Conference Preview: Pac 12

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Chad

Click HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s season preview interviews and Chad Sherwood’s conference previews

PAC TWELVE

Four programs had assistant coaches arrested as part of the FBI bombshell that was dropped on college basketball during the last week of September.  Two of those four are the top two teams (on paper) in the Pac-12 conference this season.  In other words, there will be off-court drama and storylines hovering around this conference all season.  Assuming that Arizona and USC can find ways to keep all of this from affecting the play on the court, both schools should battle for the conference title, and both could have teams good enough to make it to the Final Four in San Antonio.

Beyond the top two, expect last year’s Final Four participant, Oregon, to be strong again despite suffering a ton of offseason losses.  UCLA should have enough pieces to make it easily back to the Big Dance as well.  Beyond the Bruins, Stanford, Arizona State and Oregon State appear to be the most likely to contend for dance tickets, while Utah will need to solve its backcourt issues quickly to contend for a bid.  The bottom of the league once again will feature the two teams from Washington, though this year likely joined by the Cal Bears who must rebuild their roster from the bottom up now that head coach Cuonzo Martin has left for Missouri.  At the end of the day, the Pac-12 has some very good teams at the top, but may also prove to have some very bad ones at the bottom.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Arizona – Last season, we debated who the best active coach to never reach the Final Four was — Sean Miller or Mark Few.  The debate has now been decided, with Mark Few’s name off the list.  This season, Sean Miller has a real chance to remove his as well, with one of the strongest looking rosters in the nation.  Allonzo Trier anchors a solid backcourt that includes Rawle Alkins (once he returns from a late September foot injury) Parker Jackson-Cartwright and UNC-Asheville transfer Dylan Smith.  Down low, freshman DeAndre Ayton and senior Dusan Ristic may give the Wildcats the best frontcourt duo in the nation.  Of course, the Wildcats need a way to get around the offcourt issues, which included assistant coach Emanuel Richardson’s arrest as part of the FBI investigation.
  2. USC – What happens when you take a 26 win team, return 98% of the prior season’s scoring, including backcourt standouts Elijah Stewart and Jordan McLaughlin and frontcourt standouts Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu, then go ahead and add in Duke transfer Derryck Thornton and prized recruit Charles O’Bannon, Jr.?  The answer is that you suddenly have a team the could be good enough to be playing in San Antonio at the end of the season.  The Trojans have the talent, experience and depth to beat any team in the nation on any given night, and should battle for the Pac-12 crown all season.  As with Arizona, their biggest issue may be offcourt, as assistant Tony Bland was among the four coaches arrested in late September following the FBI investigation and indictments.
  3. Oregon – The Ducks lost a ton from last season’s Final Four team, as point guard Payton Pritchard is the only returning starter.  That being said, they also brought in an amazing amount of new talent, including graduate transfers Elijah Brown (New Mexico) and MiKyle McIntosh (Illinois State), both of whom were consistent double digit scorers.  The freshmen recruits include Troy Brown, a potential one-and-done at forward and Kenny Wooten, a power forward expected to get immediate playing time.
  4. UCLA – The bad news is that the Bruins need to find a way to replace over 60 points per game of offense with the losses of Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf, Isaac Hamilton and Bryce Alford.  The good news is that the team brings back a pair of solid veterans in Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh, and adds to them one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, highlighted by Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes, a pair of five-star McDonald’s All-Americans.
  5. Stanford – The Cardinal feature one of the conference’s top returning players in forward Reid Travis (17.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season).  With a ton of other returning players and a solid group of newcomers, a marked improvement from last season’s 14-17 record should be expected.
  6. Arizona State – The Sun Devils should be vastly improved this season.  They return one of the conference’s best backcourts, highlighted by Tra Holder and Shannon Evans.  They should also be improved up front, their major weakness last year, with the additions of redshirt freshmen Romello White and Vitaliy Shibel, plus Juco transfer De’Quon Lake.  The future is bright for the Sun Devils, especially with several major transfers sitting out this season, including former Kansas forward Carlton Bragg.
  7. Oregon State – Can a team that went 5-27 last year actually contend for an NCAA berth this year?  While that answer would normally be a resounding “No,” the Beavers may just be able to do that this season, with virtually everyone back from last year and star Tres Tinkle now healthy again.  The experience gained by players like Stephen Thompson, Jr., Drew Eubanks and Kendal Manuel, plus newcomers that include UMass graduate transfer Seth Berger, could make things as exciting this year in Corvallis as they were two seasons ago.
  8. Utah – The Utes return David Collette, their big man that averaged more than 13 points per game last season and will be the focus of their offense this year, especially with Kyle Kuzma’s decision to turn pro.  Unfortunately, there may not be enough pieces around Collette, especially with huge question marks in the backcourt, for the Utes to get their name into NCAA Tournament talk.
  9. Colorado – The Buffs look like they will have a long season ahead of them, with two of the top three scorers from last season’s team gone.  Perhaps the best news for this team is that there will be tons of chances for young players, such as freshman McKinley Wright IV, to get experience this year, while there is still some veteran leadership from the likes of George King and Tory Miller-Stewart.
  10. Washington – Mike Hopkins certainly has his work cut out for him taking over for Lorenzo Romar, especially after the coaching change led to top prospect Michael Porter, Jr.’s decision to head to Missouri instead.  This team only won 9 games last season despite having the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft (Markelle Fultz).  Hopkins will need to rely on what players he does have left, notably forward Noah Dickerson, for any success, but don’t expect much this season.
  11. California – The Bears lost almost everything from last season’s NIT team, including head coach Cuonzo Martin, who is now at Missouri.  Wyking Jones takes over the program reins, but the only notable piece he may have this year is Kentucky transfer Marcus Lee.  If it wasn’t for  pair of struggling programs in the state of Washington, the Bears would be the clear pick for the Pac-12 cellar.  They still might end up there anyhow.
  12. Washington State – The Cougars missed out in landing a very good recruit in Roberto Gittens, when he chose in August to attend junior college instead.  This is going to be a very long season for head coach Ernie Kent.
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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews FGCU G Christian Terrell

