Backcourt

The loss of point guard Pe’Shon Howard (broken foot) has had a ripple effect, turning an area of strength into one of weakness. With Howard out until January, Maryland will need heavy-duty minutes from sophomore Terrell Stoglin at the point and senior Sean Mosley and freshman Nick Faust at the wings.

Frontcourt

Turgeon has been pleasantly surprised here. Ashton Pankey, a 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman, has recovered from a leg injury that kept him out last year and is the top rebounder and defender. Berend Weijs, a 6-10 senior, has shown increased versatility. James Padgett, a 6-8 junior, will get more of a chance.

Bench

What bench? Until the return of Howard, hopefully in January, and promising 7-1 freshman center Alex Len in late December, Turgeon will have no choice but to use some of his six walk-ons. It could be a long first season for Turgeon in the rugged ACC, especially if the Terps incur any more injuries.

Georgetown

Coach

An offseason of turnover turned John Thompson III into the second-longest tenured coach in Washington. But entering his eighth year — and fourth since his last NCAA tournament win — he has as much work to do as Maryland, George Mason or George Washington to mold a freshman- and sophomore-heavy roster into a legitimate contender — a task similar to his early seasons with the Hoyas.

Backcourt

Sophomore guard Markel Starks admitted he was never quite himself as a freshman, especially shooting the ball. With Vee Sanford transferring, Starks will have to become the man as he takes over the point next to senior Jason Clark (12.0 ppg), who desperately needs to improve his 34.7 percent clip from beyond the arc.

Frontcourt

Listed as a forward, 6-foot-7 Hollis Thompson’s best spot is on the wing, where he shot 45.7 percent on 3-pointers last season. Sophomore banger and crisp passer Nate Lubick is now the Hoyas’ premier big man. Senior center Henry Sims might begin the year as a starter, but keeping that spot won’t be easy.

Bench

At 6-foot-5, freshman Jabril Trawick offers size and athleticism in the backcourt, while redshirt freshman Aaron Bowen is back after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury. True freshmen Otto Porter, Mikael Hopkins (DeMatha) and Greg Whittington all have a chance to grow up quickly.

Other teams

George Mason

After the departure of the face of the program (and perhaps the school) in Jim Larranaga, former Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt inherits a solid group. Returning George Mason to the NCAA tournament won’t be easy after a 10-game suspension to point guard Andre Cornelius (credit card fraud). Hewitt will depend on a powerful frontcourt of 6-6 senior Ryan Pearson, 6-9 senior Mike Morrison and 6-8 freshman Erik Copes. Sophomore guard Sherrod Wright has big-time scoring potential.

George Washington

There’s a sneaky suspicion in Foggy Bottom that new coach Mike Lonergan could have as much potential with the Colonials as any team in the area. He inherits a group that went 17-14 last year without explosive guard Lasan Kromah — who had 23 points in GW’s exhibition victory over Bowie State — and brings back preseason first-team All-Atlantic 10 guard Tony Taylor (15.0 ppg, 4.6 apg). Should Lonergan figure out a frontcourt rotation, the Colonials could make an assault well into the top half of the Atlantic 10.

American

With a fresh contract extension through 2016, 12th-year coach Jeff Jones isn’t going anywhere. But after his third 20-win season in the last four years, Jones had to change plans when his top returning forward, Stephen Lumpkins, bolted for major league baseball. The result: an Eagles group that will play more small ball and rely heavily on senior guard Troy Brewer (11.5 ppg), a Gaithersburg native with great promise but who has never had so much responsibility. Another local, freshman guard John Schoof (W.T. Woodson High), also could make an impact.

Navy

Former Penn State coach Ed DeChellis takes over for Billy Lange and looks to end the Midshipmen’s run of 10 straight losses in the opening round of the Patriot League tournament. DeChellis will restore the Naval Academy Prep School program in an attempt to find late blooming talent. All-conference senior guard Jordan Sugars and 6-7 sophomore forward J.J. Avila will carry a heavy load. Jared Smoot, a 6-10 freshman, is the only player taller than 6-7 on a freshman-heavy roster.

