Opening tip '09-10: No. 4 Toronto Varsity Blues

• Top 100 returnees: G Nick Magalas (46th), G Rob Paris (48th), F Drazen Glisic (72nd)
  
• Other key returnees: G Anthony Degiorgio, PF Nick Snow, SF Patrick Sewell, C-F Andrew Wasik
  
• Newcomers: G Dakota Laurin
  
• Coach: Mike Katz (fifth season)
  
• Offence and defence: 101, 89 (+12)
• Last year's results: 19-11 overall, lost 96-81 to Ottawa in OUA East semifinal, 10th in RPI
  
• Looking ahead: The Blues have been the best team to not play in the CIS Final 8 over the past three seasons, having lost back-to-back-to-back OUA East semifinals to Ottawa. The positions in the pecking order might have flip-flopped finally (although people said that two seasons ago when Ottawa was picked for fourth in the division and ended up eliminating U of T when it had risen to No. 5 in the country, if memory serves).
  
  Toronto has that element of veteran players who execute very well together. Magalas and Paris are the East's most seasoned, stable backcourt (by far). The 6-foot-8 Snow and 6-6 Sewell were each top-150 players last season, so they're hardly slouches in the frontcourt, while Glisic is apparently a very underrated player according to Pettapiece's calculations (he did draft him in the 8th round, after all). U of T isn't the quickest team around, but it's typically very disciplined. They'll be in the hunt for a first-round bye in the OUA East. They have a chance to make a run at the Final 8 this season since there is potential for the division to have two teams there, so no time like the present.

Rob's explanation of Top 100 players by Player Efficiency Ratings (see last year's PER) and Net Efficiency may be found in the women's preview.