We’re less than 60 days away from the 2021-22 NCAA Basketball season. In some ways, it feels like forever since the Baylor Bears defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs for the national championship. That’s because so much has happened in the past few months of the offseason.
There’s the transfer portal opening up more than ever, key NBA Draft decisions being made, players getting an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA, and several class of 2022 prospects reclassifying to play this upcoming season. The last factor singlehandedly boosted one particular program from outside the top-25 to potentially in the top-5 of preseason polls, but more on them in a bit.
I’ve done several “way-too-early” power rankings for the upcoming season but this time, I’ll be having the Busting Brackets staff (@BustingBrackets) with me to compile this set of rankings. We each did our own top-25 ranking and the results coming up are what we have combined. 14 of our writers participated in this project with me so thanks to them for their great help. Below are the participants and where to follow them for their own NCAA Basketball analysis.
Tristan Freeman – @hoopsnut351
Andrew Tineo – @D_Tineo4
Benjamin Zacher – @beezacher
Matt Melton – @matt_melton20
Greg Waddell- @gwizzy12
Cooper Watson – @coopertwatson
Holden Walter-Warner – @halterwarner
Tuck Clarry – @tuckclarry
Danny McCormack – @danny_mac1219
Michael Beard – @AllMikedUp_
Jake Verboven – @JakeVerboven
Tommy Farmer – @T_Farmer1
Daniel Jakes – @DanimalJakes
Jason Burgess – @Collegehoopsguy
Joey Loose – @jloose128
There were a whopping 39 teams that received at least one vote among the 15 different lists, which shows how strong a field of teams we have for the upcoming season. Several programs that were in consideration but missed the cut include BYU, Nevada, Loyola-Chicago, Colorado State, USC, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Rutgers, LSU, Syracuse, and West Virginia.
Here are the three teams that just barely missed the cut, followed by a complete breakdown of the top 25 teams for the upcoming season, courtesy of Busting Brackets.
Honorable Mention – UConn Huskies
Although James Bouknight left and went on to become a lottery pick in the NBA Draft, the Huskies still brought back plenty of talent. Most notably, double-digit scoring wing Tyrese Martin and point guard RJ Cole. What helps even more is that the frontcourt has gone from a long-time weakness to now a strength, as both Isaiah Whaley and Tyler Polley elected to take the extra year to return.
If center Adama Sanogo can become that breakout big man the Huskies have long been looking for, this team could cement itself as the No. 2 team in the Big East next season. Look for the talented freshmen class, led by Rahsool Diggins and Corey Floyd Jr. to have an impact as well.
Honorable Mention: Maryland Terrapins
The loss of leading scorer Aaron Wiggins certainly hurts but being able to keep guard Eric Ayala is huge for Maryland remaining viable. To replace Daryll Morsell as the starting point guard is Fatts Russell, a dynamic scorer from Rhode Island who himself was an all-conference defender.
The other key newcomer if Georgetown transfer Qudus Wahab, who gives the Terrapins a legit center to compete against the top bigs in the Big Ten. He and Donta Scott gives them a quality frontcourt and if Russell can be the lead guard the team needs, they’ll see themselves in the top-25 at some point this season.
Honorable Mention: Virginia Cavaliers
It’s hard to envision Virginia not being ranked to start out the season but they lost a ton of production this offseason, particularly in the frontcourt. There will be a ton of pressure on former East Carolina star forward Jayden Gardner to be a 15 ppg contributor on offense, while also being good on defense. And Indiana sharpshooter Armaan Franklin gives them needed three-point shooting and a complimentary piece to Kihei Clark and Reece Beekman, who aren’t great shooters in the backcourt.
Head coach Tony Bennett has turned less talented rosters into contenders so the Cavaliers will remain a thorn in the side of ACC programs. But the fact that this program didn’t crack the top-25 is a testament to the overall talent pool in NCAA Basketball this upcoming season.
When head coach Chris Beard left for rival Texas, that started the exodus of key Red Raider players to either the NBA Draft or transfer portal. However, the promoted assistant turned new head coach Mark Adams has done an outstanding job rebuilding the roster via the portal, with eight newcomers, four each from the frontcourt and backcourt.
Among the newcomer guards is 6’3 guard Mylik Wilson a double-digit scoring guard from Louisiana. 6’6 guard/wing Davion Warren averaged over 21 ppg at Hampton, while Sardaar Calhoun was a 40% three-point shooter at Florida State last season. And Adonis Arms is another 6’6 playmaker that averaged double figures off the bench at Winthrop.
The revamped frontcourt features former top-100 recruit from Arizona Daniel Batcho, East LA Community College (JUCO) transfer Kealon Allen, as well as 6’8 post scorer Bryson Williams, who averaged around 15 ppg during his time at both Fresno State and UTEP.
The biggest name of the group has to be Kevin Obanor, a 6’8 stretch forward that became a national star last March after scoring 59 points to help lead 15 seed Oral Roberts to the Sweet 16. The All-Summit League forward averaged 18.7 ppg and 9.6 rpg on the season overall, on incredible shooting splits of 50% from the field, 46% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line. He’s a great pick-and-pop offensive weapon but will need to be a better defender now at the Big 12 level.
