24. Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies weren't exactly an explosive team offensively last season, and three of their top four scorers are no longer around.
Rodney Purvis, who led UConn with 12.8 PPG, is back. But outside of Purvis, the Huskies have no proven scorers in the rotation. Kevin Ollie will have to find a few from his five-man recruiting class that RecruitingNation ranked ninth. Freshman point guard
Alterique Gilbert and VCU transfer
Terry Larrier could be among the newcomers to start, and preferably for UConn they'll bring a scoring punch to the lineup.
-- Brown
25. Syracuse Orange
Tyler Roberson is a rebounding machine.
Tyler Lydon, a 40 percent 3-point shooter on the offensive end, had 17 blocks in three games in Syracuse's Final Four run last March. Which is to say: Jim Boeheim's frontcourt will be just fine. The challenges for Boeheim will entirely center on the backcourt, where the departures of
Michael Gbinije,
Trevor Cooney and
Malachi Richardson will force huge responsibilities -- both offensively and in that trademark 2-3 zone -- on freshman
Tyus Battle, Nebraska transfer Andrew White and little-used rising sophomore
Franklin Howard.
-- Brennan