ESPN.com - No NBA defections means Arizona starts No. 1

ESPN.com: Men's College Basketball

Monday, April 1, 2002
Updated: July 16, 6:41 PM ET
No NBA defections means Arizona starts No. 1

ESPN.com

Maryland's College Park welcomed home the 2002 champions Tuesday. But, which campus will be home to next year's national champs? It may depend on who decides to stick around another year, and which players leave for The League.

Picking the best 25 teams just 24 hours after crowning a champion isn't difficult. Putting the 25 in order, however, is tricky. What if Caron Butler leaves? What if Drew Gooden stays? Who knows what Dajuan Wagner is going to ultimately do?

Yes, early entries into the NBA draft play havoc with any 2002-03 projections before the May 12 deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft.

Nevertheless, most of the teams in ESPN.com's Top 25 below figure to be in the championship hunt. And a few others, of course. We've all learned being ranked doesn't matter much in March. Just ask the Hoosiers.

(*Likely early entry into NBA draft)

THE TOP 10

1. Arizona

Starters Back
Lute Walton
Jason Gardner
Isaiah Fox
Channing Frye
Salim Stoudamire

Jason Gardner's and Luke Walton's decision to return to Arizona should lock the Wildcats up as next year's preseason No. 1 team in the country. The Wildcats had a sensational freshmen class, especially up front, allowing the Wildcats to return every integral part of their team. Add a top-five recruiting class and Arizona will be the team to beat to start the season, just two seasons removed from being a preseason No. 1 en route to the 2001 national title game.

2. Kansas

Starters Back
Kirk Hinrich
Nic Collison
Aaron Miles
Drew Gooden*

Kansas will likely say bye-bye to Drew Gooden but Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich are expected back to give Roy Williams another shot at the title. Freshmen Aaron Miles, Keith Langford and Wayne Simien will be three of the best sophomores in the country and JC transfer Jeff Graves should give them an impact banger to replace Gooden, who appears headed to the NBA draft after an All-american junior season.

3. Oklahoma

Starters Back
Hollis Price
Ebi Ere
Jabahri Brown
Quannas White

Oklahoma loses Aaron McGhee and Daryan Selvy, but despite McGhee's impressive NCAA Tournament run, going into next season without either doesn't hurt as much with Hollis Price, Ebi Ere, Quannas White and Jabahri Brown back for the Final Four Sooners. The toughness and defense should be just as formidable in the Big 12 and beyond next season.

4. Duke

Starters Back
Mike Dunleavy
Chris Duhon
Dahntay Jones

Duke loses Jason Williams and Carlos Boozer, and assuming Mike Dunleavy comes back (keep an eye on this situation the next few weeks), then the Blue Devils have another favorite for player of the year to lead them back to the Final Four. Chris Duhon is ready to assume control of next year's team, and don't forget about a recruiting class ranked No. 1 by many, which includes impact forwards Shavlik Randolph and Shelden Williams.

5. Texas

Starters Back
T.J. Ford
James Thomas
Brandon Mouton

Texas had the best freshman in the country, T.J. Ford, who returns as a sensational sophomore playmaker. Also coming back is developing stud in the post, James Thomas, and a bookend forward coming in Brad Buckman. The Longhorns got further than they thought in the Sweet 16, giving them a taste of what it's like to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament -- something they can do again in '03.

6. Pittsburgh

Starters Back
Brandin Knight
Julius Page
Jaron Brown
Ontario Lett
Donates Zavackas

Picked to finish sixth in the Big East West Division at the start of last season by some, the Panthers have come up in the hoops world -- haven't they? It didn't take Pittsburgh much to get Ben Howland to stay another season, and why wouldn't he? Pitt returns every piece of a Sweet 16 team that won a school-record 29 games. Brandin Knight is back to defend his co-player of the year award and the Panthers' defense is still the stingiest in the Big East.

7. Missouri

Starters Back
Kareem Rush*
Arthur Johnson
Rickey Paulding
Travon Bryant

With or without Kareem Rush, Missouri has a shot to get to New Orleans with the star possibility of Rickey Paulding and the bullish play of Arthur Johnson. If the Tigers get consistent point guard play, then Quin Snyder could be back in the Elite Eight -- but this time as a single-digit seed.

8. Florida

Starters Back
Matt Bonner
Brett Nelson
Justin Hamilton
David Lee

Florida has got to settle some internal issues with Brett Nelson, but regardless the Gators have the goods with Matt Bonner's inside-out game, a pair of rising stars in David Lee and James White and a newcomer point in Anthony Roberson to make the Gators the favorites in the SEC East.

