Friday marks seven months to the day since Kansas pulled off its stunning comeback over UNC in the men’s college basketball national title game. And, at the start of this upcoming week, college hoops — and some of its most celebrated stars — are back. Today, The Athletic’s Eamonn Brennan gives us a crash course on the upcoming season, including the landscape for Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, and UNC’s Armando Bacot, as all three chose to return to school for another year. Plus, the credentials of some of the top contenders, the biggest potential surprise of the upcoming year, and a looming threat to the game’s most prized possession — the NCAA Tournament.

Follow Eamonn Brennan’s coverage of college basketball: https://theathletic.com/author/eamonn-brennan/

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