Kansas Jayhawks Power Index: 42.1*

Kansas has the best starting five in the nation, the most powerful fast break and secondary break, and the best inside-outside tandem in the nation in Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich. After seeing the Jayhawks play in Maui last season, I thought Kansas was the best team in the nation, and said so. Kansas' loss to Maryland in the national semifinals did not diminish my level of respect for the 2002 Jayhawks, and in 2003, Kansas can again be the nation's best team. One through five, Kansas is king, but after that, the Jayhawks are suspect. Hinrich is the best shooting guard in America on both ends, and Collison is the most efficient big man in the country. Aaron Miles gives Williams two great point guards to put on the floor at the same time, and has become a fine on-ball defender. Keith Langford, the athletic lefty that can get to the rim almost anytime he wants, has worked on his shot, and Wayne Simien is healthy and will explode as one of the best interior players in the country. Kansas' fast break is the equivalent of USC's "Student Body Right" or Green Bay's legendary "Power Sweep". You may know it's coming, but you can't stop it. The only thing that can stop Kansas is the lack of depth, but that first five might not need much help. -- Jay Bilas

Toughness: 9.1
Kansas showed toughness and grit in going through the Big 12 undefeated last season and then weathering a rather pesky Holy Cross team in the first round of the NCAAs. No doubt, the Jayhawks got tougher last season en route to the Final Four. Kansas teams should no longer be referred to as soft, at least not as long as Collison is in the post. Opposing teams talk about how he can be brutal to defend because he's so strong in the middle. Simien will give the Jayhawks some similar strength. But it's not all about brute strength. Hinrich proved that he's as tough as any other guard by playing through a badly sprained ankle in the tournament. Hinrich is a baller who doesn't want to come out of games. Collison and Hinrich is as tough a pair of Iowans, who just happen to be playing in Kansas, as the game has seen in a long time.

Talent: 8.0
Kansas' talent is good enough to win the title. The Jayhawks have two NBA players and two of the best at their respective positions in Hinrich and Collison. They are both likely lottery picks in June. Aaron Miles is a jet-quick point guard who should be able to set up the pair inside and out. Keith Langford is a developing shooting guard who could replace Boschee's deep 3s. Simien is a load inside and will give Collison another player to bounce off of in the post. Replacing Drew Gooden shouldn't be as much of a chore as it would seem with the development of Simien. But Gooden's departure created a void, and without him, Collison will receive even more attention. And, without Jeff Boschee on the perimeter to knock down shots, Hinrich might find fewer open looks. But it's the reserves where this team figures to struggle, at least early. Jeff Graves is out of shape while Bryant Nash, Michael Lee, Jeff Hawkins and Moulaye Niang are serious drops in talent from the starting five. Depth is a question in November. But, check back in March, when it matters most.

Tourney Tested: 9.4
Kansas was tested last season in the NCAA Tournament, considering how the Jayhawks got a scare from Holy Cross, routed Stanford, outlasted Illinois and outran Oregon to get to the Final Four. This year's starting five bring back the experience for this season's sprint to New Orleans. Few teams have five players back who played and contributed as much to a Final Four run. Like Oklahoma, Kansas knows what it takes to get to the Final Four and shouldn't be in awe when they return in April. It worked for Michigan State and Maryland. It should work for Kansas.

Schedule: 9.4
Don't ever say Williams ducks any team. Kansas has the toughest schedule in the country. No question about it. Just look at this: the Preseason NIT, which could include Xavier or Stanford and likely Florida; at Oregon, at Tulsa, UCLA, Cal, Wyoming, Arizona and, of course, the Big 12 schedule with a road game at Oklahoma. The one game against Texas is at least at home. (How's that for a breather?) Kansas may not pile up as many wins as other title contenders, but will be tougher for going through this schedule. December sees Kansas travel to Oregon and Tulsa in four days -- probably the toughest pair of games any team will play in a week this season. Granted the Midwest Regional final rematch is at the Rose Garden instead of Mac Court, but it's still in the Northwest, not the Midwest.

Xs & Os: 6.2
Williams' running game is one of the toughest to stop in the country. He gets the most out of his players and knows how to maximize the talent of his best players. If Hinrich and Collison are on, they get the ball early and often in the offense. The same is true of Simien, Langford or Miles. Williams has been able to get his players to adjust and not complain about minutes. He won't have that problem this season with the five starters commanding the most minutes. If he can develop enough of a bench to get him through some tough spots like foul problems then he could finally bring back a national championship to Lawrence.

-- Andy Katz

ESPN.com's Power Index is based on a 10-point scale in each of these five categories: Toughness, Talent, Schedule Strength, Tournament Tested, Xs & Os. Teams are scored based on returning players, coaching staffs, a program's past performances in the regular season and postseason, as well as expectations heading into the 2002-03 season.