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IOWA The Favorite to win B1G Title. #5 per AP(Nov9), BEST Preseason Rank in 65 YRS. #6 per USA Today(Nov12) & ESPN(Oct26). #3 per CBS Sports (Oct31)

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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.
 
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13. Kansas (28-3). Coach Bill Self will lose Udoka Azubuike to graduation and Devon Dotson to the NBA from one of his best teams ever. But he brings back some talented glue players ready to rise into more prominent roles like Marcus Garrett, Ochai Agbaji and big man David McCormack. Five-star freshman Bryce Thompson and junior college transfer Tyon Grant-Foster will be lightning rod newcomers.

14. Tennessee (17-14). The Volunteers have a fantastic freshman class that should blend well with a returning nucleus (Yves Pons, John Fulkerson, Josiah Jordan-James and Santiago Vescovi). Five-star guards Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson should give coach Rick Barnes a significant boost to make the Vols an SEC title contender.

15. San Diego State (30-2). Coming off a storybook season in which the Aztecs almost went undefeated, replicating 2019-20 could be a tall task for coach Brian Dutcher. All-American guard Malachi Flynn will have a tough decision to make on whether to return or purse an NBA future. Perhaps an NCAA tournament-less season could convince him to stay. The key loss is starting big man Yanni Wetzell to graduation.

16. Michigan (19-12): Juwan Howard proved he can coach in 2019-20, keeping the Wolverines in the national conversation. He also proved he could recruit, as Michigan holds the No. 4 recruiting class (per 247 Sports Composite list). Howard will have veteran returnees Isaiah Livers, Franz Wagner and Eli Brooks to lean on but could see his best production out of five-star freshmen Joshua Christopher (who has yet to fully commit to Michigan) and Isaiah Todd.

17. West Virginia (21-10). The Mountaineers could return all five starters from an inexperienced team that hung tough in the Big 12 this past season under coach Bob Huggins' pressing defense and deep bench-philosophy. Oscar Tshiebwe (11.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg), a 6-9 rising sophomore, should take a big step next season.

18. North Carolina (14-19). The 2019-20 season was a nightmare for the Tar Heels in coach Roy Williams' most frustrating season at the helm, so expect UNC to come out with new life in 2020-21. Carolina will likely lose standout freshman Cole Anthony to the NBA draft, but have reloaded with a talented freshman class made up of three five stars in Day’Ron Sharpe, Walker Kessler, and Caleb Love.

19. Michigan State (22-9). Coach Tom Izzo will lose Cassus Winston and likely Xavier Tillman from a preseason title favorite that underachieved in 2019-20. But some of his best teams have been ones that didn't have much hype, which next year's roster will fall under. Marquette transfer Joey Hauser will be eligible to join returnees Aaron Hery and Rocket Watts. It's also possible Joshua Langford, who was sidelined all season with a foot injuury, decides to stay.

20. UCLA (19-12). Coach Mick Cronin turned a disastrous season into a second-place finish in the Pac-12 and a potential NCAA tournament at-large bid. Cronin did that with a bare-bones roster in Westwood, so expect 2020-21 to start off better with a more experienced group and incoming talent, namely five-star freshman Daishen Nix.

21. Houston (23-8). The regular-season co-champion in the American Athletic, the Cougars figure to bring back their top six scorers led by Quentin Grimes and Caleb Mills. Kelvin Sampson's young roster will be grown up in 2020-21.

22. LSU (21-10). The Tigers lose leading scorer Skylar Mays but coach Will Wade brings back plenty of talent – including several players averaging double figures – and welcome five-star guard Cameron Thomas. This group should be well positioned to vie for the SEC title. If transfer Shareef O'Neal, Shaq's son, is granted eligibility for 2020-21, look out.

23. Florida (19-12). Coach Michael White went out and got the nation's top junior college transfer in Osayi Osifo, a a 6-8 versatile forward. He'll join a returning nucleus of Keyontae Johnson, Andrew Nembhard and Noah Locke. If rising sophomore Scottie Lewis waits a year on the NBA it'll be a nice bonus.

24. Oklahoma State (18-14). The Cowboys welcome the nation's top recruit, Cade Cunningham (No. 1 per 247 Sports Composite list) to a roster that will have size and athleticism. Guard Isaac Likekele, the team's second leading scorer, could be an ideal sidekick to Cunningham.

25. Arizona State (20-11). Coach Bob Hurley drifted his team away from the NCAA tournament bubble this March after back-to-back seasons ending up in the First Four. In 2020-21 he should have a team poised to compete for the Pac-12 title again. Remy Martin (19.1 ppg) and Alonzo Verge Jr. (14.6 ppg) are top returners on a roster that welcomes elite freshman Marcus Bagley.

Also considered: Indiana, Northern Iowa, Colorado, Purdue, Texas, Southern California, Rutgers, Illinois, Louisville, Connecticut.

