Chip Bremer
This season’s preseason Top 25 features plenty of teams from the recently expanded Big 12 (five in the top 10) and SEC (nine teams overall), but the ACC’s top programs–Duke and UNC– remain firmly entrenched among them as we look forward to another stellar year of college basketball. So, without any further ado, here’s an early look at the top men’s teams:
1. Kansas
Like last season, the Jayhawks find themselves at the top of the preseason poll as the team to beat mostly due to the return of their potent frontcourt duo Hunter Dickinson and K.J. Adams and point guard Dajuan Harris. This season, Bill Self went into the transfer portal to grab some perimeter firepower in A. J. Storr (Wisconsin), Zeke Mayo (S. Dakota State), and Rylan Griffen (Arkansas), so they’ll be even more dangerous.
2. Alabama
Right behind the Jayhawks, the Crimson Tide return All-American Mark Sears (21.5 ppg) at the point, along with guard Latrell Wrightsell and forward Grant Nelson and a bevy of talented freshmen and transfers. Things may get crowded with the additions of Auburn transfer Aden Holloway and freshman Labaron Philon in the backcourt and star frosh Derrion Reed and Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi in the frontcourt, but this team will be the deepest in the country.
3. UConn
If any team could accomplish the “three-peat,” it would have to be Danny Hurley’s Huskies. Not only do they return a solid nucleus of Hassan Diarra, Solomon Ball, Alex Karaban, and Samson Johnson, but they add some highly-recruited perimeter firepower in freshman Liam McNeeley and St. Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney.
4. Gonzaga
The Zags may have the best pair of guards on the west coast in Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman, and returning center Graham Ike may be in line for All-American consideration. They did lose their best defender in Anton Watson, but the continued development of forward Ben Gregg and the addition of Tarleton State transfer Emmanuel Innocenti should offset pretty well.
5. Houston
Life without Jamal Snead and Damian Dunn should be fine for the Cougars, especially since they return every other key player, including starters L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and J’Wan Roberts. To fill Snead’s spot at the point, Kelvin Sampson will turn to Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan, while sophomore Terrance Arceneaux is primed for a breakout year.
6. Iowa State
If defense wins championships, the Cyclones should be in good shape with Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones, Keshon Gilbert and Milan Momcilovic all returning from a squad that was among the national leaders in defensive efficiency a year ago. All four starters also averaged double figures in scoring as well, so they’ll be right in the thick of things come March.
7. Baylor
The Bears lost a lot of talent in the offseason but reloaded pretty well—especially in the backcourt where talented freshman V.J. Edgecombe and Duke transfer Jeremy Roach will join returnees Jayden Nunn and Langston Love. Miami transfer Norchad Omier will anchor the baseline, but without much frontcourt depth, the Bears may have to play small ball for most of the season.
8. Arizona
The fans in Tucson were ecstatic when leading scorer (and former UNC guard) Caleb Love announced he would return for another season. Jaden Bradley and KJ Lewis join Love in the backcourt, while Oakland transfer Trey Townsend and star freshman Carter Bryant will boost a depleted front line.
9. Duke
Duke coach Jon Scheyer is no stranger to reloading, and he’s done it again with a top recruiting class led by #1 recruit, Cooper Flagg. A returning frontcourt of Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster will join Flagg in leading an extensive roster of talented freshmen and experienced transfers into another season where they are again the favorites to win the ACC.
10. Auburn
Bruce Pearl has a good amount of firepower returning with Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazara, Chris Moore and Johni Broome back in the lineup. The only question is if he can find the answer at point guard between crafty frosh Tahaad Pettiford, Furman transfer J.P. Pegues, or Georgia Tech transfer Miles Kelly.
11. Texas A&M
The Aggies finished last season strong behind star guard Wade Taylor IV (19.1 ppg). This season, Taylor returns along with guards Manny Obaseki and Jace Carter and forward Henry Coleman III to make another deep run into March. Look for transfers Zhuric Phelps (SMU), C.J. Wilcher (St. John’s) and Pharrel Payne (Minnesota) to round out the rotation.
12. UNC
Tar Heel coach Hubert Davis was able to retain another All-American–this time, leading scorer R.J. Davis (21.2 ppg). Around Davis, Elliot Cadeau returns at the point, while freshmen wings Drake Powell and Ian Jackson add more scoring punch. The only question is whether the Heels can find a low-post presence between Jalen Washington and Notre Dame transfer Ven-Allen Lubin.
