College Basketball Rankings

Only fools believed Dan Hurley would leave college basketball coaching and jump to the NBA. At the top of his profession after winning back-to-back NCAA championships, Hurley considered an offer to lead the Los Angeles Lakers. Although some would say it was an unserious courtship all along, Hurley’s acting job was worthy of an Oscar. He turned down the offer in June, citing unfinished business at Connecticut.

Hurley got the first thing he wanted — a new six-year, $50 million contract. The Hollywood ending he’s seeking — a third straight national title — will be the hard part. The four star players the Huskies lost to the NBA Draft will be tough to replace.

 

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So there’s a new No. 1, at least for now. UConn is being replaced. Kansas sits atop the Associated Press preseason poll, Alabama is ranked the top team by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook, and Houston has the top spot in the Pomeroy Ratings (KenPom.com).

“We have quite a bit of money on UConn,” Circa Sports oddsmaker Nick Bogdanovich said. “People think Hurley can three-peat. I think it’s a stretch, but I thought last year was a stretch as well.”

The Huskies open the season at No. 3 in the VSiN preseason Top 50, where my power ratings show Kansas No. 1 and Alabama No. 2. Hurley and the Huskies are followed by No. 4 Duke and No. 5 Gonzaga.

Circa lists UConn as the national title favorite at +900, after heavy action showed at 14-1. Duke and Kansas are each at 10-1, followed by Alabama at 11-1.

“It’s still wide open,” Bogdanovich said. “I don’t think any team should be less than 10-1 odds. There are so many new pieces in every spot. I can tell you they bet Duke really strong.

The Blue Devils boast the nation’s top newcomer, 6-foot-9 forward Cooper Flagg. The Crimson Tide will be led again by Mark Sears, arguably the nation’s best point guard. Aside from Hurley, who brings back only one starter, almost everything about the Huskies will look new.

Kansas is old and new. Hunter Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 center, returns for his fifth year and turns 24 in November. Dickinson, who spent his first three seasons at Michigan, has 122 career starts. He plays inside and out and has the passing ability of a point guard. The Jayhawks bring back their true starting point guard, Dajuan Harris, along with forward KJ Adams.

After a humbling 23-11 season that included a fifth-place finish in the Big 12 and ended with an 89-68 loss to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA tournament, coach Bill Self hit the transfer portal in search of talented veterans. The Jayhawks needed depth and shooting, and Self found what he wanted in transfers Rylan Griffen (Alabama), Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) and AJ Storr (Wisconsin).

Griffen, Mayo and Storr are big-time scorers who will help Kansas overcome the losses of Kevin McCullar and Johnny Furphy. It’s sometimes easy to overlook freshmen in this era of free agency, but Self’s top recruits — center Flory Bidunga and guard Rakease Passmore — also will contribute to a team that’s much deeper than last season.

Preseason power ratings are an inexact science. Before we see any games in November, my team ratings are based mostly on opinion. I rate teams in seven categories — coaching, backcourt, big men, experience, 3-point shooting, defense/rebounding, and depth — and the first three categories listed are weighted for more emphasis. Hurley has become the top power-rated coach.

Kansas was No. 1 in my power ratings for VSiN prior to the 2021-22 season — Gonzaga was the favorite by media and oddsmakers — and the Jayhawks cashed at 15-1 odds by beating North Carolina for the NCAA championship.

For the record, my preseason No. 1 last year was a swing and miss as Michigan State finished 20-15 and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Another Big Ten team, Purdue, fell to UConn in the national title game — the Boilermakers were No. 3 and Huskies No. 6 in my preseason ratings.

