College Basketball Preview:Big 12

1. Kansas Jayhawks Bold Prediction:The Jayhawks will win the national championship.

After the UNC Tar Heels won the National Championship, the predictions begun again. And the National Championship buzz was Kansas. With a stacked team including big man Cole Aldrich (right) and guard Sherron Collins, there's no reason why the Jayhawks won't win it all. Coach Bill Self better keep a ring case now. He's getting one more.

2. Texas Longhorns Bold Prediction:Sweet 16 loss.
The 'Horns said goodbye to star A.J. Abrams on a happy note after a second round loss to Duke last year. With Damion James running around the court and a nice post game inside with Dexter Pittman, the Longhorns are poised for a breakout season. Now, the 'Horns have to perform this postseason.

3.Kansas State Wildcats Bold Prediction:First round heartbreaker.
When Michael Beasley left to the NBA the 'Cats knew that they needed a spark. After a decent season last year the team brings back guard Denis Clemente and brings in forward Wally Judge, a 6-9, 220 pound star in the nations capital will bring immediate help inside. The Wildcats are ready to begin a run at the Big 12 title but Kansas and Texas will drive them away.

4.Oklahoma Sooners Bold Prediction:Weak NCAA appearance.
Imagine losing the number one pick in the draft, plus his brother a nice guy off the bench. That's what the Sooners are going through. Blake and Taylor Griffin are gone but don't expect the Sooner to take a huge step back this season. They still have guards Willie Warren and Tony Crocker plus recruit Tiny Gallon inside, who's definitely not Tiny(300 pounds).

5.Texas A&M Aggies Bold Prediction:First round exit.
The Aggies will benefit from a weaker Big 12 this season. A decent recruiting class includes Naji Hibbert and Khris Middleton. Both will help guard Donald Sloan improve and hopefully make a actually NCAA tournament run. But can they do it?

6.Oklahoma State Cowboys Bold Prediction:First round tourney loss.
Growing pains will hurt the Cowboys this season. The good part of the equation: guard James Anderson is one of the best in the Big 12 well Oklahoma State brought in Ray Penn, who will team up to make a stellar offense. The Cowboys have to find a man in the post to truly make a season.

7.Baylor Bruins Bold Prediction: NIT Championship win.

Last year, in the NIT tournament the Bruins got what they wanted. Something for fans to cheer about. This year things don't look different, the Bruins still have leader LaceDarius Dunn and added a nice recruit in guard Nolan Dennis. The problem: a man inside. This year the Bruins will burst into a contender.

8.Missouri Tigers Bold Prediction:Long run in NIT tournament.

After a dream 2008 in which the Tigers went 31-7 and made an Elite Eight appearance, the Tigers need to replace loses in DeMarre Carroll, Leo Lyons and Matt Lawrence. Luckily, the Tigers have guard J.T. Tiller and Marcus Denmon, who could turn into a key player if he gets the help he needs.

9.Iowa State Cyclones Bold Prediction:Decent NIT appearance.

If star Craig Brackins can get some help there's no reason not to think that the Cyclones can't become a respectful team. Brackins can become a mentor to the best backcourt recruit in Chris Colvin. Brackins and Iowa State are improved and will actually challenge teams this season.

10. Texas Tech Red Raiders Bold Prediction:15 wins.

In order to get a postseason bid the Red Raiders need D'walyn Roberts, probably the team's best player to step up and Pat Knight to become a shadow of Bob Knight. Transfers Brad Reese and Theron Jenkins will help.

11.Nebraska Cornhuskers Bold Prediction:14 wins.

It really easy to win games when you have the smallest lineup in Division I. This year the Cornhuskers must overcome that if they want a shot at a Big 12 contention. Nebraska luckily does have a decent backcourt with guards Lance Jeter and Myles Holley.

12.Colorado Buffaloes Bold Prediction:8-12 wins.

If the Buffaloes want to get out of the cellar they need to actually win more than 1 of 16 conference games. Luckily, they have three returning leading scorers in Austin Dufault, Nate Tomlinson and Casey Crawford. That doesn't mean more wins, though.

Bold=Team Big 12

College Basketball Preview:ACC

1.North Carolina Tar Heels Bold Prediction:Elite Eight finish.
When you lose one of the best players in NCAA basketball history, plus two good guards you don't expect the rest of the NCAA to still be green with envy at you. The Heels stocked up on great guys like forwards Ed Davis(right) and Tyler Zeller, the guy who played okay when Psycho T was out last season. With an okay backcourt the Heels will be in the Title talk once again.

