The 2019-20 college basketball season left at its peak of entertainment. Finishing up conference championships and on the verge of arguably the greatest annual sporting event in the NCAA Tournament, fans were let down as March Madness had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.
However, it has also put more fuel to the fire for the 2020-21 season. With less than two weeks until the commencement of college basketball, multiple teams are back and better than ever, seeking a championship run.
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Monday morning The Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 for the unprecedented college basketball season. Gonzaga leads the way at one, with over 25 first-place votes. Head coach Mark Few will be trying to enter himself in the books this year, in attempts for his first national title. As one of the most successful college basketball coaches in the world, Few has fallen short of championship several times now. He’ll get a good chance this year to turn that around. Although they lose West Coast Conference Player of the Year Filip Petrusev, the Bulldogs bring back three of their top six players from last year’s 31-2 team, in addition to five star recruit Jalen Suggs.
Creeping in at No. 2 sits Baylor, who received four less votes than Gonzaga. The Bears will be another favorite for this year’s title, after spending five weeks at No. 1 last season. The experienced team returns four of five starters from last year and several key role players. Head coach Scott Drew has debatably the nation’s best backcourt in Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague and one of most efficient defensive teams.
Following the top two is Villanova, who received 11 first-place votes, then Virginia with the remaining first-place vote. Iowa sits comfortably at five behind national Player of the Year front-runner Luka Garza.
Kansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Duke and Kentucky complete the top 10.
Here’s a look at the full AP Top 25.
First-place votes in parentheses:
1. Gonzaga(28)
2. Baylor(24)
3. Villanova(11)
4. Virginia(1)
5. Iowa
6. Kansas
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
9. Duke
10. Kentucky
11. Creighton
12. Tennessee
13. Michigan State
14. Texas Tech
15. West Virginia
16. North Carolina
17. Houston
18. Arizona State
19. Texas
20. Oregon
21. Florida State
22. UCLA
23. Ohio State
24. Rutgers
25. Michigan
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