University of Kansas LogoKUmitch's Ballot for Preseason of 2016-17

Submitted on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 7:13AM EDT
RankTeamReason
1 Duke University Logo Duke Duke is an easy choice for preseason #1, with a lethal combination of blue-chip recruits and talented veterans.
2 University of Kansas Logo Kansas Despite losing two starters, the Jayhawks have the nation's top recruit and another 5-star player ready to plug in as replacements.
3 University of Kentucky Logo Kentucky Another year, another ridiculous recruiting class for Kentucky who looks to have one of the nation's best backcourts.
4 University of Oregon Logo Oregon Most of the pieces from last year's 1-seed Elite 8 team are back, including a surprise 6th year for virtuoso shot-blocker Chris Boucher.
5 Villanova University Logo Villanova They'll miss Arcidiacano and especially Ochefu, but the rest of the roster is still enough to run roughshod through the Big East yet again.
6 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Logo North Carolina After losing a heartbreaker in last year's title game, the Tarheels only lose two starters and look to Nate Britt for a breakout year.
7 University of Virginia Logo Virginia Tony Bennett may have lost his talented seniors, but with Austin Nichols, Mamadi Diakite, and a great recruiting class, I doubt he's upset.
8 Xavier University Logo Xavier Initially unranked, Xavier spent 14 straight weeks in the top 10. Trevon Bluiett & co. aren't letting the Musketeers go anywhere.
9 Indiana University Bloomington Logo Indiana OG Anunoby and Thomas Bryant, perhaps the Big 10's best prospects, get James Blackmon Jr., impressive in his own right, back from injury.
10 Gonzaga University Logo Gonzaga Mark Few adds a ridiculous group of transfers to last year's Sweet 16 squad and gets another year of burly Polish big man Przemek Karnowski.
11 University of Louisville Logo Louisville After spending 2015-16 in absentia, Rick Pitino seeks to restore Louisville to yet another high tourney seed with yet another elite defense.
12 University of Arizona Logo Arizona Sean Miller always recruits well, and this year Wildcat fans get to welcome Lauri Markkanen, a Finnish 7-footer who can shoot 3s with ease.
13 University of Wisconsin-Madison Logo Wisconsin Last year the Badgers went from 7-5 to the Sweet 16. They'll need Nigel Hayes to channel his 2014-15 self if they want to go even further.
14 Syracuse University Logo Syracuse The Orange return little from 2015-16's surprise Final 4 squad, but Tyus Battle, Pascal Chukwu, and skilled freshmen help make up for it.
15 Michigan State University Logo Michigan State Tom Izzo brings in maybe his best recruiting class ever, but the frontcourt situation is troubling.
16 Purdue University Logo Purdue Caleb Swanigan surprised many by opting to return for a second year. Purdue's frontcourt will be imposing, but who plays point?
17 Saint Mary's College of California Logo Saint Mary's Last year, St. Mary's dominated opponents with efficient offense. All the players are back, but so is the weak schedule.
18 University of Cincinnati Logo Cincinnati Add a competent offense to incumbent AAC DPOY Gary Clark and that trademark gritty defense, and the result could be a conference title.
19 University of Texas at Austin Logo Texas Uber-athletic PG Kerwin Roach and a raw but gifted roster grant Texas myriad viable lineups. Pick the right one and the Horns could thrive.
20 University of Connecticut Logo UConn Hamilton's gone but with stellar recruits, a premier shotblocker, and experienced veterans Ollie's squad is still young, scrappy and hungry.
21 University of Rhode Island Logo URI With E.C. Matthews back and healthy, Rhode Island is looking for the breakout season that was supposed to happen last year.
22 University of California, Los Angeles Logo UCLA Steve Alford is hoping the impressive talents of freshman PG Lonzo Ball will help Bruins fans forget the 2015-16 season.
23 Iowa State University Logo Iowa State Losing Niang hurts, but if Monte Morris develops his offensive game and somebody steps up in the frontcourt, the Cyclones won't go away.
24 West Virginia University Logo West Virginia The constituent parts might change, but the machine is still the same. As long as the Mountaineers have Bob Huggins, they'll be a tough out.
25 Creighton University Logo Creighton The Bluejays haven't made a ton of noise in the post-Doug McDermott era, but a resurgent Marcus Foster will make some noise.