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon’s interviews, and the rest of our extensive and continuous preseason coverage

Oh, did you think that “”Dunk City” was just going to fade away after Andy Enfield left for USC?  That’s so sweet…and so wrong.  FGCU hired Joe Dooley to replace Enfield back in 2013 and all he has done since then is win 21+ games each year, make 4 straight postseason appearances, and be named Atlantic Sun COY last spring.  1 of the keys to the Eagles’ continued success has been G Christian Terrell: he was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team in 2015 and the conference All-Tournament Team in 2016 and enters his senior season ranked in the top-10 in school history in PTS/FGM/3PM/3P%/AST.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Christian about making a game-winning shot and being a senior leader.

1 of your teammates at Providence High School was Grayson Allen: how good a player was he back in the day? He was 1 of the most dominant high school players I ever played with/against. Nobody could match his athleticism.

You play for Coach Joe Dooley: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? His best attribute is that he prepares us for anything that could occur during a game. He lives/breathes basketball and he taught me to play my hardest every single day to help the team win.

In 2015 you were named to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? My high school helped because I was competing against high-level players. The seniors that year also helped prepare me.

In December of 2015 you had a career-high 25 PTS/5 STL in a loss to South Dakota: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It is probably my 2nd-best game. I only had 2 PTS in the 1st half before having a good 2nd half, but in the long run it does not count for much because we lost the game.

Last November you scored 9 PTS including a contested layup with 2.4 seconds left in a 1-PT OT win over Long Beach State: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? Besides winning a pair of conference championships it is probably my 3rd-best moment. I kind of lost the ball going up but got it back and once I regained possession I knew it was going in.

In the 2016 NCAA tourney you lost to eventual runner-up North Carolina and in the 2017 NCAA tourney you had a 6-PT loss to Florida State: are you getting sick of facing ACC schools every March, and has Grayson given you any scouting reports on his conference foes? We got a tough break against UNC because they were #1 overall. Grayson gave me a few tips for facing the Tar Heels but I did not reach out to him about the Seminoles.

Last year your team’s 49.9 FG% was #5 in the nation: what sort of philosophy does your team have on the offensive end? We really try to do an inside-out plan by working through the post and then trying alley-oops at the rim.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Middle Tennessee/Wichita State/Rhode Island: what do you think about the prospect of playing the Blue Raiders twice in a 12-day stretch this fall? It is always tough to face a time twice in a short period of time: they are a good team and will be a big test for us. The toughest test will probably be Wichita State because they have been a good program for a long time.

