The Blue Demons face an uphill battle after last season, and while hopefully they will be able to rebound and utilize weapons in Koshwal and Tucker, they will definitely have their work cut out for them.

Georgetown Hoyas

Coach: John Thompson III
2007-2008 Record: 15-3 (27-5)
AP Rank: 22
Coaches: 18

Overview
Thompson's first season with the Hoyas came in the 2004-2005 season, and his rebuilding of the program has been nothing short of miraculous. After not reaching the NCAA Tournament since the 2000-2001 season, JT3 has taken the team to the big dance for three consecutive years, reaching the Final Four in the 2007 tournament, and won the Big East regular season title in the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons.

He has seen three of his players drafted so far, with more sure to come. The Hoyas start the season as the sixth ranked team in the Big East.

The Good
Junior DaJuan Summers is returning to the starting lineup for the Hoyas after averaging 11.1 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and one steal per game last season. Senior Jessie Sapp is also returning after hitting a very impressive 41 percent of three-pointers last season while averaging 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.

Sophomores Austin Freeman and Chris Wright return this year as well. Freeman had an outstanding rookie season and made it to the starting lineup, while Wright was held back by injury for most of the season. Joining the team is Freshman center Greg Monroe, who will fill the void with Roy Hibbert now gone.

The Bad
The Hoyas lost big man Hibbert, sixth man Patrick Ewing, Jr., and point guard Jonathan Wallace to graduation, sophomores Vernon Macklin and Jeremiah Rivers to the University of Florida and Indiana, respectively.

The Bottom Line
Between the loss of key graduating seniors and transfers, the Hoyas took a pretty substantial blow this off season. Look for Summers to emerge as the clear leader of the Hoyas this year and Sapp to continue development at the top of the key.

Wright has a lot of potential and should be very successful in his sophomore year if he can stay healthy. Monroe will have to adjust to college level of play, but he should become a force to be reckoned in the Big East this year.

Louisville Cardinals

Coach: Rick Pitino
2007-2008 Record: 14-4 (24-8)
AP Rank: 3
Coaches: 3

Overview
The Cardinals finished last season tied for second, very impressive considering they finished 6-10 their first season in the Big East just two seasons before. But don't assume that this was just a fluke—they finished the '06-'07 season with a 14-4 Big East record and gained a sixth seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Last March the Cardinals landed a three seed and made it to the Elite Eight, losing to top ranked North Carolina. Since winning the National Championship with Kentucky in 1996, Coach Pitino has been anxiously awaiting another. This very well may be the team that leads him back.

The Good

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