If those over-hyped teams within the Top 25 lose their shine, there are a slew of underrated squads ready to jump into their vacated positions.

Unranked, Kansas State: Frank Martin can thank Bob Huggins for returning to his alma mater when the Wildcats crack the Top 25 and the Mountaineers struggle at the bottom of the Big East. Martin has the utmost confidence in super-recruit 6-10 PF Michael Beasley. He told Blue Ribbon that he believes Beasley to be as good as anyone in the country: “Heck, if you listen to these NBA front office guys and scouts, he’s one of the top two or three players in the country period, never mind top freshmen.”
Returning players won’t be thrown by the change at the helm as Martin and Huggins share coaching philosophies. Expect weights-eater 6-6 G/F Bill Walker to benefit from Martin’s slightly more open offensive mindset. Senior 6-4 SG Clent Stewart and senior 6-2 G Blake Young will see more open looks from downtown than they do in an empty gym with double teams being standard fare for Beasley. Trouble is brewing in the Big 12.

No-25 Villanova: The Dukies locked up the No.11 spot largely because of projections that a great coach will get the most out of his freshmen firepower (6-8 F Kyle Singler and 6-7 F Taylor King). Similarly, ’Nova can count on newcomers 6-1 PG Corey Fisher and 6-5 G/F Corey Stokes to play Jay Wright Basketball alongside a strong nucleus of 6-2 G Scottie Reynolds and 6-8 F Dante Cunningham. If Wright successfully shifts Reynolds to his natural position at the two, he and Fisher would form a formidable (albeit undersized) starting backcourt. Don’t underestimate Fisher; remember when he outdueled O.J. Mayo for 37 points on national TV? Though the ’Cats lack size with Cunningham and redshirt freshman 6-8 PF Antonio Pena up front, Wright’s three-guard system will elevate them beyond their rank.

Unranked, Wyoming: The hope for a non-Air Force delegation to the Dance from the Mountain West rests on the shoulders of Wyoming’s one-two punch in the backcourt. Junior 6-2 G Brandon Ewing posted 19.9 points last season alongside best friend and backcourt mate senior 6-1 G Brad Jones’ 18.1 per night. If they get any support from transfer 6-6 PF Tyson Johnson (Blinn College, TX) or freshman 7-0 C Mikhail Linskens in the lane, this team could be last season’s Butler. A true potential Top 25 dark horse.