The many incoming transfers for the Red Raiders have taken the attention from the fact that they return three of their top five scorers. That includes wing Terrence Shannon Jr., the team’s second-leading scorer, and possible 1st round NBA Draft pick before electing to return. He gives Texas Tech a go-to offensive option and leader of the locker room.
The two other key returning players are 6’6 guard Kevin McCullar, who is an elite rebounder and capable ball-handler as well. And Marcus Santos-Silva was a double-digit scorer at the center position and solid interior defender man-to-man. He’ll be the biggest beneficiary of Obanor’s presence as teams will have to deal with him on the perimeter.
There’s a ton of size on this roster and there’s a good chance that the primary lineup will feature everyone taller than 6’5. We’ll see how the mid-major transfers play at the Big 12 level and whether a true point guard will emerge but compared to what the roster looked like a week after Coach Beard left, this is the best-case scenario for a program looking to continue the upward momentum.
The Hoosiers made a big move this offseason in replacing Archie Miller with former NBA head coach Mike Woodson. Star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis must have been a fan of the move as he elected to return immediately after the news, giving Indiana a potential Big Ten Player of the Year candidate. He averaged a team-leading 19.1 ppg and 9.0 rpg and was just as effective as the other star bigs in the conference.
The hope is that with a better team, Jackson-Davis will be more on the national radar. And he’ll be surrounded by a better supporting cast, including returning forward Race Thompson, and guards Parker Stewart, Anthony Leal, Robert Phinisee, and Kristian Lander. This core is joined by several impact transfers, including South Florida center Michael Durr, who gives the team true five-man to combat the bevy of star centers in the Big Ten.
To replace now-Virginia guard Armaan Franklin in the shooting department will be Northwestern wing Miller Kopp, who shot 36% from three-point range in three years, two of them scoring overall in double figures. And the likely starting point guard will be Pittsburgh transfer Xavier Johnson, an All-ACC playmaker coming off a 14.2 ppg and 5.7 campaign. There’s also five-star freshman guard Tamar Bates, whose play could very well lift the ceiling for Indiana this season.
The Hoosiers have been out of the national picture for a while and have a new head coach from the NBA, which recently has been a hit-or-miss move in NCAA Basketball. But from a pure talent perspective, this is a roster that could be a top-10 team at some point if the guards can be consistent contributors. Things are looking up for Indiana but they have to take advantage of Jackson-Davis likely last year in college.
After All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year, and eventual No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cade Cunningham left, it was figured that Oklahoma State would take a step back towards the bottom half of the conference and struggle to get back to the NCAA Tournament. However, the supporting cast that played alongside Cunningham are all back and showed they themselves have potential as well.
That starts with guard Avery Anderson, the team’s second-leading scorer (12.2 ppg), and was very impressive in the final six games of the season. He averaged 19.3 ppg during that stretch, including a career-high 31 points at West Virginia when Cunningham was out due to covid protocols.
While Cunningham was the de facto point guard and lead ball-handler, it was Isaac Likekele that still managed to lead the Cowboys in assists, something he’s done in the previous two years as well. The 6’5 playmaker is one of the better all-around players in the country and will go back to being the lead guard in his senior campaign.
There’s also a trio of returning “role players” that I believe will have big years, including guard Rondel Walker and forwards, Kalib Boone, and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe. Another year of experience will only make them better, along with a pair of incoming transfers, Moussa Cisse and Bryce Thompson. Both of them are former five-star prospects with plenty of promise and if either shows it as sophomores, the Cowboys may be just as good as they were last year.
OK State might not have an All-American on its roster this time around but the collective talent and depth are very promising. If Anderson takes that next step and becomes a 17+ ppg offensive player, there will be plenty to like with this team.
Last year’s Auburn roster had real potential but a combination of injuries and academic issues with star freshman point guard Sharife Cooper derailed any hopes of a postseason bid. And most of those key guys are gone, as Cooper and forward JT Thor went pro, while Justin Powell transferred to Tennessee.
The Tigers went to the transfer portal to reload the talent pool and landed several impact pieces. Most notably was bit man Walker Kessler, a 7’0 center transfer from UNC that played limited minutes in a loaded frontcourt but when given minutes showed All-American potential. He’ll be paired in the frontcourt with five-star freshman power forward prospect Jabari Smith, a potential “one and done” recruit, along with returning forward Jaylin Williams to give them plenty of depth.
The key to Auburn’s season will be how the newcomer perimeter players look. KD Johnson averaged 13.5 ppg off the bench as a freshman at Georgia on efficient numbers and already has shown that he can produce at the SEC level. We’ll have to see whether the two mid-major transfers can, especially Wendell Green, the likely starting point guard. As a freshman at Eastern Kentucky, the 5’11 playmaker averaged 15.8 ppg and 5.0 apg and has lead guard experience. Zep Jasper had a breakout junior campaign at College of Charleston, going for over 15 ppg as well.
With veteran returners Devan Cambridge and Allen Flanigan both capable of going for double-digits from the wing position, Auburn has plenty of firepower on paper but right now is more potential than a sure bet. Head coach Bruce Pearl will likely get this roster going, although the absence of Flanigan until January via an injury will hurt them out the gate a bit.
21. St. Bonaventure Bonnies
The Bonnies were the Atlantic 10 regular-season champions last season and made the NCAA Tournament. And they did so without having a single senior on the roster, as all five starters were juniors. So the program didn’t even need to worry about an extra year of eligibility, as all five came back for their true senior campaign.
