So originally, I planned to release this new Top 25 on the Fourth of July, but it felt very rushed and I decided to take the weekend to really refine it and make sure I felt good about it. Instead of basing it off of my previous rankings, I instead decided to start from scratch, evaluating each team all over again. There are some times I'm higher on than consensus, and some I have much lower, but overall, I feel really good about my rankings. If you want to discuss these rankings with me, be sure to hit me up on Twitter @ThreePointRange, and let me know your thoughts.
Top 25
Top 25
1. Michigan State
Projected Starting Lineup: Cassius Winston, Joshua Langford, Aaron Henry, Kyle Ahrens, Xavier Tillman
The Spartans are the preseason favorite heading into 2019. They have the projected Player of the Year in point guard Cassius Winston, and he has a strong supporting cast around him. Joshua Langford and Kyle Ahrens return on the wing as proven veterans, and Langford in particular is a great scorer who missed time with an injury last year, but he's back this season and I think he'll have a big year. Aaron Henry is a breakout candidate as a sophomore after showing a lot of potential as a freshman, and Xavier Tillman will look to build off of a strong junior year. They also have a lot of depth, with Foster Loyer and Gabe Brown coming into bigger roles as sophomores, and freshmen Rocket Watts, Julian Marble, and Malik Hall slotting into the rotation as well, with Watts potentially being a great bench scorer. They have the star, the supporting cast, and the balance necessary to be the top team in the nation.
The Spartans are the preseason favorite heading into 2019. They have the projected Player of the Year in point guard Cassius Winston, and he has a strong supporting cast around him. Joshua Langford and Kyle Ahrens return on the wing as proven veterans, and Langford in particular is a great scorer who missed time with an injury last year, but he's back this season and I think he'll have a big year. Aaron Henry is a breakout candidate as a sophomore after showing a lot of potential as a freshman, and Xavier Tillman will look to build off of a strong junior year. They also have a lot of depth, with Foster Loyer and Gabe Brown coming into bigger roles as sophomores, and freshmen Rocket Watts, Julian Marble, and Malik Hall slotting into the rotation as well, with Watts potentially being a great bench scorer. They have the star, the supporting cast, and the balance necessary to be the top team in the nation.
2. Duke
Projected Starting Lineup: Tre Jones, Cassius Stanley, Wendell Moore, Matthew Hurt, Vernon Carey
The Blue Devils won't have Zion, RJ, and Cam next season, but they'll be very good once again. They do return one of the freshman from last season in point guard Tre Jones, and he will set the tone for the young Dukies this year. He is excellent defensively and as a facilitator, and he won't take up too many shots from the star freshman class. With Stanley, Moore, Hurt, and Carey all entering the fold, there will be an influx of talent, and it all fits well. Stanley is a quick twitch scorer from the guard position, Moore is a do it all wing, Hurt is a stretch four, and Carey can play inside and out as well as being a good rebounder. Plus, they have Alex O' Connell, Jack White, and Javin DeLaurier returning from last year's rotation, and they can contribute to this year's iteration of the team. I'm fully bought into all of the talent on this team, and I think they all compliment each other well, so I'm expecting Coach K to have another successful year.
The Blue Devils won't have Zion, RJ, and Cam next season, but they'll be very good once again. They do return one of the freshman from last season in point guard Tre Jones, and he will set the tone for the young Dukies this year. He is excellent defensively and as a facilitator, and he won't take up too many shots from the star freshman class. With Stanley, Moore, Hurt, and Carey all entering the fold, there will be an influx of talent, and it all fits well. Stanley is a quick twitch scorer from the guard position, Moore is a do it all wing, Hurt is a stretch four, and Carey can play inside and out as well as being a good rebounder. Plus, they have Alex O' Connell, Jack White, and Javin DeLaurier returning from last year's rotation, and they can contribute to this year's iteration of the team. I'm fully bought into all of the talent on this team, and I think they all compliment each other well, so I'm expecting Coach K to have another successful year.
3. Kentucky
Projected Starting Lineup: Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney, EJ Montgomery, Nick Richards
In a shocking twist, Kentucky has a big time recruiting class. They have the second ranked recruiting class, and John Calipari has added a ton of talent. However, he also brings back some players from last year in guards Ashton Hagans and Emmanuel Quickly and big men EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards. Hagans and Richards should anchor the defense, while Montgomery is in line for a break out year and Quickly provides some solid guard minutes off the bench, if he can find the minutes in the tight rotation. Calipari did most of his work with wings, bringing in four wings for the new year, along with combo guard Tyrese Maxey, who should be a nice scorer next to Hagans. On the wing, Kahlil Whitney, Keion Brooks, Johnny Juzang, and Dontaie Allen will all be in the rotation and we could see a lot of different lineup combinations with their versatile talent. They also have grad transfer big Nate Sestina coming in from Bucknell, and he can stretch the floor a bit and should provide solid minutes. They have a lot of depth, and Coach Cal will need to figure out his best rotation as he does every year, but they have a ton of talent and they should be a title contender again this season.
In a shocking twist, Kentucky has a big time recruiting class. They have the second ranked recruiting class, and John Calipari has added a ton of talent. However, he also brings back some players from last year in guards Ashton Hagans and Emmanuel Quickly and big men EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards. Hagans and Richards should anchor the defense, while Montgomery is in line for a break out year and Quickly provides some solid guard minutes off the bench, if he can find the minutes in the tight rotation. Calipari did most of his work with wings, bringing in four wings for the new year, along with combo guard Tyrese Maxey, who should be a nice scorer next to Hagans. On the wing, Kahlil Whitney, Keion Brooks, Johnny Juzang, and Dontaie Allen will all be in the rotation and we could see a lot of different lineup combinations with their versatile talent. They also have grad transfer big Nate Sestina coming in from Bucknell, and he can stretch the floor a bit and should provide solid minutes. They have a lot of depth, and Coach Cal will need to figure out his best rotation as he does every year, but they have a ton of talent and they should be a title contender again this season.
4. Kansas
Projected Starting Lineup: Devon Dotson, Isaiah Moss, Ochai Agbaji, Silvio de Sousa, Udoka Azubuike
The Jayhawks had some uncertainty around them all offseason, with the roster really not taking shape until recently. They have a lot of talent, with point guard Devon Dotson returning after s stellar freshman year and big man Udoka Azubuike is finally healthy. What's huge for Bill Self this season is they will have a lot of spacing around the 7 footer. They return Dotson and wing Ochai Agbaji, who can both shoot well from deep, and added Isaiah Moss from Iowa and four star wing Jalen Wilson, who are both very good shooters. Silvio de Sousa, a former five star recruit, was also deemed eligible after a long, two year battle for eligibility given some off the court issues during his high school days. I don't love his fit with Azubuike, but he's going to be good, as will David McCormack. Tristain Enaruna and Christian Braun are other recruits who should be solid right away, and Marcus Garrett and Mitch Lightfoot return to the rotation. The roster has finally taken shape, and it looks very promising for Kansas to compete at the top of the Big 12 again.
The Jayhawks had some uncertainty around them all offseason, with the roster really not taking shape until recently. They have a lot of talent, with point guard Devon Dotson returning after s stellar freshman year and big man Udoka Azubuike is finally healthy. What's huge for Bill Self this season is they will have a lot of spacing around the 7 footer. They return Dotson and wing Ochai Agbaji, who can both shoot well from deep, and added Isaiah Moss from Iowa and four star wing Jalen Wilson, who are both very good shooters. Silvio de Sousa, a former five star recruit, was also deemed eligible after a long, two year battle for eligibility given some off the court issues during his high school days. I don't love his fit with Azubuike, but he's going to be good, as will David McCormack. Tristain Enaruna and Christian Braun are other recruits who should be solid right away, and Marcus Garrett and Mitch Lightfoot return to the rotation. The roster has finally taken shape, and it looks very promising for Kansas to compete at the top of the Big 12 again.