LINK: https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/s...-top-25-prediction-2020-21-season/2865240001/
 
If Iowa gets an AP #7 preseason ranking next year, it would be the highest for the Hawks since the 1988-1989 team was ranked #7 in the preseason. It would also be the first time Fran will have an AP preseason top 25 ranking.

Years Iowa had a top eleven AP preseason national ranking:
2001-2002 #9
1995-1996 #8
1992-1993 #11
1988-1989 #7
1987-1988 #11
1986-1987 #10
1983-1984 #7
1982-1983 #11
1981-1982 #9
1965-1966 #9
1960-1961 #7
1955-1956 #4
1954-1955 #4

Anyone want to argue that the 1980s weren't the golden age of Iowa basketball? And think about this: People wanted to get rid of Tom Davis back then to "get to the next level." Here was his preseason and final rankings for teams over his tenure:
1997-1998 #15, Final Ranking #21
1996-1997 #23, Final Ranking UNR
1995-1996 #8, Final Ranking #21
1992-1993 #11, Final Ranking #13
1991-1992 #21, Final Ranking UNR
1988-1989 #7, Final Ranking #14
1987-1988 #11, Final Ranking #17
1986-1987 #10, Final Ranking # 6

Steve Alford:
2000-2001 UNR, Final Ranking #24
2001-2002 #9, Final Ranking UNR
2005-2006 #20, Final Ranking #15

Fran McCaffery:
2015-2016 UNR, Final Ranking 25
2019-2020 UNR, Final Ranking 25
 
Without looking it up, isn't that pretty similar to where Maryland started this past year? I'd probably take a replication of their season (although we'd probably have fans calling for heads on pikes if we don't win the conference outright).
 
If Iowa gets an AP #7 preseason ranking next year, it would be the highest for the Hawks since the 1988-1989 team was ranked #7 in the preseason. It would also be the first time Fran will have an AP preseason top 25 ranking.

Years Iowa had a top eleven AP preseason national ranking:
2001-2002 #9
1995-1996 #8
1992-1993 #11
1988-1989 #7
1987-1988 #11
1986-1987 #10
1983-1984 #7
1982-1983 #11
1981-1982 #9
1965-1966 #9
1960-1961 #7
1955-1956 #4
1954-1955 #4

Anyone want to argue that the 1980s weren't the golden age of Iowa basketball? And think about this: People wanted to get rid of Tom Davis back then to "get to the next level." Here was his preseason and final rankings for teams over his tenure:
1997-1998 #15, Final Ranking #21
1996-1997 #23, Final Ranking UNR
1995-1996 #8, Final Ranking #21
1992-1993 #11, Final Ranking #13
1991-1992 #21, Final Ranking UNR
1988-1989 #7, Final Ranking #14
1987-1988 #11, Final Ranking #17
1986-1987 #10, Final Ranking # 6

Steve Alford:
2000-2001 UNR, Final Ranking #24
2001-2002 #9, Final Ranking UNR
2005-2006 #20, Final Ranking #15

Fran McCaffery:
2015-2016 UNR, Final Ranking 25
2019-2020 UNR, Final Ranking 25
1998 team did not finish season ranked.
 
And you may note that Iowa was NOT ranked pre-season in 1969-70 when the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten title with a 14-0 record and averaged over 100 points per game long before the 3-point shot was allowed. That team also featured future NBA stars John Johnson and Freddie Brown.

That also is the infamous Hawkeye team that lost by one point to Jacksonville in the NCAA tournament. That Iowa team should have won the national title. (BTW: In the NCAA consolation game, Iowa scored 75 points . . . in the first HALF . . . against a Notre Dame team led by all-American Austin Carr.)
 
If Iowa gets an AP #7 preseason ranking next year, it would be the highest for the Hawks since the 1988-1989 team was ranked #7 in the preseason. It would also be the first time Fran will have an AP preseason top 25 ranking.

Years Iowa had a top eleven AP preseason national ranking:
2001-2002 #9
1995-1996 #8
1992-1993 #11
1988-1989 #7
1987-1988 #11
1986-1987 #10
1983-1984 #7
1982-1983 #11
1981-1982 #9
1965-1966 #9
1960-1961 #7
1955-1956 #4
1954-1955 #4

Anyone want to argue that the 1980s weren't the golden age of Iowa basketball? And think about this: People wanted to get rid of Tom Davis back then to "get to the next level." Here was his preseason and final rankings for teams over his tenure:
1997-1998 #15, Final Ranking #21
1996-1997 #23, Final Ranking UNR
1995-1996 #8, Final Ranking #21
1992-1993 #11, Final Ranking #13
1991-1992 #21, Final Ranking UNR
1988-1989 #7, Final Ranking #14
1987-1988 #11, Final Ranking #17
1986-1987 #10, Final Ranking # 6

Steve Alford:
2000-2001 UNR, Final Ranking #24
2001-2002 #9, Final Ranking UNR
2005-2006 #20, Final Ranking #15

Fran McCaffery:
2015-2016 UNR, Final Ranking 25
2019-2020 UNR, Final Ranking 25
it is time for a raise, extension, and larger buyout. #RELB
 
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I will argue that the 50's were as good or maybe better than the 80's.

