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 22: Will Richardson #0 of the Oregon Ducks handles the ball in the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 22, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

15. Florida State Seminoles (ACC)

It feels like Florida State turns over half its roster every year, gets underrated, and then surprises everyone by landing in the Top 15. That trend should continue this year as Leonard Hamilton has restocked his roster with a pair of impact transfers (Houston’s Caleb Mills and Kentucky’s Cam’Ron Fletcher) along with a five-star freshman (wing Matthew Cleveland) that should have the Seminoles overachieving once again.

14. Oregon Ducks (Pac-12)

Dana Altman took full advantage of the new one-time transfer rule this offseason, adding a trio of starters (Oklahoma’s De’Vion Harmon, Syracuse’s Quincy Guerrier and Rutgers’ Jacob Young) to re-tool his roster on the fly. Will Richardson is the top holdover for the Ducks and will have to help his coach bring the new roster together quickly.

13. Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC)

The Crimson Tide liked to play at a breakneck pace under Nate Oats and that trend will continue despite the losses of John Petty Jr, Joshua Primo and Herbert Jones. Alabama’s star-studded backcourt of Jahvon Quinnerly, Jaden Shackleford and J.D. Davison will continue to be a matchup nightmare for the Crimson Tide’s SEC foes.

12. Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten)

The return of Kofi Cockburn, who flirted with the NBA Draft and transfer portal before returning to Champaign, has significantly raised the ceiling of Illinois. The loss of Ayo Dosunmu to the NBA means Cockburn will now have to form a Batman and Robin duo with Andre Curbelo to carry the Fighting Illini.

11. Memphis Tigers (American)

Penny Hardaway’s recruiting talent remains unmatched as the Tigers brought in a stellar class headlined by future high lottery picks Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates. The pair of superstar freshmen reclassified into the 2021 class to give Memphis a ceiling as high as anyone this side of Gonzaga.