Adama Sanogo scored 30 points in the double overtime win for the University of Connecticut. 1:45 July has always been a month dedicated to recruiting. Once the rosters are set, coaches can begin to think about the future of their program before the season starts. July became more busy because of the changes to the old model that took place in 2020. The deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft was in 2020. The transfer portal was still running during the summer last year. With the NBA draft withdrawal deadline in early June and the eligibility transfer deadline in early May, there has been very little activity on the roster. Don't get too used to it. In August, we saw a potential top-five pick, G.G. Jackson, commit to play for South Carolina. This month's Way-Too-Early Top 25 doesn't include the USC, but future decisions could affect the ranking. We only have to look at the summer of last year, when Memphis went from obscurity to a top 10 team thanks to reclassifications and commitments from two players. There are a few changes to the rankings this month after taking a fresh look at rosters. Next: 2 A trip to Bloomington, Indiana, for the Big Ten Challenge is one of the highlights of North Carolina's non conference schedule. All eyes will be on the interior battle between Armando Bacot and Trayce Jackson-Davis as Indiana is expected to be the Big Ten's favorite. The Tar Heels head to Portland, Oregon, for three games at the Phil Knight Invitation, which could be a potential top 25 team. The team has a neutral-site game in New York against Ohio State, as well as a short trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, to face either Florida or Michigan. The Tar Heels had a lot of defensive issues during the non conference slate last year. It's not likely that another slow start will happen. The starting lineup is projected. Love has 15.2PPG.
R.J. Davis (13.4 PPG)
Leaky Black (4.9 PPG)
Pete Nance (14.6 PPG)
Armando Bacot (16.5 PPG)1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Next: 3
Mark Few had contingency plans in place in case Drew Timme and other collegians leave to play in the NBA. At least eight deep is possible with all three back. Hunter Sallis, a former five-star guard who never quite carved out a consistent role, will be on the bench. With a year of college under his belt, he will be a better scorer at the high school level.
As a high-level role player over the past two seasons, he has provided some tough and physical play for the team. The Timme replacement was thought to be by EftonReid. He had a reputation as an efficient post scorer coming out of high school but couldn't duplicate that at LSU. Learning from Timme is a great way to move forward.
The starting lineup is projected.
Nolan Hickman was the leading scorer with 5.1PPG.
Malachi Smith (19.9 PPG at Chattanooga)
Rasir Bolton (11.2 PPG) Julian Strawther (11.8 PPG)Drew Timme (18.4 PPG)
Next: 2
Even though Houston has ranked in the top 10 in adjusted offensive efficiency in each of the past two seasons, they might have their most dangerous group of scoring options this year. Marcus and Tramon are in good shape. Shead could be a potential breakthrough star. The incoming freshman can score. Jarace Walker is one of the top 10 recruits. Walker was playing his best basketball in the second half of his senior year as he continued to improve his game. He has a strong frame and is able to take defenders off the bounce or finish through them at the rim, making him a major problem for opponents.
The starting lineup is projected.
Jamal Shead (10.0 PPG) Marcus Sasser (17.7 PPG) Tramon Mark (10.1 PPG) Jarace Walker (No. 10 in ESPN 100)
J'Wan Roberts (3.2 PPG)
Next: 3
Is Kentucky more of a threat from the outside this season? The Cats were one of the least reliant on 3-point shooting in the country. In the past five years, Kentucky has ranked in the bottom 15 nationally in that category four times, and the Cats have ranked in the bottom 75 nationally in 3-point attempts each of the past 11 seasons. John Calipari's guards would benefit from improved outside shooting. Former Iowa transfer CJ Fredrick is one of the best 3-point shooting players in the country, Illinois State transfer Antonio Reeves shot 39% from 3 last season, and freshman Chris Livingston is capable of shooting outside.
The starting lineup is projected.
Sahvir Wheeler (10.1 PPG) Cason Wallace (No. 20 in ESPN 100) Antonio Reeves (20.1 PPG at Illinois State) Chris Livingston (No. 12 in ESPN 100)
Oscar Tshiebwe (17.4 PPG)
Next: 6
Jon didn't want to take it easy on himself in his first season as a head coach. The Blue Devil's first two games of the season will be against a Jacksonville team that won 21 games last season and a defending national champion. They played in the NCAA tournament last season and have an early home game against Delaware. There are three games at the Phil Knight Legacy, a home game against Ohio State and a neutral-site game against Iowa in 12 days.
Duke should be able to navigate the slate, but a young squad and a first-year head coach may experience some growing pains.
The starting lineup is projected.
Roach averaged 8.6 points per game.
Dariq Whitehead (No. 2 in ESPN 100)
Jacob Grandison (9.6 PPG at Illinois)
Kyle Filipowski (No. 7 in ESPN 100)
Dereck Lively (No. 1 in ESPN 100)
Wilson is in the air for a slam.
Next: 7
The key to Kansas' 2022-23 season is likely to be held by Jalen Wilson. Wilson has dealt with a variety of issues that have held him back from being the player that he was early in the 2020-21 season. Bill Self will need some proven offensive production with the departures of Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun. Over the past two seasons, Wilson has stepped up.
He wasn't very efficient on the offensive end during the NCAA tournament, but his motor ran high and he made an impact at both ends of the floor. The Jayhawks will be very happy if they add a couple more points to their averages.
The starting lineup is projected.
Dajuan Harris Jr. scored over five points per game.
Gradey Dick (No. 14 in ESPN 100)
Kevin McCullar (10.1 PPG at Texas Tech)
Jalen Wilson (11.0 PPG)Ernest Udeh (No. 23 in ESPN 100)
Next: 6
Ryan Kalkbrenner should be considered one of the best centers in college basketball if he is fully healed from his knee injury. In his final 12 games of last season, the 7-1 Missouri native averaged 16.9 points, 9.1 rebound and 2.2 blocks, shooting better than 70% from the field. He had four double-doubles during that time, including a 22-point, 15-rebound effort against Georgetown and a 22-point, 10-rebound effort against Adama Sanogo and the University of Connecticut. He is a nightmare to defend because of his ability to play around the basket and step out for teammates.
The starting lineup is projected.
Ryan Nembhard was the top scorer with 11.3PPG.
Trey Alexander (7.4 PPG)
Baylor Scheierman (16.2 PPG at South Dakota State)
Arthur Kaluma (10.4 PPG)
Ryan Kalkbrenner (13.1 PPG)
Next: 9
It's easy to see why Keyonte George is considered one of the best guards in the class of 2022. He had 32 points on 18 shots against Italy to open the tournament and proved that it wasn't a one time occurrence. In the semifinals, he had 37 points on 21 shots. George showed an advanced scoring package at the high school level, and after some inconsistency during his senior season, he began to hit his stride and carry that over to the summer. His body allows him to make plays in traffic and he can get his own shot off the bounce.
The starting lineup is projected.
Keyonte George is ranked in the top six.
Adam Flagler (13.8 PPG)
LJ Cryer (13.5 PPG)
Jalen Bridges (8.4 PPG at West Virginia)
Flo Thamba (6.2 PPG)
Next: 11
While the three incoming five-star recruits will get most of the attention in the off-season for Arkansas, there is one transfer who could be a difference-maker. Brazile spent one season at Missouri, and while his season-long numbers are not very impressive, he finished last season on a tear. In the final five games of his career, the 6-9 forward averaged 10 points, 8.2 rebound and 2.0 blocks. He has a good face-up game and should thrive in Arkansas' transition game. Brazile could be the answer to Eric Musselman's frontcourt needs.
The starting lineup is projected.
Anthony Black is in the top fifteen.
Nick Smith (No. 3 in ESPN 100)
Ricky Council IV (12.0 PPG at Wichita State)
Jordan Walsh (No. 11 in ESPN 100)
Makhel Mitchell (10.7 PPG at Rhode Island)
Next: 10.
Freshman center Adem Bona needs to make an immediate impact. Bona's performance at the U20 European Champs earlier this month indicates that he is ready to contribute immediately. Bona was one of the best players at the event, ranking fourth in scoring and fourth in rebound and blocked shots. In the final game, he had a double-double and scored 26 points. There's a lot of opportunity for Bona because there isn't much production on the interior for UCLA.
