College basketball is back, and opening night looks fantastic, with almost every member of the top 25 in action.
For those that have forgotten last season’s big finish, Villanova took home the title after a truly historic buzzer-beater from Kris Jenkins.
Villanova will again be a top contender but will be chased by the always powerful Duke, Kentucky and Kansas.
Here is my breakdown of the season ahead.
Major Conference champions
Atlantic 10: VCU
This was one of the most competitive conferences last season where just one game separated the top four teams. Although Dayton is favoured and Rhode Island is another strong team, VCU was impressive last year, and I don’t see any reason why they cannot again lead the conference.
Atlantic Coast Conference: Duke
Duke has the deepest roster and arguably the best collection of scorers in college basketball. However, as is usually the case, this is one of the toughest conferences in the competition, and Duke certainly won’t dominate the conference.
North Carolina is coming off a trip to the title game, returning with seasoned guards and an impressive post game. Louisville will be strong and has a pair of sophomores that should emerge as national stars, and Virginia added some nice players to what should be a very solid team.
American Atlantic Conference: UConn
Although UConn has yet to win the league since it was reconfigured four years ago, this may be the year they do so, as leading scorer Rodney Purvis is back and he should have a huge impact.
Cincinnati will be a tough and physical side as per usual. Then there is the team at SMU that has a good mix of returners to go with key transfer additions and an impressive recruiting class.
UConn is the pick at this stage, but any one of these three teams could be sitting atop the standings come march.
Big East: Villanova
Villanova, who has won the conference every year since the league was set up four years ago, is once again the favourite. The Wildcats return with the core of their national championship team, including Player of the Year candidate Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins, who buried the game-winner against North Carolina in the title game.
If Villanova is going to get knocked off its perch, look at Xavier, who will start in the national top 10, or even Creighton, who should boast a very good offence.
Big Ten: Wisconsin
Probably the most even conference in the NCAA this season, and with no true favourite it could be anyone’s to win. Wisconsin returns with its entire team and is getting the most buzz.
But you could make a case that Indiana, which has a few sophomores who could be great, Michigan State, which has one of the best recruiting classes in the NCAA, or Maryland, who is led by a potential Player of the Year, will win the conference title.
All of these teams could stand atop of the standings at season’s end, but Wisconsin have a slight edge, thanks to the return of their entire team.
Big 12: Kansas
Ah, Kansas. The most dominant team in the Big 12, winning the past 12 conference titles and looking every bit the favourite to return with number 13.
West Virginia, Texas and Iowa State will certainly be formidable opponents, but Kansas are far too talented, as they have arguably three of the four best players in the league in Josh Jackson, Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham.
They’ll be tested, but this Jayhawk team has a terrific backcourt, potential on the defensive end and one of the best coaches in college basketball, in Bill Self.
Pac-12: Oregon
If the Big 10 is one of the most stacked conferences then the Pac-12 is one of the weaker conferences. A few teams may make a run in the tournament but overall none really stick out.
Oregon only gets the nod as they are returning five of their top seven scorers from last season and if their All American candidate in Dillion Brooks returns fully healthy, they will have no reason not to finish on top.
SEC: Kentucky
The SEC will not set the world on fire this season. It has three potential teams that can make the tournament, but only one of them is a true standout, and that team is Kentucky.
Players to watch
Ivan Rabb – California
Rabb will be the go-to player for California this season. After averaging 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on the the talented Golden Bears side last season, there is no reason for those numbers to dip this season.
An old school back to the basket centre, Rabb has good footwork and an ability to finish through contact. However, he is somewhat slow-footed on defence, but his size usually more than makes up for that.
Josh Jackson – Kansas
Josh Jackson is the latest in a long line of talented players from Kansas, and he may be one of the best yet. Jackson is an explosive athlete with strong defensive skills and an ability to make players for his teammates.
As is the case with a lot of athletic freaks, he lacks a polished jumper. If he can fix that, the sky is the limit.
De’Aaron Fox – Kentucky
John Calipari loves athletic guards, having previously coached Derrick Rose and John Wall. Fox is another player in that category.
With impressive court vision and a freakish vertical jump, he is definitely one to watch this season. Like Jackson, he lacks a consistent jump shot, but his athletic skills more than make up for it.
Grayson Allen – Duke
Something about Duke players makes most college fans instantly hate them and Grayson is the newest edition to that story.
Despite that, Grayson is one of the best basketballers in the competition and is an early favourite for Player of the Year. With underrated athleticism and a great scoring mentality, Grayson will look to help lead his Duke team to the big dance come March.
Markelle Fultz – Washington
Last on the list is saved for someone that could end up being a number one pick in next year’s NBA draft. Fulton has exploded onto the scene in the last year and with good reason, as the kid can straight up play basketball.
He has a developed jump shot already, and has shown he can finish over the top of defences in transition. Fultz is unselfish in both transition and pick and roll situations, possessing good court vision and defensive skills.
One issue is his ball handling skills, which are not the quickest, but this is not something that is going to hurt him in the long run.
Player of the year pick
Grayson Allen – Duke
Freshman of the year
Markelle Fultz – Washington
Final four
Duke
Kansas
Kentucky
Villanova
Champion
I won’t commit to a champion at this stage, as the tournament is always too hard to predict even in March. However going off my final four prediction, I will give the nod to Duke.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Nikola Jokic has scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead defending NBA champions Denver past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers…
There will undoubtedly be upset results here and there in the NBA playoffs but there’s an overwhelming sense of fait accompli that Boston will…
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Steph Curry is headed to the games for the…
The only realistic threat to Boston’s chances of strolling through the Eastern Conference is a team that could still end up in the play-in…
Australian guards Dante Exum and Josh Giddey have both come up big for their NBA clubs in crucial wins in the lead-in to the…
Minnesota Timberwolves fans have endured plenty of pain in their 35 years of being a laughing stock in the NBA. In all that time,…
