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The country's top frontcourts in 2009-10

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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Sep 28, 2009 6:58 PM ET
     
 
Big men are the strength of college basketball this season, as you'll see with some of the powerful frontlines. Here's our ranking of the top 20 frontcourts in the nation — led by a team that just flat-out reloads.

1. North Carolina

Frontcourt: Ed Davis, Deon Thompson, John Henson, Tyler Zeller
Analysis: The loss of Tyler Hansbrough will certainly hurt, but these guys will be just fine. Davis will emerge as a bona fide star, Thompson can score on the low block and Henson and Zeller give the Tar Heels a pair of long and athletic gazelles that can run the floor, block shots and rebound.

2. Kentucky

Frontcourt: Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, Perry Stevenson, Daniel Orton, Josh Harrellson
Analysis: Patterson is a double-double machine, and he may not even be the most talented big man on his own team. That honor belongs to Cousins, who could be a one-and-done guy with his combination of size, strength and athleticism. Stevenson has logged plenty of minutes, and Orton would have been a McDonald's All-American last season if not for an injury.

3. Kansas

Frontcourt: Cole Aldrich, Marcus Morris, Xavier Henry, Markieff Morris, Thomas Robinson, Jeff Withey
Analysis: Aldrich has established himself as arguably the premier big man in the nation, and the Morris twins should take a jump this season. Henry could be a one-and-done wing player, and both Robinson and Withey could start for about 300 other teams.

4. Texas

Frontcourt: Damion James, Dexter Pittman, Gary Johnson, Jordan Hamilton, Clint Chapman, Matt Hill, Alexis Wangmene
Analysis: James is an athletic combo forward with experience, Pittman and Johnson both do plenty of work in the paint and Hamilton is one of the top freshman small forwards in the nation. Add in big bodies Chapman, Hill and Wangmene for depth, and it's one of the top frontcourts in the nation for certain.

5. Georgia Tech

Frontcourt: Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal, Zach Peacock
Analysis: The Yellow Jackets may not have as much quality depth as other teams on the list, but they have as potent a 1-2 punch as just about anyone in the country with Favors and Lawal.

2009-10 preview

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

6. Florida State

Frontcourt: Solomon Alabi, Chris Singleton, Ryan Reid, Xavier Gibson
Analysis: The length in this frontcourt is ridiculous. Alabi is a big-time shot-blocker and rebounder with an improving offensive game, while Singleton is long, athletic and can score from deep and also put the ball on the floor. Reid is solid, and Gibson has a wealth of talent.

7. Tennessee

Frontcourt: Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism, Brian Williams, Kenny Hall
Analysis: Smith is a hybrid forward who will challenge for SEC Player of the Year, Chism has become a force in the paint and Williams has made leaps and bounds since he arrived. Hall comes in as a highly touted freshman but will have to battle for minutes because of the talent and depth up front in Knoxville.

8. Butler

Frontcourt: Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, Willie Veasley, Andrew Smith
Analysis: I love the duo of the scrappy, hard-working, undersized big man Howard and the skilled and versatile Hayward. Veasley is a veteran, and Smith gives Coach Brad Stevens a young big man with size.

9. Georgetown

Frontcourt: Greg Monroe, Julian Vaughn, Henry Sims, Nikita Mescheriakov, Hollis Thompson
Analysis: Obviously, the long and skilled Monroe is the centerpiece of this group. However, Vaughn should be improved after a year in the program, and Sims is extremely talented. Thompson came in at the break last season and could make an impact because of his length and shooting ability.

10. Purdue

Frontcourt: JaJuan Johnson, Robbie Hummel
Analysis: It's not exactly the deepest frontline in America, but it's hard to match the 1-2 punch of Johnson — who has improved significantly over the past year — and Hummel. If Hummel is healthy, he does everything well and is one of the top forwards in the Big Ten and in the country.

