As part of a series of college basketball previews over the next two weeks, Juiced Sports will begin by previewing teams #1-6 today and up to #16 as the week goes on, along with other previews, including the best games of the season.

Neil Joshi runs Daily Sports Info. He has decided to contribute this year as Juiced Sports’ college basketball columnist.

1. Memphis Tigers. 2006: 33-4

John Calipari has turned this program into a bona-fide powerhouse, ready to make a quantum leap this season. After two straight Elite Eights to go along with back-to-back 30-win seasons, the Tigers are thinking that a Final Four berth and a National Championship are the only suitable way to end this season. Calipari’s club is loaded. Derrick Rose, the teams five star recruit, will lead as the point guard, but he will joined by four returning starters, including last year’s leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts. Memphis is among the best in the nation at running the transition offense, and will look to run with Rose and Roberts side by side as often as possible. Memphis has adequately challenged themselves in their non-conference schedule, a slate of games that is headlined by their matchup with Georgetown in late December. Games against USC and Tennessee should also make the Tigers battle tested when March rolls around. Plain and simple: the Tigers are one of the best five teams in the country, and will be one of the last teams standing when April rolls around.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Derrick Rose: The #2 prospect in the country hasn’t been getting the attention of Love or Mayo in the West.
SG: Antonio Anderson: Every team needs a hard-nosed grinder like Anderson; will be called to make the “hustle” plays.
SF: Chris Douglas-Roberts: The Tigers’ leading scorer owns the paint, but he could be an All-American if he develops his outside game.
PF: Robert Dozier: Continued improvement is expected from the junior who had some nice games as a sophomore last year.
C: Joey Dorsey: Conference USA’s leading rebounder last year will need to be a stalwart in the middle for Memphis to flourish.

2. UCLA Bruins, 2006: 30-6

No team has made three straight Final Fours since Michigan State did it six years ago, but UCLA is good enough once again this year to match that feat. Even with the departure of leading scorer Arron Afflalo, the Bruins have a loaded lineup. Kevin Love, one of the nation’s top recruits, comes in giving Ben Howland his first real scoring threat in the post. The Bruins will be much more balanced offensively with Love around. Darren Collison and Josh Shipp are talented enough to make fans in Westwood forget about Afflalo’s absence. Collision looked terrific during his first season as a starter; it’s Russel Westbrook’s turn to make those kinds of strides and become a capable backup. Shipp needs to be more aggressive now that he no longer has Afflalo running with him. The 6’5” senior has tremendous promise, but he’s got to live up to it now. Michael Roll is a streaky shooter that can hit big three’s from downtown in the way Lee Humphrey did for the Gators. The Pac-10 will keep UCLA seasoned enough for the rigors of the Tournament. But, another trip to the Final Four will only be satisfying if the Bruins are cutting down the nets in San Antonio.

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Darren Collison: Undersized point guard is definitely not undersized on game; one of the best point guards in the land.
SG: Josh Shipp: The talented swingman is expected to be UCLA’s clutch performer from outside the post, can he live up to it?
SF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute: Stats went down from his Pac-10 Freshman of the Year campaign, but hustle pays is all this team will need with Love in the mix.
PF: Kevin Love: Fans at Pauley aren’t mourning the loss of Afflalo because of this kid.
C: Lorenzo Mata-Real: With Love in the mix, Mata-Real can finally relax and worry about stout defense and rebounding.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels, 2006: 31-7

Roy Williams’ squad had a bitter ending to their season, blowing a double digit lead late in the second half before getting lapped by Georgetown in overtime of the East Regional Final. Brandan Wright and Reyshawn Terry are gone from that team, but the Tar Heels have a surplus of talent that is now finally starting to come of age. Junior Tyler Hansborough is a preseason Player of the Year candidate, and embodies everything that makes North Carolina a powerhouse. Sophomore Ty Lawson is the straw that stirs the drink of the Tar Heel offense, and will only continue to get better. However, two new, but talented starters are question marks for the Tar Heels. Deon Thompson will have the task of trying to replace Brandan Wright alongside “Psycho T” down low. Thompson is talented, but lacking in experience. Junior Marcus Ginyard’s development will also be crucial in Chapel Hill. Ginyard is expected to be one of the nation’s most improved players this year as the third guard in the Tar Heels lineup. Williams will lead the Tar Heels to another ACC Championship, and you can bet this team will not let another double digit lead pass it by during March Madness again.

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Ty Lawson: Sophomore is the fastest point guard in the land, and fits perfectly in NC’s frenetic system.
SG: Wayne Ellington: Freshman had a tremendous opening season (11.7 ppg) but can get a lot better.
G: Marcus Ginyard: The junior will see a significant increase in minutes, and will need to make the most out of it.
PF: Deon Thompson: Replacing Wright won’t be easy, but Thompson doesn’t have to shoulder the load.
PF: Tyler Hansborough: With Oden and Durant gone, this could be the year where Hansborough becomes Player of the Year.

