Matt Youmans – College Basketball Top 50 Power Rankings:
In this chaotic era of college basketball, unrestricted free agency has created more unpredictability than ever. A majority of teams feature few returning stars and several new faces, leading to volatility across the board, especially early in the season. One exception is Florida, which returns seniors Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu, a trio forming the nation’s most experienced and successful frontcourt.
With the heart of the 2025 NCAA championship team still going strong, the Gators got the nod as the Associated Press preseason No. 1 team. Continuity counts for a lot, and Florida returns its core and a lot more. But the team topping the VSiN preseason power rankings is Duke.
“I’m super impressed with Duke,” said Chris Dortch, publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. “I think Duke is better than the two years they had Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer. If I had to do it again now, Duke would be my No. 1 team.”
Blue Ribbon finalized its rankings in early September and put Florida in the top spot, but Dortch attended a recent Duke-Tennessee scrimmage and said he watched the Blue Devils “annihilate another top 10 team” in a 101-64 victory over the Volunteers.
DraftKings lists Florida as the +570 NCAA title favorite, with Duke a close second choice (+600). No other teams are posted at single-digit odds. Circa Sports has the Gators and Blue Devils as +650 co-favorites, so the separation at the top is razor-thin before there’s a significant drop-off to Connecticut and Illinois in the 15-1 range.
With countless transfers, court rulings, and NCAA eligibility questions surrounding many players, the picture is blurry and unpredictable. However, as much as things have changed, something does remain the same — the best programs in recent years are still the best programs, and the power ratings are pretty consistent. Of course, it’s somewhat of a guessing game in November, and as more games are played, everything comes into focus. The current level of chaos in college hoops is unprecedented.
“It’s a funny era that exists, and I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” Dortch said. “Tennessee spent $20 million on a (transfer) portal class and they don’t have a clue how to play together right now. Coaches are trying to figure things out. It’s hard enough for me as a journalist who covers it, so I can only imagine how hard it is for coaches to put a roster together.”
For now, Duke and Florida are the teams to beat, which is a blessing and a curse. The last AP preseason No. 1 team to win the NCAA championship was North Carolina in 2008-09. The last VSiN preseason No. 1 team to finish on top was Kansas in 2021-22.
In last year’s preseason rankings, I put UConn at No. 4 and Michigan at No. 5, and the Wolverines defeated the Huskies in the title game to stop the Big Ten’s championship drought. After Tom Izzo coached Michigan State to the NCAA title in 2000, Big Ten teams were 0-8 in the championship game before Michigan’s breakthrough. UConn coach Dan Hurley came up just short of winning his third title in four years. Never count out Hurley or Izzo, who both appear in this preseason’s top five.
It’s obvious preseason power ratings are an inexact science and not meant to project the national champion, although it’s ideal when that happens. Handicapping is always a fluid situation. Before the games begin, my team ratings are subjective and 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 more heavily.
There are 365 teams in the college hoops world, which creates a unique handicapping challenge. It’s a tough task to generate my VSiN preseason Top 50 power rankings.
1. DUKE
After suffering stunning losses in the past two NCAA Tournaments — blowing late leads to UConn in last season’s Elite Eight and to Houston in the 2025 Final Four — Duke is reloading as usual. The Blue Devils might not have another Cooper Flagg or Cameron Boozer, but coach Jon Scheyer has an abundance of high-end talent. In addition to returnees Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba, and Dame Sarr, Duke will unveil 7-foot-2 Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and guard Deron Rippey to headline a phenomenal freshman class. Scheyer also snagged Wisconsin senior transfer John Blackwell and Belmont’s Drew Scharnowski. The AP voters made Florida No. 1, but Duke starts with a rating of 85.5 to the Gators’ 84.
2. FLORIDA
Fifth-year senior guard Denzel Aberdeen is an example of the roster chaos in college basketball. Aberdeen was a member of the Gators’ title team that finished 36-4 in 2025. He transferred to Kentucky last season and now returns to Gainesville to again play for coach Todd Golden. Aberdeen will run with junior Boogie Fland in the backcourt. The senior frontcourt of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu helped Florida lead the nation in rebounding margin (+14.7) last season. The three veterans had subpar performances when the Gators were upset 73-72 by Iowa in the NCAA second round, so the disappointing ending was a big reason they returned to school to hunt for redemption.
