Saturday, April 7, 2012

NCAA Basketball 2012-2013 Pre-Preseason Rankings

1. Kentucky (38-2) - Kentucky has another loaded class of Freshmen to help a repeat run
                     Returning Starters - 1
                     Top 50 Recruits - 4
2. Indiana (27-9) - The Hoosiers will contend nationally if Cody Zeller returns
                     Returning Starters - 5
                     Top 50 Recruits - 2
3. Baylor (30-8) - Scott Drew is building a perennial Big 12 contender
                     Returning Starters - 3
                     Top 50 Recruits - 2
4. Kansas (32-7) - I think we learned this year to never sleep on a Kansas squad
                     Returning Starters - 3
                     Top 50 Recruits - 2
5. North Carolina (32-6) - Carolina will need their role players to step it up next year
                     Returning Starters - 1
                     Top 50 Recruits - 2
6. NC State (24-13) - A Sweet 16 appearance gives them momentum going into next year
                     Returning Starters - 4
                     Top 50 Recruits - 3
7. Michigan St. (29-8) - If young talent develops, Sparty will be a Final 4 contender again
                     Returning Starters - 3
                     Top 50 Recruits - 1
8. Michigan (24-10) - The Wolverines will have a young, talented, and exciting team
                     Returning Starters - 3
                     Top 50 Recruits - 2
9. Syracuse (34-3) - Expect the Orange to contend in their final season in the Big East
                     Returning Starters - 2
                     Top 50 Recruits - 2
10. Arizona (23-12) - The Wildcats will bounce back from a down year
                      Returning Starters - 3
                      Top 50 Recruits - 4
11. Ohio St. (31-8) - Thad Matta has built a national power in Columbus
                       Returning Starters - 3
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
12. Louisville (30-10) - The 'Ville reached the Final Four and could go further next year
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
13. Florida (26-11) - The Gators will challenge for the SEC title if Bradley Beal returns
                        Returning Starters - 3
                        Top 50 Recruits - 2
14. Texas (20-14) - The Longhorns will move up in a depleted Big 12 next season
                       Returning Starters - 3
                       Top 50 Recruits - 1
15.  Wisconsin (26-10) - If they find a PG the Badgers will be near the top of the Big 10
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 1
16. Duke (27-7) - The returning players for Duke give them a solid core
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 1
17. Cincinnati (26-11) - The Bearcats have a shot at improving on this year's Sweet 16
                       Returning Starters - 3
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
18. Gonzaga (26-7) - The Zags again have the potential to be the best in the west
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
19. Creighton (29-6) - The return of Doug McDermott makes them the MVC favorites
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
20. Marquette (27-8) - Marquette is an annual member of the Top 25
                       Returning Starters - 3
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
21. Missouri (30-5) - Missouri will be near the top of the SEC in its first year
                       Returning Starters - 2
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
22. Florida St. (25-10) - The Seminoles won their first ACC Tournament in 2012
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
23. Kansas St. (22-11) - Bruce Weber takes over a rising program in the Little Apple
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0
24. Memphis (26-9) - Memphis should win C-USA in their last year in the conference
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 1
25. Notre Dame (22-12) - Notre Dame hopes to exceed expectations again next year
                       Returning Starters - 4
                       Top 50 Recruits - 0

Others to Watch: Tennessee, San Diego St., VCU, New Mexico, UCLA, Pitt, Georgetown, Oklahoma St., Vanderbilt, Providence

20 comments:

  1. i dont understand why you have UNC ranked higher than NC State unless you assumed C.J. Leslie was going to leave.

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    1. Yes I thought there was a decent chance that CJ Leslie would enter the NBA Draft. His return probably makes NC State the favorite in the ACC. Carolina's role players from this year are capable of being big time players in the 2012-2013 season though. If those players step up, Roy Williams will have the Tar Heels on the verge of a Final 4 again.

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  2. Why not have Kentucky play in the D-League and save the time in the NBA draft...

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    1. That's not a bad suggestion. Their recruiting class is loaded again.

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    2. Cause the NBA wouldn't care about the draft anymore.

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  3. uk ranked above iu and ul,must be dreaming please wake up.

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    1. It was a tough call who to put #1. I went with Kentucky at the time because I thought Cody Zeller was going to test the waters. Now that he is back, Indiana will most likely be #1 in my preseason polls as well as most others. Louisville will certainly have the potential to be better than this year's team, but I'm not sure if Peyton Siva and Chane Behannon can lead them to a title. Rick Pitino will get the most of this UK team as he always does, and this recruiting class is once again the best in the nation easily.

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    2. I meant to say John Calipari there

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  4. How are you going Tennessee on others to watch and not MTSU when they are returning 9 of their 11 players and beat Tennessee in the NIT.

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    1. The NIT means little. MTSU had a chance to play their waYy into the Big Dance and faltered down the stretch. Tennessee almost overcame a terrible start to play their way in. The Vols have a lot of young talent that is ready to come to fruition. Cuonzo Martin is a tough-minded coach who will get his team to play above and beyond their capabilities.

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  5. i dont see why everybody has wisconsin so high on their lists, without jordan taylor what do they have? not enough star power. their only chance of making a run in the tournament is if the other teams fall asleep watching them sit there and hold the ball most of the game.

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    1. You make a good point about Wisconsin's style of play. But that's what makes them such a difficult team to beat. I'm not saying that the Badgers are the 15th most talented team, but Bo Ryan wins games and is always near the top of the Big 10. They may not have star power, but they return some solid players. Expect Ryan Evans to step up. There is no reason that this year's team won't perform like years past.

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  6. any love for Wichita State?

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    1. The Shockers are always in the mix in the Valley. And the Valley is usually a multiple bid league. With that said, they will definitely be in the mix for a ticket to the Big Dance.

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  7. U C L A add a 12th championship

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  8. U of L ranked that low is a joke. 3 McD All-Americans and one of THE best centers in the entire country...do some research, this is pathetic.

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  9. San Diego State and UCLA should both be in the top 25. Do your homework bro.

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    1. Keep in mind that these rankings were compiled before Shabazz Muhammad and Tony Parker made their decisions to attend UCLA bro. Their additions certainly catapult the Bruins into the top 15. But Ben Howland has a lot of pieces to fit together for UCLA to be legitimate title contenders. As for San Diego State, I'm sure they will end up in the Top 25 by virtue of beating up on the Mountain West. I'm not convinced they are 1 of the top 25 talented teams in the country though.

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