LITTLE ROCK — With Fort Lauderdale Middle School coming in this weekend to get a big check and SEC basketball media days starting today, this seems like a good time to give one opinion on the top 25 before basketball season begins.
Our man Bob Holt votes in The Associated Press' official poll, but here is another opinion:
1. NORTH CAROLINA
The thrill in Chapel Hill is the return of starters Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington. Hansbrough is on everyone's All-America list, and the 6-9 forward should be.
2. MEMPHIS
With seven of their eight top scorers back, the Tigers are too strong for Conference USA.
3. UCLA
The 30-game winners lost one starter.
4. KANSAS
When asked about any interest in the Arkansas job last spring, Bill Self said not with what he had coming back. Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur are All-Americans and give the Jayhawks a shot at the Final Four.
5. LOUISVILLE
Rick Pitino with depth and talent is a dangerous recipe.
6. GEORGETOWN
Last season's feel-good story, John Thompson III, continues in his third year following the footsteps of his legendary dad, who made the Hoyas a national power.
7. INDIANA
Kelvin Sampson will have more trouble staying off his phone than he will coaching this deep and talented team.
8. TENNESSEE
Four starters are back from a 24-victory season, including the unstoppable Chris Lofton. The Vols have a chance to make a deep run in March Madness.
9. WASHINGTON STATE
Four starters are back from a 26-victory season.
10. MICHIGAN STATE
Tom Izzo has every starter back and a topranked recruiting class, and that makes him double tough.
11. GONZAGA
Josh Heytvelt and Jeremy Pargo give Mark Few and the Zags a strong bid to challenge for 30 victories this season.
12. SOUTHERN CAL
Tim Floyd lost three starters but gained O.J. Mayo, a scoring machine.
13. TEXAS A&M
Billy Gillispie got it started, and now Mark Turgeon has a shot to build on it and prove all those victories at Wichita State were not a fluke.
14. ARKANSAS
In shape. Disciplined. Unified. And the uptempo style of new Coach John Pelphrey fits the personnel.
15. KENTUCKY
Guard heavy is something Billy Gillispie likes. He's turned two programs around and will try to resurrect one of the great ones.
16. DUKE
The Blue Devils are hoping Kyle Singler canhelp return them to the status of the elite, even though the elitist reputation is part of what knocked the program down.
17. MARQUETTE
Tom Crean's team is deep and talented in the guard spots, and if freshman Trevor Mbakwe adapts quickly, the Golden Eagles have a shot at being a threat in March.
18. OREGON
Winning 29 last season saved Ernie Kent's job, but the pressure is still on.
19. STANFORD
Twins Brook and Robin Lopez make the Cardinal a threat.
20. TEXAS
Will adapt quickly to the loss of Kevin Durant.
21. PITTSBURGH
Jamie Dixon has a strong backcourt and a team that plays hard on both ends of the floor.
22. MISSOURI
The Tigers havebought into Mike Anderson's philosophy.
23. NORTH CAROLINA STATE
In his first season as head coach, Sidney Lowe survived the regular season and then led his team to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game. He has his top six players back, and excitement is running high in the Wolfpack nation.
24. XAVIER
A very strong backcourt with Drew Lavender and Stanley Burrell gives the Musketeers a shot at being very good.
25. KANSAS STATE
Bob Huggins took the six players Charles Baker of North Little Rock recruited and made the Wildcats dangerous. He left enough behind for Frank Martin to keep the resurgence alive.
Sports, Pages 23 on 10/24/2007