That includes big man Osun Osunniyi, who averaged nearly a double-double per game while also blocking just under three shots a night. The 6’10 center is considered to be the best interior defender in the country and now that Charles Bassey and Neemias Queta are gone, Osunniyi will get the national attention as the best mid-major big man not named Drew Timme of Gonzaga.
It's the middle of CFB Saturday, so here are some thoughts on a school that has *zero* care for CFB: The @BonniesMBB. Y'all didn't tell me Osun Osunniyi was one of the best big man passers in the country--Schmidt loves to use him as a facilitator from the elbow/TOK pic.twitter.com/hPA9PH3pk7
— Riley Davis (@Riley_Davis3) September 11, 2021
Yet Osunniyi may not even be the best player for St. Bonaventure. That would be Kyle Lofton, the point guard and lead ball-handler that led the team with 14.4 ppg and 5.5 apg. He had at least five assists in 16 of 21 games and is a quality defender as well.
Between these two are three other starters (Dominick Welch, Jaren Holmes, and Jalen Adaway) all of whom are 6’6 and averaged at least 11 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Each of them is interchangeable in lineups and can guard just about anyone on the court that isn’t a center. They’re also good and efficient shooters as well that take the pressure off of Osunniyi and Lofton.
The bench has been completely revamped and features power conference transfers, Abdoul Karim Coulibaly from Pittsburgh and Quadry Adams from Wake Forest. These two, along with JUCO transfer combo guard Linton Brown (Indian River State College), will get the bulk of the bench minutes and form a quality 8-man rotation that makes them the team to beat in the A-10.
Many teams will have experienced players thanks to the extra year of eligibility but few will have the chemistry early on in the season that the Bonnies will already have. That will give them an advantage in the non-conference slate, which will bolster their at-large resume once again for a potential postseason run.
When it comes to the backcourt depth, an argument can be made that the Vols are near the top, even without Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer. Replacing them is another five-star guard prospect in Kennedy Chandler, a top-10 player and likely “one and done” future NBA Draft pick.
There’s also Auburn transfer Justin Powell, who was a revelation when Sharife Cooper was out injured. In 10 games, the then-freshman averaged 11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, and 4.7 apg while shooting over 44% from three-point range. He can play off the ball as well which makes him a suitable backcourt mate for Chandler.
Tennessee also has a pair of returning double-digit scorers in Victor Bailey Jr. and Santiago Véscovi, both of whom add even more depth and shooting for all three positions, along with top-50 freshman wing Jahmai Mashack. That doesn’t even include Josiah Jordan-James, who led the Vols in rebounding and is a solid overall player.
The question has been more about the frontcourt, after its collective issues in the ladder half of last season. Senior leader John Fulkerson is back and healthy after dealing with a concussion, and nearly averaged double figures and will be joined by five-star frontcourt prospect Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and top-50 center Jonas Aidoo. They aren’t as experienced as last year’s frontcourt for Tennessee but are more talented and suitable for SEC play.
From a pure talent perspective, the Vols may be the best in the SEC. But the youth and inexperience compared to the others makes them a risky bet in terms of winning the league. Head coach Rick Barnes has his work cut out for him but the talent is certainly there to make a big splash.
Four of the top five scorers are gone for the Seminoles, which for most teams would be considered somewhat devastating for next year’s roster. Yet Coach Leonard Hamilton’s squad isn’t worried in the least bit, as they return at least seven rotational pieces for a program that prides itself in depth.
They do have one returning double-digit scorer in wing Anthony Polite, who’ll become one of the go-to contributors this time around. Joining him is Houston transfer Caleb Mills, a combo guard and quality scorer in his own right, whose shooting will be needed for this team. And don’t be surprised if five-star incoming freshman guard Matthew Cleveland has a big impact offensively and even leads Florida State in scoring.
Cleveland is part of a top-15 recruiting class, joined by top-60 point guard Jalen Warley and top-50 big man John Butler Jr. With how the team normally uses its depth, look for each of them to have an impact in the rotation. Another newcomer is Kentucky transfer Cam’Ron Fletcher, who played little as a freshman last season but his defense and athleticism make him a perfect with at FSU.
What the Seminoles also have going for them is plenty of centers with great size. 7’1 center Tanor Ngom is back and brings plenty of physicalities and interior defense, while Naheem McLeod is a whopping 7’3 and comes from Chipola College (JUCO) with some offensive skills, as well as 6’11 big man Quincy Ballard. Teams will have to deal with FSU’s frontcourt all game long and it’ll wear opponents down. They may not want to be in many shootouts but once again, Florida State’s great depth will win them plenty of games.
After making the Final Four for the first time in decades, the question with Houston was going to be whether they would rebuild or reload. Losing leading scorer Quentin Grimes and all-around guard Dejon Jarreau is tough but head coach Kelvin Sampson once again has a roster built for toughness and efficiency.
Two perimeter transfers brought in are both known for being great defenders. The first is Taze Moore, a 6’5 wing from Cal State Bakersfield that averaged double figures in the past two years and was All-Big West on the defensive end. Texas Tech transfer Kyler Edwards is one of the better all-around players and could take Jarreau’s role as lead facilitator.
