After draft decisions were made final yesterday, I am finally comfortable releasing my Way Too Early Top 25 rankings for next season. Obviously, there could still be developments with grad transfers, injuries, or recruits committing late in the process, but for now these are the teams which I think are the Top 25 in the country heading into next season. If you disagree, feel free to comment or tweet at me @ThreePointRange and let me know why your favorite team is ranked too low.
Top 25
- Nevada
- Kansas
- Gonzaga
- Duke
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Villanova
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Kansas State
- Oregon
- Auburn
- Mississippi St
- Virginia Tech
- LSU
- Florida State
- UCLA
- West Virginia
- North Carolina State
- Syracuse
- Michigan State
- Marquette
- Michigan
- Texas Tech
- Florida
- Miami
- TCU
- Nebraska
- Maryland
- Washington
Projected Starting 5: Lindsey Drew, Cody Martin, Caleb Martin, Jordan Caroline, Jordan Brown
Coach: Eric Musselman
Why They’re Here: This is almost certainly the highest you’ll see the Wolfpack, but I am fully on board. After their Elite Eight run last season. Nevada is back in a big way. With nearly every piece returning from that team including the star Martin twins, Caleb and Cody, who scored 33 points a game last season combined. Also returning is second leading scorer and leading rebounder Jordan Caroline, who although he is just 6’7”, the same height as the Martins, plays much bigger than his size and scored 17.7 points along with 8.6 rebounds. Also returning are guards Josh Hall and Lindsey Drew, although Drew might not play while recovering from an Achilles injury. With all of these players returning, Nevada would have been a solid team, who would probably make the tournament. However, Eric Musselman is a whiz on the transfer market and has a ton of impact players joining the program. Last season four players sat out, including guard Jazz Johnson joins from Portland, where he scored 15.8 points and is first team all name, guard Corey Henson comes in from Wagner after scoring 14.6 points, guard Nisre Zouzoua, who a force at Bryant where he scored 20.3 points in his last season, and forward Tre’Shawn Thompson, who scored 13.8 points and got 7.8 rebounds at Omaha. He is also bringing in grad transfers center Trey Porter from Old Dominion, who scored 13.2 points and got 6.2 rebounds last year and guard Ehab Amin, who is an excellent defensive presence as well as a solid scorer, as well as five star big man Jordan Brown who is currently ranked seventeenth in the nation. Their is endless lineup potential, with 6’7” Cody Martin being able to run point, and the same can be said for the 6’4” Amin so Musselmann can mix and match lineups as he pleases. I have fallen in love with the potential of this team and I truly believe they will be the best in the entire country.
Projected Starting 5: Devon Dotson, Quentin Grimes, Marcus Garrett, Dedric Lawson, Udoka Azubuike
Coach: Bill Self
Why They’re Here: Kansas loses some of its best players from last season. Senior stars Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk have graduated, and both Lagerald Vick and breakout star of March Malik Newman have entered the NBA Draft. However, Bill Self has replenished his roster with a combination of returners, transfers, and recruits. Leading the way in returning players is center Udoka Azubuike, who is the lone starter from last year returning. The Jayhawks also return frontcourt role players Mitch Lightfoot and Silvio de Sousa, as well as sophomore guard Marcus Garrett. Last offseason, Self hit the transfer market hard, and it will pay dividends this season. Enter Charlie Moore, the transfer guard from California, and brothers Dedric and KJ Lawson, who come from Memphis. Together, they bring 43.7 points of scoring per game, and should all play a big role almost immediately. Finally, Kansas brings in a stellar recruiting class, which is ranked fifth according to 247 Sports. The class is headlined by Quentin Grimes, the number 8 recruit and the second best shooting guard in his class, and Devon Dotson, number 19 overall and the number 3 point guard, and David McCormack, the number 34 recruit and number 4 center. All 3 were McDonald's All Americans, and will likely feature prominently this season. The Jayhawks have lots of talent and depth, making them the best team in the country.
Projected Starting 5: Josh Perkins, Zach Norvell, Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke, Killian Tillie
Coach: Mark Few
Why They’re Here: Mark Few has built a dynasty in Spokane, and this might just be his best team yet. They only lose two pieces from last seasons 30 win team, and if everyone develops as expected, the Bulldogs will once again be a force. Killian Tillie and Josh Perkins return to their starting roles at center and point guard respectively. Tillie showed how good he could be down the stretch last season, showing off his range and shot blocking ability, making him one of the most versatile bigs in the country, while Perkins is a good ball handler who can heat up from deep. Gonzaga fans can also look forward to what should be breakout seasons from Zach Norvell and Rui Hachimura, each of whom showed flashes of potential last season. Norvell is an excellent scorer who can get his own shot at will, although he went through cold stretches, and Hachimura was still a bit raw last season, but is a tremendous athlete and showed tantalizing flashes of star potential. If they continue their development, then they, partnered with the two returning starters, transfer big Brandon Clarke, who most recently averaged 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks on his way to a first team All Mountain West selection while at San Jose State, as well as role players Corey Kispert and Jacob Larsen, and top 100 recruit Filip Petrusev, and Gonzaga looks primed to have a successful season once again.
Projected Starting 5: Tre Jones, Cam Reddish, RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, Marques Bolden
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Why They’re Here: I’m aware that I’m low on Duke, and that they could very easily enter the season as #1 on the AP Poll and never relinquish that spot. However, despite the incredible talent Coach K has assembled, with the top 2 recruits in the country, three in the top five, and five in the top 31, I don’t like the way the pieces fit together. I’ve got major concerns about floor spacing and the ability to shoot the three ball, as none of the vaunted top four guys and quite possibly no one in the starting lineup are even average shooters. The best shooter in the incoming class is Joey Baker, but he’ll struggle to find playing time behind the top five combo of RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Zion Williamson. Barrett and Reddish are streaky at best, Jones is a non factor from deep, similar to Trevon Duval last season, and neither Marques Bolden or Javin DeLaurier has shown a good shooting stroke, so it could be an issue for the Blue Devils. Playing either Baker or returning sharpshooter Alex O’Connell means sacrificing a more talented player who can help in many other areas. In my opinion, that player should be either Zion, Bolden or DeLaurier. I think Zion is so unique, being a 6’6” power forward, and playing him at center would probably allow the ideal offensive lineup, but I don’t think he’ll be adequate defensively, and neither will Barrett, Reddish, or Baker guarding a power forward, making the frontcourt a huge defensive liability. I actually think Duke’s ideal lineup next year doesn’t feature Zion, and instead has Jones, O'Connell, Reddish, Barrett, and DeLaurier, or Bolden if you prefer him, but I like DeLaurier’s defensive abilities especially with this lineup. When the shots are falling from deep, this team might be unbeatable. Even when they aren’t this will be the most talented team on the court in almost every game they play, and it’d be foolish to say they won’t be one of the top teams in the country.
Projected Starting 5: Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Admiral Schofield, Grant Williams, Kyle Alexander
Coach: Rich Barnes
Why They’re Here: Rich Barnes’ team surprised everyone with their success last season, and the good news is they bring back their SEC winning roster. Led by SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams, the Vols have a strong frontcourt, as he is accompanied by defensive stalwart Kyle Alexander and Admiral Schofield. They are a tough group to play against as they are very physical, and combined for 34.7 points and 18 rebounds a game last season, making them a tough matchup for any team. They have a strong backcourt as well, with the two Jordans, Bone and Bowden, and Lamonte’ Turner. Any one of them is capable of carrying the scoring load from night to night, and they are all good ball handlers. Tennessee will prove that last season wasn’t a fluke and are in good position to defend their SEC title.
Projected Starting 5: Immanuel Quickley, Quade Green, Keldon Johnson, EJ Montgomery, Nick Richards
Coach: John Calipari
Why They’re Here: I wrote about Kentucky’s roster for next season here, so if you’d like a more in depth look check it out. As always, the Wildcats have an excellent recruiting class coming in, ranked second in the nation, and all of them come in the top 35. All 4 of EJ Montgomery, Keldon Johnson, Immanuel Quickley, and Tyler Herro figure to be heavily involved in the rotation, and Ashton Hagans is also thought to be reclassifying to the Class of 2018, which would give them another 5 star recruit. They also have a number of returning players, so they will be more experienced than normal. Their frontcourt will be incredibly deep, with Montgomery, PJ Washington, Nick Richards, and possibly Stanford grad transfer Reid Travis. They’ll also have lots of athleticism on the wings, and all that combines for a very dangerous team in 2018-19.
Projected Starting 5: Jahvon Quinnerly, Joe Cremo, Phil Booth, Eric Paschall, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree.
Coach: Jay Wright
Why They’re Here: The reigning national champions will continue their success under Jay Wright. While losing National Player of the Year Jalen Brunson, star wing Mikal Bridges, center Omari Spellman, and the Michael Jordan of Delaware Donte DiVincenzo to the NBA hurts, then Wildcats are still in great shape. I think the loss of Spellman hits the team the hardest since he was such a key part of their system, but Cosby-Roundtree and potentially Stanford grad transfer Reid Travis will do an admirable job filling that hole. They have an excellent returning core of Phil Booth, Eric Paschall, Connor Gillespie, and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree. Jay Wright is also bringing in some recruits who will fit his system beautifully, led by highly-touted point guard Jahvon Quinnerly, as well as Cole Swider and Brandon Slater. While none of them are in the top 25, they are all in the top 50, so there’s a lot of talent, and it is rated as the best class in the Big East. Wright is also getting Albany grad transfer guard Joe Cremo, who will provide scoring out of the backcourt after dropping 17.8 points a game last year while shooting 45.8% from three. Wright’s offensive schemes and all the talent on the court will put the Wildcats in the National Title conversation.
Projected Starting 5: Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter, Mamadi Diakite, Jack Salt
Coach: Tony Bennett
Why They’re Here: Prior to their untimely exit in the NCAA tournament last season, Tony Bennett’s crew were nearly unbeatable. They lose some key pieces in Devon Hall and Isaiah Wilkins, but they should be able to compensate. The vaunted pack-line defense will be back and should continue to give other teams fits. Offensively, they’ll be led by their backcourt of Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy, each of whom is a great shooter who can also attack the basket. After flirting with the NBA, DeAndre Hunter is back and ready for a breakout season and could push the Cavs to the next level. Their frontcourt partnership of Mamadi Diakite and Jack Salt will give opposing bigs fits with their stout defense, and they will crash the glass to get easy baskets. Tony Bennett will hope this is the year Virginia goes on a deep tournament run, and the roster is positioned well to do so.
