Threats to appear in some Top 25s
By Andy KatzWe took a quick peek in April and another in June. Now, as we continue through Summer Session, it's time to take our annual late-summer look at who we think will be the elite teams in the 2006-07 season.
If you missed it on Monday, here are teams 41-50. Here are 10 teams that you could see in Round 2 of the NCAAs.
| 40. Florida State |
 What we like: Al Thornton. Al Thornton. Al Thornton. He is an immense talent whom the Seminoles will feature. Getting Auburn transfer guard Toney Douglas eligible should help offer up some balance.What concerns us: Losing Alexander Johnson means the Seminoles are thin up front. Power-rating push: Playing Florida, Wisconsin and Pitt is plenty. |
| 39. Virginia |
 What we like: Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds. Ask any coach in the ACC and they'll rave about how good this backcourt is. The Cavs are the ultimate sleeper in the ACC. Opening a new arena isn't too bad, either.What concerns us: The frontcourt. The Cavs need to get reliable scorers in the post. Power-rating push: Getting Arizona to open the new building is a coup. Playing Gonzaga is another tough draw. |
| 38. San Diego State |
 What we like: Brandon Heath and Mohamed Abukar are back from a 24-win Aztecs team. San Diego State should be the class of the Mountain West, and has a legit shot to be a regular in the dance.What concerns us: Losing Marcus Slaughter's versatility means the Aztecs need another viable scoring option in the frontcourt. Power-rating push: The Aztecs play Arizona and Cal at home. |
| 37. DePaul |
 What we like: Get the tape of the 39-point blowout over Syracuse near the end of last season. That's what this DePaul team is capable of doing. The starting five is back, led by Sammy Mejia. The other plus is Jerry Wainwright, one of the top coaches in the country who doesn't get enough pub.What concerns us: The Blue Demons still haven't experienced winning consistently and need to get through any adversity. They were strong at the end of the season but can they be as assertive at the outset? Power-rating push: DePaul can make a name for itself early at the Maui Invitational. |
| 36. Virginia Tech |
 What we like: Well, it's not just us. The majority of ACC coaches say Virginia Tech will be a factor in the league race. The reason is the core of players returning, notably Coleman Collins, who had a difficult year dealing with his father's death.What concerns us: The Hokies still haven't been a consistent team, with or without all their distractions in the last year. They need to find a way to be just as tough on the road as at home. Power-rating push: The Hokies will be pushed in the Old Spice Classic, possibly by Arkansas or Montana, but Virginia Tech needs to come out of Orlando as the winner for an early-season pop. |
| 35. Kansas State |
 What we like: Bob Huggins. It starts with Huggs in purple and white. That said, the addition of center Jason Bennett and shooting guard Blake Young to a team that was probably three wins away from strong NCAA bid consideration should mean this squad is ready for the dance.What concerns us: We're assuming that leading scorer Cartier Martin will come off suspension by the time the season starts. Also, we're banking on the team taking on Huggins' personality early. Power-rating push: Kansas State has upgraded its schedule with possible games against Wichita State and New Mexico in a Las Vegas tournament as well as a road game at Xavier. |
| 34. Maryland |
 What we like: No way does Gary Williams let this squad go three seasons without an NCAA bid. We cannot see it happening, not with a solid nucleus returning with D.J. Strawberry, Ekene Ibekwe, Mike Jones, James Gist and a pair of ballhandlers -- Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez -- who will allow Strawberry to move to a more natural off-guard spot.What concerns us: Still need to see the points in action, and the confidence of this group must be sound after getting jilted last season. Power-rating push: The Terps could shoot out of the box with a Coaches vs. Cancer win over Texas, St. John's or Michigan State. |
| 33. Illinois |
 What we like: The Illini will find a way to be a factor in the Big Ten. The Illini's home court is too tough for them not to be a tough out. Plus, there is talent like Rich McBride, Brian Randle, Jamar Smith, Shaun Pruitt and Warren Carter.What concerns us: We're not sure who the go-to guy will be, and learning to play without Dee Brown and James Augustine is an issue. Power-rating push: The Illini wanted the Arizona game in Phoenix for an early-season barometer. |
| 32. Nevada |
 What we like: Nick Fazekas returned for his senior season. He should be the preseason WAC player of the year. The core of this team is all back, save for Demarshay Johnson -- at least for the first semester as he attempts to get academically eligible. Nevada has a winning atmosphere around its program now and expects to be in the NCAAs.What concerns us: The Wolf Pack still could use a third or fourth option to count on when Fazekas gets into trouble. He will be doubled quite often. Power-rating push: Nevada will play Cal in the Bay Area and Gonzaga in Seattle, two games that should give us a good read on the Wolf Pack before New Year's. |
| 31. Tennessee |
 What we like: The Vols hardly were a fluke last season. They are still a major player in the SEC with the return of Chris Lofton, Dane Bradshaw and a stellar recruiting class, led by forward Duke Crews.What concerns us: Losing point C.J. Watson creates a bit of a leadership void. The uncertainty surrounding Major Wingate after a suspension isn't a good vibe, either. Power-rating push: The Vols could get to New York for the NIT Season Tip-Off against the likes of North Carolina, Gonzaga and Indiana. They also will play Memphis. |
Andy Katz is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
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