Otherwise, the duo of Tramon Mark and Masser Sasser will take over as primary ball-handlers. Sasser was second on the team with 13.7 ppg and made 34% of his three-point attempts at over eight a game. Mark isn’t as good a shooter but can create his own shot and will be a national breakout candidate for next season.
The biggest development for the Cougars is more emphasis on frontcourt play this season. UConn transfer Josh Carlton gives them a true center to work with, while both Reggie Chaney and Fabian White, Jr. are back. And look for four-star frontcourt prospect Ja’Vier Francis to have an impact as well as a freshman. With more balance inside and out, Houston will remain a force in both the AAC and nationally.
For the first time since 2003, North Carolina will have a new head coach. Hall of Famer Roy Williams retired and his assistant Hubert Davis has taken over and we’ll see how he does under pressure. But if his recruiting ability and player relationship skills early on are an indicator, the Tar Heels won’t be taking much of a step back at all.
UNC had two major NBA Draft decisions in Caleb Love and leading scorer and rebounder Armando Bacot. Both of them ended up coming back, giving the Tar Heels a non-freshman point guard to run the offense. Not only is Love back but basically the rest of the backcourt, including sharpshooter Kerwin Walton and rising sophomore RJ Davis. And to add even more shooting is top-100 shooting guard recruit D’Marco Dunn.
The frontcourt was where most of UNC’s offseason transactions occurred. Bacot came back but Garrison Brooks and Walker Kessler transferred to SEC programs, while Day’Ron Sharpe went to the NBA. However, Coach Davis was able to bring in three talented frontcourt transfers, led by Marquette freshman star Dawson Garcia. He’s a versatile big man that can score both inside and out. Virginia transfer Justin McCoy is a sound defender, while Oklahoma grad transfer Brady Manek started for four years at his previous stop and is known for being a double-digit scorer that can spread the floor well.
Last season’s frontcourt may have had more talent on paper, but this group fits together much better, primarily due to Manek’s spacing ability. That should open things up for both Dawson and Bacot inside, along with the guards outside. The players are there to make a run in the ACC, it’s up to Coach Davis in his debut season to put it all together.
Illinois Basketball fans have had to deal with a lot of things this offseason, both regarding the roster and coaching staff. They lost all three main assistants to Gonzaga and Kentucky respectively and had to incorporate a new group of coaches, while seemingly having to rebuild after losing their top two players.
Both of their stars were All-Americans last season in Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, who led the Fighting Illini to a 1 seed. Yet both of them entered the NBA Draft after the season and were definitely gone from the program.
At least one of them.
In one of the more surprising moves of the offseason, Cockburn left the NBA Draft process and then immediately breaking Illinois fans’ hearts even more by entering the transfer portal shortly after. It look as if he was going to follow the assistants to Kentucky but pulled a 180 and returned to his original team, giving them a megastar that instantly makes them a top-25 team. The frontcourt was fairly thin without him, having just Florida transfer Omar Payne on board so that concern has been rectified.
And while both Dosunmu and freshman guard Adam Miller are gone, rising sophomore point guard Andre Curbelo is back. He’s been viewed as a national breakout candidate and will have the keys to the offense, also now having a huge security blanket inside in Cockburn to work with. Also helping is 5th-year senior guard and double-digit scorer Trent Frazier back, along with Utah transfer Alfonso Plummer.
There’s plenty of backcourt depth for Illinois to work with, including a trio of 6’5 guards/wings in Brandin Podziemski, Luke Goode, and Ramses Melendez. If any of them can break out, along with Jacob Grandison and Austin Hutcherson being healthy contributors, this team has a chance to get close to what last year’s group was able to accomplish in the regular season. They have arguably the best player in NCAA Basketball so it’s possible, something few thought was when Cockburn originally elected to leave.
There has been a ton of offseason news for the Crimson Tide, both good and bad. The most consequential for the team’s aspirations was leading scorer Jaden Shackelford electing to return, after originally entering the transfer portal after coming back from the NBA Draft process.
That gave Alabama a star to lead the way, alongside Jahvon Quinerly, the second-best bench player in the SEC after averaging double figures and over three assists off the bench. He and five-star freshman prospect JD Davison will be the primary ball-handlers, while Keon Ellis and Darius Miles rounds out the backcourt.
Unfortunately, Texas Tech transfer guard Nimari Burnett won’t be part of the rotation after suffering a season-ending injury in practice recently. That’s the second injury the program has dealt with in the offseason, as forward James Rosas also got hurt and is likely done as well. The depth will now be tested, putting some pressure on Furman transfer Noah Gurley to be an impact player at the forward position. He was a consistent double-digit scorer and good defender but the SEC is a big leap from the Southern Conference.
Also in the frontcourt is Charles Bediako, a five-star center prospect that is an elite rim protector and overall athlete but is raw on the offensive end. The concern for Alabama is that there won’t be enough balance offensively from inside but the elite scoring potential from the backcourt shouldn’t make it a deal-breaker for the Tide’s hopes of a postseason run.
The roster situation for Oregon heading into the offseason was very simple; they had plenty of frontcourt players but only one backcourt player. That one guard returning was a key one in Will Richardson, coming off a season of averaging 11.3 ppg and a team-leading 3.9 apg.
The question was going to be who the Ducks were going to bring alongside him. And it was answered in a trio of impact veteran newcomers. De’Vion Harmon is a combo guard and double-digit scorer at Oklahoma and also is comfortable being the lead ball-handler as well.
