The winds of autumn have returned to the plains of the Midwest, and with that it is time for me to write a little preview about the coming college basketball season.

Now, I?m not an expert, and I?m sure I will say at least 19 new things for Jake Potter to get mad at me for saying. But, I don?t hold back, especially if it gets on Jake?s nerves.

I borrowed Andy?s team of crack (Half of them are probably on it) scouts and asked them to give me the ?insider? information on most of college basketball?s best teams, players, and coaches.

I didn?t pay them, so I guess you, the readers, will get what I paid for. That?s probably not good.

Preseason Top 12

1. Wake Forest.
Chris Paul comes back from a great freshman season to lead a team that has a lot of balance and can beat teams both inside and outside. If Paul has a season to remember, the Demon Deacons will be heading to St. Louis for the Final Four. Wake Forest has a tough ACC schedule, not to mention a huge ACC/Big Ten Challenge game here in Champaign against the Illini.
2. Kansas.
The Jayhawks just missed out on the Final Four this past season, but they will want to play their last game of the season again in St. Louis. Wayne Simien will be one of four seniors that will have to lead this talent-laden team. Don?t smoke too close to Bill Self?s hair; it might burn like a rug.
3. North Carolina.
I?m not the biggest Roy Williams fan out there, but he has all the talent he needs to try to get that first national title. But can they play defense this year? If they can?t, they might need to get Mark Geragos or something.
4. Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets should have experience and talent on their side after their second place finish last season. The ACC will get a lot of hype, but this year the conference deserves it. However, I do have a little lingering doubt about this team. That’s why I don’t have them higher.
5. Illinois.
Deron Williams comes back for what will likely be his last season at Illinois. Ignoring Bruce Weber?s obvious recruiting struggles for a moment, the Illini certainly have the players that can lead them to a Final Four this year. Illinois will have to avoid the injuries that slowed them down last season (Key bench cog Brian Randle is going to be out for around 10 weeks with a broken hand and may have to redshirt), and they can?t crumble under the huge expectations. But, there is no reason to believe the Illini will fall short of those high goals. This may be the first time in a long time in Champaign that only a Sweet 16 would be a disappointment. Williams may be the best player on this team, but James Augustine?s play will be the deciding factor in how far the Illini go. If he doesn?t play well, the Illini don?t have another big man to contend with most other team?s front lines. Having all five starters return is a huge plus.
6. Louisville.
Rick Pitino and his $10,000 suits, in a state where $10,000 makes a family the richest in the county, has a very good team again. Francisco Garcia, who was pretty darn good last year, has all the makings of really exploding into a national superstar this season.
7. Michigan State.
Expect the Spartans to struggle early, but Tom Izzo will have Michigan State playing really well by the end of the season. They always play defense, and the Spartans may be the #1 contender against Illinois for the Big Ten title.
8. Syracuse.
All five starters return to a team that still has a lot of experience from the national title team in 2003. The Orange, however, has to deal with former Illinois Chancellor Nancy Cantor. And they thought their winters were bad enough already.
9. Duke.
The Blue Devils have some talented players, but Duke is not that deep. Get the front-liners in foul trouble and you can beat the Coach K?ers. All right, that was bad. Moving on?
10. Texas.
A dark horse sort of pick here, but Rick Barnes now has the big-time coaching experience to go along with the loads of talent he has always seemed to have in Austin. Freshman stud Daniel Gibson will be a great player for this team by the time the season is up. But can they survive the Big 12?
11. Oklahoma State.
Speaking of the Big 12, the Cowboys enter the list here at 11th. John Lucas Cubed would be a great NBA leader. Eddie Sutton?s defense and Joey Graham?s all-around play just add to the potential for Oklahoma State.
12. Connecticut.
The defending champs lose Okafor but still have a lot of size, and Jim Calhoun always gets his teams up to play in March. No reason not to love this team if you are a UCONN fan, even Calhoun?s off-court demeanor.

Other players to look for:

Chris Thomas, G, Notre Dame. Experienced and talented. The Domers should be in the Top 25 most, if not all, of the season.
J.J. Redick, G, Duke. This guy can shoot. And shoot from a long way out too. Even as a guy who hates Duke, I have to admit this guy has great skill and talent.
Ike Diogu, PF, Arizona State. Not only does this guy have a cool name, he has a cool game to match. 22.8 points a game last season for the Sun Devils.
Mike Wilkinson, F, Wisconsin. He could break out this year, as he has the ability to control a large part of a game from both inside and outside. br />
Bracey Wright, SG, Indiana. Wright may have to carry the Hoosiers again, and if Indiana is to do anything this year he needs to get more consistent. If they weren?t so annoying, I might actually feel sad for the Indiana fans. But, of course, I don?t.
Lawrence Roberts, PF, Mississippi State. He could have gone really high in the NBA Draft if he had gone pro. He?s got a great skill set and he looks NBA-ready. Still being in the SEC is just going to make him look that much better.
Ryan Gomes, F, Providence. Gomes needs to take the next step for Providence. In a conference with as many as seven other teams with a chance to make the NCAA?s, Gomes will be the key for the Providence team. Of course, he does have to live in Rhode Island, which has to be fun for people that like to live half their lives as insane.

Seven teams most likely to overachieve:

1. Mississippi State
2. Michigan State
3. Wisconsin
4. Oklahoma
5. Michigan
6. Pittsburgh
7. Providence

Seven teams most likely to underachieve:

1. Kansas
2. UNC
3. Georgia Tech
4. Louisville
5. UCONN
6. Illinois
7. Wake Forest

Coach of the Year prediction:
Tommy Amaker, Michigan.
It wouldn?t surprise me to see the Wolverines make a much deeper run than expected (Sweet 16?) in the NCAA Tournament.

Player of the Year prediction:
Chris Paul, Wake Forest.
This is a tough one, since there aren?t any clear favorites and there are so many teams that could win the title but could also fall in the first or second round depending on situations and opponents. Wayne Simien and Francisco Garcia are my #2 and #3 choices.

Elite Eight prediction:

Illinois over Louisville
Wake Forest over Michigan St.
Kansas over Duke
UCONN over UNC

Final Four predictions:
Wake Forest over Illinois
Kansas over UCONN

Wake Forest over Kansas.

National Champion: Wake Forest.

So, there you have it. The Illini make the Final Four, as does Kansas, but the Illini don?t win their semifinal game. The awaited Weber-Self game would have to wait another year. UCONN gets to the Final Four in their repeat bid, but falls short to Kansas. In the end, Wake Forest and Chris Paul are able to outlast Wayne Simien, Bill Self, and that goofy Jayhawk mascot, to win the 2004-05 national championship.

There’s everything you need to know about the best teams in college basketball for 2004-05. Now, go and collect some more pennies so we can help the Cubs bring in Carlos Beltran and an actual closer.