5. Florida
Projected Starting Lineup: Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, Scottie Lewis, Keyontae Johnson, Kerry Blackshear Jr
Florida picked up a huge commitment from big man Kerry Blackshear Jr, one of the most talented transfers available, and he fills a big need in their front court. With him, this should be one of the premier teams in the country. They have their talented rising sophomore trio of Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, and Keyontae Johnson, who were all productive as freshman and should take steps forward to be really good players. They also have a ton of talented newcomers with top twenty recruits Scottie Lewis, a versatile wing and potential one and done player, and guard Tre Mann, who should form a great three man backcourt with Nembhard and Locke. They also have Blackshear and top 50 recruit Omar Payne to their front court. I also really like Mike White as a coach, and I think this team is going to be really, really good next season.
Florida picked up a huge commitment from big man Kerry Blackshear Jr, one of the most talented transfers available, and he fills a big need in their front court. With him, this should be one of the premier teams in the country. They have their talented rising sophomore trio of Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, and Keyontae Johnson, who were all productive as freshman and should take steps forward to be really good players. They also have a ton of talented newcomers with top twenty recruits Scottie Lewis, a versatile wing and potential one and done player, and guard Tre Mann, who should form a great three man backcourt with Nembhard and Locke. They also have Blackshear and top 50 recruit Omar Payne to their front court. I also really like Mike White as a coach, and I think this team is going to be really, really good next season.
6. Texas Tech
Projected Starting Lineup: Davide Moretti, Jahmius Ramsey, Kyler Edwards, Chris Clarke, TJ Holyfield
Coming off of their national title run, the Red Raiders lose a lot, with multiple seniors gone and star Jarrett Culver off to the NBA. However, they have reloaded incredibly well, and looked poised to once again be very, very good. Part of that comes from coach Chris Beard, whose defensive schemes make the whole better than the sum of its part, but make no mistake, there is a lot of talent in Lubbock. Davide Moretti should assume a bigger role after playing on the national runner up's last year, and the Italian is a sharpshooting guard who will look to be the leader of the team. They also have popular breakout candidate Kyler Edwards and rotation player and former JuCo star Deshawn Corprew back on the wing, so they have returning talent that knows the system. They also added two grad transfer in Chris Clarke from Virginia Tech and TJ Holyfield from Stephen F Austin who should contribute in the front court. Clarke in particular is interesting, with ball handling skills as a potential point forward, and he can help initiate some sets. They also have a really nice recruiting class, top 20 in the nation and second in the Big 12. They have two top 100 prospects in combo guard Jahmius Ramsey and wing Terrence Shannon, as well as late risers Kevin McCullar, Tyreek Smith, and Clarence Nadolny. They have a ton of talent and a great coach, which is a recipe for success.
Coming off of their national title run, the Red Raiders lose a lot, with multiple seniors gone and star Jarrett Culver off to the NBA. However, they have reloaded incredibly well, and looked poised to once again be very, very good. Part of that comes from coach Chris Beard, whose defensive schemes make the whole better than the sum of its part, but make no mistake, there is a lot of talent in Lubbock. Davide Moretti should assume a bigger role after playing on the national runner up's last year, and the Italian is a sharpshooting guard who will look to be the leader of the team. They also have popular breakout candidate Kyler Edwards and rotation player and former JuCo star Deshawn Corprew back on the wing, so they have returning talent that knows the system. They also added two grad transfer in Chris Clarke from Virginia Tech and TJ Holyfield from Stephen F Austin who should contribute in the front court. Clarke in particular is interesting, with ball handling skills as a potential point forward, and he can help initiate some sets. They also have a really nice recruiting class, top 20 in the nation and second in the Big 12. They have two top 100 prospects in combo guard Jahmius Ramsey and wing Terrence Shannon, as well as late risers Kevin McCullar, Tyreek Smith, and Clarence Nadolny. They have a ton of talent and a great coach, which is a recipe for success.
7. Louisville
Projected Starting Lineup: Lamarr Kimble, Samuel Williamson, Dwayne Sutton, Jordan Nwora, Stephen Enoch
The Cardinals are looking to take a step forward in year 2 of the Chris Mack era. They return the front runner for ACC Player of the Year in Jordan Nwora, who should be an All-American this year. They also have role players in Dwayne Sutton, Stephen Enoch, Malik Williams, and Ryan McMahon all coming back, and they should play their roles. They also upgraded at point guard, with St. Joe's transfer Lamarr Kimble manning the point, offering an upgrade as a scorer at the one over Christian Cunningham and Reggie Perry. They also have a stellar recruiting class, ranking eleventh in the country, and top 20 five star Samuel Williamson should start, and the rest of their four top 150 players should have roles on this team. They are another team with an exciting mix of talent and great coaching, so they are an easy addition in the top 10.
The Cardinals are looking to take a step forward in year 2 of the Chris Mack era. They return the front runner for ACC Player of the Year in Jordan Nwora, who should be an All-American this year. They also have role players in Dwayne Sutton, Stephen Enoch, Malik Williams, and Ryan McMahon all coming back, and they should play their roles. They also upgraded at point guard, with St. Joe's transfer Lamarr Kimble manning the point, offering an upgrade as a scorer at the one over Christian Cunningham and Reggie Perry. They also have a stellar recruiting class, ranking eleventh in the country, and top 20 five star Samuel Williamson should start, and the rest of their four top 150 players should have roles on this team. They are another team with an exciting mix of talent and great coaching, so they are an easy addition in the top 10.
8. Arizona
Projected Starting Lineup: Nico Mannion, Brandon Williams, Josh Green, Zeke Nnaji, Chase Jeter
The Wildcats rebounded well from the NCAA allegations surrounding the program, and they have a formidable roster entering the season. Sean Miller assembled the third ranked recruiting class in the nation, with three top 40 players joining the fray. Nico Mannion, Josh Green, and Zeke Nnaji all figure to start right away and be major factors thanks to their immense talent. They also have solid veterans in Brandon Williams, Chase Jeter, Ira Lee, and Devonaire Doutrive, along with grad transfer Max Hazzard from UC Irvine and Stone Gettings from Cornell. I'm very excited to see the freshman trio, as they look like they fit together very well and have a lot of talent, and the returning cast should supplement them really well. I think they'll be the team to beat in the Pac-12, and they should be one of the best in the nation.
The Wildcats rebounded well from the NCAA allegations surrounding the program, and they have a formidable roster entering the season. Sean Miller assembled the third ranked recruiting class in the nation, with three top 40 players joining the fray. Nico Mannion, Josh Green, and Zeke Nnaji all figure to start right away and be major factors thanks to their immense talent. They also have solid veterans in Brandon Williams, Chase Jeter, Ira Lee, and Devonaire Doutrive, along with grad transfer Max Hazzard from UC Irvine and Stone Gettings from Cornell. I'm very excited to see the freshman trio, as they look like they fit together very well and have a lot of talent, and the returning cast should supplement them really well. I think they'll be the team to beat in the Pac-12, and they should be one of the best in the nation.
9. Ohio State
Projected Starting Lineup: DJ Carton, Luther Muhammad, Alonso Gaffney, Andre Wesson, Kaleb Wesson
The Buckeyes enter the season with high hopes after making the tournament during the first two seasons under Chris Holtmann, and they now have arguably his most talented team. They have a very good front court returning with brothers Andre and Kaleb Wesson returning to school and they look to be a strong duo. Kyle Young also returns to fill out the rotation, and on the wing Luther Muhammad and Duane Washington will look to build off strong freshman campaigns. They also have a lot of intriguing newcomers, starting in the backcourt with Florida State transfer CJ Walker and top 50 guard DJ Carton. They should each see time at the point, and they can also share time at the point. Ohio State also has reinforcements at the combo forward position, with fellow top 50 recruits Alonso Gaffney and EJ Liddell joining the fray. This is a deep and talented bunch, and Holtmann knows how to maximize the talent on his roster, so I think they will give Michigan State a run for their money in the Big Ten.
