Newsday's top 25 college basketball teams
Indiana's Victor Oladipo reacts following a dunk against Indiana Wesleyan forward Taylor Schoen, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game. (Nov. 1, 2012) Credit: AP
1. Indiana
Hoosiers loaded with offense, experience led by 6-11 POY candidate Cody Zeller, F Christian Watford and freshman PG Yogi Ferrell.
2. Louisville
Final Four experience sets up title run with addition of transfer shooter Luke Hancock to PG Peyton Siva, F Chane Behanan, C Gorgui Dieng.
3. North Carolina State
NBA prospects C.J. Leslie, Lorenzo Brown return with top shooter Scott Wood and explosive freshman F Rodney Purvis.
4. UCLA
Ben Howland going up-tempo with freshmen Kyle Anderson, Tony Parker and Shabazz Muhammad (if ruled eligible), transfer PG Larry Drew.
5. Kentucky
Champs sent six to NBA, reloaded with Cs Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley-Stein, F Alex Poythress, G Archie Goodwin, transfer PG Ryan Harrow.
6. Syracuse
PG Brandon Triche only returning starter, but SG Michael Carter-Williams is star-in-waiting; 6-8 C.J. Fair, 6-9 Rakeem Christmas add size, punch.
7. Florida
Experience is key with veteran Gs Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario and Fs Erik Murphy and Patric Young. Bank on coach Billy Donovan.
8. Ohio State
Preseason All-American F Deshaun Thomas, Gs Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr. return from Final Four team. Soph big Amir Williams is key.
9. Missouri
Vets Laurence Bowers, Phil Pressey and Michael Dixon Jr. welcome slew of transfers, including UConn F Alex Oriakhi, Oregon G Jabari Brown.
10. Duke
Big three of Fs Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee and SG Seth Curry need help from frosh bigs Alex Murphy, Marshall Plumlee, Amile Jefferson.
11. Kansas
NCAA runner-up returns 7-foot C Jeff Withey, Gs Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford, adds 11 freshmen, including PFs Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor.
12. Michigan
Preseason All-American PG Trey Burke and swing man Tim Hardaway Jr. get boost from freshmen C Mitch McGary, F Glenn Robinson III.
13. Cincinnati
Big East tourney runner-up has core of F Sean Kilpatrick and Gs Kashmere Wright and JaQuon Parker, adds redshirt frosh F Shaquille Thomas.
14. Butler
NCAA runner-up in 2010-11, arrives in Atlantic 10 with splash with C Andrew Smith, Fs Khylie Marshall, Roosevelt Jones and transfer G Rotnei Clarke.
15. San Diego State
Steve Fisher has four straight 25-win seasons, excellent backcourt with MW POY Jamaal Franklin, Chase Tapley, Xavier Thames.
16. Gonzaga
Zags seeking their 15th straight NCAA bid with veteran cast of C Sam Dower, F Elias Harris and Gs Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell, frosh shooter Kyle Dranginis.
17. Creighton
All-American F Doug McDermott (22.9 pts) is national POY prospect.
18. UNLV
Big man Mike Moser gets help from Pitt transfer Khem Birch and highly-rated frosh F Anthony Bennett; combo G Anthony Marshall returns.
19. Wisconsin
Badgers have tough frontcourt with Jared Berggren, Ryan Evans, freshman Sam Dekker. Frosh PG George Marshall replaces Josh Gasser, injured last week.
20. Arizona
Coach Sean Miller adds Xavier transfer G Mark Lyon's scoring to returning F Solomon Hill, G Nick Johnson; gets California POY Grant Jerrett.
21. Notre Dame
Michigan State transfer C Garrick Sherman adds bulk with PF Jack Cooley, while 6-7 freshman shooter Cameron Beidscheid makes impact.
22. Tennessee
Full season from PF Jarnell Stokes, who played 17 games last year, and experience of F Jeronne Maymon, G Trae Golden makes Vols tough.
23. Memphis
Future Big East member has four returning starters including G Joe Jackson and F Tarik Black; adds frosh F Shaq Goodwin.
24. North Carolina
Tar Heels lost four to NBA, need leap in production from Fs James Michael McAdoo, Reggie Bullock; start frosh PG Marcus Paige.
25. Pittsburgh
Central Michigan transfer swingman Trey Zeigler provides offensive boost along with vets G Tray Woodall, F Lamar Patterson.
