Men’s Basketball Preseason Top 20: Kansas, Duke Look Poised for Deep March Runs

Blue bloods lead the way this year, with the Jayhawks and Blue Devils each boasting championship-caliber rosters.

1. Kansas

The Jayhawks welcome back three starters from last year’s Big 12 regular-season champs and reeled in the biggest prize of the transfer portal, Hunter Dickinson, who averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for Michigan. Bill Self’s offense tends to find a different gear with an elite center, and it’ll have that and more in the 7’ 2”, 260-pound senior. 

2. Duke

Jon Scheyer will enjoy rare roster continuity, with sophomores Tyrese Proctor and Kyle Filipowski atop the list of returning players. Filipowski averaged 15.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season, while Proctor has breakout potential.

3. Purdue

National Player of the Year Zach Edey is back for his senior season after last year’s shocking first-round tournament exit against 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson. To make this a season to remember the Boilermakers need sophomore guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer to show development and freshman wing Myles Colvin to come in and contribute right away. 

4. Tennessee

The Volunteers should be a menace on defense due to their experience, athleticism and size. Scoring will be the question, although Tennessee is excited about the possibility of freshman guard Freddie Dilione V playing alongside returning guards Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi.

Guards Tyson Walker (left) and A.J. Hoggard give Michigan State one of the nation’s best backcourts :: Kirthmon F. Dozier/USA TODAY Network

5. Michigan State

This could be Tom Izzo’s best chance at a second national championship. The Spartans are experienced and talented in the backcourt, headlined by senior point guard A.J. Hoggard and fifth-year shooting guard Tyson Walker. And the newcomers could be special: Izzo recruited a top-five class.

6. UConn

It’s a new-look Huskies team from the one that cut down the nets in April, but the talent is still abundant. Expect a monster season from sophomore big man Donovan Clingan now that Adama Sanogo is gone to the NBA, and the additions of Rutgers transfer guard Cam Spencer (43.4% on three-pointers) and star recruit combo guard Stephon Castle will help. 

7. Marquette

UConn’s title run overshadowed a strong year from the Golden Eagles, who won both the Big East’s regular season and conference tournament. Marquette brings back four of five starters, including senior point guard Tyler Kolek. This offense’s ball movement makes the Golden Eagles hard to defend. 

8. Houston

There might not be five coaches worth trusting more than Kelvin Sampson right now. That’s why losing Marcus Sasser and Jarace Walker, both NBA first-round picks, shouldn’t mean a huge step back for the Cougars, even in Year 1 of the program’s move to the Big 12. Senior Jamal Shead is one of the nation’s best point guards. 

9. Arizona

Tommy Lloyd has stacked wins since taking over at Arizona in 2021, but he is still looking for a March breakthrough. The Wildcats added Carolina transfer guard Caleb Love, and, while he has elite scoring ability, he also has shown the kind of questionable shot selection that can hijack an offense. 

10. Kentucky

Can a vaunted recruiting class elevate UK back into the national title picture? The Wildcats’ ballhandling and shooting looked improved this summer while representing the United States and winning the GLOBL JAM U23 tournament in July. The challenge will be overcoming the roster’s youth, but the talent is there. 

11. Creighton

The Bluejays lost key contributors but return their top three scorers from last year’s Elite Eight run. Big man Ryan Kalkbrenner is among the nation’s best frontcourt players, and the backcourt duo of Trey Alexander and Steven Ashworth will be tough to stop. 

12. USC

Few teams will be able to match the Trojans’ guard pairing of fifth-year senior Boogie Ellis and freshman Isaiah Collier. Add impressive length up front, and USC looks like a surefire Pac-12 contender.

Guard Justin Moore returned for the second half of last season, averaging 13.5 points in 13 games :: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

13. Villanova

The Wildcats missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012 in Kyle Neptune’s first season as coach, but expect a bounceback year. Guard Justin Moore showed no ill effects from the Achilles injury he suffered in the ’22 NCAA tournament, and a stacked transfer class will raise expectations.

14. Gonzaga

The Drew Timme era in Spokane is over, but the Bulldogs aren’t going anywhere. Creighton transfer Ryan Nembhard should solidify the point guard spot, and former Wyoming big Graham Ike should be a focal point down low. 

15. UCLA

Mick Cronin has gone all in on international recruiting, signing four European players, including 7’ 3” Aday Mara of Spain. Meshing all those new talents will be a challenge, but the Bruins have immense upside. 

16. Texas A&M

The Aggies were outstanding in the second half of last season, finishing with a 15–3 conference record, their best mark since joining the SEC. Now Buzz Williams brings back four starters, including star guard Wade Taylor IV. 

17. Florida Atlantic

After a Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2023, the Owls won’t catch anyone by surprise this season. But with all five starters returning, including 7’ 1” center Vladislav Goldin, FAU believes it can contend for a national title in its first year in the AAC.

Last season, Eric Musselman led Arkansas to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year :: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

18. Arkansas

As usual, Eric Musselman has brought in a monster portal class. The guard-heavy group should complement returning forward Trevon Brazile, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury last December. 

19. Baylor

This is a team in transition, especially in the backcourt. But a pair of highly touted transfers, guards RayJ Dennis (Toledo) and Jayden Nunn (VCU), and elite freshman Ja’Kobe Walter should thrive in Scott Drew’s free-flowing offense. 

20. Miami

Will the Hurricanes’ recent renaissance continue? Replacing Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller won’t be easy, but Jim Larrañaga’s team is deep in the backcourt and brings back a frontcourt powerhouse in junior Norchad Omier.