Billy PACCker is finally gone from television, but this is not going to be a good season for those who love to hate the Atlantic Coast Conference. Try as one might, there’s no way to find a single reason not to pick North Carolina No. 1. In fact, some might believe the NCAA could save a lot of time and just mail the national championship trophy to the Tar Heels.

And not only will they meet Duke twice in the regular season, they probably will play in the ACC Tournament final and could meet a final time in the NCAA Final Four. Of course, between now and the time the teams arrive in Detroit, there will be some of the greatest, most entertaining games of the season.

Like the Arkansas Razorbacks, who are too young to be considered top 20 material, this is going to be a fun season to watch.

Here’s one opinion of a final top 20, which could have included Kentucky but the Wildcats opened the season by losing to Virginia Military Institute. That’s not a good thing. 1. NORTH CAROLINA Too talented and too deep not to win, maybe every game. Florida was the last team to be this loaded, and the Gators won back-to-back championships. 2. DUKE A Tyler Hansbrough away from being the big dog in this fight. 3. CONNECTICUT Excellent insideoutside scoring from Hasheem Thabeet and A. J. Price, and the Huskies defense will be outstanding. 4. TEXAS Rick Barnes returns four starters from a 31-7 team and gets injured Dogus Balbay, who sat out last season, back. 5. LOUISVILLE Very solid at every spot but point guard, but Rick Pitino finds ways to overcome weaknesses. 6. UCLA Lost a lot from last year, but three return who have Final Four experience, plus a very talented freshman class. 7. GONZAGA The West Coast Conference has improved, and so have the Zags. 8. PITTSBURGH No team plays with more intensity, and if DeJuan Blair improves, the Panthers will be a March Madness force. 9. MEMPHIS The Tigers lost a lot, but not everything from their national championship runnerup team. 10. NOTRE DAME Well-coached, talented and will be tournament tough by surviving the muchimproved Big East. 11. PURDUE Unselfish, hardplaying bunch that is fearless. The Boilermakers need Robbie Hummel to have a breakout year. 12. FLORIDA The best of the SEC and freshman-sophomore oriented. This season is building for the future. 13. SOUTHERN CAL Some see losing O. J. Mayo as addition by subtraction. 14. MIAMI Would fit into the old Big East when it was so physical it was known as the beast. This team is hard to move around on the floor. 15. WAKE FOREST Yes, another ACC team, and if freshmen mature, the Demon Deacons will be a strong fourth in their conference. 16. ARIZONA STATE James Harden’s return will give Herb Sendek what he needs to be successful this season. 17. DAVIDSON No doubt this team and Stephen Curry will be targets for every opponent, but if he improves off his NCAA Tournament experience, he could challenge Hansbrough for Player of the Year honors. 18. TENNESSEE Bruce Pearl lost a lot of talent, mostly by his choice, but one thing the SEC and the nation have learned is never count him out. 19. OKLAHOMA Like Texas, will help the young Hogs get ready for the SEC battles. Basketball has become a a staple in what was once known as football country. Blake Griffin is the name to remember for the Sooners. 20. SAINT MARY’S The Gaels will get a ton of publicity if Australian Patrick Mills plays up to half his hype, and they will give the Zags a run for the title.