Turnover in college basketball is extremely high and every year teams and coaches are scrambling to fill the void left from some superstar leaving the program. This year, Darren Collison will no longer be the manning the point for UCLA. Hasheem Thabeet will no longer be instilling fear into opposing offenses at UConn. And that's just the beginning. Here are ten situations where a team needs to find the right solution replace a superstar.

Arizona Wildcats
Players to replace: Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger
Size and athleticism. That's what the Wildcats lose here, to the tune of a combined 36.3 points, 17.2 points and over two blocks a game. The NBA-bound duo grabbed over half of Arizona's rebounds in 2008-09.

Junior forward Jamelle Horne, who is the only returning player to average more than three rebounds a game last season, will be asked to carry the load in the paint. Sean Miller also brought in a deep recruiting class that could make an immediate impact. Watch out for 6-foot-7 forward Derrick Williams and 6-foot-10 center Kyryl Natyazhko.

Gavin Edwards

Connecticut Huskies
Player to replace: Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien
UConn has been the most dominant team in the nation the last several years when it comes to blocking shots. This year, after losing the 7-foot-3, immovable object in Hasheem Thabeet and the underrated Jeff Adrien, this could be a different story for the Huskies. The duo combined for 5.4 blocks a game, to go along with 20.7 rebounds.

Senior Gavin Edwards and freshmen Alex Oriakhi and Ater Majok will have the task of filling Thabeet's and Adrien's enormous shoes. Edwards averaged 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in nearly 12 minutes a game last year. Oriakhi and Majok will be asked to do a lot, but Jim Calhoun has gotten great production from freshman pivot players in the past. Look no further than Hasheem Thabeet last year or Emeka Okafor before that.

Davidson Wildcats
Player to replace: Stephen Curry
Arguably nobody in the country meant more to his program than Curry to Davidson the past three years. He took them on an electrifying run to the Elite Eight. He set an NCAA record for 3-pointers made in a season two years ago, and he led the nation in scoring last year, even after switching positions to point guard. Maybe most importantly, the lanky guard gave the Wildcats an identity.

If Davidson wants to stay atop the Southern Conference, point guard Brendan McKillop will have to step up. Replacing Curry will be a tall task, but Davidson is fortunate to have upperclassmen with experience on the roster. Seniors Will Archambault, Bryant Barr and Steve Rossiter will all play bigger roles this year and try to replace Curry's production in tandem.

Florida Gators
Player to replace: Nick Calathes
Calathes did it all for the Gators last year. The 6-foot-6 point guard led the team in scoring, assists and steals. He was even third on the team with 5.3 rebounds a game. He was one of the best all-around players in the nation, but he jettisoned to Greece to play professionally.

The Gators will be formidable in the post, but replacing Calathes at the point will be their main obstacle. The likely starter is 5-foot-9 sophomore Erving Walker who flashed promise last season, averaging over 10 points a game. If Walker continues to improve, he should become a recognizable name across the country and especially in the SEC. And he should have the Gators back near the top of the conference despite the loss of their best player in Calathes.

Memphis Tigers

Doneal Mack

Player to replace: Tyreke Evans
Memphis lost the experience and production of seniors Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier. It lost its high-profile coach in John Calipari. But the loss of Evans could be the hardest to deal with. Evans adjusted to the point quicker than many expected and was a breakthrough star last year, averaging over 17 points and over five rebounds a game. His 33-point performance in a loss versus Missouri in the Sweet Sixteen was one of the most memorable efforts of the tournament

Memphis coach Josh Pastner will still have a talented backcourt even with the loss of Evans. Senior Doneal Mack, who played over 25 minutes a game in 2008-09, will be the primary ball handler. The Tigers got a big boost by the transfer of Elliot Williams from Duke, who will be eligible to play this year. Lastly, some of Evans' scoring production will be replaced by senior guard Roburt Sallie. The same Roburt Sallie who scored 35 points on 10 3-pointers in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina Tar Heels
Player to replace: Tyler Hansbrough
Let's try to forget for a second that UNC didn't also lose Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. Let's focus on the loss of Hansbrough in the post. Hansbrough's numbers in his career were astronomical. He is the ACC's all-time leading scorer, but his leadership and toughness, which lovingly earned him the nickname "Psycho T", will be the most difficult to replace.

