November 22 Update:
"Iowa has the best player in the country in senior big man Luka Garza and is the favorite in a loaded Big 10."
--Jay Bilas, ESPN Analyst
Watch this college basketball preview:
November 12 Update:
Just a friendly reminder that all of the big boy polls have Iowa winning the B1G.
And the top 4 B1G teams have been consistent in ALL of the Big Boy polls:
1. Iowa
2. Wisconsin
3. Illinois
4. Michigan State
The Big Boy Polls:
USA Today (Nov 12):
6. Iowa (1)
7. Wisconsin
10. Illinois
12. Michigan State
23. Rutgers @MrsScrew
24. Ohio State
AP Top 25 (Nov 9);
5. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
13. Michigan State
23. Ohio State
24. Rutgers @MrsScrew
25. Michigan
CBS Sports (Oct 31):
3. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
12. Michigan State
21. Rutgers @MrsScrew
23. Michigan
ESPN (Oct 26):
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
13. Michigan State
24. Ohio State
................................................................
Original Post:
College basketball's way-too-early preseason top 25 teams for the 2020-21 season
Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY
Published March 18, 2020
The 2019-20 college basketball season is officially in the books. The NCAA tournament was canceled last week, meaning no national champion was crowned for the first time since the postseason began in 1939.
The abrupt ending left many coaches and players heartbroken from the the cancellation of March Madness after preparing all season for the grand finale.
That brings us to next year. With spring sports suspended and those seniors getting a chance for an extra year of eligibility, it's unclear if similar waivers will be granted to college basketball seniors who played a full season outside of the postseason.
Regardless, it will make for an intriguing offseason, which always includes players entering the NBA draft, transfers and late decisions from incoming freshmen. Until then, we'll try to estimate which teams are best positioned to be among the nation's elite come November when college basketball season tips off in lead-up to a sure-to-be-anticipated 2021 NCAA tournament — alas the return of March Madness.
The Top 4 Preseason B1G Teams:
#7 Iowa
#8 Wisconsin
#16 Michigan
#19 Michigan State
The Complete Top 25:
1. Gonzaga (31-2 in 2019-20). Filip Petrusev (17.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg) was a national player of the year candidate in 2019-20 and is likely back. Even if key players Killian Tillie and Joel Ayayi depart for the NBA, coach Mark Few still has a stellar roster of returners and the arrival of five-star guard Jalen Suggs, the No. 8 recruit (per 247 Sports' Composite rankings).
2. Baylor (26-4). The Bears' lone expected departing starter, Freddie Gillespie, could be replaced by Tristan Clark, who averaged 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore but was slowed this past season after a knee injury. If Clark is back to full strength and there are no unexpected NBA departures, coach Scott Drew could be looking at another team capable of a Final Four run. Leading scorer Jared Butler (16.0 ppg) heads a loaded returning backcourt that can again wreak havoc on the Big 12.
3. Virginia (23-7). The reigning national champions (yes, because 2019 was the last time the title nets were cut down) are likely to lose leading scorer Mamadi Diakite (13.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) but return two-year starter Kihei Clark (10.8 ppg, 5.9 apg) and blossoming big man Jay Huff from a group that won eight in a row to close out 2019-20. Coach Tony Bennett's Cavs again led the nation in scoring defense (allowing opponents 52.4 points a game) this past season and his offense will get a huge boost from eligible Marquette transfer Sam Hauser as well as a strong recruiting class.
4. Kentucky (25-6). Coach John Calipari only has one projected NBA lottery pick in Tyrese Maxey this offseason, meaning he could see top players Immanuel Quickley, Nick Richards, and Ashton Hagans return from a team he considered good enough to win a national title. If they do come back, it's a bonus. That's because the Wildcats will have another star-studded freshman class that includes five-stars Terrence Clarke and BJ Boston.
5. Creighton (24-7). After a breakthrough season that saw the Bluejays win a share of the Big East and position themselves for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tourney, it's likely that everyone is back. The key returnees are guards Ty-Shon Alexander (16.9 ppg 5.0 rpg) and Marcus Zegarowski. Expect coach Greg McDermott's veteran-laden squad to have high expectations in 2020-21.
6. Duke (25-6). Coach Mike Krzyzewski once again has an epic recruiting class that will fill immediate voids and gel together under a Hall of Famer. It's likely the Blue Devils' top producers Vernon Carey Jr. and Tre Jones are gone for the NBA and Cassius Stanley might also join them. But that paves way for five-star freshmen Jalen Johnson, Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward to join a solid group of returning role players in Durham.
7. Iowa (20-11). Assuming big man Luka Garza (23.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg) is back, coach Fran McCaffery will have himself a Big Ten championship-caliber team centered around the 6-11 All-American. The nucleus around Garza is strong with guards Joe Wieskamp, Joe Toussaint, CJ Fredrick and the coach's son — Connor McCaffery. The Hawkeyes could also get a huge boost if former All-Big Ten guard Jordan Bohannon earns a medical redshirt year of eligibility after missing most of his senior year.