The Buckeyes enter the season with high hopes after making the tournament during the first two seasons under Chris Holtmann, and they now have arguably his most talented team. They have a very good front court returning with brothers Andre and Kaleb Wesson returning to school and they look to be a strong duo. Kyle Young also returns to fill out the rotation, and on the wing Luther Muhammad and Duane Washington will look to build off strong freshman campaigns. They also have a lot of intriguing newcomers, starting in the backcourt with Florida State transfer CJ Walker and top 50 guard DJ Carton. They should each see time at the point, and they can also share time at the point. Ohio State also has reinforcements at the combo forward position, with fellow top 50 recruits Alonso Gaffney and EJ Liddell joining the fray. This is a deep and talented bunch, and Holtmann knows how to maximize the talent on his roster, so I think they will give Michigan State a run for their money in the Big Ten.
10. North Carolina
Projected Starting Lineup: Cole Anthony, Christian Keeling, Justin Pierce, Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks
Fresh off producing three first round picks last year, North Carolina has replenished their roster for next year. They have a top 10 recruiting class, bringing in five star talents in guard Cole Anthony, who ranks inside the top 5, and big man Armando Bacot. They also have top 100 guard Anthony Harris, who will be in the rotation and should be a fixture in Chapel Hill for years to come. They also add graduate transfer Christian Keeling from Charleston Southern and Justin Pierce from William and Mary. Both are floor spacers who will open up driving lanes for Anthony and give Bacot and the other bigs room to operate. Speaking of the other bigs, the Tar Heels still have returning talent. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Leaky Black this year, as he showed flashes as a freshman but was overshadowed by the other talent at his position. They also have reliable veterans Brandon Robinson and Andrew Platek returning, and they should be solid rotation players. Roy Williams will also get back to the two big system he loves, with Garrison Brooks and Sterling Manley joining Bacot up front. They have a lot of talent here, with a good mix of one and done talents and veterans, so I think they will be a really good squad once again.
Fresh off producing three first round picks last year, North Carolina has replenished their roster for next year. They have a top 10 recruiting class, bringing in five star talents in guard Cole Anthony, who ranks inside the top 5, and big man Armando Bacot. They also have top 100 guard Anthony Harris, who will be in the rotation and should be a fixture in Chapel Hill for years to come. They also add graduate transfer Christian Keeling from Charleston Southern and Justin Pierce from William and Mary. Both are floor spacers who will open up driving lanes for Anthony and give Bacot and the other bigs room to operate. Speaking of the other bigs, the Tar Heels still have returning talent. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Leaky Black this year, as he showed flashes as a freshman but was overshadowed by the other talent at his position. They also have reliable veterans Brandon Robinson and Andrew Platek returning, and they should be solid rotation players. Roy Williams will also get back to the two big system he loves, with Garrison Brooks and Sterling Manley joining Bacot up front. They have a lot of talent here, with a good mix of one and done talents and veterans, so I think they will be a really good squad once again.
11. Villanova
Projected Starting Lineup: Collin Gillespie, Bryan Antoine, Saddiq Bey, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree
The Wildcats have been one of the best programs in college basketball for the past few years, and they look to be very good once again after a slight down year. They have a strong group of returning players, especially on the wing. Saddiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels, Brandon Slater, and Cole Swider all come in after varying degrees of success last year, but they were well regarded coming out of high school and should see more minutes this year. Collin Gillespie and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree also return as proven players for the Cats, and they will be key pieces given the lack of depth at their positions. The main reason for optimism, outside of having one of the best coaches in the sport with Jay Wright manning the sideline, is their recruiting class. Ranking fifth in the country, the Wildcats have four top 75 players coming into school next year. Five stars Bryan Antoine and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl figure to be starters and four stars Justin Moore and Eric Dixon will be involved in the rotation as well. They should be much deeper this year than last, and they've bumped up their talent level, so Jay Wright should be back in the national conversation.
The Wildcats have been one of the best programs in college basketball for the past few years, and they look to be very good once again after a slight down year. They have a strong group of returning players, especially on the wing. Saddiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels, Brandon Slater, and Cole Swider all come in after varying degrees of success last year, but they were well regarded coming out of high school and should see more minutes this year. Collin Gillespie and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree also return as proven players for the Cats, and they will be key pieces given the lack of depth at their positions. The main reason for optimism, outside of having one of the best coaches in the sport with Jay Wright manning the sideline, is their recruiting class. Ranking fifth in the country, the Wildcats have four top 75 players coming into school next year. Five stars Bryan Antoine and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl figure to be starters and four stars Justin Moore and Eric Dixon will be involved in the rotation as well. They should be much deeper this year than last, and they've bumped up their talent level, so Jay Wright should be back in the national conversation.
12. Maryland
Projected Starting Lineup: Anthony Cowan, Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell, Jalen Smith, Makhi Mitchell
The Terrapins lost Bruno Fernando to the NBA Draft, but they brought back the rest of their rotation and they should be very good this season. Anthony Cowan figures to be one of the top point guards in the nation, and Eric Ayala, Serrel Smith, and Daryl Morsell will all look to take steps forward this season, as will wing Aaron Wiggins and combo forward Ricky Lindo. They also have Jalen Smith back, and while he was sightly overshadowed by Fernando last year, he'll be the star in the front court and could have a huge season. Mark Turgeon is also bringing in a good recruiting class, with the Mitchell twins, Makhi and Makhel, coming into the front court, along with one time highly regarded recruit Chol Marial, who has struggled with injuries throughout his high school career. Top 150 wing Donta Scott will also factor into the rotation. With the rising sophomores taking steps forward and a star point guard, they have the potential to be a Final Four team next year.
The Terrapins lost Bruno Fernando to the NBA Draft, but they brought back the rest of their rotation and they should be very good this season. Anthony Cowan figures to be one of the top point guards in the nation, and Eric Ayala, Serrel Smith, and Daryl Morsell will all look to take steps forward this season, as will wing Aaron Wiggins and combo forward Ricky Lindo. They also have Jalen Smith back, and while he was sightly overshadowed by Fernando last year, he'll be the star in the front court and could have a huge season. Mark Turgeon is also bringing in a good recruiting class, with the Mitchell twins, Makhi and Makhel, coming into the front court, along with one time highly regarded recruit Chol Marial, who has struggled with injuries throughout his high school career. Top 150 wing Donta Scott will also factor into the rotation. With the rising sophomores taking steps forward and a star point guard, they have the potential to be a Final Four team next year.
13. Seton Hall
Projected Starting Lineup: Quincy McKnight, Myles Powell, Myles Cale, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ikey Obiagu
The Pirates are one of the more underratedly successful programs of the past few years, making each of the last four tournaments, but they figure to step more into the national limelight this year. They return superstar Myles Powell, who will be in the running for Player of the Year after an excellent season. The returning cast around him is also strong, as they only lose Michael Nzei from last year's team. Quincy McKnight compliments Powell really well as a solid defender and ball handler in a low usage role, and Shavar Reynolds will provide depth in the backcourt. On the wing, Myles Cale is a really nice player and Jared Rhoden came on strong at the end of his freshman year and is a breakout candidate. Up front, Sandro Mamukelashvili has a really nice offensive game, and Romaro Gill is a good defender. They also have two newcomers, with Florida State transfer and shot blocking menace Ikey Obiagu and Canadian freshman Tyrese Samuel. Samuel impressed at the FIBA U19 Tournament, and he could force his way into the rotation. They were impressive last year, and I'm excited to see them take a step into national relevance.
