Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early rankings of 2022 PK85 Invitational teams

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 13, 2020; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Nike co-founder Phil Knight waves to the crowd during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2020; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Nike co-founder Phil Knight waves to the crowd during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State’s Malik Hall celebrates after dunking against Indiana during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220212 Msu Indiana Bball 172a
Michigan State’s Malik Hall celebrates after dunking against Indiana during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220212 Msu Indiana Bball 172a /

4. Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans have had a good season and are safe to make the NCAA Tournament, compared to making the First Four last time around. They have a solid but not an elite roster, led by seniors Gabe Brown and Marcus Bingham. They’ll be gone alongside Joey Hauser but currently have just top-50 big man Jaxon Kohler committed to the 2022 class.

There are still questions for this team, including at the point guard position and who the lead guy will be next season. If Max Christie returns and breaks out into a 15+ ppg scorer, the Spartans will be in position to make a lot of noise. Otherwise, they’ll have to hope that the 8-man collective rotation will be good enough.

3. Villanova Wildcats

The Wildcats once again are a Final Four contender thanks to national champions, Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels leading the way, along with Justin Moore being a breakout star (15.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg). It’ll be interesting to see what this team does without Gillespie and Samuels and potentially Moore if he has a big run in March.

But if he does come back, Villanova’s roster will be in good shape. Big man Eric Dixon could be the next frontcourt star in the Big East, while Eric Daniels will be the veteran guard in the backcourt alongside Moore. And top-30 wing Cam Whitmore is going to have an impact early on. Without Gillespie though, they could be more vulnerable than normal.

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