Projected Starting 5: Coby White, Kenny Williams, Nassir Little, Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye
Coach: Roy Williams
Why They’re Here: The Tar Heels are well suited to continue their success this season. While they lose senior stars Joel Berry and Theo Pinson, they should be able to offset those losses with their incoming recruiting class. They bring in heralded recruit Nassir Little, ranked third in the country, as well as a top 25 guard in Coby White and Rechon Black, a top 75 forward, giving them the thirteenth best class in the country and second best in the ACC. All of these players should have an immediate impact and should be able to replace the lost production of Berry and Pinson. Williams can also look forward to a lot of returning talent. Star forward Luke Maye will enter the year as a National Player of the Year candidate after averaging a double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. They also bring back some great wing shooters in Kenny Williams and Cameron Johnson. Williams shot 40% from deep last season, while Johnson made 34% of his shots from deep, although he is better all around and his 6’7” frame allows him to be more effective while driving. The Tar Heels also have three rising sophomore bigs in Sterling Manley, Garrison Brooks, and Brandon Huffman who all showed good potential, and guards Andrew Platek and Seventh Woods, so Roy Williams will have lots of players to use. All of those players should help the Tar Heels to a top 10 season.
Projected Starting 5: Cartier Diarra, Barry Brown, Xavier Sneed, Dean Wade, Makol Mawien
Coach: Bruce Weber
Why They’re Here: Another team with a lot of returning talent, I am super high on the Wildcats this season. They bring back basically every piece from last year’s Elite Eight team, and are set up well to challenge in-state rivals Kansas for the Big 12 next season. Their star players are guard Barry Brown and forward Dean Wade. Brown is the best creator on the team and the best defender, and comes back after scoring 16 points a game last season while also locking up the opposing team’s star guard. Wade is a prototypical stretch four, scoring 16.2 points, grabbing 6.2 rebounds, and shooting 44% from deep, and both will be in the All American conversation as seniors next season. Joining these two is a strong supporting cast. There are two solid point guards in rising sophomore Cartier Diarra and rising senior Kamau Stokes who shared duties last season and should do the same next season. They have rising junior wing Xavier Sneed, who is a solid defender and was the team’s third leading scorer last year. Up front is Makol Mawien, who is a good shot blocker and rebounder, as well as incoming JUCO transfer Austin Trice. This is a group who is going to be very good and could push the Jayhawks for the Big 12 Tournament.
Projected Starting 5: Peyton Pritchard, Victor Bailey, Louis King, Kenny Wooten, Bol Bol
Coach: Dana Altman
Why They’re Here: Another team I am sky high on, the Ducks are my early favorites for the PAC-12 title. The major reason is the third best recruiting class in the nation, led by two top 20 recruits, Bol Bol and Louis King. Bol, the son of former NBA player Manute Bol, is the fourth ranked recruit in the country and the best center prospect. At 7’2”, he is an excellent shot blocker and a great athlete who has also shown some promise as a shooter. King, the eighteenth best recruit in the class, is an excellent scorer on the wing and another stellar athlete. They also have two other top 100 recruits in guard Will Richardson and forward Miles Norris, so their incoming class should make a big impact. They also have some great returning talent, lead by incoming junior Peyton Pritchard. He has an excellent season last year, scoring 14.5 points and dishing out 4.8 assists, leading the Ducks in both categories. He will be joined in the backcourt by Victor Bailey, who will look to take a step forward next year. The frontcourt will be manned by Kenny Wooten and Paul White. Wooten is a prolific shot blocker, blocking 2.6 shots a game, and paired with Bol will be a scary defensive frontcourt, and White is more of a scoring threat, scoring 9.5 points a game last season. I think all these pieces will come together well and make for a very good team next season.
Projected Starting 5: Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, Samir Doughty, Chuma Okeke, Anfernee McLemore
Coach: Bruce Pearl
Why They’re Here: The Tigers surpassed expectations last season, especially after having Danjel Purifoy and Austin Wiley suspended, and went on to become SEC co-champions. They bring back most of the main pieces so they are primed to repeat their success. The only major loss is wing Mustapha Heron, who has decided to transfer after leading the team in scoring. Their backcourt is going to be good, with Jared Harper and Bryce Brown returning, who were the second and third leading scorers, at 16 and 13 points a game respectively. They also have VCU transfer wing Samir Doughty, who scored 9 points a game for the Rams before sitting out the season. The frontcourt will also be good, especially since it looks like Purifoy and Wiley will be eligible for this season. Those two combined for roughly 20 points in their one season of action, so they would be a welcome addition. Also in the frontcourt are bigs Chuma Okeke, Anfernee McLemore, and Horace Spencer who will all factor in to the rotation next year. In the always tough SEC, Auburn looks ready to compete once again.