1951 Rollie Williams 15‑7 8‑2 7‑5 65.0 59.5 9‑5 3rd 65.4 58.5
1952 Bucky O’Connor 19-3 10-1 9-2 69.7 61.7 11-3 2nd 72.4 64.4
1953 Bucky O’Connor 12-10 9-2 3-8 69.8 68.3 9-9 6th 69.8 70.6
1954 Bucky O’Connor 17-5 10-2 7-3 70.9 64.3 11-3 2nd 73.1 65.9
1955 Bucky O’Connor 19-7 10-1 9-6 79.7 71.7 11-3 1st 81.6 74.8 NCAA Final Four 1956 Bucky O’Connor 20-6 12-1 8-5 77.7 69.9 13-1 1st 80.9 69.9 NCAA Final Four 1957 Bucky O’Connor 8-14 6-4 2-10 69.6 72.8 4-10 8th 70.8 73.9
1958 Bucky O’Connor 13-9 8-3 5-6 73.7 73.1 7-7 6th 74.3 75.3

Bucky had the best BiG 10 record of any Hawkeye coach (Barely over Dr. Tom) and certainly the Back to Back Final Fours were amazing. I just point this out that as good as the 80's were, the 50's should not be forgotten.
 
Anyone want to argue that the 1980s weren't the golden age of Iowa basketball? And think about this: People wanted to get rid of Tom Davis back then to "get to the next level." Here was his preseason and final rankings for teams over his tenure:
1997-1998 #15, Final Ranking #21
1996-1997 #23, Final Ranking UNR
1995-1996 #8, Final Ranking #21
1992-1993 #11, Final Ranking #13
1991-1992 #21, Final Ranking UNR
1988-1989 #7, Final Ranking #14
1987-1988 #11, Final Ranking #17
1986-1987 #10, Final Ranking # 6

The 80's were the " golden years " and they were accomplished under 3 different coaches. As your stats indicate Davis's teams never lived up to their pre season predictions, save '87.

'79 - 83 = 5 straight 20 win seasons and 58 - 32 Big X record under Lute Olson. An NCAA tourney average # 6 seed.

Raveling had to rebuild in '84, but had winning Big X seasons in '85 & '86, with NCAA appearances in both. ( poor seeds however ).

Of course we know what Davis accomplished with Raveling's recruits after George left for U$C in '87, '88 & '89. Damn we were loaded in '89 with Horton, Marble and BJ as Seniors, plus Bullard and Jepsen were Juniors with Freshman James Moses and Ray Thompson. Damn Thompson might have been great...

 
I will argue that the 50's were as good or maybe better than the 80's.

That's true, especially when you include football. Iowa WON its only two Rose Bowls with blowouts in 1957 and 1959 and was a perennial power that competed for national titles in most of that decade. Iowa football was great in the 80s as well with two Rose Bowl appearances, and the 1985 team nearly capturing a national title. It's pretty clear the 50s and the 80s were both great times to be a Hawkeye.

And who knows what Iowa basketball might have become had Bucky O'Connor not met an untimely death on the way to a speaking engagement in Waterloo. Bucky had the Hawkeyes in position to be a top ten team for a long, long time.
 
That's true, especially when you include football. Iowa WON its only two Rose Bowls with blowouts in 1957 and 1959 and was a perennial power that competed for national titles in most of that decade. Iowa football was great in the 80s as well with two Rose Bowl appearances, and the 1985 team nearly capturing a national title. It's pretty clear the 50s and the 80s were both great times to be a Hawkeye.

And who knows what Iowa basketball might have become had Bucky O'Connor not met an untimely death on the way to a speaking engagement in Waterloo. Bucky had the Hawkeyes in position to be a top ten team for a long, long time.
Exactly, but as you say we will never know. What if Bucky had lived and kept Iowa Basketball near the top and Evy stayed on as football coach and was never the AD? Again, we will never know but it can be fun to speculate. I was just a little kid (5-6 years old) but Bucky was one of my Dad's best friends and Bucky and his wife, Jane, were at our house a lot. Bucky's death was my first taste of death of someone that I knew.
 
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The 80's were the " golden years " and they were accomplished under 3 different coaches. As your stats indicate Davis's teams never lived up to their pre season predictions, save '87.

'79 - 83 = 5 straight 20 win seasons and 58 - 32 Big X record under Lute Olson. An NCAA tourney average # 6 seed.

Raveling had to rebuild in '84, but had winning Big X seasons in '85 & '86, with NCAA appearances in both. ( poor seeds however ).

Of course we know what Davis accomplished with Raveling's recruits after George left for U$C in '87, '88 & '89. Damn we were loaded in '89 with Horton, Marble and BJ as Seniors, plus Bullard and Jepsen were Juniors with Freshman James Moses and Ray Thompson. Damn Thompson might have been great...


Dr. Tom needed to pay more attention to Thompson's academic performance.
 
Better defense and consistent outside shooting would sure help.

