NCAA Basketball: 10 teams most likely to win their first National Championship in 2019

Teams with an outside shot at a National Championship

Washington Huskies

Highest program finish: Final Four in 1953

Mike Hopkins had an impressive first season with the Huskies, with the same roster as the previous head coach Lorenzo Romar had. Everyone returns again, led by rising sophomore Jaylen Nowell along with a bunch of seniors. The experience combined with improved talent could allow them to go deep in March.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Highest program finish: First Round (7 times)

Seems farfetched that a program who has never even won an NCAA Tournament game would make the ultimate run, but Nebraska might have the most talent on a roster in many years. All of their key players will return for next season, with James Palmer the kind of guard that can carry a team through some games in March. At the very least, the Cornhuskers should make their own history next season.

LSU Tigers

Highest program finish: Final Four (4 times)

After performing above expectations in year one under Will Wade, LSU looks to take another leap, one that’ll take them in the NCAA Tournament. A top-five recruiting class will hopefully give star guard Tremont Waters the help he needs to excel. The Tigers actually have more talent than some of the teams who made the list, but the youth they had makes them less likely to advance in March.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Highest program finish: Final Four in 1996

Another SEC contender, Mississippi State will return the key pieces of a 25-win team, along with a nationally ranked recruiting class coming in. There is still just one ball to go around, so there will be some growing pains for everyone to adjust to and accept their roles. But this could be a darkhorse Final Four team to pick if they make the Big Dance.