Projected Starting 5: Lamar Peters, Nick Weatherspoon, Quinndary Weatherspoon, Aric Holman, Abdul Ado
Coach: Ben Howland
Why They’re Here: The Bulldogs will have the majority of their roster back from last season, and will supplement them with a strong recruiting class. Starting off with the returners, they are highlighted by the Weatherspoon brothers, Nick and Quinndary. Quinndary is the better of the two and a rising senior who scored 14.4 points and got 6 rebounds a game, while Nick is coming off 10.8 points a game as a freshman. The guards a strong suit for the Bulldogs, with Lamar Peters and Tyson Carter also factoring into the backcourt, with Peters being more of a point guard who led the team in assists and Carter being an off guard who is more of a scoring threat, especially from deep. The frontcourt has two guys who are nearly 7 feet tall, with Aric Holman and Abdul Ado. Holman is a 6’10” power forward and matchup nightmare. He scored 11 points a game with 6.7 rebounds and can step out and hit threes, which he did at a 44% clip. Ado is more of a traditional big, who does most of his work in the post, and excels defensively, blocking 2 shots and getting 6.5 rebounds. The frontline will get reinforcements in the shape of Reggie Perry, a 6’9” power forward, McDonald’s All-American and top 30 recruit. He’ll be the first man off the bench and they also get a top 10 JUCO transfer in center Jethro Tshisumpa. Their recruiting class also has wings Robert Woodard and DJ Stewart, the two top prospects in Mississippi and Woodard is in the top 100 while Stewart is close at 112. The development of those returning along with the new players should give Mississippi State the boost into the NCAA Tournament and the Top 25.
Projected Starting 5: Justin Robinson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ahmed Hill, Chris Clarke, Kerry Blackshear
Coach: Buzz Williams
Why They’re Here: The Hokies are yet another team that returns a solid core of players for next season. They only lose Justin Bibbs from last season’s rotation, and although he was the second leading scorer on the team, Virginia Tech should be able to cope with his loss. They’ll be led by guard Justin Robinson, who led the team in points and assists and also shot 40% from deep. He will be joined in the backcourt by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the cousin of former Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Ahmed Hill, who both averaged double digits last season and both shot over 39% from three. They also have a strong frontcourt with versatile forward Chris Clarke, who is a strong defender and the team’s rebounding leader, and center Kerry Blackshear, who scored 12.5 points a game. All of them except for Alexander-Walker will be seniors next season, along with Ty Outlaw, who had to redshirt after an injury, but shot nearly 50% from three in the previous season. They also bring in Landers Nolley, a top 75 wing, who will factor into their rotation this season. While competition will be stiff in the ACC as always, Virginia Tech will be one of the top teams.
Projected Starting 5: Tremont Waters, Skylar Mays, Emmitt Williams, Naz Reid, Kavell Bigby-Williams
Coach: Will Wade
Why They’re Here: LSU is more of a traditional football powerhouse, but this team looks like it will be a force in basketball this season. A large part of this comes from their heralded recruiting class, ranked fourth in the country. Their biggest name is Naz Reid, currently ranked sixteenth in the nation, who is a point forward type player. He is 6’9” and has filled out his frame at 220 pounds, with good skills around the basket as well as on the outside. They also have two other good forward prospects in top 25 player Emmitt Williams and top 60 player Darius Days, both of whom figure to be good pieces for Will Wade. They also bring in the 33rd ranked player in the class in guard JaVonte Smart, the top player from Louisiana. These recruits will all be in the rotation and help the Bayou Bengals next season. They will be joined by some good returning players. They have Oregon transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams ready after sitting out a season, and although he didn’t make a huge impact for the Ducks, he is a great athlete who I think will have a big impact. They also have two key backcourt members returning im Skylar Mays and Tremont Waters. Mays is a rising junior who scored 11.3 points a game last season, and is a nice complimentary piece to the true star, Tremont Waters. He scored 16 points and dished out 6 assists per game last season, making him one of the premier playmakers in the country, although he largely flew under the radar. They also have rising sophomore wings Brandon Rachel and Galen Alexander who should take a step forward this season and really give the Tigers some more depth of the bench. This team should be fun to watch and I think they will be one of the better teams in the country next year.
Projected Starting 5: Trent Forrest, MJ Walker, Terrance Mann, Phil Cofer, Christ Koumadje
Coach: Leonard Hamilton
Why They’re Here: The Seminoles went on a crazy run to the Elite Eight as an 8 seed and they look ready to cement themselves as a top team in the country. They lose wing Braian Angola to graduation and point guard CJ Walker and center Ikey Obiagu to transfer, but the majority of their rotation returns this year. This team was very deep last season and that will continue this season. There isn’t a true point guard on the roster, but look for Albany grad transfer David Nichols to play there, although he is more of a score first player averaging 14.5 points a game last season, as well as Trent Forrest who scored 8 points a game with 4 assists. This team is built around length on the wing, with the shortest player in the rotation being 6’4” PJ Savoy. Starting on the wing will be Terrence Mann, MJ Walker, and Phil Cofer. Mann averaged 12.5 points a game last year, second on the team, and got 5.5 rebounds a game. Walker is a former 5 star recruit and although he just averaged 7 points a game as freshman, I think he’ll be a breakout star this season. Cofer was a senior last year but got a medical exception allowing him to play a fifth season and he led the team with 12.8 points a game. In the frontcourt, there are two big shot blockers with Mfiondu Kabengele and 7’4” Christ Koumadje. Although they aren’t the best offensive players, they are able to finish around the rim and Kabengele showed some promise as a shooter. I really like this team and I think they could push to the Top 15.