The Pirates are one of the more underratedly successful programs of the past few years, making each of the last four tournaments, but they figure to step more into the national limelight this year. They return superstar Myles Powell, who will be in the running for Player of the Year after an excellent season. The returning cast around him is also strong, as they only lose Michael Nzei from last year's team. Quincy McKnight compliments Powell really well as a solid defender and ball handler in a low usage role, and Shavar Reynolds will provide depth in the backcourt. On the wing, Myles Cale is a really nice player and Jared Rhoden came on strong at the end of his freshman year and is a breakout candidate. Up front, Sandro Mamukelashvili has a really nice offensive game, and Romaro Gill is a good defender. They also have two newcomers, with Florida State transfer and shot blocking menace Ikey Obiagu and Canadian freshman Tyrese Samuel. Samuel impressed at the FIBA U19 Tournament, and he could force his way into the rotation. They were impressive last year, and I'm excited to see them take a step into national relevance.
14. Memphis
Projected Starting Lineup: Tyler Harris, Boogie Ellis, Lestor Quinones, Precious Achiuwa, James Wiseman
After a solid year in his first season on the sideline, Penny Hardaway has much higher expectations heading into year 2. They bring in the best recruiting class in the country, and arguably one of the best ever. Headlined by the best recruit in the class, center James Wiseman, all of the seven players rank inside the top 110 and have four star rankings. Five star combo forward Precious Achiuwa also joins, and he and Wiseman could be one of the best front courts in the sport next season. They also have four star forward DJ Jeffries and center Malcolm Dandridge entering the fray, so quality front court minutes shouldn't be a problem. Plus, Louisville transfer Lance Thomas is eligible and senior Isaiah Maurice will be a factor as well. In the back court, Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax return, and they will look to build on solid freshman years at the point guard position. They also have Boogie Ellis, a one time Duke commit, and Damion Baugh entering as point guards, plus wing scorer Lestor Quinones. The talent is undeniable here, the only question is can Penny coach well enough? Time will tell, but their talent level is undeniable and deserving of a top 15 ranking.
After a solid year in his first season on the sideline, Penny Hardaway has much higher expectations heading into year 2. They bring in the best recruiting class in the country, and arguably one of the best ever. Headlined by the best recruit in the class, center James Wiseman, all of the seven players rank inside the top 110 and have four star rankings. Five star combo forward Precious Achiuwa also joins, and he and Wiseman could be one of the best front courts in the sport next season. They also have four star forward DJ Jeffries and center Malcolm Dandridge entering the fray, so quality front court minutes shouldn't be a problem. Plus, Louisville transfer Lance Thomas is eligible and senior Isaiah Maurice will be a factor as well. In the back court, Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax return, and they will look to build on solid freshman years at the point guard position. They also have Boogie Ellis, a one time Duke commit, and Damion Baugh entering as point guards, plus wing scorer Lestor Quinones. The talent is undeniable here, the only question is can Penny coach well enough? Time will tell, but their talent level is undeniable and deserving of a top 15 ranking.
15. Alabama
Projected Starting Lineup: Kira Lewis, Beetle Bolden, John Petty, Herb Jones, Galen Smith
With new head coach Nate Oats in Tuscaloosa, expectations are high for the upcoming season. After two straight very good years at Buffalo, Oats will be looking to make the Tide into one of the better teams in the nation. The roster is very similar to those excellent Bulls teams, with a lot of talented guards. The three headed back court monster of Kira Lewis, coming in after a successful freshman year and is looking to emerge as a star this year, Beetle Bolden, a West Virginia grad transfer who, while a bit undersized, is a very good scorer, and John Petty, who, while being a bit streaky, is a knockdown shooter. Those three will be the driving force of the team, and should but them into the top half of the SEC. However, they have talent on the rest of the roster as well. The front court could be a bit of a weakness, with Herb Jones being basically a non-factor offensively, although he is a lockdown defender, and Gallin Smith providing very little during his first two season. Luckily, they have some incoming reinforcements. James Rojas is one of the top JuCo players in the country, and he should see some time at the power forward position as another good defender with a bit more offensive game, and Raymond Hawkins, who is a bit unrefined but should be able to see rotation minutes at the five. Wing Juwan Gary could also see minutes at the four in small ball lineups thanks to his impressive frame, and he'll be a key rotation piece no matter what. Jaylen Forbes and Jaden Schackelford are both top 100 recruits and scoring oriented two guards who should also be able to carve out a role this season. There is a lot of talent here and it all fits Oats' system, so I think the Tide have a really big season.
With new head coach Nate Oats in Tuscaloosa, expectations are high for the upcoming season. After two straight very good years at Buffalo, Oats will be looking to make the Tide into one of the better teams in the nation. The roster is very similar to those excellent Bulls teams, with a lot of talented guards. The three headed back court monster of Kira Lewis, coming in after a successful freshman year and is looking to emerge as a star this year, Beetle Bolden, a West Virginia grad transfer who, while a bit undersized, is a very good scorer, and John Petty, who, while being a bit streaky, is a knockdown shooter. Those three will be the driving force of the team, and should but them into the top half of the SEC. However, they have talent on the rest of the roster as well. The front court could be a bit of a weakness, with Herb Jones being basically a non-factor offensively, although he is a lockdown defender, and Gallin Smith providing very little during his first two season. Luckily, they have some incoming reinforcements. James Rojas is one of the top JuCo players in the country, and he should see some time at the power forward position as another good defender with a bit more offensive game, and Raymond Hawkins, who is a bit unrefined but should be able to see rotation minutes at the five. Wing Juwan Gary could also see minutes at the four in small ball lineups thanks to his impressive frame, and he'll be a key rotation piece no matter what. Jaylen Forbes and Jaden Schackelford are both top 100 recruits and scoring oriented two guards who should also be able to carve out a role this season. There is a lot of talent here and it all fits Oats' system, so I think the Tide have a really big season.
16. Gonzaga
Projected Starting Lineup: Ryan Woolridge, Admon Gilder, Corey Kispert, Killian Tillie, Filip Petrusev
The Bulldogs weren't a team I was that high on up until recently. First off, they grabbed Ryan Woolridge from North Texas to run the point. They were sorely lacking a point guard, and Woolridge is going to be really solid in that role. He's a stat sheet stuffer who, while he may not be a huge scorer, he'll do a lot of stuff to make them better. We also got a chance to see some of the younger Gonzaga players in the FIBA U19 World Cup. Joel Ayayi, Filip Petrusev, and Omuar Ballo all raised their stock at the event, and look like rotation players for next season. Ayayi is a big time breakout candidate after struggling as a freshman, but showing off a lot of skill for France. Petrusev was a star for Serbia, and he looks like another player capable of making a leap as a sophomore. Ballo was a pretty big unknown heading into the year given his extreme youth, but he was good for runners up Mali, and he could find his way into the front court rotation. They also have Admon Gilder, a Texas A&M transfer, who is a good shooter, as are returners Corey Kispert and Killian Tillie. Tillie is an X-factor, as he was injured last year and if he's healthy, he could be an All-American type player. Their recruiting class is also very good, with Drew Timme, Anton Watson, and Pavel Zakharov also coming in to Spokane next year with a lot of pedigree, although they are all front court players. The back court and wing is a little thin, but they have a lot of talent and it looks as if they will once again be very, very good.
The Bulldogs weren't a team I was that high on up until recently. First off, they grabbed Ryan Woolridge from North Texas to run the point. They were sorely lacking a point guard, and Woolridge is going to be really solid in that role. He's a stat sheet stuffer who, while he may not be a huge scorer, he'll do a lot of stuff to make them better. We also got a chance to see some of the younger Gonzaga players in the FIBA U19 World Cup. Joel Ayayi, Filip Petrusev, and Omuar Ballo all raised their stock at the event, and look like rotation players for next season. Ayayi is a big time breakout candidate after struggling as a freshman, but showing off a lot of skill for France. Petrusev was a star for Serbia, and he looks like another player capable of making a leap as a sophomore. Ballo was a pretty big unknown heading into the year given his extreme youth, but he was good for runners up Mali, and he could find his way into the front court rotation. They also have Admon Gilder, a Texas A&M transfer, who is a good shooter, as are returners Corey Kispert and Killian Tillie. Tillie is an X-factor, as he was injured last year and if he's healthy, he could be an All-American type player. Their recruiting class is also very good, with Drew Timme, Anton Watson, and Pavel Zakharov also coming in to Spokane next year with a lot of pedigree, although they are all front court players. The back court and wing is a little thin, but they have a lot of talent and it looks as if they will once again be very, very good.
