Tailgate Sports NCAA Men’s Basketball Power Rankings 1.0
October 25, 2017
The College Basketball season is right around the corner, and here at Tailgate Sports we have our very first Power Rankings to prepare you for the 2017-2018 season! Keep in mind these rankings are who I believe are the best teams at this moment in time NOT going forward. We will continue to update these rankings as the season continues so stay tuned to see who we believe are the best teams in college basketball!
25. Purdue Boilermakers:
Purdue has to deal with the loss of Caleb Swanigan, but they still have the talent to finish near the top of the BIG 10. I expect a big time season from Carsen Edwards.
24. Alabama Crimson Tide:
Alabama ranked in basketball??? Yes, casual college basketball fans may be surprised by this, but Bama returns many of their top players from last season AND adds a top-five recruiting class. The freshman backcourt of Colin Sexton and John Petty will be lethal. Oh and if you don’t know the name Colin Sexton, you will soon enough! Trust me!
23. Rhode Island Rams:
URI should win the Atlantic 10 this season, as they were a very talented team last season that nearly upset Oregon in the Round of 32. They return 8 of their top 10 scorers from last year, so expect another successful season from the Rams.
22. St. Mary’s Gaels:
A year ago this Saint Mary’s team was underrated due to their easy schedule and one-sided losses to Gonzaga. We learned in the NCAA tournament that they were, in fact, for reason when they almost knocked off 2 Seed Arizona. They return most of their rotation from last season, so they will be back in the tourney.
21. Northwestern Wildcats:
2016 was a magical season for Northwestern, as they made the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history! This team should return to the big dance this season, as they return their top five scorers from a year ago.
20. Virginia Tech Hokies:
VA Tech returns five of their top seven scorers and adds top-25 recruit Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
19. Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
ND loses two of its foundational pieces in VJ Beachem and Steve Vasturia that have helped lead them to success in the past few years. However, they return a legitimate Wooden Award candidate in Bonzie Colson, and one of the grittiest point guards in the country in Matt Farrell. Also having Mike Brey as head coach doesn’t hurt either.
18. Seton Hall Pirates:
After Angel Delgado announced he would be returning to school for his senior season, Seton Hall immediately made it into my top-25. He is one of the most dominant big men in college basketball, as he averaged 15.2 PPG and 13.1 RPG last year. Pair that with other high-level players like Khadeen Carrington, Desi Rodriguez, and Myles Powell, and this team has a legit shot to win the Big East.
17. UCLA Bruins:
UCLA loses a lottttttttt of talent this year with the departures of Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf, and Bryce Alford, but Head Coach Steve Alford has tried his best to bring in replacements with 3 top-40 recruits. They will have dynamic freshman PG Jaylen Hands leading the team this season. This kid has drawn legit comparisons to another UCLA star, Russell Westbrook.
16. Minnesota Golden Gophers:
Minnesota was another pleasant surprise last season as they finished 4th in the Big Ten and earned a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Richard Pitino returns most of his team from a year ago, and i expect Amir Coffey to take a big step this season.
15. Xavier Musketeers:
Xavier will enter this season after a big run in the NCAA tournament where they upset 2 seed Arizona to reach the Elite Eight. They return one of the best players in the country, and All-American Trevon Bluiett, and add a top-15 recruiting class.
14. Cincinnati Bearcats:
The Bearcats get overlooked a lot due to the fact that they play in the AAC. This season DO NOT overlook them, as they return most of their best players from a year ago. They will be playing in March for an eighth straight season.
13. Wichita State Shockers:
I absolutely LOVE this team. Last year they were criminally under-seeded and almost shocked (no pun intended) 2 seed Kentucky in the Round of 32. This team would be in my Top-5, but their star PG, Landry Shamet, may miss some time to start the season, and another key player in Marcus McDuffie will be out until mid-December. Do not be surprised if this team starts out slow and then ends up going undefeated in their first season of conference play in the AAC.
12. Louisville Cardinals:
What a shame. Honestly what a shame. This team had ALL the talent to be a legit top-5 team and true title contender until the news broke that they were involved in the probing scandal. They lose not only one of the best recruits in the country in Brian Bowen, but also lose one of the greatest college coaches of all time. They still have the talent to be a truly elite team, but it will be tough for this team to stay focused given everything that has happened there.
11. West Virginia Mountaineers:
Bob Huggins and “Press Virginia” have always found ways to grind out wins and challenge the teams with higher profile talent. The Mountaineers do lose key players such as Nathan Adrian, Tarik Phillip, and Teyvon Myers, but they do return their best offensive player and Big 12 Player of the year candidate, Jevon Carter. Not to mention other important players in Esa Ahmad and Daxter Miles Jr.
10. Miami Hurricanes:
Miami returns six of its top-8 scorers from a year ago and add very talented 5-Star recruit Lonnie Walker to the mix. Bruce Brown will be a star this season and should give them more consistent play at the PG position. They have a legit shot at winning the ACC this season.
9. North Carolina Tar Heels:
The defending National Champions lose a TON of the talent and size that guided them to the National Championship last season. But, they return one of the best players in the country and Final Four MVP, Joel Berry, along with Theo Pinson, and Luke Maye. They also add talented freshman Jalek Felton. Roy Williams has plenty of talent to work with here and UNC should again finish near the top of the ACC.
