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Preseason College Basketball Top 25 for 2013-14 Season

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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April 30, 2013

Kentucky (Previous Ranking: 1) - After an extremely disappointing 2012-13 season in which Kentucky missed out on the NCAA Tournament and lost its opening round NIT game, the tide will certainly turn next season for John Calipari. With six McDonald's All-Americans entering the fold and the return of Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Kyle Wiltjer, the Wildcats will be absolutely loaded next season. Kentucky will be the No. 1-ranked team in the preseason polls and the favorite to cut down the nets in Arlington. If the Wildcats get the No. 1 recruit in the 2013 class, Andrew Wiggins, it will be disgusting how much talent Big Blue Nation will have.

Michigan State (PR: 2)- Tom Izzo returns everybody but Derrick Nix from this season's team that earned a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. With Adreian Payne and Gary Harris deciding to return to East Lansing, Sparty should be the team to beat in the Big Ten. Look for Harris to emerge as a big-time scorer as well as an increase in playing time for the versatile Denzel Valentine who I really like.

Ohio State (PR: 3)- Deshaun Thomas declared for the 2013 NBA Draft, but Thad Matta still has a lot of talent coming back to Columbus led by point guard Aaron Craft. Thomas' exit opens room for LaQuinton Ross to become the top offensive threat, which he is more than capable of handling if he plays like he did in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. There are also plenty of role players returning who should keep the Buckeyes in the national spotlight.

Duke - (PR: 4) Even though the Blue Devils lose three very valuable seniors, the team brings in a pair of talented wings in McDonald's All-American Jabari Parker and Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood. Andre Dawkins will also be back after redshirting this past season so Duke will have plenty of shooter to stretch the floor when you factor Rasheed Sulaimon and freshman Matt Jones into the equation. The biggest question will be whether or not there is enough size and toughness inside. If Coach K can land Memphis transfer Tarik Black, Duke would jump Ohio State in my rankings.

Louisville (PR: 9)- As expected, Gorgui Dieng is turning pro, but the Cardinals received great news with Russ Smith's decision to return for his senior year. Rick Pitino will need Montrezl Harrell to replace Dieng inside and guys like Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear must step up. There are three talented guards joining the Cardinals in junior college transfer Chris Jones, and freshmen Terry Rozier and Anton Gill, so the loss of Peyton Siva won't be monumental.

Florida (PR: 5)- With two big-time recruits in Kasey Hill and Chris Walker and a pair of key transfers in Virginia Tech's Dorrian Finney-Smith and South Carolina's Damontre Harris joining the fray, Billy Donovan should have even more talent on his roster next season - especially with Patric Young announcing he'll return for his senior season. Replacing the backcourt scoring of Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario will be the challenge for the Gators.

Arizona (PR: 6)- Sean Miller does lose three of his top four scorers from last year's team, but adds a key transfer in Duquesne's T.J. McConnell who will be the true point guard Arizona lacked this past season. There is also a talented pair of freshmen forwards coming to Tuscon in McDonald's All-Americans Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Even with Grant Jarrett's baffling decision to enter the 2013 NBA Draft, add them to a long, young frontcourt that should be much improved next season and the Wildcats will be the best team out west.

Michigan (PR: 14)- Michigan makes a big move up in the rankings with the announcements of Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary coming back for their sophomore campaigns. John Beilein will once again have a young core led by McGary, Robinson, and Nik Stauskas. The Wolverines will need freshmen Derrick Walton and Zack Irvin to step into major roles, replacing Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Oklahoma State (PR: NR) - Travis Ford hit the jackpot with Marcus Smart electing to return for his sophomore season. As a result, the Cowboys return their top-seven scorers from last season including Markel Brown and LeBryan Nash. Oklahoma State should be the favorite to dethrone Kansas from the Jayhawks' impressive run of Big-XII Championships.

Kansas - Bill Self doesn't re-build at Kansas. He reloads. That will be the case next year as the Jayhawks lose all five starters, but are still projected as a top-10 team.

Reserves like Naadir Tharpe and Perry Ellis will become the go-to guys while a group of talented freshmen led by McDonald's All-American Wayne Selden and impressive big man Joel Embiid, should make an immediate impact. Kansas is still in the running for Andrew Wiggins, and if he chooses the Jayhawks, I'd bump Kansas into the top five. Self did pick up a key transfer in Arkansas big man Hunter Mickelson, but he will have to sit out next season.

North Carolina (PR: 11)- James Michael McAdoo's decision to come back to Chapel Hill is a big boost for the Tar Heels, but Reggie Bullock is leaving for the NBA Draft. North Carolina will still have talent on the wing with P.J. Hairston, and a year of experience under his belt should make Marcus Paige a more effective play-maker. The Tar Heels also add needed size inside with McDonald's All-Americans Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks.

Georgetown (PR: 12)- This might seem a little low with all that talent back on the floor but Georgetown will really miss Otto Porter's ability to do a little bit of everything. Still, coach Thompson has everyone returning and should get Greg Whittington back after he missed the second half of the season because he was academically ineligible. The Hoyas also add UCLA transfer Joshua Smith after the first semester, and he could be a huge x-factor if his conditioning is improved.