In April, when confetti falls and the trophy is raised, Hurley could have his third shining moment, but I’m not betting on it. In the beginning, when it’s a guessing game, Kansas is No. 1 by a narrow margin. The Jayhawks will get early strength tests by playing Duke and North Carolina in November. And here’s the rest of the preseason Top 50:

2. ALABAMA

Before the NBA Draft deadline in June, I bet Alabama at 20-1 odds, predicting that point guard Mark Sears would return to the Crimson Tide. The catalyst to the Tide’s run to the Final Four was not projected to be a first-round pick. Sears, who scored 24 points in the national semifinal loss to UConn, did pull out of the draft and will lead a team with title potential. Alabama coach Nate Oats always has his teams shooting 3-pointers in waves, and he’s got shooters and size on a loaded roster, thanks to Sears and 6-11 sophomore Jarin Stevenson withdrawing from the draft. Oats, who also welcomes back 6-11 senior Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., brought in transfers Cliff Omoruyi (Rutgers), Aden Holloway (Auburn) and Chris Youngblood (South Florida). The 6-foot-11 Omoruyi, who has a 7-foot-6 wingspan, is a tough defender and rim protector.

3. CONNECTICUT

In Dan Hurley’s first four years at UConn, he won zero conference titles and went 0-2 in the NCAA tournament. In the past two years, he went 68-11, including 12-0 in the tournament. But the Huskies lost four starters from last season’s 37-3 title team — guard Stephon Castle and center Donovan Clingan were top-10 picks before guards Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer went in the second round. Alex Karaban is the lone returning starter, but 6-foot-10 Samson Johnson and point guard Hassan Diarra also return to fill larger roles. Hurley signed 6-foot-7 forward Liam McNeeley, a McDonald’s All-American, and hooked transfer shooting guard Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and 6-foot-10 Tarris Reed (Michigan). The talent level has dropped off, but don’t doubt Hurley’s ability to coach up this team.

4. DUKE

Cooper Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward who can do everything on the floor, arrives as the nation’s top-ranked freshman. Khaman Maluach, a 7-foot-2 freshman from South Sudan, is another NBA prospect with a high ceiling. The Blue Devils have several veterans surrounding their young stars. Junior point guard Tyrese Proctor returns and is joined by transfers Maliq Brown (Syracuse), Mason Gillis (Purdue) and Sion James (Tulane). The Devils lost a lot, including 7-footer Kyle Filipowski, but Jon Scheyer has had back-to-back 27-9 seasons, and this is his most talented team. Flagg lit up a USA basketball team full of NBA stars over the summer in Las Vegas and will be fun to watch.

5. GONZAGA

The Zags got hot in the second half of last season and played better than probably every other team but UConn and Purdue, which knocked out Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. Anton Watson, a fifth-year senior forward and a second-round pick by the Celtics, is the only starter not returning. Zags coach Mark Few can count on senior guards Nolan Hickman and Ryan Nembhard, 6-foot-10 senior Ben Gregg and 6-foot-9 center Graham Ike, who’s as tough as it gets around the basket. The Bulldogs’ top six players are seniors, which is rare for any elite team. Few boosted the talent level by adding transfers Khalif Battle (Arkansas) and 6-7 forward Michael Ajayi, a Pepperdine star who made 47 percent of his 3-pointers and led the West Coast Conference in scoring.   

6. HOUSTON

A jump from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 was no problem for the Cougars, who won the regular-season title in their new conference and finished 32-5. Kelvin Sampson-coached teams will be elite defensively and win at a high level, and this team will be no different. Sampson averaged 31.3 wins over the past four seasons. Point guard Jamal Shead, a relentless defender who scored off the dribble, is a huge loss. Still, Sampson is reloading with Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan at the point. Veteran guards LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp return and should lead the team in scoring. The frontcourt starters, 6-foot-7 J’Wan Roberts and 6-foot-8 Ja’Vier Francis, are not tall, yet they are athletic.

7. BAYLOR

Four starters, including two NBA first-round picks, are out the door. Bears coach Scott Drew tried to offset the departures by adding two veteran transfers — point guard Jeremy Roach from Duke and power forward Norchad Omier from Miami — who will make a major impact. Shooting guard VJ Edgecombe is one of the nation’s top freshmen, a five-star recruit who could be a top-five pick in next summer’s draft. Junior guard Langston Love and 6-foot-10 Joshua Ojianwuna are the top returnees. Baylor won the NCAA title in 2021 and remains a strong contender, especially if Edgecombe is as great as advertised. The Bears will pick a fight and find out how tough they are in a road game against UConn on Dec. 4.

