Matt Youmans College Basketball Top 50:
In the biggest moment of his coaching career, Kelvin Sampson froze one step from the mountaintop. On the precipice of history, Sampson instead felt the sting of heartbreak, as Houston once again came up short in the NCAA championship game.
Seven months later, on the brink of another college basketball season, Sampson and the Cougars are coming back for more. The team that finished last season at No. 2 has a strong case to start this one at No. 1.
The debates about which team deserves to be No. 1 in the nation will continue for five months through the madness of March and finally conclude in April. The safest bet is Houston, which has reached two Final Fours and averaged 32 wins over the past five seasons under Sampson. But the Cougars have plenty of company at the top — reigning national champion Florida, Big Ten favorite Purdue and Big East powerhouse Connecticut, to name a few contenders — and there is no consensus favorite.
Circa Sports lists Houston and Purdue as +950 co-favorites. The Boilermakers, who boast arguably the nation’s top player in senior point guard Braden Smith, are the +900 favorites at DraftKings, where the Cougars are a close second choice.
“I can tell you who they are betting — Purdue and Kentucky have been bet the most,” DraftKings sportsbook director John Avello said. “Houston is a funny team, a good team every year, but they just have not figured out how to win it all yet.”
Inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Sampson was so close to figuring it out. A Houston team that won 35 games by playing rugged defense had no offense when it mattered most, failing to get a shot off on the last two possessions of a 65-63 loss to the Gators. A 12-point lead had disappeared. Sampson stood courtside, speechless and stunned, as the ball bounced away from the Cougars and the final seconds ticked away.
Florida must replace its top three guards — Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard – from its title team. Houston returns three starters while Sampson brings in a loaded recruiting class that includes three prospects ranked in the top 25. Still, the betting public is not crazy about the Cougars.
“We have seen very little money on Houston, the team I think is the best,” Westgate SuperBook oddsmaker Ed Salmons said.
Sampson will be one of the season’s top storylines. At 69, he was attempting to become the oldest coach to win the NCAA title. Instead, the Gators’ Todd Golden, 39, was the youngest coach to win it all since North Carolina State’s Jim Valvano in 1983. Ironically, Valvano and the Wolfpack upset Houston’s star-studded Phi Slama Jama team, which returned to the championship game in 1984 and lost to Georgetown.
Houston knows all about title-game heartbreak. The same goes for Purdue, which fell to UConn in the 2024 championship game, and that leads to more questions and storylines.
Is the Big Ten ready to end its championship drought? Since Tom Izzo coached Michigan State to the NCAA title in 2000, Big Ten teams are 0-8 in the championship game. Purdue, Michigan and UCLA are serious contenders this season.
Is Dan Hurley capable of winning his third title in four years? The Huskies nearly upset Florida in March and appear to have what it takes to contend again. However, it can be argued UConn is the second-best team in the Big East behind St. John’s and Hurley’s coaching rival, Rick Pitino.
Is the Southeastern Conference headed for a repeat? Florida’s title was the first for the SEC since Kentucky in 2012. The conference put a record 14 teams in the NCAA tournament last season. The Gators and Wildcats are legitimate threats to cut down the nets.
Preseason power ratings are an inexact science and not meant to project the national champion, although it’s nice when that happens. 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 winning the NCAA title.
In last year’s preseason rankings, I put Florida at No. 22 and Houston at No. 6. While the Cougars were obvious contenders from the start, it did not become clear until January that the Gators had national title potential.
Handicapping is always a fluid situation. Before any games are played in November, 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 for more emphasis.
Hurley is my top power-rated coach, followed by Sampson. Purdue’s Matt Painter has the most complete team that grades out the highest in the other six categories.
The Boilermakers are No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason poll, followed by Houston, Florida, UConn and St. John’s. It should be noted the last AP preseason No. 1 team to win the national championship was North Carolina in the 2008-09 season.
I do consider other respected sources when forming preseason ratings, and here’s how those sources rank the nation’s top five:
Ken Pomeroy (Kenpom.com) — Houston, Florida, Purdue, Kentucky, UConn.
Evan Miyakawa (EvanMiya.com) — Houston, Purdue, Duke, Florida, UConn.
Bart Torvik (Barttorvik.com) — Houston, Duke, Michigan, Purdue, Florida.
