Here is a quick look at each team ranked in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Poll starting at No. 25 and working up to No. 1.

No. 25 Syracuse:

The Orange lost point guard Jonny Flynn to the NBA and also Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris to graduation off last years team which went 28-10 and lost in the round of 16 to Oklahoma. This year there are still high hopes but a lot of transition is needed and an exhibition loss to Division II Le Moyne did not help their confidence. But a 32 point win over Albany on Monday and another big win over Robert Morris earlier tonight showed that Syracuse is ready to make a run at the Big East title once again. The Orange will be led by big man Arinze Onuaku and shooter Andy Rautins along with Wesley Johnson.

No. 24 Clemson:

Trevor Booker and Demontez Stitt are the key returning players for the Tigers as they try to improve on their 23-9 season that they had last year. They will look to advance beyond the NCAA first round where they lost to Michigan last season. They lose three of their top five scorers in K.C. Rivers, Terrence Oglesby, and Raymond Sykes to graduation but have the addition of two ESPN top 100 freshmen in Milton Jennings and Noel Johnson coming in.

No. 23 Louisville:

The Cardinals are coming off a 31-6 season that ended with a loss to Michigan State in the final eight. They lose their top two scorers to the NBA in Terrence Williams and Earl Clark but still have talent. Sarmardo Samules, Jerry Smith, Edgar Sosa, and Preston Knowles all return along with freshmen Peyton Siva and Rakeem Buckles, both who are ranked in ESPN’s top 100.

No. 22 Dayton:

The Flyers enter as the only Atlantic 10 team in the preseason rankings. This comes off a season where Dayton went 27-8 and lost to Kansas in the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. The only loss off last year’s team was their third leading scorer Charles Little. Their top two scorers, Chris Wright and Marcus Johnson both return along with their leading assist man London Warren. Matt Kavanaugh is their sole recruit; he was ranked the number 22 center by ESPN.

No. 21 Georgetown:

The Hoyas lose leading scorer DaJuan Summers to the NBA and Jessie Sapp off a team that only went 16-15 last year and lost in the first round of the NIT to Baylor. They return center, Greg Monroe, along with Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. It will be interesting to see if they can improve in a tough Big East conference.

No. 20 Georgia Tech:

Last season was disappointing for a young Georgia Tech team as they finished 12-19. They lost top scorer Lewis Clinch and their third leading scorer Alade Aminu but do return a lot of their lineup. Gani Lawal, Iman Shumpert, Zachery Peacock, Maurice Miller, and Lance Storrs all return. The addition of McDonalds All-American Derrick Favors along with three more ESPN top 100 players will add to this team even more.

No. 19 Mississippi State:

The Bulldogs went 23-13 last year and lost to Washington in the NCAA first round. They return every major contributor from last year’s squad and should be better. Jarvis Varnado is one of the best players in the country and also back is Barry Stewart, Ravern Johnson, and Dee Bost, all who scored more than 10 points a game last year. They will add McDonald’s All-American Renardo Sidney to the equation as well.

No. 18 Minnesota:

The Golden Gophers were one of the deepest teams in the Big Ten last year and Tubby Smith has his top eight contributors back this year. They went 22-11 and with the likes of Lawrence Westbrook, Damian Johnson, Al Nolan, and Ralph Sampson III back they will look to improve and advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Texas. They will add Royce White and Rodney Williams to the mix this year, both are ESPN top 100 players.

No. 17 Ohio State:

The Buckeyes went 22-11 last year but lost to Siena in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They lose B.J. Mullens to the NBA but return their next six contributors. Evan Turner is a star and David Lighty is back after only playing seven games last year due to injury. John Diebler is a pure shooter that scored 22 points in Ohio State’s season opening 100-60 win over Alcorn State on Monday. Also returning is William Buford, Jeremie Simmons and Dallas Lauderdale.

No. 16 Oklahoma:

Blake Griffin of course is gone, but the Sooners should still contend for the Big Twelve title this year. Taylor Griffin is also in the NBA and Austin Johnson graduated but Oklahoma who went 30-6 and lost to North Carolina in the regional final last year does return Willie Warren and Tony Crocker. They will be joined by two McDonalds All-Americans in Keith Gallon and Tommy Mason-Griffin. Also Andrew Fitzgerald and Steve Pledger, who are ESPN top 100 players, will join the team.

No. 15 Michigan:

Last year the Wolverines went 21-14 and made the NCAA second round before losing to Oklahoma. They return Manny Harris, who is one of the best scorers in the country and DeShawn Sims. Also returning are Zach Novak, Laval Lucas-Perry, and Stu Douglas, who were the next best contributors after Harris and Sims. They add Darius Morris, a point guard ranked in the ESPN top 100.

No. 14 Connecticut:

The Huskies lose four of their top players including Hasheem Thabeet and A.J. Price who were drafted in the first round. Also gone are Jeff Adrian and Craig Austrie off their final four team that went 31-5. They return Jerome Dyson, Kemba Walker, and Stanley Robinson, who were major contributors. Alex Oriakhi, a McDonalds All-American and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel an ESPN top 100 player will look to fill the shoes of those who left.