8. Wisconsin (21-10). The Badgers might have something to say about Big Ten supremacy, poised to bring the core — D’Mitrik Trice, Brad Davidson, Aleem Ford, Micah Potter and Nate Reuvers — all back from a Big Ten co-champion squad. Greg Gard garnered national coach of the year attention for piloting Wisconsin to eight consecutive wins after starter Kobe King opted to transfer midseason. The recipe was a patient offense and disciplined defense that could be even better in 2020-21.
9. Florida State (26-5). Coach Leonard Hamilton guided the Seminoles to their first regular season ACC championship by using length and depth to overwhelm opponents. Look for a similar playbook next season, and perhaps more talent. FSU landed five-star freshman Scottie Barnes, a 6-8 point forward who can make an immediate impact. Same goes for JUCO transfer Sardaar Calhoun, a 6-6 scorer with length and athleticism. Should top producers Devin Vassell or Patrick Williams return to Tallahassee, there will be even more firepower.
10. Texas Tech (18-13). Coach Chris Beard had a young team that started several freshmen replacing his national runner-up squad in 2019-20 and the growing pains showed to put the Red Raiders on the NCAA tourney bubble before it was canceled. But last season's close losses could turn into next season's blessings. Rising sophomore Jahmi'us Ramsey (15.0 ppg) will be an elite player and sharpshooter Davide Moretti returns for his senior year. An added piece will be Joel Ntambwe, who sat out this season as a transfer from UNLV.
11. Oregon (24-7). The Ducks are losing Pac-12 Player of the Year Payton Pritchard but won't be short on talent. Coach Dana Altman has hauled in two eligible transfers who could be breakout players in Eugene Omoruyi (Rutgers) and Eric Williams (Duquesne) to go along with some key returning pieces.
12. Villanova (24-7). The Wildcats will likely lose leading scorer Saddiq Bey to the NBA draft. Collin Gillespie (15.1 ppg, 4.5 apg) could be poised to be one of the best players in the Big East as a senior, and Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels will add necessary scoring to help fill Bey's void. Look for rising sophomore Jermaine Robinson-Earl to blossom in the frontcourt after a freshman campaign nearly averaging a double-double.
"Iowa has the best player in the country in senior big man Luka Garza and is the favorite in a loaded Big 10."
--Jay Bilas, ESPN Analyst
Watch this college basketball preview:
November 12 Update:
Just a friendly reminder that all of the big boy polls have Iowa winning the B1G.
And the top 4 B1G teams have been consistent in ALL of the Big Boy polls:
1. Iowa
2. Wisconsin
3. Illinois
4. Michigan State
The Big Boy Polls:
USA Today (Nov 12):
6. Iowa (1)
7. Wisconsin
10. Illinois
12. Michigan State
23. Rutgers @MrsScrew
24. Ohio State
AP Top 25 (Nov 9);
5. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
13. Michigan State
23. Ohio State
24. Rutgers @MrsScrew
25. Michigan
CBS Sports (Oct 31):
3. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
12. Michigan State
21. Rutgers @MrsScrew
23. Michigan
ESPN (Oct 26):
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
13. Michigan State
24. Ohio State
................................................................
Original Post:
College basketball's way-too-early preseason top 25 teams for the 2020-21 season
Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY
Published March 18, 2020
The 2019-20 college basketball season is officially in the books. The NCAA tournament was canceled last week, meaning no national champion was crowned for the first time since the postseason began in 1939.
The abrupt ending left many coaches and players heartbroken from the the cancellation of March Madness after preparing all season for the grand finale.
That brings us to next year. With spring sports suspended and those seniors getting a chance for an extra year of eligibility, it's unclear if similar waivers will be granted to college basketball seniors who played a full season outside of the postseason.
Regardless, it will make for an intriguing offseason, which always includes players entering the NBA draft, transfers and late decisions from incoming freshmen. Until then, we'll try to estimate which teams are best positioned to be among the nation's elite come November when college basketball season tips off in lead-up to a sure-to-be-anticipated 2021 NCAA tournament — alas the return of March Madness.
The Top 4 Preseason B1G Teams:
#7 Iowa
#8 Wisconsin
#16 Michigan
#19 Michigan State
The Complete Top 25:
1. Gonzaga (31-2 in 2019-20). Filip Petrusev (17.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg) was a national player of the year candidate in 2019-20 and is likely back. Even if key players Killian Tillie and Joel Ayayi depart for the NBA, coach Mark Few still has a stellar roster of returners and the arrival of five-star guard Jalen Suggs, the No. 8 recruit (per 247 Sports' Composite rankings).
