Basketball fans find themselves in no man’s land this week, just days removed from another thrilling NCAA Tournament and a few days away from the start of the NBA Playoffs.
Which means it’s the perfect opportunity for some crazy predictions for next year! ESPN.com’s Andy Katz posted his top 25 college basketball teams for next season (click the link for his explanations on each team).
1. Kansas
2. Michigan State
3. North Carolina
4. Texas
5. Villanova
6. Syracuse
7. Duke
8. Purdue
9. West Virginia
10. California
11. Michigan
12. Kentucky
13. Tennessee
14. Xavier
15. Butler
16. Gonzaga
17. Washington
18. Oklahoma
19. Clemson
20. Boston College
21. Mississippi State
22. Ole Miss
23. Dayton
24. Illinois
25. Texas A&M
As Katz himself admits, there’s little reason to put any stock in these rankings as 1.) it’s way too early and 2.) early entrants to the NBA draft will have a huge impact on who the preseason top 25 will end up being.
Nonetheless, here are a few problems I see with the list. For one, UNC is way, way overranked. There were times this season that they were barely the third-best team in the country, and they are likely going to lose four starters/future NBA players going into next year.
Second, even if Willie Warren does come back, Oklahoma isn’t a top-20 team without the Griffin brothers. Kansas and Texas are going to be miles ahead of the Sooners in the Big 12.
Lastly, I can’t help but think Louisville belongs in here somewhere. I get that in Terrence Williams and Earl Clark they are losing a ton of scoring and athleticism, but they’re two of only three key contributors the Cards will be missing next season. Young bigs Terrence Jennings and Samardo Samuels will be a year older and a year better, and Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith and Preston Knowles will all return on the perimeter. Add recruit Peyton Siva, the 5th-rated point guard prospect in the country, and they should challenge Villanova and Syracuse at the top of the Big East.
Two off-the-radar teams to watch: Georgetown and Georgia Tech. Both struggled from growing pains last year but have a ton of young talent returning, and the Yellow Jackets will welcome Derrick Favors, the nation’s best big man recruit.