Projected Starting 5: Jaylen Hands, Prince Ali, Kris Wilkes, Shareef O’Neal, Moses Brown
Coach: Steve Alford
Why They’re Here: UCLA’s outlook really depends on what you think of Steve Alford as a coach. There is a growing contingent of fans who doubt his prowess on the sidelines, while others still believe in him as a coach. I am a member of the second contingent and I think that Alford and the Bruins will be better than most seem to. They’ll have a lot of talent on their roster and I think they’ll be able to fit the pieces together. Although they lose their top player last year in Aaron Holiday and experienced center Thomas Welsh, they have a lot of talented youth. They bring back rising sophomores Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes who were both 5 star prospects in the top 25 heading into last season, and they both showed flashes of potential over the course of last season, and Hands especially should thrive with more minutes. Hey also have Prince Ali to round out the returning backcourt, who scored 9 a game last season and showed a lot of offensive promise and I think he is primed for a breakout year. In the frontcourt, they have Alex Olesinski returning along with former 4 star big men Jalen Hill and Cody Riley who were suspended with the LiAngelo Ball shoplifting incident, and both are now eligible this year and could make a large impact. They also bring in another huge recruiting class, ranked sixth in the nation. Led by frontcourt players Moses Brown and Shareef O’ Neal, both top 50 in the class, these two should provide an immediate impact and lead the frontcourt for the Bruins. In the backcourt, they bring in Tyger Campbell who is a good scorer and will fit in well in the backcourt rotation with Hands and Ali, and on the wing Jules Bernard and David Singleton who should also be in the rotation. I think there is too much talent here and I like the way it all fits together so I think UCLA is in for a big year in the PAC-12.
Projected Starting 5: Brandon Knapper, James Bolden, Lamont West, Esa Ahmad, Sagaba Konate
Coach: Bob Huggins
Why They’re Here: After 4 successful years with the backcourt of Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles, the Mountaineers will have to readjust this season, although the transition won’t be as painful as you might expect. Although Miles and especially Carter were huge parts of the Press Virginia system’s success over the past few years, Bob Huggins will breed this new group to the system. Carter and Miles will be replaced in the backcourt by Brandon Knapper, who sat out last season due to injury, borderline top 100 recruit Jordan McCabe, and the energetic James “Beetle” Bolden. The backcourt will be a weak spot with some inexperience this season, but their frontcourt is loaded with talent. Wings Lamont West, Esa Ahmad, and Wesley Harris will all be back and they all provide length on the defensive end, driving home the defensive mindset, and they bring in other wings Trey Doomes and Emmitt Matthews to provide some more depth and Jermaine Haley from the JUCO ranks. At center there is shot blocking monster Sagaba Konate along with incoming recruit Derek Culver and JUCO transfer Andrew Gordon. Konate is the real star of the show, who shines on the defensive end, grabbing 7.5 rebounds a game and blocking 3.2 shots a game. He also scored 11 points a game, good for third on the team. The frontcourt will keep the Press Virginia system alive and keep the Mountaineers in the Top 25.
Projected Starting 5: Markell Johnson, CJ Bryce, Devon Daniels, Torin Dorn, Wyatt Walker
Coach: Kevin Keatts
Why They’re Here: The Wolfpack have an interesting team heading into next season. After finishing third in the ACC last season, they will lose some key pieces in seniors Allerik Freeman and Lennard Freeman as well as transfer Omer Yurtseven. They should be able to replace those pieces with some new incoming transfers and recruits. In his first season, Kevin Keatts hit the tramsfer market hard, bringing in wings CJ Bryce and Devon Daniels from UNC Wilmington and Utah respectively. These two should step right into the rotation and produce for NC State. They’ll be joined by grad transfer wing Eric Lockett and big man Wyatt Walker who will also play a large role for this team. They have some good returning pieces as well in point guards Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverly and wing Torin Dorn. Johnson is one of the better true point guards in college basketball, putting up 9 points and 7.3 assists a game, while Beverly is a good energetic option off the bench. Dorn is the leading returning scorer, putting up 14 points and grabbing 6.3 rebounds a game last year and could have an even bigger year this season. Their incoming recruiting class brings some needed height, as Walker is the only true big, with top 150 centers Immanuel Bates and Ian Steere and top 150 wing Jericole Hellems. This team should continue their success in the ACC and be firmly in the Top 25.
Projected Starting 5: Frank Howard, Tyus Battle, Oshae Brissett, Marek Dolezaj, Paschal Chukwu
Coach: Jim Boeheim
Why They’re Here: The Orange made a run to the Sweet Sixteen this season after being in the First Four and will look to use that momentum for next season. They had a tight rotation last season and everyone who factored into the rotation expect for Matthew Moyer, who transferred, will be back next season. They will be let by junior wing Tyus Battle, who scored 19.2 points a game last season and did a lot of the offensive work for Cuse last year. The rest of the perimeter is made up of wing Oshae Brissett and guard Frank Howard. Brissett had an excellent freshman season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds last season, while Howard had a breakout junior season, scoring 14.5 points and dishing out 4.7 assists. Their frontcourt is still raw, with rising sophomores Marek Dolezaj and Bourama Sidibe and rising senior Paschal Chukwu. I expect Dolezaj to take a big step forward next season and et towards double digit points a game after scoring 6 and getting 5 boards a game last season, while Sidibe and Chukwu are limited offensively but solid defensively and good rebounders. They’ll also bring in reinforcements in their recruiting class in top 60 guard Jalen Carey, who is an excellent scorer and good athlete, top 150 forward Robert Braswell, and Buddy Boeheim, who is a good shooter that can help their woes from deep. I expect this team to mature and take a step forward into the Top 25.
