The issue of parity in college basketball makes for some exciting games to watch across the country. It gives us a chance for the underdog in all of us to live out a fantasy, whether as a fan or a player. It gives us a chance to celebrate why we love college sports so much.

While our favorite elite teams might have a bevy of great players, many don't have that one player that can take over the game no matter what the situation. That player usually enters the NBA draft early before he could become a senior leader. It is difficult to anoint any team in the country with a No. 1 ranking, let alone a stable spot in any Top 25 poll.

"It's incredible to see how wide open the college landscape is. Already 15 teams that were ranked in the ESPN/USA Today preseason coaches poll have lost," said ESPN's Dick Vitale.

During the next month, hopefully the dust will settle on a season that has already been filled with great upsets. Here are some teams, games and players that you should keep an eye on over the next month:

1. Georgia Tech: The No. 10 Yellowjackets have quietly climbed the polls over the last month by blowing out UConn, Ohio State and Texas Tech by an average of 19 points. Their backcourt, led by Jarrett Jack and B.J. Elder, is just starting to get some national publicity. They will face a test when they travel to No. 8 North Carolina on Jan. 11. They also have to play at No. 12 Wake Forest on Jan. 20 as well.

2. Illinois: The Illini have a couple of interesting games coming up. The Braggin' Rights game against No. 3 Missouri is always a classic. Without Deron Williams running the show, Luther Head and Richard McBride will have to pick up the slack. Also, in-state rival UIC will battle the Illini at the United Center in Chicago. This game could end up being more of an away game than the Illini may think, especially with one of the better backcourts in the nation you haven't heard of: Cedrick Banks and Martell Bailey.

3. Stanford: This is a team that I love because while they are not flashy, they play smart basketball, don't turn the ball over, and are fundamentally sound. Saturday they play host to No. 18 Gonzaga. Zags forward Ronny Turiaf is just starting to play like an All-American, while former New Trier High School star Matt Lottich has been shooting lights out lately for Stanford. Stanford also has a brutal stretch from Jan. 8-10 that could decide the Pac-10 title. They travel to Arizona State on Jan. 8 and then travel to Tucson to take on No. 9 Arizona on Jan. 10.

4. Wake Forest: The No. 12 Demon Deacons are the team in the Atlantic Coast Conference that no one is really talking about, but also the team that no one wants to play either. Freshman guard Chris Paul has already blossomed into a great leader, while almost six players are scoring in double figures. Sophomore center Eric Williams leads the way averaging 16 points and five rebounds per game. Saturday, Wake will travel to Chapel Hill to take on No. 8 North Carolina. Then, in a matter of a week, they must travel to No. 5 Duke, No. 6 Texas, and host No. 10 Georgia Tech from Jan. 13-20.

Freshmen who could make an impact during the next month include Minnesota forward Kris Humphries. The former Duke recruit is not only making a strong case for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, but also for being an All-American. He is averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds per game, and shooting 56.3 percent from the field.

Forward Leon Powe, while a high school All-American, has gone under the radar on the West coast at Cal. He's averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game. Also, standout Texas freshman P.J. Tucker was the only player who seemed to show up against Arizona in the Jimmy V Classic.

After one month, we should know who are the contenders and pretenders.

Ashley A. John is a senior in Materials Science and Engineering. He can be reached at sports@dailyillini.com.