Current:Home > reviewsFive snubs from the USA TODAY Sports men's college basketball preseason poll -RiskWatch
Five snubs from the USA TODAY Sports men's college basketball preseason poll
View
Date:2025-04-13 22:10:04
As is always the case, preseason polls are speculative ventures at best. With the exception of San Diego State, last year’s eventual Final Four were nowhere to be found in the initial Top 25, and the preseason No. 1 team missed the Big Dance altogether.
It is inevitable that somebody not rated at the start of the year will have a breakthrough season. Who might that be? Did we mention this whole thing is speculative?
In the era of the transfer portal, true dark horses are hard to identify. It’s furthermore not totally accurate to consider a major conference program a dark horse. But with all that in mind, we’ll attempt to pick a few teams not in the Top 25 that seem well positioned for a successful season.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini have made the last three tournaments but left disappointed after not making the Sweet 16. This group has the potential to reach that goal and possibly compete for the Big Ten title. Terrence Shannon (17.2 pgg) and Coleman Hawkins (9.9 pgg) both flirted with the NBA draft before returning. Dain Dainja (9.5 ppg) brings size to the frontcourt. The big question is the backcourt. A lot is on the shoulder of point guard Sencire Harris. If he develops as sophomore, and transfers Marcus Domask (Southern Illinois) and Quincy Guerrier (Oregon) integrate well, this could be a dangerous team in March.
Kansas State
Jerome Tang has already proven to be a masterful roster constructor in just one year in the Little Apple with the Wildcats making a memorable run to the Elite Eight that ended in a narrow loss to Florida Atlantic. There's some rebuilding to do, and his mettle will be tested again as he relies on incoming talent to fill a lot of needs. Enter Tylor Perry, a standout at North Texas, to run the point and Arthur Kaluma, a key role player at Creighton, to step into the frontcourt. The return of power forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin (10.4 ppg) will also help.
ROCK CHALK: Kansas leads preseason poll for the fifth time
OUTLOOKS:In-depth previews for every team in the preseason Top 25
Maryland
It’s somewhat curious that highly regarded Purdue and Michigan State are the Big Ten’s lone representatives in the initial poll. This is mainly due to how tightly bunched the middle of the pack wound up last year, but it stands to reason that at least a couple more league members will spend some time in the Top 25. The Terrapins could be one of those teams, returning a trio of double-digit scorers. Jahmir Young (15.8 ppg), Julian Reese (11.4 ppg) and Donta Scott (11.3 ppg) will also be joined by a strong recruiting class in Kevin Willard’s second year at the helm.
TCU
Jaime Dixon slowly has built the Horned Frogs into a tournament regular with the team advancing to the second round the past two seasons. The big challenge for this year's team will be replacing do-everything star Mike Miles, who led the team in scoring, and also departed senior Damion Baugh. Emmanuel Miller (12.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) has the ability to step in and fill the shoes of Miles. Help should be provided by a veteran group of returners, led by JaKobe Coles, Chuck O'Bannon and Micah Peavy. That experience should be instrumental in helping weather a difficult Big 12 schedule and get TCU back into the tournament with a chance to make a run.
Boise State
As San Diego State showed last year, the Mountain West is a league worthy of respect. Former Gonzaga assistant Leon Rice has slowly built a consistent winner in Boise. This could be the year that translates into a longer stay in March Madness. The high-scoring and experienced Broncos trio of Tyson Degenhart (14.1 ppg), Max Rice (14.0 ppg) and Chibuzo Agbo (11.5 ppg) will be joined by former Division II standout Cam Martin, who was a medical redshirt at Kansas last year, to bolster the frontcourt.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- What to know about New York and Arizona’s fight over extraditing suspect in grisly hotel killing
- What to know about the Harmony Montgomery murder case in New Hampshire
- Hotel California lyrics trial reveals Eagles manager cited God Henley in phone call
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Wendy Williams' guardian files lawsuit against Lifetime's parent company ahead of documentary
- Dashiell Soren: Pioneering AI-driven Finance Education and Investment
- Wendy Williams diagnosed with same form of dementia as Bruce Willis
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Wendy Williams' guardian files lawsuit against Lifetime's parent company ahead of documentary
Ranking
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Louisiana lawmakers advance permitless concealed carry gun bill
- Seattle officer won't face felony charges for fatally hitting Jaahnavi Kandula in 2023
- Stock market today: Global stocks advance after Nvidia sets off a rally on Wall Street
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson has been facing property seizures, court records show
- Prosecutors to seek retrial in former Ohio deputy’s murder case
- Wendy Williams' Medical Diagnosis: Explaining Primary Progressive Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia
Recommendation
Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
Volkswagen recalls over 260,000 vehicles due to issues with fuel tank suction pumps
Who has the power to sue Brett Favre over welfare money? 1 Mississippi Republican sues another
Republicans vote to make it harder to amend Missouri Constitution
Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
NBC replacing Jac Collinsworth as Notre Dame football play-by-play voice, per report
3 University of Wyoming Swim Team Members Dead in Car Crash
Volkswagen recalls over 260,000 vehicles due to issues with fuel tank suction pumps