17. Georgia
Projected Starting Lineup: Donnell Gresham, Anthony Edwards, Christian Brown, Rayshaun Hammonds, Rodney Howard
The Bulldogs aren't known for their basketball, making the NCAA Tournament five times in the 21st century, but things seem to be turning around under Tom Crean. Losing Nic Claxton hurts, but Crean is adding a huge recruiting class. First off, they added graduate transfer Donnell Gresham from Northeastern, who will come in to run the point. He isn't a star, but he's a solid distributor and shooter and he'll fit very well next to the gem of the recruiting class, Anthony Edwards. A top 3 freshman in the country and potential #1 pick next year, he's a high scoring shooting guard who could be an All-American this year. They also have a bevy of wings coming in, with Christian Brown, Jaykwon Walton, and Toumani Camara, all top 100 players in the class, and at least one should be a solid starter for the Bulldogs. They also picked up Sahvir Wheeler, a top 100 recruit at the point guard position, who will factor into the backcourt rotation, and Rodney Howard, a center who was a late riser in the class and could play immediately. Georgia also has some returning talent, with Tyree Crump, Amanze Ngumezi, and most notably Rayshaun Hammonds all coming back. Hammonds is a stretch four who could be a really interesting piece next to all of the talented freshmen. There is a lot of talent coming into Athens next year, and I think this team could be one of the best in the SEC.
The Bulldogs aren't known for their basketball, making the NCAA Tournament five times in the 21st century, but things seem to be turning around under Tom Crean. Losing Nic Claxton hurts, but Crean is adding a huge recruiting class. First off, they added graduate transfer Donnell Gresham from Northeastern, who will come in to run the point. He isn't a star, but he's a solid distributor and shooter and he'll fit very well next to the gem of the recruiting class, Anthony Edwards. A top 3 freshman in the country and potential #1 pick next year, he's a high scoring shooting guard who could be an All-American this year. They also have a bevy of wings coming in, with Christian Brown, Jaykwon Walton, and Toumani Camara, all top 100 players in the class, and at least one should be a solid starter for the Bulldogs. They also picked up Sahvir Wheeler, a top 100 recruit at the point guard position, who will factor into the backcourt rotation, and Rodney Howard, a center who was a late riser in the class and could play immediately. Georgia also has some returning talent, with Tyree Crump, Amanze Ngumezi, and most notably Rayshaun Hammonds all coming back. Hammonds is a stretch four who could be a really interesting piece next to all of the talented freshmen. There is a lot of talent coming into Athens next year, and I think this team could be one of the best in the SEC.
18. Virginia
Projected Starting Lineup: Kihei Clark, Casey Morsell, Braxton Key, Mamadi Diakite, Jay Huff
After winning a national title last year, the Cavaliers have to go through a big rebuild after losing Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, and De'Andre Hunter from last year's championship team. However, they won't be completely irrelevant this season. They have some returning players from the squad that won the championship, including point guard Kihei Clark, who came out of nowhere to be a starter during his freshman season, Braxton Key, an Alabama transfer who came on strong late in the year and figures to have a much bigger role, and Mamadi Diakite, the big man who was absolutely excellent during the stretch run for Virginia and could be a star this season. They also have some bench players who will step into bigger roles, with big man Jay Huff probably assuming a starting role. He's a 7'1" center who can step out and shoot it a little bit, so he could have a big impact, as could Kody Stattmann, a wing who played pretty well for Australia in the FIBA U19s. They also have a nice recruiting class, with guard Casey Morsell standing out as a potential immediate impact guy. Kadin Shedrick is sort of like Jay Huff, but he may struggle to find minutes given all of the front court talent, and Tomas Woldetensae is a nice JuCo transfer. Be sure to keep an eye on Justin McKoy as well, as he's a great shooter who could make an instant impact from behind the arc. It's also impossible to not talk about Tony Bennett, as his defensive scheme makes sure the Cavaliers will have a certain level of success. They could be like Villanova last year, as they go through a slight down year, at least compared to their lofty expectations, after losing a lot of their core.
After winning a national title last year, the Cavaliers have to go through a big rebuild after losing Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, and De'Andre Hunter from last year's championship team. However, they won't be completely irrelevant this season. They have some returning players from the squad that won the championship, including point guard Kihei Clark, who came out of nowhere to be a starter during his freshman season, Braxton Key, an Alabama transfer who came on strong late in the year and figures to have a much bigger role, and Mamadi Diakite, the big man who was absolutely excellent during the stretch run for Virginia and could be a star this season. They also have some bench players who will step into bigger roles, with big man Jay Huff probably assuming a starting role. He's a 7'1" center who can step out and shoot it a little bit, so he could have a big impact, as could Kody Stattmann, a wing who played pretty well for Australia in the FIBA U19s. They also have a nice recruiting class, with guard Casey Morsell standing out as a potential immediate impact guy. Kadin Shedrick is sort of like Jay Huff, but he may struggle to find minutes given all of the front court talent, and Tomas Woldetensae is a nice JuCo transfer. Be sure to keep an eye on Justin McKoy as well, as he's a great shooter who could make an instant impact from behind the arc. It's also impossible to not talk about Tony Bennett, as his defensive scheme makes sure the Cavaliers will have a certain level of success. They could be like Villanova last year, as they go through a slight down year, at least compared to their lofty expectations, after losing a lot of their core.
19. Oklahoma State
Projected Starting Lineup: Isaac Likekele, Thomas Dziagwa, Lindy Waters, Cameron McGriff, Yor Anei
I am still the captain of the Oklahoma State bandwagon, as I have them as a Top 20 team heading into the season. They return their entire starting lineup from last year, and despite struggling the Big 12, I think they have a lot of guys that take steps forwards and enough new blood to make them much better this year. Starting off with the returners, the rising senior cast of Thomas Dziagwa, Lindy Waters, and Cameron McGriff should be the backbone of the team. Dziagwa and Waters are knockdown shooters on the wing who should provide a lot of spacing for the rest of the Cowboys. Meanwhile, McGriff is a nightly double double threat who also has the ability to step out and hit a jumper. Then there are Likekele, who I thought played really well in the U19s and is a good passer and defender, although his scoring has yet to come on, and Anei is a solid rim protector and rebounder who also doesn't offer much offensively. They then bring in UMass graduate transfer Jonathon Laurent, a wing who shot 46.7% from three last year, as well as a top 25 recruiting class. They have three top 150 guards in Marcus Watson, Avery Anderson, and Chris Harris. Watson is a bit bigger and a little more physical than the other two, and he could be plus defender, which would pair really nicely with his shooting stroke. Anderson is currently more of a slasher and he is lightning quick and can get past his man with ease, while Harris is a solid shooter although he needs to add strength. They also have twins Kalib and Keylan Boone in the front court, with Kalib being much better and he should see minutes in the front court. I love all the shooting they have and the role players they have to fill in the holes, so I'm all in on the Pokes.
