Dime Magazine's Top 25 Hoops

From the magazine:

1. Wake Forest - Chris Paul, Justin Gray, and Taron Downey are the best backcourt in America, hands down. Not only that, but every player from last year’s squad returns this season.

2. Georgia Tech - Other than Marvin Lewis, the Jackets return all of last year’s Final 4 team. The difference is this year people will be gunning for them.

3. Kansas - Led by Aaron Miles, the veteran Jayhawks are the most experienced team in the country.

4. Syracuse - Hakim Warrick returned to the Orange for his senior year, and with the help of Gerry McNamara, they could definitely win another title this year.

5. UNC - The Heels have been sitting on a ton of talent (Jawad Williams, Rashad McCants, Raymond Felton, Sean May) for two years now. Will Roy Williams finally help them put the pieces together?

6. Arizona - Zona’s also got too much talent not to go to the Sweet 16 this year. Channing Frye and Hassan Adams need to find the chemistry they lacked last season.

7. Illinois - If you watched ’em against Cincinnati in the tournament last year, you know Illini can light it up. Dee Brown is just money.

8. Duke - Coach K had some big losses in Luol Deng in Shaun Livingston, but the Devils always manage. J.J. Redick will be the leader this year.

9. UConn - The champs just got a lot younger, but that’s not a huge problem when you’ve got Charlie Villanueva and future lottery pick Rudy Gay.

10. Oklahoma State - The Cowboys lost Tony Allen to the Celtics, but John Lucas III and Joey Graham are both stellar players and great leaders.

11. Louisville - Francisco Garcia is a star, and Taquan Dean had some tremendous games last season. In just two seasons, Rick Pitino’s already turned Louisville into the class of Conference USA.

12. Mississippi State - Lawrence Roberts made a big fuss when he returned to school for another season instead of going to the NBA, and with good reason: the SEC Player of the Year is a double-double machine.

13. Kentucky - Center Randolph Morris might be the best high schooler not to enter the draft last season. Add to that recruits Rajon Rondo and Joe Crawford, and the young Cats will be fun to watch.

14. Michigan State - The Spartans failed to live up to expectations last year, but with Shannon Brown leading a returning core of MSU starters, you can’t count out Tom Izzo’s bunch.

15. Maryland - The Terps aren’t as strong as they’ve been in the past, but their two stars—John Gilchrist and Nik Caner-Medley—have enough talent to put their team at the top of the ACC.

16. Memphis - Sean Banks and Darius Washington in the backcourt? Ridiculous.

17. Pitt - Sophomore Chris Taft is a genuine NBA talent, and Carl Krauser (aka "Black Magic") spends the summer playing with the country’s best streetballers.

18. Notre Dame - Chris Thomas seems like he’s been around forever now, right? Big East opponents wish he wasn’t.

19. Gonzaga - With gaps in the backcourt this year, the Zags’ burden falls on senior Ronny Turiaf in the post.

20. Alabama - Everyone’s favorite Elite Eight team, the super-athletic Tide, bring everyone back except Antoine Pettway. They’ll have to figure out how to play without him.

21. NC State - Julius Hodge is desperate to finally take his team deep in the postseason. With the Georgetown transfer Tony Bethel eligible, the Pack will keep defenders scrambling all over the floor.

22. Florida - You always have to respect the Gators. Anthony Roberson, Matt Walsh, and David Lee just have to figure out how not to choke this year.

23. Stanford - The losses of Mike Montgomery and Josh Childress are two of the biggest blows a team could take, but the Cardinal always have the pedigree to make the tourney. And remember that Arizona game? Nick Robinson is back.

24. Cincinnati - Eric Hicks and Jason Maxiell are the two sacriest forwards in the country. Say what you will about Bob Huggins, but 20 wins and a tournament appearance are standard for the Bearcats. Few coaches can boast that.

25. Washington - Nate Robinson, one of the country’s best players, can do pretty much everything. He’ll make the Huskies a contender even if they are weak in the middle.