3. ILLINOIS
Brad Underwood coached the Fighting Illini to their first Final Four since 2005 and brings back most of his key players aside from Keaton Wagler, the NBA’s No. 5 overall pick. Illinois’ roster still has a distinct European flavor with Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, and the Ivisic brothers, Tomislav and Zvonimir. Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks is expected to replace Wagler at the point, and five-star freshman Quentin Coleman will contribute in the backcourt. The tallest team in the nation last season is led by veterans. Illinois ranked second nationally in offensive efficiency (131.1 points per 100 possessions) behind Purdue, per KenPom.
4. CONNECTICUT
The Huskies won back-to-back NCAA championships (2023-24) before losses to eventual champ Florida in 2025 and Michigan in the 2026 title game. His constant complaining can be unbearable, but there’s no better coach than Dan Hurley. He must replace team leaders Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed, and that starts with senior guard Silas Demary Jr. and sophomore sharpshooter Braylon Mullins. Hurley brought in transfers Nikolas Khamenia (Duke) and Najai Hines (Seton Hall) to strengthen the frontcourt. UConn should benefit from a nonconference schedule that includes Duke, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Kansas, Ohio State, and Virginia.
5. MICHIGAN STATE
Tom Izzo’s team has a hole in the middle that the veteran coach needs to solve, but the most important pieces to the puzzle are junior Jeremy Fears Jr. and senior Coen Carr, who’s a dynamic dunker. Fears (15.2 PPG, 9.4 APG) is the nation’s top point guard. Freshman guard Jasiah Jervis was a McDonald’s All-American. The Spartans need to see development from junior guard Kur Teng and sophomore forwards Jordan Scott and Cam Ward. The question mark in the middle is 7-foot-2, 270-pound Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke. Michigan State typically overcomes slow starts and hits a higher gear in Big Ten play on the road to March.
6. KANSAS
Tyran Stokes is the Jayhawks’ newest freshman star, replacing the mercurial Darryn Peterson, the NBA’s No. 2 overall pick. Stokes is a 6-foot-8 guard who can do everything on the court, and five-star freshman Taylen Kinney will handle the point. Kansas signed several transfers, including high-scoring Radford guard Dennis Parker Jr. The frontcourt is experienced and solid with 7-foot-2 Christian Reeves, 6-foot-10 Keanu Dawes, and possibly Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn, who received a favorable court ruling for a sixth year of eligibility after being a second-round draft pick. Self also recently added Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White to the roster.
7. LOUISVILLE
Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey had lots of cash to throw at transfers and pulled in some big fish — Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon), Seth Trimble (North Carolina), Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa), Karter Knox (Arkansas), De’Shayne Montgomery (Dayton), and 7-foot-5 Gabe Dynes (USC). Bidunga is a defensive force, and Shelstad is an all-around point guard. Dynes and 7-foot-2 freshman Obinna Ekezie will be imposing around the rim. Louisville will definitely improve on last season’s 24-11 finish. Kelsey has the backcourt talent, interior size, defensive prowess, and depth to push Duke in the ACC race.
8. TENNESSEE
Junior guard Juke Harris, who averaged 21.4 points at Wake Forest, is viewed as the big-time scorer who can help coach Rick Barnes get over the hump and reach the program’s first Final Four. Harris is joined by transfers Tyler Lundblade (Belmont), Terrence Hill (VCU), Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame), and Dai Dai Ames (California). Hill hit seven 3s and scored 34 points in VCU’s upset of North Carolina in the NCAA first round. Tennessee ranked first in the SEC in scoring defense (69.6 PPG). The offense will be improved, but that was not evident when the Vols were dominated by Duke in a recent scrimmage, so that’s concerning.
9. ARIZONA
North Carolina tried to steal coach Tommy Lloyd after he led the Wildcats (36-3) to the Final Four, but Lloyd stayed in Tucson, where he continues to attract talent. Lloyd has established himself as an elite recruiter and offensive mind. He lost three NBA picks — first-rounders Brayden Burries and Koa Peat and second-rounder Jaden Bradley. North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon could replace Bradley at the point. Lloyd recruited hyped freshman guards Caleb Holt and Cameron Holmes. The interior should be strong with 7-foot-2 Motiejus Krivas, Ivan Kharchenkov, and Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey.