Blue Ribbon Yearbook — Florida, Purdue, Houston, Duke, UConn.
There are 365 teams in the college hoops world, which makes this sport one of a kind and a unique handicapping challenge. The difference in ratings is razor thin among the top six teams in my VSiN preseason Top 50 power rankings:
1. HOUSTON
The NCAA championship game is scheduled for April 6 in Indianapolis, where the Cougars beat Purdue 62-60 on Milos Uzan’s last-second layup in a Sweet 16 thriller. Uzan and Emanuel Sharp return as seniors to lead Houston’s backcourt, and 6-foot-8 forward Joseph Tugler also comes back as a defensive force. The recruiting class for coach Kelvin Sampson is the Big 12’s best and is headlined by McDonald’s All-Americans Chris Cenac, who’s a 6-foot-10 center, and Isiah Harwell plus point guard Kingston Flemings, who will back up Uzan. Sharp has the appropriate name for a shooter who made 87 3-pointers last season. Despite losing L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts, Sampson could have a more talented team than a year ago when the Cougars ranked No. 1 in scoring defense (58.7 PPG). No opposing coach wants to face Houston, which uses defense and rebounding to impose its will.
2. PURDUE
It all starts with seniors Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer, but those three needed more help and coach Matt Painter found the perfect puzzle pieces. The Boilermakers’ interior defense was too soft last season, so Painter brought in South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff, the nation’s No. 2 rebounder (12.3 per game). The 6-foot-11 Cluff and 7-foot-4 Daniel Jacobsen, who returns from a broken lower leg suffered early in the season, will protect the rim and score inside. Smith will get relief from freshman Omer Mayer, a star for Team Israel, and freshman Antione West, a dynamic athlete and shooter. North Florida transfer Liam Murphy is a 42% 3-point shooter. C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris return in the backcourt while 6-foot-6 Jack Benter and 6-foot-11 Raleigh Burgess add frontcourt depth. Painter has 12 high-level players on the deepest and most well-rounded roster in the nation.
3. FLORIDA
There is no doubt the Gators will miss their three star guards — Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard — but there are also no doubts about their potential to repeat as NCAA champions for the second time (2006 and 2007). Alex Condon, a versatile 6-foot-11 junior who had 12 points and seven rebounds in the title game against Houston, could be the SEC’s top player. Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland, a former McDonald’s All-American, might be the league’s top point guard. Fland will handle the backcourt with Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee and Ohio transfer AJ Brown. Condon and the front line will be big and hard to handle with 6-foot-9 Thomas Haugh, 6-foot-10 Rueben Chinyelu and 7-foot-1 Micah Handlogten. Florida is fun to watch due to coach Todd Golden running an advanced offensive system (84.8 PPG last season, fifth in NCAA).
4. CONNECTICUT
Yes, Dan Hurley is annoying because of his lunatic behavior in front of the bench, but he’s also as good as it gets in college coaching. The bad news for the Hurley haters is he’s got another remarkably talented team with a mix of veterans and newcomers. Senior forward Alex Karaban has two national titles on his resume and will be flanked by 6-foot-10 senior Tarris Reed and 7-foot German freshman Eric Reibe. Solo Ball returns as one of the nation’s top perimeter shooters. Point guard Silas Demary Jr. transferred from Georgia and backup point Malachi Smith is a transfer from Dayton. Hurley hooked hyped guard Braylon Mullins, who was the Indiana prep Mr. Basketball, to play alongside junior Jaylin Stewart in the backcourt. UConn has no weaknesses. Just don’t take Hurley to Hawaii, where he went 0-3 in the Maui Invitational.
5. MICHIGAN
Dusty May is not going to step aside and allow Purdue to hit cruise control on the road to the Big Ten title. The Michigan coach has a team with Final Four potential thanks to what some sources rank as the nation’s No. 1 transfer class. Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB) is the star and his supporting actors are 6-foot-9 Morez Johnson (Illinois), 7-foot-3 Aday Mara (UCLA) and guard Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina). May took over a Wolverines team that finished 14th in the league and raised it to second place in his first season. May will miss big men Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf, but he reloaded with the transfers. He also brought in freshmen Trey McKenney and Winters Grady to join backcourt veterans Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and L.J. Cason. Lendeborg is a big-time NBA prospect and Mara is maturing into a strong low-post presence.