The USA Today write-up did not include the likely addition of
Patrick McCaffery next season.......so, with PMac, I'll put the
Hawkeyes up to #2, with a bullet, trying harder.

Go Hawks !!! And of course, I know that PMac is going to have to be
heatlhy and that his health is paramount, not Hawkeye Hoops.
However, I'm optimistic that the Hawkeyes get his talents, next year.
He's an excellent addition, to be sure.
 
ESPN: Villanova tops college basketball's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2020-21

March 21, 2020
  • i

    Jeff Borzello
  • ESPN Staff Writer

The Top 5 Preseason B1G Teams:
#7 Iowa
#9 Michigan State
#13 Ohio State
#15 Wisconsin
#19 Michigan

The Complete Top 25:


We're entering an offseason of uncertainty in college basketball. Not only is there trepidation on the part of potential NBA draft early-entrants and athletic directors looking into making coaching changes, but it's also impossible for coaches to go out and recruit the final players in the 2020 class. Moreover, we could see transfer eligibility rules changing in the near future.

In other words, rosters could look dramatically different a few months from now -- or there could be much less turnover than we're used to.

Either way, here's our first guess at the landscape of the 2020-21 season. We're going to constantly update this throughout the offseason as players declare for the draft and transfers and recruits make decisions. The most likely outcome in terms of early-entry players is factored into the rankings.

It's only 232 days until the 2020 Champions Classic ...

1. Villanova Wildcats

If things fall right for Jay Wright's program, a third national championship in six years isn't out of the question. The Wildcats could bring back everyone from this season, although breakout sophomore Saddiq Bey could enter the NBA draft after playing his way into the first round of mock drafts. Villanova seemed to figure things out late in the season, winning seven of its last eight games and getting a flash of what could be a breakout campaign from freshman Justin Moore. Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl should all return. The key could be Bryan Antoine, a former five-star recruit who barely played this season due to a shoulder injury, while Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels (16.9 PPG) adds even more perimeter pop. Wright will have no shortage of weapons even if Bey goes to the NBA, but Bey does bring an inside-outside skill set that could be tough to replace.

2. Creighton Bluejays

Creighton was playing as well as any team in the country over the last two months of the season, winning 11 of its last 13 games and earning the 1-seed in the Big East tournament. Could that momentum carry over to next season? Coach Greg McDermott should bring back all five starters, including the elite backcourt tandem of Marcus Zegarowski and Ty-Shon Alexander. Sixth man Denzel Mahoney (12.0 PPG) also is back. More good news comes in the form of Davion Mintz (9.7 PPG), who started all but one game of his sophomore and junior campaigns but redshirted this season due to an ankle injury. Creighton should once again have one of the best offenses in America, but the Bluejays will have to shore up defensively and on the glass -- the return of 6-foot-11 Jacob Epperson and the addition of four-star 6-11 freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner should help.

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs

There are going to be NBA draft decisions to wait for with the Bulldogs. Killian Tillie and Ryan Woolridge are graduating, but Corey Kispert and Filip Petrusev are also ranked in the top 60 of ESPN's NBA draft rankings and therefore could at least go through the draft process. If both return, Mark Few's team could rise all the way up to No. 1 in the rankings. Drew Timme should step right in for Tillie, and elite five-star guard Jalen Suggs should slot into the starting lineup for Woolridge. Joel Ayayi is back and Anton Watson will be healthy as a piece off the bench. Gonzaga brings in three ESPN 100 freshmen, led by Suggs, so the Bulldogs' depth should be much improved after they played mostly a seven-man rotation for the latter half of the season. Another 30-win season seems like a lock for Gonzaga, and a potential Final Four run isn't far-fetched at all.


4. Baylor Bears

After sitting atop the rankings for several weeks this season, Baylor lost three of its final five games to finish two games behind Kansas in the Big 12 standings. Coach Scott Drew and the Bears will have another go-round at the conference title next season, and they should enter 2020-21 as the favorite. Their strength will once again come on the perimeter, with Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague all likely to be back and four-star freshman L.J. Cryer and Presbyterian transfer Adam Flagler (15.9 PPG) providing insurance if one of them heads to the NBA. Baylor didn't get enough consistent offense from its frontcourt this season, and that could potentially be an issue again -- especially with Freddie Gillespie gone. However, Mark Vital returns as a glue guy and Drew is bringing in reinforcements in the form of freshmen Dain Dainja and Zach Loveday and transfer Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. Hopefully Tristan Clark has a return to form, too.
 
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5. Kentucky Wildcats

This might be the team with the most up in the air in terms of the NBA draft. As a projected lottery pick, Tyrese Maxey is likely to go pro. But Ashton Hagans, Nick Richards and Immanuel Quickley are all ranked in the Nos. 45-60 range in ESPN's NBA draft rankings -- so all three could go either way. Richards and Quickley were two of the best players in the SEC this season, with both enjoying breakout campaigns. Hagans is an elite defensive point guard who had some offensive inconsistencies late in the season. And here's a surprise: John Calipari is bringing in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. Five-star wings B.J. Boston and Terrence Clarke could start immediately, and five-star point guard Devin Askew will step in if Hagans leaves. Four-star Isaiah Jackson will provide some rim protection. Kentucky could theoretically be the preseason No. 1 if everyone returns, but there's a lot left to play out in Lexington.

