Group Rankings: Top Trios

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In addition to a solid inside-outside combo, which many teams have, the thing that sets apart the elite from the also-rans is that third option. Opponents can set up a game plan to shut down the top two players, but it is nearly impossible to contain a solid troika. When teams that have three outstanding players are hitting on all cylinders, they usually don't lose. Here are the top trios heading into the season:

• 1. Duke: Kyrie Irving, Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler
• 2. Purdue: E’Twaun Moore, Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson
• 3. Michigan State: Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, Draymond Green
• 4. Ohio State: William Buford, David Lighty, Jared Sullinger
• 5. Kansas State: Jacob Pullen, Jamar Samuels, Curtis Kelly
• 6. Kentucky: Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, Enes Kanter
• 7. Butler: Shelvin Mack, Ronald Nored, Matt Howard
• 8. Memphis: Joe Jackson, Will Barton, Wesley Witherspoon
• 9. North Carolina: Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Tyler Zeller
• 10. Kansas: Josh Selby, Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus Morris
• 11. Mississippi State: Dee Bost, Ravern Johnson, Renardo Sidney
• 12. Virginia Tech: Malcolm Delaney, Dorenzo Hudson, Jeff Allen
• 13. Georgetown: Chris Wright, Jason Clark, Austin Freeman
• 14. Baylor: LaceDarius Dunn, Quincy Acy, Perry Jones
• 15. Gonzaga: Steven Gray, Elias Harris, Robert Sacre

Others to Watch:

• Texas: Cory Joseph, Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson
• UCLA: Malcolm Lee, Tyler Honeycutt, Reeves Nelson
• Syracuse: Dion Waiters, Kris Joseph, Fab Melo
• North Carolina State: Lorenzo Brown, C.J. Leslie, Tracy Smith
• Illinois: Demetri McCamey, Jereme Richmond, Mike Davis
• Marquette: Vander Blue, Darius Johnson-Odom, Jimmy Butler
• San Diego State: Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas, Billy White
• Pittsburgh: Brad Wanamaker, Ashton Gibbs, Gilbert Brown
• Florida: Kenny Boynton, Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus