The college basketball season is almost upon us. As always, many of the top teams look dramatically different now than they did when we last saw them in March. Transfers, recruiting, coaching changes, and simple player development can completely change a program’s outlook in one offseason.
The AP has released their top 25 college basketball rankings, with Kansas taking the top spot just ahead of fellow blue blood Duke. But I don’t quite agree with their list, so I’m giving my own take on the best programs across the country. Let’s get into it.
1. Duke Blue Devils
Coach Jon Scheyer gets the luxury of getting three five-star freshmen back. Center Kyle Filipowski (15.1 ppg), guard Tyrese Proctor (9.4 ppg), and forward Mark Mitchell (9.1 ppg) are a dangerous trio with unlimited upside. Filipowski is a matchup nightmare with his inside-outside game. Proctor has explosive athleticism, while Mitchell is an animal on the glass and a difference-maker on the defensive end. The Blue Devils also hauled in a consensus top-three recruiting class. Combo guard Jared McCain, point guard Caleb Foster, and forwards TJ Power and Sean Stewart. But Duke’s fortunes could rest on the shoulders of a senior who has been around a while in guard Jeremy Roach (13.6 ppg).
2. Kansas Jayhawks
Coach Bill Self and his Jayhawks are among the elite rosters in the country. Coach Self used the transfer portal to bolster his roster, including nabbing who most believe was the top available player in center Hunter Dickinson (Michigan, 18.5 ppg). A glaring hole in last year’s squad was the lack of a dominant post player that has anchored so many of Kansas’ championship teams, which Dickinson fills. Forward KJ Adams (10.6 ppg) can now return to a more natural position, which in turn creates versatility throughout the roster. Mid-Major star guard Nick Timberlake (Towson, 17.7 ppg) sorely gives the Jayhawks the shooting and scoring prowess they missed at times. Kansas also has two of the top guards in the Big 12 returning with point guard Dajuan Harris (8.9 ppg) and wing Kevin McCullar Jr. (10.7 ppg).
3. Michigan State Spartans
When you have had the type of success Coach Tom Izzo has had in East Lansing, it’s hard to say this could be the best roster top to bottom he’s ever had. But that’s what happens when you combine a veteran team with a top-five recruiting class and a trio of potential breakout sophomores. It starts with the three-headed monster in the backcourt returning. A.J. Hoggard (12.9 ppg), Tyson Walker (14.8 ppg), and Jaden Akins (9.8 ppg) have the ability to get it going offensively and create havoc for opposing defenses. Then you add five-star freshmen in guard Jeremy Fears and forward Xavier Booker, who both have next-level talent. It’s the forgotten sophomores like forward Jaxon Kohler (3.0 ppg), center Carson Cooper (1.6 ppg), and guard Tre Holloman (1.3 ppg) who showed flashes in very limited roles that create a ridiculous amount of depth and riches for Coach Izzo.
4. Creighton Bluejays
You can’t get much closer to a Final Four appearance than what Coach Greg McDermott and his Bluejays experienced. A game-ending foul call turned into a dizzying offseason of player movement. One of the best starting five units in the game broke up after Ryan Nembhard and Arthur Kaluma decided to transfer. That still left a “Big Three” that is capable of reaching the mountain top of the sport. Wing Baylor Scheierman (12.8 ppg), guard Trey Alexander (13.6 ppg), and center Ryan Kalkbrenner (15.9 ppg) are some of the top players at their respective positions. Those three bring versatility on both ends, but it will be the fit of new point guard Steven Ashworth (Utah State – 16.2 ppg) that gets them over the hump. The Bluejays also look to have more depth and shooting off the bench this season, which is just one of the many reasons expectations are sky-high in Omaha.
5. Purdue Boilermakers
If there is any team ready to move on from last season, it’s the Boilermakers. After being on the wrong side of history as the second #1 seed to fall in the first round, there is a lot for Purdue faithful to be excited about in the new basketball calendar. Reigning National Player of the Year, center Zach Edey (22.3 ppg) will look to continue his domination, as there aren’t many in the sport that can physically match up with his 7’4” frame. The Boilermakers were very young at the guard position last year, as they started two true freshmen in Braden Smith (9.7 ppg) and Fletcher Loyer (11.0 ppg). With a year under their belt, Smith and Loyer have a chance to take a tremendous leap forward and are crucial to the upside of this team. There are a lot of familiar faces back as Coach Matt Painter’s squad hopes to put themselves in position for some end-of-the-year hardware.
6. Marquette Golden Eagles
After exploding back onto the national scene, Coach Shaka Smart has the luxury of returning four starters from the 2022 Big East champions. Tyler Kolek (12.9 ppg) and Kam Jones (15.1 ppg) can no longer be called an underrated backcourt after an impressive year. They have the luxury of playing with center Oso Ighodaro (11.4 ppg), who impressed on both ends of the floor during his breakout season. The player who will need to take a leap to the level of the “Big Three” is forward David Joplin (9.2 ppg), who has the task of filling the void left by Olivier-Maxence Prosper. While he might not be what OMP was on the defensive end, Joplin is a true marksman from three. Coach Smart will need to shake his March postseason woes if the Golden Eagles want to realize their full potential.
7. Connecticut Huskies
Coach Danny Hurley and the Huskies captured the school’s fifth National Championship in dominating fashion. Yes, key members like Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins, and Andre Jackson are gone. However, the cupboard is still far from bare for the Huskies. Center Donovan Clingan (6.9 ppg) is expected to take a massive leap forward, and starters Tristen Newton (10.1 ppg) and Alex Karaban (9.3 ppg) return. Cam Spencer (Rutgers – 13.2 ppg) was a late portal addition and will provide excellent outside shooting. The 2023 recruiting class for Hurley is also consistently ranked among the top five in the nation, headlined by five-star wing Stephon Castle. If you’re looking for a championship hangover, don’t hold your breath.
8. Houston Cougars
Few coaches have been able to transform a program into a consistent national contender like Coach Kelvin Sampson has with this program. Lead guard Jamal Shead (10.5 ppg) and forward J’Wan Roberts (10.0 ppg) are the two returning starters. Both only know deep postseason success, having played in a Sweet 16, an Elite Eight, and a Final Four. They will have new faces around them in key spots, including talented transfer guards LJ Cryer (Baylor – 15.0 ppg) and Damian Dunn (Temple – 15.3 ppg). One thing we know this Cougar team will do is play menacing defense, as they have finished in the Top 25 of Adjusted Defensive Efficiency for the last six years straight.
9. Arizona Wildcats
The last two seasons for the Wildcats have finished with underwhelming Tournament results, especially last year’s first-round exit to 15-seeded Princeton. Coach Tommy Lloyd does have the luxury of getting breakout center Oumar Ballo (14.2 ppg) back in the fold after losing four starters from a 28-win team. What Lloyd was able to do in the transfer portal was spectacular in terms of talent and fit. Two losing March Madness finalists in consecutive years join the program, with guard Caleb Love (North Carolina – 16.7 ppg) and Keshad Johnson (San Diego State – 7.7 ppg) leaving their schools. Still, there might not be a more important player than guard Kylan Boswell (4.6 ppg) for this team to reach its peak. The Wildcats have a solid mix of versatility and toughness that should see them among the top teams in the country
10. Miami (FL) Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are coming off their best season in school history with a Final Four appearance. Guard Nijel Pack (13.6 ppg) and forward Norchad Omier (13.1 ppg) are back for more. What makes the Hurricanes special is Coach Larranaga’s ability to play small and let his guards do damage. With Jordan Miller’s versatility gone, Coach Larranaga went out and got an even more versatile version of Miller in Matthew Cleveland (Florida State – 13.8 ppg). At 6’7”, Cleveland can handle the ball and knock down threes to continue the ultimate floor spacing needed in this offense. A new wave of guards like Wooga Poplar (8.4 ppg) and Bensley Joseph (5.3 ppg) will help share the responsibility of replacing the strong guard play lost with Isaiah Wong.
11. Texas Longhorns
A collapse in the final five minutes cost the Horns a seat at the Final Four, but nonetheless, they turned in one of the best seasons in program history despite the firing of Head Coach Chris Beard. Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry had his interim tag removed and proceeded to get to work in the offseason to add replacement pieces next to point guard Tyrese Hunter (10.3 ppg) and forward Dylan Disu (8.8 ppg). With the loss of some very talented seniors, Terry loaded up with Summit League superstar guard Max Abmas (Oral Roberts – 21.0 ppg), shot-blocking big Kadin Shedrick (Virginia – 6.2 ppg), and lethal shooting guard Ithiel Horton (UCF – 12.3 ppg). If X-Factor forward Dillon Mitchell (4.3 ppg) displays the skill set he showed in his pre-draft workouts, the Longhorns are once again in prime position to make a big run.
12. Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Drew Timme era is officially over, but no single player has ever stopped Coach Mark Few from continuing his success. His roster will rely heavily upon a Big Three of transfers. The first is Ryan Nembhard (Creighton – 12.1 ppg), who is the brother of former ‘Zag Andrew Nembhard. He will take over at point guard after two highly successful seasons in the Big East. Replacing Timme is former Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year Graham Ike (Wyoming – INJ), who was out all of last year due to injury. Finally, the Big Sky Player of the Year, Steele Venters (Eastern Washington – 15.3 ppg), rounds out the impact transfers as a proven scorer at the wing. As nice as it is to have scoring punch, the heart and soul of this team is forward Anton Watson (11.1 ppg, who is coming off his best season after earning his first full-time role. The Bulldogs will be in the thick of the mix again during Tournament time.
13. Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols finished as the top adjusted defense in the country in 2023, marking the third straight year Coach Rick Barnes’ squad has finished inside the top five. They will once again be tough on the defensive end, but the focus of the offseason was getting more scoring. Mid-Major star wing Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado – 20.2 ppg) and guard Jordan Gainey (USC Upstate – 15.2 ppg) will bring some added punch to an offense that left a lot to be desired. Returning guard Santiago Vescovi (12.5 ppg) and forward Josiah-Jordan James (10.0 ppg) are All-SEC caliber players, but the upside of this Volunteer squad rests on the health of guard Zakai Zeigler (10.7 ppg). Ziegler tore his ACL late last season and is projected to be back sometime in the middle of the year.
14. Florida Atlantic Owls
The Owls did the unthinkable and shocked the College Basketball world with their run to the Elite Eight under Coach Dusty May. Now, the expectations are sky-high for a program that returns nearly its entire roster with a move from Conference USA to the AAC. After flirting with the NBA Draft, the dynamic guard duo of Johnell Davis (13.8 ppg) and Alijah Martin (13.4 ppg) return. They are both elite shooters and bring a tough, hard-nosed presence on the defensive end. The Owls play a four-guard, one-big lineup, making returning center Vladislav Goldin (10.2 ppg) the most important player on the roster. If Goldin can control the paint on both ends, Florida Atlantic will be set up for another terrific March.
15. Kentucky Wildcats
It’s weird to think that Coach John Calipari and his Wildcats have not made the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2019. That hasn’t stopped him from recruiting major NBA talent, which will once again be the case as the #1 recruiting class makes its way to Lexington. It’s led by consensus five-star guard D.J. Wagner, wing Justin Edwards, and center Aaron Bradshaw. While the freshman will steal headlines, Kentucky will need the experience of returning guard Antonio Reeves (14.4 ppg) and transfer forward Tre Mitchell (West Virginia – 11.7 ppg) to push them deep into March. Failure to do so could lead to Coach Cal’s seat feeling a little heat.
16. Villanova Wildcats
On paper, this roster has Top-10 talent as Coach Kyle Neptune looks to rebound after a subpar first year in the post-Jay Wright era. Big-time guard Justin Moore (13.5 ppg) is a full season removed from his Achilles injury, and experienced big man Eric Dixon (15.4 ppg) is coming off the best year of his career. While those two are the pillars of the program, the transfer class coming in is the reason for excitement. Guard TJ Bamba (Washington State – 15.8 ppg), wing Hakim Hart (Maryland – 11.4 ppg), and forward Tyler Burton (Richmond – 19.0 ppg) bring a ton of talent and experience to the Wildcats. There will be no shortage of expectations for one of the most successful programs in the last 20 years.
17. Arkansas Razorbacks
Coach Eric Musselman has solidified himself in the ranks of elite coaches with another spectacular tournament showing, reaching the Sweet 16 as an eight-seed. That makes two Elite Eights and a Sweet 16 in his short tenure, with a roster capable of much more. Speaking of the roster, it’s going to look a lot different this season. One of the winners of the transfer portal, the Razorbacks bring in elite guard talent from across the country. Khalif Battle (Temple – 17.9 ppg), Tramon Mark (Houston – 10.1 ppg), and El Ellis (Louisville – 17.7 ppg) are an elite guard stable to go with returning stud Davonte Davis (10.9 ppg). Musselman has a tremendous track record of integrating talent, which is the biggest question mark, so the Razorbacks should thrive if he can do it again.
18. Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies return four starters and a majority of their roster from a 25-win team that made the NCAA Tournament. They were only one of a handful of teams to finish inside the Top 50 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. The backcourt of Wade Taylor (16.3 ppg) and Tyrece Radford (13.3 ppg) is one of the strongest units in the SEC. They draw fouls at a high rate while applying pressure on you on the other end. The frontcourt of Henry Coleman (9.0 ppg) and Julius Marble (9.1 ppg) brings a toughness to the program. The key to unlocking a big run in March will be the Aggies’ ability to shoot the three-ball, which is an area they struggled with in 2022, converting only 32.6% of their attempts.
19. USC Trojans
Top to bottom, this Trojan team, on paper, is one of the best Coach Andy Enfield has fielded, and that’s saying something. It starts with superstar guard Boogie Ellis (17.7 ppg), who comes back for his fifth year and will join five-star freshman point guard Isaiah Collier to assemble one of the best backcourts in the country. Unfortunately, we don’t know how much the Trojans will get out of five-star combo guard Bronny James after a congenital heart defect caused him to collapse during summer workouts. Unlike a lot of the teams across the country, the Trojans retained a majority of their roster. Still, they were able to go out and add an X-Factor and floor-stretching forward in DJ Rodman (Washington State – 9.6 ppg).
20. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels are one of the most intriguing teams heading into the year after making history as the first team to miss the Tournament after playing for it all the previous year. Getting star center Armando Bacot (15.9 ppg) was the first big domino to fall in the rebuild for Head Coach Hubert Davis. He, along with stud guard RJ Davis (16.1 ppg), forms a very potent one-two punch. What gives this team upside is the versatility and shooting brought in from the transfer portal. Wing Harrison Ingram (Stanford – 10.5 ppg) and guard Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame – 12.3 ppg) will play significant roles, but five-star true freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau holds the keys to the Tar Heels’ success.
21. Alabama Crimson Tide
Last year was filled with plenty of success and controversy for the Crimson Tide. Coach Nate Oats was busy this offseason trying to replace NBA and transfer portal defections. The Tide were so deep last year that returners like guard Rylan Griffen (5.9 ppg) and forward Nick Pringle (3.5 ppg) don’t get much publicity but do have the recruiting pedigree to become great. The big addition in the portal that puts the Tide back in the mix nationally is forward Grant Nelson (North Dakota State – 17.9 ppg). Nelson headlines a talented transfer class to go along with another stellar recruiting class to keep Alabama in the mix.
22. San Diego State Aztecs
The Aztecs stunned the college basketball world by making an improbable run to the National Championship game, but they did suffer major roster attrition through graduation and the transfer portal. Coach Brian Dutcher does get the luxury of returning his starting backcourt in Darrion Trammell (9.8 ppg) and Lamont Butler (8.8 ppg). The key to the Aztecs’ success will be how well the new additions to the roster perform. Specifically, guard Reese Dixon-Waters (USC – 9.8 ppg) and forward Jay Pal (Campbell – 12.3 ppg), who offer skill sets to help replace what SDSU lost.
23. St. Mary’s Gaels
Is it possible to be the most underrated coach in the country when your program is in the top five in wins since 2002? What Coach Randy Bennett has done is truly remarkable, and many think this has a chance to be one of his best rosters, featuring stud guard Aidan Mahaney (13.9 ppg) and big man Mitchell Saxen (11.6 ppg). The Gaels have been one of the best defensive teams in the country, but now have the offensive weapons to compete with anyone as well.
24. Baylor Bears
It’s hard to believe Coach Scott Drew is entering his 21st year in Waco. What he has done with this program is simply amazing. While the frontcourt remains intact, the backcourt will see all new faces lead the program, headlined by MAC Player of the Year RayJ Dennis (19.5 ppg), who comes over from Toledo. While there are some question marks offensively, the Bears need to get back to getting stops, as last year broke a streak of 13 straight years inside the Top 100 in Defensive Efficiency for the Bears.
25. St. John’s Red Storm
The Johnnies landed the big fish in the coaching carousel this offseason, landing former Iona Coach Rick Pitino. Pitino quickly transformed the roster via the transfer portal with 10 transfers. Mid-Major stars like guard Jordan Dingle (Penn – 23.4 ppg), forward Chris Ledlum (Harvard – 18.8 ppg), and Pitino’s own guard Daniss Jenkins (Iona – 15.6 ppg) will play a major role. They will surround dominant big man Joel Soriano (15.2 ppg), who Pitino was able to retain as the centerpiece of his first year in Jamaica.