In the post, UNC has Deon Thompson, Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller to fill in for Hansbrough. That trio gives UNC one of the best frontcourts in the ACC and in the nation. As far as his leadership goes, UNC will look to Thompson and Marcus Ginyard. Ginyard is returning after missing most of last year due to injury. The Tar Heels will have many underclassmen playing major roles, and those two seniors will be relied upon on and off the court.

Oklahoma Sooners
Players to replace: Blake Griffin and Taylor Griffin
Replacing Blake Griffin's 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds a night is something that maybe no program is equipped to do. Add on the fact that the Sooners also lose its second leading rebounder and third leading scorer in Blake's brother, Taylor Griffin, and Oklahoma has a hole in the post.

Much of the departed scoring will be picked up on the perimeter with Willie Warren and Tony Crocker. In the paint, Oklahoma will hope that prized freshman Tiny Gallon can add some much needed size and strength. Tiny is an ironic name - he stands at 6-foot-9 and 300 pounds. Ryan Wright and Orlando Allen will also get increased minutes.

Saint Mary's Gaels
Player to replace: Patrick Mills
Saint Mary's won a school-record 28 games last year and Mills had a lot to do with it. In fact, the Gales only lost seven games last year and three of them came when Mills missed time due to an injury. Mills averaged over 18 points a game last year, and had the Gaels in NCAA Tournament consideration.

Mickey McConnell, who stepped into a bigger role when Mils was injured last year, will once again be called upon to run the offense. He improved as the year went on and the Gaels are hoping he continues to make strides. Wayne Hunter, who averaged 9.4 points a game in the 14 games he started last season, will provide a McConnell with some help in the backcourt.

Texas Longhorns
Player to replace: A.J. Abrams
Abrams has been a key component to Texas' success the previous three seasons. He never averaged less than 15 points a game and he poured in a team-high 16.6 a contest last year. He was lethal from the outside and always stretched the defense to give the Longhorns some room to maneuver in the paint.

Texas is hoping that highly touted recruit Avery Bradley can have similar success as Abrams had his freshman year. Abrams averaged 15.5 points as a freshman and Bradley has that potential. In fact, Bradley is being lauded by many as the top recruit in the Big 12. Texas also has a deep backcourt with transfer Jai Lucas and returning senior Justin Mason.

UCLA Bruins
Players to replace: Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday
Darren Collison was the consummate floor general for the Bruins and led them to two Final Four appearances. As a freshman last year, Jrue Holiday was a key contributor in the backcourt, scoring over eight points a night. Collison and Holiday averaged over half of the team's assists.

UCLA has a lot to overcome this year, but the Bruins have a program that can reload in a hurry. Sophomore Jerime Anderson has the unenviable task of trying to replace Collison. He will need to be able to distribute the ball and run the offense fluidly. On the wing, sophomore Malcolm Lee is expected to be a make a big impact. Combined, those two averaged less than 20 minutes a game last year, but this year they will go a long way in determining UCLA's success.

Others Considered: Jon Brockman (Washington), DaJuan Blair and Sam Young (Pittsburgh), Jodie Meeks (Kentucky), Jeff Teague (Wake Forest).

 

Sad news coming out of Hampton, Va. as it is being reported that team captain Theo Smalling has died as a result of an accidental shooting. The NCAA would like to send its condolences to his family, his friends and the Hampton University community.

Hampton University is reporting that there will be a tribute held for Smalling today at 7 p.m.

For more information about this incident, click here.

The men's basketball season kicks into full swing in about three weeks and continues all the way until the Final Four in April. Here is a list of ten teams that you figure to hear a lot about this year and that could very well be heading to Indianapolis.  

Connecticut Huskies
2008-09 Record: 31-5
Postseason Finish:  Final Four
The Huskies have a huge void to fill in the middle with the loss of 7-foot-3 shot-blocking specialist Hasheem Thabeet and double-double machine Jeff Adrien. Players like Gavin Edwards and freshmen Ater Majok and Alex Oriakhi will have to step in. UConn also lost point guard A.J. Price, but Jim Calhoun still has a team that figures to be right in the mix for the Big East title.

The return of 6-foot-9 F Stanley Robinson is a big boost as it gives the Huskies an athletic scorer that can also rebound and block shots, but the key to this team may be Kemba Walker. Not only does Walker take over for Price, but also he showed flashes of brilliance late last year in his freshman season. Connecticut has a great tradition of superstar wing players and Walker has a chance to be the next great one. Throw in the return of G Jerome Dyson, who missed much of last year with injury, and their backcourt figures to be special.

