College basketball is back, and they finally learned their lesson to start the season on a Tuesday with a pair of marquee games, rather than a Friday with none. Tonight begins with the Champions Classic featuring Duke vs. Kentucky and Kansas vs. Michigan State. Three of those four teams are featured in my Top 15. Here we go . . .
TOP 15:
1. KENTUCKY - John Calipari teams usually have one true weakness every March and that’s experience. This year will be different, and could be what gets Kentucky over the hump. Sure, the usual freshman studs are in tow. You’ve got Immanuel Quickley (almost too good of a name), Keldon Johnson, Ashton Hagans, and Tyler Herro. But this team also has experience. Quade Green, P.J. Washington, and Nick Richards are all back for their sophomore seasons — a rarity for a Coach Cal squad, and the biggest X-Factor of them all is grad transfer Reid Travis. For those that don’t know him, he averaged almost 20 and 9 last season at Stanford, and should help the young guys get through the early bumps of the season. And just like most Kentucky squads, this team will only improve as the season goes on.
2. GONZAGA - “Ha! But Gonzaga never actually wins anything!” That’s what you’re saying to yourself right now. Admit it. Well, maybe this isn’t their year to win the National Title either, but to me, they are certainly the best TEAM in the country entering the season. Between Rui Hachimura and Killian Tillie, Gonzaga’s frontline is immensely talented, and we’ve all seen what Mark Few can accomplish with a talented, versatile frontcourt. (Big issue here is Tillie will be out for 8 weeks with an injury, but I’m assuming he’ll come back healthy.) Combine that with the return of Josh Perkins and Zach Norvell, Jr. and North Dakota transfer Geno Crandall, and you’ve got a versatile, veteran, talented lineup.
3. DUKE left, USA Today Photo
4. TENNESSEE - If you watched Tennessee exceed expectations last season and play great basketball into March, then you already know this team…because no one left. Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Admiral Schofield, Grant Williams — the whole gang is back. Rick Barnes has done a great job at Tennessee getting the most out of these guys, and this year, he has a chance to do something special with them.
5. KANSAS - A popular pick to win the title, and the AP’s #1-ranked team. Their frountcourt definitely would lead you to think that. Udoka Azubuike and Dedric Lawson are a powerful 1-2 punch, with Lawson having a chance to be special after transferring from Memphis. However, my concern is in the backcourt. LaGerald Vick returns, but the rest of the backcourt is made up of two freshman. Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson are certainly fantastic, but Bill Self hasn’t been great at bringing along underclassmen at the rate you’d want. Combine that with the looming hoops investigation, and I’m not so certain the Jayhawks are there at the end in March.
6. VIRGINIA - I know last year’s stunning upset will stick in your mind and you’ll never pick Virginia to do anything again — let alone make it to the Final Four — but this team is still immensely talented. 1 through 3, they have everything you’d want in a college basketball player with Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy and DeAndre Hunter all returning. That alone is enough to push Virginia to the top 2 or 3 in the ACC. The key will be if Tony Bennett is willing to change his pace of play when the time is necessary.
7. NORTH CAROLINA - The Tar Heels have a dash of unknown about them, but they provide a fantastic mix of potential and experience. Potential POY candidate Luke Maye returns along with Kenny Williams. Those two will be joined by freshman Nassir Little and Coby White to form what could be a very fun, very dangerous squad.
8. NEVADA - There’s a very, very good chance this team finishes the season with the most wins in college basketball, but I’m not ready to say that they are better than the teams I have above them. The Wolf Pack got fantastic news when Caleb and Cody Martin both decided to return to campus rather than test the NBA Draft waters. They are joined by Nevada’s highest recruit in ANY sport in Freshman Forward Jordan Brown and Old Dominion transfer Trey Porter.
9. OREGON - Taking a leap of faith here that everything falls into place for the Ducks. The backcourt is certainly talented with Peyton Prichard returning, and Ehab Amin coming in as a grad transfer and sliding into Elijah Brown’s role. The two biggest X-Factors are Bol Bol and Louis King. Both very highly touted freshman who could make or break an Oregon run deep into the tournament.
10. VILLANOVA right, USA Today Photo
11. AUBURN - The Tigers will deal with the loss of Mustapha Heron, but still boast quite the talented backcourt. Jared Harper and Bryce Brown return, but the frontcourt is the question mark. Danjel Purifoy and Austin Wiley are returning from years away from the team due to the college hoops investigation, so Bruce Pearl will have quite the time trying to plug some guys back in.
12. MICHIGAN ST. - The Spartans are certainly experienced with a backcourt of Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford, and the always steady Matt McQuaid and Nick Ward still in the fold, but the Spartans just seem to be missing something…
…that something of course, is who fills in for the now departed Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson. The answer is currently unknown.
13. KANSAS ST. - Maybe I’m a little overexcited about what Bruce Webber’s club was able to pull off in the tournament last season, but I’m buying in on the Wildcats. Losing ZERO starters helps. If Barry Brown, Dean Wade (left, USA Today), and Xavier Sneed all get even just a little better, the Little Apple could be having some big parties deep into March once again.
14. UCLA - Talk about a team filled with players looking to prove themselves. UCLA has some former big-time recruits who remain with the Bruins because they haven’t yet equaled their lofty expectations. Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes are back for their sophomore campaigns, as does Prince Ali for his Junior season. Combine that with Cody Riley who sat out last year due to the shenanigans in China and monster Freshman Moses Brown, and UCLA could either be REALLY good…or really disappointing.
15. SYRACUSE - There are a lot of teams that I could put in this last spot, but I love Syracuse here. Mostly because I love teams that return everyone. Howard, Battle, Brissett, Dolezaj, and Chukwu. That was literally Cuse’s starting lineup last season. All 5 remain for a team that should break through and finally spend the end of the winter OFF the bubble and firmly in the big dance.
NEW ENGLAND OUTLOOK:
NORTHEASTERN Preseason Colonial Conference Ranking Chance of making NCAA Tournament Key Player left, AP Photo Best Case
PROVIDENCE
Preseason Big East Conference Ranking: 3rd
Chance of making NCAA Tourament: Very good.
Key player: Alpha Diallo
Best Case: Providence gets everything out of freshman David Duke and A. J. Reeves that they need and Villanova takes longer to gel than expected. The Friars pull off a Big East title and earn a 3 or 4-seed in the tournament. (A 7-8 seed is far more likely for the Friars this season).
BOSTON COLLEGE
Preseason ACC ranking: 12th
Chance of making NCAA Tournament: Quite slim.
Key player: Ky Bowman
Best Case: With 4 key returnees, the Eagles are far more competitive than they have been. B.C. is able to knock off a few good teams in the ACC, and climb their way past the likes of Louisville, Miami, and NC State in the conference. With a strong two round effort in the ACC tourney, the Eagles make it very hard on the committee to leave them out come March. (An NIT trip is far more likely.)
HARVARD:
Preseason Ivy ranking: 1st
Chance of making NCAA Tournament: Very good.
Key player: Seth Towns
Best Case: The Crimson reach their potential with a slew of returnees including getting Bryce Aiken back from injury. They roll through the Ivy League on their way to a 12-seed in the tournament where they knock off a 5-seed on their way to the second round.
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