College Basketball Preseason Top 25

College basketball season is just days away from starting, which means it is a good time to look at teams for this season. Here is The Game Haus college basketball preseason top 25.

25-21

25. Tennessee Volunteers

Zakai Zeigler is back for another year to handle the point guard duties and provide defense. Jordan Gainey and Jahmal Mashack will need to take a step forward as returnees, while transfer Chaz Lanier brings outside shooting to the backcourt. Felix Okpara, an Ohio State transfer, will protect the paint.

24. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers has two of the best freshmen in the class in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. They will be joined by returning starter Jeremiah Williams, who averaged double-figures last season. The Scarlet Knights will need some role players to step up, but they have the makings of a good season ahead of them.

23. Ohio State Buckeyes

Meechie Johnson returns to Ohio State after playing two seasons at South Carolina. He and Bruce Thornton will create a good backcourt together, as both are viable scoring options. Former five-star Aaron Bradshaw could really fill a void in the paint.

22. Kentucky Wildcats

It is a new era in Lexington with Mark Pope taking over as coach. Lamont Butler has Final Four experience and brings a defensive tenacity to the point guard position. The backcourt will be deep with Koby Brea, Kerr Kriisa and Otega Oweh getting minutes. Jaxson Robinson really improved at BYU under Mark Pope and he could be the go-to-guy. In the frontcourt, Andrew Carr can stretch the floor, while Amari Williams can protect the paint.

21. Cincinnati Bearcats

Wes Miller has done a good job of acquiring and retaining talent. The backcourt is talented and deep with Jizzle James, Day Day Thomas, Simas Lukosius and Dan Skillings all back. Aziz Bandaogo returns in the frontcourt and will be joined by Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell.

20-16

20. Xavier Musketeers

Xavier only won 16 games last season, but had two key players out for the full season. Forwards Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter are now back healthy. Around them, there are plenty of talented guards. Dayvion McKnight returns to run the point, while transfers Dante Maddox, Marcus Foster, Roddie Anderson and Ryan Conwell can all play roles and potentially help the shooting from last season.

19. St. John’s Red Storm

The big addition for the Red Storm this offseason was First Team All-Big East player Kadary Richmond, who comes in from Seton Hall. With him, Utah transfer Deivon Smith can create a dynamic backcourt. On the interior USC transfer Vince Iwuchukwu should improve under Rick Pitino.

18. Arizona Wildcats

Caleb Love had a breakout season under Tommy Lloyd. No other starters return for the Wildcats though. Big jumps are expected of Jaden Bradley and KJ Lewis. Motiejus Krivas will man the paint, while Oakland transfer Trey Townsend can play the four. The development of the guards around Love is the key to the season for the Wildcats.

17. Florida Gators

Florida will have a great backcourt with Walter Clayton and Will Richard returning. Clayton averaged 17.6 points per game last season. Joining them in the backcourt is Alijah Martin, who has plenty of NCAA Tournament experience with FAU. Alex Condon returns on the inside and will have a much larger role this season.

16. Arkansas Razorbacks

John Calipari has another talented roster, but there is more experience this time around. Returnee Trevon Brazile is a talented frontcourt player who needs to stay healthy. Jonas Aidoo is a Tennessee transfer who can protect the paint. D.J. Wagner, Adou Thierro and Zvonimir Ivisic all come with him from Kentucky. Freshman Boogie Fland and FAU transfer Johnell Davis are the two players that can really raise the ceiling for this Razorbacks team.

15-11

15. Marquette Golden Eagles

While Tyler Kolek is gone, Marquette still has a lot to be excited about this season. Kam Jones returns after scoring 17.2 points per game. Stevie Mitchell provides defense, while Sean Jones will likely take over the point guard spot after recovering from a torn ACL. David Joplin can play inside, but also stretch the floor. They’ll need other role players to step up, but Marquette has enough for another good season.

14. Indiana Hoosiers

Four starters return to Bloomington, giving Mike Woodson the chance for his best season yet. Mackenzie Mgbak0, Malik Reneau return as forwards who averaged double figures last season, while Trey Galloway did the same thing as a guard. Oumar Ballo comes in as a highly-coveted Arizona transfer to be a force in the paint. With transfers Myles Rice and Luke Goode coming in, Indiana is deep.

13. Purdue Boilermakers

Losing Zach Edey, Lance Jones and Mason Gillis leaves Purdue with some big shoes to fill. Luckily they have their backcourt returning for a third straight year in Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. Myles Colvin will have a larger role in the backcourt this season after getting some experience. Caleb Furst and Trey Kaufman-Renn give them talented inside players, but the onus to make the team great will fall largely on the guards this season.

