TSN's top 25: … and 25 other polls, lists and must-know items to get you ready for the 2002-03 college basketball season

Sporting News, The, Nov 11, 2002 by Mike DeCourcy, Matt Hayes, Kyle Veltrop, Bob Holt, Bruce Pascoe

Pittsburgh and Connecticut appear positioned for another close race, and this time they play one another in the regular season (March 2). But the line separating them from their competitors last season was narrower on the floor than in the standings, and that gap will shrink. The league may not be as deep, but Boston College, Syracuse, Notre Dame and maybe Georgetown are good enough to win it.

Except for Indiana's Final Four run, last year was horrible (sixth in the RPI standings). And with only Michigan State and Indiana in the Top 25, the league might appear headed downward. In fact, the league is moving forward with as many good young players as it has enjoyed in years. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State and a young Illinois team could return the Big Ten to a position of stature rapidly.

Cincinnati's hold on C-USA titles finally might fall if the Bearcats can't find a way to fill their vast void at point guard. Marquette, which nearly ended the reign last year, is good enough to keep UC from an eighth straight title. Louisville will be dramatically improved. Don't be surprised if Memphis takes advantage of its weak division and posts a better mark than all three American Division powers.

You may not recall Charlie Spoonhour's work at Saint Louis--in his first two years, the Billikens went from doormat to 23 wins and a 1994 NCAA bid--but Mountain West opponents should be aware of its implications. UNLV's players are more familiar with Spoonhour's approach, and more talent is available. The Rebels also have the league's best guards. Wyoming returns quite a bit but will face a significant challenge.

The expectations for Xavier are such that the Musketeers have to dominate the league. They appear headed in an opposite direction from the rest of the league, stacked with the A-10's two best players (David West and Romain Sato) and a roster full of players who have had a year to adjust to coach Thad Matta's system. Richmond can bother Xavier if it can make a quick transition to new coach Jerry Wainwright.

Travel makes dominating a geographically disparate league difficult, and that should help keep Hawaii in the race with an exceptional Tulsa team. Both need to take advantage of their limited non-conference chances. (Tulsa gets Kansas and Gonzaga, Hawaii may face Western Kentucky in the Rainbow Classic). Otherwise, one will struggle to gain an NCAA at-large berth, and both will face seeding obstacles again.

Opportunities denied

If the NCAA continues its current legislative course, the 2001-02 season probably will have represented the high-water mark for mid-major programs.

Gonzaga rose to No. 6 in the final Associated Press rankings. Western Kentucky overthrew the Kentucky Wildcats. Ball State defeated Kansas and UCLA in the Maul Invitational. Butler won the Top of the World Classic. Kent State stormed into the South Regional championship game, one win short of the Final Four.

With the NCAA concocting rules favoring its more powerful members, that level of success may be difficult to duplicate.