I am still the captain of the Oklahoma State bandwagon, as I have them as a Top 20 team heading into the season. They return their entire starting lineup from last year, and despite struggling the Big 12, I think they have a lot of guys that take steps forwards and enough new blood to make them much better this year. Starting off with the returners, the rising senior cast of Thomas Dziagwa, Lindy Waters, and Cameron McGriff should be the backbone of the team. Dziagwa and Waters are knockdown shooters on the wing who should provide a lot of spacing for the rest of the Cowboys. Meanwhile, McGriff is a nightly double double threat who also has the ability to step out and hit a jumper. Then there are Likekele, who I thought played really well in the U19s and is a good passer and defender, although his scoring has yet to come on, and Anei is a solid rim protector and rebounder who also doesn't offer much offensively. They then bring in UMass graduate transfer Jonathon Laurent, a wing who shot 46.7% from three last year, as well as a top 25 recruiting class. They have three top 150 guards in Marcus Watson, Avery Anderson, and Chris Harris. Watson is a bit bigger and a little more physical than the other two, and he could be plus defender, which would pair really nicely with his shooting stroke. Anderson is currently more of a slasher and he is lightning quick and can get past his man with ease, while Harris is a solid shooter although he needs to add strength. They also have twins Kalib and Keylan Boone in the front court, with Kalib being much better and he should see minutes in the front court. I love all the shooting they have and the role players they have to fill in the holes, so I'm all in on the Pokes.
20. Florida State
Projected Starting Lineup: Trent Forrest, MJ Walker, Patrick Williams, Raiquan Gary, Balsa Koprivica
The Seminoles have been quietly very good over the past few seasons, and they look poised to be good once again. They have Trent Forrest, MJ Walker, and Devin Vassell all back in the backcourt, and they should be a solid trio. Forrest is a very solid point guard and he should take on an increased scoring load this year, while Walker has been a popular break out candidate for years and I think he takes that step in 2019-20. Vassell was a late riser last year, but he was solid on the court and should see more minutes. They also have athletic wings Anthony Polite and Raiquan Gary back and they should also see more minutes. Leonard Hamilton brought in some talented newcomers as well, led by five star wing Patrick Williams, who could start right away. They bring in two centers in Balsa Koprivica and Naheem McLoud, who both stand over 7 feet but need to add strength. Zimife Nowkeji and JuCo players Nathaniel Jack and RayQuan Evans also enter the fray, and could find minutes. Plus, Rice transfer wing Malik Osborne and Ole Miss transfer center Dominik Olejniczak join, so Hamilton will have no shortage of options. The quality of the depth is the main question, but they have a lot of great athletes, which really fits their system, and they should be good once again this year.
The Seminoles have been quietly very good over the past few seasons, and they look poised to be good once again. They have Trent Forrest, MJ Walker, and Devin Vassell all back in the backcourt, and they should be a solid trio. Forrest is a very solid point guard and he should take on an increased scoring load this year, while Walker has been a popular break out candidate for years and I think he takes that step in 2019-20. Vassell was a late riser last year, but he was solid on the court and should see more minutes. They also have athletic wings Anthony Polite and Raiquan Gary back and they should also see more minutes. Leonard Hamilton brought in some talented newcomers as well, led by five star wing Patrick Williams, who could start right away. They bring in two centers in Balsa Koprivica and Naheem McLoud, who both stand over 7 feet but need to add strength. Zimife Nowkeji and JuCo players Nathaniel Jack and RayQuan Evans also enter the fray, and could find minutes. Plus, Rice transfer wing Malik Osborne and Ole Miss transfer center Dominik Olejniczak join, so Hamilton will have no shortage of options. The quality of the depth is the main question, but they have a lot of great athletes, which really fits their system, and they should be good once again this year.
21. Baylor
Projected Starting Lineup: Davion Mitchell, Macio Teague, Mark Vital, Mario Kegler, Tristain Clark
Baylor was pretty good last year, including winning a tournament game by making 16 threes against Syracuse. They made 4 in their next game. Syracuse lost on a total fluke, really cool. Anyways, I'm over it, onto the Bears for next year. They have a transfer back court in Davion Mitchell and Macio Teague. Mitchell comes over from Auburn, and I really like him. He's quick with the ball in his hands and a good defender. Teague is someone I'm less familiar with, coming over from UNC Ashevile, but he put up big numbers there. He is a good shooter and scorer, and I think he can provide an impact. Jared Butler and Devonte Bandoo join them in the backcourt, and I think Butler is a really good third guard for the Bears and he could feature alongside both Mitchell and Teague. On the wing, Mark Vital returns and freshman Jordan Turner as good defenders who make life tough for opposing teams. In the front court, Mario Kegler and Tristan Clark get a chance to play a full season together, which should be exciting for Bears' fans. They played just 8 games together last year, and they should be a nice fit next to one another given Kegler's ability to play on the perimeter. They also have Matthew Mayer and Flo Thamba to provide depth behind them, and I think they are both pretty quality bench players. They have the potential to outperform this ranking, but I don't know if they have the star quality player to make a jump into the Top 20.
Baylor was pretty good last year, including winning a tournament game by making 16 threes against Syracuse. They made 4 in their next game. Syracuse lost on a total fluke, really cool. Anyways, I'm over it, onto the Bears for next year. They have a transfer back court in Davion Mitchell and Macio Teague. Mitchell comes over from Auburn, and I really like him. He's quick with the ball in his hands and a good defender. Teague is someone I'm less familiar with, coming over from UNC Ashevile, but he put up big numbers there. He is a good shooter and scorer, and I think he can provide an impact. Jared Butler and Devonte Bandoo join them in the backcourt, and I think Butler is a really good third guard for the Bears and he could feature alongside both Mitchell and Teague. On the wing, Mark Vital returns and freshman Jordan Turner as good defenders who make life tough for opposing teams. In the front court, Mario Kegler and Tristan Clark get a chance to play a full season together, which should be exciting for Bears' fans. They played just 8 games together last year, and they should be a nice fit next to one another given Kegler's ability to play on the perimeter. They also have Matthew Mayer and Flo Thamba to provide depth behind them, and I think they are both pretty quality bench players. They have the potential to outperform this ranking, but I don't know if they have the star quality player to make a jump into the Top 20.
22. Utah State
Projected Starting Lineup: Abel Porter, Sam Merrill, Brock Miller, Justin Bean, Neemias Queta
The Aggies were on par with a very good Nevada team last season, and they bring back the same core for another season. The two stars with be Sam Merrill and Neemias Queta. Merrill is an excellent scoring guard and should be in All-American consideration after averaging over 20 points a game last year. Meanwhile, Queta had a great freshman year, and he's an excellent shot blocker who is a bit limited offensively but could improve after an offseason of work. Meanwhile, they have a really nice cast of role players. Abel Porter and Diogo Brito are good guards who fit well next to Merrill, and I like them a good amount. They also have Brock Miller back on the wing who could break out as a scorer as a sophomore, as could Justin Bean, who is in line for a bigger role. They also have the top recruiting class in the Mountain West, led by Canadian forward Liam McChesney, who should see minutes right away. They are running back a borderline Top 25 squad last year, so they look to be in a good spot for next year.
Projected Starting Lineup: Abel Porter, Sam Merrill, Brock Miller, Justin Bean, Neemias Queta
The Aggies were on par with a very good Nevada team last season, and they bring back the same core for another season. The two stars with be Sam Merrill and Neemias Queta. Merrill is an excellent scoring guard and should be in All-American consideration after averaging over 20 points a game last year. Meanwhile, Queta had a great freshman year, and he's an excellent shot blocker who is a bit limited offensively but could improve after an offseason of work. Meanwhile, they have a really nice cast of role players. Abel Porter and Diogo Brito are good guards who fit well next to Merrill, and I like them a good amount. They also have Brock Miller back on the wing who could break out as a scorer as a sophomore, as could Justin Bean, who is in line for a bigger role. They also have the top recruiting class in the Mountain West, led by Canadian forward Liam McChesney, who should see minutes right away. They are running back a borderline Top 25 squad last year, so they look to be in a good spot for next year.