Jacob Young is an effective off-guard scorer that averaged a career-high 14.1 ppg on 47% shooting from the field at Rutgers. The 6th-year transfer was in double figures in 23 of 28 games and can score in a variety of ways. Last but not least is 6’6 wing Rivaldo Soares, a Junior College All-American at South Plains.
Yet the biggest name among the newcomers has to be Quincy Guerrier, coming off a breakout campaign at Syracuse, averaging 13.7 ppg and 8.4 rpg. The 6’7 combo forward was putting up nearly 20 ppg to start the season and is one of the top athletes in NCAA Basketball. He can play the three-spot if the frontcourt is already set but look for him and returning forward Eric Williams Jr. to provide plenty of potential mismatches in Oregon lineups.
The frontcourt for the Ducks features a pair of returning centers in N’Faly Dante and Franck Kepnang. Both are former five-star prospects but Dante has dealt with injuries issues, while Kepnang looked raw after reclassifying to the 2020 class. Both are back-to-the-basket big men, while five-star forward Nathan Bittle and top-50 freshman Isaac Johnson are more of the stretch variety.
There will be some growing pains as the chemistry starts to build but the talent level here is undeniable. As long as Richardson and Harmon can be effective point guards in this system, Oregon will be top-15 caliber.
The Razorbacks lost three of their top four scorers, including freshman star Moses Moody. Yet no one was questioning how they were going to be able to reload, as head coach Eric Musselman has become a master of the transfer portal. And as expected, he and Arkansas cleaned up early on, landing several impact transfers.
The most notable would be Chris Lykes, who despite being listed at 5’7 and 165 pounds, is one of the better pure scoring guards in the country. He averaged over 15 ppg in the past two seasons at Miami and has no issues creating his own offense. He and rising sophomore Davonte Davis will be one of the better point guard tandems in the SEC and can play alongside each other as well.
Another newcomer to watch is Stanley Umude, a transfer from South Dakota that averaged over 20 ppg. The Summit League is very offensive-friendly and the SEC will give the 6’4 guard fits but if Umude can give Arkansas around double figures as a starter or off the bench, that’ll be a success. I’m assuming that last season’s SEC 6th Man of the Year JD Notae (12.8 ppg) will start but why fix something that’s not broken with the 6’1 scoring guard?
To replace combo forward Justin Smith is Pittsburgh transfer Au’Diese Toney, coming off a strong junior campaign that saw him emerge as an offensive threat on the perimeter while also capable of playing multiple positions. There’s also Wichita State forward Trey Wade, more of a defender than pure scorer but adds needed frontcourt depth and provides physicality and toughness in the rotation.
Centers Jaylin Williams and Connor Vanover will be matchup-dependent but each of them will be in the rotation as well, while Kamani Johnson and four-star freshman Chance Moore will look for playing time at the wing spot. This team has a ton of versatility and potential but we’ll have to see who emerges as the go-to offensive option in crunch time.
A theme for the top Big Ten teams this season is the return of their respective star big men. That’s the case for Ohio State, who got great news that forward E.J. Liddell is back after averaging 16.2 ppg and 6.7 rpg. He’s a great offensive player still with room to grow but his energy and skill set makes him an effective college player.
The Buckeyes weren’t able to keep leading scorer Duane Washington but were able to land a wood replacement in transfer Cedric Russell. The 6’2 guard from Louisiana averaged 17.4 ppg last season while shooting an impressive 40% from three-point range. He’ll be opposite Penn State point guard transfer Jamari Wheeler in the backcourt, who isn’t much of a scorer but is a two-time All-Big Ten defender and will make life difficult for opposing guards.
The most likely third scoring option for this team will be Justice Sueing, who averaged double figures in his first season with the Buckeyes after transferring over from Cal. This team has a lot of solid role players such as center Kyle Young, Indiana transfer Joey Brunk, and wing Justin Ahrens but needs to not rely on Liddell offensive each game. Sueing, a 6’8 combo forward that can create his own offense both inside and out.
Look out for top-30 freshman Malaki Branham to potentially have a bigger role than expected if the backcourt needs an offensive jolt. But while Washington would’ve made them better, this roster for Ohio State should have them in Big Ten title contention as they are.
After winning just nine games total last season, John Calipari and Kentucky Basketball have completely revamped their roster for the upcoming campaign. They lost a lot of production but an underrated offseason move was the return of Davion Mintz, who quietly led the team in scoring and passing last season while making 38% of his three-point attempts (6 a game).
Mintz will be joined by five-star point guard prospect and former Creighton commit TyTy Washington, an explosive 6’2 playmaker that should be an instant impact contributor. The likely starting point guard will be Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler, who led the entire SEC in assists last season (7.4 apg), despite not having a great supporting cast.
Wheeler isn’t a great shooter by Iowa sharpshooting transfer CJ Fredrick, a 6’3 off-guard that made 47% of his three-point attempts in two years. And rounding out the group is grad transfer Kellan Grady, a four-year starter at Davidson that averaged at least 17.0 ppg every year and has been as consistent a scorer in NCAA Basketball as it comes.