You are 1 of 4 seniors on the roster: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? We want to be able to give the young guys the blueprint on how to run the team and keep things going in the right direction. I think this is our best senior class and we will lead the team down the right path.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Our expectation is to win the regular season and conference tourney titles. I want to make the all-conference team but the most important thing is to win games.

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Conference Preview: Big Ten

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Chad

Click HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s season preview interviews and Chad Sherwood’s conference previews

BIG TEN

Sometimes things change and sometimes they remain the same.  That is as true this season in the Big Ten as much as it is in any conference.  Michigan State and Purdue should once again be the class of the league and battle for conference supremacy.  In fact, the Spartans enter the season looking like a Final Four and national championship contender.  On the other hand, to see Northwestern among the list of the league’s top teams is almost a complete shock.  And that is not the only change in the conference this year, as Indiana, Illinois and Ohio State all bring in new head coaches with tons of credentials, though none of the three are likely to make the Big Dance this year.

Among the teams that could be dancing this season are Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin.  Penn State is a definitely a dark horse pick, but the Nittany Lions have been nailing down some very nice-looking recruits over the past few seasons, and this could be the year they break through.  Wisconsin and Iowa both look like they will take a step back this season, and the Badgers may have their run of 20 straight NCAA bids snapped.  At the end of the day, the Big Ten should once again put a nice pile of teams in the Tournament, and the basketball future of the league looks very strong with the new coaches coming in and the rise of several programs that have been perennial doormats.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Michigan State – The Spartans did not expect Miles Bridges to return for his sophomore season.  When he decided to come back, their prospects for this year went through the roof.  If they can avoid the plague of injuries that beset the team last season, and players such as Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling are back at or close to 100%, the sky could be the limit for this team.
  2. Purdue – After losing a player like Caleb Swanigan to the NBA Draft, most teams would expect to take a step or two back.  Not so in West Lafayette, as pretty much every other key player from last year’s Big Ten regular season champions returns, including star forward Vince Edwards, 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas, and underrated floor general Dakota Mathias.  The Boilermakers have the talent and depth to contend for another regular season championship.
  3. Northwestern – This is where we normally would be asking if this is the season the Wildcats finally break through and get their first ever NCAA bid — except that no longer applies.  Instead, this may be where we are asking whether Northwestern could actually win the Big Ten regular season title.  With four starters back, including three (Vic Law, Scottie Lindsey and Bryant McIntosh) that averaged more than 12 points per game, the Wildcats will be really good this year.  They also get Aaron Falzon back, a power forward that hit 63 3-pointers two years ago but missed most of last season with injury.  Michigan State may be the best team on paper, but if the Spartans stumble, the Wildcats could be the team to steal the crown.
  4. Minnesota – Rick Pitino’s coaching career may be over, but his son’s is just starting to get good.  Pitino proved a lot of people, including us here at HoopsHD, wrong last season with one of the most surprising success stories.  After winning 24 games and getting a 5 seed in the Big Dance, the Gophers could be Big Ten regular season title contenders with players such as Nate Mason, Amir Coffey, Jordan Murphy and Reggie Lynch back.  They also have Davonte Fitzgerald healthy after he missed last season with a torn ACL.  His presence could prove to be the piece that makes this season even better than last, and will help make the preseason injury loss of Eric Curry hurt a little less.
  5. Maryland – The Terrapins lost Melo Tremble, but return a strong contingent of players, most notably sophomore forward Justin Jackson and sophomore guard Anthony Cowan.  The addition of Duke transfer Sean Obi in the frontcourt could be a big piece, especially if he returns to his form from a few years back when he played for Rice.
  6. Michigan – The Wolverines have a lot of pieces to replace from last season, but still should have success thanks to Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman outside and Moritz Wagner on the inside.  They will need a lot from a pair of transfers, Jaaron Simmons (Ohio University) and Charles Matthews (Kentucky).
  7. Penn State – The Nittany Lions have a real chance to be this year’s breakout team in the Big Ten.  They return all five starters from a team that was only a few games below .500, led by sophomore point guard Tony Carr who led the team in both scoring and assists.  They also have some solid pieces down low, including Lamar Stevens and Mike Watkins.  The best news is that this team is still very young, with a roster dominated by freshmen and sophomores.
  8. Wisconsin – The Badgers can never be counted out, even if the only starter they bring back from last season is Ethan Happ.  They will need freshmen such as Brad Davison and Kobe King to prove themselves ready for this level of play if they want to keep a streak of 20 straight years with an NCAA bid alive.
  9. Iowa – The good news is that four starters are back from a team that just missed the NCAA Tournament.  The bad news is that the one that is gone is Peter Jok, who averaged almost 20 points per game for the Hawkeyes.  Compensating for Jok’s loss is going to be tough for this team, especially given that they had the worst scoring defense team in the Big Ten and 299th in the nation.
  10. Illinois – At first glance, a case could be made that the Illini will finish at the bottom of the league standings.  However, one should never underestimate the ability of new head coach Brad Underwood and his ability to win games.  The key to the team may be Wright State graduate transfer Mark Alstork — if he can put up similar numbers in the Big Ten to what he put up last season in the Horizon League, the Illini will be a lot more competitive season than people expect.
  11. Ohio State – Jae’Sean Tate can do just about anything, and will probably need to this season as the rest of the roster is thin, especially in the backcourt, that he may end up playing the point way more than he should.  Chris Holtmann has a great chance for a ton of success in Columbus, but don’t expect much this season.
  12. Rutgers – The Scarlet Knights were much improved in Steve Pikiell’s first season, but still finished dead last in the conference.  If the improved defense continues, and players such as Corey Sanders and Deshawn Freeman can shoulder even more of the offensive load, expect them to climb up in the standings this time around.
  13. Indiana – The Hoosiers, in the wake of Tom Crean’s termination and the NBA defections of James Blackmon, Jr., Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby, are in all-out rebuild mode this year.  They do have a head coach good enough to get it done, as Archie Miller takes over the reins.  However, don’t expect much this season.
  14. Nebraska – This has a chance to be Tim Miles’ final season as head coach at Nebraska, and it is tough to see them finishing high enough in the standings to save his job.  If they are to succeed, they will need a ton of production from a pair of transfers that disappointed at their prior schools, James Palmer, Jr. (Miami) and Isaac Copeland (Georgetown).
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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Charleston head coach Earl Grant