11. Syracuse

Frontcourt: Wesley Johnson, Arinze Onuaku, Rick Jackson, Kris Joseph, Mookie Jones
Analysis: Johnson sat out last season after transferring from Iowa State and should become a big-time scorer. Onuaku is an underrated big man who can rebound and finish, while Jackson is another competent inside player. Joseph and Jones should have expanded roles this season.

12. UConn

Frontcourt: Stanley Robinson, Ater Majok, Alex Oriakhi, Gavin Edwards, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel
Analysis: Robinson came on in the NCAA tournament last season, and Huskies coach Jim Calhoun raves about Majok's potential. Edwards is a solid piece up front, but it's Oriakhi — a big, strong and athletic freshman — who could be the "X" factor. He won't replace Hasheem Thabeet, but he can eventually be a big-time force in the middle.

13. Duke

Frontcourt: Kyle Singler, Mason Plumlee, Lance Thomas, Miles Plumlee, Ryan Kelly
Analysis: Singler is a potential Player of the Year candidate, and Thomas is experienced. Other than that, it's a bunch of young, unproven guys with plenty of potential. Mason Plumlee, Miles' younger brother, may make the biggest impact.

14. Clemson

Frontcourt: Trevor Booker, Milton Jennings, David Potter
Analysis: Booker is one of the elite big men in the nation and could average a double-double this season. Jennings comes in with all the skill and hype of anyone that Oliver Purnell has brought in since he took over at Clemson.

15. Wake Forest

Frontcourt: Al Farouq Aminu, Tony Woods, Chas McFarland, Ty Walker, Ari Stewart
Analysis: Aminu will have a chance to be a star at the college level, McFarland is a 7-footer who has plenty of experience and Woods should get more minutes this season.

16. West Virginia

Frontcourt: Da'Sean Butler, Devin Ebanks, Wellington Smith, Kevin Jones, Deniz Kilicli, Dan Jennings
Analysis: Butler had a terrific season a year ago, and Ebanks is a long and skilled wing who learned how to defend and rebound. The keys are Kilicli and Jennings — two freshmen who give Bob Huggins some much-needed size.

17. Vanderbilt

Frontcourt: A.J. Ogilvy, Jeffery Taylor, Festus Ezeli, Andre Walker, Steve Tchiengang
Analysis: Ogilvy can really score in the post, and Taylor is underrated, a terrific defender and one of the more athletic wings in the nation. Ezeli remains a work in progress, and Walker, when healthy, can be a solid role guy.

18. Notre Dame

Frontcourt: Luke Harangody, Scott Martin, Tyrone Nash, Thomas Knight
Analysis: Harangody is a legitimate Player of the Year candidate and is a double-double virtually every night. Martin gives them a skilled forward and someone who can stretch the defense, and Nash should emerge as a jack-of-all trades guy.

19. Michigan State

Frontcourt: Delvon Roe, Raymar Morgan, Draymond Green
Analysis: Roe will be much better than he was last season since he has another year to recover from a major knee injury. Morgan was up-and-down last season but is a talent, and Green gives Tom Izzo a tough forward who likes to mix it up.

20. St. John's

Frontcourt: Anthony Mason Jr., Justin Burrell, Sean Evans, Rob Thomas
Analysis: Health is the key. Mason is back after missing most of last season, Burrell will need to rebound from a disappointing sophomore campaign and Evans has become a solid piece for Norm Roberts.

*Mississippi State

Frontcourt: Jarvis Varnado, Renardo Sidney, John Riek, Romero Osby, Elgin Bailey
Analysis: If Sidney does become eligible and Riek is healthy, this can be one of the most potent frontlines in the nation. Varnado is a force on the defensive end, and Osby and Bailey give the Bulldogs depth inside.
Tagged: Iowa State, Michigan State, Kansas, Youngstown State, Purdue, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, UCF, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Butler, North Carolina, Duke, Florida State, Texas-Pan American, Bradley, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Xavier, Kentucky, Bucknell, Colorado State, Mississippi State, Lehigh, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Syracuse, West Virginia, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgetown, St. John's (NY), Texas, Howard

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