23. Oregon
Projected Starting Lineup: Payton Pritchard, Will Richardson, Anthony Mathis, CJ Walker, Francis Okoro
Oregon snuck their way into the tournament last year, and made it to the Sweet 16, but they will have a much different roster this year after losing Bol Bol and Louis King. However, they have some good players coming back along with some really good newcomers. They will be led by senior point guard Payton Pritchard, who is the lone remaining player from their Final Four run. He's a great shooter, good facilitator, and a solid ball handler who had a bit of a down year last season, but I think he bounces back in 19-20. They also bring back Will Richardson, who will look to break out as a sophomore with more playing time, and I think he is more than capable. The final returner is center Francis Okoro, who is another breakout candidate. He reclassified up a year to get on campus early, and ended up starting 22 games, although his stats weren't anything special. He should be a solid big man for the Ducks next season. Dana Altman also once again has a lot of talent coming in. New Mexico transfer wing Anthony Mathis provides a ton of shooting, and he is in line for a big role. They also have JuCo transfer Chris Duarte entering on the wing, and he could be another talented scorer for a team that needs it. However, most of their recruiting efforts were focused in the front court. CJ Walker is a five star combo forward who should start, but they also grabbed Chandler Lawson and late riser Lok Wur and center Isaac Johnson. They have a lot of length and athleticism in the front court, and they should be very good defensively. I am warming up to this team more and more, and I think they are a Top 25 team this year.
Oregon snuck their way into the tournament last year, and made it to the Sweet 16, but they will have a much different roster this year after losing Bol Bol and Louis King. However, they have some good players coming back along with some really good newcomers. They will be led by senior point guard Payton Pritchard, who is the lone remaining player from their Final Four run. He's a great shooter, good facilitator, and a solid ball handler who had a bit of a down year last season, but I think he bounces back in 19-20. They also bring back Will Richardson, who will look to break out as a sophomore with more playing time, and I think he is more than capable. The final returner is center Francis Okoro, who is another breakout candidate. He reclassified up a year to get on campus early, and ended up starting 22 games, although his stats weren't anything special. He should be a solid big man for the Ducks next season. Dana Altman also once again has a lot of talent coming in. New Mexico transfer wing Anthony Mathis provides a ton of shooting, and he is in line for a big role. They also have JuCo transfer Chris Duarte entering on the wing, and he could be another talented scorer for a team that needs it. However, most of their recruiting efforts were focused in the front court. CJ Walker is a five star combo forward who should start, but they also grabbed Chandler Lawson and late riser Lok Wur and center Isaac Johnson. They have a lot of length and athleticism in the front court, and they should be very good defensively. I am warming up to this team more and more, and I think they are a Top 25 team this year.
24. Washington
Projected Starting Lineup: Elijah Hardy, Raequan Battle, Naz Carter, Jaden McDaniels, Isaiah Stewart
The Huskies have been much better since Mike Hopkins came in and established the 2-3 zone. He's done some great work on the recruiting trail, grabbing two five star players in Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart for the front court, and four star shooting guard Raequan Battle. I'm very interested in the McDaniels/Stewart front court, as McDaniels is a super athlete who has sky high potential, while Stewart is projected to be a double double machine. They could be one of the best front courts in the nation if they find chemistry quickly. Meanwhile, he also got Quade Green from Kentucky who will be eligible mid-season, and he will help shore up a lot of questions in the backcourt. Right now, they will have to rely on unproven Elijah Hardy for ball handling duties, and Battle figures to play a lot of minutes. I look forward to seeing Jamal Bey and Naz Carter this year, as they could breakout on the wing. I think they could start slow, but I think the dynamic front court pairing will spur them onto a very good season.
The Huskies have been much better since Mike Hopkins came in and established the 2-3 zone. He's done some great work on the recruiting trail, grabbing two five star players in Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart for the front court, and four star shooting guard Raequan Battle. I'm very interested in the McDaniels/Stewart front court, as McDaniels is a super athlete who has sky high potential, while Stewart is projected to be a double double machine. They could be one of the best front courts in the nation if they find chemistry quickly. Meanwhile, he also got Quade Green from Kentucky who will be eligible mid-season, and he will help shore up a lot of questions in the backcourt. Right now, they will have to rely on unproven Elijah Hardy for ball handling duties, and Battle figures to play a lot of minutes. I look forward to seeing Jamal Bey and Naz Carter this year, as they could breakout on the wing. I think they could start slow, but I think the dynamic front court pairing will spur them onto a very good season.
25. VCU
Projected Starting Lineup: Marcus Evans, De'Riante Jenkins, Isaac Vann, Vince Williams, Marcus Santos-Silva
The Rams are similar to Utah State in that they are bringing back the same roster from a successful mid-major last season. They have the high scoring guard in Marcus Evans, who could be in the All-American conversation this season. His backcourt make, De'Riante Jenkins, is also in line for a big season, and I think those two will be excellent. They also have two more double digit scorers returning in Isaac Vann and Marcus Santos-Silva, who are going to be factors in the front court. The final starting spot is still up for grabs, but I'm favoring Vince Williams, as he fits into the pressing system that the Rams love and I think he could break out as a sophomore. Mike'L Simms is also in consideration given he will be a senior, as is Malik Crowfield. Finally, Mike Rhoades brings in two nice freshman in top 100 guard Bones Hyland, who will be in the backcourt rotation with Evans and Jenkins, and Hason Ward, who could be a factor at center. I really like this roster, but they need to be able to make shots from deep to reach their full potential, and I don't know if they can do that. Still, they figure to be around the Top 25 all season.
The Rams are similar to Utah State in that they are bringing back the same roster from a successful mid-major last season. They have the high scoring guard in Marcus Evans, who could be in the All-American conversation this season. His backcourt make, De'Riante Jenkins, is also in line for a big season, and I think those two will be excellent. They also have two more double digit scorers returning in Isaac Vann and Marcus Santos-Silva, who are going to be factors in the front court. The final starting spot is still up for grabs, but I'm favoring Vince Williams, as he fits into the pressing system that the Rams love and I think he could break out as a sophomore. Mike'L Simms is also in consideration given he will be a senior, as is Malik Crowfield. Finally, Mike Rhoades brings in two nice freshman in top 100 guard Bones Hyland, who will be in the backcourt rotation with Evans and Jenkins, and Hason Ward, who could be a factor at center. I really like this roster, but they need to be able to make shots from deep to reach their full potential, and I don't know if they can do that. Still, they figure to be around the Top 25 all season.
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26. Xavier
Projected Starting Lineup: Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Jason Carter, Naji Marshall, Tyrique Jones
The Musketeers run it back with their young core of Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Naji Marshall, and Tyrique Jones. Those four form a nice core and should all be reaching their peak this year. I'm looking for Naji Marshall to have a huge season this year after a big sophomore season, and if he can improve his jumper, he'll be one of the best players in the Big East. They have a very physical team, with the entire core playing good defense and getting up into their opposition. Xavier also adds graduate transfers Jason Carter from Ohio and Bryce Moore from Western Michigan, who should help space the floor this season, which is the one thing they don't do very well. They also have a top 25 recruiting class, led by KyKy Tandy, who should make an immediate impact as a scoring guard. They have a pretty fun roster and I'm looking forward to seeing them after they came on strong at the end of last season.
The Musketeers run it back with their young core of Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Naji Marshall, and Tyrique Jones. Those four form a nice core and should all be reaching their peak this year. I'm looking for Naji Marshall to have a huge season this year after a big sophomore season, and if he can improve his jumper, he'll be one of the best players in the Big East. They have a very physical team, with the entire core playing good defense and getting up into their opposition. Xavier also adds graduate transfers Jason Carter from Ohio and Bryce Moore from Western Michigan, who should help space the floor this season, which is the one thing they don't do very well. They also have a top 25 recruiting class, led by KyKy Tandy, who should make an immediate impact as a scoring guard. They have a pretty fun roster and I'm looking forward to seeing them after they came on strong at the end of last season.
27. LSU
Projected Starting Lineup: Skylar Mays, Ja'vonte Smart, Marlon Taylor, Emmitt Williams, Trendon Watford
The Tigers are just outside of my Top 25 because I simply do not know what they are doing in the front court. I really like their lineup 1-4, with Skylar Mays, Ja'Vonte Smart, Darius Days, and Marlon Taylor all back, and five star forward Trendon Watford coming in as well. That core is really good and should be super fun to watch. However, looking at the center position, I have no idea what they are going to do. Watford could be a small ball five, but he will struggle with the strength of SEC bigs. I've seen Emmitt Williams being talked about as a center, but he's 6'7", and while he's strong enough, you just can't guard a 6'11" guy at that size. Still, I really like the entirety of their backcourt and wings, and given the way they play, I think that will make them very respectable. But I just can't put them into the Top 25 given their lack of size in a league with a lot of good big men.