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon’s interviews, and the rest of our extensive and continuous preseason coverage

Gregg Marshall might have taught Earl Grant a little too well.  As an assistant to Marshall at Winthrop the duo went to 3 straight NCAA tourneys, then after arriving at Wichita State they increased their win total from 11 in year 1 to 17 in year 2 and 25 in year 3.  Grant was hired as head coach at the College of Charleston in September of 2014 and has demonstrated the same ability to take great leaps in quick fashion: 9 wins in year 1, 17 in year 2, and 25 in year 3 (which included an invite to the NIT).  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Grant about the keys to recruiting and being named conference COY last spring.  

You played basketball at Georgia College and won a pair of conference titles: what is the biggest difference between D-2 vs. D-1? The biggest difference is just the size of the players, especially the big guys in D-1 who are taller/heavier. In D-2 you often play with 4 guards/1 forward, which is more of the way the game is shifting now at all levels.

In the 2006 NCAA tourney as an assistant to Gregg Marshall at #15-seed Winthrop, Chris Lofton scored 12 PTS including a fadeaway jumper from the corner in the final second of a 2-PT win by Tennessee: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? That was a true example of a dagger in your heart! We went into the game knowing that Lofton was a great shooter: he shot it even better when he was contested so part of me wondered if we should have just let him shoot it unopposed. We controlled the game for the most part but they just had the last shot. In the locker room it was very painful because our chance to advance was taken away in 2 seconds.

You grew up in North Charleston: what did it mean to you to become coach of the Cougars in 2014? Seeing how John Kresse elevated the program from the NAIA through various conferences and finally making it to the NCAA tourney was great: he really changed our city during his 20 years as head coach. Now we have an amazing city and the program has become nationally-recognized so it means a lot to be a small part of the success. I want to continue to help it rise because it is where I learned how to compete when I came down to campus as a high school kid to play in an open gym against guys like Anthony Johnson/Jermel President.

You are known for being a great recruiter: what is the secret to getting a high school kid to sign on the dotted line? I do not know if there are any secrets but a big thing is identifying the right kind of guy who can fit your personality and what you are trying to do. When they get to campus they will relate to the players you already have. You need to build trust with the player and his family.  You also need a good product to sell and at Charleston we have a great product, which has helped us get talented players to help us with our vision.

