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College basketball rankings: Preseason Top 25 – Michigan State No. 1, ACC is loaded

By Mike Phillips

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Michigan State players and coach Tom Izzo at the end of the Div 1 Men's championship - elite eight game between Duke and Michigan State, on March 31, 2019, at Capital One Arena, in Washington D.C. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Michigan State players and coach Tom Izzo at the end of the Div 1 Men's championship - elite eight game between Duke and Michigan State, on March 31, 2019, at Capital One Arena, in Washington D.C. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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25. Marquette

The Hauser brothers may have transferred, but Marquette should still be a formidable foe thanks to the return of Markus Howard. He was a scoring machine for the Golden Eagles, averaging 25 points per game as a junior.

24. Davidson

The Wildcats are the first mid-major team in our Top 25, and they bring back the entire starting lineup from a unit that won 24 games a year ago. The player to watch here is junior guard Kellen Grady who helped Davidson reach the NCAA Tournament in his freshman year.

23. Auburn

The Tigers made their first Final Four appearance ever thanks to some hot shooting in the NCAA Tournament, but star March performers Jared Harper and Bryce Brown have graduated and Chuma Okeke is off to the NBA. There is still plenty of talent here for Bruce Pearl to work with, however, justifying their spot in the Top 25.

22. Ohio State

The Buckeyes were an underrated entrant in the Big Ten last season, and that was before star big man Kaleb Wesson decided to return for his junior season. Head coach Chris Holtmann has always managed to get the most out of his roster, and the Buckeyes have a lot of talent here to make a run at the top of the conference standings.

21. LSU

Quick, name the regular-season SEC champion a year ago. It might have taken you a minute to remember that was LSU, who topped a very competitive league before Will Wade’s suspension derailed their Final Four hopes. Tremont Waters, Naz Reid, and Kavell Bigby-Williams may be gone but Wade is back and should be ready for more wars in the SEC with the return of Javonte Smart and the big recruiting pickup of Trendon Watford.