There will be new story lines in college basketball, but a similar ending

Nobody predicted the number of headlines Butler would make a season ago. Nobody knew the abundance of articles analyzing how North Carolina would tank. Northern Iowa wasn’t on anyone’s radar.

Predictions are easy to make in the preseason and hard to justify in the postseason, but the 2010-11 NCAA basketball season promises some interesting story lines.

The season has tipped off this week, the start of a long journey to Houston for four teams.

Here is a glimpse at some of what we can expect this season:

Duke, the sequel

Duke was the favored but unpopular pick in last season’s NCAA championship game against Butler. This season, the Blue Devils probably will be the unlikeable villains again when they go up against Michigan State for the crown, considering the Spartans have been unsuccessful in the last two Final Fours.

But Duke will just shrug, go about its business, and win another title.

The Blue Devils have everything it takes to win a championship: size, defense, shooting, leadership and experience.

Forward Kyle Singler’s decision to return for a senior season and the addition of freshman point guard Kyrie Irving makes them a complete team — one that’s poised to win a second straight NCAA tournament.

The Final Four

Duke, Michigan State, Kansas State, Pittsburgh.

The Blue Devils have every necessary component, and Michigan State is hungrier than any team to win a championship.

Kansas State is coming off the winningest season in school history, and guard Jacob Pullen hasn’t shaved his beard so success is a given. Pittsburgh lacks a household name, but almost all of its roster is back from a 25-win season.

If injuries hit one of these teams, Ohio State will book a trip to Houston.

Freshmen forces

North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes is a preseason All-American who is one of the most talented wing players the Tar Heels have had in years.

Two other newcomers will be powerful in the post: Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger could be a double-double machine. Syracuse’s 7-footer, Fab Melo, will be a near-impossible matchup in the Big East Conference.

At Kentucky, Brandon Knight won’t be a John Wall replica but he will have the ball in his hands a lot. Irving will step in for Jon Scheyer at Duke.

If Kentucky center Enes Kanter and Kansas guard Josh Selby become eligible, they will be immediate impact players.

A first for Northwestern

After back-to-back NIT appearances, Northwestern appears ready for its first appearance in the NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats lost Kevin Coble but still have an experienced roster led by senior guard Michael Thompson. Thompson (14.2 points per game), forward John Shurna (18.2 ppg) and guard/forward Drew Crawford (10 ppg) are go-to players.

The Big Ten isn’t an easy conference, but the Wildcats finally are in their opponents’ league this season.

Bluebloods comeback

Look for bounce-back seasons from perennial powers North Carolina, UCLA and Arizona, which all struggled through unfamiliar territory last season.

The Tar Heels went from national champions to NIT duds. But even with key departures, North Carolina will make last season an aberration. Guard Larry Drew II, sophomore John Henson and junior Tyler Zeller bring experience, but hope hinges on Barnes.

UCLA suffered through injuries and in-fighting and fell to a rare losing season. Now a young but more mature team should take the Bruins back to the tournament. They bring back forward Tyler Honeycutt and guard Malcolm Lee, but without a lot of depth they can’t afford injuries.

Arizona missed the tournament for the first time in 26 years, but sophomore forward Derrick Williams may be the best player in the Pacific 10 Conference and can help second-year Coach Sean Miller start a new trend of NCAA tournaments.

The new Northern Iowa

While San Diego State isn’t an unheard-of considering the Aztecs are ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press preseason poll, expectations are usually capped for the team.

They haven’t won an NCAA tournament game, but that history is about to change. All five starters return from a team that nearly knocked off Tennessee in the first round last season.

Sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard is the highlight of a powerful frontcourt.

68 is great

Basketball fans are grateful the postseason did not turn into a mega-NCAA tournament field of 96 as was considered.

The four “first-four” games will take some getting used to, but it will make the “bubble” talk all the more interesting. Two games pair the four lowest-ranked teams in the field and two other games feature the last four at-large teams.

sports@latimes.com