Syracuse (PR: 13)- Jim Boeheim will lose three starters as the Orange makes the transition to the ACC. There will a ton of length and athleticism on the front line with C.J. Fair, Rakeem Christmas, Jerami Grant, and Baye Moussa Keita. Duke transfer Michael Gbinjie becomes eligible, but Syracuse's success will be a direct result of how the team's new starting backcourt of Tyler Ennis and Trevor Cooney perform.

Marquette (PR: 7)- Marquette drops after Vander Blue's surprising decision to skip his senior season and head to the association. Still, you can't underestimate Buzz Williams after three straight trips to the Sweet 16. Jamil Wilson and Davante Garnder made huge strides as juniors and will be Marquette's go-to offensive weapons. The Golden Eagles also add three top-100 recruits and a two-time JUCO All-American in Jameel McKay. Buzz Williams will have plenty of depth again and the program shouldn't be overlooked next season like it was for much of this past year.

Wisconsin (PR: 15)- Even though Wisconsin loses its entire starting frontcourt, never ever ever ever ever underestimate Bo Ryan. The Badgers will rely heavily on their backcourt that gets Josh Gasser back after he missed all of this past year due to a torn ACL. Sam Dekker should have a breakout season now that he will be inserted into the starting lineup. The inside play will be a major question mark.

Gonzaga (PR: 16)- Mark Few will have one of the best backcourts in the country with the duo of Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. The addition of Providence transfer Gerard Coleman should provide additional scoring on the wing. How Polish big man Przemek Karnowski and Sam Dower replace the duo of Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris will be the x-factor for Gonzaga next season.

Notre Dame (PR: 20)- Regardless of who the Fighting Irish lose from season to season, Mike Brey typically does a great job making the most of his roster. Notre Dame will have a ton of experience in the backcourt with Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant while also welcoming in McDonald's All-Ameircan Demetrius Jackson. There are shooters on the wing with Pat Connaughton and Cameron Biedscheid, too. Garrick Sherman must hold down the fort inside since there will not be a ton of depth inside.

New Mexico (PR: 17)- Steve Alford may have bolted for UCLA, but the Lobos return a ton of talent from last year's MWC Championship team. Tony Snell's exit to the NBA was surprising which means Kansas transfer Merv Lindsay must fill his void. Kendall Williams and Hugh Greenwood bring experience to the backcourt while Alex Kirk and Cameron Bairstow provide a ton of physicality down low.

Memphis (PR: 18)- Adonis Thomas made a bone-headed decision by declaring for the NBA Draft, plus Tarik Black and Antonio Barton have decided to transfer, but Josh Pastner will still have a ton of talent as the Tigers head to the American Athletic Conference. The experienced backcourt of Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, and Geron Johnson will lead the charge. Memphis also brings in a top-five recruiting class and George Washington transfer David Pellom, who will be immediately eligible to play.

Tennessee (PR: 23)- The Volunteers will return their nucleus led by Trae Golden, Jarnell Stokes and SEC Player of the Year Jordan McRae. Cuonzo Martin will also get Jeronne Maymon back after he missed all of this past season due to the injury. The SEC should be much improved next season but behind Kentucky and Florida, Tennessee is the best of the bunch.

Baylor (PR: NR)- Scott Drew received great news with the announcement that his starting frontcourt of Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson would return to Waco next season. The biggest challenge for the NIT Champs will be replacing two starting guards. Junior college transfer Kenny Cherry will attempt to replace Pierre Jackson, while guys like Deuce Bello and L.J. Rose must progress and become more impact players.

Virginia (PR: 22)- Tony Bennett's bunch missed out on the tournament this year, but that shouldn't be the case in twelve months. Everyone will be back, minus point guard Jontel Evans and Paul Jespersen, but the Cavalies add South Carolina transfer Anthony Gill, who should add some needed scoring punch alongside Joe Harris. Defense will once again be the name of the game though and there is a lot of versatility on this Virginia roster.

St. John's (PR: 24)- I would be surprised if the Red Storm doesn't finish in the upper half of the new Big East and makes the tournament. Outside of Amir Garrett who announced he would transfer, Steve Lavin gets everybody back next year including sharpshooter D'Angelo Harrison, who was suspended late in the season.

The Red Storm will also add some needed size inside with the return of God's Gift Achuiwa, who redshirted this past season, and JUCO transfer Orlando Sanchez. Harvard transfer Max Hooper provides Lavin with another shooter off the bench as well, plus the program picked up a late commitment from talented wing Rysheed Jordan.

Indiana (PR: 8)- I went against the grain and predicted Cody Zeller would return for his junior season, but I was wrong. With Zeller and Victor Oladipo heading to the NBA, Indiana loses four starters, plus Remy Abell and Mo Creek decided to transfer, leaves the Hoosiers barely hanging in the Top 25. McDonald�s All-American Noah Vonleh is the best of a talented recruiting class and should make an instant impact, while Will Sheehey makes the transition from sixth man to a heavily relied upon starter.

Butler (PR: 25)- Brad Stevens has earned my respect to the point that Butler will be a top-25 preseason team regardless of who returns or what conference the school is in. The Bulldogs move to the American Athletic will certainly be an upgrade in competition, but with guys like Khyle Marshall, Roosevelt Jones, and Kellen Dunham, Butler should once again be a factor on the national scene.