The latest One Shining Moment isn’t even 24 hours old and the college basketball world is looking at next season despite the fact that the Transfer Portal leaves most rosters unfinished.
That means everywhere you turn, preseason rankings will be fluid.
So lets get this thing started.
10. Auburn Tide
This is largely based on confidence in Bruce Pearl figuring things out after the Tigers early NCAA Tournament exit.
On paper, the Tigers will have four of their five top scorers returning to a roster that will Tahaad Pettiford and Jahki Howard.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
First and foremost, this ranking is working on the assumption that Nate Oats isn’t in Lexington next season.
Mark Sears could come back but even if the next move is the NBA, Oats’ style of play is transferable to replacing talent.
Rylen Griffin hit some big shots in Alabama’s Sweet 16 win over North Carolina. Grant Nelson made a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament.
Five-star recruit Derrion Reid (Prolific Prep) should fit in rather nicely in Oats’ philosophy.
8. Kansas Jayhawks
Similar to Auburn, part of the reason why Kansas is in the top 10 is because of coaching.
Bill Self will be adding transfers, Riley Kugel (Florida) and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) to a roster that plans on having Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams, and Dajuan Harris Jr.
7. Duke Blue Devils
On paper, Duke should be higher. The Blue Devils should be returning several key players including Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster, and Sean Stewart. Then there’s the freshmen class. It’s one of the best in a generation. Cooper Flagg will be an instant impact. So why so low? College basketball continues to be led by teams that have a heavy veteran presence and coaching counts. Can Jon Scheyer get the Blue Devils to the last Saturday of the season?
6. Arizona Wildcats
Oumar Ballo and Keshad Johnson are departing Tucson but Tommy Lloyd has a strong recruiting class to the likes of Kylan Boswell, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis, and Motiejus Krivas.
Arizona will look different but the success will be there.
The Wildcats are moving to the Big 12 so that will be an adjustment for Lloyd and his staff. Look no further than Houston to see the blueprint.
5. UConn Huskies
Would Danny Hurley leave the program that he took to back-to-back titles to leave for Kentucky? Lets work on the assumption that the answer is “no”.
Can the Huskies pull off the first three-peat since UCLA won seven straight from 1967-1973?
Hassan Diarra, Alex Karaban, and Samson Johnson are slated to come back. Soloman Ball and Jaylin Stewart will have an opportunity to play larger roles.
Hurley has proven he can convert talent to March wins but does he have enough?
4. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Mark Few has to be excited about what he has coming back led by Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike.
It looks like the only loss will Anton Watson.
The Zags started last season slow but by late January, Gonzaga looked more like Gonzaga. Few’s journey ended in the Sweet 16 but this season might’ve been one of his best coaching jobs.
3. North Carolina
The Tar Heels could have a better roster than last season. If RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram return, North Carolina will have the veterans to help bring along guys in increased roles. Someone like Jalen Washington. Then there’s the talented Tar Heels incoming freshmen class. If there’s something we’ve learned from watching Hubert Davis is he never feels pressure to play freshmen early. Eliot Cadeau was an exception and when Cadeau started to struggle, his minutes reflected that.
Out of the three freshmen, Ian Jackson is the one who could play important minutes this season.
2. Houston Cougars
Why are the Cougars second?
Sampson has to find a way to get this program to the final Monday night. This season, Houston was robbed by the injury to Jamal Shead. The Cougars play a defense-first style of play that can present problems in games where the offense is porous. That means Houston doesn’t have the leeway that more offensively talented teams have in a single elimination tournament.
1. Iowa State
TJ Otzelberger’s squad is returning the top four scorers. There are no excuses in Ames if the Cyclones have the roster they expect to have.
Otzelberger will add Charlotte transfer, Dishon Jackson to a lineup that is expected to have Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic.
The record might not be as good as it was last season because the toughness of the Big 12 but the team could be suited to win six games in a row.