2.Duke Blue Devils Bold Prediction:Another Sweet 16 exit.
The Blue Devils lone bright spot was Seth Curry, former Davidson star Stephon's brother, a transfer from Liberty will be eligible next season. But this season Mike Krzyzewski has is work cut out for him replacing a thinned out backcourt. Luckily he's got two great players in forward Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer.

3.Clemson Tigers Bold Prediction:Sweet 16 finish.
The difference between last year's Clemson team and this year's is confidence. In a place where football is the thing on campus the Tigers are earning some respect. Trevor Booker is one of the reasons for that. Booker, coach Oliver Purnell's go to guy did some recruiting of his own getting his 6-8 post man, and brother Devin to come to Clemson. This led to a coming of Milton Jennings also huge, to make a force inside. Anything other than a Sweet 16 appearance will be a disappointment for the rapidly improving Tigers.

4.Wake Forest Demon Deacons Bold Prediction: A second round loss.
How to replace two early NBA draft picks? Easy. Despite the loss of Jeff Teague and forward James Johnson, the Deacons have three strong forwards. Al-Farouq Aminu and center Chas McFarland are good and Ari Stewart is a great addition but will need to gel with other Deacons. This year, the Deacons will take a step back but a huge dip is unlikely.

5.Maryland Terrapins Bold Prediction:Second round exit.
With the return of Greivis Vazquez the Terps have a real shot at the ACC title race. Plus, the Terps added Jordan Williams to become someone Vazquez can pass to inside. The real question, the million dollar question is: even with Vazquez how good are the Terps?

6.Georigia Tech Yellow Jackets Bold Prediction: First round tournament exit.
After a considerably bad 12-19 season last year the Yellow Jackets are hoping one thing: Derrick Favors, the best recruit the Yellow Jackets have made in a long time, will be a star in his first season. He'll get help from underrated forward Gani Lawal and guard Iman Shumpert. And Favors will not disappoint.

7.Florida State Seminoles Bold Prediction:Horrid tournament appearance.
When guard Michael Snaer announced that he would come to Florida State happiness drifted through Florida air. Snaer can follow in old star guard Toney Douglas, become a valuble shooter when Solomon Alabi(right), the huge 7-1 sophomore dominates down low. Even with Snaer the 'Noles weak backcourt will mean an only okay season.

8.Boston College Eagles Bold Prediction:NIT final appearance.
With star Tyrese Rice gone, one of the main guys who led Boston College to the huge win over UNC last year, the Eagles will move on to their next chapter. The author of that chapter will be Rakim Sanders and forward Tyler Roche. If the Eagles can find a recipe for success early in the season they will have a great season. That's unlikely though.

9.Virginia Tech Hokies Bold Prediction: Weak NIT appearance.
If you want ask a coach how to lead a okay basketball association just ask coach Seth Greenberg, who is 107-85 in seven seasons with the Hokies, all of the seasons with mediocre talent. Luckily this year he's got Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen, one of the ACC's best big men. Lewis Witcher and Victor Davila will complement Allen inside.

10. NC State Wolfpack Bold Prediction:15-19 wins.

The Wolfpack are one of the saddest stories around in talent lost. The 'Pack lost their top three scorers that helped them finish tenth in the ACC. But, the Wolfpack will have a man inside in recruit Richard Howell well they hope for some perimeter scoring from Scott Wood. The key is though: replacing them early on.

11. Miami Hurricanes Bold Prediction:15-19 wins.

Change is ripping through Miami. Dwayne Collins returns, with help inside from Donnavan Kirk and defensive help from Durand Scott. These changes don't mean alot more wins for the Hurricanes right now but later on, who knows.

12. Virginia Cavaliers Bold Prediction: 10-14 wins.

The most important move of the off season for the Cavs was grabbing coach Tony Bennett, who made the Washington State Cougars program into one of the best in the Pac-10. But here in Virginia he doesn't have much to work with. Tristian Spurlock and Jontel Evans were nice recruits, Spurlock adds more to the forwards and Evans is a solid defender. In the improving ACC, the Cavs don't have enough.

Bold=All ACC Team