Duke moves up to No
It’s been just over 2 weeks because UConn was lowering the internet on the NRG Arena floor. But given the machinations of the transfer website, the NBA draft and the extra year of eligibility since of COVID-19, the amount of roster movement has made the national championship game seem like months ago.So, it was time for an upgraded males’s Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25.
Duke moved to No. 1 after the return of Kyle Filipowski, while UConn fell from the top spot after Adama Sanogo declared for the NBA draft. The most significant riser was Saint Mary’s, which returned Alex Ducas, while Wisconsin and Maryland both delved into the rankings. Texas and UCLA dropped out, and Arizona took a big tumble after the departure of Azuolas Tubelis.A fast refresher on some of the guidelines for our rankings: Any player presently in the
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leading 60 of ESPN’s 2023 NBA draft rankings is considered a departure till they announce a return (like Filipowski). Gamers not projected to be selected are consisted of considered returning, unless there has actually been an announcement saying otherwise. These standards likewise apply to players testing the waters, such as Zach Edey, who is maintaining college eligibility however is ranked inside the top 60– so we’re considering him gone for now.All elders are forecasted as departures unless they have actually officially revealed they’re returning to school
for another year.Let’s get to the rankings.Updated April 19, 2023.
Previous: 3 Editor
‘s Picks 2 Associated The Blue Devils
increase to the
top of the rankings with the return of Kyle Filipowski, who would have been a first-round choice had he got in the NBA draft. But he goes back to anchor the frontcourt, while Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell will also be back in Durham. Jeremy Roach is still checking the waters, while top-10 hire Mackenzie Mgbako resumed his recruitment. The Blue Devils are still in the market for another big.Projected starting lineup: Jeremy Roach( 13.6 PPG)Tyrese Proctor(9.4 PPG )Jared McCain
(No. 12 in ESPN 100)Mark Mitchell (9.1 PPG)
Kyle Filipowski (15.1 PPG)
Previous: 2 There has actually been minimal lineup movement for Marquette considering that the end of the season, with Olivier-Maxence Prosper testing theNBA draft waters being the only product of note. Coach Shaka Smart is anticipated to revive all 5 beginners from a group that won the Big East regular-season and conference competition titles after being picked ninth in the preseason. Another first-weekend exit should not be in the cards.Projected beginning lineup: Tyler Kolek(12.9 PPG) Stevie Mitchell(7.1 PPG)Kam Jones (15.1 PPG)Olivier-Maxence Prosper (12.5 PPG )Oso Ighodaro( 11.4 PPG) Previous: 6 We really liked Tom Izzo’s team entering the offseason, and that was before Tyson Walker and Malik
Hall announced they were taking advantage of their extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 and going back to East Lansing. Michigan State now has experience, a high-level backcourt, along with added depth and volatility with the arrival of first-class recruits Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears.Projected beginning lineup: Tyson Walker (14.8 PG)A.J. Hoggard (12.9 PPG )Jaden Akins(9.8 PPG)Malik Hall (8.9 PPG)Xavier Booker(No. 7 in ESPN 100) Previous: 1 UConn falls from the leading spot following Adama Sanogo’s decision to state for the NBA draft. He’s exposing the option to go back to college but is concentrated on turning pro. Donovan Clingan is all set to take his location, however. The Huskies now wait to see
whether Andre Jackson Jr. keeps his name in the NBA draft, and whether Tristen Newton goes back to Storrs with another year of eligibility.Projected starting lineup: Stephon Castle(No. 15 in ESPN 100)Solomon Ball(No. 55 in ESPN 100 )Jaylin Stewart (No. 84 in ESPN 100)Alex Karaban(9.5 PPG )Donovan Clingan(7.1 PPG)
Previous: 10 It’s been a combined
bag for the Bluejays up until now this offseason. They watched as beginning point guard Ryan
