There's definitely something to be said for those players being considered as preseason favorites for the Player of the Year award.

And those candidates -- including Tennessee's Tamika Catchings, Connecticut's Svetlana Abrosimova and UCLA's Maylana Martin -- were easy picks on our latest list of preseason favorites -- the top five players around the country per position.

Best point guards

PLAYER	BETH SAYS
Nikki Teasley North Carolina	Court vision and ball handling are unparalleled.
Tamicha Jackson Louisiana Tech	Quickest player in the country.
Brandi McCain Florida	Scores and distributes extremely well in transition.
Helen Darling Penn State	Low center of gravity makes her tough to contain.
Tasha Pointer Rutgers	Spunky and savvy and always driving in high gear.

Best off-guards

PLAYER	BETH SAYS
Semeka Randall Tennessee	The prototype defensive stopper who also scores.
Niesha Butler Georgia Tech	ACC Rookie of the Year led league in scoring.
Erin Buescher UCSB	At 6-3, she can shoot right over defenders.
Katie Douglas Purdue	Key role player last year is first option this year.
Kelly Miller Georgia	Strong and swift with deadly aim.

Best wings

PLAYER	BETH SAYS
Edwina Brown Texas	Impressive summer with USA Basketball.
Svetlana Abrosimova Connecticut	Runs floor well and is terrific in transition.
Lindsey Yamasaki Stanford	Pivotal player in the renaissance of Cardinal program.
Tracy Morris St. Mary's	WCC Player of the Year does a little of everything.
Maylana Martin UCLA	Works inside and outside to lead the Bruins.

Best power forwards

PLAYER	BETH SAYS
Tamika Catchings Tennessee	Player of Year candidate with all the tools.
Conswella Sparrow Auburn	Has a power game that few can match.
Angela Lackey Arizona	Rising star who leads balanced 'Cat attack.
Tere Williams Virginia Tech	Spurred Hokies to incredible heights in 1998-99.
Tammy Sutton-Brown Rutgers	Puts the "power" in power forward.

Best posts

PLAYER	BETH SAYS
Andrea Garner Penn State	Versatile enough to play three spots for the Lions.
Janae Hubbard UCLA	Continues to make great strides in the paint.
Summer Erb NC State	ACC Player of the Year once, maybe twice.
Ruth Riley Notre Dame	6-5 shot-blocker works hard at both ends of floor.
Michelle Snow Tennessee	Blossoming potential ready to be realized.