Busting Brackets Podcast: Early preview of 2019-20 NCAA Basketball season

Busting Brackets is officially turning the page to the 2019-20 NCAA Basketball season for our podcast episodes. What are our early thoughts and predictions?

First off, thank you to everyone who has listened to the previous Busting Brackets podcast. Through 15 episodes, we amassed 2,000 overall listens discussing various NCAA Basketball topics. On behalf of our regular hosts Connor Hope and Brian Rauf along with the rest of the Busting Brackets staff, we appreciate those who have joined us up to this point.

Now several months after we watched Kyle Guy and Virginia cut the down final nets in April, it’s time to look forward towards what should be an exciting 2019-20 NCAA Basketball season. It didn’t take long for Hope and Rauf to disagree, with each having a different preseason No. 1 team. Hope, along with many others have the Michigan State Spartans but Rauf had someone else at the top spot.

What they do agree on is how good the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament should be, featuring juggernauts such as UNC and Gonzaga. However, there are a couple of other teams the fellas are very intrigued to see not only in the tournament but for the rest of the season as well (hint; one is from the Big East).

Speaking of Big East teams, DePaul nearly went through an offseason without bad news until getting sanctioned from the NCAA for violations. Are they an isolated incident or is there more to come for other teams after the whole recruiting saga with the FBI? Louisville had to deal with sanctions before but have overcome them under Chris Mack. How high are the guys on the Cardinals?

There’s also some talk about who the top mid-major teams will be next season. Despite having an affection for west coast programs, Hope isn’t high on a team right near his backyard in the WCC. And no, it’s not Gonzaga. We stay out west where the guys discuss how much should the Pac-12 improve after nearly getting just one bid a season ago. Who do they have as the early favorites to win the league?

The talk then goes to head coaches, specifically those perceived to be on the hot seat. Which ones do Rauf think need to make the NCAA Tournament in order to save their jobs? Mark Crean of Georgia isn’t on the hot seat after pulling in a top-10 recruiting class but are the guys sold on his ability to lead them through the SEC next season?

Far as new head coaches go, the guys take a look at some of the former NBA stars now in NCAA Basketball. Which guys are on the right track and who are currently on their last legs? Penny Hardaway of Memphis is on the positive side after his incredible recruiting haul but what do the guys think the team’s actual ceiling is?

This is the first of many podcasts for the 2019-20 NCAA Basketball season. In the coming months, expect more in-depth conference and player previews before we go all-in once tip-offs begin. And stay tuned for some great guests of many backgrounds throughout the shows. Thank you for tuning in and until next time!