[ot-caption title=”Senior Marcus Paige will look to lead North Carolina past rival Duke and to a national title, via Rich Barnes, USA Today Sports)”]

The college basketball season is nearly upon us, and although we are still months from March, it is never too early to start looking at teams that can shake up the league and their respective conferences. The Duke University Blue Devils cut the nets down last year for Coach K’s fifth championship, and they will begin the season ranked at number five in the preseason poll. The North Carolina Tarheels are the early favorites to bring the title home, followed by the Kentucky Wildcats.  But who knows what the rankings will look like come conference play and thereafter March. Duke won it all last March, but with the “one and done” rule, no team is ever the same as the year before. Obviously dominant teams will remain powers, but it is truly an exciting season of college basketball every year that brings plenty of surprises. The talent is amazing in the NCAA this year. Every team in the top twenty-five is a threat, and they seemingly all have a dynamic duo, trio, or even a fearsome foursome. It is going to be a great year, and just like every year, it will be impossible to predict. With that being said, we can take a look at some exciting teams, players, and conferences to watch in the 2015-16 mens NCAA basketball season.

Best Conference: ACC

The ACC is by far the best conference in college basketball. With perennial powers such as Duke, North Carolina, Louisville, and Syracuse along with programs currently establishing their legitimacy like Virginia and Miami, there is no such thing as a sure win in this conference. North Carolina is ranked number one in the nation but will be without starting guard Marcus Paige for the beginning of the season. Duke won the National Championship last year. Virginia won the conference last year. A new year will bring new champions. Sleepers in the ACC also include Note Dame, Florida State, and NC State who all have have the capability of pulling off earth-shaking upsets. North Carolina will have to fight past Duke and vice versa in rivalry games that could determine the season. There is no shortage of talent and must watch games in the ACC.

Must watch Freshman: Ben Simmons – Small Forward – LSU

Simmons’ college debut has been long awaited, and rejoice Tiger fans because it is finally here. LSU comes in ranked at number twenty-one in the first national poll, but expectations are high as they are expected to be Kentucky’s main challenger in the SEC. Already touted to be the potential first pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons is described by scouts as explosive and a ‘bullet like player‘. He is an all-around basketball player, a gifted athlete, and a must watch player in 2015. Look for Simmons’ game to make strides in his first year at LSU.

Best returning players: Guard Marcus Paige (UNC) and Guard Buddy Hield (Oklahoma)

Although there was a mass exodus of rising sophomore talent from the NCAA into the NBA during this offseason, there are two terrific players who are entering their final rides with their respective teams. Paige and Hield are both amazing leaders on their teams and will look to make their last seasons count.

Strongest starting five: North Carolina

There is a reason that this category is not called best starting five or most talented. That is because those categories are two completely different beasts. Out of three incredibly talented North Carolina, Maryland, and Kentucky teams, North Carolina has the strongest starting five. Their combination of Marcus Paige, Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Justin Jackson, and Theo Pinson will take them the farthest. Paige will miss 3-4 weeks, but that could be a blessing in disguise for the Heels. He is obviously their best player, but they open the season with a weak schedule that could allow other players to assume bigger roles in his absence with more leeway in such games. Once Paige is back, they should be ready to roll into ACC play. Between experience, skill, and a mental game, Coach Roy Williams has an incredible group in this years Tar Heels, and they remain a deserving favorite.

Teams to watch: California, Indiana and Syracuse

Even though California is ranked fourteenth, IU fifteenth, and Syracuse unranked, all three teams can fall in the similar category of “under the radar.” They all have relatively low expectations which creates a stronger fan-base around the teams once they pick their games up. They all are built around their respective strengths and all have huge opportunities in their schedule to make some serious national noise. For Cal, this chance comes December 22 in Virginia, and not to mention their in conference games against Arizona. The Hoosiers play Duke early in their sixth game of the season, and if they survive rigorous Big 10 play, they could find themselves in a momentous game at home against Maryland on March 5 to conclude the regular season. For Syracuse, the chances are unlimited playing in the ACC which entails games with UNC twice, Duke, and Virginia, all of whom open the season in the top 6. Cal, Indiana, and Syracuse can make splashes with their young, talented teams in incredible games.

All in all, this year’s college basketball season will be interesting. Although UNC, Kentucky and Duke stand out, there is a plethora of threats just beneath them. If Carolina stays healthy, they will be tough to stop and two match-ups between the Heels and Blue Devils could decide the year. Kentucky need not be mentioned as much because it is Kentucky, a.k.a NBA day camp, and we know what we will see out of the Wildcats in a very far from scary SEC. A team to watch out for is number three ranked Maryland. With the dual threat of Melo Trimble and Diamond Stone, the Terrapins will be straight up filthy. They could very feasibly win the Big 10 and snatch themselves a one seed in the tournament. New freshmen will rise, and great players will establish themselves. Although the tournament seems decades away, before we know it we will see another champion crowned.