CBSSports.com senior writer Gary Parrish previews and ranks the top conferences heading into the 2008-09 season.
| 2008-09 Season Preview/Conference Countdown Schedule | |||
| Date | Feature | Date | Feature |
| Monday, Oct. 20 | Preseason Top 25 (and one) | Thursday, Oct. 30 | Ranking the best of the non-BCS |
| Tuesday, Oct. 21 | Preseason All-America Team | Friday, Oct. 31 | No. 6: Big Ten |
| Wednesday, Oct. 22 | Player rankings: Points/combos | Monday, Nov. 3 | No. 5: Pac-10 |
| Thursday, Oct. 23 | Player rankings: Wings | Tuesday, Nov. 4 | No. 4: Big 12 |
| Friday, Oct. 24 | Player rankings: Big men | Wednesday, Nov. 5 | No. 3: SEC |
| Monday, Oct. 27 | Impact Freshmen | Thursday, Nov. 6 | No. 2: ACC |
| Tuesday, Oct. 28 | Coaches on the hot seat | Friday, Nov. 7 | No. 1: Big East |
| Wednesday, Oct. 29 | Games to watch | Monday, Nov. 10 | Preseason tourney projections |
Click conference name to view CBSSports.com conference preview/primer.
| Conference-by-conference rundown | |||
| Conference | Tournament site | Dates | Etc. |
| ACC | Atlanta | March 12-15 | Video | Blog | Message board |
| America East | Albany, N.Y. | March 6-8, 14 | Message board |
| Atlantic Sun | Nashville, Tenn. | March 4-7 | Message board |
| Atlantic 10 | Atlantic City, N.J. | March 11-14 | Blog | Message board |
| Big East | New York | March 10-14 | Video | Blog | Message board |
| Big Sky | TBD | March 7, 10-11 | Message board |
| Big South | Campus sites (higher seeds) | March 3, 5, 7 | Message board |
| Big Ten | Indianapolis | March 12-15 | Video | Blog | Message board |
| Big 12 | Oklahoma City | March 11-14 | Video | Blog | Message board |
| Big West | Anaheim, Calif. | March 11-14 | Message board |
| Colonial | Richmond, Va. | March 6-9 | Message board |
| Conference USA | Memphis, Tenn. | March 11-14 | Blog | Message board |
| Horizon | Campus sites (higher seeds) | March 4, 6-7, 10 | Blog | Message board |
| Ivy League | No Tournament | Message board | |
| MAAC | Albany, N.Y. | March 6-9 | Message board |
| MAC | Cleveland | March 10-14 | Message board |
| MEAC | Winston-Salem, N.C. | March 9-14 | Message board |
| Missouri Valley | St. Louis | March 5-8 | Blog | Message board |
| Mountain West | Las Vegas | March 11-14 | Message board |
| Northeast | Campus sites (higher seeds) | March 5, 8, 11 | Message board |
| Ohio Valley | Nashville, Tenn. | March 3, 6-7 | Message board |
| Pac-10 | Los Angeles | March 11-14 | Video | Blog | Message board |
| Patriot | Campus sites (higher seeds) | March 4, 8, 13 | Message board |
| SEC | Tampa, Fla. | March 12-15 | Video | Blog | Message board |
| Southern | Chattanooga, Tenn. | March 6-9 | Message board |
| Southland | Katy, Texas | March 12-15 | Message board |
| Summit | Sioux Falls, S.D. | March 7-10 | Message board |
| Sun Belt | Hot Springs, Ark. | March 4, 7-10 | Message board |
| SWAC | Birmingham, Ala. | March 11-14 | Message board |
| WAC | Reno, Nev. | March 10-14 | Message board |
| West Coast | Las Vegas | March 6-9 | Blog | Message board |
