1. CONNECTICUT

Last season: 23-10, lost to Texas in NCAA South semis.

Coach: Jim Calhoun, 399-159 in 17 seasons.

Key player: Jr. C Emeka Okafor

Talent, depth and the rarest of commodities in college – a true post player.

2. DUKE

Last season: 27-6, lost to Kansas in NCAA West semis.

Coach: Mike Krzewzyski, 591-174 in 23 seasons.

Key player: Sr. PG Chris Duhon

If the love affair with the 3 is curtailed, the Blue Devils have it all.

3. MICHIGAN STATE

Last season: 22-13, lost to Texas in NCAA South final.

Coach: Tom Izzo, 189-78 in 8 seasons.

Key player: So. C Paul Davis

Spartan tough but more athletic in the frontcourt than the national championship team.

4. NORTH CAROLINA

Last season: 19-16, lost to Georgetown in NIT quarters.

Coach: Roy Williams, 1st season.

Key player: Soph. PG Raymond Felton

Williams could shed tears of joy with the talent Matt Doherty left behind.

5. ARIZONA

Last season: 28-4, lost to Kansas in NCAA West final.

Coach: Lute Olson, 499-147 in 20 seasons.

Key player: Jr. F Channing Frye

How many programs can lose three double-digit scorers and be better?

6. KANSAS

Last season: 30-8, lost to Syracuse in NCAA title game.

Coach: Bill Self, 1st season.

Key player: Jr. G Keith Langford

Athletic Jayhawks find a new Self-image.

7. FLORIDA

Last season: 25-8, lost to Michigan St. in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Billy Donovan, 149-73 in 7 seasons.

Key player: Jr. PF/C David Lee

The Sophsations – Christian Drejer, Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson – lead the Gators.

8. MISSOURI

Last season: 22-11, lost to Marquette in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Quin Snyder, 84-69 in 4 seasons.

Key player: Sr. PF Rickey Paulding

Could be an NCAA champs; could be on NCAA probation.

9. GONZAGA

Last season: 24-9, lost to Arizona in NCAA West 2nd round.

Coach: Mark Few, 105-29 in 4 seasons.

Key player: Sr. PG Blake Stepp

Five seniors return from the team that gave us the best game of the NCAA Tournament.

10. SYRACUSE

Last season: 30-5, beat Kansas for NCAA championship.

Coach: Jim Boeheim, 653-226 in 27 seasons.

Key player: Jr. F Hakim Warrick

Orangemen prove there was more to last year’s team than Carmelo Anthony.

11. KENTUCKY

Last season: 32-4, lost to Marquette in NCAA Midwest final.

Coach: Tubby Smith, 164-47 in 6 seasons.

Key player: Sr. G Erik Daniels

Not as big as last year’s ‘Cats, they’ll score more give up more.

12. TEXAS

Last season: 26-7, lost to Syracuse in NCAA semis.

Coach: Rick Barnes, 116-50 in 5 seasons.

Key player: Sr. F Brandon Mouton

If only the football team were as tough as these guys.

13. CINCINNATI

Last season: 17-12, lost to Gonzaga in NCAA 1st round.

Coach: Bob Huggins, 349-112 in 14 seasons.

Key player: Jr. F Jason Maxiell.

Better box out or this aggressive, athletic team will tear down the boards.

14. OKLAHOMA

Last season: 27-7, lost to Syracuse in NCAA East Region final.

Coach Kelvin Sampson, 214-81 in 9 seasons.

Key player: So. PF Kevin Bookout

The football team is as tough as these guys.

15. STANFORD

Last season: 24-9, lost to UConn in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Mike Montgomery, 363-165 in 17 seasons.

Key player: Jr. PG Chris Hernandez

They were underrated last season and people are sleeping on Stanford again.

16. ST. JOSEPH’S

Last season: 23-7, lost to Auburn in NCAA 1st round.

Coach: Phil Martelli, 149-97 in 8 years.

Key player: Fr. F Robert Ferguson.

There isn’t a better backcourt in the nation than Jameer Nelson and Delonte West.

17. ILLINOIS

Last season: 25-7, lost to Notre Dame in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Bruce Weber, 1st season.

Key player: So. PG Dee Brown

If Weber can get Illinois to play as hard as his Southern Illinois teams, a Big Ten title awaits.

18. WAKE FOREST

Last season: 25-6, lost to Auburn in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Skip Prosser, 46-19 in 2 seasons.

Key player: Soph. C Eric Williams

Three great guards and only two can play at a time. Great problem.

19. NOTRE DAME

Last season: 24-10, lost to Arizona in the NCAA West final.

Coach: Mike Brey, 66-31 in 3 seasons.

Key player: So. C Torin Francis

Chris Thomas pulled out of the NBA Draft and pulls ND to the Elite Eight.

20. WISCONSIN

Last season: 24-8, lost to Kentucky in NCAA Midwest semis.

Coach: Bo Ryan, 43-21 in 2 seasons.

Key player: Jr. G Devin Harris.

In Ryan’s system, losing your leading scorer (Kirk Penney) isn’t a crushing blow.

21. N.C. STATE

Last season: 18-13, lost to Cal in NCAA 1st round.

Coach: Herb Sendek, 127-98 in 7 seasons.

Key player: Jr. G/F Julius Hodge

Where’s the beef? Wolfpack need a power post game.

22. LOUISVILLE

Last season: 25-7, lost to Butler in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Rick Pitino, 44-20 in 2 seasons.

Key player: So. F Francisco Garcia

No coach gets the most out of his players on a consistent basis.

23. INDIANA

Last season: 21-13, lost to Pittsburgh in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Mike Davis, 67-38 in 3 seasons.

Key player: So G Bracey Wright

Davis has the more athletic team he craves; now we see if he can coach.

24. PITTSBURGH

Last season: 28-5, lost to Marquette in NCAA Midwest semis.

Coach: Jamie Dixon, 1st season.

Key player: So. PG Carl Krauser

Life without Ben Howland. And Brandin Knight. And Ontario Lett. And Donatas Zavackas.

25. CALIFORNIA

Last season: 22-9, lost to Oklahoma in NCAA 2nd round.

Coach: Ben Braun, 140-79 in 7 seasons.

Key player: Sr. F/C Amit Tamir

Freshman Ayinde Ubaka could be Cal’s best guard since Jason Kidd.