November 9, 2009
The List
Season-Opening Edition

by John Perrotto

Welcome to the season-opening edition of The List, in which I’ll rank the top 25 college teams in the country. This first installment will be a subjective ranking and the only one until after the holidays. After the first of the year, The List will be return to being a weekly feature and I will be creating our rankings primarily by using our own Ken Pomeroy’s Pomeroy Rankings as a barometer to judge teams along with Jerry Palm’s RPI rankings, Jeff Sagarin’s USA Today computer rankings, Kyle Whelliston’s Basketball State computer ratings and Team Rankings ratings. I will also factor my subjective look at teams through the eyes of someone who once spent a two-season stint on The Associated Press’ poll board. Please note that returning starters’ Offensive Ratings from last season are listed in parentheses after their names:

1.Kansas

Last season: 27-8
Opener: Hosts Hofstra on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: vs. Memphis at St. Louis, Central Arkansas, Oakland, Tennessee Tech, Alcorn State, at UCLA, Radford, vs. La Salle at Kansas City, Mo., No. 16 Michigan, No. 12 California, Belmont, at Temple, Cornell, at No. 11 Tennessee.
Returning starters: Jr. C Cole Aldrich (123.9), Sr. G Sherron Collins (108.6), Jr. G Brady Morningstar (113.2), So. F Marcus Morris (101.0), So. G Tyshawn Taylor (104.5).

2.Michigan State

Last season: 31-7
Opener: Hosts Florida Gulf Coast on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Gonzaga, Toledo, Valparaiso, vs. Florida at Atlantic City, N.J., at No. 5 North Carolina, Wofford, at The Citadel, Oakland, IUPU-Fort Wayne, at No. 3 Texas, Texas-Arlington.
Returning starters: Jr. G Kalin Lucas (110.4), Sr. F Raymar Morgan (105.9), Jr. G Durrell Summers (104.3).

3.Texas

Last season: 23-12
Opener: Hosts California-Irvine on Sunday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Western Carolina, vs. Iowa at Kansas City, at Rice, Southern California, Long Beach State, Texas State, Texas-Pan American, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 3 Michigan State, Gardner-Webb, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, at Arkansas, at No. 14 Connecticut.
Returning starters: Jr. G Dogus Balbay (95.2), Sr. F Damion James (106.6), Sr. G Justin Mason (98.2), Sr. C Dexter Pittman.(117.7).

4.Kentucky

5.North Carolina

Last season: 34-4
Opener: Host Florida International tonight.
Rest of non-conference schedule: North Carolina Central, Valparaiso, vs. No. 20 Ohio State at New York, Gardner-Webb, Nevada, No. 2 Michigan State, at No. 4 Kentucky, Presbyterian, at No. 3 Texas, Marshall, Rutgers, Albany, at College of Charleston.
Returning starter: Sr. F Deon Thompson (106.4).

6.Purdue

Last season: 27-10
Opener: Hosts Cal State Northridge on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: vs. South Dakota State at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Central Michigan, Wake Forest, Ball State, Valparaiso, at Alabama, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
Returning starters: Jr. F Robbie Hummel (116.1), So. G Lewis Jackson (91.7), Jr. G JaJuan Johnson (112.1), Sr. G Chris Kramer (103.3), Jr. G E’Twaun Moore (97.6).

7.Villanova

Last season: 30-8
Opener: Hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday
Rest of non-conference schedule: Pennsylvania, vs. George Mason at San Juan, Puerto Rico, La Salle, Drexel, vs. No. 23 Maryland at Washington, D.C., at. St. Joseph’s, at Temple, vs. Fordham at East Rutherford, N.J., vs. Delaware.
Returning starters: Sr. F Reggie Redding (104.5), Sr. G Scottie Reynolds (107.8), Jr. F Corey Stokes (115.3).

8.West Virginia

Last season: 23-12
Opener: Hosts Loyola (Md.) on Sunday
Rest of non-conference schedule: vs. The Citadel at Charleston, W. Va., vs. Long Beach State at Anaheim, Calif., Duquesne, Coppin State, at Cleveland State, Mississippi, at Marshall, vs. No. 20 Ohio State.
Returning starters: So. G Truck Bryant, (102.6), Sr. F Da’Sean Butler (107.7), So. F Devin Ebanks (108.7), Sr. F Wellington Smith (104.4).