6. ST. JOHN’S
At 73, Rick Pitino is as motivated as ever to win a title. The Red Storm finished 31-5 last season and should be even better this season despite saying goodbye to stars RJ Luis and Kadary Richmond. Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor is the Big East’s top returning scorer (14.7 PPG) and rebounder (8.1 RPG). Ejiofor anchors the front line with Providence transfer Bryce Hopkins and Cincinnati transfer Dillon Mitchell. Pitino does not have a true point guard, but he says that doesn’t matter. The backcourt is deep and talented with Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon, North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson, Stanford transfer Oziyah Sellers and Idaho State transfer Dylan Darling. The Johnnies led the league in scoring offense (78.5 PPG) and scoring defense (65.8 PPG). UConn rates higher now because Pitino is counting on so many transfers.
7. KENTUCKY
Mark Pope was the perfect coaching hire after John Calipari left Lexington for Arkansas. Pope is building a program with a different philosophy. He will not recruit one-and-done NBA prospects and burn out early in March, as Calipari too often did. The Wildcats’ strength is a backcourt led by senior Otega Oweh (16.2 PPG), Pittsburgh transfer point guard Jaland Lowe and Tulane transfer Kam Williams, a 41% 3-point shooter. The front line is big and skilled with 7-foot-1 Reece Potter, 6-foot-11 freshman Malachi Moreno, 6-foot-10 Brandon Garrison, 6-foot-9 Jayden Quaintance and 6-foot-7 Mouhamed Dioubate. Kentucky was an elite offensive team last season (84.4 PPG), but the interior defense must dramatically improve. Pope has had time to build a better roster.
8. DUKE
It’s still hard to believe Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils blew a 14-point lead in the final eight minutes of a Final Four loss to Houston. It’s not as hard to believe Duke could lose Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, in addition to Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, Khaman Maluach and Sion James and still come back with a top 10 team. The Blue Devils’ new diaper dandies are 6-foot-9 freshman Cameron Boozer, who could step on campus and instantly be the top player in the ACC, and his 6-foot-4 brother Cayden Boozer. Junior point guard Caleb Foster will run the team, and 6-foot-11 Patrick Ngongba and 6-foot-9 senior Maliq Brown will flank Cameron Boozer down low. Italian freshman Dame Sarr is another player to watch on coach Jon Scheyer’s young team.
9. TEXAS TECH
Houston will get tested in the Big 12 by BYU, Iowa State, Arizona, Kansas and Texas Tech, which features JT Toppin, the league’s returning Player of the Year. Toppin averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in his first season after transferring from New Mexico. His reward for turning down the NBA was a reported $4 million NIL deal. Sophomore point guard Christian Anderson scored 22 points in a victory over Arkansas in the Sweet 16. UNC-Greensboro transfer Donovan Atwell and Santa Clara transfer Tyeree Bryan are prolific 3-point shooters. Washington State transfer forward LeJuan Watts is another important addition for underrated coach Grant McCasland, who’s got the Red Raiders on the rise.
10. UCLA
Mick Cronin needed a coach on the floor so he got the top transfer point guard available in Donovan Dent, who averaged 20.4 points last season for New Mexico. Dent can be a combo guard and work in the backcourt with senior Skyy Clark, redshirt freshman Eric Freeny, sophomore Eric Dailey and Kansas City transfer Jamar Brown. Dent is the Bruins’ most impactful player, but senior forward Tyler Bilodeau is a close second. Cronin also needed size so he grabbed transfer big men Xavier Booker (Michigan State) and Steven Jamerson (San Diego). UCLA does not have as much depth and talent as Purdue and Michigan, but Dent can help turn the Bruins into the third-best team in the Big Ten.
11. BYU
If A.J. Dybantsa is worthy of the immense hype, this rating could be too low for BYU. Dybantsa is a 6-foot-9 guard who’s projected to be the No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA Draft. Senior guard Richie Saunders is the team’s top returning scorer (16.5 PPG). Cougars coach Kevin Young replaced Mark Pope in Provo and went 26-10 with a Sweet 16 trip. Young welcomes back 6-foot-9 center Keba Keita and signed several transfers, including guard Rob Wright from Baylor and Kennard Davis from Southern Illinois.
