1. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS • 2014-15 Record: 26-12
The Tar Heels are as safe a pick as any to hover around the top of the polls all season and make a run at a national title, which would be the third of Roy Williams’ Hall of Fame career.
2. KENTUCKY WILDCATS • 2014-15 Record: 38-1
It seems crazy that a team could lose its top seven scorers and still reasonably be ranked second nationally, but here we are and what you have is a clear favorite in the SEC and roster good enough to make a fifth Final Four in a span of six seasons.
3. KANSAS JAYHAWKS • 2014-15 Record: 27-9
KU is positioned well to win a 12th consecutive league title and maybe take Bill Self to his third Final Four.
4. MARYLAND TERRAPINS • 2014-15 Record: 28-7
The Terrapins are just about everybody’s pick to win the Big Ten.
5. VIRGINIA CAVALIERS • 2014-15 Record: 30-4
If Justin Anderson returned to school, Virginia would likely be picked as number 1. He didn’t, but the Cavaliers still have a chance to win a third straight ACC title.
6. IOWA STATE CYCLONES • 2014-15 Record: 25-9
Steve Prohm is a first-year coach at ISU, but he had a top-10 team at Murray State a few years back, and he managed it well leaving room to believe his transition to the Big 12 will go smoothly.
7. DUKE BLUE DEVILS • 2014-15 Record: 35-4
The Blue Devils lost four of their top scorers, but Mike Krzyzewski and his staff are recruiting at the highest level of the sport. So they stay close to the top.
8. OKLAHOMA SOONERS • 2014-15 Record: 24-11
Oklahoma, just like Iowa State, should be a real challenger for the Jayhawks’ place atop the league standings. Buddy Hield averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds last season.
9. WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS • 2014-15 Record: 30-5
Gregg Marshall is likely about to win at least 30 games for the fourth straight season.
10. GONZAGA BULLDOGS • 2014-15 Record: 35-3
The Zags are so good up front with Kyle Wiltjer, Domantas Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski that another 30-win season just might happen, and Mark Few’s first Final Four is in the realm of possibility.
11. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS • 2014-15 Record: 27-12
West Virginia transfer Eron Harris he averaged 17.2 points two seasons ago and should be a huge asset. It’s quite possible that Tom Izzo will be in the NCAA Tournament for the 19th consecutive year.
12. VILLANOVA WILDCATS • 2014-15 Record: 33-3
Go ahead and pencil-in Jay Wright for a third straight Big East title regardless of the fact that the Wildcats are without three of their top five scorers from last season.
13. INDIANA HOOSIERS • 2014-15 Record: 20-14
Tom Crean has a roster talented enough to make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years and, maybe, also go to a third Sweet 16 in that time frame.
14. CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS • 2014-15 Record: 18-15
Cuonzo Martin’s top ten recruiting class gives the Bears a slight edge over Arizona in the Pac-12. And then there’s senior guard Tyrone Wallace with his average of 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds last season.
15. ARIZONA WILDCATS • 2014-15 Record: 34-4
A third straight Pac-12 championship is still in play for the Wildcats. Kaleb Tarczewski and Gabe York are back and joined by five-star recruits Allonzo Trier and Ray Smith — along with Boston College transfer Ryan Anderson, the last of whom averaged 14.3 points two seasons ago at BC.
16. UCONN HUSKIES • 2014-15 Record: 20-15
Every other player who averaged at least 4.0 points per game is back — including Amida Brimah. He doubles as the nation’s leading returning shot-blocker and reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
17. WISCONSIN BADGERS • 2014-15 Record: 36-3
They didn’t lose their coach, Bo Ryan. That’s the biggest reason why they’re ranked and likely on their way to a 15th consecutive top-four finish in the Big Ten.
18. UTAH UTES • 2014-15 Record: 26-9
Larry Krystkowiak has done one of the nation’s best rebuilding jobs while making Utah nationally relevant again. There’s enough experienced talent in place to remain near the top of the Pac-12 standings. Jakob Poeltl. Need I say more?
19. BAYLOR BEARS • 2014-15 Record: 24-10
Players Taurean Prince and Rico Gathers give Scott Drew an experienced core from a 24-win team that should have the Bears in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years.
20. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH • 2014-15 Record: 32-6
The Irish have made six of the past seven NCAA Tournaments and have enough coming back to make it seven of eight.
21.MIAMI HURRICANES • 2014-15 Record: 25-13
The four returning starters each averaged between 8.2 and 14.5 points per game. This season, they could collectively be capable of taking Jim Larranaga to his second Sweet 16 since becoming Miami’s coach.
22. VANDERBILT COMMODORES • 2014-15 Record: 21-14
The key is the return of Damian Jones, who could’ve reasonably entered the NBA Draft.
23. OREGON DUCKS • 2014-15 Record: 26-10
Villanova graduate Dylan Ennis enrolled this off season, meaning the Ducks will still have an experienced primary ball-handler, one who averaged 9.9 points and 3.5 assists last season for the Big East champions.
24. SMU MUSTANGS • 2014-15 Record: 27-7
The Mustangs won’t play in the NCAA Tournament because of a postseason ban for NCAA violations, but, they’re one of the country’s best teams on paper thanks to Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy.
25. CINCINNATI BEARCATS • 2014-15 Record: 23-11
It’s reasonable to assume the Bearcats will be really good defensively again.