8. Florida Gators:
For me, it is a complete toss up between Kentucky and Florida for best team in the SEC. Florida showed they are one of the top teams in the country last season when they reached the Elite Eight in just the second season under coach, Mike White. They are one of the nastiest defensive teams in all of college basketball and return their two best players in KeVaughn Allen and Chris Chiozza. This team has legit National Championship aspirations this season.
7. Kentucky Wildcats:
Not going to lie to you, this Kentucky team makes me nervous. They lose almost all of their scoring and production from a season ago leaving Wenyen Gabriel as their most experienced player. Gabriel averaged just 4.6 PPG and played just 18 minutes per game in a very shaky freshman season. However, this team does not lack talent, as Coach Cal again went to work on the recruiting trail landing the number 1 recruiting class for this season. Hamidou Diallo, Kevin Knox, Quade Green, Jared Vanderbilt, and Nick Richards headline a very elite group of freshmen. This young team may lose a few early with a very difficult non-conference schedule, but I have complete faith in Calipari to coach this team up and make them one of the truly elite teams by March.
6. Villanova Wildcats:
Villanova is another top team that loses some of its top talent and still finds itself ranked in the top 10. They lose an absolute stud player in Josh Hart and another center piece in Kris Jenkins (he hit the buzzer beater to beat UNC in 2016). However, this team has the coaching and talent to overcome these losses and remain the best team in the Big East in 2017. Jalen Brunson, 14.7 PPG and 4.1 APG, will lead this team with the help of Mikal Bridges, Eric Paschall, Dante DiVencenzo, and Omari Spellman, so they should be just fine. Should be at least another top 15 finish for Nova this year.
5. USC Trojans:
To be honest, I kept trying to find reasons to move this team back a few spots, but I just could not. It seems weird ranking USC as a top 5 team in college basketball, but that is where they deserve to be given the team they are returning. USC was a good team a year ago as they reached the second weekend of the tourney as an 11 seed. This year, they return ALL of their best players and key contributors from a year ago not to mention they added Duke transfer Derryck Thornton and five-star forward Charles O’Bannon Jr. to the mix. The one issue with this team is their defense, which was quite frankly not good a year ago, but they should enter the year as a big time threat to win the PAC-12 and even the National Title.
4. Arizona Wildcats:
This team has all the talent to be the number 1 team in the country, as they return a player of the year candidate in Allonzo Trier, along with several other key players from a year ago including Dusan Ristic, Peter Jackson-Cartwright, and Rawle Alkins. Just these players alone would make Arizona a top-15 team, but when you add in the likes of the number 3 overall recruit, DeAndre Ayton, and the number 21 recruit, Emmanuel Akot, you get what could easily be the best team in the country. Sean Miller’s crew would probably be ranked even higher on my list if Rawle Alkins was not out until December with an injury.
3. Kansas Jayhawks:
The Jayhawks lose two of the nation’s best players from a year ago in Josh Jackson and Frank Mason III, but got a big time boost when Svi Mykhailiuk withdrew his name from the draft. Mykhailiuk, Devonte Graham, and Mississippi State transfer Malik Newman should form one of, if not the best backcourt in college basketball. They also get back a healthy Udoka Azubuike and add top 20 recruit Billy Preston to form a formidable frontcourt. Bill Self should be on his way to another BIG 12 title and maybe more this season!
2. Duke Blue Devils:
Everyone probably has Duke ranked as their top team in the country now that super prospect Marvin Bagley III is set to play there for the 2017 season. And hey, I cannot argue that this Duke team is not the most talented team in the nation, because they are. Bagley is a once in a generation type talent who has drawn comparisons to Anthony Davis, but with the shooting stroke of Chris Bosh. Pair that with Grayson Allen, Marques Bolden, and a ridiculous group of freshman consisting of the top PG, top SG, and top PF of the 2017 class, and you get this Duke team. However, this is what people said about Duke just a season ago and that did not end well. Duke is the most talented team in the nation, but I think they will struggle with some chemistry issues early on and that is why I have them at number 2.
1. Michigan State Spartans:
My number one team heading into the 2017 season is none other than Michigan State! Led by one of the greatest coaches in the game, in Tom Izzo, and the player I believe to be the very best in the country, in Miles Bridges, this MSU team has it all. Coming into the season a year ago, Michigan State had the highest ranked recruiting class in Tom Izzo’s history. They failed to live up to expectations, as they earned a 9 seed in the tournament and lost in the second round to a much more experienced Kansas squad. This season, Izzo gets back ALL of those freshman from a year ago, including Miles Bridges who would have been a top-10 pick in the NBA draft last year, and adds in five-star recruit Jaren Jackson. However, what I truly love about this team is their experience and team chemistry. Not only did the majority of this team play together last season, but they also grew together. Every week you could see this team come together and improve under the guidance and leadership of Tom Izzo. That is something I believe is very underrated in college basketball and the reason that I have the Spartans as my number 1 team heading into the season.
Written by Ryan Scimone
