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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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20. Saint Mary’s

The West Coast Gaels needed to beat Gonzaga to reach the NCAA Tournament a year ago, but coach Randy Bennett has stepped up with his non-conference schedule, securing dates with Power 5 powerhouses Wisconsin and Arizona State as well as another Top 25 entrant in Utah State. That should set Saint Mary’s, and elite guard Jordan Ford, up for an at-large bid even if they can’t win the WCC again.

19. Baylor

Baylor was a team many left for dead last January, but a red-hot finish to the season helped Scott Drew’s team earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament. The majority of the Bears’ core is back and impact transfers Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague could find their way right into the starting lineup.

18. Xavier

The Big East wasn’t a particularly strong league last season, sending only four teams to the NCAA Tournament, but Xavier has a great shot to add to the league’s depth this season. The Musketeers bring back four starters and a very talented recruiting class, so Travis Steele has plenty to work with in order to get the X-Men back in the Big East title hunt.

17. Arizona

The year after the “100 grand” fiasco took its toll on Arizona, which saw a ton of recruits back away from the program and the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament. Sean Miller has restocked the cupboard this season, with five-star recruits Nico Mannion and Josh Green poised to lead the Wildcats back to the dance.

16. Memphis

This is the team that made the most noise in recruiting, with new coach Penny Hardaway landing the nation’s No. 1 class, headlined by No. 1 recruit, center James Wiseman and forward Precious Achiuwa. In terms of pure talent, Memphis can be a top-five team, but considering Hardaway has never managed this much talent on the college landscape, it seems fair to start them here, with plenty of room for upward mobility.