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College basketball rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 for 2019-20

By Connor Muldowney

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 23: Villanova Wildcats guard Collin Gillespie (2) during the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship second round college basketball game between the Villanova Wildcats and the Purdue Boilermakers on March 23, 2019 at XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 23: Villanova Wildcats guard Collin Gillespie (2) during the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship second round college basketball game between the Villanova Wildcats and the Purdue Boilermakers on March 23, 2019 at XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Jay Wright probably didn’t expect the drop-off he saw from the 2017-18 national title season to 2018-19, but the Wildcats did lose some key pieces and a 26-10 season isn’t all that bad.

Villanova is losing its top two scorers from a Big East title-winning team in Phil Booth and Eric Paschall but the Wildcats are bringing back Collin Gillespie, Saddiq Bey and Jermaine Samuels, the team’s third through fifth-leading scorers, plus a number of solid role players.

If you think Villanova is going to fade back into the middle of the pack nationally, you might want to re-evaluate. This team is returning enough talent while bringing in the No. 3 recruiting class in the country.

The Wildcats have two five-stars coming in along with two more top-70 recruits. The incoming class can have an impact right away and it rivals any in the country.

The 2019-20 Wildcats will be back near the top of college basketball contending for yet another national title and even this ranking may be a little low but losing some top scorers leaves a little area for concern.