2011-12 College Basketball Preview: Top 10 Returning Guards in the Nation

"Guard play is as critical now as it ever has been, and maybe more so. If you have good guard play, you can play with anybody."

These are the words of Richmond head coach Chris Mooney.

As we get ready for a new college basketball season, lets take a look at the Top-10 returning guards in the nation.

This list includes some of the experienced players that will have a huge influence on games, conference races, and the teams that will make deep runs in the NCAA tournament this coming March.

10. Maalik Wayns: Villanova

Maalik Wayns is a great guard and a great leader for Villanova.

Wayns seems like he is just as fast with the ball as he is without it. He can consistently knock down shots from the perimeter, or can cause trouble by getting into the paint.

Wayns averaged 13.8 points and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 82 percent from the free-throw line.

9. Ray McCallum: Detroit

Ray McCallum stayed home in Detroit to play for his dad. Seems like it worked out pretty well for everyone for his freshman season.

McCallum led the Titans in scoring (13.5 ppg), while also averaging 4.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

For the upcoming season, he was named Horizon League preseason Player of the Year. It's the first time in league history a sophomore has been so honored.

8. Orlando Johnson: UC Santa Barbara

Unless you are a Big West Conference basketball junkie, you may have never heard of Orlando Johnson.

Regardless, he may be one of the best guards west of the Mississippi.

The 6'5" senior from UC Santa Barbara averaged 21.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as a junior.

He was a starter on Team USA in the World University Games in China this last summer.

Johnson scored 20 or more 17 times, including a 21-point effort against Florida in the NCAA tournament.

Last season, he was selected Big West Tournament MVP for the second straight year where he averaged 28.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

7. Marcus Denmon: Missouri

Marcus Denmon fills up a box score like few other players.

Denmon averaged 16.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game

He led the Tigers in scoring, three-point shots made (82) and three-point field goal percentage (.448)

Denmon, a 2011 All-Big 12 selection, ranked in the Top 10 in the Big 12 in scoring (7th), field goal percentage (5th), steals (3rd), three-point percentage (2nd), and three-point makes per game (5th).

Because of the recent season-ending injury to Tigers' big man Laurence Bowers, Denmon will need to step up to make up the difference.

6. Tu Holloway: Xavier

Tu Holloway may be the most versatile player on this list.

Last year, the 6'0" 190 lbs senior averaged 19.7 PPG (27th in the nation) to go with 5.0 RPG, 5.4 APG (first in the Atlantic 10 and 29th in the nation) and 1.4 SPG (ninth in the Atlantic 10), while ranking second in the A-10 in free-throw percentage (30th in the nation at 87.0 percent).

Holloway was selected last year as a Third Team AP All-American and the A-10 Player of the Year.

5. Ashton Gibbs: Pittsburgh

Ashton Gibbs is one of the most underrated elite-level guards in the country.

Gibbs (6'2" 190 lbs) is a two-time All-Big East selection who has led the Panthers in scoring each of the last two seasons (averaged 18.5 in '10-11).

Last year, he ranked third among NCAA Division I leaders in three-point FG pct. (49.0 percent), fifth in three-point FG per game (3.3) and 18th in free throw pct. (88.9 percent).

Off the court, Gibbs excels in the classroom too, where he is a three-time Big East Academic pick, and is a candidate for Academic All-America honors.

4. William Buford: Ohio State

William Buford doesn't get much love from most of the media. When you are on the same team as Jared Sullinger, you get the leftover attention.

This hasn't, however, kept Buford from developing into one of the top SGs in the country.

Last season, Buford averaged 14.4 PPG on 46.2 percent shooting—44.2 percent from beyond the arc.

At 6'6" 220 lbs, Buford causes some serious matchup nightmares for his opponents.

3. John Jenkins: Vanderbilt

John Jenkins is simply one of the best shooters in the nation.

Last year, Jenkins, a First Team All-SEC selection, led the league in scoring (19.5 PPG), in three-point field goals made per game (3.1) and finished second in free-throw percentage (.894).

He scored in double figures in every game in '10-11.

Jenkins will be a major factor in how the Commodores do this season.

2. Jeremy Lamb: UConn

UConn's Jeremy Lamb caught fire during the Big East tournament (named to the Big East All-Tournament team), and never cooled down until after the Huskies won the NCAA championship.

Lamb, who was named to the Final Four All-Tournament team, averaged 16.2 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 58 percent from the field in the NCAA tournament.

Even though Lamb averaged 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds as a freshman last season, he will be expected to carry a main scoring role with the departure of Kemba Walker.

Lamb (6'5" 180 lbs) is more than capable of being the Huskies "go-to" guy in '11-12.

1. Jordan Taylor: Wisconsin

Jordan Taylor is the best returning guard in college basketball going into the 2011-12 season.

Taylor has an impressive body of work in his three years in Madison.

Just last year, Taylor was selected as a First Team All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten All-Defensive Team.

On top of that, he was named to the AP All-American, Second Team.

Taylor was one of five finalists for last year's Bob Cousy Award, an annual honor given to the best point guard in the country.

Taylor averaged 18.1 PPG and led the nation with a 3.83 assist-to-turnover in 2010-11.