Another key returning forward for Kentucky is Keion Brooks Jr., who averaged 10.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg in 16 games played, mostly coming off the bench. Injuries limited him to just SEC games but Brooks had some big performances, including 23 points and 11 rebounds against Tennessee. If he can shoot the ball and allow some spacing at the power forward position, don’t be surprised to see him be a breakout star for the team.
And while it technically wasn’t an offseason acquisition, West Virginia center Oscar Tshiebwe will give Kentucky a true defensive anchor inside and a rebounding presence, without not needing the ball on offense. There’s also top-20 freshman Daimion Collins, who’ll provide frontcourt depth and could potentially start if he shows early promise.
There’s a lot of new pieces that will have to fit together and the potential lineups all have pros and cons to them. But Kentucky isn’t the type to have back-to-back bad seasons, so expect a bounceback campaign. The question will be how high the bounce back up.
The offseason was going fairly normal for Memphis, losing a few players to the transfer portal but able to land former top-30 prospect Earl Timberlake from Miami, along with former Oregon commits, Chandler and Johnathan Lawson. With both Landers Nolley and Deandre Williams coming back for another year, it looked as if this team would compete for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, but likely start out outside of the top-25.
That projection changed dramatically in the past couple of months. It started when Jalen Duren, who rose up the class of 2022 rankings to No. 1 overall at one point, reclassified to play this upcoming season and eventually picking Memphis over both Kentucky and Miami. He’s a 6’11 forward/center with tremendous offensive potential and will be one of the best frontcourt scorers in the country.
And somehow the Tigers were able to outdo that news by also landing Emoni Bates, who has been compared to the great LeBron James in terms of potential coming out of high school. Those expectations are probably too high at the moment but Bates still is a top-tier talent, listed at 6’9, and can do just about everything a perimeter player can do. His shot-making ability is next to none and he can handle the ball as well.
Bates could very well be part of a point guard committee for Memphis this season, along with Timberlake and last season’s starter, Alex Lomax. There’s a ton of talent now on this roster and they probably have the two best players in the American in Bates and Duren. Williams’ versatility will come in handy at the forward spot, while Nolley should be able to score much easier as the 3rd or 4th offensive option now.
It’s up to head coach Penny Hardaway to make this all work but in terms of potential, Memphis may be at the top if the pieces can fit together.
Thanks to the rule of players getting an extra year of eligibility, many teams didn’t lose much talent on their respective rosters. However, the reigning national champion Baylor Bears can’t say that, as four starters left and having quality seasons. That includes the guard trio of MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell, and Jared Butler, as well as Mark Vital from inside.
So the fact that Baylor still managed a top-10 spot shows that head coach Scott Drew is finally getting the respect he deserves. The team also has a few returning players that are capable of starring now that they’re in bigger roles.
Matthew Mayer averaged 8.1 ppg off the bench and is one of the best stretch forwards in the country, while Adam Flagler nearly averaged double figures last season despite being the fourth guard in the rotation. Both players will be focal points in the offense, along with five-star freshman wing Kendall Brown. Four-star freshmen Jeremy Sochan and Langston Love will have roles in the rotation, as will big men Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Flo Thamba.
The key for Baylor will be the point guard production. They landed a transfer from Arizona in James Akinjo, who averaged 15.6 ppg and 5.4 rpg. Between his time with the Wildcats and at Georgetown, the 6’1 point guard has always been able to put up stats but the wins haven’t been able to follow. We’ll see if the Bears system puts him in a spot to succeed, with former D-II star Dane Bonner backing him up.
The Bears could be overvalued a bit after last season but the coaching staff deserves the benefit of the doubt that this new group will be very good as well. And if Mayer and Flagler can break out, this team could win the Big 12 once again.
The biggest storyline for the 2021-22 NCAA Basketball season will likely be the last year that Mike Krzyzewski will be the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils. The Hall of Famer and five-time national champion has the case of being the greatest college head coach outside of John Wooden and has the chance to go out on top, thanks to a young, yet talented team.
The player to watch for the Blue Devils will be Paolo Banchero, the No. 2 overall freshman prospect and the latest in a long string of quality frontcourt players to join the program. The 6’10 big man is an elite two-way player, capable of scoring anywhere on the court, and has a good chance to be a 20 ppg and 10 rpg contributor as a freshman.
Two other five-star prospects joining Duke are wing AJ Griffin and shooting guard Trevor Keels. Griffin is as versatile as it comes and can play multiple positions, while Keels adds much-needed perimeter shooting in the backcourt. Another newcomer to note is Marquette grad transfer Theo John for some frontcourt depth after playing over 100 games in his college career.
Ultimately, Duke’s fortunes may depend on the development of the sophomore duo, Mark Williams and Jeremy Roach. Williams struggled mightily early last season but came on strong down the stretch that has been as a national breakout candidate this time around. And without much frontcourt depth, the Blue Devils really need the young center to at least be a consistent double-digit contributor.
Jordan Goldwire was the team’s starting point guard last season but is severely limited on the offensive end. As a freshman, Roach averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.8 rpg with 18 starts and was the primary backup ball-handler. But as the clear-cut lead guard (unless Jaylen Blakes gets more minutes than expected), expectations will be massive for Roach and there are questions. If he plays well, this team has national title aspirations. Otherwise, their ceiling will be limited compared to the other top-10 teams.
In the transfer portal frenzy this offseason, there were only a few teams among the top seven conferences that didn’t elect to take in anyone. They didn’t really need to, thanks to a couple of massive decisions by some seniors to run it back.
