College hoops preseason guide for 2009-10
With the temperatures starting to drop and November upon us, it's time to start talking about college hoops once again.
So after North Carolina won its fifth national championship last season, who will cut down the nets in Indianapolis on April 5?
In preparation for the 2009-10 campaign, FOXSports.com previewed the best teams, players and games that will grace the hardwoods of college basketball arenas across the country this season.
| Preseason top 25 |
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Who's No. 1? Kansas may be the clear-cut preseason No. 1 this year, but Rick Barnes and Texas aren't far behind in Jeff Goodman's latest top 25. |
| Preseason All-Americans |
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Top of the charts They've got the talent to become America's elite stars, but now they have to prove it. Jeff Goodman lists his preseason All-Americans. |
| Coaching changes |
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Who's in and who's out? Sean Miller left Xavier for the desert, but who else is changing jobs for 2009-10? Jeff Goodman lists all the offseason coaching moves. |
| Coaches on the hot seat |
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Who's in trouble? These coaches better pick up the pace during the 2009-10 season, because their seats are sure getting hot, Jeff Goodman says. |
| Players returning for 09-10 |
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Who's coming back? After a thrilling 2008-09 season, here are the major guys who left early for the NBA and those who decided to return to school. |
| Top returning players |
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Best of the rest Kansas may be favored to win it all with Sherron Collins back, but where does he rank among Josh Herwitt's top 10 returning players for 09-10? |
| Top shooters |
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He's got a shot Syracuse lost some perimeter scoring from '09, but Andy Rautins is ready to take over. Jeff Goodman lists the nation's top 50 shooters. |
| Top conferences |
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Bigger and better With several key veterans returning, the Big 12 will be loaded in 2009-10. But where does it rank in Josh Herwitt's top 10 conferences? |
| Non-conference games |
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Won't back down UNC routed Michigan St. to win last year's title, but the Spartans will want revenge in one of Jeff Goodman's must-see games in 2009-10. |
| Top transfers |
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Helping hands They haven't hit the college basketball spotlight yet, but these guys are among Jeff Goodman's impact transfers in 2009-10. |
| 25 players to know |
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You oughta know Jeff Goodman schools fans with 25 players (such as Florida State's Chris Singleton) whose names you need to learn by October. |
| Top impact freshmen |
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Fresh start DeMarcus Cousins is part of UK's elite recruiting class, but will he live up to the hype? Josh Herwitt ranks this year's impact freshmen. |
| Top backcourts |
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Back to business With Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers returning, Michigan St. has a shot to win the title. Jeff Goodman ranks the best backcourts. |
| Top frontcourts |
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Front reloaded Tyler Hansbrough's finally out of Chapel Hill, but the Tar Heels are still the best in the nation in Jeff Goodman's frontcourt rankings. |
| Big 12 preview |
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Double trouble Anybody facing Kansas or Oklahoma could be in for a beating. They're both title hopefuls, Jeff Goodman says in his Big 12 preview. |
| Big Ten preview |
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Encore ahead? The Big Ten had seven tourney teams, including runner-up Michigan St. So what's in store this season? Jeff Goodman has a preview. |
| SEC preview |
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On the way up The SEC won't get crushed this year. Jeff Goodman says experienced players like Patrick Patterson will be the difference. |
| ACC preview |
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High standards UNC's roster may look different from last season, but the expectations to win the ACC haven't changed one bit, Jeff Goodman says. |
| Big East preview |
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Vacuum cleaners Several traditional contenders have voids to fill, leaving West Virginia poised to win a Big East championship, Jeff Goodman says. |
| Pac-10 preview |
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Down time With departures leaving a weakened league, Jerome Randle could push Cal to the top of the Pac-10 heap, Jeff Goodman says. |
| Sleeper teams |
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On the way up? Bobby Gonzalez has yet to take Seton Hall to the Big Dance, but will this be the year? Josh Herwitt lists 10 sleeper teams for 2009-10. |
| NCAA bracket prediction |
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Eyes on Indy March may be far away, but Jeff Goodman already has his bracket filled out. See who he has cutting down the nets this season. |
| 65 things to watch |
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Route 65 Bill Self points out to Sherron Collins that No. 1 Kansas leads off Jeff Goodman's 65 storylines for this college basketball season. |
| Latest news and notes |
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Goodman's blog Want to get caught up with the latest college hoops news for the 2009-10 season? Check out Jeff Goodman's blog on FOXSports.com here. |
| Preseason tournaments |
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Who's playing? With the release of this year's preseason tournaments, it's time to find out what college hoops fans have to look forward to in 2009-10. |
| 2010 NCAA tournament info |
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Head south After last season's finish in the Motor City, the Final Four moves to Indy. Get all your information for the 2010 NCAA tournament here. |