12. LOUISVILLE
In his first year at Louisville, coach Pat Kelsey restored pride to a program that had become an embarrassment. Kelsey went 27-8 (18-2 in the ACC) to turn around a Cardinals team that finished with just eight wins the previous season. His first major recruit is McDonald’s All-American point guard Mikel Brown Jr., and he also got 6-foot-11 German freshman Sananda Fru. Kelsey brings back 6-foot-10 senior Kasean Pryor and added transfer guards Ryan Conwell (Xavier) and Isaac McKneely (Virginia).
13. IOWA STATE
The Cyclones boast a big three — Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic — that can stack up against almost any other team’s top three returning starters. Lipsey is one of the nation’s top point guards and the 6-foot-8 Momcilovic is a 3-point threat, so the offense should not be a problem. Iowa State, which finished as a KenPom top 15 team in two of the past three seasons, supplements the veterans by mixing in an outstanding freshman class headlined by guards Jamarion Batemon, Anthony Rise and Xzavion Mitchell.
14. ARIZONA
Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd is known for his high-scoring offenses and recruiting prowess. The offense should be efficient again with senior Jaden Bradley operating the point. Lloyd recruited five-star talents Koa Peat and Brayden Burries in addition to Bryce James, a three-star recruit and a son of LeBron James. Peat appears to be a one-and-done NBA prospect. Motiejus Krivas, a 7-foot-2 junior, and 6-foot-8 senior Tobe Awaka give Arizona some interior toughness. Lloyd’s teams are not known for defense, so will that change at all this season?
15. KANSAS
Darryn Peterson, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 30.4 points as a high school senior and is ranked by some analysts as the nation’s No. 1 incoming freshman. Jayhawks coach Bill Self brought in transfer guards Melvin Council Jr. (St. Bonaventure) and Tre White (Illinois) to boost a roster that’s not all that impressive, aside from Peterson. Big man Hunter Dickinson is finally gone, so 6-foot-10 freshman Bryson Tiller and 6-foot-9 sophomore Flory Bidunga must emerge. This team could be surprisingly good, though it’s clear Self is no longer the boss in the Big 12.
16. ARKANSAS
The Fayetteville debut season for coach John Calipari was a success considering he started 0-5 in SEC play yet rebounded to knock out Rick Pitino’s favored St. John’s team en route to the Sweet 16. Calipari still can recruit NBA prospects, snagging five-star point guard Darius Acuff Jr. and McDonald’s All-American guard Meleek Thomas. Perimeter shooting is a question mark for the Razorbacks, who have plenty of talent and will need veterans D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox and Trevon Brazile to step up as leaders.
17. ALABAMA
Analytics lovers have an affection for Nate Oats, a progressive-minded coach who wants his teams to shoot a high volume of 3s and score at the rim while ignoring most looks in between. The Crimson Tide led the nation in scoring (90.7 PPG) while getting exposed as terrible on the defensive end last season. Oats loses stars Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, but he brings back guards Aden Holloway, Labaron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. Alabama’s biggest addition is 7-foot senior Noah Williamson, the Patriot League Player of the Year from Bucknell.
18. ILLINOIS
The Big Ten is loaded with talented big men and the Fighting Illini have two of the best in 7-foot twins Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir “Big Z” Ivisic, who played at Arkansas and Kentucky. Illinois coach Brad Underwood has an intriguing roster with a European theme. He recruited Cal transfer guard Andrej Stojakovic, Serbian guard Mika Petrovic and 6-foot-9 freshman guard David Mirkovic. Stojakovic could be one of the top scorers in the conference. Senior guards Kylan Boswell and Ben Humrichous are returning from a 22-win team.
19. TENNESSEE
Senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie steps in as a transfer from Maryland and is expected to lead the Volunteers on the offensive end. Gillespie could be the type of scorer that Dalton Knecht was for Tennessee two years ago. Freshman forward Nate Ament is the prized recruit for coach Rick Barnes, who has an outside shot at a Final Four with this team. The Vols will miss longtime defensive menace Zakai Zeigler. Barnes’ teams are famous for defensive toughness and 6-foot-11 senior Felix Okpara is the enforcer.