9.Butler

Last season: 26-6
Opener: Hosts Davidson on Saturday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: at Northwestern, at Evansville, vs. Minnesota at Anaheim, Calif., at Ball State, vs. No. 18 Georgetown at New York, No. 20 Ohio State, Xavier, at UAB.
Returning starters: So. F Gordon Hayward (123.4), Jr. F Matt Howard (121.3), So. G Shelvin Mack (107.2), So. G Ronald Nored (79.1), Sr. F Willie Veasley (101.6).

10.Duke

Last season: 30-7
Opener: Hosts North-Greensboro on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Coastal Carolina, Radford, at Wisconsin, St. John’s, Gardner-Webb, vs. Gonzaga at New York, Long Beach State, Pennsylvania, vs. Iowa State at Chicago, at No. 18 Georgetown, vs. Tulsa
Returning starters: Sr. G Jon Scheyer (122.6), Jr. F Kyle Singler (111.3), Jr. G Nolan Smith (104.7).

11.Tennessee

Last season: 21-13
Opener: Hosts Austin Peay on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: North Carolina-Asheville, vs. East Carolina at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, College of Charleston, East Tennessee State, vs. Middle Tennessee at Nashville, Tenn., Wyoming, at Southern California, at Memphis, Charlotte, vs. No. 1 Kansas.
Returning starters: Sr. C Wayne Chism (109.2), So. G Scotty Hopson (102.8), Sr. G Bobby Maze (106.3), Sr. F J.P. Prince (110.2), Sr. F Tyler Smith (112.5).

12.California

Last season: 22-11
Opener: Hosts Murray State tonight.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Detroit, vs. Syracuse at New York, Jacksonville, Princeton, at New Mexico, Iowa State, at Pacific, at No. 1 Kansas, Utah Valley.
Returning starters: Sr. F Jamal Boykin (115.8), Sr. G Patrick Christopher (108.9), Sr. G Jerome Randle (121.1), Sr. F Theo Robertson (109.7).

13.Washington

Last season: 26-9
Opener: Hosts Wright State on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Belmont, Portland State, San Jose State, Montana, at Texas Tech, Cal State Northridge, vs. No. 18 Georgetown at Anaheim, Calif., Portland, Texas A&M, San Francisco, Seattle.
Returning starters: So. F Darnell Gant (85.1), Sr. F Quincy Pondexter (111.8), So. G Isaiah Thomas (102.4).

14.Connecticut

Last season: 31-5
Opener: Hosts William & Mary on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Colgate, at Boston University, Harvard, vs. No. 4 Kentucky at New York, vs. Central Florida at Hartford, Conn., vs. Maine at Hartford, Conn., vs. Iona at Hartford, Conn., at No. 16 Michigan, vs. No. 3 Texas.
Returning starters: Sr. G Jerome Dyson (106.2), Sr. F Stanley Robinson (104.2).

15.Oklahoma

Last season: 30-6
Opener: Hosts Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Louisiana-Monroe, at Virginia Commonwealth, vs. San Diego at Anchorage, Alaska, vs. Houston at Anchorage, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Centenary, at Utah, Northern Colorado, vs. Texas-El Paso at Oklahoma City, at Gonzaga, Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Returning starters: Sr. G Tony Crocker (103.5), So. G Willie Warren (116.0).

16.Michigan

Last season: 21-14
Opener: Hosts Northern Michigan on Saturday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Houston Baptist, vs. Creighton at Orlando, Boston College, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, at Utah, Detroit, at No. 1 Kansas, Coppin State, No. 14 Connecticut.
Returning starters: Jr. G Manny Harris (106.9), So. G Laval Lucas-Perry (101.9), So. F Zach Novak (106.0), Sr. F DeShawn Sims (108.5).

17.Mississippi State

Last season: 23-13
Opener: Hosts Rider on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Southeastern Louisiana, Bethune-Cookman, Texas-Pan American, vs. Richmond at South Padre Island, Texas, St. Bonaventure, vs. DePaul at Tampa, vs. UCLA at Anaheim, Calif., Wright State, at Houston, vs. Centenary at Jackson, Miss., Mississippi Valley State, at San Diego.
Returning starters: So. G Dee Bost (98.3), Jr. G Ravern Johnson (107.8), Jr. G Barry Stewart (104.3), Jr. G Phil Turner (113.6), Sr. C Jarvis Varnado (110.8).