Kansas Jayhawks

Sherron Collins (AP)

2008-09 Record: 27-8
Postseason Finish: Sweet 16
Perhaps no team in the country returns more talent than Kansas. The Jayhawks won the Big 12 last year with a squad that had only two experienced players on it - G Sherron Collins and C Cole Aldrich. This year, almost the entire team is back, including the starting five, and a tremendous recruiting class gives Bill Self an embarrassment of riches in Lawrence.

Both Collins and Aldrich are among the best players in the nation at their respective positions and they will once again be counted on to fuel this attack. Sophomores Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, junior Tyrel Reed and senior Mario Little all showed promise last year playing their first significant minutes and they figure to only mature and improve. Incoming recruit Xavier Henry gives the Jayhawks a versatile scorer on the wing and could make an immediate impact.

Kentucky Wildcats
2008-09 Record: 22-14
Postseason Finish: Quarterfinals, NIT
Kentucky is one of the most talked about teams in the league and rightfully so. The Wildcats made a big splash by luring coach John Calipari away from Memphis, and they made an even bigger splash by brining in star recruits John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Last year, Kentucky uncharacteristically missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 17 years, but with the changes this offseason, Kentucky has the look of a national powerhouse.

Kentucky lost its leading scorer Jodie Meeks to the NBA draft, but All-SEC forward Patrick Patterson, who averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds in 2008-09, opted to stay in Lexington. Wall is very highly touted and after the successes of Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans - both freshmen point guards under Calipari at Memphis - expectations are high for the 6-foot-4 freshman. Cousins is 6-foot-11 and will form a tough frontcourt duo with Patterson.

Michigan State Spartans
2008-09 Record: 31-7
Postseason Finish: National Runner-Up
Tom Izzo has taken the Spartans to a remarkable five Final Fours in the last 11 seasons. This Michigan State team, which returns five of its top six scorers including Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas, has the potential to go there again.

The loss of the team's leading rebounder Goran Suton and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Travis Walton will undoubtedly hurt, but Michigan State has the depth to fill those holes. The backcourt will be solid with last year's leading scorer Lucas and junior guard Chris Allen. The Spartans may have one of the most athletic frontcourts in the nation with 6-4 swingman Durell Summers on the wing and Delvon Roe and Raymour Morgan, both standing at 6-foot-8, in the post.

North Carolina Tar Heels
2008-09 Record: 34-4
Postseason Finish: National Champion
Not any program could lose a four-time All-American in the frontcourt and still have one the best frontcourts in the nation the following year. Then again, North Carolina isn't just any program. Tyler Hansbrough, the ACC's All-Time leading scorer, has moved on to the NBA, but UNC still has 6-foot-8 senior Deon Thompson, 6-foot-10 sophomore Ed Davis and 7-foot sophomore Tyler Zeller to man the paint. The Tar Heels figure to be able to control the boards and score at will down low.

Coach Roy Williams will also try to find a way to replace a lot of scoring on the outside. Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green were all drafted, but as we saw with the frontcourt, UNC can reload in a hurry. The Tar Heels will rely heavily on sophomore Larry Drew II, who steps in at point guard after averaging less than 10 minutes a game last year, and senior Marcus Ginyard, who only played in three games last year due to injury.

Purdue Boilermakers
2008-09 Record: 27-10
Postseason Finish: Sweet 16
Purdue returns one of the most experienced squads in the country and it should be no shocker that it's on this list. The Boilermakers get back their entire starting five and some key bench players. Purdue won the Big Ten Tournament last year and it'll be considered a legitimate threat to repeat.

Purdue's trio of F Robbie Hummel, F-C JaJuan Johnson and G E'Twaun Moore is one of the tops in the country. Last year they combined for 39.7 points and 17.2 rebounds a game. Johnson, a first-team All-Big Ten center, also gives them a presence inside as he averaged 2.1 blocks per contest. Hummel struggled through back problems last year - and Purdue struggled without him, going 2-3 in the five games he missed - and his health will be a key factor.

Tennessee Volunteers
2008-09 Record: 21-13
Postseason Finish: First round, NCAA Tournament
Bruce Pearl's up-tempo system was in place last year but the Volunteers lacked experience to execute it and that's why they were not able to advance further in the postseason. This year, they return much of their roster and improvement appears imminent.