The starting lineup is projected.
Tyger Campbell was the top scorer with 11.9PPG.
Amari Bailey (No. 5 in ESPN 100)
Jaylen Clark (6.7 PPG)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (13.9 PPG)
Adem Bona (No. 16 in ESPN 100)
Timmy Allen protected the rim with a big block.
The previous day was 11.
The return of Timmy Allen was lost in the discussion of Texas' backcourt.
Allen is one of the more versatile forwards in the Big 12. In the home win over Kansas, Allen had 24 points and nine rebound, and in the road win at West Virginia, he had 26 points and 10 rebound. It's important for Chris Beard's guards to make sure he's always involved because he showed at Utah that he can carry an offense.
The starting lineup is projected.
Hunter was the top scorer at Iowa State.
Marcus Carr (11.4 PPG)
Dillon Mitchell (No. 4 in ESPN 100) Timmy Allen (12.1 PPG)Christian Bishop (7.0 PPG)
The previous day was 13
Rick Barnes has two big lineups this season. With the addition of five-star recruit, the Volunteers have another versatile wing forward option to choose from. Barnes will want his four best players on the floor for most of the game. He might opt for more of what he did in 2020-21 with Yves Pons in the frontcourt next to James. It should leave a lesser role for 7-footer Uros Plavsic, who started 22 games before an ankle injury ended his season. He had 15 points against Texas A&M and Alabama and was a good defensive rebounder.
The starting lineup is projected.
Zakai Zeigler (8.8 PPG) Santiago Vescovi (13.3 PPG) Julian Phillips (No. 13 in ESPN 100) Josiah-Jordan James (10.3 PPG)
Olivier Nkamhoua (8.6 PPG)
The previous day was 12.
Bruce Pearl lost two of the most impactful players in college basketball with the departures of Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith, but he's prepared to replace them with Yohan Traore and Johni Broome. What are the differences between last season's duo and the new ones? Traore increased his stock last year. He can run the floor, shoot from the perimeter and even put the ball on the deck. One of the best shot-blockers and rebounders in the country the past two years is also capable of dominating on the offensive side. He was one of the best transfers on the market this spring despite his struggles against high-major competition.
The starting lineup is projected.
Green Jr. averaged 12.0PPG.
K.D. Johnson (12.3 PPG)
Allen Flanigan (6.3 PPG)
Yohan Traore (No. 27 in ESPN 100)Johni Broome (16.8 PPG at Morehead State)
Next: 15.
It's good for new head coach Kyle Neptune that the non conference schedule this season isn't asgant as it was in the past. The Big Five games include La Salle and Temple. With a coaching change for the first time in 21 years and the potential for one or two freshmen to be in the starting lineup, a couple of winnable games should be beneficial.
At Michigan State, three games at the Phil Knight Invitation in Portland, and a home game against Oklahoma are part of Nova's non conference slate. It's possible that North Carolina will be one of the top 25 opponents that Villanova plays. There is a game in New Jersey against Boston College that will be played in December.
The starting lineup is projected.
MarkArmstrong is in the 100.
Caleb Daniels (10.2 PPG)
Brandon Slater (8.3 PPG)
Cameron Whitmore (No. 21 in ESPN 100)
Eric Dixon (9.1 PPG)
The previous day was 15.
The Hoosiers barely made the NCAA tournament last season and lost by 29 to Saint Mary's in the Dance, so anointing them as preseason Big Ten favorites seems like a big step. Where will they improve on last year? The Big Ten isn't as strong as it could be. The Illinois Fighting Illini and Ohio State lost a lot of talent and lost top 10 picks.
Two newcomers who should help the team are brought in by Woodson. Hood-Schifino will give the Hoosiers another scorer in the backcourt, someone who can get his own shot while also creating for others, while Reneau will ensure levels don't drop when Jackson-Davis goes to the bench. For what it's worth, I'm also high on Banks.
The starting lineup is projected.
