Si's 2006-07 Top 10

1. FLORIDA National champions hardly ever have their entire starting five return intact, but Billy Donovan's band of Oh-Fours--sophomore starters Taurean Green, Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Joakim Noah--are likely to stay in Gainesville. (Fifth starter Lee Humphrey will be a senior.) If they keep their word, which would require the �berproductive Noah to pass on a top 10 spot in the draft, a repeat is realistic.

2. NORTH CAROLINA The Baby Heels were ahead of schedule this season, finishing second in the ACC on the shoulders of national freshman of the year Tyler Hansbrough. He'll be joined in the fall by the nation's No. 1 recruiting class, which includes the top-ranked high school point guard ( Tywon Lawson), shooting guard (Wayne Ellington) and power forward ( Brandan Wright).

3. UCLA Westwood's fearless defenders will gain some offensive punch with the return of swingman Josh Shipp, who was the Bruins' most dangerous scorer before missing most of the season with a hip injury. If point guard Jordan Farmar eschews the draft to team up with Shipp, two-guard Arron Afflalo and power forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA will have the best 1 through 4 quartet in the nation.

4. MEMPHIS Every key player other than Rodney Carney returns from the fastest-paced, most efficient team in Conference USA. With athletes like Darius Washington Jr., Antonio Anderson and Shawne Williams running the Tigers' high-scoring show, another 30-win season and No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament are likely.

5. KANSAS Sophomores stole the spotlight at this Final Four, and KU's clan of freshman stars--guard Mario Chalmers, swingman Brandon Rush and elastic forward Julian Wright--could make a similar push in '07. But first they'll need to overcome their school's recent first-round NCAA woes (the Bucknell-Bradley curse).

6. OHIO STATE Will 7-foot freshman center Greg Oden carry the Buckeyes to a title, a la Carmelo Anthony, in what will probably be his only season in Columbus? Thad Matta's defending Big Ten regular-season champs will be rebuilt around the blue-chip recruiting class of Oden, point guard Mike Conley, shooting guard Daequan Cook and small forward David Lighty.

7. GEORGETOWN With UConn, Villanova and West Virginia all set to lose significant pieces, the new Beasts of the Big East will reside in D.C. Upsets of No. 1--ranked Duke (in January) and No. 2--seeded Ohio State ( NCAA second round) this season may foreshadow greater things for the Hoyas, who have NBA-caliber talent in forward Jeff Green and center Roy Hibbert.

8. TEXAS Even if Aldridge turns pro, the Horns retain an elite inside-outside tandem in guard Daniel Gibson and forward P.J. Tucker. McDonald's All-American Game co-MVP Kevin Durant--the nation's top recruit not named Oden--is a sweet-shooting 6'9" forward who could step in and be an instant force.

9. TEXAS A&M The Aggies are the perfect top 10 sleeper: With their lockdown D, they closed the season by winning nine of 11 games, nearly upsetting Final Four--bound LSU in the second round of the NCAAs. With guard Acie Law IV and future pro forward Joseph Jones leading the way, this seasoned squad can make a run at the Big 12 crown.

10. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS If '06 was the Year of the Mid-Majors, what kind of encore will they have in store? The Salukis, who tied for second in the Missouri Valley Conference, have their top nine scorers back, including the senior backcourt of Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young, who will be gunning for their fourth--and the school's sixth--straight NCAA tournament appearance.