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With three Big 12 teams ranked in the preseason top 10, the conference race is guaranteed to be a thriller. Same goes for the SEC, where Vanderbilt threatens to break Tennessee's grip on the league title.
Here's a look at how some of the major conference races are shaping up before the season tips off:
Big 12
|  | | Dales |
The skinny: Last season turned out to be perhaps the best in league history as seven teams earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech each earned No. 2 seeds, and four teams advanced to the Sweet 16. So what can the conference do as an encore? Plenty. This season, the Big 12 is rich in talent and is only getting better. Eight teams return their leading scorer and nine squads return their top rebounder from last season.
It's a conference filled with young and talented players and coaches, but OU, Texas Tech and Iowa State will again be the cream of the crop. The Sooners, who led the conference in points last season (81.9 ppg), will continue to run and gun to their delight. Coach Marsha Sharp has the Lady Raiders sharper than ever, although Texas Tech will miss defensive standout Katrisa O'Neal. Iowa State has one of the best zone defenses in the country, and should again lead the Big 12 in 3-point shooting. Now that Megan Taylor is gone, Lindsey Wilson must direct this very talented team.
Players to watch: Big 12 player of the year Stacey Dales returns for her senior season at OU. Look for Angie Welle, who ranked second in the country with a 65.5 field-goal percentage and averaged 18.3 points and 10 rebounds last season, to establish herself as an All-American candidate for the Cyclones. Plenette Pierson and Jia Perkins form a great inside-outside combination at Texas Tech.
SEC
|  | | Lawson |
The skinny: There's no question that the SEC championship will most likely go to a team in Tennessee this season. However, the title might end up in Nashville, not Knoxville as Vanderbilt threatens to break Tennessee's grip on the SEC title. The Lady Vols have won four straight regular-season crowns, and three of the past four conference tournament titles, and seem as solid as usual.
But Vanderbilt has everybody back from a team that beat Tennessee in the semifinals of last season's conference tournament. The Commodores are loaded with talent and depth, have solid players at every position and play excellent defense. This might be coach Jim Foster's most balanced team, and this season the Commodores can add confidence to the mix. Remember, they had lost their previous 14 games to Tennessee, yet pulled off the upset in the conference semifinals because they had the confidence to know they could win.
If there's another team near the top of the SEC, it should be Florida. Carol Ross and the Lady Gators played superbly in 2000-01 before a disappointing end to the season. Florida's defense also is better than advertised.
Another big storyline in the SEC will be Georgia, which after losing the Miller twins and Deanna Nolan, joins LSU, Arkansas and Alabama as teams needing to establish a new identity.
Players to watch: Tennessee must rely on sharp-shooting senior Kara Lawson and Gwen Jackson on the inside. Ashley Robinson, out with a torn ACL, might return midway through the season. For Vanderbilt, Chantelle Anderson is the obvious choice, as the 6-foot-6 center is a preseason Player of the Year favorite, and the Commodore's 3-point shooters are a threat, as well. Florida returns Brandi McCain, who can light up from the perimeter, while Georgia returns Tawana McDonald and Christi Thomas.
Big Ten
|  | | Wright |
The skinny: Some people are already counting out traditional powers Purdue and Penn State. That's a mistake. Despite graduating the very talented Katie Douglas, the Boilermakers are stacked with experience. After all, Purdue is the defending Big Ten champ and national runner-up, and have Erika Valek back at the point.
Two teams on the rise here are Michigan and Wisconsin. The Wolverines, who return six of their top seven starters, reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and are only getting better. Last season, they set a school-record with five wins over ranked teams. Wisconsin was 18-10 last season, but 12-4 in league play.
Penn State, meanwhile, should never be counted out while Rene Portland is at the helm. The Lady Lions play another tough nonconference schedule, with dates at ODU, Texas and Vanderbilt.
Players to watch: A couple of sophomores are among the league's top players. Penn State's Kelly Mazzante is back after averaging a league-best 19.7 points in conference play during a sensational freshman campaign. Shereka Wright grew up and became a star during the NCAA Tournament, and should have a big second season at Purdue. Wisconsin's Jessie Stomski, a 6-2 senior post, averaged 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. Teammate Tamara Moore is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
ACC
|  | | Beard |
The skinny: Duke is perched at the top after going 30-4 overall last season and wrapping up its third consecutive ACC title with a 13-3 league record. All-American Georgia Schweitzer is a tough act to follow, but sophomore Alana Beard can handle the starring role. The Blue Devils return three starters and another highly regarded recruiting class, but also lost a lot of experience and field just one senior. Big performances from Beard, Sheana Mosch and Iciss Tillis are a must for the Dukies to stay on top.
Big prediction: N.C. State will advance to the ACC title game. To get there, however, the Wolfpack must mature early. Of course, that plays into coach Kay Yow's strength; who's better at teaching a young squad the fundamentals?
As the only team in the league returning all five starters, Maryland also is a team to watch. The Terps went 17-12 last season, and feature a balanced attack and solid defense. Marché Strickland and Deedee Warley keep Maryland solid at both ends of the floor.
Players to watch: In addition to Duke's group of players, N.C. State juniors Carisse Moody and steady junior Ivy Gardner are quality players. Moody was the Wolfpack's leading scorer last season.
Big East
|  | | Bird |
The skinny: Connecticut should rule the conference again as the Huskies return the bulk of their Final Four team. Sue Bird will provide steady leadership and Diana Taurasi is a year wiser and will mature in Geno Auriemma's system. Add in the great inside play of Asjha Jones, Tamika Williams and Swin Cash, and the Huskies have what it takes to win it all -- if they stay injury-free.
After graduating Player of the Year Ruth Riley, star guard Niele Ivey and all-everything Kelley Siemon, Notre Dame is young and will be tested each game. The Irish do get a boost with the league's preseason Rookie of the Year.
Although Rutgers lost a lot of leadership and experience when its top two players from last season graduated, C. Vivian Stringer makes sure the Scarlet Knights are always dangerous. Bulk of responsibilities will rest on Davalyn Cunningham.
Players to watch: UConn's starting five is a good place to start, and don't miss sharp-shooting All-American candidate Alicia Ratay at Notre Dame. Boston College also has a gamer in Becky Gottstein, who should prove to be one of the many starts in the Big East.
Pac-10
|  | | Powell |
The skinny: Stanford's rebuilding process appears to be complete. The Cardinal have a balanced attack with Susan King back at point (after suffering a torn ACL last season), Nicole Powell back in her normal position and Lindsey Yamasaki (12.4 ppg in 2000-01) back for her senior season. Look for Lauren St. Clair (36 percent 3-point shooter) and 6-7 senior post Cori Enghusen to lead the way.
Washington and Arizona State are two programs on the rise out west. The Huskies earned a share of the Pac-10 title and had a magical run to the West Regional final last season after finishing last in the conference race in 1999-2000. June Daugherty has built a tough and talented program, and the future is bright in Seattle.
At Arizona State, coach Charli Turner Thorne and two transfers have the Sun Devils moving in the right direction. With four starters back from a 20-11 team that managed a share of the Pac-10 title, Arizona State is capable of causing a lot of damage.
Players to watch: Stanford's Powell proved to be one of the country's top freshmen last season, and should shine even brighter now that she's back in her usual position. Washington boasts a talented trio in junior Loree Payne and sophomores Andrea Lalum and Guiliana Mendiola.
Nancy Lieberman, a Hall of Famer, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage.
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