It is that time of year again, the time when preseason polls are released and campuses around America are being dominated by college basketball fans.

Perhaps the most exciting part about the start of college basketball season is midnight madness. Midnight madness is a spectacle on college campuses across America and most importantly midnight madness marks the beginning of college basketball.

This past weekend programs such as Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, Florida and the defending national champs UCONN Huskies got their seasons underway with their own twists on midnight madness. Schools such as Duke, Michigan State and Villanova will be kicking off their seasons with midnight madness this upcoming weekend on their respective campuses.

The USA Today coach’s poll was released just over a week ago we were giving us an early look into those who are set to contend for a national title come March.

The preseason number one, without surprise was the Kentucky Wildcats; Arizona, Duke, Wisconsin and Kansas round out the top five. Two out of those five teams faced off in last year’s Final Four when Kentucky met Wisconsin.

As it does every year, the preseason poll sets expectations for each team in the top 25 and how good of a season they will be expected to have.

Each team will have an early test which will lie within their non-conference schedule and midseason tournaments. Whether it is the Maui Invitational, Battle for Atlantis or the Legends Classic those teams will be tested early on before entering conference play.

As it is every year, college basketball will be, unpredictable and full of surprises. It will be interesting to see what teams are legitimate contenders and what teams are the ‘pretenders.’