The 2007-08 National Champions have a totally new look this season. With all their starters gone, Coach Bill Self will depend on mostly inexperienced players this season (Sherron Collins is the only player on the roster with 12-plus minutes per game last season). The incoming freshman class is strong with the addition of five four-star recruits, a JUCO transfer and a three-star recruit. Although this year’s squad may not be as talented as the National Championship team of last year, Kansas fans still have a lot to look forward to in Lawrence.
official site

With four of the five starters returning to the Orange, Syracuse looks to turn last year’s rebuilding project into a contender this in the 2008-09 season. Jim Boeheim’s team will be led by key returnees, Eric Devendorf, All-Big East Second Team player Paul Harris and Big East Co-Rookie of the Year Jonny Flynn. Joining them will be the 11th and 12th ranked 2008 small forward recruits (according to Scout.com) in Mookie Jones and Kris Joseph.
official site

After a rebuilding year in 2007-08, the two-year removed back-to-back champions are ready to get back into the NCAA tournament and challenge in the SEC. With SEC Newcomer of the Year Nick Calathes deciding to return to Gainesville, the Gators look to be a much better team than if he had chosen to stay in the NBA draft. Four starters are returning and Coach Donovan recruited six incoming freshman to build strong depth for the Gators.
official site

With an early exit from last year’s College Basketball Invitational, the Huskies have been looking forward to the start of this season. Four regulars will be returning from last year’s squad including second-team All Pac-10 player Jon Brockman and UW assists leader Venoy Overton. Brockman averaged a double-double last season with 17.8 ppg and 11.6 rpg. Coach Lorenzo Romar has also brought in three four-star recruits as apart of a four-man freshman class.
official site

After their third consecutive season with 20-plus wins, the Bradley Braves look to improve on last year’s season. Ending the year with a loss in the championship of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational, the Braves lost two starters including first team All-MVC honoree Jeremy Crouch. However, Coach Jim Les’ squad looks to turn heads in the MVC and have another successful season.
official site

After a breakout season in 2007-’08, Horizon League Co-Coach of the Year Gary Waters looks to continue the success this season. Cleveland State went 21-13 with their fourth postseason bid in school history (NIT) and first since the 1987-’88 season. The Vikings’ squad also broke a school record for most league wins (12). Although CSU lost two starters to graduation, first team Horizon League player J’Nathan Bullock and second team honoree Cedric Jackson (member of All-Defensive and All-Newcomer squads as well) will lead the Vikings to a hopeful Horizon League championship run.
official site

To say “new” regarding Florida Gulf Coast is an understatement. The Eagles are in just their second season of Division I and the Atlantic sun Conference. Head Coach Dave Balza will have 12 new players on their roster. And only one of the returnees averaged more than 10 minutes per game. The new players include eight freshman, three transfers from junior college and a Division I transfer. Guard Delvin Franklin averaged over 27 minutes and 9.2 points per game last year.
official site

FIU will be returning its top three scorers from last season (Alex Galindo, Russell Hicks and Kenneth White) and will have one of the best frontcourts in the Sun Belt Conference with the 7-foot Hicks and 6-11 Badara Ndiaye. Not to mention Coach Sergio Rouco added depth to that same frontcourt with highly touted incoming freshman Freddy Asprilla. FIU will look to Sr. Alex Galindo to continue his strong play as the Panthers fight for a Sun Belt championship.
official site

UMKC Kangaroos – Head Coach: Matt Brown – Summit Conference

After a rough first year for head coach Matt Brown, the UMKC Men’s Basketball team looks to turn it around in the 2008-09 season. With only 2 returning starters from last year’s squad, Brown will look to ’07-’08 second team All-Summit League player Dane Brumagin and All-Newcomer team member Reggie Hamilton. The Kangaroos have a new look with eight freshman (two red shirt) and will try to turn things around in the Summit League.
official site

Richmond Spiders – Head Coach: Chris Mooney – Atlantic 10 Conference

Although the Richmond Spiders reached their pre-season goal of finishing the regular season in the Atlantic-10 top four, the 2007-08 squad was still disappointed by their early exit from the A-10 tournament (quarterfinal loss to St. Joe’s). With their best player, Dan Geriot out for the season with a torn knee ligament, Richmond will look to A-10 rookie of the year Kevin Anderson and Jr. David Gonvalez to lead Richmond this season.
official site

Toledo Rockets – Head Coach: Gene Cross – Mid-American Conference

While last season wasn’t the best for Toledo, the Rockets come back for the 2008-09 season with a new coach and four of the five starters from last year’s squad. Head Coach Gene Cross takes his first head coaching position after spending the past two seasons with Notre Dame. All-MAC honorable mention Tyrone Kent returns for his senior season seeking to lead the conference in points per game for the second straight season and lead the Rockets in the MAC.
official site

LeMoyne returns only one starter from last year, but that starter is pre-season honorable mention All-American Laurence Ekperigin. The Dolphins forward averaged 17.4 points and 8.5 rebounds last season. In addition to Ekperigin, two valuable members of the bench from last year look to fit into starting spots this season… guard Damani Corbin averaged 3.2 assists per game off the bench and should start at point guard, while forward Kevin Roth brought some size and shooting touch off the bench.
official site

Saint Leo Lions – Head Coach: Mike Madagan – Sunshine State Conference
Saint Leo has the experience to be a strong contender in the Sunshine State Conference. Leading scorer and rebounder Jordan Prais (16.2 pts, 8.5 reb) leads the way with senior forward Kyle Rowland right next to him. Rowland averaged 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while topping the team in blocked shots (59). And to complete the mix, point guard Quentin Cullop is back as well (10.1 pts, 4.8 ast), posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly a 2-to-1 last year.
official site

West Georgia is expected to be one of the teams to beat in the Gulf South Conference, despite losing their top three scorers. Only three players return that averaged over 15 minutes per game last year. One is pre-season honoree Doug Daniels, who averaged 11.5 points per game and was second on the team in three-point shooting. Another returning player is point guard Adam Stanger who collected 102 assists (3.9 per game) last season.