Once the college basketball season begins on Nov. 8, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks. StatFox Gary had an outstanding 56.1% ATS Best Bets success rate during the 2012-13 season, while StatFox Dave was also profitable at 53% ATS Best Bets.

NOTABLE NON-MAJOR CONFERENCE 2013-14 PREVIEW

1. Louisville
2. Memphis
3. VCU
4. Gonzaga
5. Wichita State
6. Marquette
7. UConn
8. New Mexico
9. Creighton
10. Georgetown

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
2012-13 SU Record: 88% (35-5)
2012-13 ATS Record: 60% (24-16)
2012-13 Over (Total): 59% (17-12)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 7/1

Louisville and Rick Pitino will try to repeat as national champions this year, even if the team lost some key talent from last year’s title-winning squad. The two big missing pieces to replace are PG Peyton Siva, who dictated the pace of the team’s up-tempo sets on both ends, and C Gorgui Dieng. But last year’s leading scorer came back for his senior season as SG Russ Smith (18.7 PPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 SPG) prepares for another run. Smith may miss having Siva to dish him the ball, but his strong defensive capabilities should soften the blow of Siva’s departure. Junior college transfer PG Chris Jones will replace Siva as the team’s point guard, and he may not be able to put up the same numbers as Siva, but Jones will be better than having to slot a freshman in. Also back is SF Luke Hancock (8.1 PPG, 40% 3-pt FG), who was inconsistent all year but was the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player with back-to-back 20-point efforts against Wichita State and Michigan. Replacing Dieng will be C/F Montrezl Harrell (5.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG) who is just 6-foot-8, but has the requisite energy and physical strength to be a dominant player on the block, putting up tremendous numbers given his 16.2 MPG. Further bolstering the squad, Pitino added two solid recruits in SG Anton Gill and PF Akoy Agau, who should both play some key minutes off the bench. Agau will be especially important until Chane Behanan (9.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG) returns from his suspension.

MEMPHIS TIGERS
2012-13 SU Record: 86% (31-5)
2012-13 ATS Record: 49% (16-17)
2012-13 Over (Total): 67% (14-7)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 70/1

Josh Pastner has proven to be one of the most tireless recruiters in college basketball, and now he must get his team to live up to its talent and hype. This team’s biggest strength is in the post, where the team has two premier talents that may eventually be playing in the NBA. The first of those is sophomore PF Shaq Goodwin (7.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG), who showed some great things in just 20.7 MPG last season. He had 1.1 BPG and 1.1 SPG as well, though he must curb his 3.2 fouls per game in order to become a more effective full-time player. Goodwin will be paired with highly-regarded recruit SF Austin Nichols, a 6-foot-8 freshman with an athletic frame that can run the floor well. Running the show yet again will be PG Joe Jackson (13.6 PPG, 4.8 APG), who was the team’s leading scorer and distributor last season. He was incredibly efficient on the offensive end, making 52% FG and 45% three-pointers, while adding 1.7 SPG on the other side of the ball. Two double-digit scorers are also returning in SGs Chris Crawford and Geron Johnson. This team also has a lot of depth with a number of other top freshmen joining the fold. F/G Kuran Iverson (suspended for the first game of the season), SF Nick King, C Dominic Woodson and PG Rashawn "Pookie" Powell are all top-100 recruits and should see some time on the floor. Woodson in particular may be key with the transfer of C Tarik Black to Kansas.

VCU RAMS
2012-13 SU Record: 75% (27-9)
2012-13 ATS Record: 38% (11-18)
2012-13 Over (Total): 48% (10-11)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 55/1

It’s unfair to label Shaka Smart’s Rams a surprise anymore after they have been so consistently good the past few years and now are ranked for the first time ever in the preseason AP Poll. Smart’s “Havoc” system will sincerely miss departed PG Darius Theus this season, as well as sharpshooter Troy Daniels, but this team still has the talent to be one of the best in the country. F/G Treveon Graham (15.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 37% 3-pt FG) is back for his junior year and at 6-foot-6, he presents dangerous size at the wing. Second-leading scorer SF Juvonte Reddic (14.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG) returns for his senior year and he is this team’s most reliable post threat, standing at 6-foot-9 and making 57% FG last year. The question for Smart will be how much production he gets out of his backcourt. SG Rob Brandenberg (10.4 PPG, 35% 3-pt FG) will be counted on for more scoring than last season while PG Briante Weber (5.4 PPG, 2.7 APG) will likely assume the starting point guard role. Weber is a fantastic defender, averaging 2.7 SPG in 20.9 MPG last year, though he must improve as a shooter, making only 22.5% of his three-pointers last season.