20. MICHIGAN STATE
One year after the Spartans underachieved amid high expectations, coach Tom Izzo redeemed himself by going 30-7, winning the Big Ten by three games and reaching the Elite Eight. Izzo achieved that without an incredibly talented roster, and the same is true of this roster. Point guard Jeremy Fears, senior forward Jaxon Kohler and high-flying wing Coen Carr return. Michigan State’s ceiling will depend a lot on the development of freshman guards Jordan Scott and Cam Ward and Samford transfer Trey Fort, a 3-point gunner.
21. GONZAGA
Braeden Smith (not to be confused with Purdue’s Braden Smith) is an outstanding point guard who’s ready to run coach Mark Few’s offense. Smith was a former Patriot League Player of the Year at Colgate. The low post is in good hands with 6-foot-9 senior Graham Ike and 6-foot-10 junior Braden Huff. Few hooked transfer guards Tyon Grant-Foster (Grand Canyon) and Adam Miller (Arizona State) and both will make a major impact, as will 3-point specialist Steele Venters. The Zags lost five key players from last season, yet this team has a higher ceiling.
22. NORTH CAROLINA STATE
It won’t take long for new coach Will Wade to turn around a Wolfpack team that won only 12 games last season. Wade’s first big move was to add senior forward Darrion Williams from Texas Tech. Williams scored 23 points against Florida in the Elite Eight. NC State’s No. 38 ranking by KemPom is too low and doesn’t account for everything Wade will do. Wade has remodeled the roster with transfers, including point guard Tre Holloman (Michigan State), 6-foot-6 guard Terrance Arceneaux (Houston) and forward Ven-Allen Lubin (North Carolina).
23. SAN DIEGO STATE
Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher had to be nervous when 7-foot Magoon Gwath put his name in the transfer portal. Gwath, voted the Mountain West’s top freshman and top defensive player, eventually returned to San Diego State along with junior guard Miles Byrd. Dutcher added transfer guards Sean Newman, who averaged 7.9 assists at Louisiana Tech, and Latrell Davis (San Jose State) to a deep backcourt. Dutcher, who reached the NCAA title game in 2023, has the most talented roster in the conference.
24. MISSISSIPPI
The transfer portal should most benefit coaches like Chris Beard, who can recruit at a high level and build a winning team overnight. In his second season at Ole Miss, Beard won 24 games and reached the Sweet 16. His top returning player is senior forward Malik Dia, who’s an athletic rim defender. Beard is gambling on senior guard AJ Storr, who has played at St. John’s, Wisconsin and Kansas, and transfers Koren Johnson (Louisville) and Corey Chest (LSU). McDonald’s All-American forward Niko Bundalo will be a big contributor for the Rebels.
25. OREGON
Jackson Shelstad, the Ducks’ top guard, suffered a broken hand in early October and is not expected to return until late November. When the season opens, 7-foot senior Nate Bittle will be Oregon’s go-to scorer after averaging 14.2 points last season. Ducks coach Dana Altman is putting some transfers around his returning stars and has added senior guard Takai Simpson (Elon), forward Devon Pryor (Texas), forward Sean Stewart (Ohio State) and forward Miles Stewart (Howard). Altman is also counting on 6-foot-9 forward Kwame Evans Jr.
26. BAYLOR
If you remember the Baylor team from last year, forget it. Bears coach Scott Drew enters a mystery season with an entirely new roster. Baylor’s best player could be star freshman Tounde Yessoufou, a 6-foot-5 guard who broke the California high school career scoring record and won the dunk contest at the McDonald’s All-American Game. Drew is surrounding Yessoufou with several transfers, highlighted by high-scoring guard Obi Agbim (Wyoming).
27. TEXAS
Sean Miller replaced Rodney Terry as Longhorns coach and inherited senior guards Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope. Miller was a winner at Arizona and Xavier and should be successful right away. It’s no surprise he’s counting on transfers in his first season in Austin. Miller brought forward Dailyn Swain from Xavier and also added Camden Heide (Purdue), Lassina Traore (Long Beach State) and Simeon Wilcher (St. John’s).
28. OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes missed the NCAA Tournament last season, but they should make it back in coach Jake Diebler’s second full season. Ohio State has three double-figure scorers returning, led by senior guard Bruce Thornton, who averaged 17.7 points and shot 42% on 3s. John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal also return. The Buckeyes added size and skill inside by getting 7-foot senior transfer Christoph Tilly from Santa Clara.
