Mar 17, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) controls the ball against the the UNC Wilmington Seahawks during second half of a first round game of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
With college basketball season set to get underway this week, who are the 25 teams starting out at the top of the pecking order?
While much of the world is focused on the NFL and the College Football Playoff race, the college basketball season is slowly sneaking up on sports fans everywhere. Inevitably, there will be new Cinderellas crowned in March, new superstars anointed and one survivor of the Madness. In between, we’ll be treated to passionate fan bases, intense conference rivalries and plenty of exciting basketball.
The beginning of the season features plenty of games that should snag your attention, too. Kansas and Indiana will do battle in the Armed Forces Classic on Friday, November 11 and then the Champions Classic will punctuate ESPN’s Tip-Off Marathon on Tuesday, November 15, featuring a pair of excellent matchups between Kentucky and Michigan State, as well as Duke and the Jayhawks.
There are also plenty of storylines worth following already. Grayson Allen is the latest Duke villain with the potential to be the National Player of the Year. The 2016 freshman class is also loaded with one-and-done talent that should get college and NBA fans alike interested in just how well they perform once they’re on the court.
The beginning, though, always requires a bit of speculation about which teams are the ones to keep an eye on and that’s where our preseason top 25 countdown comes in. So here’s where to start as you start to shift your attention to the wonderful world of college hoops.
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 1: Dennis Smith Jr
Mar 5, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Buzz Williams reacts following the victory against the Miami Hurricanes at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies center Tyler Davis (34) keeps the ball away from Kentucky Wildcats forward Marcus Lee (00) during the second half of the championship game of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA;Creighton Bluejays guard Maurice Watson Jr. (10) shoots the ball defended by Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) in the first half during the Big East conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Shaka Smart yells in the second half against the Northern Iowa Panthers during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Tyler Lydon (20) shoots the ball after losing his shoe against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half in the championship game of the midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Dwayne Bacon (4) looks to pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Virginia Tech defeated Florida State 83-73. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports
High School Basketball: McDonald
Mar 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (2) dribbles the ball against Temple Owls forward Jaylen Bond (15) in the second half during the AAC tournament at the Amway Center. The Connecticut Huskies won 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) is guarded by Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) during the Big Ten Conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Denver , CO, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few grimaces court side in the second half during Seton Hall vs Gonzaga in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dunks against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Boston College 79-47. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Thomas Bryant (31) controls the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) during the first half in a semifinal game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA;Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) shoots over Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Mike Williams (5) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Ibrahima Diallo (32) during first half at Louis Brown Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
March 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller reacts against the Oregon Ducks during the second half in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Wildcats 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Matt Ryan (4), forward Zach Auguste (30), and forward V.J. Beachem (3) and Wisconsin Badgers forward Vitto Brown (30) react to an call by the official as Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) hangs on the rim during the second half in a semifinal game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) shoots the ball against Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) during the first half in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men’s National Championship Game
Feb 6, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Edmond Sumner (4) drives to the basket during the second half against the Marquette Golden Eagles forward Sandy Cohen III (5) at the Cintas Center. Xavier won 90-82. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard London Perrantes (32) reacts after making a three-point shot against the Syracuse Orange during the first half in the championship game of the midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
March 24, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) reacts after he scores a basket against Duke Blue Devils during the second half of the semifinal game in the West regional of the NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Kris Jenkins (2) and guard Josh Hart (3) celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men
Mar 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari yells to his team during the first half against the Stony Brook Seawolves in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Carlton Bragg Jr. (15) scores against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Kansas defeated Texas Tech 69-59. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) shoots against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks during the first half of a first round game of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Stone
A Kansas transplant living in Washington DC, I primarily write about college basketball and the NBA Draft.
