The Fab 50 is back, and in a big way baby...or in exactly the same way it was last year...baby.
50. DeMarcus Nelson, Sr, G, Duke
The Blue Devils will go as as far as their guards can carry them, and that means Nelson - the team's leading retuning scorer at 14.1 ppg - had better step up.
49. Lawrence Hill, Jr, F, Stanford
An extremely versatile 6-8 forward, Hill will be the benefactor of all the attention the Lopez twins are sure to garner in the post.
48. Arizona Reid, Sr, F, High Point
The reigning Big South Player of the Year, Reid plays much, much larger than his 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame.
47. Terrence Williams, Jr, F, Louisville
Williams dominated box scores when Louisville turned things around late last season, and reportedly put on a show at the Adidas Nations Basketball Experience this summer.
46. Jon Brockman, Jr, F, Washington
Hasn't quite lived up to expectations in his first two seasons, but must in his third now that Spencer Hawes is gone.
45. A.J. Graves, Sr, G, Butler
Constantly being double-teamed and shadowed finally caught up with Graves, who looked like a tennis player in a fifth set tiebreak once March rolled around. If he can figure out how to pace himself, he should be poised to have a tremendous senior season.
44. Richard Hendrix, Jr, F, Alabama
Losing Ronald Steele for another season means that Hendrix will have to be especially dominant in the post on both ends of the court if the Tide want to head back to the dance.
43. Mario Chalmers, Jr, G, Kansas
A deadly three-point shooter who just might be the best defender in the Big 12.
42. Wayne Ellington, So, G, North Carolina
Ellington comes into '07-'08 with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after clanking what could have been the game-winner in the regional finals against Georgetown.
41. Brandon Costner, So, F, North Carolina State
Costner scored more than 20 points in five of the Pack's last eight games. If he can keep his intensity level up then he figures to be one of the best players in the ACC, if he can't then this could be the only time you see him on this list.
40. Courtney Lee, Sr, F, Western Kentucky
His foot is reportedly back to 100%, meaning Lee should be the best player in the state of Kentucky this season.
39. Geoff McDermott, Jr, F, Providence
Arguably the most versatile player in the Big East, McDermott was averaging a double-double before he tore his meniscus in late January.
38. Randal Falker, Sr, F, Southern Illinois
The runaway favorite to take home MVC Player of the Year honors, Falker is the most feared low-post player in the conference despite being just 6-7.
37. Jeff Adrien, Jr, F, Connecticut
Adrien led the Big East in double-doubles last season with 15, and is the guy Jim Calhoun hopes will carry this senior-less team (sorry Ben Spencer) back to the NCAA Tournament.
36. Darrell Arthur, So, F, Kansas
Big things are expected from the highly gifted Arthur, who figures to be a lottery pick in the 2008 NBA Draft if he shows the amount of improvement some are predicting.
35. Joey Dorsey, Sr, C, Memphis
The best body in college basketball, and it isn't even in close.
34. Patrick Beverley, So, G, Arkansas
The SEC's Freshman of the Year in '07, Beverley is a pure scorer and a streak shooter who can take over a game on any given night.
33. O.J. Mayo, Fr, G, USC
We're just a week in and already this thing is getting very interesting. Please stay tuned.
32. Bo McCalebb, Sr, G, New Orleans
No one in college basketball has a bigger green light than McCalebb.
31. Ryan Anderson, So, F, California
The only question here is how the return of DeVon Hardin is going to affect his game.
30. Jaycee Carroll, Sr, G, Utah State
Carroll toyed with the idea of leaving early for the draft, but ultimately decided to return to Utah State where he will inevitably become the all-time leading scorer this season.
29. Kevin Love, Fr, C, UCLA
The national pundits absolutely love this guy, but both times I've seen him play he's been extremely underwhelming. He'll have plenty of chances to show me what everyone else sees early on this season.
28. Tyrese Rice, Jr, G, Boston College
Rice played 39 or more minutes in each of Boston College's final ten games, and he's going to be relied on even more now that Jared Dudley has moved on.
27. Marcelus Kemp, Sr, G, Nevada
Kemp is the only returning starter to a Nevada team that loses three-time WAC Player of the Year Nick Fazekas. The First-Team All-Conference performer is an explosive scorer who, despite playing alongside Fazekas, managed to average 18.5 ppg a year ago.