8. NORTH CAROLINA

The coaching transition from a legend to one of his former players has been successful at Duke, and the same is true at North Carolina. Hubert Davis went 29-8 last season, losing to Alabama in the Sweet 16. The biggest loss was Armando Bacot, a dominant big man who spent five seasons in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels are loaded with talent, but how soon will the puzzle pieces fit? Senior guard RJ Davis led the ACC in scoring (21.2 ppg), and sophomore Elliot Cadeau runs the point. Jalen Washington, a 6-foot-10 junior, steps into Bacot’s spot. Junior guard Seth Trimble looks like an emerging star, as do freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. The Heels never shy away from challenges and will play Kansas on Nov. 8 at Allen Fieldhouse.

9. AUBURN

After winning the SEC tournament, the Tigers were upset by Yale in the NCAA first round to put a black eye on a 27-win season. Bruce Pearl is a resilient coach, and Auburn will bounce back with an experienced team. The Tigers will have a matchup edge in the paint in most games with senior center Johni Broome, who ranked in the conference’s top 10 in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage and blocked shots. Senior shooting guard Denver Jones and senior forward Chad Baker-Mazara also return. Point guard JP Pegues (Furman) and shooting guard Miles Kelly (Georgia Tech) were added as senior transfers. Pearl stacked the nonconference schedule with Houston, Iowa State, Duke, Ohio State and Purdue.

10. PURDUE

Every preview of Purdue’s season will begin with the obvious: Zach Edey, the 7-foot-4, 300-pound back-to-back national Player of the Year, is gone to the NBA. In Edey’s final game, a loss to UConn in the title game, he totaled 37 points and 10 rebounds. The Boilermakers’ supporting cast faded against the Huskies, but those players must carry the team now, and it starts with junior point guard Braden Smith. Two other junior starters, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn, also return. Purdue coach Matt Painter has plenty of talented players ready to step up, including Camden Heide and Myles Colvin. The freshman class of Gicarri Harris, Jack Benter, CJ Cox, 6-foot-11 Raleigh Burgess and 7-foot-4 Daniel Jacobsen (the next Edey?) is loaded.

11. ARIZONA

While Tommy Lloyd has coached Arizona to 88 wins in three years, his teams have fizzled in the NCAA tournament. Life in the Big 12 will be tougher on the Wildcats than it was in the Pac-12. Lloyd lost a lot of talent from last season’s 27-win team, but he was a recruiting ace as a Gonzaga assistant and remains so in Tucson. Senior guard Caleb Love will be one of the nation’s top scorers, and he’ll be playing alongside junior point guard Jaden Bradley. Motiejus Krivas is developing into a reliable 7-foot-2 center, and Lloyd made two major transfer additions by getting 6-foot-9 Tobe Awaka (Tennessee) and 6-foot-7 Trey Townsend (Oakland), the Horizon League Player of the Year.

12. INDIANA

Purdue is the Big Ten preseason favorite, but Indiana could be just as good or better. How long will it take coach Mike Woodson to put the puzzle together? The Hoosiers spent big to bring in transfers Oumar Ballo (Arizona), Myles Rice (Washington State), Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) and Luke Goode (Illinois). The four returning starters are forwards Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako and guards Trey Galloway and Gabe Cupps. And don’t forget freshmen Bryson Tucker, a McDonald’s All-American, and Jakai Newton. The Hoosiers, who tied for sixth in the conference and did not play in a postseason tournament, can challenge for the league title and have the talent to make a run in March.

13. IOWA STATE

Junior point guard Tamin Lipsey plays both ends of the floor and is a strong defender, making him the typical Iowa State player. The Cyclones ranked No. 2 nationally in defensive efficiency last season, behind Houston. Iowa State finished second to the Cougars in the Big 12 regular season before winning the conference tournament. Lipsey and former UNLV transfer Keshon Gilbert, the team’s leading scorer last season, form a talented backcourt. Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger brought in transfers Dishon Jackson, a 6-foot-11, 280-pound center from Charlotte, and Joshua Jefferson, a 6-8 forward from Saint Mary’s. Iowa State is No. 5 in the AP preseason poll, but that ranking appears too high.

