by Jeff Goodman

2009-10 preview

Can't wait for the college hoops season to start? We get you ready for 2009-10 with our preseason guide.

This year, I'm going with a Big 12 championship game.

A trio of teams stands out — Kansas, Texas and Kentucky — and I've got all three advancing to the Final Four. Each of them doesn't just possess multiple future NBA players, but they all have quality depth and will be able to withstand an injury.

The prohibitive preseason favorite, Kansas, should earn a No. 1 seed in the Midwest. I've got Kentucky as the top seed in the South, West Virginia as No. 1 in the East and Michigan State gets the nod for the top seed in the West region.

Both Kansas and Kentucky will come out of their respective regions, but I've got No. 2 seed Texas pulling a mild upset over Bob Huggins & Co. in the Elite Eight.

My shocker is that Georgia Tech, which won just a pair of ACC games a year ago, will make a Final Four appearance. The Yellow Jackets have added a pair of impact freshmen in Derrick Favors and Mfon Udofia, but Paul Hewitt also has Iman Shumpert and Gani Lawal back in the fold.

Can Paul Hewitt take Georgia Tech deep in this year's NCAA tournament? (Dave Martin / Associated Press)

Thus, Georgia Tech will pull the upset over Michigan State in the Sweet 16 and then knock off Cal to advance to the Final Four.

That means four of the most athletic teams in the nation will convene in Indianapolis in early April — with Kansas advancing to the national title game for the second time in three years with a victory against Georgia Tech and Texas finding a way to slow down John Calipari's tremendous backcourt duo of John Wall and Eric Bledsoe with its stellar perimeter defender Avery Bradley.

That sets up a matchup of the top two teams in the nation — both of which hail from the Big 12.

Kansas vs. Texas.

It's not an easy call, especially since the Jayhawks have arguably the top point guard and big man in the nation with Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich.

However, Rick Barnes will win his first national title in Austin with a team that doesn't have a glaring weakness. They have size, young and veteran guards, the ability to defend and also the firepower to put points on the board.

To see my full bracket, click here.