Nembhard struck the portal, then headed out and landed a top-10 transfer in elite shooter Steven Ashworth from Utah State. Returning starter Baylor Scheierman likewise revealed his objectives to return to Omaha for another year. Now, they wait on Ryan Kalkbrenner’sNBA decision.Projected starting lineup
: Steven Ashworth(16.2 PPG at Utah State)Baylor Scheierman(12.8 PPG) Trey Alexander( 13.6 PPG) Arthur Kaluma (11.8 PPG)Fredrick King (3.4 PPG ) Previous: 9 With Marcus Sasser a potential first-round choice and Tramon Mark striking the transfer website, it looked like Kelvin Sampson
‘s border group was bound to
take a hit. Instead, he went out and landed two of the very best guards on the marketplace in Baylor transfer LJ Cryer and
Temple transfer Damian Dunn. Jamal Shead need to also return despite checking the draft waters.Projected beginning lineup: Jamal Shead(10.5 PPG)LJ Cryer(15.0 PPG at Baylor)Emanuel Sharp(5.9 PPG)Damian Dunn(15.3 PPG at Temple)J’Wan Roberts(10.0 PPG )Previous: 5 Continuing to rank the Owls within the top 10 might appear lofty, offered they were a 9-seed in the NCAA competition and almost lost to Memphis in the first round. However this is also a team that won 35 games, made a Final 4 run and isanticipated to bring back all five
starters. Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin are testing the
NBA draft waters, however both
need to return to Dusty Might’s program.Projected beginning lineup: Bryan Greenlee(7.4 PPG)Nick Boyd( 8.9 PPG
)Johnell Davis (13.9 PPG )Alijah Martin(13.1 PPG) Vladislav Goldin(10.3 PPG ) Previous: 12 As typical, coach Eric Musselman has been very busy in the transfer portal. The Razorbacks landed four guards– Keyon Menifield (Washington), Tramon Mark(Houston), Khalif Fight (Temple)and El Ellis
(Louisville)– and got knowledgeable forward Jeremiah Davenport (Cincinnati). That’s
on top of the 2 top-30 freshman recruits in Layden Blocker and Baye Fall. The concern is, do either Jordan Walsh or Devo Davis come back?Projected beginning lineup: Keyon Menifield(10.0 PPG at Washington)Khalif Fight(17.9 PPG at Temple)TramonMark(10.1 PPG at Houston)Trevon Brazile(11.8 PPG )Makhi Mitchell (7.0 PPG) Previous: 4 A multitude of Wildcats entered the NBA draft, but just Cason Wallace and Jacob Toppin are doing so while giving up college eligibility. Could Oscar Tshiebwe, Chris Livingston and Antonio Reeves all go back to Lexington? The most appealing is certainly Tshiebwe, the consensus
National Player of the Year in 2022.
John Calipari is likewise bringing in the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class, with dynamic boundary scorers Justin Edwards, D.J. Wagner and Robert Dillingham all likely to make early impacts.Projected starting lineup: Robert Dillingham(No. 11 in ESPN 100)D.J. Wagner(No. 2 in ESPN 100)Justin Edwards(No. 1 in ESPN 100)Chris Livingston( 6.3 PPG)Aaron Bradshaw(No. 4
in ESPN 100 ) Previous: 7 This is mainly a”faith in Costs Self” ranking. On paper, the Jayhawks do not have enough on their lineup to make a run at another Big 12 title. But they do have Dajuan Harris Jr. and K.J. Adams Jr., as well as top-40 freshmen and a few returning function players. They’re also ensured to improve, with Harrison Ingram and Hunter Dickinson their prime portal targets.Projected starting lineup: Dajuan Harris Jr.(8.9 PPG)Elmarko
Jackson (No. 22 in ESPN 100)
Chris Johnson (No. 35 in ESPN 100)
K.J. Adams Jr. (10.6 PPG)
Ernest Udeh Jr. (2.6 PPG)
Previous: 11 Few groups have actually had as much roster and personnel turnover as the Crimson Tide this offseason. All 3 assistant coaches landed head-coaching jobs, five players declared for the NBA draft (3 of them kept college eligibility)and 2 got in the transfer website. So there are still plenty of dominoes delegated fall for coach Nate Oats this offseason, and Alabama has a long list of portal targets it’s wishing to land.Projected beginning lineup: Mark Sears(12.5 PPG) Davin Cosby Jr.(redshirt)Jaykwon Walton(13.9 PPG at Wichita State)RylanGriffen (5.9 PPG)
Charles Bediako (6.4 PPG)