Tennessee will be formidable in the frontcourt with Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism. Smith averaged over 17 points a game last year, and the 6-foot-9 Chism put up 13.7 points and eight boards a game. The backcourt also has firepower with Bobby Maze, Scotty Hopson and J.P. Prince returning. They have another year in this system and should take it to the next level.

Texas Longhorns

Damion James (AP)

2008-09 Record: 23-12
Postseason Finish: Second Round, NCAA Tournament
Texas fell a little short of expectations last year and now it has to cope with the graduation of last year's leading scorer A.J. Abrams. Why are the Longhorns still on this list? Because Rick Barnes has talent and depth at every position along with a nice mix of veterans and newcomers.

Returning are seniors Damion James, who nearly averaged a double-double last year, C Dexter Pittman and G Justin Mason. The backcourt will consist of two newcomers and it is highlighted by one of the most talked about recruits in the country - Avery Bradley. The Texas staff has been raving about this 6-foot-3 guard and Bradley will attempt to fill the shoes of Abrams on the perimeter. Florida transfer Jai Lucas contributes to the infusion of talent in Austin.


Villanova Wildcats
2008-09 Record: 30-8
Postseason Finish: Final Four
Despite criticisms of being undersized, the Wildcats rode their stellar perimeter play and defense to an electrifying run to the Final Four. Villanova will once again have to rely heavily on its spectacular backcourt if it wants to have a similar run.

Villanova lost 6-foot-8 Dante Cunningham, 6-foot-7 Shane Clark and 6-foot-6 Dwayne Anderson, so it will once again be burdened by a lack of size. Cunningham, last year's Big East Most Improved Player, will be the key loss since he gave the Wildcats someone who could score from anywhere on the floor and toughness in the post. How they replace him will be go a long way in determining their success. An experienced backcourt with Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes matches up with just about any in the country, and a heralded recruiting class will be called upon early.

West Virginia
2008-09 Record: 23-12
Postseason Finish: First Round, NCAA Tournament
Some may have been surprised by West Virginia's success last year. If the Mountaineers mount a similar campaign this year nobody will be surprised. Losing three-point threat Alex Ruoff hurts their ability to stretch the defense, but Devin Ebanks and Da'Sean Butler will more than compensate in the post.

Butler and Ebanks combined for 27.6 points and 13.7 rebounds a game last year. Butler can play outside and score and Ebanks does a lot of his work in the post. These two will be tough matchup for any defense. If West Virginia can solidify their point guard situation with junior Joe Mazzulla coming back from injury and sophomore Daryl Bryant, the Mountaineers will have a good chance to repeat or surpass last year's success.

Other teams considered: Butler, California, Duke, Washington

Just under six months ago, North Carolina was cutting down the nets in Detroit. Now, on Friday when Midnight Madness - the official start to basketball season - commences across the country, the road to the Final Four begins.

Here are 10 intriguing storylines to look out for in the 2009-10 season.

Shakeup in Chapel Hill
Let's start with the defending champs that arguably have to replace the most amount of talent in the country. Gone to the NBA are sparkplug point guard Ty Lawson, sharpshooter Wayne Ellington, steady wingman Danny Green and, oh yeah, Tyler Hansbrough, the ACC's All-Time leading scorer. Based on last year's averages that comes out to a loss of 66.2 points, 20.7 rebounds and 13 assists per game. Not to mention immeasurable experience and toughness.

If any team can reload in a hurry it's Roy Williams and the Tar Heels. Even after losing Hansbrough, UNC will be formidable inside with Ed Davis, Deon Thompson and Tyler Zeller.

The 2009-10 version of this team is very similar to the 2005-2006 version that went 23-8 and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament after losing Rashad McCants, Sean May, Raymond Felton and Marvin Williams to the NBA draft. Whether or not they can duplicate or surpass the success will remain to be seen and will be an interesting subplot this season.

John Calipari (AP)

John Calipari Takes Over At Kentucky
Perhaps no program in the nation made a bigger splash than Kentucky with the signing of former Memphis coach John Calipari. Not only did the Wildcats bring in a coach that has been to the Final Four, but they brought in a coach that lured several key recruits, making them one of the most talked about teams in the nation.

There's no argument with Calipari's success on the court and if he can get highly touted freshmen G John Wall and F DeMarcus Cousins to mesh with All-SEC Forward Patrick Patterson this team can be a factor on the national stage - even without last year's leading scorer Jodie Meeks. They're certainly a candidate for one of the biggest turnarounds in the league after going a non-Kentucky-like 22-14 last year and missing the NCAA Tournament.