6. Duke Blue Devils

Like Kentucky, Duke has to see what happens with its stay-or-go decisions. Tre Jones already has declared for the NBA draft and Vernon Carey Jr. is very likely to do the same. Cassius Stanley improved his stock as a freshman, but he could come back for his sophomore season as the team's go-to guy offensively. Mike Krzyzewski brings in the No. 2-ranked recruiting class, led by five-star perimeter players Jeremy Roach, D.J. Steward and Jalen Johnson. The Blue Devils used a number of different lineups this season, struggling to find the right combination. The incoming class should provide versatility. As far as the returnees, Wendell Moore and Matthew Hurt are the most likely to take steps forward after showing flashes during their first seasons in Durham. Perhaps the biggest question will be who gets the rock late in games. Jones had the utmost confidence and Carey was dominant once he got the ball.


7. Iowa Hawkeyes

Luka Garza was my pick to win the Wooden Award, and I think he'll head back to Iowa City for his senior season. If that happens, the Hawkeyes are undoubtedly a preseason top-10 team. Fran McCaffery will bring back all five starters from a 20-win team, one that would've likely ended up with a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament. Garza should be his dominant self once again, while double-figure scorers Joe Wieskamp and CJ Fredrick also are back. McCaffery should also get a boost from the expected return of Jordan Bohannon, who redshirted this season after playing just 10 games. A healthy Bohannon is a difference-maker at the point of attack. The Hawkeyes had some issues defensively, especially in Big Ten play, but they were able to outscore most opponents. And most of those weapons should be back again.

8. Virginia Cavaliers

Tony Bennett did a magnificent job this season, taking the Cavaliers from a team that looked unlikely to even make the NCAA tournament to a group that won eight straight to end the season and could have won games in the dance. They will lose veterans Mamadi Diakite and Braxton Key but should have far more offensive firepower next season. ESPN 100 wing Jabri Abdur-Rahim was one of the best pure scorers in the 2020 class, while Marquette transfer Sam Hauser (14.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG) is an immediate-impact newcomer. Kihei Clark, Tomas Woldetensae and Jay Huff are all back as starters, and guards Reece Beekman and Casey Morsell give Bennett even more options on the perimeter. It should be a deeper, more prolific group -- although the defensive side of the ball might see some growing pains.
 
9. Michigan State Spartans

Cassius Winston and the Spartans seemed poised for a March run, but that was cut short and now Winston is gone after four tremendous seasons in East Lansing. Finding a new point guard is going to be issue No. 1 for Tom Izzo. Rocket Watts made plays late in the season as a scorer and defender and ESPN 100 guard A.J. Hoggard enters the fold, but both are better as scorers. That's only one of the questions facing Michigan State. Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry could both choose to go through the NBA draft process, with Tillman the more likely of the two to leave. And what about Josh Langford? Will he return? There are a lot of pieces on the roster if everyone returns, as Izzo adds Marquette transfer Joey Hauser (9.7 PPG) and ESPN 100 big Mady Sissoko to a group that includes Watts, Malik Hall and Gabe Brown.

10. Kansas Jayhawks

The overwhelming favorites to win the national championship before the NCAA tournament was canceled, the Jayhawks are unlikely to pick up exactly where they left off next season. Udoka Azubuike has seen his dominant days in Lawrence come to an end, while Devon Dotson could enter the NBA draft. Isaiah Moss also is gone. Bill Self will need to find a point guard to replace Dotson if he leaves, with redshirt freshman Dajuan Harris and three-star freshman Latrell Jossell the only true point guards on the roster. Marcus Garrett and Ochai Agbaji are back as starters, while Christian Braun and David McCormack should be ready for bigger roles. The two newcomers to watch are five-star guard Bryce Thompson and highly touted junior college transfer Tyon Grant-Foster. Both will be counted on to score right away.


11. North Carolina Tar Heels

I know, I know. The Tar Heels were a preseason top-10 team heading into the season and ended up as the most disappointing group in the country, finishing with the last seed in the ACC tournament. But next season's North Carolina team is going to be significantly deeper and more talented, even with the expected departure of Cole Anthony. Roy Williams brings in one of the nation's best recruiting classes, led by five-star guard Caleb Love and five-star bigs Day'Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler. The Tar Heels will have a dominant interior, as Sharpe and Kessler join returning starters Armando Bacot and Garrison Brooks. Love might be the best freshman point guard in the country. Wing scoring could be a question mark, but there are enough options on the roster -- if everyone stays healthy, something that didn't happen this season.

