The NCAA Championship season is fast approaching, and I wanted to say a few things about the teams before the swimming world is engulfed in conference championships, starting with SECs in just two weeks. John Lohn covered a lot of the big stories headed into these last few months of the NCAA season, so I'm gonna take it straight on: the top teams for both women and men and how the final scoring will pan out in due time.  This first part of my NCAA blog will cover just the women's NCAAs, which takes place March 18-20 in West Lafayette, Indiana.

My top 3:

Georgia: After finishing a close second to California last season, Georgia returns most of its stat power and depth from its tremendous performance in College Station last year.  At the moment, Georgia swimmers are favored (or co-favored) in four out of five freestyle events in the forms of Anne-Marie Botek (50), Allison Schmitt (200 and 500), and Wendy Trott (1,650).  Behind the starpower lies incredible depth, with the versatile Morgan Scroggy and mid-distance freestyler Chelsea Nauta, among others, looking to rack up some key points in the Bulldogs' quest to reclaim the top spot.

Stanford: Fourth last year, the Cardinal is led by a pair of senior Olympians who look to end their NCAA careers on top.  First, there is Julia Smit, the defending NCAA Champion in both IMs and second in the 100 free in College Station, who recently set short course meters world records in both IMs at the Duel in the Pool.  Next is Elaine Breeden, a two-time NCAA champ in the 200 fly, who could sweep both butterflies in 2010.  Like Georgia, Stanford also has some superb depth, with US World Championship team member Kate Dwelley, as well as Sam Woodward (fly/free) and Kelsey Ditto (free).

Texas: Texas has for several years had one of the top recruiting classes in the country, and that is starting to pay off with some serious depth.  They have one superstar, Kathleen Hersey, a US Olympian who was top three in all three of her events last year.  Hersey is one of the favorites for the 200 fly this year, and should score key points in her other events, which may include the 100 fly, 200 IM, and/or 400 IM.  The depth fills in behind Hersey; breaststrokers Spindrift Beck and Laura Sogar, freestyler Karlee Bispo, and versatile swimmers Katie Riefenstahl and Leah Gingrich will attempt to lead the Longhorns to a national title

Challenging for the Top Five:

Arizona: Arizona has lost much of the depth from its NCAA title in 2008 and its third-place finish last year, although the team may have enough firepower to finish top five.  US World Championship team member Alyssa Anderson will be a force in the mid-distance freestyles, as will Annie Chandler in the breaststrokes and seniors Justine Schluntz and Ana Agy.

Auburn: Auburn doesn't have much any superstars in the line-up but it has a bunch of strong swimmers, such as Melissa Marik, Caitlin Geary, Maggie Bird, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, and Ava Ohlgren, who make an outside shot at top five.

California: Cal has lost the major key to its NCAA title last year, who was Dana Vollmer.  They are still a very powerful team, led by Sara Isokovic, the Olympic silver medalist in the 200 free; multi-time US National team member in IMs and breaststrokes Caitlin Leverenz; and defending 100 fly champion Amanda Sims.  They also have great sprinting depth, with Liv Jensen and Hannah Wilson, and they should finish in the top five once again.

Florida: Florida has strong swimmers that could rack up some major points at NCAAs.  Senior Gemma Spofforth looks to make it four-in-a-row in the 200 back and claim her third title in the 100 back, the event in which she is world champion.  Finshing second to her in the 200 back last year was teammate Teresa Crippen, who will look to repeat that in 2010.  Another British Olympian, Jemma Lowe, will be a factor in both fly races, and Stephanie Napier is a strong sprint freestyler.

Southern California: The Trojans have had a strong season thus far and have a strong chance to move up from their ninth-place finish in College Station last year, even with the departure of world record-holder Rebecca Soni.  Their top swimmer is sophomore Katinka Hosszu, the world champion in the 400 IM and bronze medalist from Rome in two more events, who will be a big player in the IM and butterfly races.  They also have U.S. World Championship team member Haley Anderson, who should finish in the top three in the 1,650; backstroker Presley Bard, an Olympic trials finalist; and butterflyers Lyndsay DePaul and Tanya Krisman.

Texas A&M: Another strong Lone Star team is Texas A&M.  The Aggies have three seniors who could make some noise at NCAAs, two of whom are coming off redshirt years.  Alia Atkinson finished second to Rebecca Soni in the 200 breast last year, and she will be one of the favorites in that event in 2010.  Julia Wilkinson will be a strong player in the 200 IM, either the 200 free or 100 back, and the 100 free, where she will be one of the title-favorites.  Kristen Heiss could push for big points in both backstroke events, particularly the 200.