Projected Starting 5: Cassius Winston, Matt McQuaid, Jeremy Langford, Xavier Tillman, Nick Ward
Coach: Tom Izzo
Why They’re Here: I think I’m a bit lower on Tom Izzo and the Spartans than the consensus, but I just don’t see it this season. They lose their two best players from last season in Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson, so I think they take a step back. However, they’ll still be a good team near the top of the Big Ten. They’ll be led by point guard Cassius Winston, who scored 12.5 points and 7 assists for Michigan State, and he’ll lead the team alongside Nick Ward and Joshua Langford. Ward is a force on the inside at 6’8” and 250 poinds, and he had a good season scoring 12.5 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Meanwhile, Langford is a streaky scorer who shot 40% from deep last season, and if he can become more consistent will be a great player for the Spartans, but I wonder if he’ll be able to do that. They’ll also have role players stepping into starting roles in Matt McQuaid and either Xavier Tillman or Kenny Goins. McQuaid is a rising senior guard who is a good shooter, making 39% of his shots from deep, and Tillman and Goins are similar big men who, like Ward, are strong on the interior. They also have a top 20 recruiting class, although none of them are in the top 50. They get a good forwards in Marcus Bingham, Michigan’s top player, and Thomas Kithier, point guard Foster Loyer, and wing Gabe Brown and Aaron Henry, but I don’t think any of them will be huge impact players. They have a great coach in Izzo, and he’ll get this team to compete in the Big Ten.
Projected Starting 5: Joseph Chartouny, Markus Howard, Sam Hauser, Joey Hauser, Ed Morrow
Coach: Steve Wojciechowski
Why They’re Here: The Golden Eagles were an excellent offensive team although they played very little defense last season, which led them to miss the tournament. I think that will change this season, as although Marquette loses Andrew Rowsey to graduation, I think Marquette will improve greatly this year. The main reason I’m projecting them as a Top 25 team is two incoming transfers, guard Joseph Chartouny and big man Ed Morrow. While they aren’t stellar offensively, they will help Marquette most by helping their defensive woes. Chartouny is a 6’4” guard known for his defense, and with good reason. He got 3.3 steals a game for Fordham last season, and 3.2 the year before, and his length allows him to lock down a lot of guards. He isn’t great offensively, but he did score 12 points a game, dished out 4.6 assists, and he also got 5.5 rebounds. He’ll be the perfect piece in their backcourt alongside Markus Howard. Howard is much more of a pure scorer who put in 20.4 points a game last season, and he is an excellent shooter who made 40.4% of his threes last season. Those two are an excellent combination in the backcourt and I think that they compliment each other perfectly. Morrow comes in from Nebraska and he should anchor their frontcourt defensively. He was a solid piece for the Huskers and he averaged 23.4 minutes a game before transferring. Offensively he is alright, scoring 9.4 points a game, but he is very good on the defensive end. He grabbed 7.5 rebounds and blocked 1.1 shots a game. He’ll allow for some defensive lapses, especially from brothers Sam and Joey Hauser on the wing. They have similar profiles as knockdown shooters, and Sam show that his sophomore season, making 48.7% of his threes, and Joey will do similar things as a freshman this season. These two will continue the Marquette barrage of threes along with Howard, making them one of the most potent offensive teams in the country. They’ll also have Haanif Cheatham, Sacar Anim, Matt Heldt, Greg Elliot, and Jamal Cain in their rotation and all of them are very talented and averaged over 15 minutes a game last season. Cheatham was a starter for 5 games before getting injured and averaged 8 points a game and will factor into the backcourt as will Elliot, although I think he could lose a lot of minutes this season. Anim and Cain will both be in the wing rotation and offer a different look from the Hausers, since they offer more athleticism. I think Cain could take a big step forward this year and be a really big impact piece off the bench. Heldt is very similar to Morrow as a defensive stalwart although he brings more height than the 6’7” Morrow. They’ll also add Brandon Bailey, a four star, top 100 recruit from the 2016 class who went on a Mormon mission, and if he is ready could be a huge X-factor that really helps the Golden Eagles get over the hump. I really think that Marquette makes the jump into the Top 25 and could be similar to Creighton last year.
Projected Starting 5: Zavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, Isaiah Livers, Jon Teske
Coach: John Beilein
Why They’re Here: The Wolverines are coming off of an appearance in the National Championship game and they look ready to compete once again in the Big Ten this season. They lose some key pieces in guard Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, wing Duncan Robinson and big man Moritz Wagner, but I trust John Beilein with my life at this point and I think he’ll have the Wolverines back in the Top 25. It’s not like the cupboard is completely bare in Ann Arbor, and they’ll be led by Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews, who started to come along in the NCAA tournament last year. At the point guard position is Zavier Simpson who also had a good season last year while taking care of the ball well and playing great defense. Joining him in the backcourt is Jordan Poole who is known for his buzzer beater against Houston, and I think he can continue to develop and have a breakout year. The frontcourt will be manned by Isaiah Livers and Jon Teske, who will need to step up into larger roles this year. They also have the eleventh ranked recruiting class in the nation, led by top 10 forward Ignas Brazdeikis and Brandon Johns. They also bring in two other 4 stars i guard David DeJulius and center Collin Castleton. Most of this talent is still pretty inexperienced, but with Beilein at the helm look for the Wolverines to be around the Top 25 at the end of the season.
