Previewing college basketball's top 100 teams for the 09-10 season (41-50)

October 20, 4:25 PMCollege Basketball ExaminerDave Ryan

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Greivis Vasquez (middle) is eager for another NCAA bid (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Over the next few months I'll be taking a look at the best that college basketball has to offer heading into this upcoming season. Starting with number one and working my way to the century mark, I'll rank each team based on a number of factors (returning players, departed players, incoming freshmen, coaching staff, conference strength, etc.). If you have any issues with these rankings then feel free to let me hear about it in the comments section.

1-10   |   11-20   |   21-30   |   31-40   |   41-50   |   51-60   |   61-70   |   71-80   |   81-90   |   91-100

41. Kansas State Wildcats

In an absolutely stacked Big 12 Conference, Kansas State head coach Frank Martin knows that a couple losses in a row could be devastating for his team's postseason hopes. After all, that's more or less what happened a year ago when the Wildcats sputtered out of the gate and lost their first four conference games. Facing an uphill battle the rest of the way, that mediocre league record forced an opening round meeting with Texas in the Big 12 Tournament, a game that ultimately shattered KSU's NCAA hopes. Other than a daunting four game stretch at the end of January (Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas), the schedule actually sets up pretty nicely for the Wildcats to post another 20 win season at the very least.

42. Memphis Tigers

The John Calipari situation sure brought plenty of chaos, but there is still enough talent hanging around Memphis for new coach Josh Pastner to win some games and make a name for himself. Duke transfer Elliot Williams will be able to start immediately, and former four star guard prospect Willie Kemp is should finally get on the court and play serious minutes as a senior. They key for Pastner may very well be his 6'8" do-everything forward Wesley Witherspoon, a sophomore in the mold of NBA veteran Lamar Odom who creates constant mismatches for opponents. While another undefeated conference season is probably out of the question, you'd be foolish to write these guys off just because Calipari skipped town.

43. Northern Iowa Panthers

Returning nine of their top ten scorers from last year's MVC title team, the Panthers enter the 09-10 season with a good deal of hype, and deservedly so. The postseason success of past Missouri Valley teams is well-documented, and Northern Iowa is year poised to build upon their five point loss to Purdue in the the opening round last March. There isn't a mid-major in the country that brings back more firepower than the Panthers do, making a 25 win season well within reach. Still, head coach Ben Jacobson needs to hope for a favorable opening round matchup if his team is going to make any noise in the postseason.

44. Maryland Terrapins

Despised by visiting fans for his overwhelming displays of passion the court, Maryland's Greivis Vasquez remains one of the most dangerous scorers in college basketball. He opted to return for a final year of eligibility instead of heading to the NBA, a move that essentially kept Maryland in the mix as a darkhorse ACC contender. Without Vasquez, the Terps probably don't have enough firepower to overtake some of the conferences' elite teams. However, with Vasquez around to occupy defenders, it creates opportunities for guys like Eric Hayes and Sean Mosley to get open looks at the basket. A trip to the NCAA Tournament should silence Gary Williams' critics for at least another season.

45. Florida Gators

Since repeating as champs in 2007, the Gators have yet to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. Their 17-15 conference record over that span leaves plenty to be desired, especially when you consider that the SEC has been significantly weaker after Florida's fall from grace. Head coach Billy Donovan continues to quietly assemble talent, and yet the loss of star player Nick Calathes to Greece places a huge question mark over his team's chances once again to make any noise. Gators fans are raving about first year guard Kenny Boyton Jr., a lights out scorer who will be needed right away to make up for the loss of Calathes. Still, it will be hard for Donovan's crew all year long with Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt in the same division. Knowing that double digit conference victories is likely a benchmark for the selection committee in March, don't be surprised if Florida hangs around the bubble all season long.

46. Arkansas Razorbacks

It almost got to a point last season where it looked like the Razorbacks weren't even trying to win basketball games anymore. After beating Oklahoma and Texas in the span of eight days to move to 12-1, Arkansas proceeded to fall off the grid by dropping 14 of their final 16 games. Their 2-14 SEC record was bad enough, but finishing dead last in the conference behind a miserable Georgia squad that they actually beat on was the last straw. The weird thing was that all of this losing took place while talented players Courtney Fortson and Michael Washington continued to pile up the stats and impress NBA scouts. Thankfully both guys are back and poised to erase all memories of last season. In what is shaping up to be an upside-down SEC this year, the Razorbacks could indeed be a sleeper team.

47. Boston College Eagles

Potentially a risky pick this high after losing their leading scorer Tyreese Rice, Boston College enters the 09-10 season right in the middle of the pack in the ACC. The optimism here lies in the fact that all four starters return, which obviously helps to cushion the blow of losing a stud like Rice. Sophomore Reggie Jackson is one or two big games away from being a legitimate star, and swingman Rakim Sanders should be getting hard looks from NBA scouts all year long. It's still going to take a superhuman effort each night to make up for the loss of Rice's production as a point guard and a scorer, but Al Skinner's team is far from an easy out.

48. Oregon State Beavers

From 6-24 in '08 to 13-17 last season, the Beavers are clearly moving in the right direction behind head coach Craig Robinson. In a weaker than usual Pac-10, this could definitely be the year where OSU makes a run at 20 victories. Robinson returns his four top scorers, and brings aboard two highly touted freshman guards (Jared Cunningham and Roberto Nelson) that he signed out of California. Senior Roeland Schaftenaar is also back for a final tour of duty, a 6'11" big man who led the club in assists with 3.3 per game last season. With all this talent that Robinson has either developed in house or brought to town via recruiting, it's hard to believe the Beavers won't find a way to win more games than they lose this year.

49. Siena Saints

Four starters return for a Saints team that went 23-11 and knocked off Vanderbilt in the first round last March. Unfortunately for Siena, last year's second leading scorer Kenny Hasbrouck was the one who graduated, placing most of the offensive responsibility on 6'6" swingman Edwin Ubiles. Hasbrouck was the guy who dropped 30 on the Commodores last March to get the Saints into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but Ubiles has more potential as the focal point of the offense. The development of junior forward Ryan Rossiter will be key, and if the Saints can get him to be a double digit rebounder on a nightly basis then you can probably chalk up another MAAC title.

50. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Likely to be right in the mix for a Conference-USA title, Tulsa brings back the league's most dominant player in seven foot big man Jerome Jordan. Jordan has increased his scoring and rebounding averages consistently throughout his career, along with swatting nearly 250 shots in the past two seasons alone. With senior guard Ben Uzoh around to do most of the perimeter scoring, this team should have no trouble competing for a postseason bid.