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What team is the early favorite for next season based on the assumed departure of many high profile players? If Ty Hansborough comes back(I think he will) then its NC. Dark horse to be a favorite at the beginning of next year...UConn. Kemba Walker gives them the athleticism and depth in the backcourt that they lacked at times this year? If Hasheem Thabeet returns they will have the overall depth and balance that Kansas had this season.

Depends on who stays and who leaves at UNC and UCLA. If Hansbrough and Lawson stay in Chapel Hill and Love and either Collison or Westbrook stay in L.A. then it's those 2 battling for preseason #1. Probably Carolina though as I think Hansbrough is more likely to stay than Love. My darkhorse is Pittsburgh. Everyone jumped on their bandwagon after the Big East tournament and may have abandoned it after the Michigan State loss. But they're bringing back Fields, Young, Blair, Biggs, Brown and possibly Cook for a redshirt season.

i dont think mike cook is going to be granted another year of eligibility, but pitt will still be good

i say unc is the fav right now

UNC will get Tyler and Lawson and Ellington back probably so they're easily the preseason number 1's.

But I like Georgetown as the title favorites. They lose HIbbert and Ewing, but if the freshman Greg Monroe can step in and provide some rebounding for them, they have 3 of their top 4 guards back along with Summers and Freeman to lead them. And Chris Wright I think is going to break out and be one of the better pg's in the Big East next year, and hopefully he'll get to start instead of Rivers.

Polynice4Pippen wrote:Depends on who stays and who leaves at UNC and UCLA. If Hansbrough and Lawson stay in Chapel Hill and Love and either Collison or Westbrook stay in L.A. then it's those 2 battling for preseason #1.

Remember UCLA has the #1 recruiting class coming in (but it's three guards and only one power forward, so Love better stays).

Sounding more and more like the whole UNC crew will be back, which would be a great job by Roy and which has to make Carolina the hands-down favorite to win it all.

Losing The Big Hib is bad I think, and from what I have read Monroe has looked less impressive than expected in recent exhibition games.

Love is gone.

UCLA

Lord Ashram wrote:Sounding more and more like the whole UNC crew will be back, which would be a great job by Roy and which has to make Carolina the hands-down favorite to win it all.

Losing The Big Hib is bad I think, and from what I have read Monroe has looked less impressive than expected in recent exhibition games.

Love is gone.

They (UNC) were preseason #1 and favorites to win it all this year but choked so I hope they get all the preseason praise again.

You only can't win with your own players until you do;)

Now I am not sure who will be back at UNC; maybe only one guy to help Tyler out. If that is the case, no way are they preseason number 1. My guess would be UCLA.