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NCAA basketball is soon to start, with official games set to kick off November 25. As such, we take a look at the top 10 sides heading into the inbound college campaign.
1. Gonzaga
The Bulldogs went 31-1 last season, only losing in the final. They were the favorites among NCAA basketball picks but fell in the championship game due to the Baylor Bears’ selfish defense. Should the team remain healthy, they will have every opportunity to return to the final at the end of the upcoming term.
2. UCLA
The UCLA Bruins weren’t all that hot during the 2020/21 season but they managed to make it to the Final Four despite losing the last three games of the regular season. They proceeded to win five consecutive contests and would have gone on to the National Title game had it not been for Gonzaga’s wild finish, courtesy of a long, buzzer-beating three-pointer from Jalen Suggs.
Suggs has moved on to the NBA but the Bruins will be heading into the season with all of their starters.
3. Texas
The Texas Longhorns have lots of questions over their setup heading into the new season and new head coach Chris Beard will have the task of figuring it all out. Texas has seven transfers on their roster and they are all outstanding talents. The Longhorns have several individual stars at the moment and, while that’s always thought of as a good thing, making it work will be the challenge.
4. Kansas
The Jayhawks will always consider anything less than Final Four qualification a failure, no matter what their roster is like. This year, they’re going in with a talented and experienced group of players so expectations will be higher.
The likes of David McCormack and Ochai Agbajio will be especially keen on winning some silverware after being part of a No.1-ranked team that had its chances of winning a title derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also 10 new faces and it will be interesting to see how coach Bill Self will get the older players to develop chemistry with the new boys.
5. Illinois
There is an Ayo Dosunmu-sized hole in Illinois following the Chicago Bulls drafting him as a second-round pick. The 21-year-old will be sorely missed as he was the main man there. It remains to be seen who will be deployed as his replacement but the Fighting Illini do have a top center in Kofi Cockburn, who may very well carry them to the Final Four.
6. Kentucky
The Miami Heat have benefitted from Kentucky’s excellent development program, with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro instrumental in their run to the NBA finals in 2020. Coach John Calipari hasn’t given up on recruiting five-star players completely, with TyTy Washington and Damion Collins keeping things going on that front.
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The Wildcats endured a horrid 9-16 campaign a year ago so Calipari is going with a mix of top recruits and transfers this time around. The team also boasts some notable veterans in Kellan Grady, Oscar Tshiebwe and CJ Frederick; those three are expected to have a huge impact on the upcoming season.
7. Purdue
Purdue is also going into the campaign with a very talented roster and it could be argued that Matt Painter will be coaching the best team he’s ever had. Trevion Williams has been a presence for three years while sophomore Jaden Ivey is on an impressive trajectory. The team is also bringing the rest of its roster from last season back.
8. Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines have really impressed under head coach Juwan Howard since his appointment. The former NBA star, who was also part of the school’s famed Fab Five, has fostered significant improvement in his first two years in charge and made them conference champions in the Big Ten. Michigan will surely be a team to keep an eye on this year.
9. Baylor
The Bears are the reigning NCAA champions, which means expectations are pretty high. But it could be a very difficult campaign as defending a title is always a challenge. The role players from last season will have to take on bigger roles but the freshmen will make it even more of a task.
10. Villanova
The Wildcats have all starters returning for the season, barring one. Jermaine Samuels will be back for another ride after starting the past two seasons. Villanova will be putting out an experienced side throughout the season and they are expected to do well and make a deep run.
They lost Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to the NBA Draft this year so other players will be called on to step up in the wake of his departure.