by Jeff Goodman

1. The separation between North Carolina and the next tier of teams isn't nearly as wide as many believe.

Sure, the Tar Heels are clearly the favorite, but there are still some questions despite the fact they return just about everyone. Will the three players who returned to school be too concerned about the NBA finding out what they can't do rather than showing their teammates what they can do? Will they continue to improve defensively? They are still one injury away, whether it's the current one to Marcus Ginyard or a new one to any of their other starters, from being vulnerable.

2. The senior guards at Marquette have really bought in to their new coach, Buzz Williams.

I spent a lot of time with Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews in New York City and these kids realize what's at stake. Williams has given them more freedom (both on and off the court), but the trio also said that the week-long Boot Camp that Williams put them through was a major eye-opener. "Brutal," was how one of them described it.

3. Georgia Tech freshman Iman Shumpert will win ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

There's going to be a lot on this youngster's shoulders, since the season-ending injury to DeAndre Bell means he may have to guard the top perimeter player. But the Yellow Jackets staff believes he's ready. The 6-foot-4 combo guard is extremely smooth and could wind up being the second-best player (behind Chris Bosh) in the Paul Hewitt Era.

4. The Duke offense will be built around three players — Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer.

The staff feels as though Henderson is the Blue Devils' top player, but that Scheyer has improved more than anyone since last season. The difference with Henderson right now is that he's healthy. Remember, he battled breathing issues as a freshman and a wrist injury a year ago that required surgery immediately after the season.

5. What gets lost in the return of the three North Carolina Tar Heels who tested the NBA draft waters is the return of veteran guard Bobby Frasor from injury.

Frasor is the team's second-best defender behind Ginyard and also brings plenty of leadership to the table. Look for Frasor to see extensive time at shooting guard while Ginyard is out of the lineup and then see a combination of time between the two backcourt spots after Ginyard returns.

They're not worried about Stephen Curry's passing skills. They're just hoping he remembers to continue to shoot. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

6. Davidson coach Bob McKillop isn't worried at all whether his star guard, Stephen Curry, can play point guard.

His concern is Curry's decision-making and that doesn't necessarily mean Curry's decisions who to pass the ball to and where. He's more worried about Curry making sure he's still a scorer and not deferring because he's playing a position that's supposed to get his teammates involved more.

7. The Levance Fields situation at Pittsburgh is going to be one worth keeping an eye on all season.

The Panthers' coaching staff is taking it slow with the senior point guard because they realize without him, they would be reliant on a freshman floor leader and that means they are dead in the water. Sam Young didn't deny that fact. Fields just started going through non-contact workouts, but don't be surprised if Jamie Dixon & Co., use kid gloves with him all season.

8. Wake Forest matches up with just about anyone in the country in terms of pure talent.

Jeff Teague is vastly underrated and can play both backcourt spots, the forward tandem of James Johnson and Al-Farouq Aminu is downright scary and the big man combination of freshman Tony Woods and improved 7-footer Chas McFarland is formidable. This squad is so good that potential NBA player Ty Walker, a 7-footer and consensus Top 50 player, should redshirt this season because he's not going to get off the bench.

9. It's going to be interesting to see how the Nolan Smith-Greg Paulus situation plays itself out.

Coach K is going with Smith right now because he's afraid to put Jon Scheyer and Paulus out there together defensively, but the question is which one of them will be on the court with the game on the line. I still find it hard to believe Paulus, a senior who has started nearly every game since his arrival at Duke, will be watching when he's the vocal leader and arguably the top shooter on the team.

10. The Aminus could be the key to the ACC race.

Al-Farouq Aminu is a McDonald's All-American who came in with all the hype at Wake Forest as part of the stellar recruiting class. If he lives up to the hype and doesn't get caught up in his numbers and going to the NBA after one season, the Demon Deacons could be scary. His older brother, Alade Aminu, looked terrific in a scrimmage on Saturday and could be the missing ingredient for the Yellow Jackets. He's certainly capable with his athleticism and ability to run the floor.

11. I'm a pretty darn good ping pong player.

The word is that Tyler Hansbrough is also the big man when it comes to table tennis in Chapel Hill, but I disposed of him by attacking his weakness — which is, by the way, his backhand) and pulling off a comeback win. His comments after Midnight Madness to me. "You were lucky." I think not.