College basketball 2017-18 preseason Top 25
By Chris Stone
College basketball is here, so it’s time to look at the preseason top 25
College basketball is back! And there’s no better place to start than with a preseason top 25 that lays out the top teams in the country all in one place. What follows is our look at who the best 25 teams in the country will be throughout the season.
Most importantly, we wanted to think about these teams at their best. So, injuries to players like Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie and North Carolina’s Joel Berry as well as the suspension of West Virginia’s Esa Ahmad didn’t matter too much as all of those players should be back in full force come March.
Now, come with us as we countdown our preseason top 25 starting with the Texas A&M Aggies.
No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies
Notable departures: JC Hampton, Tavario Miller
Notable returnees: Chris Collins, Tyler Davis, Kobie Eubanks, Admon Gilder, DJ Hogg, Tonny Trocha-Morelos, Eric Vila, Robert Williams
Notable newcomers: J.J. Caldwell, Jay Jay Chandler, Savion Flagg, Isiah Jasey, TJ Starks, Duane Wilson
The Texas A&M Aggies are coming off of a disappointing 16-15 season that saw them miss the NCAA Tournament just one year after making the Sweet Sixteen. The stinging frustration over those results received some relief in last spring, though, as projected lottery pick Robert Williams announced his plans to return to school for a sophomore season. The 6-foot-9 big man’s dreams of becoming the No. 1 pick seem like a long shot, but nonetheless he should be a valuable contributor as part of one of the nation’s top frontcourts this season.
Williams’ bouncy athleticism and defensive acumen pairs nicely with either the floor spacing of Tonny Trocha-Morelos or the bruising post play of Tyler Davis. Aggies head coach Billy Kennedy even played the three of them together for stretches last season as a lineup that dominated the offensive glass and stifled opponents with an oversized 2-3 zone defense.
Williams’ decision to return is certainly significant, but the team may benefit most from a pair of new arrivals. Freshman J.J. Caldwell will be able to play this season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA for 2016-17 while Duane Wilson arrives in College Station as a transfer from Marquette. Both players should offer Texas A&M the point guard play that they lacked last season when shooting guard Admon Gilder often had to slide into the role.