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NCAA Basketball: 8 things to watch for in 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KS – JANUARY 30: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks greet each other prior to the game at Allen Fieldhouse on January 30, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS – JANUARY 30: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks greet each other prior to the game at Allen Fieldhouse on January 30, 2016 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

1) Balance at the top

We talked a lot last season about there being a very clear-cut top-tier of contenders. While only one No. 1 seed ended up making the Final Four, the Sweet 16 was essentially chalk (with the exception of Oregon) because of it.

There appears to be a definitive top-tier this year, but it’s much smaller and not as far away from the rest of the country as last season. There is a general consensus that six teams – Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Louisville, Florida – look to be better than the rest, but the order of those six teams is very subjective.

Why? Well, obviously, no one has played a game yet, but all those teams also have significant flaws themselves.

Michigan State lacks size, frontcourt depth, and will be without star Joshua Langford until at least January. Kentucky has questions about their shooting, youth, and frontcourt production. Kansas lacks depth and shooting. Duke has to replace virtually their entire starting lineup and the insane amount of offensive production that went with it. Louisville has questions at point guard and is counting on the progression of their returners, while Florida has more newcomers than returners and needs time to develop chemistry.

These flaws have made that top-tier feel very accessible and vulnerable coming into the year, and that could create a season in which we see a large number of upsets and excitement.

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