Projected Starting 5: Matt Mooney, Jarrett Culver, Khavon Moore, Tariq Owen, Norense Odiase
Coach: Chris Beard
Why They’re Here: The Red Raiders had a breakout year as a program last season, winning 27 games and earning a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Most of that roster has departed, however, including star Keenan Evans, who led the team in points and assists, and they also lose seniors Niem Stevenson, Tommy Hamilton, Justin Gray, and Zach Smith. The Red Raiders were looking like a Top 25 team until freshman Zhaire Smith declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the team somewhat undermanned. However, Coach Beard restocked with the grad transfer market, pulling in guard Matt Mooney from South Dakota and forward Tariq Owens from Saint Johns. Mooney is an excellent scorer, posting over 18.5 points each of the last two seasons in the Summit League, averaged 3 assists a game last season, and also tor 2 steals a contest. He will be a welcome addition to the Red Raider’s backcourt. Owens comes from the Big East, where he averaged 8.5 points a game to go along with 6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. He also showed some ability to step out and shoot from deep, but he thrives as a high energy guy and excels on the defensive end. He’ll fit right in with the defensive style of Texas Tech and that identity is why I think they’ll rebound well despite losing so much. I think it is easier to recover with a strong defensive identity as you can plug into players into that system. Beard has some players returning, including athletic wing Jarrett Culver, who I think will have a huge breakout season after showing some great flashes last year. They also have guard Davide Moretti. wing Brandone Francis and big man Norense Odiase, who had smaller roles last year but I think will be able to step up and play more minutes this season. They also bring in top 50 wing Khavon Moore, top 150 guard Kyler Edwards, and JUCO transfer wing Deshawn Corprew. I think Moore especially will have a nice impact this year, and Texas Tech will be in and around the Top 25 all year.
Projected Starting 5: Andrew Nembhard, Kevaughn Allen, Jalen Hudson, Keith Stone, Kevarrius Hayes
Coach: Mike White
Why They’re Here: The Gators come off an up and down year but will look to have a similar season despite the loss of seniors Chris Chiozza and Egor Koulechov. Chiozza was one of my favorite players last season, but I think he and Koulechov will be replaced quite nicely by a strong recruiting class. Taking over for Chiozza at the point will be Andrew Nembhard, a top 25 player and one of the top point guards in the class. He’s a great passer and his 6’4” frame makes him a very good defender and will be an excellent replacement. They also bring in top 100 guards Noah Locke and Keyontae Johnson who will factor into the rotation, although they could struggle to find minutes behind stars Jalen Hudson and Kevaughn Allen. Hudson was a transfer from Virginia Tech and he excelled in his first season, scoring 15.5 points, leading the team, while shooting 40% from three. Allen had a down season, watching his scoring average dip by three points a game, but he still scored in double figures and is a good Robin to Hudson’s Batman. Look for him to have a bounce back season. The frontcourt rotation will be made up of Keith Stone, Kevarrius Hayes, and Gorjok Gak. Stone is more of a stretch four, making 42.4% of his threes while scoring 8.8 points a game, and that could rise to double figures this season. Coach White will also be looking for Hayes to show veteran leadership as a senior, and while he might not be the best offensive player, he is great on the defensive end, getting 5 rebounds and blocking 2 shots a game. Gak is still pretty raw, but could take a step forward as a junior and unlock his true potential as a player on both ends of the floor. Florida will once again be in a good position both in the SEC and nationally this season.
On The Cusp
Projected Starting 5: Chris Lykes, Zach Johnson, Dejan Vasiljevic, Anthony Lawrence, Dewan Huell
Coach: Jim Larranaga
Why They’re Here: The Hurricanes are coming off a fairly successful season, although they were upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by a little known team called Loyola-Chicago. They lose some key pieces from last year's team in senior guard Jaquan Newton and guards Lonnie Walker and Bruce Brown to the NBA draft. Luckily, they still bring back large pieces of their rotation. The frontcourt remains unchanged, with Dewan Huell, the second leading scorer last season, and Anthony Lawrence III returning this season. I think Huell can be an All-ACC type player this season and Lawrence is primed for a breakout year, after scoring 8.8 points on 43.2% shooting from three last season. I’m a big fan of both of these players which is why you’ll see Miami higher on my list than most others. I also love point guard Chris Lykes, who although he is just 5’7”, is one of the most exciting and fun to watch players in college basketball. He had a great freshman year, scoring 9.5 points and he will only improve this year. The Canes also bring back Dejan Vasiljevic, Ebuka Izundu, and Sam Waardenburg, all rotation pieces last season who will step into larger roles this year. Vasiljevic was the sixth man last year and is a great shooter who shot 41% from deep last year and will be expected to start this season. Izundu and Waardenburg will be part of the frontcourt rotation and I like Waardenburg to take a step forward in his sophomore season and be a really nice contributor off the bench. Also joining the fray are transfers Zach Johnson and Miles Wilson. Johnson is a grad transfer guard from Florida Gulf Coast and is a dynamic scorer who scored 16.1 points a game last year and shot 39.2% from deep. I think he will make a seamless transition to the ACC, and Miami fans can look to his game in the A-Sun finals, where he scored 37 points including 9 made threes for a preview of what to expect next season. Wilson sat out last yeaf after transferring from Mount Saint Mary’s where he scored 12 points a game and will also factor into the rotation on the wing for Miami. I’m really high on the Hurricanes and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them spending time in the Top 25 this season.