Xavier Johnson (12.1 PPG) Jalen Hood-Schifino (No. 24 in ESPN 100)
Miller Kopp (6.0 PPG)
Race Thompson (11.1 PPG)
Trayce Jackson-Davis (18.3 PPG)
The man went high off the backboard.
The previous day was 16.
The buzz is growing for a big season from the man. After a season in which he showed his ability as a shooter, it was said that Larsson was poised to take the next step and become a go-to offensive player for the Cats. He went up against Luka Doncic when he played for Sweden in two World Cup European qualification games. He had 7 points and 4 boards off the bench. As a freshman at Utah, he shot better than 50% from 3 and was a capable passer. With a lot of talent gone to the NBA draft, Larsson's ability to make shots will be important for Lloyd.
The starting lineup is projected.
Kerr Kriisa (9.7 PPG) Pelle Larsson (7.2 PPG)
Courtney Ramey (9.4 PPG at Texas)
Azuolas Tubelis (13.9 PPG)
Oumar Ballo (6.8 PPG)
Next: 18.
In the past, returning five starters in college basketball was a common occurrence. It's rare for an NCAA tournament team to bring back all of its key players from the previous season. The Frogs were the top ranked retention team in the country. The team that fell in overtime to Arizona in the second round of the tournament will be coming back. Francisco Farabello is the only player left. To understand why continuity is important, one needs to look at the Final Four. The core of their teams have played together for multiple seasons, making them as experienced as anyone in the country. The Frogs are not ready to make a Final Four run, but they check a lot of boxes.
The starting lineup is projected.
Mike Miles was the leading scorer with 16.4 points per game.
Damion Baugh (10.6 PPG)
Chuck O'Bannon Jr. (9.5 PPG)
Emanuel Miller (10.3 PPG)
Eddie Lampkin (6.8 PPG)
The previous day was 20.
The Frogs were the top ranked team in the retention rankings last week, but Virginia was a close second. The four that left combined for 29 points in the month of March, and Tony Bennett lost just one start from last season. It's going to be difficult to replace any of the starting five, but there are four four-star recruits and an all-conference Ohio transfer who might be the most interesting option. He had 17 points, 5 rebound, 4 assists, and 3 3-pointers when Ohio beat Virginia in the NCAA tournament in 2021. He will bring something new to Virginia.
The starting lineup is projected.
Kihei Clark had 10.0PPG.
Reece Beekman (8.2 PPG)
Armaan Franklin (11.1 PPG)
Jayden Gardner (15.3 PPG)
Kadin Shedrick (6.9 PPG)
The previous day, 18.
Oregon was one of the biggest disappointments in college basketball last season, going from a top 25 team to a group that lost five of its final six games and didn't even make the NCAA tournament. What changes will be made to get the Ducks back in the discussion? Kel'el Ware is a five-star recruit who possesses one of the highest ceilings in the freshman class. Dana Altman went out and secured two experienced backcourt duos in the portal, one in Colorado and another in South Carolina. Both of them put up double figures at the high-major level.
The starting lineup is projected.
Will Richardson (14.1 PPG) Keeshawn Barthelemy (11.1 PPG at Colorado)
Quincy Guerrier (10.1 PPG)
Kel'el Ware (No. 8 in ESPN 100)N'Faly Dante (8.1 PPG)
The previous day was 19
One thing to keep an eye on is what he decides to do up front. When Alabama won the SEC title in 2021, he started Jordan Bruner at the center spot, but Alex Reese andHerb Jones spent more time there than Bruner.
Oats went more traditional with Charles Bediako and James Rojas in that spot. With the return of Bediako and Noah Gurley, the Alabama frontcourt will be more versatile this season. There is no shortage of choices.
The starting lineup is projected.
Mark Sears averaged 18.6 points per game.
Jaden Bradley (No. 19 in ESPN 100)
Dominick Welch (12.3 PPG at St. Bonaventure)
Brandon Miller (No. 9 in ESPN 100)Charles Bediako (6.7 PPG)
The previous day, 24.
