ESPN.com's Power Rankings: Week 1 (Nov. 9)

Season: 2008 | 2009 | 2010
Week: 1

Let's face it: Preseason rankings don't mean a whole lot in college basketball. As strange as it sounds, our sport decides things at the end of the season (imagine that).

Nevertheless, with the season beginning this week, we will take the plunge and join the fun. Hey, at the very least, it's an opportunity to debate the sport we love.

So without further ado, here is the first edition of this season's Power Rankings:



Power Rankings | Voters 1-5 | Voters 6-10
Power Rankings
 RANKTEAMRECORDPOINTSCOMMENTS
1Kansas (9)0-0249What's there not to like? The Jayhawks have two potential first-team All-Americans (Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich), a national championship coach and a host of freshmen ready to step right in. Nine of our 10 pollsters have KU No. 1.
2Michigan State (1)0-0233The Spartans left the 2009 Final Four in the No. 2 spot and that's where we'll start them this season. Goran Suton will be missed -- as will Travis Walton's D -- but Tom Izzo always finds a way. Having Kalin Lucas at the point doesn't hurt.
3Texas0-0227KU's biggest challenger for the national title might just be its Big 12 brethren from Austin. The Longhorns are loaded. Who could blame Damion James for wanting to come back and play with transfer Jai Lucas and the star-studded freshman class?
4Kentucky0-0218Unless you were shipped to a different planet in the spring and are just now returning, you've probably heard about UK's new coach. His name is John Calipari and he plans on renovating Rupp Arena with some new banners. Big Blue Nation approves.
5Villanova0-0197Seems like this is 2009's forgotten Final Four team. There are some holes to fill in the frontcourt, but help is on the way in the class of newcomers. And, of course, any Jay Wright team is going to have a loaded backcourt. This one is no different.
6North Carolina0-0196The season after each of UNC's past two national titles has ended in a first-weekend exit in the NCAAs. But don't mistake this team for the 2006 version. The Heels' big men are tremendous and the freshman class is stacked. The beat goes on in Chapel Hill.
7Purdue0-0195Think the Boilers might've been paying attention to the excitement that engulfed Detroit during Sparty's run to the Final Four? This season's big event is in Indy, just an hour southeast of West Lafayette. Purdue has the parts to get there.
8West Virginia0-0187Despite 639 career wins, Bob Huggins' one and only trip to the Final Four was in 1992 while at Cincinnati. In just his third season at Morgantown, Huggy Bear might be primed to take his alma mater to the sport's biggest stage. Don't sleep on the Mountaineers.
9Duke0-0170You've undoubtedly heard about the Blue Devils' thin backcourt and their flirtation with a (gasp) zone defense. But as Coach K enters his 30th season pledging to go big, let's not forget about the guy who can do a little bit of everything, Kyle Singler.
10Butler0-0150A Horizon League school starting the season in the top 10? Believe it. With the entire team back -- including the terrific trio of Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack -- could Butler end its season a few miles down the road at Lucas Oil Stadium?
11California0-0134The Golden Bears easily led the country in 3-point shooting last season (42.7 percent) and there's no reason to believe that percentage will decline. Backcourts don't get much better than Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher.
11Tennessee0-0134A pair of staples from UT's first three teams under Bruce Pearl -- an all-out pressing style and sharpshooting from behind the arc -- went missing in Year 4. With every Vol back this season, another first-round flameout would be considered a major disappointment.
13Connecticut0-0112Did you know UConn has led the nation in blocks for eight straight seasons? Without Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien, a ninth might be hard to come by. But Stanley Robinson looks primed for a breakout and the Huskies shouldn't slip far in the Big East.
14Washington0-0109If you live on the East Coast, we highly suggest you stay up late to watch the U-Dub backcourt of Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton and freshman Abdul Gaddy. After winning their first outright Pac-10 title in 56 years last season, the Huskies stand a decent chance of repeating.
15Michigan0-0103While it's important to remember this was just a .500 team in the Big Ten last season, it's hard not to like what John Beilein has going for him in his third season in Ann Arbor. Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims lead a well-coached bunch of Wolverines.
16Ohio State0-098Why doesn't Evan Turner get more attention? He led the Big Ten in scoring last season and was third in rebounding, fourth in steals and eighth in assists. And nearly all of his teammates are back. The Bucks will be dangerous even before that touted 2010 recruiting class hits campus.
17Oklahoma0-091No Blake Griffin, no chance? Hardly. Oklahoma probably has no shot at a national title, but any Willie Warren-led team can't be ignored, even if it is in the same conference as Kansas and Texas. By the way, keep an eye on "Tiny" Gallon (he'll be hard to miss).
18Mississippi State0-078With or without Renardo Sidney, this is a dangerous team. All five starters and nearly 100 percent of the scoring and rebounding return to the 2009 SEC tourney champs. That includes Jarvis Varnado, who is on pace to become the NCAA's all-time leader in blocked shots.
19Georgetown0-050Was there a bigger disappointment last season? All things seemed possible after a win at UConn in December, but the season went south shortly thereafter, as the Hoyas won just six of their remaining 20 games. Expect a bounce-back from Greg Monroe and Georgetown.
20Illinois0-047The Illini have exactly one NCAA tourney victory since playing in the 2005 national title game -- and the stink from last season's clunker against Western Kentucky still lingers. But Bruce Weber's group is among a cluster of Big Ten teams that would seem to have Sweet 16 potential.
21Louisville0-040Well, that was certainly an eventful offseason, wasn't it? After the very public extortion case involving Rick Pitino, it's easy to forget the Cards were the No. 1 overall seed in last season's Big Dance. But it's also easy to forget how valuable Terrence Williams was. He'll be missed dearly.
22Maryland0-038Funny, you don't seem to hear much about Gary Williams' job security anymore. Willing their way into the NCAA tourney and winning a game there was a step in the right direction. Now with nearly everyone back, the Terrapins have to build on it.
23Dayton0-035In case you hadn't noticed, 10 of the top 11 scorers return to a team that, in case you didn't notice, won 27 games and beat West Virginia in a first-round NCAA game. Take notice of this name: Chris Wright. The rest of the Atlantic 10 already has.
24Georgia Tech0-034Yes, the same Georgia Tech that went 2-14 in the ACC last season. But not really. Because this Georgia Tech has four freshmen from the ESPNU 100, including the uber-talented Derrick Favors. This Georgia Tech has no business missing the Dance.
25Minnesota0-032Tubby Smith's 16 straight 20-win seasons is the longest streak among active coaches and the third longest of all time. If the legal troubles of Royce White and Trevor Mbawke are cleared up, No. 17 should be well on its way with everyone of significance returning from last season.
Others receiving votes: Clemson (23), Syracuse (18), Siena (13), Florida State (9), Oklahoma State (8), Vanderbilt (7), Kansas State (4), Florida (3), Cincinnati (3), UCLA (2), Mississippi (2), Northern Iowa (1)

ESPN Conversation


Find Tickets:

Season tickets or single game tickets, all the best seats are here.

See all tickets