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With returning big man Eric Montross and long-range shooter Donald Williams, along with the top recruiting class in the nation, the Tar Heels are set to dominate the competition. Anything less than No.1 will be a disappointment.
The most overrated team this year is the Indiana Hoosiers. Although Indiana has returning stars Damon Bailey and Alan Henderson, it lost point guard Greg Graham and All-American Calbert Cheaney to the NBA. The young Hoosiers lack experienced players, which will hurt them in biggame situations.
The surprise team to watch this season is the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines may have lost their main man Chris Webber, but they return with four starters from their "Fab Five" team from a year ago. With strong play by Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard, complemented by the athleticism of Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, Michigan could find itself in a third straight NCAA final.
Marcus V. West Colwich freshman
All five starters return at Temple, Minnesota
I'm sure that it is going to be another great year for North Carolina, which returns four starters from its championship team and boasts the top recruiting class in the nation.
But what about Temple? It almost defeated Michigan in the West Regional final, and all five starters are back. It has one of the best small forwards in Eddie Jones, and guard Aaron McKie produced 21 points a game. Temple has its work cut out, though, with a schedule that includes Duke,
Louisville, Kansas, Cincinnati, Massachusetts and George Washington. All made the tournament last season.
Don't shed any tears about Michigan losing Chris Webbler. The Wolverines still will be formidable in the tournament without him. But, don't be surprised if Minnesota wins the Big Ten. All five starters return from the 22-10 team that won the National Invitational Tournament last year. Voshon Lenard contributed 17 points a game last year, and the Gophers never lose at home. I predict that Minnesota and Temple will stun everyone this year, even though their success should come as no surprise.
Cal Wilson
Council Grove freshman
Tar Heels have another championship roster
With four returning starters and coach Dean Smith, the defending national champions, the North Carolina Tar Heels, appear to be the solid choice as the No.1 team in college basketball this season.
Eric Montross, a 7-foot-0 giant, has blossomed into the best big man in the country after his outstanding performance in the NCAA Tournament last year. Teaming up with Montross will be Final Four MVP Donald Williams, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, and senior point guard Derrick Phelps. Add to this front court returne Brian Reese and the No.1 class of incoming freshmen. The Tar Heels look invincible. Even coach Smith, dean of college coaches, has to look for reasons why the Tar Heels won't return to the Final Four.
Look for the California Golden Bears to be the overrated team of the season. Even with the great Jason Kidd, they will not be able to repeat their end-of-the-season sen-
sationalplay. Expectations are for the Final Four, but with the loss of Kansas transfer Jerrad Haase, this won't happen.
The surprise team will be the Kansas Jayhawks. With only one returning starter, they appear destined for a down year. But with the excellent coaching from Roy Williams and the experience of returning seniors Richard Scott, Patrick Richey and Steve Woodberry, look for this team to get better as the season progresses. Another Big Eight championship?
Stefani Hamman
Osage City senior
North Carolina to repeat, Duke, Indiana do poorly
Dean Smith and the North Carolina Tar Heels are heavy favorites to repeat as NCAA champions this season. The addition of incoming freshmen Rasheed Wallace, Jeff McInnis and Jerry Stackhouse will more than offset the loss of George Lynch to the NBA. With starters Eric Montross, Brian Reese, Donald Williams and Derrick Phelps all back from the 34-4 team of a year ago, the Tar Heels need only travel down Tobacco Road to Charlotte, N.C., to lay claim to their second title in as many years.
Indiana and Duke are the two teams most likely to take a nose dive this season. Coach Bobby Knight and the Hoosiers must replace the scoring of NBA lottery selection Calbert Cheaney as well as two other starters. A fifth-place finish in the Big Ten is probable. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils must look to sophomore Chris Collins, son of former NBA player and coach Doug Collins, to replace point guard Bobby Hurley. Duke will finish fourth in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference.
Look for Louisiana State and Wisconsin for surprises this season. Freshmen Ronnie
Henderson and Randy Livingston for the Tigers and Rashard Griffith of the Badgers will make an immediate impact. David Watson Topeka sophomore
Four returning starters, recruiting key to Tar Heels
There is no question that the North Carolina Tar Heels will be the team to defeat in college basketball this year. Last year's national championship team returns four starters, including All-American candidate Eric Montross at center. The Tar Heels also boast the top recruiting class in the country, which adds even more depth to their bench. And with Dean Smith, one of the greatest coaches of all time, at the helm, North Carolina will coast to its second straight NCAA crown.
The Duke Blue Devils have been the biggest force in college basketball during the past several years. Despite losing key players, many analysts again have picked them to finish in the top five. Gone from last year's team is the outstanding backcourt combination of Bobby Hurley and Thomas Hill. Their experience and leadership won't be replaced easily, so look for Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils to have an average season.
The Arkansas Razorbacks could surprise a lot of people this season. Super sophomores Scotty Thurman and Corliss Williamson will emerge as the most potent 1-2 cast, and Nolan Richardson's "forty minutes of hell" defense will make Arkansas a dangerous team in the postseason.
Tom Rausch
Andale freshman
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