.
11. Butler (26-6)
Upside: All five starters return, including Matt Howard and the versatile Gordon Hayward.
Downside: Early schedule is tough, but how much will Bulldogs be tested in Horizon League play?
12. Connecticut (31-5)
Upside: Jet-quick Kemba Walker ensures the point guard position won’t be a problem this season.
Downside: Huskies must adjust to life without Hasheem Thabeet manning the middle.
13. Michigan (21-14)
Upside: John Beilein’s crew only should get better in their third season under a real coach.
Downside: Somebody other than Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims needs to score with regularity.
14. Louisville (31-6)
Upside: Never underestimate the ability of Rick Pitino to coax 20-plus victories out of his teams.
Downside: Never underestimate the ability of crazy, bug-eyed women to give Pitino the heebie-jeebies.
15. Tennessee (21-13)
Upside: One erratic season later, every relevant player returns for what should be a smoother ride.
Downside: Can a team go deep into March with Bobby Maze or Melvin Goins at the point?
16. California (22-11)
Upside: Someone has to win the Pac-10; with a loaded backcourt, why not the Golden Bears?
Downside: The floor sinks significantly for Mike Montgomery’s outfit the second a starter gets hurt.
17. Oklahoma (30-6)
Upside: Charismatic sophomore Willie Warren has a chance to be the nation’s top guard.
Downside: The Sooners still could use Blake Griffin, who cannot be completely replaced.
18. Ohio State (22-11)
Upside: All five starters return for the early-entry-decimated Buckeyes, who could use some stability.
Downside: Point guard could be a headache, though count on Evan Turner to assume some ballhandling.
19. Dayton (27-8)
Upside: Flyers have nearly everyone back from a second-round team, including forward Chris Wright.
Downside: Brian Gregory’s team isn’t built for shootouts and didn’t score more than 74 points in March.
20. Clemson (23-9)
Upside: The power of Trevor Booker finally could get Oliver Purnell his first NCAA tournament victory.
Downside: There’s plenty of concern in the backcourt with K.C. Rivers and Terrence Oglesby gone.
21. Minnesota (22-11)
Upside: Time for the Gophers to settle in for a Tubby Smith-style run of borderline top-20 seasons.
Downside: The same crew as last year must upgrade its perimeter shooting significantly.
22. Siena (27-8)
Upside: Even with Kenny Hasbrouck gone, the Saints could march into the postseason’s second weekend.
Downside: Without a marquee victory, Siena will be doomed to a middle-of-the-road seed.
23. Maryland (21-14)
Upside: At his very best, Greivis Vasquez can carry a team as far as anyone in the sport this season.
Downside: If James Padgett and Jordan Williams don’t deliver, Terps will be in trouble in the paint.
24. Tulsa (25-11)
Upside: Before he’s a first-round pick, 7-footer Jerome Jordan can restore Tulsa as a national factor.
Downside: The Golden Hurricane will be ignored in the watered down Conference USA.
25. Vanderbilt (19-12)
Upside: Five starters (including A.J. Ogilvy) are back and injury-free for the well-coached Commodores.
Downside: With Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee in the same division, it’ll be hard to stand out.
AND 15 MORE
26. Xavier (27-8): New coach (Chris Mack) but same old success for ever-steady Musketeers.
27. Mississippi State (23-13): Upside in Starkville skyrockets if Renardo Sidney is ever eligible.
28. Illinois (24-10): Bruce Weber should prod another 20-win season out of the Illini.
29. Oklahoma State (23-12): Return of guard James Anderson ensures the Cowboys’ viability.
30. BYU (25-8): Back from pancreatic cancer, coach Dave Rose again has a league favorite.
31. Texas A&M (24-10): Aggies should match five-year average of 24 victories this season.
32. Pittsburgh (31-5): Undermanned and underestimated, Panthers will find a way back to NCAAs.
33. Gonzaga (28-6): There’s a bit of rebuilding but not enough to deny a 13th straight tournament trip.
34. Syracuse (28-10): Much of Orange’s hopes hinge on promising freshman Brandon Triche.
35. South Carolina (21-10): Downey’s return bodes well for Gamecocks’ March plans.
36. Boston College (22-12): Loss of Tyrese Rice hurts, but Eagles will finish in top half of the ACC.
37. Georgia Tech (12-19): After three losing seasons in four years, Yellow Jackets have much to prove.
38. Northern Iowa (23-11): Forward Adam Koch could do big things for MVC champ Panthers.
39. Georgetown (16-15): From Final Four to NCAA second round to NIT, Hoyas must reverse recent course.
40. Florida State (25-10): Center Solomon Alabi’s continued progress will be vital for Seminoles.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.