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NCAA Basketball: Most overrated/underrated teams from 2018 AP preseason top 25

By Brian Rauf

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 31: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks is defended by Omari Spellman #14 of the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 31: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks is defended by Omari Spellman #14 of the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Tremont Waters #3 of the LSU Tigers tries to avoid Temple ‘T.J.’ Gibbs Jr. #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as he shoots during the second half of their game during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Tremont Waters #3 of the LSU Tigers tries to avoid Temple ‘T.J.’ Gibbs Jr. #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as he shoots during the second half of their game during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

Underrated: LSU Tigers

If you’re looking for that SEC team to believe in, look no further than LSU, who I project to be one of the biggest breakout teams in the country this year.

All of the ingredients for such a season are in place. They have a good young coach in Will Wade and a legitimate star in sophomore point guard Tremont Waters, who averaged 15.9 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game a year ago. He largely flew under the radar last year because of the lack of team success LSU had, but he was one of the best players in the SEC.

A better supporting cast is in place to help take some of the pressure off of Waters as well. The Tigers had the No. 4 overall recruiting class in the country, headlined by two five-star big men in Naz Reid and Emmitt Williams. Four-star guard Ja’Vonte Smart is expected to join that duo in the starting lineup.

Inexperience is a concern in this starting lineup, but the Tigers do return three of their top six scorers from last year’s NIT team and welcome in several upperclassmen transfers that will give them some experience coming off the bench.

Furthermore, the schedule sets up well for LSU. They only play the other four SEC teams ranked in the preseason top 25 (Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn, Mississippi State) once each, meaning they’ll have the opportunity to really rack up wins. And, given their newfound talent, don’t be surprised to see them finish much higher than their current No. 23 ranking.

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