12. Texas A&M Aggies

Wade Taylor IV averaged nearly 20 points per game last season and returns. While Tyrece Radford is departing this season, Texas A&M brings plenty of good role players around him. Manny Obaseki figures to have a bigger role, while Jace Carter started last year, but needs to re-find his shooting stroke. Andersson Garcia, Solomon Washington and Henry Coleman give Buzz Williams plenty of options on the interior.

11. Duke Blue Devils

Cooper Flagg is a projected future NBA star with his ability to do many things on the court. Purdue transfer Mason Gillis can provide some experience in the frontcourt to pair with Flagg. The backcourt returns Tyrese Proctor as a starter. Caleb Foster is in for a larger role at guard after getting his feet wet as a freshman, but other guards will need to step up to help this team be at their best.

10-6

10. North Carolina Tar Heels

RJ Davis’s return really bolsters North Carolina’s chances this year. He’ll be rejoined in the backcourt with Elliot Cadeau, who will need to step up his scoring. Seth Trimble is a returnee who will have a bigger role, while Ian Jackson is a talented freshman who will also need to play well for UNC to reach their goals. The frontcourt has some question marks after losing Armando Bacot, but Ven-Allen Lubin comes in from Vanderbilt to help out.

9. Creighton Blue Jays

Creighton returns three starters from last year’s Elite Eight team. Ryan Kalkbrenner can score, rebound and protect the rim. Steven Ashworth can shoot and pass well, while Mason Miller can shoot from deep. Texas Tech transfer Pop Isaacs was a good scorer at Texas Tech, but is recovering from a hip injury. Their bench needs players to contribute, but they will be tough to beat if Isaacs is healthy.

8. Auburn Tigers

Auburn returns one of the best players in the country in Johni Broome, who averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season. Chris Moore, Denver Jones and Chad Baker-Mazara also return as starters from last year’s team that lost just eight games. JP Pegues transfers in from Furman to provide a scoring punch, while Miles Kelly is coming in from Georgia Tech after finding success there. Auburn is talented and deep, giving Bruce Pearl the chance at making his second Final Four at the school.

7. UConn Huskies

There were doubters last season for UConn and those will continue this year after they lost Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer. Alex Karaban is the lone returning starter and is going for a three-peat as a stretch four. Hassan Diarra figures to be the starting point guard, while Aidan Mahaney, a St. Mary’s transfer, can help provide a scoring punch. Samson Johnson will need to play more minutes in the paint, while freshman Liam McNeeley could develop into a go-to-player.

6. Baylor Bears

Jayden Nunn may be the only returning starter for Baylor, but Scott Drew did a great job of building the roster. Jeremy Roach played a lot of basketball at Duke and now joins Nunn in the backcourt. Star freshman VJ Edgecombe is a talented shot-maker, while Langston Love played a lot of minutes last season, giving the Bears plenty of good guards. Norchad Omier averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game at Miami and gives them a good frontcourt player. They’ll need more players to help out in the paint, but the guards give Baylor plenty of potential.

5-1

5. Iowa State Cyclones

Three returning starters really fuel Iowa State’s chances for another good season. Tamin Lipsey can run the show for the Cyclones and get his own shot. Keshon Gilbert was the leading scorer from last year’s team. Milan Momcilovic was a Big 12 All-Freshman player with loads of potential. In the paint, Charlotte transfer Dishon Jackson should be able to rise to the level of competition in the Big 12.

4. Houston Cougars

Houston suffered plenty of injuries last season, but still made the Sweet 16. Jamal Shead is gone, but they have enough talent to make a run to the Final Four. L.J. Cryer, J’Wan Roberts, Emanuel Sharp and Javier Francis are all returning starters. A lot of their bench players were hurt last season, but are now healthy. Milos Uzan comes in from Oklahoma State and could run the point for the Cougars.

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Four returning starters should help Gonzaga compete on the national level this season. With Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman in the backcourt, the Bulldogs have two guards they can rely on. Up front, Graham Ike averaged 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Ben Gregg slid into the starting lineup last year. Michael Ajayi transfers in from Pepperdine as a possible impact player. Another run to a Final Four could be in the cards for the Bulldogs.

2. Kansas Jayhawks

Dajuan Harris is back to run the point as one of the best in college basketball. The frontcourt is extremely talented with Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams returning. They’ll need Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen to provide a scoring punch as transfers to help spread the floor. If they get that from them, Kansas could be cutting down the nets.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Mark Sears returning at the point guard spot and Grant Nelson being back at forward really helps Alabama have the best chance at a National Championship. Latrell Wrightsell is another returning starter who is able to knock down threes at a high percentage. Cliff Omoruyi, a Rutgers transfer, can protect the paint. USF transfer Chris Youngblood can shoot the ball and get to the basket. Former Auburn guard Aden Holloway can be a backup at the point guard spot. The Crimson Tide have a great roster and have depth.

 

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