Collin Gillespie was Co-Big East Player of the Year last season and is one of the best floor generals in the country. A leg injury caused the point guard to miss the postseason but they still managed to make the Sweet 16, thanks to a strong supporting cast, all of whom will be returning with the exception of leading scorer and rebounder Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Another super senior on the roster is Jermaine Samuels, a forward that averaged 12.0 ppg and 6.4 rpg last season. And after dealing with injuries himself, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree will be back for an extra year as well. These two, along with four-star freshman center Nnanna Njoku will look to collectively replace Robinson-Earl but even if they fail to do so, the backcourt is more than capable of leading way.
Besides Gillespie, Villanova has another All-Big East talent in Justin Moore, who proved he can be a lead guard when the leader went out. Caleb Daniels nearly averaged double figures as well and will be a senior starter this year. Then there’s also Bryan Antoine, a former five-star prospect that had to deal with injuries the past two seasons but enters training healthy and ready to contribute.
While the loss of Robinson-Earl may still be undervalued, head coach Jay Wright has proven to be one of the best in the game. And since he has a 5th-year point guard leading the way in Gillespie, it’s hard to imagine that the Wildcats won’t be ranked in the top-10 for a good portion of next season.
The Boilermakers were a pleasant surprise last season, getting a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. And outside of reserve forward Aaron Wheeler transferring out, the entire roster returns for another season, joined by a pair of top-60 freshman forwards to bolster the frontcourt.
A frontcourt that already was one of the best in the country, led by All-Big Ten big man Trevion Williams. He averaged a team-leading 15.5 ppg and 9.1 rpg on 53% shooting and is one of the more dominant post players in the country. His backup, 7’3 big man Zach Edey was just as good when on the court, averaging 23.6 ppg and 12.1 rpg per 40 minutes. He and Williams aren’t compatible on the court together but at least that means Purdue will have a great post option inside all 40 minutes.
Joining them inside is freshman forwards, Caleb Furst and Trey Penn-Kaufmann. Considering Purdue’s ability to play small lineups and how much time Williams and Edey will get on the court, it’s hard to envision either getting a ton of playing time. But these are long-term pieces that can spread the floor if the team wants to switch things up on offense.
The biggest reason why the Boilermakers are ranked so high is due to Jaden Ivey, who was impressive as a freshman but is pegged as a near consensus national breakout candidate for 2021-22. He was the only other double-digit scorer on the team at 11.1 ppg and is a great athlete that can create his own offense. If Ivey becomes a national star, this team can truly win it all.
And while the supporting cast doesn’t make national headlines guards such as Eric Hunter, Mason Grills, Brandon Newman, and Sasha Stefanovic are all solid shooters and scorers that provide consistent production on a nightly basis. There’s a lot of proven depth and potential on this roster that warrants a top-10 spot.
The Wolverines lost a number of seniors this offseason, along with eventual NBA Draft lottery pick Franz Wagner. But the most important thing for them is that big man Hunter Dickinson elected to return, looking to build off an All-American campaign as a freshman, leading the team with 14.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg last season.
Dickinson alone makes this team a legit contender in the Big Ten but it also helps that the No. 1 recruiting class is joining him as well. It’s a 6-man group, led by top-10 overall prospect Caleb Houstan. He’s a 6’9 combo forward that can be used in a variety of ways on both ends. Five-star big man Moussa Diabate will be Dickinson’s backup at center but also could see minutes alongside him at the power forward spot.
The other key freshmen to watch include guards Frankie Collins and Kobe Bufkin, along with 6’6 wing Isaiah Barnes. They’ll likely get minutes behind 5th-year senior guard Eli Brooks, as well as Coastal Carolina transfer guard Devante Jones, who won the Sun Belt Player of the Year Award.
How well Jones plays in the Big Ten as a starter likely will determine Michigan’s ceiling but the floor will be high thanks to Dickinson and the freshman bigs. If Houstan can be an all-conference contributor as a freshman, this team could be even better equipped to make a postseason run that goes further than the Elite 8 last year.
When head coach Chris Beard added Mac McClung a year ago, it was considered to be one of the biggest offseason additions via the transfer portal. Fast forward to now and an argument can be made that he added three better players at his new stop in Austin.
There were officially seven transfers added this offseason, with the highest-profile one being Minnesota guard Marcus Carr. He averaged 19.4 ppg and 4.9 apg last season and is capable of filling up the stat sheet in ways few point guards can. The 6’2 playmaker hasn’t won much in his NCAA Basketball career at both Minnesota and Pittsburgh but to his defense, he wasn’t surrounded by as much talent there as he will be with the Longhorns.
And that’s thanks to the other transfers coming in, including big man Tre Mitchell. He averaged around 18.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg in two seasons at UMass and is one of the best offensive frontcourt players in the country. Capable of spreading the floor with his shooting ability while scoring in the post, the 6’9 forward can play both power forward and center positions and should have no problem transitioning to Big 12 play.
Other important newcomers to note include Dylan Disu, coming off 15.0 ppg and 9.2 rpg breakout sophomore campaign at Vanderbilt, 6’6 combo forward Timmy Allen (17.2 ppg at Utah), who is a versatile playmaker and mid-range scorer, and Creighton undersized forward Christian Bishop to provide frontcourt depth.