10. TEXAS
Sean Miller’s first season in Austin produced a 21-15 record and ended with a buzzer-beating loss to Purdue in the Sweet 16. Texas is ranked No. 7 in the AP preseason poll, putting Miller ahead of schedule. Seven-foot senior Matas Vokietaitis led the SEC in field-goal percentage (61.9) and is the only returning starter. Miller must replace stars Dailyn Swain, Tramon Mark, and Jordan Pope, so the Longhorns brought in guards Isaiah Johnson (Colorado) and Mikey Lewis (Saint Mary’s), forward David Punch (TCU), and hyped freshmen Marcus Spears Jr. and Austin Goosby. Spears was the top-ranked player in the 2027 class and reclassified to 2026.
11. ARKANSAS
Jordan Smith Jr. is coach John Calipari’s next star guard with an NBA future. Smith is ranked by many as the nation’s top incoming freshman and will replace Darius Acuff, who averaged 23.5 points and was the No. 7 overall pick. The Razorbacks ranked second in the nation in scoring (90.2 PPG) last season. Smith, junior transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson (Georgia), and five-star freshman J.J. Andrews will lead another high-scoring backcourt. Aside from small forward Billy Richmond III, the frontcourt has a few question marks. The Hogs must improve defensively after ranking 14th in the SEC. Calipari is 50-23 in two seasons at Arkansas.
12. GONZAGA
The Zags are changing leagues, moving to the new Pac-12 from the West Coast Conference, yet not much else will change. Gonzaga finished 31-4 last season, and this team might not be as talented, but it’s a close call. The addition of Xaivian Lee, a former Florida point guard who previously played at Princeton, is a boost. Lee was granted a fifth season of eligibility in August and left the Gators as a transfer. Bulldogs coach Mark Few has a new-look frontcourt led by 6-foot-7 Davis Fogle, 6-foot-10 Braden Huff, and 7-foot-1 Massamba Diop, a transfer from Arizona State. Few also added 6-foot-6 Isiah Harwell, a Houston transfer and former McDonald’s All-American.
13. HOUSTON
While it’s not easy to put a Kelvin Sampson-coached team outside of the top 10, the Cougars don’t appear to feature as much NBA-caliber talent. Sampson always wins more than his share of games with defense. Houston was No. 1 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings (87.6) last season, and 6-foot-8 senior Joseph “JoJo” Tugler embodies the toughness of Sampson’s teams. LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr., who started his career at UNLV, is the new point guard. Sampson is also counting on junior guard Mercy Miller, freshman Tyus Thomas, and transfers Corey Hadnot (Purdue Fort Wayne) and Delrecco Gillespie (Kent State).
14. ST. JOHN’S
Rick Pitino took down UConn to win the Big East, but the Red Storm fizzled in the NCAA Tournament, and Pitino is running out of time to reach another Final Four. St. John’s is spending big to continue the winning, and Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou is the top addition. Pitino finally has a true point guard in former European pro Quinn Ellis, who will play alongside junior shooting guard Ian Jackson. Pitino’s roster is full of newcomers and unknowns, and he’s got to replace low-post horse Zuby Ejiofor and Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman, who suffered a season-ending injury during the summer.
15. ALABAMA
Nate Oats is a run-and-gun coach. Alabama is all about offense, ranking No. 1 in the nation at 91.2 PPG last season. Senior guard Aden Holloway returns from suspension in early November after averaging 16.8 points and shooting 44% on 3s last season. Holloway is complemented in the backcourt by Amari Allen, Qayden Samuels, and Jaxon Richardson. Boise State transfer Drew Fielder is a 6-foot-11 senior with 3-point shooting range, and 6-foot-10 Brandon Garrison is a strong defensive and shot-blocking center. Alabama ranked last in the SEC and 347th in the nation in scoring defense (82.7 PPG) last season.
16. VIRGINIA
Thijs De Ridder is one of four starters returning for coach Ryan Odom, who went 30-6 and finished second in the ACC in his first year. De Ridder, a 6-foot-9 sophomore, was the team’s top scorer (15.6 PPG), and 6-foot-7 senior Sam Lewis and 5-foot-10 sophomore Chance Mallory return in the backcourt. The Cavaliers need UC Irvine transfer guard Jurian Dixon to be a scorer. Odom has made a smooth transition while replacing longtime coach Tony Bennett.
