Sunday, April 12, 2009

2009-2010 College Basketball Preseason Rankings

To me it's never too early to speculate about next season. Sure, we don't know who is officially in and out of the draft yet, but that's what revisions are for... I'll try my best.

Preseason Top 25:

1. Michigan St.- Sure they lose Suton and Walton, but Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, and Raymar Morgan are back. Look for the in-coming 6-10 recruits to make an impact.

2. Kansas- It looks as all five starters will return, add in some solid recruits that could potentially include Xavier Henry or Lance Stephenson.

3. Syracuse- The Orange will likely return everybody. Johnny Flynn will arguably be the best PG in the country.

4. Duke- They become a title threat again if Gerald Henderson returns. Look for frosh Mason Plumlee to finally give them a valuable inside presence.

5. Purdue- Will Purdue be 2009's Spartans? The 2010 Final Four is in home state Indianapolis and return 7 of their top 8 scorers.

6. Villanova- Nova will once again have a dominant backcourt lead by Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher.

7. North Carolina- This will be a totally different Heel team but there will still be plenty of talent.

8. Texas- The Longhorns were a PG away from being an elite team, Florida transfer Jai Lucas should help fill that void.

9. West Virginia- If Devin Ebanks returns they will be one of the best in the Big East. Da'Sean Butler, Darryl Bryant, Joel Mazzula, and Kevin Jones are back.

10. Kentucky- The Cats are on the rise once again with John Calipari taking over. Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson will likely return. Add-in recruit DeMarcus Cousins too.

11. Connecticut- Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson will be back. A decent recruiting class is coming in as well to help fill some voids.

12. Clemson- 3 of the top 4 scorers are back including ACC POY Trevor Booker. Plus star recruit Milton Jennings should help.

13. Wake Forest- Wake could go from a top 15 team to nothing. They already lost James Johnson, but look for Jeff Teague and Al-Farouq Aminu to return.

14. Louisville- They lose Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, but still have plenty in the stable. Samardo Samuels should have a breakout year.

15. Butler- This past season was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing a lot. All five starters are back.

16. Illinois- With another year of experience under sophomores Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdales' belts, they'll improve.

17. Xavier- Sure, they lose salty veterans CJ Anderson and BJ Raymond, but they'll reload with Derrick Brown (assuming he stays), Dante Jackson, Terrence Holloway, and IU transfer Jordan Crawford.

18. Washington- Look for Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter to keep the Huskies atop the Pac 10.

19. Gonzaga- The Zags will reload with Demetri Goodson, Matt Bouldin, Stephen Gray and potentially Austin Daye all back.

20. Siena- A nice nucleus (5 of Top 6 scorers) returns for the Saints.

21. Ohio St.- The Buckeyes will be good and I mean that.

22. Tennessee- the Vols had some problems last year, but there's still too much talent to go around.

23. Minnesota- Keep an eye on the Gophers. Royce White is a top recruit who will make the Gophers a top contender in the Big Ten.

24. Dayton- I will probably have this team higher in my next rankings. The Flyers are flat-out athletic and talented.

25. California- This will be a senior-laden team that has been scratching the surface waiting to break open. Next year will be that year...

Just missed the cut:
Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas A&M, Oklahoma St., Michigan, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Mississippi St., Florida, Georgetown, Creighton, UNLV, UCLA, Oakland

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

pretty sure kansas should be number 1

Anonymous said...

I second that

Anonymous said...

southern illinois is going to make some noise

Anonymous said...

fighting illini will be ranked in the top ten of next year and number by the end of 2010!

Anonymous said...

Michigan State #1, thats a given.

Anonymous said...

Uk #1 now that they add John wall....

Anonymous said...

I second UK #1. John wall and 2 other top 20 Recruits and one of the best coaches to put it on the court!

Unknown said...

yea kentucky has to be number one no offence kansas kentucky just has the players to show it. Lets just see what kentucky can do in the NCAA tournament this year i predict final four or better thats a given. final four picks haha ik its early but Kentucky,Michigain State,NC,Kansas or duke

Anonymous said...

UK should definitely be number 1, followed by Kansas. Perhaps this needs to be updated due to the significant changes that occurred after this was published. Kentucky beats Kansas in the championship. The other two final four picks will not be an ACC team. Watch out for Indiana. They might be the best Big 10 team this year. Deep tradition + good coach + great incoming class = return to solid top 10 team, possibly even a successful bid to the final four.

Anonymous said...

I just reviewed this list and it is a complete JOKE!!! You have Clemson number 12 and Michigan not ranked at all when Michigan beat them on a neutral court in the big dance. Also Michigan returns EVERYONE and adds 7 footer Ben Cronin...I don’t see the logic in that pick.

Anonymous said...

when the actual rankings do come out kansas should be number one despite kentucky's class. Sure as of now they look great on paper, but lets see how they play first before we anoint them champs. Also whoever just said indiana could be the best in the big ten and a possible final four should probably go place a bet in vegas cuz ur the only one with them going to the final four. lol. theyre still a few years away from getting back to that "deep tradition" and winning teams of old.

Anonymous said...

This list is kind of a joke. Did your 8 year-old kid make it?

Unknown said...

What bout Notre Dame? Haragody coming back, senior leadership in Jackson. Transfers of Ben Hansbrough and Scott Martin out of Ole Miss and Purdue. Young talent, they will fly under the radar this year. Will make NCAA tourney, probably 8 or 10 seed

Anonymous said...

Keep sleeping on Maryland. Gary has an experienced team coming back off of a tourney appearance. Greivis Vasquez is probably the best returning guard in the ACC. Sleep on this team I can't wait for people to see this team in the top 4 of the ACC next year. Watch.

tim duncan said...

No way can you have Mich. St. ahead of Kansas....

read my top 25

www.collegebasketball247.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

hoosiers not up there ....what
?

Anonymous said...

Siena has got some very good talent this year im not supriesed 2 c them is the top 25 list this season like edwin ubilis is into his senor year could be drafted by 35-50 and just because they lost kenny hasbrouk doesnt mean they will lose a lot of games the 6th man of the year in the MAAC can make up 4 tht and ronald moore man 2 3 pointers 2 beat ohio state tht is the only reason they are being ranked above them they are goin 2 be great this year best year yet mabye there 2nd sweet 16 return in school history they are good they will in the top 25 quite often so GO SIENA SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

MSU is very good, but lack a big dominant guy in the middle. They will not be number 1 until they have a dominant center. They, however, will
be an exciting team to watch.

Brandon Parker said...

What? University of Mississippi just missed the cut, and they're listed just before Mississippi State, who is picked first in SEC West, and Ole Miss last in West. This poll is junk.

Anonymous said...

Ohio State Should be in the top 5 Turner and Z returning.. KU give me a break they shouldn't even on the list lol BUCKEYES BABY

Anonymous said...

The Bearcats will dominate the Big East and hence college basketball.