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LONG BEACH, CA – The Long Beach State basketball program did some impressive things during Dan Monson’s first four seasons as the 49ers’ head coach.

*After inheriting a program that was soon to be slapped with NCAA probation and had lost every key player from the 49ers’ final season under Larry Reynolds, Monson’s clubs’ wins totals have gone from six to 15 to 17 to 22.

*The 49ers have advanced to two consecutive Big West Conference Tournament championship games, rolling to the regular-season title last season with a 14-2 record.

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I attended the first-ever Carrier Classic college basketball game between North Carolina and Friday night on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, docked in Coronado, Calif.

For those wishing to read about some of the flavor of the event, click on this hyperlink and read the story I wrote for the Orange County Register Friday night:

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/first-326668-ago-ever.html

Now, on to my thoughts about the game

*Really getting a solid gauge on either the Tar Heels or Spartans, of course, isn’t possible after the opening game of the season.

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 Just in time for today first regular-season games . . . my 2011-12 preseason college All-American team!

Included among the 10 selection are six sophomores, one junior and three seniors.

My preseason choice for Player of the Year is Jared Sullinger of my preseason No. 1 team – Ohio State.

Here we go:

FIRST TEAM

Harrison Barnes (6-8 Sophomore/North Carolina)

Terrence Jones (6-9 Sophomore/Kentucky)

Jared Sullinger (6-9 Sophomore/Ohio State)

Jordan Taylor (6-1 Senior/Wisconsin)

Jeremy Lamb (6-5 Sophomore/Connecticut)

SECOND TEAM

Draymon Green (6-6 Senior/Michigan State)

Tu Holloway (6-0 Senior/Xavier)

John Jenkins (6-3 Junior/Vanderbilt)

Perry Jones III (6-10 Sophomore/Baylor)

Doug McDermott (6-7 Sophomore/Creighton)

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  So here we are.

These are my choices for the top four teams in the 2011-12 college basketball season.

They’re the same four names you’ll see atop most of the preseason ratings you’ve perused although you may not have spied the same No. 1, unless you’ve bought a copy of Lindy’s Preseason Magazine.

  And there is a reason: I made the Top 25 choices for that magazine.

  Compelling arguments could be made – by me – for making any of the following teams No. 1.

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  Three “usual suspects” and a squad that may be primed for a program breakout season make up the next tier of my preseason Top 16 college hoops squads.

So, without further adieu . . .

No. 8 PITTSBURGH

Why: Jamie Dixon’s Panthers lost three starters (accounting for 30 points and 17 points per game) but could still be improved after winning 28 games – 15 in the Big East – and losing that gut-wrenching, third-round NCAA Tournament game with Butler. Dixon has never had a deeper backcourt.

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