12. Texas Tech Red Raiders

We'll never know if the Red Raiders' struggles to end the season would have kept them out of the NCAA tournament, but it's unlikely to come down to the final week next season. Even if Jahmi'us Ramsey heads to the NBA, which is likely, Chris Beard will still bring back three starters and has the program's best-ever recruiting class bound for Lubbock. Kyler Edwards and Davide Moretti are back as double-figure scorers, and five-star guard Nimari Burnett should slot into the starting lineup. UNLV transfer Joel Ntambwe (11.8 PPG) sat out this season and has pro potential, while ESPN 100 wing Micah Peavy is another newcomer being counted on to make an immediate impact. Beard will need more from the interior next season, and he could hit the grad transfer market to address that issue.
 
13. Ohio State Buckeyes

Which Ohio State will show up next season? The one that started 11-1 and sat near the top of the rankings? Or the one that lost six of seven to drop to 2-6 in the Big Ten -- or the one that won nine of its last 12? I think it's something more like the third option, even though there are some personnel issues entering the offseason. One of those was addressed over the weekend, when Harvard graduate transfer Seth Towns -- our No. 1 transfer -- picked the hometown Buckeyes over Duke. Towns will add perimeter shooting, while California transfer Justice Sueing brings scoring punch after sitting out last season. C.J. Walker, Duane Washington and Luther Muhammad are all back in the backcourt. What happens up front? If Kaleb Wesson turns pro, coach Chris Holtmann could be short on interior options. If Wesson returns, Ohio State will rise several spots in the rankings.

14. Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols took an expected step back this season after the departure of three starters and season-ending injury to Lamonte Turner. But the 2020-21 campaign looks bright. Veteran stalwart Jordan Bowden is gone, but that's it. Four starters return, including three double-figure scorers: point guard Santiago Vescovi and forwards Yves Pons and John Fulkerson. Versatile wing Josiah-Jordan James is also back. Rick Barnes also has a loaded group of newcomers entering the program, led by five-star guards Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson, as well as ESPN 100 forward Corey Walker and Oregon transfer Victor Bailey Jr. Tennessee is going to be deep, experienced and versatile -- and could move up the rankings as teams ahead of the Volunteers lose guys to the NBA draft.

15. Wisconsin Badgers

Greg Gard led one of the bigger second-half turnarounds in the country this season, with the Badgers winning eight straight games to end the season to earn a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship. All five players who started the season finale against Indiana will be back, and all five will be seniors next season. Gard will have one of the most experienced teams in the country, one that has plenty of offensive balance: D'Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison on the perimeter, Nate Reuvers and Micah Potter down low, and Aleem Ford as a do-it-all glue guy. The Badgers also bring in a five-man recruiting class, led by ESPN 100 forward Ben Carlson. Potter could be the key. He was dominant at times late in the season, and he and Reuvers are brutal matchup problems for most opponents.

16. Houston Cougars

Houston never quite looked as good as the metrics pegged the Cougars, but Kelvin Sampson's team should be more consistent next season. There's a chance all but one starter return, although DeJon Jarreau and Quentin Grimes could have NBA draft decisions to make. If both return -- along with starter Nate Hinton and sixth man extraordinaire Caleb Mills (13.2 PPG) -- Sampson will have the most talented quartet in the AAC by some distance. The Cougars also bring in ESPN 100 prospect Tramon Mark and Idaho transfer Cameron Tyson (13.5 PPG, 42.9% 3PT) to help on the perimeter. They will have to figure out the frontcourt, as there isn't much proven behind Fabian White. It's hard to doubt Sampson at this point, though, as the Cougars have won 83 games the past three seasons and had a top-21 defense all three campaigns.
 
17. San Diego State Aztecs

This ranking will come down to whether Malachi Flynn decides to return to the Aztecs for his senior season. The former Washington State transfer was the catalyst behind San Diego State's 30-win season and likely 2-seed in the NCAA tournament, and the Aztecs would tumble outside the top 25 if he decided to go pro. If Flynn is back, coach Brian Dutcher should have the pieces to once again win the Mountain West and be nationally relevant. Double-figure scorers Jordan Schakel and Matt Mitchell will be back, and hopefully Nathan Mensah is healthy enough to play a consistent role at center. Freshmen Keith Dinwiddie and Che Evans had some notoriety at the high school level and should find spots in the rotation. But there's nobody to replace Flynn; he might have one of the most important NBA draft decisions in the country.

18. LSU Tigers

Will Wade's team could be absolutely loaded with talent if things fall right. Of course, the people of Baton Rouge will have to wait and see what happens with the potential draft decisions of Javonte Smart, Trendon Watford and Emmitt Williams. All three could at least explore their options, and Skylar Mays is already out of eligibility. But if a couple of the draft hopefuls return to school, the Tigers will have the pieces to push toward the top of the SEC standings again. Wade has a talented incoming recruiting class, led by five-star guard Cam Thomas -- arguably the best pure bucket-getter in the 2020 class. Georgetown transfer Josh LeBlanc and ESPN 100 prospect Mwani Wilkinson also should make an impact. This ranking could drop significantly if a couple of the aforementioned players keep their names in the draft, though.

