But how do you account for a Lamar Odom or a Ron Artest, a guy who will post up and trade blows with big men down low but who also handles and dishes the rock? And what about those rapid-fire shooters who don't exactly run the offense but are forced into playing the point because they're too small to defend opposing two-guards?

The best playmakers will make any pass (entry, outlet, downcourt, etc.), take care of the ball and give you some scoring, and they won't hurt you with their outside shot. On defense, they don't let their man penetrate the lane, and they get their hands on the ball to create turnovers.

1. Ed Cota, North Carolina
No one in college basketball is better at putting his teammates -- and himself -- in the best position to score. And Cota (10.5 ppg, 7.4 apg last season) regularly does both against elite competition in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Though his free throw shooting (.676) could use some work, he is the most complete point guard in the country. If his numbers don't confirm it, then his leading a bunch of kids (nine freshmen and sophomores, three of them starters) to a 24-10 overall record last season should.

2. Scoonie Penn, Ohio State
By nature, Penn is more of a scorer than a true point guard, but he's one of those rare playmakers who can switch gears on the fly and play whichever role is needed at any given moment. Penn's numbers sparkle (16.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.9 spg), but his value to the team can't be measured in statistics. Without him, the Buckeyes were an 8-22 also-ran in '97-98. Virtually the same team, plus Penn, went 27-9 and reached the Final Four last season.

3. Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State
Cleaves is a strong, gritty defender and may be the best set-up man in the country. It's a shame he couldn't hit a jump shot to save his life (.406 on field goals). No matter -- that's what his teammates are for. And as long as Cleaves, a consummate team leader who was named to many All-America first teams mostly for that reason, keeps getting the ball to those teammates (7.2 apg) and roughing up his man on defense, he's more valuable than all but a handful of the nation's playmakers.

4. Khalid El-Amin, Connecticut
El-amin made a name for himself with a burst-on-the-scene freshman season that saw more than its share of dramatic moments. But the proverbial sophomore slump took its toll as his numbers dipped a bit last season. Still, El-Amin has done something no other current collegiate playmaker has: lead his team to an NCAA title. Though he free-wheels it a little too often, El-Amin is also the kind of player who will polish off a dreadful 2-for-12, six-turnover performance with the game-winning shot.

5. Erick Barkley, St. John's
There wasn't a better freshman playmaker last season than Barkley, whose averages of 13.5 ppg, 4.7 apg and 2.2 spg weren't nearly as impressive as his wiser-than-his-years assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.3-to-1. Now that Ron Artest is gone and Barkley is the full-time ball-handler and distributor, we'll really see what the kid's made of.

Newcomers to watch: Kevin Gaines, Michigan; Jason Gardner, Arizona; Majestic Mapp, Virginia; Brett Nelson, Florida; Kenny Satterfield, Cincinnati; Frank Williams, Illinois; Jason Williams, Duke.