No. 13 Washington:

Washington went 26-9 and lost in the second round of the tournament to Purdue last year. Off that team they lose Jon Brockman to the NBA and Justin Dentman. Leading scorer Isaiah Thomas is back along with Quincy Pondexter and Venoy Overton. McDonalds All-American Abdul Grady and ESPN top 100 player, Clarence Trent, will join this addition of the Huskies, who should contend for the Pac-10 title.

No. 12 California:

The Golden Bears went 22-11 last year and were ousted in the NCAA first round by Maryland. This year the Golden Bears return their top four players, all of whom are seniors, in Jerome Randle, Theo Robertson, Patrick Christopher, and Jamal Boykin. They beat Murray State 75-70 on Monday and are the highest ranked Pac-10 team to start the season.

No. 11 Tennessee:

The Volunteers went 21-13 last year and lost in the first round of the tournament to Oklahoma State. However, expectations are high because they return their top seven scorers including Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism, and J.P Prince. They add Kenny Hall, an ESPN top 100 player to the mix as well, as they hope to contend with Kentucky in the SEC.

No. 10 Butler:

The Bulldogs are the perennial mid-major power from the Horizon League and this year should be no different. They lose leading scorer Matt Howard off last year’s squad that went 26-6 and lost in the first round of the tournament to LSU. Returning are Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack, Willie Veasley, and Ronald Nored. Andrew Smith the 32nd ranked center in the incoming freshman class will join Butler this year.

No. 9 West Virginia:

The Mountaineers are expecting big things coming off a 23-12 season that ended in the first round of the tournament with a loss to Dayton. They lose their second leading scorer in Alex Ruoff but return a star in Da’Sean Butler. Also returning are Devin Ebanks, Darryl Bryant, and Wellington Smith. West Virginia will also add the talents of three ESPN top 100 players, in Deniz Kilici, Dan Jennings, and Dalton Pepper to a team that should contend for the Big East title.

No. 8 Duke:

The Blue Devils lose Gerald Henderson and a leader in Greg Paulus off their sweet 16 team that went 30-7. They return preseason First Team All-American Kyle Singler, along with Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Lance Thomas. They will add Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly. Both are McDonalds All-Americans that hope to be a big part of a lineup that should be at or near the top of the ACC standings all year.

No. 7 Purdue:

The Boilermakers went 27-10 last year and made the sweet 16 before losing to Connecticut. They return their top four scorers, in E’Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson, Robbie Hummel, and Keaton Grant. Also returning are Lewis Jackson and Chris Kramer to a team that should contend with Michigan State for the Big Ten title.

No. 6 Villanova:

The Wildcats made it all the way to the final four last year and went 30-6. Off that team they lose three of their top eight contributors. Dante Cunningham, their leading scorer is now in the NBA and Dwayne Anderson and Shane Clark graduated. However, they return Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Reggie Redding, and Antonio Pena. Four ESPN top 100 players including two McDonalds All-Americans in Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns will only add to Villanova as they look to win the Big East and are the highest ranked Big East team in the preseason.

No. 5 Kentucky:

Last year the Wildcats went 22-14 and lost to Notre Dame in the NIT. This year should be totally different as Kentucky is expected to return to the top of the college basketball heap with the addition of John Calipari at head coach. They do lose leading scorer Jodie Meeks to the NBA, but return Patrick Paterson and Perry Stevenson. How far this team goes will depend on how well Calipari’s recruits play. McDonalds All-American DeMarcus Cousins will be joined by three more ESPN top 100 players in John Wall, Daniel Orton, and Jon Hood. Kentucky is the highest ranked SEC team in the preseason polls.

No 4. North Carolina:

The defending NCAA champions went 34-4 last year but lost their top four players to the NBA in Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green. The main returning players are Deon Thompson, Ed Davis, and Marcus Ginyard. Four McDonald All-Americans will look to fill the shoes of the four that went to the pros. They are John Henson, Dexter Strickland, David Wear, and Travis Wear. They also add Leslie McDonald, an ESPN top 100 player. They are the highest ranked ACC team entering the season and started with an 88-72 win over Florida International on Monday.

No. 3 Texas:

Last year the Longhorns went 23-12 and lost in the second round of the tournament to Duke. They lose their leading scorer A.J. Abrams to graduation but return their next four top scorers in Damion James, Dexter Pittman, Gary Johnson, and Justin Mason. They add McDonalds All-American Avery Bradley and two ESPN top 100 players in Jordan Hamilton and Shawn Williams to the mix as well as they hope to contend with Kansas for the Big 12 title.

No. 2 Michigan State:

The Spartans went 31-7 and lost in the National Championship game to North Carolina last year. They lose three of their top-10 players in Goran Suton, Travis Walton, and Marquise Gray. Returning though is All-Big Ten player Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, Durrell Summers, Chris Allen, Delvon Roe, Draymond Green, and Korie Lucious. They add two ESPN top 100 centers to this year’s squad in Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman as well. Michigan State is the top ranked Big Ten team in the preseason polls.

No. 1 Kansas:

The Jayhawks lost to Michigan State in the sweet 16 last year, but return all of their top players. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich are preseason First Team All-Americans. Also returning is Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus Morris, Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, and Markieff Morris. They add McDonalds All-American Xavier Henry along with Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson, who are ESPN top 100 recruits. The Jayhawks are the Big 12’s top dog and for what it is worth, the preseason favorite to win it all.