College basketball rankings: 2018-2019 FanSided preseason Top 25

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: Head coach Porter Moser of the Loyola Ramblers talks to players during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four semifinal game at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Matt Marriott/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: Head coach Porter Moser of the Loyola Ramblers talks to players during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four semifinal game at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Matt Marriott/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
  • Last Season: 32-6, Lost in Final Four
  • Notable Losses: Donte Ingram, Ben Richardson, Aundre Jackson
  • Notable Additions: Aher Uguak (transfer), Franklin Agunanne

Nobody saw the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers coming last year in the NCAA Tournament, but with Sister Jean on the sidelines, they became the talk of March Madness and last year’s most notable Cinderella. The Ramblers made it all the way to the Final Four before ultimately losing to the Michigan Wolverines. On the way to that point, however, they topped the likes of Miami, Tennessee and Nevada.

There’s no question that head coach Porter Moser’s group is going to be without some guys who were key contributors a season ago. With Donte Ingram, Ben Richardson and Aundre Jackson gone, the Ramblers are losing 28.9 points per game in scoring, which is tough, to say the least. However, this team still returns a ton of talent, particularly in the backcourt.

The combination of Marques Townes and Clayton Custer is going to be a tough one for any team in the Missouri Valley Conference to stop. Last year, the two guards combined to average 24.3 points per game. On top of that, 6-foot-9 center Cameron Krutwig established himself as a scoring force on the interior last year and will be joined by Aher Uguak, a transfer from New Mexico that is expected to contribute in a big way.

This might not be a season where we see Sister Jean cheering on the Ramblers in the Final Four once again, but Loyola-Chicago should have complete control over their conference and establish themselves firmly as one of the best mid-majors in the country for the 2018-19 season.