14. CREIGHTON

Three starters return for the Bluejays, but the two who departed — guard Trey Alexander and forward Baylor Scheierman — will be sorely missed. Scheierman was a first-round pick by the Celtics. Ryan Kalkbrenner, a 7-foot-1 senior, will lead the way after averaging 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. Point guard Steven Ashworth is back to run the offense, and coach Greg McDermott snagged guard Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech) as a transfer. Ashworth scored 20 points in a blowout victory over UConn in February. Mason Miller, a 6-foot-9 junior, is a 3-point sharpshooter who’s ready for a breakout season. McDermott is rock solid as a coach, averaging 23.6 wins the past five years.

15. ARKANSAS

Eric Musselman’s stay in Fayetteville was a blast for a while, but his act eventually wore thin and the vagabond coach bolted for USC after a disastrous 16-17 season. John Calipari’s stunning decision to leave Kentucky after 15 years will keep the Razorbacks relevant on a national level. Arkansas has a new look, which is a good thing, and junior forward Trevon Brazile is the only returning player. Calipari brought along Kentucky transfers DJ Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic, plus former Wildcats commits Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III. Senior guard Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic) and senior center Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee) are transfers who will make a major impact.

16. TENNESSEE

Not only did Dalton Knecht depart for the NBA, but the Volunteers said goodbye to Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka from their Elite Eight team. Knecht was the second-best player in the nation and best in the SEC. So who’s left and who’s new? Point guard Zakai Zeigler is still around to run the offense and be a defensive menace. Other players to watch will be guards Chaz Lanier, a high-scoring transfer from North Florida, and Jahmai Mashack. Junior center Felix Okpara transferred from Ohio State and fits in with this team as a defensive force. Tennessee is deep and talented, but there are so many new pieces that coach Rick Barnes will have a lot of work to do.

17. KENTUCKY

Bigger names were tossed around as coaching candidates, but Mark Pope is looking like a smart hire by Kentucky, where he played for Rick Pitino on the 1996 national championship team. John Calipari took several Wildcats players and recruits after he left for Arkansas, leaving Pope to rebuild. Pope’s roster includes seven seniors and three freshmen. The top transfer additions are point guard Lamont Butler (San Diego State), guard Jaxson Robinson (BYU), guard Kobe Brea (Dayton), guard Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), guard Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), 6-foot-11 Andrew Carr (Wake Forest) and 7-footer Amari Williams (Drexel). Pope is an innovative offensive coach who has put together an impressive roster.

18. MARQUETTE

Shaka Smart averaged 28 wins the past two years, when the Golden Eagles were a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament each year. It’s unlikely Smart can coach this team to that level after losing point guard Tyler Kolek and power forward Oso Ighodaro, a pair of NBA second-round picks. Senior point guard Kam Jones is ready to run the show after averaging 17.2 points and shooting 40 percent on 3s. Jones is joined in the backcourt by senior Stevie Mitchell, and senior forward David Joplin is another 3-point threat who started all 37 games for a 27-win team. Jones is a star who can carry the Golden Eagles in a lot of games, but Smart’s challenge will be developing co-stars and depth. UConn and Creighton are clearly better in the Big East.

19. MISSISSIPPI

Chris Beard is an elite coach who’s attempting to repair his reputation after off-court issues led to the loss of his dream job at Texas. His first year at Ole Miss (20-12) was a positive start. Beard can make more out of less, and he’s got more talent to work with in his second year. Senior guard Matthew Murrell (16.2 ppg, 46.4 percent on 3s) flirted with the NBA before returning to Oxford. Murrell will get scoring support from seniors Jaemyn Brakefield and JuJu Murray. Beard has recruited well, which is no surprise, and has a mix of freshmen and transfers. Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla, Seton Hall transfer Dre Davis, 6-foot-9 Malik Dia and 7-foot-2 John Bol should help the Rebels climb the SEC ladder and get to the NCAA tournament.

