How much does the big guy help?

Przemek Karnowski is a 7-foot-1, 305-pound load. He should provide more offense than the graduated Robert Sacre, but defense is the question mark.

Does Gary Bell take over?

During a mostly successful freshman season, Bell occasionally deferred to others; he took one three-pointer in 75 minutes of the WCC tournament. He's talented enough to be selfish, in a good way.

Is the overall toughness there?

Against the elite teams, it takes a rugged approach inside. The Zags have to prove they can play that way.

Who's the leader?

It's probably going to be a shared proposition, between Kevin Pangos, Elias Harris and Kelly Olynyk.

Where does Sam Dower fit in?

Dower was named to the preseason All-WCC team — even though he might not start. He's a gifted scorer who could become a premier player if his defense improves.

Bud Withers