John Clay's top 25: Kansas early, UK when it counts

JohnClay / Herald-Leader Sports Columnist

Rich Sugg / MCT

Kansas guard Sherron Collins averaged 18.9 points a game last season and is the top returning scorer for the Jayhawks, whose blend of talent and experience has them in the top five of most pre-season predictions.

1. Kentucky

Start of the year, you pick Kansas for the top spot. But they don't give out the NCAA championship trophy at the beginning of the year.

2. Kansas

Bill Self has quite the collection of top-notch talent out in Lawrence. Now if he can just keep his basketball players from fighting the football players.

3. Michigan State

Can we please stop debating about whether Mike Krzyzewski or Rick Pitino or Roy Williams or Ben Howland is the best college hoops coach and admit that Tom Izzo has them all beat?

4. Purdue

Yes, Purdue. Matt Painter has been building for this moment, and a veteran Boilermakers bunch has the talent and the savvy to make it to Indianapolis for the Final Four.

5. West Virginia

Bob Huggins' biggest off-season coup was convincing Devin Ebanks to return to Morgantown. That might even be good enough to get Huggs back to the Final Four.

6. Villanova

How can someone as good-looking as Jay Wright also be such a good basketball coach? Plus, he's got a senior point guard in Scottie Reynolds. Sometimes, life isn't fair.

7. North Carolina

The defending champions lost some talent, yes, but Ed Davis is perfectly capable of putting Blue Heaven on his shoulders and giving UNC another superior season.

8. Texas

If freshman Avery Bradley is all he is expected to be, Rick Barnes could take the Longhorns a long way on the range. Maybe all the way to Indy.

9. Duke

If the Blue Devils had point guard Kyrie Irving, who'll join the team next year, they could make some real noise. But they don't. And they won't.

10. Georgetown

After a so-so freshman season, center Greg Monroe needs to spread his wings and carry the Hoyas to greater heights.

11. Tennessee

Worst news on Rocky Top was that John Calipari got the Kentucky job. Best news was that Tyler Smith decided to stick around for another season.

12. Butler

Gordon Hayward might be the best player you've never heard of.

13. Washington

Lorenzo Romar has the Huskies in position to take the Pac-10, thanks in part to Isaiah Thomas — the one Magic Johnson doesn't say bad things about.

14. Mississippi State

If fab freshman Renardo Sidney gets his off-the-court issues buttoned up, Rick Stansbury has the makings of a top-10 team down at Starkvegas.

15. California

It hasn't taken long for Pac-10 veteran Mike Montgomery to bring the Bears back.

16. Notre Dame

Best non-football news is that Player of the Year candidate Luke Harangody is back for the Irish. Now if Mike Brey can find a supporting cast.

17. Connecticut

The Huskies have talent because the Huskies always have talent. But can Jim Calhoun get the chemistry to match? Jerome Dyson is the key.

18. Dayton

Flyer fans are all worked up over Chris Wright, who threw down 27 points on West Virginia in last year's NCAAs. But it's the Dayton defense that gives opponents fits.

19. Wake Forest

This could be the year that sophomore Al-Farouq Aminu shows his stuff. And if he does, the Deacons will be downright devilish to deal with.

20. Maryland

Garry Williams has no doubt been sweating through several suits in an effort to get the Terps back in the national spotlight. He's almost there.

21. Illinois

Demetri McCamey leads an Illini team hoping to grab back some national headlines, but some others — Alex Legion? — must come through to lift Bruce Weber's team.

22. Clemson

We all know Clemson's M.O., by now. The Tigers tear off to a great start, then hit the ACC schedule and do a slow fade. Don't expect this year to be much different.

23. Michigan

It's been a slow, tough road for John Beilein, but the Michigan coach about has the Wolverines in position to challenge for a Big Ten title.

24. Xavier

It's a little surprising that more so-called analysts aren't including the Muskies in the pre-season top 25. Coach Sean Miller left, but not the X-men's talent.

25. UCLA

The cupboard isn't totally bare, but the Bruins are in a rare underdog role this season. Somehow, there is something about that Ben Howland just might like.