With the 2010-11 college basketball season beginning this week, columnist Mark Wiedmer offers brief observations about each team in The Associated Press’s preseason Top 25. First-place votes are in parentheses.
Duke (55): Unless the Blue Devils are hit by a massive dose of both complacency and injuries, we again should be writing about them being the defending national champs this time next year. With Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith back and gifted newcomers Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry both ready to challenge 3-point records, Duke again is the class of college hoops.
Michigan State (8): Tom Izzo has made a habit of going to the Final Four (six in 12 years), the way most of us go to the grocery. If point guard Kalin Lucas’s Achilles’ tendon is healed, MSU again should win the rugged Big Ten and deliver Izzo his seventh Final Four berth.
Kansas State (2): Fear the beard. It worked for the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, and it could carry whisker-cheeked Wildcats guard Jacob Pullen to college basketball’s final weekend if sophomore Wally Judge can triple his 3.3 scoring average from a year ago.
Ohio State: If Buckeyes can replace Evan Turner’s 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and six assists, the Buckeyes easily can reach the Sweet 16. If not, they’ll still have fun watching freshman big guy Jared Sullinger torment Big Ten foes before he heads to the NBA.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers always seem to overachieve until March, then underachieve in the NCAA tournament. With four starters back – including two seniors – from last year’s 25-win team, this could be the year that Pitt is no longer the pits when it matters most.
Villanova: Point guard Scottie Reynolds finally graduated after seemingly starting every Wildcats game since the first Bush administration, but with his deepest frontcourt in years, marvelous coach Jay Wright just might guide ‘Nova to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.
Kansas: If KU coach Bill Self hadn’t won it all in 2008, he might be on the hot seat, since the Jayhawks have gone home on the first weekend of the NCAA tourney three of the last six years. But assuming John Wall-esque freshman point Josh Selby is ruled eligible, KU has the talent and depth to again challenge for a Final Four spot.
North Carolina: From NIT runner-up to Final Four threat? If freshman wing Harrison Barnes is as good as advertised, the Tar Heels should be back among the nation’s elite. The only thing standing in UNC’s way is chemistry and whether talented post player Tyler Zeller can remain healthy.
Florida: If physical freshman forward Patrick Young lives up to his hype, Gators coach Billy Donovan could reach the second weekend of the NCAA tourney for the first time since winning national titles in 2006 and ’07. Otherwise, UF may have to be content with a second straight NCAA bid.
Syracuse: Because of his nasty and perplexing 2-3 zone, only Orange coach Jim Boeheim might be able to lose three of his top four scorers and still be a Top 10 threat. Then again, not every coach can reload with 7-foot freshman sensation Fab Melo, who could make the entire Big East uneasy by February.
Kentucky: Free Enes Kanter or jail the Wildcats. Despite the presence of gifted freshmen Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones, coach John Calipari’s Cats will have a hard time doing anything more than reaching March Madness unless the NCAA rules 6-foot-10 freshman Kanter eligible regarding his amateur status after playing in a Turkish pro league.
Gonzaga: The Zags tend to sag at NCAA tourney time, but this team has more depth and talent than in most previous years. If Gonzaga can overcome the graduation loss of Matt Bouldin’s 16-point average, it has the depth to reach the Sweet 16.
Illinois: Having lost five of their last six regular-season games last season to fall into the NIT, the Illini need a big season to cool coach Bruce Weber’s seat. This team has the talent, but chemistry and heart will determine its tourney location in March.
Purdue: When the Boilermakers watched Robbie Hummel tear his ACL for the second year in a row last month, they probably also watched the shredding of their Final Four dreams. But center JaJuan Johnson and wing E’Twaun Moore are as good a one-two punch as any in the Big Ten, which means a Sweet 16 is still possible.
Missouri: Because coach Mike Anderson’s teams always make you play faster than you want, the Tigers will have a chance in every game. But replacing savvy guards Zaire Taylor and J.T. Tiller may limit Mizzou’s tournament run to one or two games.
Baylor: If talented wing LaceDarius Dunn can overcome personal problems, the Bears again could be a top-15 team. If not, coach Scott Drew will have to wait on next season’s talented recruiting class to return to the Elite Eight.
Butler: When almost-superhero Gordon Hayward went to the NBA, any chance for the Bulldogs to return to the NCAA title game left with him. But that doesn’t mean coach Brad Stevens’ precise and persistent team won’t have a say in who does claim the crown.
Washington: Freshman wing Terrence Ross should further strengthen the most dangerous backcourt in the Pac-10, but losing 6-8 super recruit – and Ross’s best buddy – Terrence Jones to Kentucky probably ended any Huskies hope of a deep NCAA run.
Memphis: If troubled freshman Jelen Kendrick can solve his personal problems, Tigers have both the talent and depth to scare a really high NCAA seed come March. If not, coach Josh Pastner will have to wait until next year to have a realistic shot at the Elite Eight or beyond.
Georgetown: With forward Greg Monroe taking his considerable skills to the NBA, the Hoyas will have to uncharacteristically speed up play and rely on 3-point shooting from Chris Wright, Austin Freeman and Jason Clark to revitalize Hoya Paranoia.
Virginia Tech: Malcolm Delaney and Dorenzo Hudson may be the best backcourt in the ACC, but for the Hokies to do more than reach their first NCAA tourney after three straight NITs, somebody’s got to become a force down low.
Temple: Replacing leading scorer Ryan Brooks could be difficult, but coach Fran Dunphy isn’t on the verge of his 400th career victory for no reason. With 6-9 forward Lavoy Allen returning his double-double average down low, the Owls easily could reach the Sweet 16.
Tennessee: If the Volunteers can ignore coach Bruce Pearl’s NCAA troubles, they just might do last year’s Elite Eight run one better. Lots of talent but lots of questions for a team with no returning leader and an NCAA investigation likely hanging over it all winter.
Brigham Young: Guard Jimmer Fridette’s 22-point average gets the headlines, but Cougars coach Dave Rose hasn’t gone 127-40 in Mormon country by riding a one-trick pony. BYU should reach the NCAA’s second round for the second year in a row.
San Diego State: The Aztecs return all five starters from a squad that barely lost to Tennessee in the NCAA tournament’s opening round. With an expected higher seed and better draw this time around, coach Steve Fisher just might string together the kind of run he routinely achieved at Michigan, where he reached three Final Fours in five seasons.