29. CREIGHTON
While it’s clear the Big East is a two-horse race between UConn and St. John’s, the Bluejays are a good bet to run third. Jackson McAndrew, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, will try to fill the shoes left by NBA pick Ryan Kalkbrenner. Creighton coach Greg McDermott is counting on Iowa transfers Josh Dix and Owen Freeman, a 6-foot-10 junior who was the Hawkeyes’ leading scorer, and Charlotte transfer point guard Nik Graves.
30. NORTH CAROLINA
Ten newcomers are on the Tar Heels’ roster, and five-star freshman forward Caleb Wilson is the most important. The 6-foot-9 Wilson scores, rebounds and defends, and North Carolina needs to be much better defensively. Junior guard Seth Trimble is the top returning scorer. Carolina coach Hubert Davis brought in transfers Kyan Evans (Colorado State), 6-foot-11 Jarin Stevenson (Alabama), 7-footer Henri Veesaar (Arizona) and Jaydon Young (Virginia Tech).
31. KANSAS STATE
Money talks and P.J. Haggerty walked. The nation’s No. 3 scorer (21.7 PPG) last season, Haggerty transferred from Memphis to Manhattan, Kansas. The junior guard takes the lead role for a team that lost the top 10 scorers from last season, but that’s not all bad news considering the Wildcats finished 16-17. Akron transfer guard Nate Johnson is one of many other new faces on coach Jerome Tang’s reloaded roster with a high payroll.
32. NOTRE DAME
The Fighting Irish will be much better than their No. 77 ranking by KemPom indicates. Junior guard Markus Burton is the ACC’s top returning scorer (21.3 PPG) and the coach’s son, Braeden Shrewsberry, also returns after scoring 14 PPG. Micah Shrewsberry signed McDonald’s All-American Jalen Haralson and added Northern Arizona transfer Carson Towt, the nation’s leading rebounder (12.4). Shrewsberry has his best team in his third season at Notre Dame.
33. AUBURN
The surprise retirement of coach Bruce Pearl in September opened the door for his son, Steven, to take Auburn’s top job at age 38. Also gone from last season’s Final Four team are Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Miles Kelly and Denver Jones. The Tigers will rely heavily on sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford and transfer forwards Keyshawn Hall (UCF) and 6-foot-10 KeShawn Murphy (Mississippi State). Steven Pearl’s coaching inexperience is a concern.
34. IOWA
Ben McCollum takes over an Iowa program in need of change after former coach Fran McCaffery flamed out with a tie for 12th in the Big Ten. McCollum’s team at Drake finished last season last in the nation in tempo, according to KenPom. McCollum is promising a faster-tempo Hawkeyes offense with Drake transfer point guard Bennett Stirtz running the show.
35. WISCONSIN
If Greg Gard can change, anyone can change. A coach known for a slow tempo hit the gas last season, when Wisconsin averaged 80.1 PPG, the fourth-highest mark in the Big Ten. Junior guard John Blackwell (15.8 PPG) returns along with 6-foot-11 center Nolan Winter. Most of the other faces are changing as Gard lured five transfers, including senior Nick Boyd (San Diego State).
36. SAINT MARY’S
Never underestimate Gaels coach Randy Bennett, who has won back-to-back outright West Coast Conference regular-season titles and is 4-2 in his past six games against Gonzaga. Bennett lost his top two players from last season’s 29-win team, but he’s reloading. Sophomore guard Mikey Lewis and San Diego transfer Tony Duckett lead the way for Saint Mary’s.
37. CINCINNATI
The Bearcats have the talent to finish in the top half of the 16-team Big 12. McDonald’s All-American Shon Abaev, a 6-foot-8 wing, will make an early impact. Senior guard Day Day Thomas returns, and coach Wes Miller added transfers Jalen Haynes (George Mason), Sencire Harris (West Virginia), Kerr Kriisa (Kentucky) and 7-foot-2 Moustapha Thiam (UCF).
38. WASHINGTON
This much is certain: Washington will not repeat last season’s 18th-place finish in the Big Ten. Second-year coach Danny Sprinkle welcomes back guard Zoom Diallo while bringing in an impressive recruiting class headlined by 6-foot-11 German Hannes Steinbach and a talented transfer group that includes former USC guards Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III.