Howard

Injuries decimated the Bison (6-24) in coach Kevin Nickelberry’s first year. But combine a strong recruiting class with four returning starters; a potential star in 6-9 redshirt freshman Theo Boyomo, out last year with a torn ACL; and 6-3 redshirt junior Calvin Thompson, the top scorer from 2009-10 who also missed last year with a torn ACL, and there’s enough talent for Howard to consider a worst-to-first improvement in the MEAC.

National outlook

Teams on the rise

The college basketball landscape may be top heavy, but recent history shows there’s plenty of opportunities for teams in the second tier to rise, mid-majors or not. This year is no different. With forward Perry Jones III pulling out of the NBA Draft, Baylor has its eye on a turnaround and a chance to unseat Kansas at the top of the Big 12. Vanderbilt could do the same to Kentucky in the SEC — if the Commodores get back suspended and injured Festus Ezeli. Memphis is clearly legit under Josh Pastner. In the mid-major category, Bruiser Flint’s Drexel squad could cast aside both VCU and George Mason in the CAA. Creighton and Wichita State lead the Missouri Valley. Belmont is the class of the Atlantic Sun, while Harvard and even Iona could be standouts. And why would anyone count out Butler?

Shadow of realignment

Even if the Big East gets another 11 NCAA tournament bids, its reign as the best conference in college basketball is nearly over and will be overshadowed this season by future realignment. The SEC, Pac-12 and Big 12 won’t be the same. Without Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and perhaps Connecticut, the best week of hoops at Madison Square Garden all year will be gone. This is not to say that there isn’t a chance for the Big East to be reborn in the future — imagine if VCU, Georgetown, Xavier, Memphis, Butler and others banded together — but it will take years to rebuild a reputation and a tradition. Meanwhile, the ACC seems set to re-establish its dominance. Every game the Orange and Panthers play this season will be a chance to talk about who they will play next year instead.

Blue bloods

There is an unusual level of stability among the NCAA’s traditional powers, and the Associated Press preseason poll reflects it. Six of the top nine teams have won multiple titles, including No. 1 North Carolina (five), No. 2 Kentucky (seven), No. 4 Connecticut (three) and No. 6 Duke (four). Many of the top-ranked teams are guided by veteran coaches at the top of their profession, including Roy Williams (UNC), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Jim Boeheim (No. 5 Syracuse), Billy Donovan (No. 8 Florida) and Rick Pitino (No. 9 Louisville), all with national titles on their resumes. Another who belongs on the list but has yet to win an NCAA championship — John Calipari (Kentucky) — might have his best team.

player of the year candidates

Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Trimming down and bulking up have enhanced the stock of the 6-foot-9 sophomore, perhaps the most skilled low-post player in college basketball since Tim Duncan.

Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)

The 6-8 sophomore is ready to be the scoring star in a loaded lineup that includes 7-foot Tyler Zeller, 6-11 John Henson and pass-first point guard Kendall Marshall.

Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)

Few guards have the all-around game of Taylor, a scorer (18.1 ppg), All-Big Ten defender and the national leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.83-1).

Perry Jones III (Baylor)

The 6-10 sophomore, a big-time NBA prospect as a small forward, surprised many by returning to the Bears even though he would have been among the top lottery picks.

Andre Drummond (Connecticut)

One freshman candidate always emerges. Take your pick from a stellar class that includes the 6-10 Drummond, 6-10 Anthony Davis (Kentucky) and 6-4 Austin Rivers (Duke).

Kevin Dunleavy’s Top 25

The Washington Examiner’s Kevin Dunleavy is one of 64 voters for the Associated Press Top 25. Here’s his preseason poll:

1. North Carolina

2. Connecticut

3. Ohio State

4. Duke

5. Syracuse

6. Pittsburgh

7. Kentucky

8. Florida

9. Kansas

10. Arizona

11. Cincinnati

12. Texas A&M

13. Louisville

14. Xavier

15. UCLA

16. Vanderbilt

17. Baylor

18. Villanova

19. Michigan

20. Memphis

21. Washington

22. Drexel

23. Marquette

24. Florida State

25. Wisconsin

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