GONZAGA BULLDOGS
2012-13 SU Record: 91% (32-3)
2012-13 ATS Record: 55% (17-14-2)
2012-13 Over (Total): 29% (6-15)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 85/1

Gonzaga was extremely successful during the last regular season but ultimately fell in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 to super sleeper Wichita State. Gone is the dominant inside duo of Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris to the NBA who combined for 32.4 PPG and 14.7 RPG last season, but head coach Mark Few still should have no problem winning the WCC again. The first player to watch out for this season will be the 7-foot-1 C Przemek Karnowski (5.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 57% FG), who played inconsistent minutes last year as a freshman, but was a highly regarded recruit. The Poland-born center will be tasked with a lot more playing time on the block than his meager 10.7 MPG last season. Joining him down low will be PF Sam Dower (6.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 56% FG), who is more experienced as a senior, but lacks the same upside as Karnowski. The backcourt will be filled with more familiar faces in PG Kevin Pangos (11.9 PPG, 3.3 APG) and SG Gary Bell Jr. (9.0 PPG, 39% 3-pt FG), who should both see increases in their production this season. Spelling Pangos will be savvy backup PG David Stockton (3.7 PPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 SPG), who isn’t much of a scorer but can pass and defend quite well, kind of like his Hall of Fame father John Stockton. Also key to this year’s perimeter play will be SG Gerard Coleman, who sat out last season after transferring from Providence, where he averaged 13.2 PPG in the 2011-12 season.

WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS
2012-13 SU Record: 77% (30-9)
2012-13 ATS Record: 62% (21-13-2)
2012-13 Over (Total): 60% (9-6)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 125/1

Wichita State lived up to its nickname last season, shocking the college basketball world with a run to the Final Four where it almost knocked off eventual champion Louisville in a 72-68 defeat. The most important player for this team will be PF Cleanthony Early (13.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG), who made his name well known in the NCAA Tournament, including a 24-point, 10-rebound effort against the Cardinals. While his three-point shooting must become more consistent (31.8%), he is a dangerous threat wherever he gets the ball. The team’s next two leading scorers from last season—Carl Hall and Malcolm Armstead—are gone, leaving Early as the only double-figure scorer remaining. PG Fred VanVleet (4.3 PPG, 2.3 APG, 41% 3-pt FG) will replace Armstead at the point, and has the capabilities to do an excellent job as a former top recruit. Also on the wing, SG Tekele Cotton (6.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG) will play important minutes and be a key cog for this defense. As will SF Ron Baker (8.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 36% 3-pt FG), who missed more than half of last season with a foot injury before returning for their late run. It may take some adjusting, but this team has the capability to stay ranked all season, and get through the first weekend in the NCAA Tournament.

MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES
2012-13 SU Record: 74% (26-9)
2012-13 ATS Record: 48% (15-16)
2012-13 Over (Total): 63% (15-9)
Returning Starters: 1
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 125/1

At this point, expectations would be high for any Buzz Williams-coached team, and that’s evidenced by its high expectations in the Big East this year, even after the Golden Eagles lost most of their starters and a ton of production. Most of that was from Vander Blue, who took the team to the Elite Eight before they were stifled by Syracuse's 2-3 zone. PF Davante Gardner (11.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 59% FG) is the team’s best returner, and at 6-foot-8 and 290 pounds, he draws a ton of fouls, going to the charity stripe five times per game last season, where he connected on 84% of his free attempts. SF Jamil Wilson (9.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 36% 3-pt FG) and C Chris Otule (5.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG in 17.7 MPG) will join Gardner down low. The big questions for this team, though, will be in the backcourt to find a replacement for Blue. Much of that onus should fall on SG Todd Mayo (5.3 PPG), who saw fewer minutes (14.1 MPG) as a sophomore than he did as a freshman but will be counted on big time in this campaign. PG Derrick Wilson (1.1 PPG, 27% FG, 1.6 APG) may also wind up a starter, though expect him and Mayo to be challenged by freshman guards JaJuan Johnson and Duane Wilson, who are both top recruits. The same goes for freshman F/G Deonte Burton, who could give this team a lift on the wing.