You only won 9 games in year 1 but increased that to 25 wins in year 3: how were you able to improve so much in only 2 years? A huge part of the turnaround is that we were very fortunate to have inherited a group of high-character/talented players. The staff also had unbelievable decision-making when it comes to our 1st couple of recruiting classes, which certainly helps. As the players go through the growing pains and get older they have become better.  Having continuity in our staff was another big reason we have been able to move in the right direction in a relatively short period of time.

Last year you were named conference COY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was kind of weird because I never thought about that being a possibility so it caught me off guard a little bit. It was very emotional for me when it happened because even though they called my name there were so many players/coaches who were responsible for that. You cannot prepare for the emotions you will feel because everyone worked so hard to make that happen.

In the 2017 NIT you had a 7-PT loss to Colorado State: what do you think your team learned from that game that will help them this year? 1 of the things we all learned from the CAA tourney/NIT is the importance of staying true to who we are. We were a tenacious rebounding team all year but got away from that a little bit as we allowed way too many points at the end of our season. We scored plenty of points to win but just needed to get some more stops.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Wichita State/Rhode Island: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? All of those games will be tough but I am focused on the 1st game of the year against Siena because they are a good program so I cannot wrap my mind around any other team. I knew that Wichita State/Rhode Island would be favored to win their respective conferences so they will test us to see if we are capable of handling tough situations early in the season.

You return each of your top-6 scorers from last year: how important do you think all of that experience will be to your team’s success this season? You cannot put a price on experience so I believe that it is a great thing. We have never had such an experienced team so we have high expectations. That maturity will help us to focus on the process and not get caught up in everything else.  We have a lot of hard work to do if we want to accomplish some great things.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I do not have any personal goals yet: we want to continue to move the program forward with good players/coaches/staff/support. We want to reach our potential as a team and be playing our best basketball in March to make sure we are peaking at the end of the season. We do not have a ton of expectations besides putting our best foot forward.  I do expect them to work hard and live up to our values on a daily basis while trying to reach the highest level we can as a team. We are very excited about this group and think we have a lot of special young men who deserve the right to have a chance for success.

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NCAA Commission on College Basketball: reaction

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Jon Teitel

Yesterday it was announced that the NCAA has created a Commission on College Basketball to examine 3 specific aspects of D-1 basketball:

1. The relationship of the NCAA and its institutions/student-athletes/coaches with outside entities (such as shoe companies, agents/advisors, etc.)
2. The NCAA’s relationship with the NBA (specifically its “1-and-done” rule)
3. The relationship between colleges and the NCAA national office (to promote transparency and stop any future scandals before they blow up)

The Commission will commence its work next month and then recommend changes in April. The 14-person Commission is a fascinating mix of former players (David Robinson)/coaches (John Thompson III), current school presidents (Rev. John Jenkins), and a chairwoman who was the US Secretary of State (Dr. Condoleezza Rice). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel reached out to many of the Commissioners to get their reaction and has heard back from Florida athletics director emeritus Jeremy Foley, who issued the following statement:

This commission has important work ahead. The collective talent, experience and wisdom of the people I have the opportunity to work with is off the charts. We have the chance to make a positive impact on the health of college basketball going forward, and that’s a responsibility we won’t take lightly.

We congratulate AD emeritus Foley on his appointment and hope to bring you further reaction from other members of the Commission in the days ahead.

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Conference Preview: Big Twelve

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Chad

Click HERE for all of Jon Teitel’s season preview interviews and Chad Sherwood’s conference previews

BIG TWELVE

When one hears the term “basketball conference,” thoughts of the ACC or the Big East quickly come to mind.  When one looks at the numbers over the past four seasons, it becomes clear that the Big 12 should be in those thoughts.  Kenpom.com has rated the Big 12 as the #1 conference in the country four years in a row, and with the depth and talent in the league again this season, it could become five.  Of course, when we talk Big 12, it all starts with the Kansas Jayhawks, who have won or shared a mind-boggling 13 straight conference regular season titles.  There is no reason to suspect that number will not reach 14 this season, as the Jayhawks have one of the most talented teams in the nation and may find themselves in San Antonio cutting down nets at the end of the day.