17. USC
After winning the Maui Invitational in November, the Trojans hit the skids because of injuries, and an 8-0 start turned into an 18-14 finish. Two of the injured guards, Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice, return and are ready to blossom into stars. USC coach Eric Musselman has a loaded roster full of highly touted freshmen, such as 6-foot-9 Christian Collins, to go with a transfer class led by KJ Lewis (Georgetown), Jalen Cox (Colgate), and Isaac Bruns (South Dakota).
18. KENTUCKY
The Wildcats, with a disappointing 46-26 record under coach Mark Pope, are banking on Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic making a major difference. The 6-foot-9 Momcilovic made 136 3-pointers while shooting 48.7% for the Cyclones. Pope also landed Zoom Diallo (Washington), Alex Wilkins (Furman), Jerone Morton (Washington State), and muscular center Franck Kepnang (Washington). Pope needs 7-foot sophomore Malachi Moreno to develop into a star.
19. VANDERBILT
When the Commodores fell to Nebraska 74-72 in the NCAA second round, Tyler Tanner scored 27 points with four assists and no turnovers in 38 minutes. Tanner (19.5 PPG, 37% 3s) is returning for his junior season. After going 27-9 last season, Vandy coach Mark Byington beefed up his roster around Tanner by adding Washington State transfer Ace Glass, who made 71 3s as a freshman, and 7-foot senior Bangot Dak (Colorado).
20. MICHIGAN
The NCAA champions lost coach Dusty May to the Dallas Mavericks, and three players were NBA lottery picks. Mike Boynton Jr. takes over for May and will lean on the exceptional backcourt duo of Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney. The Wolverines are talented — freshman guard Brandon McCoy Jr. should be a key scorer right away — and big with 7-foot-2 junior Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati) and 6-foot-11 J.P. Estrella (Tennessee).
21. PURDUE
A 30-win season highlighted by a Big Ten Tournament title and an Elite Eight appearance was not a big disappointment, but the Boilermakers had higher hopes as the preseason No. 1 team. Who will replace NCAA all-time assists leader Braden Smith? Redshirt freshman Antione West will be a rising star, and junior C.J. Cox is a strong two-way guard. This team will launch lots of 3s. Purdue coach Matt Painter has an underrated roster that is likely to overachieve.
22. INDIANA
Point guard Markus Burton from Notre Dame is among eight transfers who will make sure the Hoosiers don’t miss the NCAA Tournament again in coach Darian DeVries’ second season. DeVries was given the resources to hit the portal, and he did in a major way by also acquiring guards Bryce Lindsay (Villanova) and Darren Harris (Duke) and big men Aiden Sherrell (Alabama) and 7-foot-2 Samet Yigitoglu (SMU). Senior forward Sam Alexis is a key returnee.
23. TEXAS TECH
When JT Toppin returns from a February knee injury, the Red Raiders could eventually look like a top-10 team. Toppin (21.8 PPG, 10.8 rebounds) is a top-10 player if he’s right. Tech coach Grant McCasland brought back Darrion Williams after one season at N.C. State, and senior guard Donovan Atwell returns. Three guards arrive as transfers — Cruz Davis (Hofstra), Damarion Dennis (Wyoming), and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (UNLV).
24. UCLA
Nikola Kusturica, a 6-foot-9 wing from Serbia, signed with the Bruins over the summer, and it was a big deal. Kusturica, one of the highest-paid players in the nation, is projected as a top-five draft pick when he’s eligible for the NBA in 2028. UCLA coach Mick Cronin has several new faces on the roster, including Butler transfer guard Stink Robinson, but returnees Eric Dailey Jr., Trent Perry, and Xavier Booker will definitely be major contributors.
25. MISSOURI
A freshman will probably lead the Tigers. Jason Crowe Jr., a 6-foot-3 point guard, is getting the green light from coach Dennis Gates. Crowe has help in the backcourt from transfers Jamier Jones (Providence), Kennard Davis Jr. (BYU), and Jordan Crawford (South Dakota). Missouri also has a strong frontcourt led by 6-foot-9 Mark Mitchell, whose eligibility was recently restored by a Kentucky judge, 6-foot-10 Trent Pierce, 6-foot-9 five-star freshman Toni Bryant, 7-foot-5 giant Trent Burns, 6-foot-8 Jaylen Carey (Tennessee), and 6-foot-11 Bryson Tiller (Kansas). Mitchell (18.3 PPG last season) went undrafted by the NBA.
