College Basketball Preview
PSR's Top 25
By Anthony Jaskulski

1. KANSAS - Center Cole Aldrich leads an experienced unit that returns all five starters from a year ago. And once point guard Brady Morningstar is reinstated after his offseason DWI arrest, this team will be the most complete, organized lineup in all of college basketball.

2. TEXAS - Freshman Avery Bradley might be the best defender in the nation - not just from his shooting guard position, but in general. Add that to the already explosive Damion James and the aggressive style of Dexter Pittman, and you have one of the best defenses in the game.

3. VILLANOVA - With one of the best backcourts in the Big East with Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, 'Nova won't miss as much as you think with Dante Cunningham off to the pros.

4. MICHIGAN STATE - With big man Goran Suton graduated, guard Kalin Lucas and forward Raymar Morgan have the chance to take over this team and make another trip to the Final Four.

5. NORTH CAROLINA - Four starters are gone, yet UNC finds themselves back in the top five. It could be because of the sharp-shooting Marcus Ginyard, or shot-blocking sensation Tyler Zeller. But mainly, it's because of the best coach in college basketball today, Roy Williams.

6. WEST VIRGINIA - Devin Ebanks is the leader of this team, and with the addition of juco transfer Casey Mitchell, expect WVU to improve, even with the graduation of Alex Ruoff. This could be Bob Huggins best team… ever.

7. TENNESSEE - Tyler Smith declined the pros to continue the triple-headed monster of the SEC that is Smith, Wayne Chism and J.P Prince.

8. KENTUCKY - Our pick to finish SEC runners up behind the Vols, coach Cal will bring about a big change from a year ago in Wildcats hoops, but it won't be enough for any hardware for the mantle… yet.

9. WASHINGTON - Abdul Gaddy, who could be the best freshman point guard in the country, joins the talented backcourt of Venoy Overton and Isaiah Thomas.

10. CALIFORNIA - Patrick Christopher, the do-it-all guard for the Bears will lead this fast-paced, high scoring offense to a big season in the Pac-10, and a possible run in the NCAA Tournament.

11. PURDUE - One of the most fundamentally sound squads in the country, the Boildermakers, led by backcourt star JaJuan Johnson and forward Robbie Hummel, will give Michigan State a run for their money in the Big Ten.

12. CONNECTICUT - Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker bring plenty of firepower to UConn's backcourt. The front court, with the departures of Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien, is the big question.

13. MICHIGAN - Manny Harris is one of the most dangerous guards in college basketball, and with his experience in Jon Beilein's run-and-gun style offense, the Wolverines should be contenders.

14. BUTLER - With one of the best defensive coaches in the country in Brad Stevens, the Horizon League juggernauts have the out-of-conference schedule needed to prove they are legit nationally.

15. DUKE - Gerald Henderson is graduated and Greg Paulus is facing a third down and long as we speak in Syracuse, but you should never count out Coach K and his trusty utility man Kyle Singler.

16. MINNESOTA - A Tubby Smith-coached team has the ability to hold even the most explosive offensive team to 50 points in a game. Returning starters Lawrence Westbrook and Damian Johnson will keep that tradition alive.

17. SIENA - Four starters return to the team that knocked off Ohio State in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament and gave No.1 seeded Louisville a run for their money. This team means business. They know how to close the deal, too.

18. MISSISSIPPI STATE - Center Jarvis Varnado, last year's leading shot-blocker in the SEC, returns to an explosive team that could swat their way to a big run this year.

19. OKLAHOMA - Guards Willie Warren and last year's Gatorade Texas High School Player of the Year Tommy Mason-Griffin will keep this team afloat in the Big 12, despite the many departures they are facing.

20. OHIO STATE - The Buckeyes are a better basketball team without the graduated B.J. Mullens. Guard Evan Turner will help prove that this season.

21. SOUTH CAROLINA - Devan Downey, who averaged 20 points last season, has the highest ceiling of any guard in the SEC. If he stays hot, the rest of this team is talented enough to follow his lead.

22. GEORGETOWN - Center Greg Monroe is obviously the biggest piece for the Hoyas this year. But don't count out a talented back court headlined by Chris Wright.

23. DAYTON - Chris Wright has the chance to single-handedly bring the A-10 Conference back to prominence. His style is precisely what the Flyers need to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

24. FLORIDA STATE - The talented unit of Solomon Alabi, Chris Singleton, Michael Snaer and Derwin Kitchen are names you will be hearing this season - for better or for worse.

25. TULSA - Seven-footer Jerome Jordan has the potential to be the best big man in the country. Potential and a sawbuck gets you a cup of coffee, but it could get Tulsa national recognition this season.

THE SLEEPERS: Clemson, Kansas State, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Illinois, Gonzaga, Texas A&M, Baylor, Boston College, Louisville, Maryland