18.Georgetown

Last season: 16-15
Opener: at Tulane on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Temple, at Savannah State, Lafayette, Mount St. Mary’s, American, vs. No. 9 Butler at New York, vs. No. 13 at Anaheim, Calif., Old Dominion, Harvard, No. 10 Duke.
Returning starters: Jr. G Austin Freeman (115.2), So. C Greg Monroe (110.8), Jr. G Chris Wright (107.8).

19.Georgia Tech

Last season: 12-19
Opener: Hosts Florida A&M on Saturday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: vs. No. 22 Dayton at San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mercer, Siena, Southern California, at Chattanooga, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kennesaw State, Winston-Salem State, at Charlotte, at Georgia, Kentucky State.
Returning starters: Jr. F Gani Lawal (101.9), Sr. F Zach Peacock (94.7), So. G Iman Shumpert (90.0).

20.Ohio State

Last season: 22-11
Opener: Hosts Alcorn State tonight.
Rest of non-conference schedule: James Madison, vs. No. 5 North Carolina at New York, Lipscomb, St. Francis (Pa.), Florida State, Eastern Michigan, at No. 9 Butler, Presbyterian, Delaware State, Cleveland State, at No. 8 West Virginia.
Returning starters: Jr. G Jon Diebler (113.5), Sr. G P.J. Hill (97.7), Jr. F Dallas Lauderdale (99.6), Jr. F Evan Turner (107.5).

21.Louisville

Last season: 31-6
Opener: Plays Arkansas at St. Louis on Nov. 17.
Rest of non-conference schedule: East Tennessee State, Morgan State, Appalachian State, at UNLV, Stetson, Charlotte, Western Carolina, Oral Roberts, Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette, Radford, at No. 4 Kentucky.
Returning starters: So. F Samardo Samuels (107.8), Sr. G Jerry Smith (118.8).

22.Dayton

Last season: 27-8
Opener: Hosts Creighton on Saturday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: vs. No. 19 Georgia Tech at San Juan, Puerto Rico, Towson, at Miami (Ohio), Lehigh, at George Mason, Old Dominion, Presbyterian, Appalachian State, Boston University, at New Mexico, Ball State.
Returning starters: Sr. C Kurt Huelsman (83.5), Sr. G Marcus Johnson (106.9), Sr. G London Warren (91.5), Jr. F Chris Wright (100.7).

23.Maryland

Last season: 21-14
Opener: Hosts Charleston Southern on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: Fairfield, New Hampshire, vs. Chaminade at Lahaina, Hawaii, at Indiana, vs. No. 7 Villanova at Washington, D.C., Eastern Kentucky, Winston-Salem State, Florida Atlantic, William & Mary, at North Carolina-Greensboro, Longwood.
Returning starters: Jr. G Adrian Bowie (100.4), Sr. F Landon Milbourne (108.7), So. F Sean Mosley (93.6), Sr. G Greivis Vasquez (105.1)

24.Clemson

Last season: 23-9
Opener: Hosts Presbyterian on Friday.
Rest of non-conference schedule: at Liberty, at North Carolina-Greensboro, Winthrop, vs. Texas A&M at Anaheim, Calif., Illinois, South Carolina, Furman, at East Carolina, College of Charleston, Western Carolina, South Carolina State.
Returning starters: Sr. F Trevor Booker (121.6), Jr. G Demontez Stitt (98.1).

25.Vanderbilt

Last season: 19-12
Opener: Hosts Lipscomb on Nov. 16.
Rest of non-conference schedule: at Saint Mary’s, vs. Cincinnati at Lahaina, Hawaii, Missouri, DePaul, at Illinois, vs. Western Kentucky at Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., Tennessee State, Mercer, Manhattan, Southern Mississippi, Middle Tennessee.
Returning starters: Sr. G Jermaine Beal (116.7), Jr. C A.J. Ogilvy (106.2), So. G Jeffrey Taylor (106.6), So. G Brad Tinsley (109.1).

Others to watch: Brigham Young (25-8), Illinois (24-10), Oklahoma State (23-12), Tulsa (25-11), Wake Forest (24-7).

For more on these and every other major-conference team, check out College Basketball Prospectus 2009-10, available now in .PDF format.

John Perrotto is an author of Basketball Prospectus. You can contact John by clicking here or click here to see John's other articles.