20. UCLA

Bet on the Bruins bouncing back after a rare losing season (16-17) for coach Mick Cronin. Junior guard Dylan Andrews was the team’s leading scorer and may be again, but he’s got a lot more talent around him now. Cronin is rebuilding with transfers Skyy Clark (Louisville), Dominick Harris (Loyola Marymount), Kobe Johnson (USC), Tyler Bilodeau (Oregon State) and others. Senior wing Lazar Stefanovic, who transferred from Utah before last season, also fills an important role. Cronin will make UCLA competitive in the top half of the Big Ten. The Bruins, who could get travel-weary in a new coast-to-coast conference, are keeping their former Pac-12 rivalry with Arizona alive by playing in Tucson on Dec. 14.

21. ST. JOHN’S

Rick Pitino was one of the few coaches who figured out how to push UConn to the limit last season when the Red Storm took a 95-90 loss to the Huskies in the Big East tournament. Pitino, who’s touting junior wing RJ Luis as an emerging star, landed two of the top transfer guards on the market — Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall) and Deivon Smith (Utah). USC transfer Vincent Iwuchukwu and 6-foot-9 Zuby Ejiofor beef up the front line. St. John’s was my first long-shot bet at 80-1 odds in May after Richmond committed to the Red Storm.

22. FLORIDA

A veteran backcourt led by Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin, a Florida Atlantic transfer, will be the Gators’ strength. Clayton (17.6 ppg) will run the point. Martin scored 26 points for the Owls against San Diego State in a Final Four game in 2023. Florida coach Todd Golden will count on shooting guard Will Richard and big men Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, a transfer from Washington State. What also stands out about Golden’s roster is the presence of 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, an incoming freshman from Canada.

23. RUTGERS

If the young guns live up to the hype, the Scarlet Knights have a high upside. Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are ranked as the nation’s No. 2 and No. 3 incoming freshmen, respectively. Harper, the brother of former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr., is a 6-foot-6 point guard and was MVP of the McDonald’s All-American game. Bailey is 6-foot-10 and can play everywhere on the floor. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell has enough talent surrounding Bailey and Harper to contend in the Big Ten and energize the atmosphere inside Jersey Mike’s Arena.

24. TEXAS A&M

The return of senior Wade Taylor IV gives the Aggies one of the nation’s top point guards and a legit go-to scorer. Taylor totaled seven 30-point games last season. Junior center Pharrel Payne, a Minnesota transfer, provides inside strength. Texas A&M was one of the nation’s worst 3-point shooting teams last season at 29.3 percent (345th nationally), but transfer guard CJ Wilcher (Nebraska) should be a boost in that area. Aggies coach Buzz Williams has a great player (Taylor) and a good team that seems overrated at No. 13 in the AP preseason poll.

25. TEXAS

Longhorns coach Rodney Terry has no returning starters and needed to find ways to replace guards Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter and forward Dylan Disu. Terry landed point guard Jordan Pope (Oregon State), forward Tramon Mark (Arkansas), forward Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State) and 6-foot-11 center Kadin Shedrick (Virginia) as transfers. The player with the most potential is probably shooting guard Tre Johnson, a hyped freshman who seems headed for the NBA after this season. The eyes of Texas are focused on the football team for now, however.

26. CINCINNATI

Jizzle James has a game to go along with a great first name. The son of former NFL running back Edgerrin James is a sophomore point guard who showed promise last season. James and senior Day Day Thomas give the Bearcats two strong backcourt scorers. Junior forward Dillon Mitchell is a big addition as a Texas transfer, and he’ll be flanked in the frontcourt by Butler transfer Simas Lukosius and 7-footer Aziz Bandaogo, a Utah Valley transfer. Cincinnati coach Wes Miller should be able to avoid a return trip to the NIT.

27. ILLINOIS

It’s a total rebuild in Champaign, where coach Brad Underwood has 10 new scholarship players. Underwood is reloading and starting with point guard Kylan Boswell, a transfer from Arizona. The lone returning starter is junior guard Ty Rodgers. The Fighting Illini must replace Terrence Shannon, Marcus Domask, Coleman Hawkins, Luke Goode and Quincy Guerrier, among others, from a 29-9 team that finished second in the Big Ten before getting crushed by UConn in March. Underwood has enough talent on his roster to make it work.