4. Tennessee Volunteers, 2006: 24-11

Up by 20 on top-seeded Ohio State in the South Regional Semifinals last year, Bruce Pearl’s Volunteers looked ready to make the men’s basketball team the one everyone was talking about in Knoxville. Although Tennessee would go on to lose in heartbreaking fashion, there was no mistaking that the Vols were a team on the rise. Tennessee, like North Carolina in front of them, will look to run as often as possible, and will have a three-guard lineup to facilitate the fast break. The team is led by senior Chris Lofton, who hit 106 treys last year and averaged nearly 21 points a game in being named SEC Player of the Year. Two very talented Smiths, JaJuan and Ramar, both of whom will average double digits for Pearl’s club, will join Lofton in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, another Smith, Tyler, looks ready to make a splash as a transfer from Iowa. He averaged 15 points a game at Iowa, and should make Tennessee dangerous from the three point line as well as in the post. Best of all for Pearl is that his team is extremely deep, and will be able to wear their opponents out with their 94-foot style of ball. Tennessee should have the best season in its school history, and could even make its first ever Final Four berth.

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Ramar Smith: Was a unanimous selection for the SEC All-Freshman team, and Pearl thinks this kid is only beginning.
SG: Chris Lofton: The best college shooter you’ve seen since Redick, but Lofton’s game is much more complete.
G: JaJuan Smith: Everyone talks about Ramar and Lofton, but JaJuan is a key reason why the Vols have one of the best backcourts in the nation.
SF: Wayne Chism: At 6’9”, Chism is a load to deal with because he shoot the rock from outside (26 treys last year)
PF: Tyler Smith: A sophomore with mad game, earned a special exemption from the NCAA to avoid sitting out a year.

5. Louisville Cardinals, 2006: 24-10
Rick Pitino is built for college basketball. You can add the Louisville Cardinals to the list of teams Pitino has made into a college basketball powerhouse. His big recruit from a year ago, Edgar Sosa, has become of the nation’s best point guards. In Louisville’s last game of the season, a 72-69 loss to Texas A&M, it was Sosa who carried the team single handedly. His 31 points in the second round loss were the second most ever by a Cardinals freshman. Terrence Williams is another star in the making, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists a year ago. The 6’6” forward is one of the best all-around players in the Big East. If he can improve his shaky shooting, he has the potential to really take off. Center David Padgett has serious talent, but he’s had trouble harnessing it for long stretches. He must become a bigger rebounding threat in the middle for this team. Juan Palacios is another talented forward that dealt with injuries throughout last season. Avoiding injuries will be key to his improvement as well as the team’s. Once the Cardinals had their lineup together healthy, they were as good as any team in the country. With Pitino leading the way, the Cardinals will be near the top of the polls all season long.

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Edgar Sosa: Only a sophomore, big things are in store for one of the top two or three point guards in the Big East.
SG: Jerry Smith: Started 10 games a season ago and was the team’s most prolific three-point shooter.
SF: Terrence Williams: A do-it-all threat that is in the running for Big East Player of the Year.
PF: Juan Palacios: Louisville is deep at this position, with the equally talented Derrick Caracter backing him up as well.
Editor’s Note: Apparently they have a bad center?

6. Kansas Jayhawks, 2006: 33-5
The Jayhawks believed last year was their time, but a disappointing against UCLA in the Elite Eight left Kansas with another head scratching loss in the NCAAs. With Julian Wright gone to the NBA, the depth of the backcourt will become the team’s strength. Russell Robinson, Marion Chalmers, and Sherron Collins provide Bill Self with a plethora of options in the backcourt. Any three of those guys can run the point, score, and play tenacious defense. The frontcourt is in disarray due to Brandon Rush’s ACL injury. He is expected to be back for the team’s December 2nd matchup against USC, but replacing his playmaking ability out of the 3 spot will be next to impossible. The rest of the big men must work to make up for Rush’s absence. Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kaun have lots of upside, but they haven’t come close to meeting it during their time in Lawrence. Expect senior reserve Darnell Jackson to make the most of his time, while Rush is out. He could be the team’s sleeper this season. Bill Self’s crew is well placed to match or even better their Elite Eight run from last year, but Kansas has fallen short of its potential throughout Bill Self’s tenure, what makes this year different?

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Russell Robinson: Of Kansas’ big three at the guard position, this senior is the best passer of the bunch; also been a member of the Big 12 All-Defensive Team the last two years.
SG: Mario Chalmers: With Rush out for the first three weeks of the season, it looks like Chalmers will be the team’s primary scoring threat.
SF: Brandon Rush: Made folks in Lawrence ecstatic by deciding to return, but now they are worried about his ACL.
PF: Darrell Arthur: Will be asked to do everything Julian Wright did for Self last season.
C: Sasha Kaun: Hasn’t shown much promise offensively; it’s a part of his game he must improve.

Teams #7-16 coming next week!

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