College Basketball: Four Programs Looking To Rise in 2010-2011

As a new season is set to begin in a little over a month, it is time to begin looking at what can be expected over the course of the 2010-2011 season. Teams fall and rise each year, some living up to and going beyond expectations, while others can disappoint.

Here's a look at four teams ready to rise and looking to seize the opportunity of improving:

St. John's:

A new coach, a more experienced lineup, and a hype that has not been felt at St. John's University in over a decade has become a reality for a program that has been in the bottom half of the Big East standings over the course of the past few years. The Red Storm hired Steve Lavin this past spring following the dismissal of Norm Roberts and will now look to take advantage of their current situation and move up in the loaded Big East.

Lavin has already hit the recruiting trails hard and locked up verbal commitments from Jakarr Sampson and Maurice Harkless for 2011. However, this upcoming season St. John's boasts a lineup of ten seniors ready to make their last year a special one. After a 17-16 season overall in 2009-2010, St. John's returns seven of its top eight scorers, and with Lavin in charge, certainly has a reason to be excited.

D.J. Kennedy and Dwight Hardy are coming off double figure scoring numbers from a season ago, and will look to be joined in that category by senior Paris Horne (9.2 ppg), as all three of them will once again be the likely focal points offensively.

The Red Storm will be tested early, opening up the year in California at St. Mary's, a team that proved their worth with a Sweet 16 run a season ago. St. John's will also compete in the Great Alaska Shootout and Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival before moving into Big East play, which ultimately speaks for itself.

North Carolina State:

There are plenty of coaches who enter the season on the hot seat, but NC State head coach Sidney Lowe might be feeling the heat more than anyone. After an 8-1 start to the season a year ago, the Wolfpack managed to finish just 12-15 down the stretch, missing the NCAA Tournament yet again. This year may hold a different story, as Sidney Lowe's job security may rest in the balance.

The Wolfpack only have four seniors on this year's roster, but the talent is certainly there to compete in the ACC. Led in large part by the return of three of top four leading scorers, seniors Tracy Smith and Javier Gonzalez, alongside sophomore stud Scott Wood will be vital to the Wolfpack's success. However, the most important key might be freshman C.J. Leslie. The star, and one of the more elite talents from the class of 2010, will be called upon to contribute for NC State right away, and he's more than likely up to the challenge.

North Carolina State will take part in the Charleston Classic early in the year, as well as road trips to Wisconsin and Syracuse to test them in early December. A visit from Arizona highlights a six game home stand towards the end of their non-conference slate before ACC play begins.

Colorado:

Alec Burks, Cory Higgins. Alec Burks, Cory Higgins. Alec Burks, Cory Higgins. The two stud guards for Colorado will be the key for any success the Buffaloes hope to have in 2010-2011. New head coach Tad Boyle was able to keep the duo around after the coaching change, especially Burks, who has an improving NBA draft stock. Together they hope to end Colorado's NCAA Tournament drought.

The university will be leaving the Big 12 shortly, but for 2010-2011 the Buffs remain glued on trying to get through the powers in the conference en route to the first NCAA Tournament since 2003. After a 15-16 season a year ago, the secret is out regarding Burks and Higgins. The two can play and the two will be the focal point for most opponents, but that doesn't mean they will be stopped.

Colorado does not boast the toughest of non-conference schedule, but intriguing matchups at Georgia and at Harvard should offer some tough tests early on. A date with New Mexico in the 10th Annual Las Vegas Classic and a Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series matchup with Oregon State is all the Buffaloes have to warm up with before Big 12 play. In the end we will see if it will be enough for Colorado to click heading into the second half of the year.

Georgia:

The Bulldogs went 14-17 last season, but this may be the the year they turn things around. Head coach Mark Fox has paid his dues since coming to the SEC from Nevada, a move many questioned, but it appears set to finally pay dividends. Georgia has two studs with improving draft stocks whose decisions to return may allow the Bulldogs to rise in the SEC East.

Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie have the athleticism and talent to play with anyone in the conference and they will be the key for UGA's success. Incoming freshman Marcus Thorton was a very important pick-up from the class of 2010, deciding to head to Athens late last spring. Alongside Thompkins and Leslie, the Bulldogs also return Jeremy Price and Dustin Ware, allowing them to have four of their top five scorers from a season ago back this year.

Georgia has plenty of tough matchups in non-conference play. The Bulldogs will compete in the Old Spice Classic, as well as take a visit to Saint Louis, but most of their intriguing games will take place in Athens. Visits from Georgia Tech, Colorado, and UAB could help give them a boost early on before SEC play begins.

This article was originally featured on The Arena Pulse