Oscar Tshiebwe, Drew Timme, Hunter Dickinson, and Trayce Jackson-Davis are just a few of the post players who will return to college next season. One player who didn't waste any time with his stay-or-go decision, and who will likely find himself in the same discussion with those aforementioned bigs this season, is Adama Sanogo. Sanogo was a first-team All-Big East selection last season and the favorite to be the preseason Big East Player of the Year. He had 30 points against the vaunted post defenders, 26 and 18 against St. John's, and 24 and 15 against the other teams. He is ready for a jump.
The starting lineup is projected.
Jordan Hawkins (5.8 PPG)
Nahiem Alleyne (9.6 PPG at Virginia Tech)
Andre Jackson (6.8 PPG)
Adama Sanogo (14.8 PPG)
Next: 24.
The job Anthony Grant did to keep this team together after last season was the most impressive of anyone near the top of that list. Six of Dayton's top seven players had freshman eligibility, and the youngest rotation in college basketball. Grant is ready for an NCAA tournament run after last season's bubble popped in the Atlantic 10 tournament, and not a single key player decided to transfer. Dayton could be the most inconsistent team in college basketball again in 2022-23 if the rookies are a year older. I don't think they'll be worried about Selection Sunday again.
The starting lineup is projected.
Malachi Smith averaged 9.2 points per game.
Kobe Elvis (8.9 PPG)
R.J. Blakney (6.5 PPG)
Toumani Camara (10.9 PPG)
DaRon Holmes II (12.8 PPG)
Next: 22.
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San Diego State lost key bench player Chad Baker-Mazara to academic issues in late June, one of the few teams to have some roster attrition in the last few weeks. The 6-7 Baker-Mazara won the Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year last season, after transferring from Duquesne. He was very productive in spurts, hitting double figures six times in Mountain West play and 17 times in the NCAA tournament. The Dominican Republic native is a student at the school.
The departure of Baker will speed up the process of a pair of transfers taking on big frontcourt roles. After sitting out last season, Jaedon LeDee has drawn some positive attention, as well as being an impact two-way player.
The starting lineup is projected.
The person with the most points is LamontButler.
Darrion Trammell (17.3 PPG at Seattle)
Matt Bradley (16.9 PPG)
Keshad Johnson (7.2 PPG)
Nathan Mensah (7.0 PPG)
Next: 23.
Kevin Obanor and Fardaws Aimaq should be one of the best frontcourt duos in the Big 12. Obanor, who attempted just one fewer 3-pointer than 2-pointer, should be freed up by having Aimaq, one of the best rebounders in college basketball. Mark Adams will likely have next to nothing returning in the backcourt so he will need a few of his newcomers to step up. There's plenty of shooting with the addition of D' Maurian Williams and Kerwin Walton, both of whom are proven producers. There are two X factors.
The starting lineup is projected.
De'Vion Harmon (10.8 PPG at Oregon) Kerwin Walton (3.4 PPG at North Carolina) Elijah Fisher (five-star) Kevin Obanor (10.0 PPG)
Fardaws Aimaq (18.9 PPG at Utah Valley)
The previous day, 25.
It's worth noting that Illinois added a French big man in last month's rankings. It won't be necessary for Perrin to produce immediately. Dain Dainja will be able to play in the Big Ten after transferring from the Bears, but he didn't make much of an impact in Texas. The best moments of last season came when Kofi Cockburn was suspended, and who might be better suited at the center spot as opposed to at the 4.
Perrin showed promise overseas, and burst onto the scene last summer, playing for the French U18 team at the European Championships, and this past season in the French Espoirs Pro B League. He is a lefty who can score.
The starting lineup is projected.
Skyy Clark is ranked 25th in the country.
RJ Melendez (3.8 PPG)
Terrence Shannon Jr. (10.4 PPG at Texas Tech)
Matthew Mayer (9.8 PPG at Baylor)
Coleman Hawkins (5.9 PPG)
The person was dropped out.
Next in line, right?
The Miami Hurricanes are next in line.
Saint Louis Billikens (previous: Next in line)
Michigan Wolverines (previous: Next in line)
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Wyoming Cowboys (previous: Unranked)
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