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NCAA basketball power rankings: Way-too-early college basketball Top 10 for 2021-2022

By Mike Phillips

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 27: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats reacts in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game against the Baylor Bears in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 27: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats reacts in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game against the Baylor Bears in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

6. NCAA Basketball Rankings: Villanova Wildcats

People may have forgotten that Villanova was up near the top with Gonzaga and Baylor as a consensus national title contender entering the season. A lengthy COVID pause took the Wildcats out of a rhythm and the late-season injury to Collin Gillespie sunk Villanova’s national title hopes but Jay Wright still managed to get this team into the Sweet 16 and put a scare into the Bears in the process.

The big question for Villanova is how much talent the Wildcats will lose from this year’s team. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl seems like a good bet to go pro while Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels are seniors, although there is the potential for Gillespie to use the bonus year of eligibility to return and re-establish himself as a pro prospect.

This ranking is bullish on a return from Gillespie, who would join returners Brian Antoine, Justin Moore and Caleb Daniels to give Villanova its traditionally brilliant backcourt. Wright also has some key reinforcements coming for the frontcourt in his recruiting class, including four-star power forward Trey Patterson, who can absorb some of the minutes that Robinson-Earl will likely leave behind.

The transfer portal should also be a boon for Villanova since they should have open scholarships and look to add an impact player in the frontcourt in that front. Adding one more proven college big to this roster with the return of Gillespie could set the Wildcats up for another deep March run.