Projected Starting 5: Alex Robinson, Jaylen Fisher, Desmond Bane, Kouat Noi, Yuat Alok
Coach: Jamie Dixon
Why They’re Here: TCU is coming off of one of the best seasons in school history and certainly the best in recent memory and will look to replicate that success this season. Although they lose their two top scorers from last season, center Vladmir Brodziansky and wing Kenrich Williams, the Horned Frogs are still in good position to have a good year. I’m predicting that they will run some two point guard sets with Alex Robinson and Jaylen Fisher both on the court for extended periods of time. Robinson is more of a true point guard who averaged 6 assists last season along with 9.7 points and should put up similar numbers as a senior. Fischer was having an excellent season as the starting point guard before going down with an knee injury at the beginning of conference play. He was averaging 12.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 1 steal a game while shooting 44% from three before his injury, and should put up similar numbers or better in a full season. Fischer wasn’t even the best shooter on the team, however, as wing Desmond Bane shot 46% on 4 attempts a game and averaged 12.5 a game, and I think he is a good breakout candidate this season. Forward Kouat Noi also shot well from deep, making 43.5% of his threes on just over 4 attempts a game and could very easily improve on his 10.2 points a game from last season. Forward JD Miller also returns after scoring 8 points per contest last year, and will once again be a prominent member of the rotation. The Horned Frogs also bring in a top 30 recruiting class nationally, led by JUCO transfer center Yuat Alok. He is the second ranked JUCO recruit and he scored 12.5 points a game, got 7 rebounds, and stretched the floor, shooting 44% from deep at Chipola College. TCU has previously had success with JUCO players, as Williams came from the junior college ranks, and Alok looks primed to step in and be a contributor from day 1. TCU also has commitments from top 100 wing Kaden Archie, who should also be a contributor from the start, top 150 point guard Kendric Davis, and center Russell Barlow coming to Fort Worth next year. They have all the components to be competitive in the Big 12 next year and once again make the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Starting 5: Glynn Watson, Thomas Allen, James Palmer, Isaiah Roby, Isaac Copeland
Coach: Tim Miles
Why They’re Here: The Huskers had an impressive season last year, finishing fourth in the Big Ten and winning 22 games overall. While they lose wings Anton Gill and Evan Taylor, Nebraska still has a positive outlook for next season. They return their top 4 scorers from last season, including breakout star James Palmer. After 2 underwhelming seasons at Miami, Palmer transferred to Nebraska where he showed off his talents, averaging 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 assists a game and is primed to have another big year. The frontcourt will be a major strength with Isaiah Roby and Isaac Copeland both returning for Nebraska. Roby will be a junior next season and is coming off a good season where he scored 8.7 points, grabbed 6.3 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots a game, and Copeland was one of the more underrated players in the Big Ten last year despite his 13 points and 6 rebounds a game. Another key returner is point guard Glynn Watson, who posted 10.5 points and 3.2 assists a year ago. The biggest question mark will be who joins Watson in the backcourt, with Thomas Allen, a borderline top 100 prospect a year ago, considered the favorite. If Nebraska can get one more piece via the grad transfer market, preferably another wing, they can make a strong push for the Top 25 this year.
Projected Starting 5: Anthony Cowan, Darryl Morsell, Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Smith, Bruno Fernando
Coach: Mark Turgeon
Why They’re Here: Mark Turgeon has Terrapins’ fans excited about the upcoming season, and with good reason. Maryland lost Justin Jackson and Kevin Huerter to the NBA Draft, but brings in an excellent recruiting class, ranked seventh in the nation, and headlined by five star center Jalen Smith, the fourteenth best prospect in the country. He will almost certainly make a large impact on the Terrapins this season, and will be joined on campus by wings Aaron Wiggins, Eric Ayala, and Serrel Smith, who are all top 150 prospects, and both Wiggins and Ayala are 4 stars who figure to factor into the rotation in a big way this season. These star freshman will join a good nucleus in College Park. Point guard Anthony Cowan will lead this returning group after leading the team in points and assists last season. He’ll be joined by fellow star Bruno Fernando. Huerter is known as an excellent shooter on the wing, making 42% of his threes, but he is capable of doing more and is a solid athlete and an underrated distributor, while Fernando had a breakout freshman year, averaging 10.3 points a game and showing lots of potential for more. The returning crew will be supplemented by Darryl Morsell, a good wing defender and will be a good role player. The Big Ten is going through a bit of a down stretch, and Maryland is certainly able to challenge near the top of the conference this season.
Projected Starting 5: David Crisp, Jaylen Nowell, Matisse Thybulle, Noah Dickerson, Sam Timmins
Coach: Mike Hopkins
Why They’re Here: The Huskies are looking to assert themselves at the top of the PAC-12 and have a young roster with all their key pieces returning from last season. They’ll be led by rising sophomore guard Jaylen Nowell, who flew under the radar nationally but had a really great year, scoring 16 points a game and will once again be a star in Seattle. Joining him in the backcourt is rising senior David Crisp, who was also a double digit scorer last year. Wings Matisse Thybulle, Noah Dickerson, Nahziah Carter, and Dominic Green all return and will all feature next year, along with incoming recruit Jamal Bey. The frontcourt will be manned by rising junior Sam Timmins and recruit Bryan Penn-Johnson, and will most likely be the weak spot for the Huskies next year. If they could find a grad transfer big man, they could be vaulted from solid team to potential top 15 team, in my opinion, but even without one should still have a great season next year.
Also Considered
Purdue, Indiana, Stanford, Xavier, Providence, Clemson, Louisville, UCF, Vanderbilt, New Mexico, Loyola-Chicago, South Dakota State, Buffalo,
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