9. Alabama

Starters Back
Erwin Dudley
Rod Grizzard
Maurice Williams
Kenny Walker
Terrance Meade

Alabama's second-round flameout in the tournament bodes well for Rod Grizzard and Erwin Dudley staying for their senior seasons. Add a more mature Mo Williams at the point and this Tide team could mirror this season's Maryland club, and actually be a veteran squad with postseason experience for a Final Four run next season.

10. Connecticut

Starters Back
Caron Butler*
Taliek Brown
Tony Robertson
Emeka Okafor

If Connecticut can keep Caron Butler, which isn't likely at this point, the Huskies should be in the top 10. But even without Butler, the core of the team returns with rising stars Ben Gordon on the perimeter and Emeka Okafor inside.The Huskies got to the Elite Eight and should have the talent to get back to the Final Four with Butler. Without Butler, they may slip down into the next group or lower.

THE NEXT 15

11. Michigan State
If Marcus Taylor comes back then the Spartans will have a chance to compete, especially with Paul Davis coming in and the development of Chris Hill and Kelvin Torbert. Tom Izzo's rebuilding season was good enough to reach the NCAA Tournament. The second phase of the Spartans should be even better.

12. Marquette
Expectations haven't been for the Golden Eagles in a long time. But Dwyane Wade should be a preseason all-American and conference player of the year, which makes Marquette the team beat in C-USA next season. Tom Crean showed was the other former Tom Izzo assistant who showed what he could do this season, and don't be surprised to see him mentioned for more than a few high-profile jobs in the near future.

13. Georgia
If Jarvis Hayes comes back to play another season with brother Jonas, then the Bulldogs have a team that can equal last season's co-SEC East title squad and earn another No. 3 seed or even better come March.

14. Maryland
This is what happens when the champs graduate three seniors, and expectations are Chris Wilcox is leaning toward leaving as well after his breakout NCAA run. Wilcox's return is critical to the Terps' being back even this high going into the season. Maryland will still have a core of Steve Blake, Tahj Holden, Ryan Randle and Drew Nicholas. And the freshman class is one of Gary Williams' highest-profile group to date.

15. Syracuse
Carmelo Anthony could still declare for the draft, but if he decides to go to college, the Orangemen could pair him with Billy Edelin. Yes, Edelin could be reinstated by Syracuse, after spending the season on the sideline. This backcout would keep the 'Cuse among the elite in the Big East.

16. Oregon
The "Luke & Luke Show" -- Jackson and Ridnour -- should be good enough, even without Chris Chistofferson and Fred Jones, to keep the Ducks in the top 25 and as a legit threat to Arizona in the Pac-10.

17. Cincinnati
The Bearcats may lose Steve Logan, but look for Leonard Stokes to improve his consistency and scoring. Defense won't be a problem with Jason Maxiel on the verge of breaking through.

18. Gonzaga
No, the Zags weren't all about Dan Dickau. While the school's first all-American graduates, the Bulldogs return Blake Stepp as a combo shooting guard/point and have one of the best frontline in the West with Cory Violette, Zach Gourde and Rony Turiaff.

19. Louisville
Yes, the Cardinals could be better than the 'Cats by the end of the season. Look what Rick Pitino did without his own players, and his class coming in is among the strongest in the country. And we haven't even mentioned Reece Gaines, who averaged 21.1 ppg as a junior with no real help.

20. Mississippi State
The Bulldogs return the core of the team that won the SEC tournament, led by Mario Austin up front. Austin is among the best five players in the SEC coming back, and coach Rick Stansbury is convinced this will be his best team yet in Starkville.

21. UCLA
Losing Dan Gadzuric and Matt Barnes will be tough to overcome but the Bruins still have Jason Kapono, Cedric Bozemen and Dijon Thompson to keep this team in the Pac-10 mix and the top 25.

22. Kentucky
The Wildcats have a host of issues to get through as to who will be back and who won't. But regardless, the 2003 Wildcats should be a top 20 team by season's end.

23. Tulsa
The Golden Hurricane lose their leader in the backcourt, Greg Harrington, but that's it off a 27-win team that beat Marquette in the NCAAs. Returning is leading scorer Kevin Johnson up front and 2003 has the looks of a special season.

24. California
The Bears lost Jamal Sampson, at least until he smartens up and comes back to school, but return the core of their defensive-oriented team to make another return trip to the NCAAs.

25. Villanova
Jay Wright had the 'Cats on the bubble and should push them through to the NCAA's with one of the top five recruiting classes in the nation, led by Jason Fraser and Curtis Sumpter. The Wildcats are poised to be this season's Pittsburgh or last season's BC as the new power for a season in the Big East.