Preseason Top 25: #10-#1

#10 - USC
Sure, Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt have declared for the NBA Draft, and Lodrick Stewart has graduated, but if there is one team in the country that can lose its top three scorers and still be dangerous, it's the Trojans. Taj Gibson will be one of best young post players in the country next year after posting averages of 12.2 points and 8.7 rebounds as a freshman. O.J. Mayo, one of the nation's top prospects, will headline the #2 recruiting class in the country according to Rivals.com. Joining Mayo will be small forward Leonard Washington who is ranked #29 at his position by Scout.com.

#9 - Kansas State

Here is another team with young talent primed and ready to take launch itself into the national picture. Kansas State may have lost leading scorer Cartier Martin, and head coach Bob Huggins may have jumped ship after only one season, but there is still plenty of reason for Wildcat fans to be excited for the '07-'08 season. Five-star small forward prospect Bill Walker missed most of last season with injury, and decided not to transfer after Huggins's departure, which is stellar news for K-State. He will be teaming up with incoming freshman Michael Beasley (Rivals.com #1 recruit) to form one of the best young duos in the country. Beasley has the skill and size to dominate at the college level right away. Four-star recruit Dominique Sutton will also be joining the team in the fall. A little senior leadership doesn't hurt either, which is why the return of forward David Hoskins (14.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg) will be such a welcome site for Wildcat fans.

#8 - Michigan State

Is it possible that Drew Neitzel is only just now entering his senior season? That is the case, and that's great news for Michigan State. After putting up averages of 18.1 points and 4.3 assists last season, there is no reason to think that Neitzel won't be popping up in national player of the year talks. The crafty guard will get plenty of help thanks to the return of forward Raymar Morgan (11.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and a top 10 recruiting class. Head coach Tom Izzo did a stellar job once again, and this fall will be welcoming point guard Kalin Lucas, and shooting guards Durrell Summers and Chris Allen. All three players are ranked in the top 10 nationally at their position by Scout.com.

#7 - Indiana

This is the year that Indiana returns to the national powers of college basketball. The decision for big man D.J. White to return for school was enormous for the Hoosiers and they will gladly welcome back his 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. Guards Armon Bassett and A.J. Ratliff provided solid scoring last season and will help fill the scoring void left by the graduation of Roderick Wilmont and Earl Calloway. Bringing further scoring help will be one of the nation's top recruiting classes. Eric Gordon, the number two prospect in the country according to Rivals.com, headlines a class that includes three other players ranked in the top 25 nationally at their respective positions.

#6 - Tennessee

With their top six scorers returning from a team that made the Sweet 16 last year, it's sure to be a fun 2007-08 season in Vol country. SEC Player of the Year Chris Lofton (20.8 ppg) flirted with the NBA but decided to return for his senior campaign. Joining him will be JaJuan Smith (15.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Ramar Smith (10.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg) as the top offensive producers for Tennessee. Freshman forwards Wayne Chism and Duke Crews are primed for breakout seasons after each posting averages of at least 8 points and 5 rebounds. With so much talent and experience back there is no reason to think that the Vols wont be the best the SEC has to offer next year.

#5 - Kansas

It really says a lot about the amount of talent on the Jayhawks if they can lose Brandon Rush and Julian Wright to the draft and still be a top 5 team. Mario Chalmers (12.2 ppg, 3.3 apg) and Sherron Collins (9.3 ppg) will man things in the backcourt, while Sasha Kaun and Darrell Arthur (9.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) will be a formidable duo in the post. Four-star recruits Cole Aldrich and Tyrel Reed will just give Bill Self more fire power off of his already deep bench.

#4 - UCLA

Even though it would have been great if Arron Aflalo returned for his senior year to finally win that elusive national championship, there is still plenty of reason to expect a third straight Final Four appearance from the Bruins. Darron Collison (12.7 ppg, 5.7 apg) is back and should be one of the top point guards in the country, and with Josh Shipp (13.3 ppg) and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (8.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg) as offensive weapons, there is no reason to think that UCLA won't be putting up big offensive numbers. Add in the nation's number one big man recruit Kevin Love who will join the team in the fall, and UCLA is primed for another deep run into March.

#3 - Louisville

The Cardinals return their top seven scorers from last season. Terrence Williams (12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.8 apg), Edgar Sosa (11.4 ppg) and David Padgett (9.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg) will provide a very strong nucleus for Rick Pittino's team. Big freshman forward Derrick Character showed some real flashes last year, and if he stays out of trouble could become a real force in the Big East. Louisville will also have the benefit of a tremendous amount of depth this year, with a very young squad returning from last season. The Cardinals will get even more depth inside when George Goode, the nation's #19 power forward joins the squad for next year.

#2 - Memphis

The Tigers are going to be loaded for the '07-'08 season. Senior Jeremy Hunt is the only significant loss from last season, but there is plenty of firepower back. Chris Douglas-Roberts (15.4 ppg) will team with incoming freshman Derrick Rose to form one of the nation's best backcourts. Joey Dorsey (8.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and Robert Dozier will have more than enough ability to deal with just about any frontcourt they encounter during Memphis's schedule. Add in three other recruits ranked in the top 20 nationally at their position, and the Tigers will be one of the favorites next season to win a national title.

#1 - North Carolina

Had Brandan Wright stayed for his sophomore season the Tar Heels would have been a lock for my top spot, instead they just sneak by Memphis as my preseason favorite to win a national title. Even without Wright, UNC will still have a top flight point guard in Ty Lawson, an athletic scoring wing player in Wayne Ellington, and an All-American big man in Tyler Hansbrough. With Danny Green, Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard filling out the top six in the playing rotation, there is enough talent and athleticism to take North Carolina straight to a championship.