13. Tennessee
The Vols will certainly miss high-scoring Dalton Knecht, but they return a solid nucleus of Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack, Cade Phillips, and J.P. Estrella. If transfers Chaz Lanier (North Florida), Darlinstone Dubar (Hofstra), and Felix Okpara (Ohio State) can mix seamlessly, it should be another good year for Rick Barnes’ program.
14. Purdue
Now that the Boilermakers no longer have the services of Zach Edey, they will rely heavily on experienced perimeter playmakers Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. The frontcourt should still be reliable with Trey Kaufman-Renn and Caleb Furst, but watch out for 7-footer Daniel Jacobsen, who is thin but skilled around the basket.
15. Indiana
Mike Woodson proved he knows how to work the portal as well as anyone by reeling in a pair of veteran guards in Myles Rice (Washington State) and Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) and a brick wall center in Oumar Ballo (Arizona) that can plug into any offensive set. They’ll join returnees Trey Galloway, Mackenzie Mgbako and Malik Reneau to give the Hoosiers their most talented roster in years.
16. Arkansas
John Calipari’s move to Fayetteville garnered a lot of attention, along with high-profile recruits. Billy Richmond, Boogie Fland and Karter Knox all followed Calipari from Kentucky, as well as lead guard D.J. Wagner and forward Adou Thiero. With a few other transfers like high-scoring Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic) and Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee), the offense should be fine, but the defense could take a while.
17. Marquette
With All-American guard Tyler Kolek off to the NBA, the Golden Eagles will look to leading scorer Kam Jones (17.2 ppg) to lead the team back to the NCAA Tournament. Returnees Stevie Mitchell, Chase Ross, and David Joplin will provide plenty of experience, and once point guard Sean Jones recovers from injury, this team should be in good shape to make a deep run.
18. Creighton
The Bluejays lost a good chunk of their offensive production in the offseason, but they return one of the country’s most dominant big men in Ryan Kalkbrenner, plus veterans Steven Ashworth and Mason Miller. Wing transfers Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech) and Jamiya Neal (Arizona State) should provide enough scoring prowess to make up the difference.
19. Texas
The Longhorns also had their fair share of roster turnover, but they will welcome high-flying freshman Tre Johnson along with some high-profile transfers in Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State), Tramon Mark (Arkansas), and Jordan Pope (Oregon State) to remain a threat in the expanded SEC. Center Kadin Shedrick will look to make a bigger impact now that he’s fully recovered from injury.
20. Ole Miss
Chris Beard is still putting his stamp on the Rebels’ program, and this season, has a solid foundation with leading scorers Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield returning. He also pulled some quality transfers from the portal in Sean Pedulla (Virginia Tech), Dre Davis (Seton Hall), Malik Dia (Belmont), and Mikeal Brown-Jones (UNC Greensboro) to get the Rebels back in the hunt.
21. Florida
Another contender from the loaded SEC, the Gators feature one of the country’s most dynamic lead guards in Walter Clayton Jr. (17.6 ppg) along with several key returnees including skilled forwards Will Richard and Alex Condon. Head coach Todd Golden is also hoping Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin will provide some extra scoring punch.
22. Rutgers
When you bring in two of the nation’s top freshmen not named Cooper Flagg, you’re bound tomake some headlines. That’s exactly what Steve Pikiell when he recruited smooth forward AceBailey and do-everything guard Dylan Harper to the Knights’ lineup. The rest of the team may need some time to gel, but this will certainly be a program to watch this season.
23. UCLA
Mick Cronin is doing his best to move past the disappointing finish to last season, and what better way to do it than stealing forward Kobe Johnson and star recruit Trent Perry from cross-town rival USC. He also has plenty of experience returning with Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack, Lazar Stefanovic and Eric Dailey, plus Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau, so things should turn around quickly for the Bruins.
24. Kentucky
New coach Mark Pope had to start from scratch after John Calipari’s hasty exit, but he did well to bring in one of the top transfer classes led by Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), Amari Williams (Drexel) and Andrew Carr (Wake Forest). He also brought over scoring guard Jaxson Robinson from BYU who should already be very familiar with Pope’s offensive schemes.
25. Ohio State
The Buckeyes came on strong after Jake Diebler replaced Chris Holtmann as coach mid-season, and they will look to continue that trend with Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal returning plus the additions of transfers Meechie Johnson (South Carolina), Aaron Bradshaw (Kentucky), Micah Parrish (San Diego State), and Sean Stewart (Duke).
Best of the rest:
26. Cincinnati
27. Xavier
28. Oregon
29. Providence
30. Wake Forest