26. Aleks Maric, Sr, C, Nebraska
The Roy Hibbert of the Big 12 only a little shorter, a little less talented, and a lot more Australian.
25. Josh Heytvelt, Jr, C, Gonzaga
Heytvelt figures to guide Gonzaga to yet another WCC title if he can lay off the psychedelics.
24. Shan Foster, Sr, F, Vanderbilt
Expect Foster to pick up right where Derrick Byars left off.
23. Stephen Curry, So, G, Davidson
It still blows my mind that in this day and age a kid this good can end up at Davidson.
22. Scottie Reynolds, So, G, Villanova
The Wildcats will live and die with the reigning Big East Freshman of the Year.
21. Kyle Weaver, Sr, G, Washington State
He's not a great outside shooter, but Weaver is a guy who can stuff the stat-sheet, and really makes the Wazzou offense go.
20. Dominic James, Jr, G, Marquette
Expect the bouncy Golden Eagle point guard to bounce right back after a less than stellar sophomore campaign.
19. Michael Beasley, Fr, F, Kansas State
If he can find it within himself to try hard for one season in college then he could compete for national Freshman of the Year honors.
18. Derrick Low, Sr, G, Washington State
Perhaps the most entertaining player to watch in college basketball, especially on a hot shooting night.
17. Eric Maynor, Jr, G, Virginia Commonwealth
Made quite the name for himself during a two-week stretch last March, but now we get to see how he performs now that people know who he is.
16. Jamont Gordon, Jr, G, Mississippi State
Made a considerable leap from his freshman to sophomore year, and if he can make a similar jump this season then expect it to be his last in a Bulldog uniform.
15. Brook Lopez, So, F, Stanford
Lopez is out for the first nine games of the season because he forgot that at Stanford you actually have to go to class to play basketball, but once he returns he should show off the same set of skills that helped the Trees steal an NCAA bid a season ago.
14. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Jr, F, Memphis
The quintessential Memphis Tiger: above average shooter, solid defender, terrific athlete, outstanding finisher.
13. D.J. White, Sr, C, Indiana
Had a terrific summer for Team USA at the Pan Am games, and returns to school as the Big Ten's top big man now that Greg Oden has moved on.
12. Derrick Rose, Fr, G, Memphis
Could very well be the player Memphis has been needing to get over the hump and into the Final Four.
11. Tywon Lawson, So, G, North Carolina
He's being placed behind a lot of other point guards on a lot of preseason lists, but by the end of last season Lawson had established himself as one of the top three floor generals in the nation.
10. Drew Neitzel, Sr, G, Michigan State
I was as surprised as anyone at Neitzel's scoring explosion last season, I mean this was a guy who refused to shoot as a freshman. He'll be asked to do it all again for the Spartans as a senior captain.
9. Eric Gordon, Fr, G, Indiana
By far my favorite player in the class of '07. Gordon should remind folks around here of another guy who wore red and white during his college years: Darrell Griffith.
8. D.J. Augustin, So, G, Texas
With Kevin Durant now donning a hideous Seattle Sonics uniform, it's Augustin's show in Austin.
7. Brandon Rush, Jr, F, Kansas
Rush could rise or fall on this list quickly depending on how he looks early after coming back from an ACL injury.
6. Chase Budinger, So, F, Arizona
Budinger's going to have to be even better than he was as a freshman if he wants to avoid being a part of the first Arizona team to miss the NCAA Tournament in 24 years.
5. Darren Collison, Jr, G, UCLA
Good shooter, great distributor, great defender, and no one controls tempo better.
4. Chris Lofton, Sr, G, Tennessee
The best pure shooter the college game has seen in a while, and that includes the J.J. Redick years.
3. Sean Singletary, Sr, G, Virginia
Singletary may have saved the Cavaliers from the ACC basement when he announced he was returning for one more year, but it will be interesting just how heavy a load he's able to shoulder now that his partner in crime J.R. Reynolds is gone.
2. Roy Hibbert, Sr, C, Georgetown
When you look at how much he's improved in each of his prior three seasons, it's scary to think about what big Roy is capable of doing in the Big East this year.
1. Tyler Hansbrough, Jr, F, North Carolina
I think it's safe to say that a large number of postseason awards are his to lose at this point.