Into the Great Wide Open, Part One: Dude Version

Our continuing series on the Chronicle's complete waste of resources finds me here to provide a preview for the 2006-'07 National Collegiate Athletic Association Div. I Men's Basketball season.

First and foremost, let's composite the preseason polls below the fold.

Associated Press Poll (The historically solid one)
1. Florida
2. North Carolina
3. Kansas
4. Pittsburgh
5. LSU
6. UCLA
7. Ohio State
8. Georgetown
9. Wisconsin
10. Arizona
11. Alabama
12. Duke
13. Texas A&M
14. Memphis
15. Boston College
16. Marquette
18. Connecticut
19. Creighton
20. Syracuse
21. Texas
22. Kentucky
23. Georgia Tech
24. Nevada
25. Tennessee

Others receiving votes ...

Wichita State 181, Southern Illinois 131, Gonzaga 129, Xavier 99, Florida State 65, Louisville 62, Villanova 37, Illinois 31, Hofstra 24, Arkansas 20, San Diego State 19, DePaul 16, Indiana 16, Oklahoma State 13, Virginia Tech 8, Michigan 6, Bucknell 6, Houston 5, USC 5, Kansas State 4, Missouri State 1, Oregon 1, George Mason 1, Akron 1, Brigham Young 1

ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll (The historically shitty one)
1. Florida
2. North Carolina
3. Kansas
4. Ohio State
5. Pittsburgh
5. UCLA
7. LSU
8. Georgetown
9. Wisconsin
10. Arizona
11. Duke
12. Alabama
13. Texas A&M
14. Memphis
15. Boston College
16. Washington
17. Marquette
18. Connecticut
19. Texas
20. Syracuse
21. Georgia Tech
22. Kentucky
23. Creighton
24. Tennessee
25. Nevada

Others receiving votes ...

Gonzaga 88, Wichita State 78, Louisville 77, Southern Illinois 70, Illinois 52, Xavier 44, Villanova 39, Air Force 26, San Diego State 24, Hofstra 20, Oklahoma State 19, Michigan 17, Michigan State 15, Maryland 12, DePaul 11, Florida State 9, George Mason 6, Indiana 5, Houston 3, Brigham Young 2, George Washington 2, Winthrop 2, Utah 1, Bucknell 1, New Mexico State 1, Saint Louis 1

*

So, we know Florida isn't going to be celebrating in Atlanta, as they did earlier this year in Indianapolis. The last back-to-back National Champion? Duke in 1991-'92. Interestingly, the team they beat in the National Semifinals in 1991, Nevada-Las Vegas, decimated them in the 1990 Final and returned four starters in '91, assuming the mantle of overwhelming expectation to repeat.

The Gators return five starters this season, a startling number in a climate of constant pro turnover and the dependence on silver bullets from young guns. Florida, I have to hand it to you: As a state, you suck, but as a men's basketball program retaining players at an institution of higher learning, you are formidable, to say the least.

Still, you will probably go down. Who'll take you there? Who'll be this year's '91 Duke? Who'll bounce back from a massive fold in 2006 to set Atlanta afire?

I have no clue. Well, maybe I have a couple, but I don't know if anyone will actually do it in that manner. It might be a team who fared well but fell just short last year. It could be North Carolina and returning skilled big man Tyler Hansborough. It could be Georgetown, who, if you believe the prognosticators, has no backcourt whatsoever. It could be Texas with wunderkind Kevin Durant. It could be Kansas. It could be Arizona. It could be Syracuse (please, God). It could be Creighton. It could be anyone. I mean, Jesus Christ, it could be Marathon Oil, for all I know, and they aren't even accredited.

One thing I can say for sure: It could be fun. Once the first RPI comes out, we'll get down to brass tacks and start taking bets. In the meantime, look for infrequent updates on this brand of basketball best appreciated by people typically lacking adequate "game." Also, look for Part Two of this preview, "Lady Version," tomorrow or the next day.