NCAA Basketball: 3 teams underrated in way-too-early 2022-23 polls

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 26: Keshad Johnson #0 and Trey Pulliam #4 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrate as they walk off the court following their 71-67 victory over the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball TCU Horned Frogs guard Damion Baugh Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The day after the National Championship game is one of the most speculative days of the college basketball year. Day one of the offseason is the day that everyone releases their “Way too Early Top 25” for the next season.

With the age of NCAA basketball, we’re currently in, the transfer portal and early draft entry process make these rankings often inaccurate when compared to actual preseason polls. However, speculating is really fun and makes for a fantastic conversation. What that conversation should be about are the teams that weren’t getting enough respect or are underrated in Way Too Early polls.

TCU

National Media Rankings:

ESPN: Unranked

Sports Illustrated: Unranked

CBS Sports (Updated): 10

Bleacher Report: 21

The TCU Horned Frogs played an incredible second-round game against Arizona and that is what they’ll likely be remembered for heading into next season. However, the Horned Frogs were playing really well down the stretch to end the season.

TCU beat Texas Tech and Kansas in the span of four days and then nearly beat the Jayhawks again on March 3rd just two days after their first meeting. The Horned Frogs also had an impressive comeback win against Texas in the Big 12 Tournament and dismantled Seton Hall in the first round.

Jaime Dixon’s squad was always a tough out because of their physicality and offensive rebounding ability, but now they’re going to have experience. Mike Miles decided to return to school after entering the draft and although he was inefficient at times, he was the team’s leading scorer last season.

TCU will also bring back two solid wings in Damion Baugh and Chuck O’Bannon Jr. Both are solid scorers and Baugh led the team in assists. Inside, Emmanuel Miller and Eddie Lampkin both return as the “identity” pieces as they were the two leading rebounders last season. TCU needs to address their depth with the loss of Francisco Farabello, but Micah Peavy is a nice sixth man to have off the bench already.

When you add in the fact that Jamie Dixon is a great developer, TCU should likely be a top 10 team to start next season. What the Horned Frogs showed against Arizona is going to be indicative of what kind of team they will be next season.

Current Ranking: 9

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