2. Baylor (26-4). The Bears' lone expected departing starter, Freddie Gillespie, could be replaced by Tristan Clark, who averaged 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore but was slowed this past season after a knee injury. If Clark is back to full strength and there are no unexpected NBA departures, coach Scott Drew could be looking at another team capable of a Final Four run. Leading scorer Jared Butler (16.0 ppg) heads a loaded returning backcourt that can again wreak havoc on the Big 12.
3. Virginia (23-7). The reigning national champions (yes, because 2019 was the last time the title nets were cut down) are likely to lose leading scorer Mamadi Diakite (13.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) but return two-year starter Kihei Clark (10.8 ppg, 5.9 apg) and blossoming big man Jay Huff from a group that won eight in a row to close out 2019-20. Coach Tony Bennett's Cavs again led the nation in scoring defense (allowing opponents 52.4 points a game) this past season and his offense will get a huge boost from eligible Marquette transfer Sam Hauser as well as a strong recruiting class.
4. Kentucky (25-6). Coach John Calipari only has one projected NBA lottery pick in Tyrese Maxey this offseason, meaning he could see top players Immanuel Quickley, Nick Richards, and Ashton Hagans return from a team he considered good enough to win a national title. If they do come back, it's a bonus. That's because the Wildcats will have another star-studded freshman class that includes five-stars Terrence Clarke and BJ Boston.
5. Creighton (24-7). After a breakthrough season that saw the Bluejays win a share of the Big East and position themselves for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tourney, it's likely that everyone is back. The key returnees are guards Ty-Shon Alexander (16.9 ppg 5.0 rpg) and Marcus Zegarowski. Expect coach Greg McDermott's veteran-laden squad to have high expectations in 2020-21.
6. Duke (25-6). Coach Mike Krzyzewski once again has an epic recruiting class that will fill immediate voids and gel together under a Hall of Famer. It's likely the Blue Devils' top producers Vernon Carey Jr. and Tre Jones are gone for the NBA and Cassius Stanley might also join them. But that paves way for five-star freshmen Jalen Johnson, Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward to join a solid group of returning role players in Durham.
7. Iowa (20-11). Assuming big man Luka Garza (23.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg) is back, coach Fran McCaffery will have himself a Big Ten championship-caliber team centered around the 6-11 All-American. The nucleus around Garza is strong with guards Joe Wieskamp, Joe Toussaint, CJ Fredrick and the coach's son — Connor McCaffery. The Hawkeyes could also get a huge boost if former All-Big Ten guard Jordan Bohannon earns a medical redshirt year of eligibility after missing most of his senior year.
8. Wisconsin (21-10). The Badgers might have something to say about Big Ten supremacy, poised to bring the core — D’Mitrik Trice, Brad Davidson, Aleem Ford, Micah Potter and Nate Reuvers — all back from a Big Ten co-champion squad. Greg Gard garnered national coach of the year attention for piloting Wisconsin to eight consecutive wins after starter Kobe King opted to transfer midseason. The recipe was a patient offense and disciplined defense that could be even better in 2020-21.
9. Florida State (26-5). Coach Leonard Hamilton guided the Seminoles to their first regular season ACC championship by using length and depth to overwhelm opponents. Look for a similar playbook next season, and perhaps more talent. FSU landed five-star freshman Scottie Barnes, a 6-8 point forward who can make an immediate impact. Same goes for JUCO transfer Sardaar Calhoun, a 6-6 scorer with length and athleticism. Should top producers Devin Vassell or Patrick Williams return to Tallahassee, there will be even more firepower.
10. Texas Tech (18-13). Coach Chris Beard had a young team that started several freshmen replacing his national runner-up squad in 2019-20 and the growing pains showed to put the Red Raiders on the NCAA tourney bubble before it was canceled. But last season's close losses could turn into next season's blessings. Rising sophomore Jahmi'us Ramsey (15.0 ppg) will be an elite player and sharpshooter Davide Moretti returns for his senior year. An added piece will be Joel Ntambwe, who sat out this season as a transfer from UNLV.
11. Oregon (24-7). The Ducks are losing Pac-12 Player of the Year Payton Pritchard but won't be short on talent. Coach Dana Altman has hauled in two eligible transfers who could be breakout players in Eugene Omoruyi (Rutgers) and Eric Williams (Duquesne) to go along with some key returning pieces.
12. Villanova (24-7). The Wildcats will likely lose leading scorer Saddiq Bey to the NBA draft. Collin Gillespie (15.1 ppg, 4.5 apg) could be poised to be one of the best players in the Big East as a senior, and Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels will add necessary scoring to help fill Bey's void. Look for rising sophomore Jermaine Robinson-Earl to blossom in the frontcourt after a freshman campaign nearly averaging a double-double.
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