NCAA Basketball: “League Pass Rankings” for 2022-23 season

Tier Five: Fun Systems and Players

23. Miami

I have really enjoyed Jim Larranaga’s evolution as a coach. His Hurricanes played a lot of five-out last year with undersized centers, spacing the floor, and just attacking teams off the bounce. Charlie Moore is gone, but I am hoping Nijel Pack gets more of the national recognition he deserves as a really impressive shot-maker.

The uber-athletic Isaiah Wong returns, surely to give us some posters and there’s been some good preseason buzz about Wooga Poplar. At this point, I trust Larranaga to have them playing a fun offense and being competitive.

22. Dayton

The Flyers were one of the bubble teams that just missed the cut last season for the NCAA. But their young core is back, led by center Daron Holmes, a sneaky NBA draft prospect. Touma Camara joins him in the frontcourt and if just one of them can take a shooting leap, they become a really strong dup. Malachi Smith is back to run the offense. He’s a poised guard with real quickness. Mike Sharavjamts on the wing is one of the more unheralded freshmen in the country.

It’s a team that tasted some success last year, and brought back a ton of talent, with a rabid fanbase, good home court, and a coach I have enjoyed watching so the Flyers will definitely be getting some views from me this year.

21. Oregon

It was a massive down year for Oregon last season as things just never clicked in Eugene, but I am a believer in Dana Altmann and the way his teams play. Will Richardson will be the key. Expected to be one of the best guards in the country last season, he slipped a bit statistically. But keep an eye on Colorado transfer Keeshawn Barthelemy, an undersized guard with real shake to his game.

There are a ton of intriguing frontcourt pieces, but the headliner is five-star freshman Kel’El Ware. He’s got good athleticism and some perimeter skills, we’ll see if he can piece it together. I think the Ducks are a sleeper Pac-12 candidate, with an elite home court and jersey combo, and the possibility of Bill Walton on the call

20. Saint Louis

I actually went to a Billikens home game in person last season and was blown away by how fun Yuri Collins is. Despite size limitations, he’s arguably the best passer in the sport, leading the country in assists per game last season at 7.9. He is joined by a veteran perimeter group in seniors Javonte Perkins, Javon Pickett, and athletic juniors Terrence Hargrove and Fred Thatch Jr. Gibson Jimmerson brings some floor spacing as well.

The Billikens should be atop the A-10 picture, with Collins leading a dangerous offense, I expect them to sneak up on some teams this year.

19. UAB

I’m not going to pretend I am a huge Conference USA, or even UAB expert for that matter, and talk about the league or every player on their roster. But, I know they return reigning C-USA Player of the Year Jordan “Jelly” Walker. The 5’11 guard is the definition of a bucket-getter. He averaged 20 points per game, shooting 39% from deep on over eight attempts. The Blazers found his backcourt mate in LSU transfer Eric Gaines. Gaines had an up-and-down year from a production standpoint, but the sophomore is in line for more touches. He’s arguably the best 6’2 and under athlete in the sport.

https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1587832112438198279?s=20&t=8ywSXWyIv9nAuF43WhuEpw

UAB should be competing for a C-USA title and Walker and Gaines might become household names soon.