Preseason Top 25: #20-#16

#20 - Texas
Anytime you lose a player of the Kevin Durant's caliber it stings. However with the amount of talent back next season for the Longhorns, things won't sting as much. D.J. Augustin is one of the best young point guards in the country and should be the top floor general in the Big 12 next season. A.J. Abrams (15.5 ppg) should see his scoring numbers go up next year with Durant gone, and is a threat to go off with the ball on any given night.
The real keys for Texas will be two other freshman from this year's team: Damion James and Justin Mason. Mason (7.6 ppg) if he continues to develop will be a nice third wheel in the backcourt with Augustin and Abrams. James will be the real player to watch though. The 6'7" swingman posted solid numbers (7.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg), and if he steps up his game, the Longhorns will have three viable scoring options on offense.

#19 - Georgetown
This pick hinges a lot on whether or not Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert turn pro or not. Both players have declared, but neither has signed with an agent yet. If even one of these guys is back, throw the Hoyas into the top 10. Assuming neither is back though there is still enough talent to keep Georgetown ranked. Jonathan Wallace, Jessie Sapp and Dajuan Summers all averaged right around double figures last season, and all should expect those numbers to go up next season. Wallace in particular is a threat with his 49% shooting from beyond the arc.
The Hoyas will be welcoming even more fire power to the backcourt with the signings of point guard Chris Wright and shooting guard Austin Freeman, both of whom are ranked in the top 6 at their position by Scout.com.

#18 - Oregon
The Ducks had five players average double figures last year; they return four of them. Granted top scorer and assist man Aaron Brooks graduates, but there is more than enough offense coming back to pick up the slack. Bryce Taylor and Malik Hairston flirted with the NBA but are returning, and stellar freshman Tajuan Porter is back as well, giving Oregon a three headed scoring attack that will create loads of problems for opponents.
Keep in mind, this is a team that came within one game of making the Final Four, losing a hard fought game to eventual champ Florida.

#17 - Syracuse
There is plenty of reason for fans in upstate New York to be excited for the 2007-08 season. Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris will be entering their second season of playing together, and the two should really start to mesh well. Devendorf (14.8 ppg) emerged as a nice scoring option for Jim Boeheim, and though Harris didn't explode onto the Big East scene like he was expected to his 8.6 ppg and 7.1 rpg still gave glimpses of a future star.
Of course the real excitement for Orange fans is the '07-'08 recruiting class which is ranked #3 nationally. Donte Greene, one of the nation's top forwards, is the crown jewel of the class. Other top recruits joining Greene will be guards Johnny Flynn and Antonio Jardine, and center Rick Jackson; all three players are ranked in the top 20 nationally at their position by Scout.com.

#16 - North Carolina State
The Wolfpack will have the size and talent to compete for a spot in the upper half of the ACC next season. Redshirt freshman Brandon Costner (16.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) is a stud and his partner down low Ben McCauley (14.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg) is no slouch either. Swingman Gavin Grant and guard Courtney Fells each averaged double figures last year as well and will bring the backcourt scoring punch necessary to compete in an elite conference.
NC State will get even stronger and deeper down low next season, as they bring in one of the country's top centers J.J. Hickson, and Tracy Smith a top-15 power forward recruit out of Mount Zion Academy.

Look for team's 15-11 on Thursday night.