My preseason Top 25 ballot (plus 25 more)
Jeff Goodman, ESPN Insider
We're still a few months away from the initial preseason polls of the 2015-16 season, but it's never too early to start thinking about what the top of college basketball will look like once November arrives. My colleague Eamonn Brennan hit you with his Way-Too-Early Top 25 last month, but since I'm not quite ready to narrow it down to 25 at this stage, below are the 50 teams I'd have to consider if my top 25 ballot was due today. The order, and even some of the teams, are likely to change, but here's the way I see things as the month of June approaches:
1. Maryland Terrapins
Projected starting lineup: SG Rasheed Sulaimon, PG Melo Trimble, SF Jake Layman, PF Robert Carter, C Diamond Stone
Mark Turgeon and the Terps are loaded. They have an upper-echelon point guard, experienced wings and talented big men. They also have quality depth with guys like Dion Wiley, Jared Nickens and Michal Cekovsky coming off the bench.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Projected starting lineup: G Marcus Paige, G Joel Berry II, SF Justin Jackson, PF Brice Johnson, C Kennedy Meeks
The Tar Heels brought everyone back besides J.P. Tokoto, who left early for the NBA. North Carolina has veterans and also added a much-needed perimeter shooter in ex-VCU signee Kenny Williams. Theo Pinson could battle Berry for the starting spot.
3. Kansas Jayhawks
Projected starting lineup: SG Wayne Selden, SG Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, PG Frank Mason, PF Perry Ellis, C Cheick Diallo
Selden, Mason, Ellis and Diallo are basically locks to start, and Diallo will give the Jayhawks a hard-playing physical presence in the middle. The final spot is up for grabs, likely between Mykhailiuk and Brannen Greene. There’s also a chance Bill Self could go with two point guards in the starting lineup and play Devonte Graham and Mason together, although it’s unlikely.
4. Iowa State Cyclones
Projected starting lineup: SG Naz Long, PG Monte Morris, F Abdel Nader, PF Georges Niang, C Jameel McKay
It’s a talented group led by the All-American candidate Niang and Morris, one of the top point guards in the country. McKay only played the second semester last season and gives Iowa State a long, athletic guy up front.
5. Duke Blue Devils
Projected starting lineup: SG Grayson Allen, PG Derryck Thornton, SF Matt Jones, F Brandon Ingram, PF/C Amile Jefferson
The Blue Devils went from a fringe Top 25 team to a Final Four contender within a couple weeks after losing Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones to the NBA. Coach K persuaded Thornton to reclassify and commit, and that solved the point guard issue. Then Ingram, an elite scorer, committed. Fellow frosh Luke Kennard could easily crack the starting lineup.
6. Kentucky Wildcats
Projected starting lineup: SG Isaiah Briscoe, PG Tyler Ulis, SF Alex Poythress, PF Skal Labissiere, C Marcus Lee
The Wildcats aren’t quite as overpowering and not nearly as deep as they were a year ago, but John Calipari still has plenty of talent. Ulis becomes the full-time point guard, and Labissiere is extremely skilled and talented. UK is still lacking a small forward who can really score.
Jeff Goodman, ESPN Insider
We're still a few months away from the initial preseason polls of the 2015-16 season, but it's never too early to start thinking about what the top of college basketball will look like once November arrives. My colleague Eamonn Brennan hit you with his Way-Too-Early Top 25 last month, but since I'm not quite ready to narrow it down to 25 at this stage, below are the 50 teams I'd have to consider if my top 25 ballot was due today. The order, and even some of the teams, are likely to change, but here's the way I see things as the month of June approaches:
1. Maryland Terrapins
Projected starting lineup: SG Rasheed Sulaimon, PG Melo Trimble, SF Jake Layman, PF Robert Carter, C Diamond Stone
Mark Turgeon and the Terps are loaded. They have an upper-echelon point guard, experienced wings and talented big men. They also have quality depth with guys like Dion Wiley, Jared Nickens and Michal Cekovsky coming off the bench.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Projected starting lineup: G Marcus Paige, G Joel Berry II, SF Justin Jackson, PF Brice Johnson, C Kennedy Meeks
The Tar Heels brought everyone back besides J.P. Tokoto, who left early for the NBA. North Carolina has veterans and also added a much-needed perimeter shooter in ex-VCU signee Kenny Williams. Theo Pinson could battle Berry for the starting spot.
3. Kansas Jayhawks
Projected starting lineup: SG Wayne Selden, SG Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, PG Frank Mason, PF Perry Ellis, C Cheick Diallo
Selden, Mason, Ellis and Diallo are basically locks to start, and Diallo will give the Jayhawks a hard-playing physical presence in the middle. The final spot is up for grabs, likely between Mykhailiuk and Brannen Greene. There’s also a chance Bill Self could go with two point guards in the starting lineup and play Devonte Graham and Mason together, although it’s unlikely.
4. Iowa State Cyclones
Projected starting lineup: SG Naz Long, PG Monte Morris, F Abdel Nader, PF Georges Niang, C Jameel McKay
It’s a talented group led by the All-American candidate Niang and Morris, one of the top point guards in the country. McKay only played the second semester last season and gives Iowa State a long, athletic guy up front.
5. Duke Blue Devils
Projected starting lineup: SG Grayson Allen, PG Derryck Thornton, SF Matt Jones, F Brandon Ingram, PF/C Amile Jefferson
The Blue Devils went from a fringe Top 25 team to a Final Four contender within a couple weeks after losing Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones to the NBA. Coach K persuaded Thornton to reclassify and commit, and that solved the point guard issue. Then Ingram, an elite scorer, committed. Fellow frosh Luke Kennard could easily crack the starting lineup.
6. Kentucky Wildcats
Projected starting lineup: SG Isaiah Briscoe, PG Tyler Ulis, SF Alex Poythress, PF Skal Labissiere, C Marcus Lee
The Wildcats aren’t quite as overpowering and not nearly as deep as they were a year ago, but John Calipari still has plenty of talent. Ulis becomes the full-time point guard, and Labissiere is extremely skilled and talented. UK is still lacking a small forward who can really score.
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