With the season right around the corner, it is time to unveil my preseason top 40 teams.

This should be an exciting campaign with plenty of good teams out there. I predict the North Carolina Tar Heels will cut down the nets in Houston as Hall of Famer Roy Williams celebrates another championship.

1. North Carolina Tar Heels

Experience and depth are keys to the championship. Plus a healthy Marcus Paige will help.

2. Maryland Terrapins

Melo Trimble will lead the Terps to big things. Jake Layman is a huge factor up front.

3. Kentucky Wildcats

It is not about rebuilding for Big Blue Nation; it is reloading time! Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray will step in and succeed right away.

4. Duke Blue Devils

No Okafor, Winslow or Jones ... no problem. Grayson Allen and a super class of newcomers will lead the way.

5. Virginia Cavaliers

Malcolm Brogdon keys Tony Bennett's solid and steady, defense-minded Cavaliers.

6. Kansas Jayhawks

Bill Self has a lot of talent returning to challenge for another Big 12 title. Look for bigger things from Wayne Selden.

7. Iowa State Cyclones

Steve Prohm will step in for Fred Hoiberg as the Cyclones make noise. Monte Morris will step up his game.

8. Villanova Wildcats

Jay Wright has great perimeter players ready to dominate the Big East.

9. Oklahoma Sooners

Buddy Hield will battle for player of the year while leading the Sooners to Big 12 contention.

10. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis are keys as Mark Few makes another run toward the Final Four.

11. Wichita State Shockers

Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker are a dynamic duo as Gregg Marshall has another outstanding squad.

12. California Golden Bears

Youth and experience will blend together to give Cuonzo Martin the team to beat in the Pac-12.

13. Indiana Hoosiers

All of the Tom Crean naysayers will be silenced thanks to Yogi Ferrell and James Blackmon Jr.

14. Utah Utes

Larry Krystkowiak is one of the most underrated coaches in America. He has a star in the middle in Jakob Poeltl.

15. Connecticut Huskies

Kevin Ollie added lots of talent in transfers Sterling Gibbs and Shonn Miller. Jalen Adams is a diaper dandy to watch.

16. Arizona Wildcats

A challenging rebuilding job for Sean Miller, but transfer Ryan Anderson will help.

17. Michigan State Spartans

Tom Izzo has another solid nucleus in the fold in East Lansing.

18. Vanderbilt Commodores

Damian Jones is one of the best big men in America as Kevin Stallings' team surprises some.

19. LSU Tigers

It helps to have diaper dandies like Ben Simmons, Brandon Sampson and Antonio Blakeney in the lineup.

20. Butler Bulldogs

I love veterans Kellen Dunham and Roosevelt Jones, plus the addition of NC State transfer Tyler Lewis.

21. Miami (FL) Hurricanes

A healthy Angel Rodriguez makes all the difference for the Hurricanes.

22. Texas A&M Aggies

Billy Kennedy has a nice mix of veterans and newcomers to love in the SEC.

23. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Jerrian Grant and Pat Connaughton are gone, but don't sleep on Mike Brey's tenacious team.

24. Michigan Wolverines

Having Caris LeVert back healthy will make a big difference for John Beilein.

25. Louisville Cardinals

Drexel transfer Damion Lee is a star. Keep an eye on Deng Adel to make some noise.

26. Purdue Boilermakers

27. Georgetown Hoyas

28. Florida State Seminoles

29. NC State Wolfpack

30. Baylor Bears

31. Wisconsin Badgers

32. Syracuse Orange

33. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

34. Oregon Ducks

35. West Virginia Mountaineers

36. Dayton Flyers

37. San Diego State Aztecs

38. Arizona State Sun Devils

39. Xavier Musketeers

40. Cincinnati Bearcats