At long last, six months after Louisville was crowned national champion, college basketball is back for its most anticipated season in years.
There isn’t an overwhelming favorite. Instead, there are a handful of elite teams capable of being the last one standing at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on April 7, and several others with the talent to make a deep run through March, from the traditional blue bloods to the deep and veteran mid-majors.
A number of breathtaking freshmen will take center stage once the season begins Nov. 8, headed by Kentucky’s six McDonald’s All-Americans. Kansas has the top newcomer, Toronto’s Andrew Wiggins, while Michigan State hopes its experience of four returning starters is the ticket.
1. Kentucky
John Calipari’s sensational six freshmen mark the best recruiting class since the Fab Five. After last season’s first-round exit in the NIT, the Wildcats’ newcomers could bring a title to Lexington, but chemistry will be the key with several alpha-dogs on the team.
2. Michigan State
Freshmen are all the rage nationwide, with Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona all counting on youngsters to make an immediate impact. Not in East Lansing, where Tom Izzo has loads of experience — four starters back, including one of the country’s top backcourts in Keith Appling and Gary Harris in addition to skilled 6-foot-10 center Adreian Payne, from last year’s Sweet 16 team.
3. Kansas
Andrew Wiggins gets all the attention, and rightfully so, but the potential of fellow freshmen 7-footer Joel Embiid and Wayne Selden give coach Bill Self just as much reason to believe that at least a share of a 10th straight Big 12 title is in play.
4. Duke
The Blue Devils never are a plodding team, but it’s been quite some time since they’ve looked to played this fast. Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood and prized freshman Jabari Parker will key the new up-tempo attack.
5. Louisville
The defending champs lose arguably their two most important players in point guard Peyton Siva and center Gorgui Dieng, but Russ Smith Final Four MOP Luke Hancock give the Cardinals a legitimate shot to become the first back-to-back champions since 2006-07 Florida.
6. Arizona
The addition of Duquesne transfer T.J. McConnell gives head coach Sean Miller the floor general last year’s team sorely lacked. With a bevy of skilled big men, from sophomores Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski to freshmen Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the Wildcats should own the Pac-12.
7. Oklahoma State
Marcus Smart stunned just about everyone by passing up the opportunity to be a possible top-five pick in the NBA Draft, but his return, along with upperclassmen wings Le’Bryan Nash and Markel Brown, give the Cowboys a chance to dethrone the Jayhawks in the Big 12.
8. Florida
On paper, the Gators are an Elite Eight team, or better. Yet Billy Donovan’s squad faces more questions after one of its transfer waiver rulings. Rutgers transfer Eli Carter (leg) and Will Yeguete (knee) are recovering from injuries and guard Scottie Wilbekin, forward Dorian-Finney Smith and center Damontre Harris were suspended indefinitely by Donovan. One certainty: All-American freshman point guard Kasey Hill will emerge as one of the top youngsters in college basketball.
9. Syracuse
Jim Boeheim’s first Final Four team in 10 years loses Michael Carter-Williams but gains highly-touted freshman point guard Tyler Ennis. If senior C.J. Fair, a potential ACC Player of the Year, is more consistent, there’s no reason the Orange can’t make another deep run.
10. Ohio State
It’s LaQuinton Ross’s time to shine. Leading scorer and rebounder Deshaun Thomas has moved on to the pros, and though the Buckeyes return havoc-creating point guard Aaron Craft and talented guard Lenzelle Smith Jr., Ohio State needs the multi-talented 6-foot-8 Ross to live up to his lofty potential.
11. North Carolina
P.J. Hairston’s status after a trouble-filled offseason could be a slight setback, with the Tar Heels’ leading returning scorer suspended indefinitely, but Roy Williams should not have to resort to small ball again, with James Michael McAdoo and freshman center Kennedy Meeks manning the paint.
12. Michigan
The loss of first-round picks Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke have shifted the focus in Ann Arbor to the paint, Mitch McGary’s domain. Sophomore Glenn Robinson III is back, and consistency is needed out of the ultra-skilled 6-foot-6 wing.
13. VCU
Coach Shaka Smart signed an extension through 2028, so his “Havoc” defense should be causing chaos in the Atlantic-10 for quite a while. With Butler gone to the Big East, the Rams should run the conference with what may be the deepest team Smart’s ever had, including his 2011 Final Four squad.
14. Memphis
Josh Pastner obviously can recruit. The fifth-year coach compiled a top-five class, headed by top-25 prospects Austin Nichols and Kuran Iverson. But can he coach? The jury still is out.
15. Gonzaga
The loss of Kelly Olynyk is detrimental, but not devastating. Still searching for that elusive trip to the Final Four, the Bulldogs remain contenders because of the backcourt of juniors Gary Bell and Kevin Pangos, who could be the WCC player of the year.
16. Wichita State
Now comes the hard part. Like perennial mid-major powers VCU and Butler before them, the Shockers won’t sneak up on anyone this year, a bull’s-eye on their backs after last March’s memorable run to the Final Four. Wichita State is built to achieve similar success, led by leading scorer Cleanthony Early and guard Ron Baker.
17. UConn
The longtime Big East staple will make their journey to March in the new AAC. The Huskies’ trio of guards — senior Shabazz Napier, junior Ryan Boatright and sophomore Omar Calhoun — should lead the Huskies back to the Big Dance, now that the team is eligible for postseason play again.
18. Wisconsin
Bo Ryan’s backcourt of last year’s leading scorer Ben Brust and sophomore Sam Dekker will be the typically stingy and patient Badgers’ backbone.
19. Oregon
Coach Dana Altman has transformed the program in just three years, vaulting the Ducks from the bottom of the Pac-10 to a conference championship and a surprising Sweet 16 appearance last season. UNLV transfer Mike Moser will be the key to a team that lost eight players from last season.
20. Marquette
There are certain givens every basketball season, and one is Marquette will be undersized, play extremely hard and win more than it loses. Expect more of the same from the Golden Eagles, the preseason pick to win the Big East. They return forwards Davante Gardner and Jamil Wilson, and can pair them with possible impact freshmen JaJuan Johnson and Duane Wilson.
21. UCLA
The Bruins have a lot of talent, but new coach Steve Alford will face some challenges without a legitimate point guard. Shooting guard Jordan Adams should be healthy after suffering a broken foot last season and sophomore forward Kyle Anderson could be the primary playmaker necessary to make up for a lack of depth.
22. Notre Dame
Mike Brey’s backcourt can match any in the nation. Senior guards Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant are lethal, and freshman stud Demetrius Jackson, a top-50 recruit, adds a speed dimension at each end of the floor.
23. Creighton
The Bluejays finally have the spotlight they’ve long desired, entering the new Big East. A lot of the weight will fall on the shoulders of All-American Doug McDermott, who returned for his senior season, but point guard Grant Gibbs, granted a sixth-year of eligibility, eases the load by spreading the floor, as one of the nation’s assists leaders.
24. New Mexico
Steve Alford left the cupboard stacked to the brim for new coach Craig Neal: four returning starters, including the Mountain West Player of the Year Kendall Williams and 7-foot center Alex Kirk, who has NBA potential. Touted redshirt freshman guard Cullen Neal — the new coach’s son and the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Mexico two years ago — adds to the core after missing last season due to a bout with appendicitis.
25. Harvard
A team coming off an upset over No. 3 seed New Mexico in the NCAA Tournament only got better. The Crimson return All-Ivy League players Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry after a cheating scandal and only lose one starter from a team that won 20 games and is the clear favorite in the conference once again.
Final Four picks
Howie Kussoy: Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, VCU
Zach Braziller: Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, UConn