Beyond the Jayhawks, a pair of up-and-coming teams look to make big strides this year, as TCU will try to ride an NIT championship last year to an NCAA berth this one, and Shaka Smart may finally have a roster of “his” players capable of leading Texas into the conference’s upper echelons.  West Virginia and Baylor should both be very good again while Oklahoma will try to rebound from a disappointing 2016-17 season.  Finally, don’t overlook Texas Tech as Chris Beard is doing an excellent job elevating the Red Raiders despite the surprise departure of Tubby Smith a year ago.  This conference certainly has depth, enough so that if the team we are predicting for last place, Oklahoma State, can put aside its off-court problems, they might have enough weapons to finish several spots higher and contend for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Kansas – Frank Mason, Josh Jackson and Landen Lucas combined to average over 45 points and 20 rebounds per game last season.  All three are gone, and yet the Jayhawks still enter the season with a real shot at heading to the Final Four.  Devonte’ Graham will lead the way, joined in the backcourt by Mississippi State transfer Malik Newman, who was once the No. 2 overall prospect in the nation, and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk who passed on a chance to enter the NBA draft.  Down low, the Jayhawks are young but very talented, with Udoka Azubuike healthy after only playing 11 games as a freshman and another top prospect in forward Billy Preston.  This team has all the pieces necessary for another Big 12 title, and a lot more beyond that.
  2. TCU – No, this is not a typo.  Jamie Dixon led the Horned Frogs to 24 wins and the NIT Championship last season — and returns his entire starting lineup.  This team now has experience and depth, and added in one of the conference’s top recruiting classes.  Kenrich Williams and Vladimir Brodziansky are legitimate double-double threats every time out, and with added depth this season, TCU will be dancing for the first time since 1998.
  3. Texas – The Longhorns have a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores, but those sophomores all got a ton of playing experience last season despite losing 22 games.  Andrew Jones should score a ton of points this year, especially with Matt Coleman arriving to help solve the point guard problems and Mo Bamba, the potential #1 NBA draft pick in 2018, coming in add a ton of size, strength and power.  Shaka Smart’s team has a chance to be very good this season, and could finish even higher than this.
  4. West Virginia – Press Virginia led the nation in turnover margin last season, and this year should be more of the same.  Bob Huggins has another solid, deep team.  Although they are not likely to dethrone Kansas, the Mountaineers, led by Jevon Carter, Daxter Miles, Jr. and Esa Ahmad (assuming he is reinstated from an indefinite suspension by the time conference play begins), will cause opponents problems on a nightly basis and should be wearing their home uniforms in a first round NCAA Tournament game in March.
  5. Baylor – The Bears will once again be difficult to beat with Manu Lecomte running the point and seven-footer Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. down low.  However, another finish in or near second place will be difficult as they have to find a way to make up for several offseason losses, most notably Johnathan Motley.
  6. Oklahoma – Lon Kruger’s team gained a ton of valuable experience last season despite losing 20 games.  With the majority of last year’s team back and the addition of stud freshman point guard Trae Young, there is nowhere to go but up for the Sooners.  The team will need to compensate early for a lack of depth in the frontcourt, especially with Kristian Doolittle academically suspended for the fall semester.
  7. Texas Tech – Head coach Chris Beard has an intriguing mixture of senior leaders (Justin Gray, Keenan Evans and Zach Smith) and heralded prospects (point guard Davide Moretti and shooting guard Zhaire Smith).  The Red Raiders failed to win a single road game last season — if they can change that and get the new players to blend with the veterans, it would not be a complete shock to hear their name called on Selection Sunday.
  8. Kansas State – The Wildcats have a pair of very good guards in Kamau Stokes and Barry Brown, but the team may not have as much talent down low or as much depth as they did last season, when they barely snuck into the NCAA Tournament as a member of the First Four.  Kansas State will win some games, but probably not enough to dance again.
  9. Iowa State – The Cyclones could be in for a long season as they lost their top four starters from last season’s team.  The good news is that a few highly-rated recruits will get some playing time.  They will also get some help from senior guard Donovan Jackson and UTSA transfer forward Jeff Beverly.
  10. Oklahoma State – The Cowboys lost three of their top four players from last season and saw their head coach bolt for the Illinois job after just one season.  As if that wasn’t bad enough, they were one of the programs targeted by the recent FBI investigation, including a massive document subpoena request that just made headlines this week.  Despite a few solid players, including returnee Jeffrey Carroll, Cal State Northridge transfer Kendall Smith and St. John’s transfer Yankuba Sima (eligible after the fall semester), the off-court issues may be too much to keep this team out of the cellar in a very deep conference.
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