College Basketball Rankings: 2014-15 top five teams

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Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan during a press conference after loosing to the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

3. University of Wisconsin-Madison

After a disappointing end to Wisconsin’s regular season and early exit in the Big Ten tournament, the Badgers surprised at the Big Dance in 2014. Last year’s Final Four run under the tutelage of Bo Ryan wasn’t a fluke, and the roster remains essentially intact— seven of the Badgers’ top eight scorers return in 2014-15.

Frank Kaminsky, who many peg to be a preseason All-American and national player of the year candidate, will bring back his size, length, and range to Madison. NBA prospect Sam Dekker also returns for junior season, and the team’s really only losing Ben Brust’s 12.8 points per game from last year’s squad.

Add Freshman Ethan Happ, a 6-foot-8 forward and late-blooming prospect, who represents Wisconsin’s lone scholarship player in the Class of 2014—and you have a potent lineup. Happ excelled at the 16-nation Albert Schweitzer Tournament, earning most valuable player honors and averaging 19.1 points and 10.7 rebounds in front of a myriad of NBA scouts.

Look for Wisconsin to reassert their winning narrative in college basketball this season.

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