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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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SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 02: Head coach Jay Wright and Eric Paschall #4 of the Villanova Wildcats discuss the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 02: Head coach Jay Wright and Eric Paschall #4 of the Villanova Wildcats discuss the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Overrated: Villanova Wildcats

It feels blasphemous to talk about Villanova in the overrated category but, considering the amount of talent they lost, it’s hard to think of the Wildcats as a team that belongs at No. 9.

The defending national champs lost four of their top six scorers to the NBA, including National Player of the Year Jalen Brunson, Final Four MOP in Donte DiVincenzo, and a top 10 pick in Mikal Bridges.

That’s a massive amount of production for any team to replace. We saw them reload after losing the likes of Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart, and Kris Jenkins with this group, but they were also already contributing in a major way. Head coach Jay Wright doesn’t have those kinds of obvious replacements this time around.

Five-star point guard Jahvon Quinerly will be tasked with replacing Brunson, and while he’s a very talented player, he’s not going to have the same kind of impact right away (let alone being the same kind of leader). Albany grad transfer Joe Cremo is also expected to be in the starting lineup, and while he’s a solid contributor, he’s not going to be winning any games by himself.

Even if those two meet expectations and returning players like Eric Paschall, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, and Collin Gillespie take steps forward, the Wildcats won’t have the same depth or ridiculous offensive firepower we have gotten used to seeing from them.

Villanova will still be a very good team and will win the Big East. Wright is too good of a coach and they have too good of a culture to take a significant step back. But I think they’re more of a top 20 team than a top 10 team because of those limitations and inexperience.

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