Previous: 24 Randy Bennett got excellent news previously this month when Alex Ducas announced he was returning for another season. The Gaels now have 3 crucial returnees to construct around next season: Ducas, Aidan Mahaney and Mitchell Saxen. They likewise bring back Augustas Marciulionis and welcome ESPN 100 guard Jordan Ross and Harvard transfer Mason Forbes.Projected starting lineup: Jordan Ross(No. 97 in ESPN 100) Aidan Mahaney(13.9 PPG )Augustas Marciulionis(5.9 PPG )Alex Ducas( 12.5 PPG)Mitchell Saxen(11.6 PPG)Previous: 16 Boogie Ellis’choice to go back to USC rather of
pursuing expert options provides coach Andy
Enfield among the truly elite backcourts in the sport, as he willbe integrating with top-three recruit Isaiah Collier to run the program. Could the Trojans add Bronny James to that group? That remains to be seen. Either way, with Ellis and Collier at the guard areas and a variety of wing and frontcourt choices, USC remains in excellent shape.Projected starting lineup: Isaiah Collier(No. 3 in ESPN 100 )Boogie Ellis(17.7 PPG) Kobe Johnson (9.2 PPG )Tre White(9.0 PPG) Joshua Morgan (7.0 PPG) Previous: 15 We had currently factored Zach Edey’s
departure into the Boilermakers’initial ranking, however we won’t get a true photo of Matt Painter’s lineup till the Wood Award winner chooses whether he’s keeping his name in the draft. If Edey goes back to West Lafayette, Purdue is right back in the top 5 nationally and right there with Michigan State as the preseason Big 10 favorite. If Edey leaves, the young complementary players of the past number of seasons need to step up.Projected starting lineup: Braden Smith(9.7 PPG )Fletcher Loyer(11.0 PPG )Ethan Morton(3.8 PPG)Mason Gillis(6.8 PPG)Caleb Furst(5.5
PPG) Previous: 14 Isaiah Wong revealing he was declaring for the NBA draft and forgoing his staying eligibility didn’t come as a huge surprise after he won ACC Player of the Year and went to the Final 4. But how will Jim Larrañaga change him(and Jordan Miller )? Nijel Load, Wooga Poplar and Norchad Omier are all back, while Bensley Joseph is prepared for a bigger function. But they need another go-to scorer.Projected starting lineup: Nijel Pack(13.8 PPG )Wooga Poplar (8.7 PPG )Bensley Joseph(5.2 PPG )A.J. Casey(1.0 PPG)Norchad Omier (13.3 PPG ) Previous: 20 Scott Drew is basically starting from scratch on the perimeter, with Keyonte George and Adam Flagler getting in the NBA draft and LJ Cryer moving to Houston. But he’s bringing in 2 effect freshmen in Ja’Kobe Walter and Miro Little and welcomes back Langston
Love. The Bears likewise
landed VCU move Jayden Dunn, a high-level 3-and-D person. Jalen Bridges might be poised for a breakout project in the frontcourt.Projected starting lineup: Miro Little (No. 33 in ESPN 100) Jayden Nunn (9.3 PPG at VCU )Ja’Kobe Walter( No. 14 in ESPN 100 )Jalen Bridges (10.3 PPG)Josh Ojianwuna (4.2 PPG) Previous:
23 There are still concerns for the Volunteers, but this week brought some clearness on the offensive end. Initially,
they landed USC Upstate transfer Jordan Gainey, among the best shooters in the portal. Then Santiago Vescovi revealed he was returning for his fifth season. Zakai Zeigler‘s injury timeline and Julian Phillips’ statuses are still unclear, however Rick Barnes has some choices now.Projected starting lineup: Zakai Zeigler( 10.7 PPG )Jordan Gainey (15.2 PPG at USC Upstate) Santiago Vescovi (12.5 PPG )Jahmai Mashack(4.7 PPG )Jonas Aidoo (5.1 PPG) Previous: 17 Will the Aggies get where they ended in the second half of 2022-23, when they won 19 of 22 games before falling
in the SEC championship game and the first round of the NCAA tournament? Having Wade Taylor IV back to run the program is where it
begins. He must get some preseason All-America buzz after averaging 16.3 points and 3.9 helps this previous season.Projected starting lineup: Wade Taylor IV(16.3 PPG)Manny Obaseki(5.2 PPG)Andersson Garcia(3.2 PPG )Henry Coleman III(9.0 PPG)JuliusMarble (9.1 PPG)
Previous: 13 We’re projecting Colorado to make a big dive from the inconsistent NIT group it was this past season. The Buffaloes showed their potential in a win over Tennessee and a blowout triumph over Texas A&M however couldn’t do it on a regular basis. With Little bit Boyle including potential
