NCAA basketball rankings Top 50 2021: Gonzaga, UCLA vie for top spot

NCAA basketball rankings Top 50 2021: Gonzage, UCLA vie for No. 1; Duke, Michigan, Kentucky in Top 10

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 05: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts during the first half in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Buddy Boeheim #35 of the Syracuse Orange celebrates in the final moments of their second-round win against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

45. Arizona Wildcats (Pac-12)

Sean Miller is out and former Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd is in as the Wildcats look to turn the page on a tumultuous end to Miller’s tenure as head coach. Lloyd’s track record working for Mark Few at Gonzaga and a Pac-12 conference ripe with opportunity could set the stage for a tournament run if Arizona makes a strong impression in non-conference play.

44. Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten)

There has been some significant turnover for the Badgers, who have lost five of their top six scorers from a year ago. A loss to Loyola-Chicago in a secret scrimmage isn’t great but Brad Davison should be a veteran leader on a talented young Wisconsin squad that always seems to find itself right in the thick of things in the Big Ten.

43. Mississippi State Bulldogs (SEC)

A sneaky good Bulldogs team picked up some serious juice in the transfer portal with the additions of Garrison Brooks, D.J. Jeffries and Rocket Watt adding a ton of talent to the roster. Ben Howland has only made the tournament once in his first five seasons with Mississippi State but a bid should be in the cards if this group gels quickly.

42. Syracuse Orange (ACC)

NCAA Tournament star Buddy Boeheim is back and that is reason alone to take Syracuse very seriously this season. The roster around him has degraded, however, meaning there is work to be done for the Orange to maintain their positioning in the ACC.

41. Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12)

It will be a very young team in Boulder as Tad Boyle’s starting five could feature a freshman at the five and a couple of sophomores stepping into bigger roles. Colorado will have to replace its top four scorers but the talent is there for a surge few expect.