2008-2009 NCAA Preseason Basketball Rankings: Teams # 6-10

#6 UCLA - The Bruins lost two of the best players in the PAC-10 last year in point guard Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love. However, they return one of the best gaurds in the game in Darren Collison, who made an amazing 53 percent of his three pointers last year. Forwards Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya will also be returning and will supply experience for this otherwise very young team. Size up front should not be an issue as a very talented incoming freshman Drew Gordon and J'mison Morgan measure at 6'8 and 6'10 respectively. Also making his college debut will be slasher Jrue Holliday, considered by many to be the best shooting guards coming out of high school. UCLA is favored to win the PAC-10 title, though their youth and inexperience may become a problem deep in the tournament.

#7 Notre Dame - Although Notre Dame is projected to finish fourth in the Big East Preseason Coaches Poll, they are loaded with talented upperclassmen. Also, returning the best player in the best conference in the country in Luke Harangody has to count for something. Harangody will be the leader on a very skilled and experienced team that should be very hard to beat any time of the year. A very good backcourt duo of Kyle McAlarney and Tory Jackson will spread the court for the Fighting Irish, making them an extremely hard team to defend against. If this team can play consistently and stay healthy, they should be a team with a chance to make the final game.

#8 Texas - Rick Barnes is looking to lead his team their tenth straight 20 win season, and it should be a fairly easy task. Although losing First Team All-American point guard D.J. Augustin keeps the Longhorns out of the top five, they are still a very solid team. A.J. Abrams will be one of the top guards in the Big 12 barring injury and could be an eventual All-American. Six foot ten inch forward Connor Atchley, although not a force down low, at 6-10, will give defenders a hard time with his shooting ability (41% 3pt shooing last season). This will open things up for wingman Damion James, who averaged a double-double last year and has a much-improved offensive game. A top three seed in the tournament should be expected from Texas this year.

#9 Purdue - Word out of Australia, where Matt Painter's team traveled this past summer, is that Purdue has improved from last year. With every starter returning from a very good 25 win team, this is great news for fans back home. Forward Robbie Hummel and Guard E'Twaun Moore, both only sophomores, will be the young leaders for the Boilermakers. Hummel had modest stats last season but was the team's floor leader and hit countless clutch shots and iced games with his 87 percent free-throw shooting. Moore should be a contender for Big 10 player of the year along with Hummel as Purdue's go-to guy. Expect Purdue to battle with Michigan State for the title this year in a weaker than usual Big 10.

#10 Gonzaga - The top mid-major team in the country is also one of the best regardless of conference. The return of point guard Jeremy Pargo and 6-11 forward Josh Heytvelt makes the Zags dangerous on any level against any team. In fact Gonzaga returns every starter from a team that was Davidson's first victim in the tourney last season. Forward Austin Daye has the potential to become an elite player as he averaged ten points and five rebounds in only 18 minutes per game last year. Other players expected to make solid contributions are guards David Pendergraft, Steven Gray, and Matt Bouldin, all who averaged over 8 points and a 3 pointer made last season. If they win a couple tough non-conference games, including Connecticut, Tennessee, Memphis, and Arizona, expect the Bulldogs to secure a top 4 seed.