Each weekday, our college hoops experts discuss the biggest issues, trends and themes in the college basketball world.
1. Which team can we expect to be the most improved group entering the season?
Andy Katz: Maryland. OK, it may sound obvious to choose a potential No. 1, but the Terps added Diamond Stone and Rasheed Sulaimon and are embracing the expectations. The real test will be how Maryland handles the role of being a target.
Eamonn Brennan: If we're measuring from seven months ago, Cal is the obvious answer. But if we're considering where teams were at the start of last season, we should include Vanderbilt. The Golden Bears' recruiting was an immediate offseason fix. The Dores' improvements were incremental, honed across the final six weeks of the 2014-15 season, when a gifted-but-green group of freshmen finally jelled with NBA prospect Damian Jones.
C.L. Brown: The addition of freshmen Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb to the mix of veterans like Tyrone Wallace and Jordan Mathews will make California a favorite to challenge Arizona for the Pac-12 title. The Golden Bears could complete their transformation from ashy to classy going from not making the NCAA tournament last season to becoming a Final Four contender this season.
2. Which returning player will make the biggest strides?
Katz: Denzel Valentine. The Michigan State guard will be counted on to produce quite a bit. So far in the preseason, he has answered the call. He could be in the chase for player of the year by March.
Brennan: Two players of similar vintage come to mind: San Diego State's Malik Pope and Georgetown's Isaac Copeland. Both are sophomores. Both are long, rangy, athletic wings with legitimate handles and perimeter range. Both had mostly quiet freshmen seasons -- that is, except for their brief, crackling flirtations with transcendence. Both are in line for larger roles on their respective rotations in 2015-16; here's hoping both players' skills are on full display.
Brown: North Carolina forward Justin Jackson seemed to figure it all out at the end of last season. He came out of his shell to score double figures in 14 of his final 15 games as a freshman. With J.P. Tokoto gone, that's the version of Jackson who figures to start the season.
3. Which coach has the most to prove early in the season?
Katz: Johnny Jones. LSU has the best player in the country. The Tigers will be expected to challenge for the SEC regular-season title. But losing early will raise some red flags. This is a tremendous opportunity for the coaching staff and program to maximize Ben Simmons' time on campus.
Brennan: Heading into his fifth season -- the last two comprising a 38-28 record and zero NCAA tournament appearances -- Dave Rice is at least creeping up on the limit of UNLV's collective patience. The on-paper talent, namely freshman center Stephen Zimmerman Jr., suggests this is Rice's best team. Then again, Rice has usually recruited well, only to field lukewarm teams. This group will need to find itself fast if it plans to survive nonconference dates with UCLA, Oregon, Wichita State and Arizona.
Brown: Bloomington, Indiana, can be an unbearable bubble when the Hoosiers are struggling, and the tension inside Assembly Hall can be palpable. Tom Crean can stomp out any potential rumbling before it gets a chance to begin. If Indiana comes away from the Maui Invitational with the trophy or pulls off a win against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Crean will have some considerable breathing room for the rest of the season.