Busting Brackets
Fansided

College Basketball: North Carolina Tar Heels, Kentucky Wildcats Tops 2015 Coaches’ Poll

By Matt Johnson

facebooktwitterreddit

The release of USA Today’s annual preseason top-25 coaches’ poll always signals an imminent start to another college basketball campaign. And much like fans and sports journalists around the country, there seems to be little consensus between coaches as to who the top dog really is entering 2015-16.

More from Kentucky Wildcats

With North Carolina and Kentucky sharing top-billing in the Coaches’ Poll. One could argue we’re facing a season of tantalizing unpredictability. After all, John Calipari’s Wildcats lost seven players to the NBA Draft.

Yet in the coaches’ initial rankings, Kentucky received 11 first place votes while UNC received 12 top nods.

Speaking of the Tar Heels, it’s interesting to see Roy Williams’ team stand beside Kentucky as the preseason No. 1. Not often does a team that went 26-12 and 11-7 in their conference receive the benefit of the doubt in early-season polls.

There’s little doubt the Tar Heels possess the horses to make such a lofty ranking stick. Returning the likes of Marcus Paige, Kennedy Meeks, Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson ensures North Carolina enough quality talent to compete with anyone. Based on returning experience alone, the Tar Heels look primed to make a run at winning it all.

As for Kentucky, Calipari and company are again saddled with a largely inexperienced roster of underclassman hungry to make an early impression.

That’s not to suggest there’s a lack of quality returners in Lexington. Any team would relish the chance to bring back Tyler Ulis, Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress.

Photo: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

If those three can provide stability and stay healthy (especially Poythress), the Wildcats should be in fine form for most the season.

The biggest key for Kentucky will be how quickly freshman phenoms Skal Labissiere, Isaiah Briscoe, Isaac Humphries and Jamal Murray adapt to the college game. If all goes as expected, Calipari could have another Final Four caliber club on his hands.

What about No. 3 Maryland? The Terrapins have been a trendy pick to win it all ever since Melo Trimble announced his return for a sophomore campaign. The versatile guard teams with Jake Layman, Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon and top recruit Diamond Stone to give Maryland a strong core to build around.

Can Mark Turgeon’s team take the next step and become an elite power in 2015-16? Folks in College Park are itching to find out.

Then there’s the Duke Blue Devils. Mike Krzyzewski’s team is never far from the top-spot and the defending national champions continue that trend with a preseason nod at No. 4.

Much like Kentucky, the Blue Devils lost several key players to the next level, including Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justice Winslow. But Duke doesn’t rebuild, they reload. And they did so with aplomb in luring freshman studs Chase Jeter, Brandon Ingram and Derryck Thornton to Durham. With Amile Jefferson, Marshall Plumlee and explosive sophomore Grayson Allen back from last year’s squad, the Blue Devils are stockpiled with talent.

Live Feed

Warner Bros. unveils plan to stream MLB Playoffs, NBA, more on Max
Warner Bros. unveils plan to stream MLB Playoffs, NBA, more on Max /

FanSided

  • College football NIL news: General Booty gets appropriate NIL dealFanSided
  • UMass vs. New Mexico State Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 0Betsided
  • College football expansion rumors: Who will join Big 12 next? Another Pac-12 target is clearFanSided
  • Notre Dame Season Preview: Betting Public Flocking to Irish, Should You?Betsided
  • College Basketball: Ranking the Nine "Blue Blood" programsGo Joe Bruin

    • As with any season, other challengers could also emerge.

    Kansas, which received a somewhat surprising first-place vote and stand at No. 5 in the preseason poll, hasn’t been to the Sweet 16 since the 2012-13 campaign.

    Nevertheless, the Jayhawks possess a dynamic duo in Wayne Selden and Perry Ellis. If Frank Mason III can continue to stand out at point guard while allowing freshmen Carlton Bragg Jr. and Cheick Diallo to adjust to life in Lawrence, Bill Self’s team could be on to something.

    With all that said, college basketball appears as wide open as ever. Six teams received first-place votes in the poll, further indicating just how topsy-turvy the rankings could be this season. Parity is truly the buzzword entering 2015-16. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if squads such as Virginia, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Villanova, Arizona and perhaps Gonzaga make a charge before all is said and done.

    Add it all up and one things appears certain: A mouth-watering season of college basketball is indeed up us.

    Next: Kansas Jayhawks 2015-16 Season Preview

    More from Busting Brackets

    Home/Kentucky Wildcats