28. TEXAS TECH

Shooting the 3 is the Red Raiders’ speciality, especially with riflemen Darrion Williams and Kerwin Walton returning. Walton and Williams each shot better than 45 percent from long range last season, and Chance McMillian is another hot perimeter shooter. JT Toppin, a 6-foot-9 forward who looked like a rising star as a New Mexico freshman, is a major transfer acquisition. Grant McCasland is an outstanding coach who won 23 games and tied for third in the Big 12 last season, although Tech was ousted in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

29. XAVIER

Musketeers coach Sean Miller did a complete makeover of his roster after finishing the season 16-18. Ten players from that team are out the door. One big returnee is 6-foot-9 forward Zach Freemantle, who suffered a broken foot during the 2022-23 season and sat out all of last season. The coach on the floor is senior point guard Dayvion McKnight. Miller added backcourt help by getting transfers Ryan Conwell (Indiana State) and Dante Maddox (Toledo). The mystery man is another well-traveled transfer, 6-foot-10, 275-pound John Hugley IV.

30. KANSAS STATE

The transfer portal helped coach Jerome Tang recover from losing four starters. Kansas State pulled in 6-foot-10 Coleman Hawkins (Illinois) and 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso (Kentucky), along with guards Dug McDaniel (Michigan), Max Jones (Cal State Fullerton) and CJ Jones (Illinois-Chicago). Hawkins is one of the most versatile players in the nation, which is why he reportedly grabbed $2 million to transfer. Tang has the talent to compete in the Big 12, but this is a new team that needs time to develop chemistry.

31. SAINT LOUIS

Indiana State was a great story last season as coach Josh Schertz and 6-foot-10 Robbie Avila (also known as Cream Abdul-Jabbar) led a 32-win team to the NIT championship game. Schertz and Avila have relocated and plan to transform the Billikens, a 20-loss team, into winners. Schertz also brought along former Sycamores point guard Isaiah Swope, who will play in a backcourt with Larry Hughes II, son of the former Saint Louis and NBA star.

32. OHIO STATE

After the firing of coach Chris Holtmann in mid-February, Jake Diebler took over a slumping Buckeyes team and won six of his first eight games. Now the full-time coach at age 38, he’s thankful to have junior point guard Bruce Thornton (15.7 ppg) back to run the show. Diebler snagged four transfers, including center Aaron Bradshaw (Kentucky), guard Meechie Johnson (South Carolina) and forward Micah Parrish (San Diego State).

33. CLEMSON

Brad Brownell is a widely respected coach, but he too seldom won big games in March — until he did last season. The Tigers made a surprising run to the NCAA Elite Eight and finished with 24 wins. Senior guard Chase Hunter and junior forward Ian Schieffelin, two of the players who powered Clemson’s rise, return for another run at it. The Tigers will miss two other key players, PJ Hall and Joe Girard, but they should fight for third place in the ACC.

34. MICHIGAN STATE

Entering his 30th year as Michigan State coach, Tom Izzo owns 707 career wins. Last season, he lost too many games (15) and was knocked out in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Izzo is against the transfer portal and paying players. The Spartans have some talent returning, led by 6-foot-11 Xavier Booker and freshman point guard Jeremy Fears, but there are several roster riddles Izzo must solve to get this team into the Big Ten’s top five.

35. SAINT MARY’S

It was the Gaels, not Gonzaga, who won the West Coast Conference regular-season title with a 15-1 record. Randy Bennett, who has 533 wins in 23 years as Saint Mary’s coach, is not going to finish ahead of the Zags this time. The Gaels lost veteran point guard Aidan Mahaney as a transfer to UConn, and that was a big blow, but they still boast two of the league’s top players in guard Augustas Marciulionis and 6-foot-10 Mitchell Saxen.

36. BOISE STATE

No, the Mountain West is not getting six teams into the NCAA field again this year. The conference could get three, and the Broncos are the favorites. Senior forward Tyson Degenhart and senior center O’Mar Stanley are among the top 10 players in the league.