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
2012-13 SU Record: 67% (20-10)
2012-13 ATS Record: 54% (13-11-2)
2012-13 Over (Total): 47% (8-9)
Returning Starters: 5
Odds to win 2014 NCAA Championship: 65/1

Now postseason eligible once again, UConn will look to threaten in the new American Athletic Conference and return to being a college basketball powerhouse. That will happen if their backcourt lives up to expectations because few in the nation can match the potential of PG Shabazz Napier (17.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 40% 3-pt FG) and SG Ryan Boatright (15.4 PPG, 4.4 APG), both of whom are deft scorers and passers. Napier in particular has an uncanny ability to break down defenses, while both are solid defenders, averaging a combined 3.5 SPG. The team’s other two double-digit scorers are back as well with PF DeAndre Daniels (12.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG) and F/G Omar Calhoun (11.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG). Daniels broke out at the end of last season but must pick it up on the boards, leading the team last season with fewer than six per game. He’ll start in the frontcourt with C/F Tyler Olander (4.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG), who head coach Kevin Ollie has high hopes for in his senior season. Prized recruit PF Kentan Facey could be an important body for the Huskies down low, potentially earning early playing time if the frontcourt’s production weighs down Napier and Boatright.

NEW MEXICO LOBOS
2012-13 SU Record: 83% (29-6)
2012-13 ATS Record: 59% (19-13-2)
2012-13 Over (Total): 35% (7-13)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2013 NCAA Championship: 125/1

New Mexico had a fantastic regular season in 2012-13, but went one and done in the NCAA Tournament, falling to the brainiacs from Harvard. But this team returns four starters, including leading scorer PG Kendall Williams (13.3 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.5 RPG). He is also the team’s top distributor, giving the team an important veteran presence handling the rock. Also playing on the perimeter alongside Williams will be SG Hugh Greenwood (7.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 36% 3-pt FG), who led the team in steals last season with 1.5 SPG, and JUCO transfer SG Deshawn Delaney. Their production will have to replace the departed Tony Snell, the team’s No. 2 scorer from a season ago. PG recruit Cullen Neal may be more of a project, but he’s quite talented and should provide important depth. Down low, the tandem of PF Cameron Bairstow (9.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG) and C Alex Kirk (12.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG) are back. Kirk broke out last season, playing 29.1 MPG and blocking 1.8 shots per game, and his 7-foot frame should allow him to be one of the premier big men in the Mountain West.

CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS
2012-13 SU Record: 78% (28-8)
2012-13 ATS Record: 56% (18-14-2)
2012-13 Over (Total): 46% (5-6)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2013 NCAA Championship: 125/1

Four starters are back from last season's Creighton team that lost to Duke in the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 32, but the biggest returner is preseason All-American PF Doug McDermott. One of the best players in the nation, he was the team’s only double-digit scorer last season with 23.2 PPG, also pacing the team with 7.7 RPG. He made 55% of his field goals and 49% of his attempts from deep, so he was a big reason why this Bluejays squad led the nation in shooting at 51% FG. The only big loss from last season is center Gregory Echenique, and he’ll be replaced by 6-foot-11 C Will Artino (3.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 65% FG), who showed talent in his limited 7.9 MPG last season. The entire perimeter of F/G Grant Gibbs (8.5 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.1 RPG, 53% FG, 40% 3-pt FG), PG Austin Chatman (7.4 PPG, 4.2 APG, 42% 3-pt FG) and SG Jahenns Manigat (5.9 PPG, 36% 3-pt FG) are also back, giving this team quality distributors on the wing who should get better over time. Gibbs and Chatman are both great passers and benefit from McDermott’s ability to score from anywhere.

GEORGETOWN HOYAS
2012-13 SU Record: 78% (25-7)
2012-13 ATS Record: 59% (16-11-1)
2012-13 Over (Total): 35% (7-13)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2013 NCAA Championship: 85/1

Four of last season's starters are back, but the most important one is gone as Otto Porter Jr. was selected No. 3 overall in this year’s NBA Draft. Still, the returning crew should allow the Hoyas to be dangerous after a season in which they were quite good before being upset in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64 from the big dunkers at Florida Gulf Coast. In addition to the loss of Porter, third leading scorer PF Greg Whittington (12.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG) could miss the entire season with a knee injury he suffered in June. The rest of the starting lineup should be the same, with PG Markel Starks (12.8 PPG, 3.0 APG, 42% 3-pt FG) once again leading the backcourt. He’s a great shooter, making 41.7% of his 3-pointers a year ago. Last year’s starters on the perimeter, SG D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (8.9 PPG) and F/G Jabril Trawick (5.8 PPG) may benefit in production with Porter gone and more touches available. SF Mikael Hopkins (5.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG) will likely remain in the starting five, but he must improve as a rebounder to keep that spot, using all of his 6-foot-9 frame. He’ll be challenged by the team’s top recruit, SF Reggie Cameron, who can play insider or outside, but the main force down low this season could be transfer 6-foot-10 C Joshua Smith, who is immensely talented in the low post, but was plagued by foul trouble and weight issues in his time at UCLA.

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