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With the college basketball season finally on the horizon, the game that's been overlooked by many in conference realignment will once again have the center stage. Perennial contenders will once again make a run at a national title while some new faces will pop up as well. The first four-part preview will focus on the conferences, and more specifically who will win each of the 32 leagues.

America East: Albany

With the NCAA Tournament now over and many resting up for a couple days before hitting the spring recruiting circuit (the Nike EYBL Boo Williams Invitational is this weekend), why not take a look at all 68 teams in this year's field and their early prospects for next season? With the NBA Draft deadline (May 8th) still a month away, here's a look at each of the teams in the East Region and what they'll likely have in 2011-12.

(1) Ohio State: lost in Sweet 16 to Kentucky

The opinion that this season provided the NCAA Tournament with the weakest bubble in history did not stop many pundits from bad-mouthing the VCU Rams. Instead of worrying about what the experts thought of their inclusion Shaka Smart's team moved forward, taking care of USC, Georgetown, Purdue and Florida State to get to Sunday's Southwest Region final. Top-seed Kansas awaited VCU and the Jayhawks got off to a quick start, scoring the first six points of the game.

Countless times over the past few weeks Kentucky head coach John Calipari has noted that his upperclassmen deserve some of the credit for the Wildcats' improved play as many rush to credit the highly-touted freshman class. Friday night was just the latest example of what the veterans mean to the team but when the game is on the line the basketball will end up in the hands of a freshman. Just as he did in the second round against Princeton Brandon Knight struggled offensively, shooting 2-for-9 over the first 39 minutes of the game.

The East Regional tips off tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. and while three of the top four seeds have done as expected in reaching this point, there is a surprise as well. Marquette, who looked like a mediocre basketball team in their regular season finale against Seton Hall in this same arena, has knocked off Xavier and Syracuse to reach this point. North Carolina and Kentucky had turning points as well, with the Tar Heels improving once Kendall Marshall took over at the point and the Wildcat veterans stepping up late in the season has helped them.

East Region
Charlotte
12:15 PM (7) Washington vs. (2) North Carolina (CBS)

(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Long Island

East Region - Charlotte

March 18 - 7:15 CBS
 

Cleveland (March 18)
(1) Ohio State vs. (16) Texas-San Antonio/Alabama State

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