Lineup

College BasketballPreview

58 Beyond theArc
A new three-point line and more stay-in-school stars mark the new season
By Grant Wahl

62 She Said, HeSaid
Several schools have women's and men's national contenders. Their brighteststars dish on who's got game

64 Hasheem theDream
UConn center Hasheem Thabeet could become the new face of African hoops
By Luke Winn

68 Ready forMoore?
UConn's Maya Moore made history as a freshman, but she thirsts for a title
By Kelli Anderson

74 Women's Top20
Connecticut is SI's No. 1 pick, but the field of contenders runs very deep
By Andrew Lawrence

76 5 MinuteGuide
Listings of the most honorable, the up-and-coming, the new hires and the nexttournament upstarts

78 Men's Top 20
Analysis, fast facts and the starting lineup for each of the top 20 men'steams. Who's No. 1? Think blue

114 The Rest
SI predicts which teams will fill the remaining 45 slots in the men'sbracket
By Bill Trocchi

FEATURES

PRO FOOTBALL

32 Getting Real
Clinton Portis has found new purpose after the murder of a teammate
By Damon Hack

COLLEGEFOOTBALL

40 Twice thePower
Twins Maurkice and Mike Pouncey are clearing the way for Florida
By Albert Chen

PRO BASKETBALL

48 Charlotte'sWeb
The icon-run Bobcats should be a team on the rise. So, why aren't they?
By Jack McCallum

HOCKEY

54 Rebirth of aPhenom
After a bout with cancer, the Bruins' Phil Kessel has finally arrived
By Michael Farber

Departments

8 Leading Off

16 Letters

18 Players
• Football and foreclosures
• Starbury: back to high school?

26 Faces in theCrowd

30 Just My Type byDan Patrick

128 Point After byPhil Taylor

Inside...

118 CollegeFootball
• Utah takes a mid-major step

119 NBA
• Pistons find the Answer

120 NASCAR
• Jimmie Johnson closes in

125 NFL
• More dysfunction in Oakland

SIX PHOTOS

Robert Beck

DOUBLE FIGURES For this special issue, SI printed six regional covers.