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NCAA Basketball: Key sophomores from each reigning regular season champ

By Jason Burgess

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Saddiq Bey #15 of the Villanova Wildcats is defended by Ryan Cline #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Saddiq Bey #15 of the Villanova Wildcats is defended by Ryan Cline #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers handles the ball on offense against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers handles the ball on offense against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

 A key for NCAA Basketball teams to having consistent success are contributions from the young players. Here is a key sophomore for each reigning regular-season champ.

When an NCAA Basketball team wins a championship, whether it be in the regular season, in the playoffs, or in a tournament format, it is inevitable that the next season they will be asked about being able to repeat as champions.  We’ve all heard the cliched, made-for-media answers, “it’s a new season”, “we aren’t thinking about repeating”, “everyone is starting 0-0”, etc. Don’t be fooled, every person and team want to win every year, it’s in our nature. Another season is quickly approaching and that question will undoubtedly be asked in one form or another on the first day of practice to not only Virginia but every team that won a conference or regular-season title last season.

While coaches and players may not come out and say they are expecting and looking to repeat, although that would be refreshing, they will all say how they want to build on the success of last season. But success in winning a championship more often than not comes from having veteran leadership from seniors, so in order to continue that success, a team must start to get contributions from its underclassmen.

With that in mind, I have looked at the 32 teams who won their conference’s regular-season title and tried to identify a freshman who could play important roles in their team’s quest to repeat as champions. These soon-to-be sophomores may not necessarily be starters or double-digit scorers, but they are players who I believe have a chance to improve on their freshman season and really help their team in 2019-20.

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