The Tigers are just outside of my Top 25 because I simply do not know what they are doing in the front court. I really like their lineup 1-4, with Skylar Mays, Ja'Vonte Smart, Darius Days, and Marlon Taylor all back, and five star forward Trendon Watford coming in as well. That core is really good and should be super fun to watch. However, looking at the center position, I have no idea what they are going to do. Watford could be a small ball five, but he will struggle with the strength of SEC bigs. I've seen Emmitt Williams being talked about as a center, but he's 6'7", and while he's strong enough, you just can't guard a 6'11" guy at that size. Still, I really like the entirety of their backcourt and wings, and given the way they play, I think that will make them very respectable. But I just can't put them into the Top 25 given their lack of size in a league with a lot of good big men.
28. Cincinnati
Projected Starting Lineup: Jaevin Cumberland, Jarron Cumberland, Keith Williams, Tre Scott, Jaume Sorolla
The Bearcats were a very difficult team to rank. They lost their coach in Mick Cronin, and he was such a big part of their identity, especially defensively, and it remains to be seen how they play without him. I really like the hire of John Brannen, who I think was a really good coach during his time at Northern Kentucky, but this team was so tied to the Cronin mentality I just don't know what they'll look like. Still, they have a lot of talent for the upcoming year. Jarron Cumberland figures to be one of the best players in the country, and while he's more of a wing, I wouldn't be shocked to see him handle a lot of the creation, especially with my projected starting lineup. Keith Williams and Tre Scott are also back and figure to be solid starters who should take a step forward this season, while Trevor Moore and Mamadou Diarra are solid role players. However, a lot of this teams success will be tied to newcomers. They lack a true point guard, so Tennessee Tech transfer Chris McNeal and freshman Mika Adams-Woods will have to be at least solid for them right away. They also have Oakland grad transfer Jaevin Cumberland, a sharpshooting guard, Zach Harvey, a reclassified guard prospect who is a big time scorer, Jeremiah Davenport, a wing who took a prep year and boosted his stock, and Jaume Sorolla, a transfer from Valparaiso who figures to see most of the minutes at center. I'm very interested to see how this group plays on the court, because if things go well, they have Top 25 potential. If they don't, I think they could miss the tournament despite all of the talent on the roster.
The Bearcats were a very difficult team to rank. They lost their coach in Mick Cronin, and he was such a big part of their identity, especially defensively, and it remains to be seen how they play without him. I really like the hire of John Brannen, who I think was a really good coach during his time at Northern Kentucky, but this team was so tied to the Cronin mentality I just don't know what they'll look like. Still, they have a lot of talent for the upcoming year. Jarron Cumberland figures to be one of the best players in the country, and while he's more of a wing, I wouldn't be shocked to see him handle a lot of the creation, especially with my projected starting lineup. Keith Williams and Tre Scott are also back and figure to be solid starters who should take a step forward this season, while Trevor Moore and Mamadou Diarra are solid role players. However, a lot of this teams success will be tied to newcomers. They lack a true point guard, so Tennessee Tech transfer Chris McNeal and freshman Mika Adams-Woods will have to be at least solid for them right away. They also have Oakland grad transfer Jaevin Cumberland, a sharpshooting guard, Zach Harvey, a reclassified guard prospect who is a big time scorer, Jeremiah Davenport, a wing who took a prep year and boosted his stock, and Jaume Sorolla, a transfer from Valparaiso who figures to see most of the minutes at center. I'm very interested to see how this group plays on the court, because if things go well, they have Top 25 potential. If they don't, I think they could miss the tournament despite all of the talent on the roster.
29. Saint Mary’s
Projected Starting Lineup: Tommy Kuhse, Jordan Ford, Tanner Krebs, Malik Fitts, Mattias Tass
I really like Saint Mary's heading into this year. They have one of the top scorers in the nation in Jordan Ford, who is a lightning quick guard with an excellent shooting stroke, and just knows how to get buckets. Playing Robin to his Batman is Malik Fitts, a super athletic forward who has a nice shooting stroke, as most of the Gaels' players do. While the rest of the roster isn't anything special, they have a lot of really solid players. Both Tommy Kuhse and Tanner Krebs are solid shooters surrounding Ford, and they do a lot of the unseen work that allows him to thrive. Up front, Mathias Tass could be in for a breakout season, and incoming freshman Kyle Bowen played well for Australia at the U19 Tournament. With Gonzaga having some question marks, this could be their year to seize the WCC, and I wouldn't be shocked to see them hanging around the Top 25 this season.
I really like Saint Mary's heading into this year. They have one of the top scorers in the nation in Jordan Ford, who is a lightning quick guard with an excellent shooting stroke, and just knows how to get buckets. Playing Robin to his Batman is Malik Fitts, a super athletic forward who has a nice shooting stroke, as most of the Gaels' players do. While the rest of the roster isn't anything special, they have a lot of really solid players. Both Tommy Kuhse and Tanner Krebs are solid shooters surrounding Ford, and they do a lot of the unseen work that allows him to thrive. Up front, Mathias Tass could be in for a breakout season, and incoming freshman Kyle Bowen played well for Australia at the U19 Tournament. With Gonzaga having some question marks, this could be their year to seize the WCC, and I wouldn't be shocked to see them hanging around the Top 25 this season.
30. North Carolina State
Projected Starting Lineup: Markell Johnson, Braxton Beverley, CJ Bryce, Devon Daniels, DJ Funderburk
I am a full on Kevin Keatts stan at this point, as I just can't quit the Wolf Pack. I love the system he plays, and I think things could be better this season after not working out last year when they collapsed down the stretch. They return the great backcourt pairing of Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverley, two players who can make shots, are good ball handlers and willing passers, can operate ball screens, and get steals defensively. I think one of CJ Bryce or Devon Daniels will take a big step forward in their second season after becoming eligible for the Pack, as both have undeniable talent on the wing and just need to find consistentcy after showing flashes last year. You can't forget about Blake Harris or Jericole Hellems either, as both could be better with more consistent play time for the Wolf Pack next year. Up front, DJ Funderburk will look to build off a good year last season while Manny Bates will look to make up for a season lost to injury. Finally, they add newcomers Dereon Seabron, a guard who really improved his stock late, and Pat Andree, a stretch four grad transfer from Lehigh. I don't know what went wrong for them last year, but I think they put a lot of the pieces together this year and are more consistent this season.
I am a full on Kevin Keatts stan at this point, as I just can't quit the Wolf Pack. I love the system he plays, and I think things could be better this season after not working out last year when they collapsed down the stretch. They return the great backcourt pairing of Markell Johnson and Braxton Beverley, two players who can make shots, are good ball handlers and willing passers, can operate ball screens, and get steals defensively. I think one of CJ Bryce or Devon Daniels will take a big step forward in their second season after becoming eligible for the Pack, as both have undeniable talent on the wing and just need to find consistentcy after showing flashes last year. You can't forget about Blake Harris or Jericole Hellems either, as both could be better with more consistent play time for the Wolf Pack next year. Up front, DJ Funderburk will look to build off a good year last season while Manny Bates will look to make up for a season lost to injury. Finally, they add newcomers Dereon Seabron, a guard who really improved his stock late, and Pat Andree, a stretch four grad transfer from Lehigh. I don't know what went wrong for them last year, but I think they put a lot of the pieces together this year and are more consistent this season.
Also Considered: Arkansas, Auburn, Creighton, Davidson, Georgetown, Houston, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Providence, Purdue, Syracuse, Texas
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