ESPN.com Preseason Power Rankings - College Basketball
6. North Carolina State
It's been quite a while since expectations have been so high for the Wolfpack -- and since the team has also had the talent to back it up. Forward C.J. Leslie's decision to come back for his junior season means NC State returns four starters (Lorenzo Brown, Scott Wood and Richard Howell are the others) from a team that won 24 games before losing to Kansas in the Sweet 16. Potential stumbling blocks include too much hype (will it get to their heads?) and too few post players (DeShawn Painter transferred, meaning Howell and Leslie must stay out of foul trouble). But add in three McDonald's All-Americans, led by ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year Rodney Purvis, and Mark Gottfried's team should build off last season's run in a big way. -- Robbi Pickeral
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