37. OREGON

Sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad is expected to be the Ducks’ top scorer, and he’s one of three starters coming back from a 24-12 team. Oregon coach Dana Altman is relying on transfers Brandon Angel (Stanford) and T.J. Bamba (Villanova) to step up.

38. VILLANOVA

Only one starter returns for Wildcats coach Kyle Neptune, but that player is 6-foot-8 Eric Dixon, one of the best the Big East has to offer. Neptune has a two-year record of 35-33 since following the retired Jay Wright. Neptune needs Miami (Fla.) transfer Wooga Poplar to be a major scorer.

39. WAKE FOREST

Senior guard Hunter Sallis, who averaged 18 points and shot 40 percent from 3-point range, turned down the NBA Draft to return to the Demon Deacons. Sallis’ decision gives coach Steve Forbes a shot to crack the ACC’s top three.

40. MICHIGAN

With the Wolverines finishing 8-24, Juwan Howard was at the end of the road. Dusty May, who coached Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023, lured Vlad Goldin, a 7-foot-1 force for the Owls, and Ohio State transfer guard Roddy Gayle Jr. May will make this a quick turnaround.

41. MISSISSIPPI STATE

The Bulldogs might be the 10th-best team in the SEC, but that’s still pretty good. Sophomore guard Josh Hubbard (17.1 ppg) is back to trigger the offense for coach Chris Jans, who’s also counting on senior guard Claudell Harris and Penn State transfer Kanye Clary.

42. NEVADA

It appears San Diego State’s declining talent level is opening the door for Nevada to climb higher in the Mountain West. Steve Alford is an underrated coach who finds players, and he’ll win with 6-foot-10 Nick Davidson, 6-foot-10 Brandon Love, 6-foot-9 Kobe Sanders and guard Xavier DuSell.

43. UAB

Yaxel Lendeborg, a 6-foot-9 senior, averaged a double-double (13.8 points, 10.6 rebounds) last season for a 23-win Blazers team. He’s arguably the best player in the American Athletic Conference, and UAB coach Andy Kennedy has the league’s team to beat.

44. DAYTON

Saint Louis is the clear frontrunner in the Atlantic 10, with Dayton and VCU in the rear-view mirror. Flyers coach Anthony Grant finished 25-8 last season and welcomes back three starters, highlighted by 6-foot-7 senior Nate Santos and senior guard Posh Alexander.

45. GRAND CANYON

The Western Athletic Conference earned some respect when Bryce Drew coached the 12th-seeded Lopes to a first-round victory over Saint Mary’s in the NCAA tournament. Senior guards Tyon Grant-Foster (20.1 ppg) and Ray Harrison return from a 30-5 team.

46. WASHINGTON

After taking Utah State to the NCAA tournament, Danny Sprinkle took off for the Washington job and brought 6-foot-8 senior Great Osobor along for the ride. No starters are coming back for the Huskies, but that’s not terrible news. Sprinkle is rebuilding with several transfers.

47. BYU

Kevin Young, who was an NBA assistant for Phoenix, got the job to replace Mark Pope. The Cougars won 23 games, tied for fifth in the Big 12 and made the NCAA tournament before Pope left for Kentucky. BYU will bank on 6-foot-6 senior Fousseyni Traore and several prospects.

48. UNLV

Slowly but surely, fourth-year coach Kevin Kruger is making progress in Vegas. He’s off a 21-win season and fourth-place finish in the Mountain West. Dedan Thomas Jr. is the top point guard in the conference, and Kruger has quietly compiled his most talented roster.

49. PITTSBURGH

On paper, the Panthers are not incredibly impressive, but coach Jeff Capel averaged 23 wins the past two seasons, and he’s probably got a top-six team in the 18-team ACC. Pitt will be led by guards Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and Houston transfer Damian Dunn.

50. NOTRE DAME

If there’s a sleeper team in the ACC, it’s the Fighting Irish. Micah Shrewsberry is a shrewd coach who’s recruiting well and rebuilding. Sophomore guard Markus Burton (17.5 ppg) is one of four starters returning, along with the coach’s son, sophomore guard Braeden Shrewsberry.

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