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NCAA basketball power rankings: Way-too-early Top 10 for 2022-2023

By Mike Phillips

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 17: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats against the Saint Mary's Gaels during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 17, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 17: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats against the Saint Mary's Gaels during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 17, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MARCH 26: Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks puts up a three-point shot in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the Elite Eight round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Chase Center on March 26, 2022, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MARCH 26: Jaylin Williams #10 of the Arkansas Razorbacks puts up a three-point shot in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the Elite Eight round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Chase Center on March 26, 2022, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

2. 2022-23 NCAA Power Rankings – Arkansas Razorbacks

No program took a bigger leap forward in March than Arkansas, which made a mark by stunning Gonzaga to reach the Elite Eight before falling to Duke in the West Regional final. Head coach Eric Musselman has built a team that likes to bully its opponents with physical defense, a recipe that can lead to a ton of success in the NCAA Tournament.

Three of the Razorbacks’ top four scorers are graduating, with JD Notae and Au’Diese Toney being notable losses, but Jaylin Williams is poised to take a huge leap forward as a junior. Davonte Davis and Connor Vanover are also expected to return as the core ingredients to supplement one of the best recruiting classes in school history.

Musselman has an absolutely stacked class of talent heading to Fayetteville, including three five-star recruits in guard Nick Smith alongside forwards Jordan Walsh and Anthony Black. All three could start right away for Arkansas while three four-star recruits should also be able to contribute key minutes as freshmen.

You also can’t rule out a key veteran addition for the Razorbacks from the transfer portal, like how Musselman imported Toney from Pittsburgh this season. Adding the right star could put Arkansas in position to win its first national title since 1994.