INDIANA

The one-year Marco Killingsworth gamble is paying off for Hoosiers coach Mike Davis, and while losing D.J. White will hurt, you can tell from this list that we don't think one injury should sink a season (See also: LSU and Villanova). When a team shoots the ball this consistently, you have to take notice.

LSU

Yes, we know the Tigers aren't ranked. Yes, we know injured point guard Tack Minor isn't expected to return this season. Yes, LSU's late-game collapses are maddening. And yet the Tigers can play with anybody. Garrett Temple is filling in fine at the point, Glen Davis has the best footwork of any big man we've seen and freshman forward Tyrus Thomas is a revelation. Look out for these guys.

MICHIGAN STATE

We hesitated a long time before going with the Spartans, mainly because their defense is so uncharacteristically suspect. And yet we sense that those problems are getting worked out (with an assist from footballer/Flint-stone Matt Trannon, who won't let guys play soft). Maurice Ager, Paul Davis and Shannon Brown know what it takes to win in March, and we still think MSU makes it to Indy.

VILLANOVA

The Wildcats are going through something of a down spell right now, but their top-shelf perimeter game is built for tournament success. To paraphrase our pal Seth Davis, we're not ready to sell this stock.

WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers have already proven their toughness in road wins at Villanova and Oklahoma (in Oklahoma City). Mike Gansey is turning into a Jeff Hornacek clone, and Kevin Pittsnogle is, well, Kevin Pittsnogle. Plus, their 1-3-1 zone and quirky offense are extremely hard to prepare for.

WHO GOT LEFT OFF?

MEMPHIS

Coach John Calipari's team is tremendously talented, and the Tigers could easily make a Final Four run. But I think there's just enough chance for a drop in discipline at the attacking end (read: settling for too many threes) that could prevent Memphis from running off six straight tournament wins.

TEXAS

The 'Horns have rebounded nicely from their pratfalls against Duke and Tennessee, but you can't erase that scoreline against the Blue Devils. The cold truth: National champions don't lose games by 30 or more points.

ILLINOIS

Have we finally established that Bruce Weber can coach? (Answer: yes.) We like the mix of leadership, talent and experience in the right places on this team, and Big Ten conference play will be a crucible that pays immense benefits once March arrives. But we also have this recurring vision of James Augustine riding the bench with foul trouble. Still, this was the hardest team to leave off the list.

GONZAGA

What fan of college hoops wouldn't want to see a final with Duke-Gonzaga and J.J. Redick vs. Adam Morrison? Alas, the Zags' porous defense gives us the willies in a six-game setup, even though we still think they're the most entertaining team in the nation.

PITTSBURGH

All credit to Jamie Dixon and his Panthers, who've been the anti-Louisville, continuing to thrive in Big East play despite a creampuff non-conference schedule. The inside guys have been better than expected, but if we have to choose between Villanova and Pitt we're taking the Wildcats.

WASHINGTON

Nice wins in L.A. last week to show the Huskies can play on the road, but the home losses to Washington State and Arizona ring the alarm bells.

We really need some good, smart questions for next week's 'Bag, guys. Send me your best stuff, and we'll go from there. In the meantime, check out the new pro hoops novel by fellow SI scribes Jon Wertheim and Jack McCallum. It's well worth a look.

See you next week.