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College basketball rankings: 2020-2021 way-too-early Top 25 – Villanova, Gonzaga vie for No. 1

By Connor Muldowney

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats talks with head coach Jay Wright during the game against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats talks with head coach Jay Wright during the game against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 29: Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 29: Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Chris Beard is building something special at Texas Tech and even though the Red Raiders were on the bubble this past season, they should be back in the top 15 to start the 2020-21 campaign. If Jahmi’us Ramsey returns next season, the Red Raiders could be back in the national title race, especially with a solid recruiting class coming in. A young team is about to grow up big-time.

14. Michigan State Spartans

You might think Michigan State is gearing up for a major step back with Cassius Winston gone, but that’s not the case. Rocket Watts will rise up as a star guard for the Spartans and incoming freshman AJ Hoggard could also help out at the point. Michigan State could dip into the transfer portal for some backcourt help and five-star combo guard Karim Mane still sits atop the Spartans’ recruiting board. Xavier Tillman‘s NBA decision will be a big one but the roster returning is still Big Ten title-worthy.

13. San Diego State Aztecs

It looked like San Diego State was poised to go undefeated in 2019-20, but the Aztecs had a couple of slip-ups, including in the Mountain West title game. Still, San Diego State should be elite once again, potentially pushing for an unbeaten season in a winnable Mountain West. As long as Malachi Flynn returns, the Aztecs will be one of the best mid-majors in the nation again.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes

While D.J. Carton transferred from Ohio State, the Buckeyes brought in Harvard transfer Seth Towns and he’ll add depth and length to that roster. Kaleb Wesson is likely going to test the NBA draft waters but the Buckeyes have a solid young core. Chris Holtmann has turned this program around in a short period of time and they could be the Big Ten’s best team.

11. Creighton Bluejays

Some are extremely high on Creighton and I’ve seen them ranked as high as No. 5 in way-too-early preseason polls, but I’m hesitant to rank them in the top-10 just yet. I think this team has top-10 potential heading into next year, especially if Ty-Shon Alexander returns. The Bluejays return just about everyone from a Big East title squad and they could push Villanova in 2020-21.