39. MISSISSIPPI STATE
Junior guard Josh Hubbard is small at 5-foot-10, but he’s a big-time playmaker and the top returning scorer (18.9 PPG) in the SEC. Georgetown transfer Jayden Epps and UAB transfer Ja’Borri McGhee join Hubbard in the Bulldogs’ explosive backcourt. Quincy Ballard, a 6-foot-11 senior transfer, led the nation in effective field-goal percentage (75.0) at Wichita State.
40. MISSOURI
Mark Mitchell, a former Duke transfer, emerged as a reliable scorer last season in coach Dennis Gates’ small-ball offense. Gates added UCLA transfer guard Sebastian Mack to play in the backcourt with defensive stopper Anthony Robinson. The Tigers are now bigger with 7-footer Shawn Phillips Jr., 6-foot-11 transfer Jevon Porter (Loyola Marymount) and 6-foot-10 Trent Pierce.
41. OKLAHOMA
The fifth year of the Porter Moser era will likely mean more mediocrity for the Sooners in the SEC. Moser went to the NCAA Tournament last season — and probably saved his job — thanks to guard Jeremiah Fears, who left for the NBA. Oklahoma will need major production from Miami transfer guard Nijel Pack and Notre Dame transfer forward Tae Davis.
42. INDIANA
A rebuilding job for new coach Darian DeVries starts with his son, 6-foot-7 senior Tucker DeVries, who blossomed into a star at Drake and should be one of the top scorers in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers need to improve their 3-point shooting after ranking last in the league in made 3s the past two seasons. Freshman forward Trent Sisley can score and is a prospect to watch.
43. MARYLAND
When disgruntled coach Kevin Willard exited for Villanova, the door opened for Buzz Williams, who brought senior forward Pharrel Payne and three other players with him from Texas A&M. Maryland’s roster has potential. Williams signed McDonald’s All-American guard Darius Adams, but the Terrapins recently lost Kansas transfer Rakease Passmore to a season-ending injury.
44. BOISE STATE
The Broncos will have a new look without Tyson Degenhart, the program’s all-time scoring leader. Boise State coach Leon Rice still will have a top-three team in the Mountain West. Rice will rely on returnees Javan Buchanan, Pearson Carmichael and Andrew Meadow, who should fill Degenhart’s void. UCLA transfer point guard Dylan Andrews provides a big boost.
45. MEMPHIS
The Tigers lost their top scorer, P.J. Haggerty, who transferred to Kansas State, but coach Penny Hardaway’s team still is the AAC favorite. Memphis will be led by Kansas State transfer point guard Dug McDaniel, McNeese transfer Sincere Parker and 7-foot-1 journeyman Aaron Bradshaw, who has played at Kentucky and Ohio State.
46. UC SANTA BARBARA
The Gauchos are favored to the Big West mostly due to junior guard Jason Fontenet, who’s the top player in the league. UCSB also benefits from the arrival of point guard Aidan Mahaney, who started his career at Saint Mary’s before transferring to UConn. Mahaney could not cut it in the physical Big East and is back in a league where he can thrive as a playmaker.
47. UTAH STATE
In his first season as Aggies coach, Jerrod Calhoun went 26-8 and made the NCAA Tournament. Junior guard Mason Falslev is one of the Mountain West’s best scorers, and Calhoun is putting an impressive group of transfers and freshmen around Falslev.
48. VCU
New coach Phil Martelli Jr. led Bryant to the NCAA Tournament last season. Following a common theme, he immediately hit the portal and brought in seven transfers, led by guards Tyrell Ward (LSU) and Ahmad Nowell (UConn). The Rams are the Atlantic 10 favorites.
49. MARQUETTE
Kam Jones was a rock as the Golden Eagles’ leading scorer the past three seasons, but he’s gone and coach Shaka Smart is searching for production from new faces. Senior guard Chase Ross will lead a Marquette team that ranks no better than fourth in the Big East.
50. SYRACUSE
Senior guard J.J. Starling should be the go-to scorer for the Orange while Georgia Tech transfer Naithan George runs the point. Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9 forward, provides strength inside. Syracuse’s newcomers include Kiyan Anthony (Carmelo’s son) and Sadiq White Jr.