19. Michigan Wolverines

Juwan Howard did a very good job in his first season coaching in college, leading the Wolverines to wins over Gonzaga, Creighton, Michigan State and a host of other Big Ten teams. They do lose senior starters Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske, but Howard is replacing them with a stellar first full recruiting class. Five-star Isaiah Todd is the headliner, although there are still questions on whether he chooses to head overseas before playing in the NBA. ESPN 100 big man Hunter Dickinson, small forward Terrance Williams and Zeb Jackson all should see extended roles immediately. Michigan also brings back three starters, with Eli Brooks, Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner averaging double figures. Livers is the key: When he was healthy, the Wolverines were a different team, going 13-6 with him and 6-6 when he didn't play a full game.

20. Arkansas Razorbacks

It was a transition season in Fayetteville, with Eric Musselman taking over and hitting the transfer market hard in his first season at the helm. But 2019-20 also saw a huge breakout campaign from Mason Jones, who established himself as one of the best players in the SEC. Jones and Isaiah Joe were one of the highest-scoring duos in the country and both are expected back for another season. Musselman also landed four ESPN 100 prospects from inside the state and has three transfers eligible after sitting out. The ones expected to make the biggest impact are Jacksonville transfer J.D. Notae (15.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.4 APG), California transfer Connor Vanover (7.5 PPG) and top-40 recruit Moses Moody. All three could start right off the bat. Musselman has done the rapid-rebuild thing before at Nevada and he's on his way at Arkansas.


21. Colorado Buffaloes

The continuity of Tad Boyle's starting lineup has been remarkably consistent the past two seasons, with McKinley Wright, Tyler Bey, D'Shawn Schwartz and Evan Battey all starting at least 40 games in 2018-19 and 2019-20 combined. Wright and Bey have been starters since their freshman seasons. Next season should be the year it culminates with an NCAA tournament appearance -- and even a couple of wins in the dance. The Buffs lost five in a row to end this season, and there were issues at both ends of the floor. On paper, though, Colorado has all the pieces, assuming Wright and Bey return to Boulder. There is one spot open in the starting lineup, and I'd keep an eye on incoming freshman Dominique Clifford to play an extended role quickly.

22. Florida State Seminoles

It's probably time to stop underestimating Leonard Hamilton, given what he has done with the Seminoles the past few seasons. They won the ACC regular-season title in 2020 after going to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight the two seasons prior. And maybe No. 22 is too low for Florida State -- but it's with the idea that both Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams turn pro. Vassell played himself into a first-round pick and Williams is also in that range. On top of that, Trent Forrest is out of eligibility, leaving Florida State without a bona fide point guard on the roster. If either Vassell or Williams returns, this ranking will change. Five-star Scottie Barnes is an impact newcomer and Sardaar Calhoun is a touted junior college transfer. Seven rotation pieces from this season are also back.
 
23. Oregon Ducks

Oregon has been relatively inactive recruiting the 2020 class, but we said something similar entering last spring and Dana Altman went out and reeled in several players to bolster the roster. He shouldn't have to do the same this time around. The Ducks already have ESPN 100 point guard Jalen Terry wrapped up to replace Payton Pritchard, and transfers Eric Williams (14.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG) and Eugene Omoruyi (13.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG) are eligible after sitting out last season. Plus, Altman brings back starting guards Will Richardson and Chris Duarte and has a quartet of rising sophomores ready to take on bigger roles. As mentioned earlier, the Ducks also always have something up their sleeve for the spring and summer in terms of adding players. If they were to hit the transfer or reclassification market, more guard depth should be atop the list.

24. West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia exceeded expectations this season, despite struggling down the stretch and losing six of seven before beating Iowa State and then Baylor in the season finale. Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers made the Sweet 16 in three of four seasons prior to a down 2019 season, and I've got faith in Huggins getting West Virginia to 20-25 wins again. Only one starter is gone, and the interior duo of Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver are both back down low. The Mountaineers will need to find more consistent ways to score in the half court, and another year from Miles McBride -- who had a breakout stretch midway through the season -- should help. There's also Jalen Bridges, a former ESPN 100 prospect who committed to the Mountaineers late in the process before taking a redshirt year in Morgantown.

25. Richmond Spiders

After winning nine of 10 to end the regular season, the Spiders would have entered the Atlantic 10 tournament with a legitimate chance to earn an at-large bid on Selection Sunday. And Chris Mooney should have everyone back from a group that went 14-4 in the league. There wasn't a single senior on the roster and all five starters will be seniors next season, giving Mooney a talented, experienced group that was effective at both ends of the floor. The perimeter trio of Jacob Gilyard, Blake Francis and Nick Sherod brings a little bit of everything: scoring, playmaking, shooting, defense. And Grant Golden is a skilled big man up front to balance things out. Richmond will also get Tulane transfer Connor Crabtree eligible after sitting out; he brings some size and shooting to the perimeter.