lottery game pick Cody Williams and TCU transfer Eddie Lampkin Jr. to KJ Simpson and
Tristan da Silva, though, they
must be much improved in 2023-24. Forecasted beginning lineup: KJ Simpson(15.9 PPG)Julian Hammond III(6.9 PPG)Cody Williams(No. 6 in ESPN 100)Tristan da Silva(15.9 PPG )Eddie LampkinJr.(6.3 PPG at
TCU) Previous: 21 Mark Couple of might have a few techniques up his sleeve this spring despite losing Drew Timme, Julian Strawther, Anton Watson, Rasir Bolton and Hunter Sallis. The Zags already landed Eastern Washington transfer Steele Venters and have their eyes on big-timetargets such as Ryan Nembhard and Graham
Ike. Must
Malachi Smith and Nolan Hickman return, there’s also some backcourt continuity.Projected beginning lineup: Nolan Hickman
( 7.7 PPG)Malachi Smith
(8.7 PPG)Dusty Stromer(No. 40 in ESPN 100)Steele Venters( 15.3 PPG at Eastern Washington) Ben Gregg( 5.1 PPG) Previous: Next in line When Tyler Wahl announced he was returning to Madison for another season, it meant Greg Gard would be returning all 5 beginners and all however one player from this past season. Approved, this is a group that failedto make the NCAA competition, but the Badgers did notch 7 wins over NCAA tournament teams during the regular season. They likewise included 2 transfers: Noah Reynolds( Wyoming )and AJ Storr (St. John’s)
. Storr, in particular,
must provide a significant boost from the perimeter.Projected starting lineup: Chucky Hepburn(12.2 PPG)Max Klesmit(8.4 PPG)Connor Essegian (11.7 PPG)Tyler Wahl (11.3 PPG)Steven Crowl(12.1 PPG ) Previous: Unranked Kevin Willard has been a huge recipient of the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility, with both Jahmir Young and Donta Scott revealing
they prepare to return to College Park for another season. Along with Julian Reese, the Terrapins now have three of their stalwarts back in the fold for 2023-24. They need to replace some wing scoring,
however the arrival of ESPN 100
recruits DeShawn Harris-Smith and Jamie Kaiser should help.Projected beginning lineup: Jahmir Young (15.8 PPG) Ian Martinez (5.7 PPG)DeShawn Harris-Smith(No. 45 in ESPN 100 )Donta Scott (11.3 PPG) Julian Reese( 11.4 PPG) Previous: 19 There are still plenty of concerns about how the Tar Heels will look next season, but it doesn’t get better than R.J. Davis at one of the guard areas and Armando Bacot anchoring the post as
a starting point
for coach Hubert Davis. Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington should make strides, Simeon Wilcher can make an effect and there are still targets in the portal(and prospective reclassifiers in their 2024 class). Predicted starting lineup: R.J. Davis(16.1 PPG)Seth Trimble(1.8 PPG)Simeon Wilcher(No. 27 in ESPN 100 )Jalen Washington(2.2 PPG)Armando Bacot
(15.9 PPG) Previous: 8 With Kerr Kriisa transferring and Azuolas Tubelis turning pro(and not expected to go back to college), the Wildcats have some holes in their lineup. Pelle Larsson and Oumar Ballo are back, and the staff plainly likes what Kylan Boswell revealed as a freshman. But Arizona badly requires another playmaker in the backcourt and somebody who can make shots and score in advance. Coach Tommy Lloyd will have to hit the portal tough in the coming weeks.Projected beginning lineup: Kylan Boswell (4.6 PPG)
K.J. Lewis (four-star)
Pelle Larsson(9.9 PPG)Henri Veesaar(2.4 PPG) Oumar Ballo( 14.2 PPG) Previous: 22 It’s hard to rank a group that lost in the national championship game so low, but there are so many roster concerns with the Aztecs today. Lamont Butler and Jaedon LeDee are checking the NBA draft waters, Keshad Johnson is in the transfer website and the similarity Matt Bradley, Nathan Mensah
, Adam Seiko and Aguek Arop are out the door. USC transfer Reese Dixon-Waters is an excellent start to the reload, however. Darrion Trammell might pick to come back
, too.Projected beginning lineup
: B.J. Davis (four-star)Lamont Butler (8.7 PPG )Micah Parrish (7.7 PPG )Reese Dixon-Waters (9.8 PPG at USC)Jaedon LeDee(7.8 PPG)Dropped out: Texas Longhorns(No. 18), UCLA Bruins (No. 25 )Next in line: UCLA Bruins Auburn Tigers West Virginia Mountaineers Boise State Broncos Texas Longhorns