The Top 40
The Top 10
1 Syracuse
Last season's Orangemen were neither lucky nor Smart in the NCAA final. Now it's their turn
2 Indiana
What's a follow-up to a Season in the Pink? Beating out Michigan and Purdue in the Big Ten
3 Missouri
Chievous and company are ideally cast to make the big show in Kansas City
4 Wyoming
Dembo and Leckner—the West's best big man—should put the Pokes in the Final Four
5 Kentucky
In Bennett and Ellis, an erstwhile doughnut team gets the rich filling it lacked
6 Duke
Solid, deep and overachieving. And Coach K is a master at teaching that D
7 Michigan
Frieder has a beaker full of potent talents; the only question is whether the elements will mix
8 Pittsburgh
Quality in depth: Worry too much about Smith and Lane, and other Panthers will claw you
9 North Carolina
Dean Smith will have to work overtime to overcome a parade of preseason troubles
10 Florida
Schintzius and Maxwell give the Gators a center and a star. All they lack is tradition
The Next 10
11 Purdue
Boilermakers burned out late last season. If they find a leader, they stay afire this time
12 Kansas
Yes, Dorothy, Larry Brown is still in Kansas. Even better, so is his main Manning
13 Louisville
Still no proven perimeter players, but rededicated 'Ville should cure its ills
14 Temple
If Macon is everything Chaney says, the Owls could fly even higher in the 1988 tourney
15 Iowa
Everybody knows the Hawkeyes will run you ragged, and you can etch that in Marble
16 Memphis State
With the begoggled Perry and frontcourt whales, Finch's five should float atop the Metro
17 Arizona
All eyes are on Kerr, but the real question is: Can the conference keep the Wildcats sharp?
18 Georgetown
If the Hoyas come through, this will truly be an Olympian year for U.S. coach Thompson
19 Oklahoma
There's a juco gem available at each position, but time will tell if the Sooners will sparkle
20 Bradley
Hawkins is the best you've never seen. Watch for him
The Next 20
21 Georgia
Haven't heard of Willie A.? Wait
22 Illinois
They'll survive loss of Liberty
23 Georgia Tech
It will help to stay closer to home
24 Cleveland State
There's a Mouse in the house
25 N.C. State
Shack and Pack have a lot back
26 Southern Miss
From the NIT to the NCAAs
27 UNLV
This time Tark's tears are justified
28 DePaul
Meyer is secure with Rocket Rod
29 Notre Dame
Rivers, now old man, directs flow
30 St. John's
Will real Shelton Jones stand up?
31 Arkansas
Taller than all those Texans
32 UCLA
A Pooh will lead the Bruins
33 Xavier
Lord Byron and mates return
34 LSU
Vargas is Mon of the Year
35 Austin Peay
Govs are in the ruling class
36 Kansas State
With Mitch, who needs football?
37 New Orleans
The Privateers are back for more
38 Marshall
The Herd will roam free
39 New Mexico
Out to avenge the '87 NCAA snub
40 La Salle
Simmons can run it for Speedy
The Conferences
1 Big Ten
2 Big East
3 Atlantic Coast
4 Big Eight
5 Southeastern
6 Metro
7 WAC
8 Pac-10
9 Atlantic 10
10 Missouri Valley
11 Sun Belt
12 PCAA
13 Southwest
14 Midwestern Coll.
15 American South
16 Colonial
17 Southern
18 Ohio Valley
19 Mid-American
20 WCAC
21 Metro Atlantic
22 Big Sky
23 Ivy
24 AMCU-8
25 ECAC Metro
26 ECAC North Atlantic
27 Trans America
28 East Coast
29 SWAC
30 Southland
31 Big South
32 MEAC
ILLUSTRATION
MICHAEL WITTE