And it’s going to help with the team-building and chemistry process to have two double-digit returning guards in Andrew Jones and Courtney Ramey to set the tone of this brand new team. How they fit with Carr remains to be seen, let alone what kind of impact Kentucky transfer and former five-star recruit Devin Askew will have next season. But Coach Beard deserves the benefit of the doubt and from an individual talent standpoint, Texas may have the most of any team heading into next season.
What’s amazing about sports is how one single game can completely change the narrative of a specific team. UCLA is the perfect example of this, as they needed a comeback effort against Michigan State in the “First Four” game in advance. Had that not happened, we wouldn’t have seen the great run the Bruins made, including nearly beating the unbeaten Gonzaga Bulldogs to make it to the national title game.
And considering that everyone who was involved in the run is coming back, it makes sense why UCLA is as high as they are in the preseason rankings. It was made official when Johnny Juzang, the team’s leading scorer that averaged around 25 ppg in the postseason opted to return. The transfer from Kentucky established himself as the go-to scorer once Chris Smith went down with an injury. He still has room to improve as a shooter but will be an All-American candidate this season if he continues his postseason form.
Juzang is one of five returning double-digit scorers, all of whom are experienced upperclassmen. Point guard Tyger Campbell continues to fly under the radar but is a steady ball-handler and playmaker while having enough offense to keep opponents honest. Combo forward Jaime Jaquez, Jr. was second on the team with 12.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg and can defend just about anybody, while Jules Bernard shot 40% from three-point range.
Big man Cody Riley is also back after flirting with the NBA Draft and is joined in the frontcourt by Rutgers center transfer Myles Johnson, a similar player that rebounds and plays good defense. They likely won’t be on the court together but this will guarantee that UCLA will have an impact interior presence for all 40 minutes.
Add five-star wing prospect Peyton Watson to the mix as another versatile weapon and the Bruins will have a ton of depth and starpower to work with. We’ll if they can look great all season instead of just five games in the postseason but the confidence gained, along with another year in head coach Mick Cronin’s season should have them in great position to win the Pac-12.
Kansas always seems to have a quality point guard to lead the offense each season. And while Marcus Garett wasn’t the greatest scorer in the world, but he had a claim of being the best perimeter defender in the country last season. He’s gone but was replaced late in the offseason by Remy Martin, a quality scorer that averaged around 20 ppg in the last two seasons at Arizona State.
Martin completes what arguably will be the strongest starting lineup among all NCAA Basketball teams. The frontcourt duo of Jalen Wilson and David McCormack is back after double-digit scoring seasons, along with sharpshooting wing Christian Braun. They also got a nice surprise with leading scorer and top-tier defender Ochai Agbaji electing to return after entering the NBA Draft process.
The quality and balance with this five makes the Jayhawks so good on both ends of the court and if Martin can successfully join the mix and become more efficient, this team will be very hard to defeat. And this doesn’t even include the pair of backcourt transfers in Joseph Yesufu (Drake) and 7th-year veteran Jalen Coleman-Lands (DePaul) that are more than capable of having an impact off the bench.
And with former D-II star Cam Martin providing depth at the center position and top-60 freshman KJ Adams and Zachary Clemence capable of contributing in the frontcourt as well, the Jayhawks can go legitimately 10-deep in their rotation without much drop-off.
Kansas always has really good teams but this version will have “national title or bust” aspirations this season.
Forget mid-majors, it’s rare for top-tier power conference programs to lose their Conference Player of the Year, let alone two players that were named All-Americans in the season prior, and still be viewed as a consensus preseason national title contender the next year.
That’s the case for Gonzaga, who lost WCC Player of the Year and elite sharpshooter Corey Kispert and star freshman point guard Jalen Suggs to the NBA Draft. Both were national stars, while Joey Ayayi was one of the best all-around players in the country as well.
But they do have a returning All-American in center Drew Timme, coming off a breakout campaign of 19.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg last season. The 6’10 big man was the best post scorer in the country, scoring at least nine points in every game, including a 30-point effort against Oklahoma and dominating future top-3 NBA Draft pick Evan Mobley in the NCAA Tournament.
And yet, Timme may not even be the best frontcourt player for the Bulldogs. That could be Chet Holmgren, the No. 1 overall recruit and is a “unicorn” in the basketball world. He’s a 7’1 and 195-pound skinny forward, with an incredible skillset on the perimeter, and can score in every way. He’s also a tremendous shot-blocker and interior defender. He can play both forward positions and will be a matchup nightmare in the WCC.
The perimeter lost a lot of talent yet brought in just as much, thanks to incoming top-20 freshmen, Hunter Sallis and Nolan Hickman. Both of them would certainly start on any other Gonzaga roster but one or even both of them may end up coming off the bench. That’s because senior Andrew Nembhard will be the lead guard this season, joined by Iowa State transfer Rasir Bolton, who led them in scoring at nearly 16 ppg.
This doesn’t even include the group of underclassmen (Julian Strawther, Dominick Harris, Ben Gregg, Anton Watson, and Kaden Perry) that will factor into the rotation. The Bulldogs have the starpower at the top and the depth overall to claim the top preseason spot. And considering that they were the consensus No. 1 pick from every single voting contributor, it’s no surprise who the team to beat once again is in NCAA Basketball.