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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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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 25: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes walks to the bench in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 25: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes walks to the bench in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

10. Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin surprised just about everyone when it turned things around and won a share of the Big Ten title after a rough start to the year. The Badgers lose only Brevin Pritzl from a solid roster which brings back Nate Reuvers, Brad Davison, D’Mitrik Trice and rising star and potential Big Ten Player of the Year candidate Micah Potter. The Badgers could be in line for a repeat.

9. Florida State Seminoles

The official ACC title winners surprised everyone by going 26-5 last season and while the Seminoles are losing a couple of solid contributors, they could also bring back some NBA talent. If Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams decide to come back, back-to-back titles could become a reality. Leonard Hamilton also brings in five-star forward Scottie Barnes and the No. 3 JUCO transfer in the nation, Sardaar Calhoun.

8. Duke Blue Devils

Duke is losing a lot from a 25-6 team that finished second behind Florida State in the ACC but they could also return Wendell Moore and Cassius Stanley. Tre Jones has declared for the NBA draft and Vernon Carey Jr. may not be too far behind. Still, Duke brings in an elite six-man recruiting class, ranked No. 2 in the country. Duke’s class has six players all ranked in the top 50 and that could be enough to shock some people in 2020-21.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes

Is this the year we finally see Iowa make the Sweet 16 under Fran McCaffery? It seemed like that would happen in 2019-20, but the Hawkeyes are going to be even better next season, especially if Luka Garza decides to return. He’s a serious national player of the year candidate and he’ll have one heck of a supporting cast around him. Joe Wieskamp, Connor McCaffery, CJ Fredrick, Jordan Bohannon and a redshirted Patrick McCaffery make up the Big Ten’s most intriguing roster.

6. Kansas Jayhawks

Bill Self’s team had the look of a title winner and you can bet no one is sicker that the tournament is canceled than projected No. 1 overall seed Kansas. The Jayhawks went 28-3 in 2019-20 and won the Big 12 title as the hottest team in the country. Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson, barring a shocker, are both likely gone but Marcus Garrett and David McCormack return along with five-star incoming freshman Bryce Thompson.