ESPN Men's Basketball

Reason: The Bruins weren't exactly the most consistent bunch last year, but a lot of that had to do with inexperience. That should change with a full year together and a summer of meshing. The reason we like this team is the guards. Farmar and Afflalo will make their questionable centers better players. We have faith in the perimeter that UCLA will hang in each and every game.

Red flag: The post. The Bruins need Michael Fey and Ryan Hollins to produce more for this squad to be a real contender. Fey put up encouraging numbers last season -- 8.6 points and nearly five boards a game. Hollins produced half the points and a board less. If these two are a positive force, it could really change the dynamic for this squad.

Reason: We're banking on the guards to carry this team. The frontcourt isn't decimated by the departure of Homan, as Tasheed Carr and Rahshon Clark were solid contributors last season. The Cyclones put together a massive recruiting class, too. The stud of the class is Theo Davis, a 6-foot-10 center from Toronto. He was the seventh newcomer to sign with the Cyclones and easily the most anticipated. The Cyclones could be a lot higher than 19th if Davis is the man in the middle.

Red flag: Frontcourt scoring. And consistency. This team can't afford to dig itself another early-season hole. If it can get off to a hot start and stay in the Big 12 race, this squad should be primed to surpass last season's second-round NCAA exit.

Reason: Killingsworth was a big-time talent at Auburn but can he duplicate that two years later in the Big Ten? He has one season to prove he's NBA-worthy. We're banking that he and White can lead the Hoosiers back to the NCAAs. Should be interesting to watch the Hoosiers and Iowa joust in the Big Ten.

Red flag: Consistent perimeter shooting could be an issue if Marshall Strickland can't make buckets on a regular basis. Also, Lewis Monroe has to be a stable point guard for this squad or Earl Calloway could be the replacement quickly. Regardless, the Hoosiers must have solid point guard play to make a run in the Big Ten.

Reason: Is this team the most athletic? No. But it's a squad that should play smart. We're going to take Alford's word here that this is one of his best teams at Iowa. The Hawkeyes earned an NCAA berth last season through grit down the stretch, winning five straight games, including beating Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament, before losing to Wisconsin. That toughness carries over to this season.

Red flag: The Hawkeyes will miss Pierre Pierce, as they did at times last season after Pierce was dismissed from the team. Looking for that one player who can take someone off the dribble and score is still a concern. They also need to win more consistently on the road.

Reason: The Tide lost Kennedy Winston early to the NBA draft (even though he might not even stick in the league) but the addition of Hendrix will soften the blow. Alabama has the pieces, especially at the point, to be a contender from the first game of the season. Don't sleep on the rest of the newcomer class, either, with players like Alonzo Gee, Yamene Coleman and Ray George getting plenty of high school hype.

Red flag: Experience and toughness could be an issue for this squad. The Tide knew Winston would take the big shot and the triple-overtime win at Charlotte was probably his best game of the season. The big man on campus is still a developing position on this team.

Reason: The Mountaineers lost their two top inside players in Tyrone Sally and D'or Fischer and a reserve in Luke Bonner (transferred to UMass), but the Mountaineers should withstand the hit. The easy thing to do would be to call the Mountaineers' run a fluke, but West Virginia learned Beilein's system throughout the past two years and the comfort level is at an all-time high with these players. Winning in Morgantown got tougher, too.

Red flag: J.D. Collins will push the ball at the point but the Mountaineers must continue to improve their athleticism to be successful. Losing Sally and Fischer takes away a shot-blocking presence. Interior defense will be a concern, as well as defending a quicker wing.

Reason: The Wildcats have one of the top backcourts in the country (Rondo-Sparks) and they expect to win every night. Smith won't let this team slide one bit, even with the loss of Chuck Hayes and Kelenna Azubuike.

Red flag: We didn't mention Randolph Morris because we're still not sure how long he will have to sit for having some expenses paid for during the NBA draft process. The other players who would rotate in the post -- Sheray Thomas, Lukasz Obrzut and Shagari Alleyne -- are all untested. This is still the sore spot on the squad. The addition of newcomers Jared Carter and Rekalin Sims could help.

Reason: The Terps were underachievers last season, but this squad, aided by the additions of Shane Clark, David Neal and Parrish Brown, should be deeper than last season and certainly more experienced. The Terps are flawed but won't get as rattled as they did a year ago. This group of Maryland players could be going through something similar to what Michigan State experienced, when the class was hyped but hadn't fully produced just yet. This could be the season.

Red flag: The Terps need to win on the road, and return to playing Gary Williams-style defense. Getting Strawberry back will help change the tenor of the 'D.' Williams also needs to count on Caner-Medley to be consistent throughout the season.

Reason: The Cardinal should be picked to finish no lower than second in the Pac-10. If Grunfeld plays like he did last year, the Cardinal have one of the nation's top scorers at his position, one of the best point guards and one of the most productive forwards. The role players are disciplined and understand where they fit on the team. This won't be as deep as other Stanford teams, but it could be just as precise as ones in the past.

Red flag: The Cardinal is still missing that athletic wing and that could get them into trouble defensively. If they can find someone that gives them that fourth option, this team could be trouble.

Reason: BC has the core of its team returning from last season's 20-0 start. The ACC won't be a shock to the players who went in and won at Connecticut. The Eagles love to play the part of being the team that no one thinks can win. Stopping Smith and Dudley inside will be a chore. The Eagles hunker down in the paint and love to slow down the play.

Red flag: Losing Sean Williams in the offseason to legal problems hurts the Eagles' athleticism. This means that Akida McLain (3.9 ppg), who had his own legal issues, will have to be a starter. The newcomers, like Evan Neisler and Tyrese Rice, must come in and help immediately. Depth will be an issue with this squad all year. Dudley and Smith must stay on the court. Making 3-pointers may also be a concern if Marshall (38.9 percent on 3s) and Dudley (33.3 on 3s) are off. As a team, BC made only 124 from beyond the arc (34 percent) last season.