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Way-Too-Early Top 25 college basketball rankings for 2021-22

Halldan1

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Jan 1, 2003
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Jeff BorzelloESPN Staff Writer

After a whirlwind two months since the end of the season, we can all take a collective breath ... for now. The last several weeks have seen hundreds of players transfer schools, a dozen or so ESPN 100 prospects make commitments, and a longer-than-usual list of players enter the NBA draft. But with the deadline to enter the draft passing over the weekend, we at least have some sort of feel for what rosters might look like during the 2021-22 college basketball season.

That feeling won't last forever, of course. Next up is the early-entry withdrawal deadline in early July -- 10 days after the NBA draft combine. Until that July 7 date comes and goes, the Way-Too-Early Top 25 outlook will continue to change, perhaps dramatically.

Since the last version of the rankings, on April 29, the biggest riser was Kentucky. The Wildcats added two transfers and a five-star guard, solidifying a roster that should be far more balanced and versatile than last season. It's also hard to imagine John Calipari (or Mike Krzyzewski, for that matter) having two disastrous seasons in a row. Kansas moved into the top five after landing Arizona State transfer Remy Martin, while Michigan and Oregon also moved up in the rankings. Auburn was the lone new addition to the rankings.

On the other side, the lone team to drop out of the rankings was Belmont, to make room for Auburn. Syracuse fell from the ranks of "Next in line" after Quincy Guerrier entered the transfer portal.

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Previous: 1

Drew Timme's announcement that he was returning to Spokane for his junior season rather than entering the NBA draft cemented Gonzaga as my preseason No. 1 team, barring something shocking. The Bulldogs were slotted there as soon as the season ended, with the expectation that Timme would return. They remained there for the second version of the rankings, after No. 1 prospect Chet Holmgren committed to Gonzaga. And since then, Mark Few went out and landed five-star point guard Nolan Hickman (a former Kentucky signee) and Iowa State transfer Rasir Bolton (an All-Big 12 guard). Timme's decision solidifies that ranking. He will enter the season as the favorite for the Wooden Award after an All-America-caliber campaign in 2020-21. How he coexists up front with Holmgren, arguably the favorite to be picked first in next year's NBA draft, will be the biggest key for the Zags. The perimeter should be dynamic and creative, with playmakers all over the floor.

Projected starting lineup:

Nolan Hickman (No. 22 in ESPN 100)
Andrew Nembhard (9.1 PPG)
Hunter Sallis (No. 14 in ESPN 100)
Chet Holmgren (No. 1 in ESPN 100)
Drew Timme (19.0 PPG)......................................
 
UCLA #3 is a classic case of overrating next year's team based on a fluke tournament run.
 
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