skinz4life's Ballot for Preseason of 2016-17
Submitted on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 7:24PM EDT
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Duke
|
national title favorites even if harry giles doesn't contribute significantly |
| 2 |
Kansas
|
graham and jackson are players, and this team should easily win the Big 12, but not sure they're built to make noise in the tournament |
| 3 |
Villanova
|
might have some early season turbulence in replacing the leadership of arcidiacano, but have the talent to make it back-to-back |
| 4 |
Virginia
|
best group of freshman in the bennett era should help perrantes and co. to a final four appearance |
| 5 |
Kentucky
|
another talented freshman crew, but have the feeling this season will be closer to '12/'13 than another final four appearance |
| 6 |
Oregon
|
assuming brooks finds form following his return, oregon should easily run the pac 12, and put in a similar season to last year |
| 7 |
North Carolina
|
the stability of paige and johnson will be harder to replace than their production given the talented roster; will need a leader to emerge |
| 8 |
Xavier
|
they have a great squad to do damage in the big east, although not sure if they'll be able to escape villanova's shadow |
| 9 |
Wisconsin
|
favorites by the slimmest of margins in a crowded big 10, but have by far the best shot of doing work into april behind hayes and koenig |
| 10 |
Indiana
|
keeping bryant was big, but losing ferrell was bigger...this team should be good enough to make a big10 run, but doubt they'll show in march |
| 11 |
Saint Mary's
|
fielding the same team that won 29 games last year, have a feeling they'll be on a mission...dayton game will be a huge heat check for them |
| 12 |
Syracuse
|
grad transfers should mean a quicker ramp up period than teams relying on freshman, but expecting a more consistent but earlier ending year |
| 13 |
Michigan State
|
tom izzo is the only reason they're this high, as they're are very few coaches who can overcome the departures and preseason injury issues |
| 14 |
Gonzaga
|
few will have to integrate a lot of new pieces, but this is one of their more talented rosters, and will be dangerous if they buy in |
| 15 |
Arizona
|
a top 10 team with ferguson, this is shaping up to be a standard sweet 16 but not much more sean miller team |
| 16 |
Texas
|
shaka gets a top 5 recruiting class and another full summer to make some big noise this year, altho have to feel they're a year away |
| 17 |
Purdue
|
if swanigan plays up to pedigree purdue will be an efficient machine, but wouldn't be surprised to see them fall out of the top 25 early on |
| 18 |
Louisville
|
(18+ nsfw) -- don't think this roster is enough to challenge for the acc title, although the squads good enough to be top 20 all year |
| 19 |
UCLA
|
i feel that lonzo balls aau play style of heaving 90 foot bombs to his bros will actually be a better gameplan than anything alford creates |
| 20 |
URI
|
the return of e.c. matthews should be enough for URI to fulfill and exceed the high hopes from last year |
| 21 |
West Virginia
|
press virginia will be coached well and make it miserable for their opponents, but not sure this roster is deep enough to overcome departure |
| 22 |
Cincinnati
|
they have the talent to win the american, but not sure their roster will be strong enough down the stretch to hold off uconn |
| 23 |
UConn
|
ollie can get magic from his guards, so coupled with a top 10 recruiting class, this will be a dangerous squad after finding their feet |
| 24 |
California
|
ivan rabb is the only reason they've cracked the polls |
| 25 |
Creighton
|
should easily be the 3rd best team in the big east, but feel a first weekend ncaa loss is their ceiling |