26. IOWA STATE
It will be a different Cyclones team without stars Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson. But another star is surprisingly returning. The expected departure of point guard Tamin Lipsey, who went undrafted by the NBA, was reversed when his eligibility was restored in court. Jaquan Johnson, a tough two-way guard from Bradley, is one of several transfers.
27. BAYLOR
If recent scrimmage results are not deceiving, the Bears could be a surprise team and be ranked too low in this spot. Baylor recently defeated Florida and Illinois behind superb play from junior guard Isaac Williams, Penn State transfer Kayden Mingo, and Liberty transfer Brett Decker.
28. OHIO STATE
Point guard Bruce Thornton finished as the program’s all-time scoring leader, and coach Jake Diebler plans to move junior John Mobley into that playmaking spot. The Buckeyes, who signed five-star freshmen LJ Smith and Anthony Thompson, appear to have a high ceiling.
29. MIAMI (FL)
Jai Lucas coached the Hurricanes to 26 wins and the NCAA second round in his first season. Sophomores Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson return to a roster with nine newcomers, including point guard Acaden Lewis (Villanova) and shooting guard Nick Dorn (Indiana).
30. WISCONSIN
The Badgers were actually running last season, when they ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring (83 PPG), but coach Greg Gard lost his top two scorers. The bad news is that guard John Blackwell transferred to Duke. The good news is that freshman guard Jackson Ball from New Zealand can score at a high level, and 7-foot senior Nolan Winter is back for another winter in Madison.
31. BYU
Junior guard Robert Wright (18.1 PPG) was a supporting actor to superstar AJ Dybantsa, the NBA’s top overall pick. Wright is the leader now and one of the Big 12’s top players. Cougars coach Kevin Young recruited McDonald’s All-American guard Bruce Branch and Kentucky transfer guard Collin Chandler. Senior forward Jaxon Kohler, formerly of Michigan State and the Utah Jazz, is a key addition if he remains eligible.
32. IOWA
Ben McCollum will be his own tough act to follow. In his first season, he coached the Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight since 1987. He’s got to replace team leaders Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks, but McCollum will find players to fit his system and keep winning. The addition of 7-foot-3 junior Andrew McKeever from Saint Mary’s will help.
33. NEBRASKA
Fred Hoiberg deserved to win Big Ten Coach of the Year, and he did over Michigan’s Dusty May and Illinois’ Brad Underwood. The Cornhuskers started 20-0 and finished 28-7. Senior forward Pryce Sandfort, who averaged 18.1 points and made 129 3-pointers, is back to lead the way.
34. TEXAS A&M
An aggressive, up-tempo attack is coach Bucky McMillan’s style. He went 22-12 in his debut with the Aggies. P.J. Haggerty will be the new star in the second season of “Bucky Ball.” Haggerty was the nation’s No. 4 scorer (23.4 PPG) last season at Kansas State, which was his fourth college stop after Memphis, Tulsa, and TCU.
35. NORTH CAROLINA
The excitement of a new era — Michael Malone takes over as coach after guiding the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship — will dissipate once it becomes obvious the Tar Heels don’t have enough talent to hang with ACC favorites Duke and Louisville. Malone’s new roster features five-star freshman forward Maximo Adams and transfer guards Matt Able (N.C. State), Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech), and Terrence Brown (Utah).
36. VCU
Rams coach Phil Martelli Jr. has an experienced team that’s the Atlantic 10 favorite. Martelli knows he can count on 6-foot-11 senior Lazar Djokovic and sophomore guard Nyk Lewis. VCU went 28-8 and upset North Carolina in the NCAA first round in Martelli’s first season.
37. AUBURN
The Tigers won the NIT championship in coach Steven Pearl’s first season. The shooting star of that tournament run was Kevin Overton, who averaged 14.1 points and returns as a senior. Overton and junior Tahaad Pettiford (15.4 PPG) lead the backcourt, and Pearl hit the transfer portal to build a strong frontcourt.
