Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Updated way-too-early top 25 rankings for 2021-22 season

By Cody Mitchell

Apr 5, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Fans roam Georgia Street before the national championship game of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 5, 2021, in downtown Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Fans roam Georgia Street before the national championship game of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 5, 2021, in downtown Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Wendell Moore Jr. Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Wendell Moore Jr. Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

16. Virginia Tech Hokies

Projected Starting Five:

G Storm Murphy
G Tyrece Radford
G Nahiem Alleyne
F Justyn Mutts
C Keve Aluma

This team could be dangerous. The Hookies return their top 4 scorers from a year ago. Lead by Keve Aluma, a guy who can play with his back to the basket and even pop out to knock down an open jump shot. Aluma will be a preseason All-ACC first-teamer and most expect him to be there at the end.

Justyn Mutts, Nahiem Alleyne, and Tyrece Radford should only improve under head coach Mike Young for another season. Mutts specifically is due for a major improvement after his first season in Blacksburg. Adding Wofford transfer Storm Murphy is so vital, a guy who has played in big games in the NCAA tournament and can run this offense fluidly without having to be the alpha.

COVID really ravished this team’s chemistry last year, with hopefully a normal season don’t be surprised to see VT competing with the big boys of the ACC.

15. Duke Blue Devils

Projected Starting Five:

G Jeremy Roach
G Wendell Moore
G AJ Griffin
F Paolo Banchero
C Mark Williams

After missing their first NCAA tournament since 1995, Coach K has the Blue Devils reloaded for 2021-2022. Freshman Paolo Banchero, the #2 recruit according to 247sports, is a big-bodied guard who can play any position. Shoots it well from outside, can shoot off his own dribble, posts up smaller defenders, and has great athleticism at the rim.

AJ Griffin reminds me a ton of Jimmy Butler, a Mr. do-it-all on the basketball court and can be an elite shutdown defender. Returning is Mark Williams who really exploded towards the back half of last season. He averaged 18.5 points in his last four games of the season. Wendell Moore will probably never live up to the five-star expectations out of high school but still will give Coach K high-quality minutes.

With a legit offseason this year, Jeremy Roach should grasp the point guard position and take a big leap in his sophomore year. After last season’s disappointment, it’s way more likely Duke finishes in the top 5 than missing the tournament for two consecutive seasons.

14. Maryland Terrapins

Projected Starting Five:

G Fatts Russell
G Eric Ayala
G Aaron Wiggins
F Donta Scott
C Qudus Wahab

Mark Turgeon has the Terps back in contention after plucking a couple of big names out of the transfer portal. Qudus Wahab comes over from Georgetown after dominating his way through the Big East tournament and helping the Hoyas get into the NCAA tournament. Wahab is a lengthy aggressive old-school type big that you need to bang around down low in Big 10 play.

Former Rhode Island guard Fatts Russell will give the Terps some extra offensive firepower. Russell can be very shot happy at times but with some great scorers around him, I expect him to be a little shyer when it comes to taking contested looks. Not to mention the top two scorers from a year ago Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayala will be back in the fold. Similar guys that create their own offense and play off each other well.

With these two back, the Terps will have one of the best backcourts in the country. Coach Turgeon has built the perfect team to play in the Big 10 and will have his guys up near the top of the standings come March.

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