Next in line:

Arizona State Sun Devils

UCLA Bruins

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Florida Gators

Indiana Hoosiers

LINK: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...llege-basketball-way-too-early-top-25-2020-21
 
ESPN: Villanova tops college basketball's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2020-21

March 21, 2020
  • i

    Jeff Borzello
  • ESPN Staff Writer

The Top 5 Preseason B1G Teams:
#7 Iowa
#9 Michigan State
#13 Ohio State
#15 Wisconsin
#19 Michigan

The Complete Top 25:


We're entering an offseason of uncertainty in college basketball. Not only is there trepidation on the part of potential NBA draft early-entrants and athletic directors looking into making coaching changes, but it's also impossible for coaches to go out and recruit the final players in the 2020 class. Moreover, we could see transfer eligibility rules changing in the near future.

In other words, rosters could look dramatically different a few months from now -- or there could be much less turnover than we're used to.

Either way, here's our first guess at the landscape of the 2020-21 season. We're going to constantly update this throughout the offseason as players declare for the draft and transfers and recruits make decisions. The most likely outcome in terms of early-entry players is factored into the rankings.

It's only 232 days until the 2020 Champions Classic ...

1. Villanova Wildcats

If things fall right for Jay Wright's program, a third national championship in six years isn't out of the question. The Wildcats could bring back everyone from this season, although breakout sophomore Saddiq Bey could enter the NBA draft after playing his way into the first round of mock drafts. Villanova seemed to figure things out late in the season, winning seven of its last eight games and getting a flash of what could be a breakout campaign from freshman Justin Moore. Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl should all return. The key could be Bryan Antoine, a former five-star recruit who barely played this season due to a shoulder injury, while Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels (16.9 PPG) adds even more perimeter pop. Wright will have no shortage of weapons even if Bey goes to the NBA, but Bey does bring an inside-outside skill set that could be tough to replace.

2. Creighton Bluejays

Creighton was playing as well as any team in the country over the last two months of the season, winning 11 of its last 13 games and earning the 1-seed in the Big East tournament. Could that momentum carry over to next season? Coach Greg McDermott should bring back all five starters, including the elite backcourt tandem of Marcus Zegarowski and Ty-Shon Alexander. Sixth man Denzel Mahoney (12.0 PPG) also is back. More good news comes in the form of Davion Mintz (9.7 PPG), who started all but one game of his sophomore and junior campaigns but redshirted this season due to an ankle injury. Creighton should once again have one of the best offenses in America, but the Bluejays will have to shore up defensively and on the glass -- the return of 6-foot-11 Jacob Epperson and the addition of four-star 6-11 freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner should help.

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs

There are going to be NBA draft decisions to wait for with the Bulldogs. Killian Tillie and Ryan Woolridge are graduating, but Corey Kispert and Filip Petrusev are also ranked in the top 60 of ESPN's NBA draft rankings and therefore could at least go through the draft process. If both return, Mark Few's team could rise all the way up to No. 1 in the rankings. Drew Timme should step right in for Tillie, and elite five-star guard Jalen Suggs should slot into the starting lineup for Woolridge. Joel Ayayi is back and Anton Watson will be healthy as a piece off the bench. Gonzaga brings in three ESPN 100 freshmen, led by Suggs, so the Bulldogs' depth should be much improved after they played mostly a seven-man rotation for the latter half of the season. Another 30-win season seems like a lock for Gonzaga, and a potential Final Four run isn't far-fetched at all.


4. Baylor Bears

After sitting atop the rankings for several weeks this season, Baylor lost three of its final five games to finish two games behind Kansas in the Big 12 standings. Coach Scott Drew and the Bears will have another go-round at the conference title next season, and they should enter 2020-21 as the favorite. Their strength will once again come on the perimeter, with Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague all likely to be back and four-star freshman L.J. Cryer and Presbyterian transfer Adam Flagler (15.9 PPG) providing insurance if one of them heads to the NBA. Baylor didn't get enough consistent offense from its frontcourt this season, and that could potentially be an issue again -- especially with Freddie Gillespie gone. However, Mark Vital returns as a glue guy and Drew is bringing in reinforcements in the form of freshmen Dain Dainja and Zach Loveday and transfer Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. Hopefully Tristan Clark has a return to form, too.

Where are the Cyclones? With all that NBA talent, I figured they'd be ranked somewhere.
 
The 80's were the " golden years

The 80’s were more like the copper or what could have been years. Choking away 2 Big Ten Championships in 81-‘82, the tourney losses to Wichita State and Idaho, and failing to get either a conference championship or final four in ‘87 were huge setbacks. Coming off a conference championship in ‘79, and a final four in ‘80, Iowa was poised to move way up. Things would frequently look good in January and early Feb., but Iowa couldn’t finish. We had our chance for a Wisconsin-type run under Bo Ryan, but couldn’t get there. Lots of good players and good teams, but a lot of disappointment.
 
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It'll definitely be interesting to see how Iowa does with the spotlight on them.
Wisconsin and Iowa generally outperform expectations when they fly under the radar.
 
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