38. VILLANOVA
Kevin Willard coached the Wildcats to 24 wins and an NCAA first-round loss to Utah State in his first season. After losing four of his top players, Willard has restocked the roster around returning senior guard Tyler Perkins. He added Big Ten transfers Kwame Evans Jr. (Oregon) and Devin Royal (Ohio State) and 7-foot-3, 290-pound Luigi Suigo from Italy.
39. ARIZONA STATE
Several big jobs were offered to Randy Bennett during his long coaching run at Saint Mary’s, but he never jumped until getting the call to return home to the Phoenix area. Bennett brought senior forward Paulius Murauskas (18.4 PPG) from his Gaels team and has three 7-footers on his Sun Devils roster.
40. NEW MEXICO
Jake Hall was the Mountain West’s top freshman last season, when he averaged 16.4 points and made 117 3-pointers. Hall and sophomore point guard Uriah Tenette are the main reasons the Lobos are league favorites for coach Eric Olen.
41. UTAH STATE
It’s no surprise that Gonzaga will rule the new Pac-12. Utah State should be the league’s No. 2 team behind senior guard Mason Falslev, a 25-year-old who reportedly received $4 million to return this season. Ben Jacobson is the new coach after leaving Northern Iowa.
42. SAINT LOUIS
After going undrafted, 6-foot-10 Billikens star Robbie Avila signed a contract with the Lakers, but the player known as “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” and “Milk Chamberlain” won’t be that franchise’s next great center. A recent court ruling granted Avila a fifth year to return to Saint Louis, which looks likely. Billikens coach Josh Schertz (29-6 last season) already has an impressive roster headlined by guards Trey Green and Amari McCottry.
43. TCU
Senior forward Xavier Edmonds and junior guard Micah Robinson should help keep the Horned Frogs in the top half of the 16-team Big 12. High-scoring guard Gavin Sykes transferred to TCU after being named the Big West’s top freshman at Long Beach State.
44. MARYLAND
Buzz Williams’ first team in College Park was a 12-21 disaster. But there is some buzz about the Terrapins now. Top recruit Baba Oladotun is a 6-foot-10 freshman whom some compare to Kevin Durant, though that’s probably a stretch. Senior forward Pharrel Payne returns, and Maryland added key transfers Tomislav Buljan (New Mexico) and DJ Wagner (Arkansas).
45. OKLAHOMA STATE
Latrell Allmond, a 6-foot-8 McDonald’s All-American, will help the Cowboys compete with the big boys in the Big 12. Oklahoma State returns senior guard Kanye Clary and added senior transfers Jordan Burks (UCF) and Kashie Natt (Sam Houston).
46. OKLAHOMA
It’s easy to forget the Sooners lost to West Virginia in the College Basketball Crown tournament title game in Las Vegas. Porter Moser’s sixth season as Oklahoma coach could be better with good guard play from seniors Xzayvier Brown, Pop Isaacs (Texas A&M transfer), B.J. Edwards (SMU), and Tyler Hendricks (Utah Valley).
47. WEST VIRGINIA
All of the players who hoisted the College Basketball Crown trophy in April are gone. Mountaineers coach Ross Hodge is rebuilding with Butler transfer Finley Bizjack (17 PPG), five-star freshman guard Miles Sadler, and transfers Joson Sanon (St. John’s) and Javan Buchanan (Boise State).
48. CREIGHTON
The Greg McDermott era has ended, and Alan Huss, a former Bluejays assistant and High Point head coach, takes over in Omaha. Huss welcomes back 6-foot-10 junior Jackson McAndrew and 6-foot-8 senior Jasen Green and added transfer guards BJ Davis (San Diego State) and Wes Enis (South Florida). Creighton or Marquette should be the Big East’s fourth-best team.
49. MARQUETTE
Nigel James Jr. was named the Big East’s top freshman after the 6-foot guard averaged 16.4 points. Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart made a wise move by adding 6-foot-11 senior Sananda Fru as a Louisville transfer.
50. GEORGIA
The Bulldogs ranked third in the SEC in scoring offense (89.4 PPG) behind Alabama and Arkansas. Georgia coach Mike White is counting on senior guards Blue Cain, Freddie Dilione, and Marcus “Smurf” Millender and junior forward Kanon Catchings. Cain is probably the team’s best player, Dilione transferred from Penn State, and “Smurf” is not that small at 5-foot-11.
