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NCAA Basketball: Updated way-too-early 2019-20 top-25

By Lukas Harkins

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 29: A general view during the South Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Duke Blue Devils at NRG Stadium on March 29, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 29: A general view during the South Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Duke Blue Devils at NRG Stadium on March 29, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Coach Bennett of the Cavaliers cuts. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Coach Bennett of the Cavaliers cuts. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

11. Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia will enter this coming season as the defending national champions but it will not be easy to replicate that success. With Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, and De’Andre Hunter all leaving school early for the NBA Draft (and getting selected), the program definitely has some holes to fill. But as long as Tony Bennett is the head coach in Charlottesville, the Cavaliers are worthy of a preseason top-25 slot. Seemingly regardless of who leaves the program, UVA always finds a way to be successful and I am betting on that occurring once again.

Of course, they are not without returning talent, though. Even though those three departed, key cogs are coming back in Kihei Clark, Braxton Key, and Mamadi Diakite. This trio is a lock for the starting lineup during this coming campaign and will be the driving forces of success. Additionally, the program has some tremendous newcomers joining the program will high expectations. For starters, highly-touted shooter and JUCO transfer Tomas Woldetensae will play his first minutes with the team.

Related Story. Analyzing Virginia's 2019 recruiting class. light

In addition, Virginia’s recruiting class is coming in ranked at No. 26 in the nation. Among those commits are two players that I expect to play major roles right away. Casey Morsell (No. 4 SG) is one of the top wings in the class while Kadin Shedrick (No. 15 C) projects as an impact big man. In the end, this is Virginia that we are talking about and predicting their season shouldn’t be too difficult. They will be extremely well-coached and one of the best defensive units in the nation.

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