Trio of one: unparalleled parity makes this season as wide-open as ever, with three teams—Oklahoma, Arizona, and Kansas—the cream of the crop - thanks, mid-majors - Men's Top 25

Basketball Digest, Dec, 2002 by Tom Kertes

While they love to run a reverse on you with all kinds of talk about "winning ugly," in reality Oklahoma is a beautifully-balanced group. Unique two-way speedsters such as Hollis Price (16.5 ppg on 45.5% shooting) and Ebi Ere (14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) elevate the Sooners to peerless levels both on the perimeter and on the defensive end.

According to Sampson, there are "10 to 15 teams out there with a realistic chance to win the national championship. And we are one of them." Maybe the one, coach.

2. ARIZONA

We love Lute. And Luke. We're addled by Arizona's talent, impressed by the Wildcats' intensity, and downright dipsy-doodled by their depth. Still, there's just this one little thing that's keeping us from zooming 'Zona all the way to No. 1 (as pretty much everyone else has): Oklahoma 88, Arizona 67, in last year's Sweet 16. That was not a game--it was an execution, especially in the second half.

While both teams bring back almost the same rosters, Olson has done anything but stand still, adding three state high school players of the year to a squad already overflowing with talent and depth.

In fact, Olson may have to bench 6'9" power forward Rick Anderson, a senior NBA-hopeful who averaged 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. And the 'Cats have more topnotch guards than half the NBA, almost inspiring star sophomore Will Bynum to transfer over the summer.

And therein lies the rub: will last year's terrific togetherness, the main factor that carried carrying this rookie-laden bunch to entirely unexpected heights (24-10, with victories over national champion Maryland, Florida, UCLA et. al.), be torn apart at the seams by all these unseemly riches? Not while Lute is The Man. Not while Jason Gardner (20.4 ppg, 4.6 apg) is The Point. And not while 6'8" Luke Walton (15.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, a Pac-10 leading 6.3 apg), the single greatest chemistry major in college, is The Catalyst.

3. KANSAS

Could the Jayhawks be this year's Maryland? Like Maryland, they've excelled for the longest time but remained forever frustrated Final Four-wise. Like Maryland two years ago, they finally broke through that, probably largely psychological, barrier last season. And like Maryland, they've managed to keep most of their top talent away from the pros' greedy clutches.

Of course, we all know what Maryland did last year. And yes, Kansas could take that same final step into championship paradise if a few things break just right.

Wayne Simien, an awesome insider as a freshman last year, must become an even more awesome, and better-rounded, sophomore. Nick Collison, a likely 2003 NBA lottery pick, must play like an NBA lottery pick. Pass-first frosh quickster Aaron Miles must become a pass-first soph quickster, Kirk Hinrich must play like the Kirk Hinrich who led all guards in the nation in shooting percentage last season, and Roy Williams must keep on coaching like the guy who's won 80.7% of his games (tops among active coaches).

4. PITTSBURGH

Talentwise, the Panthers don't measure up to the three top teams. But, depending on exactly how much intangibles such as togetherness, chemistry, and defensive toughness mean, Pittsburgh may be the best team anywhere.