College Basketball Rankings (25–21)
In preparation for this college basketball season, I will be walking you guys through my predictions for the top 25 teams. This week, I drop the bottom five teams in the rankings.
Just Missed:
Providence Friars, Texas Longhorns, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Oklahoma Sooners.
25. Virginia Tech Hokies — Virginia Tech was on the cusp of the top 20 when they suffered a couple of tough blows. As if losing their top two scorers from a year ago was enough, key reserve Ty Outlaw is out for the year with a torn ACL and potential starter Khadim Sy suddenly transferred. Neither of these losses are the death of the Hokies, but the bench gets that much slimmer. Buzz Williams has a very good starting five, but he will have to pace them throughout the year. Getting Chris Clarke healthy from his torn ACL last year is crucial to the Hokies success. He is a do it all player that shot almost 60% from the floor in his injury-shorted year.
Point guard Justin Robinson ran the team last year, but didn’t contribute as much scoring. That being said, he will need to provide a scoring boost in 2017. Ahmed Hill needs to improve his 37% clip from 3 in order to replace Seth Allen’s shoes. Justin Bibbs is a very versatile scorer and will get more minutes as well. Kerry Blackshear Jr. will likely start at center with Sy gone. This is his first year with a major role, and he could be the ACC’s next double-double guy. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Wabissa Bede are Williams’ prized recruits. Alexander-Walker flirted with 5 star status and is a dynamic scorer, and Bede is a very good leader and will compete at both ends of the court. Seth LeDay has a big role as the key front reserve, and must give Williams good minutes. Even with the unexpected losses, Virginia Tech has all the makings of a top 8 seeded team.
24. Northwestern Wildcats — Chris Collins took Northwestern to their first appearance in program history and looks to build that momentum this coming season. A majority of the group from last year is back, and looks to challenge Minnesota and Purdue for a top 3 spot in the Big Ten. Bryant McIntosh and Scottie Lindsey make up one of the best backcourts in the Big Ten. McIntosh lead the team in points (14.8 PPG) and assists a game (5.2 APG), and will continue to lead the Wildcats. Scottie Lindsey is the more dynamic scorer of the duo, but will look to be more efficient with his shots. Center Dererk Pardon has emerged according to Collins, saying he could be a double-double guy for the Wildcats this season. Vic Law gives the Wildcats a forward that can stretch the floor and rebound the ball. Also, he will likely guard the opposing teams best scorer. Gavin Skelly will start at the power forward spot and will see a much bigger bump from his 17 minutes a game a year ago. Isiah Brown and Aaron Falzon are key reserves for Collins. Brown will run the offense when McIntosh takes one of his few breaks. While Falzon played sparingly a year ago, he is talented and will be called upon in the front court. Barret Benson will also play far more as the reserve center. Northwestern has set a new standard for their basketball program with a first tournament birth a year ago, but have higher hopes with a very solid returning group.
23. Baylor Bears — The Baylor Bears will likely take a step back after a great regular season, having reached their first #1 ranking in team history, but have a chance to make run in a weak Big 12. For that to happen, Manu Lecomte and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. have to have great seasons and elevate the play of their peers. Lecomte, a transfer from Miami, turned heads a year ago, but faded a bit as the year went on. He must be the offensive focal point and the ace playmaker Scott Drew needs. In a long list of successful Baylor bigs, (Quincy Acy, Rico Gathers, Jonathan Motley) Lual-Acuil Jr. is next. He showed flashes of elite rim protecting in limited minutes, but he is the man up front now. Drew lost perimeter threats Ishmail Wainright and Al Freeman, so he must find new players to fill that role. Enter King McClure and Jake Lindsey. Along with Lecomte, Lindsey hit 40% of his threes a year ago. Drew needs McClure to be a a dynamic scorer, from shooting to driving in the paint. Nuni Omot will play next to Lual-Acuil, and is a more versatile option in the front court. The bench is very young and inexperienced. Other than Terry Maston — who was a very efficient scorer from the post last year in limited time — the bench consistent of many freshman. Look for guard Tyson Jolly to emerge as a go to option for Drew. Baylor may not be a 3 seed, but if players step up, Scott Drew could have a special season in store.
22. Purdue Boilermakers — The loss of Caleb Swanigan is a tough one for the Boilermakers, but Matt Painter has another group that can finish near the top of the Big Ten standings. Painter caught a huge break when Vincent Edwards and Isaac Haas decided to come back for their senior seasons. Haas always played second fiddle to Swanigan, but in 2017, he runs the show up front. Even in limited minutes, Haas averaged 12.6 points on 19 minutes a game. Forward Vincent Edwards is the Swiss army knife of the squad. He improved his shooting and passing, and is versatile enough to play either the 3 or the 4. Carson Edwards was very inconsistent during his freshman season, but he seemed to make a leap this offseason. He impressed in the U19 FIBA World Cup, and if he becomes more consistent, Purdue can be a very lethal offense. P.J. Thompson was very efficient last year, and as the lead guard needs to continue again. He and Edwards should be a very solid shooting back-court combo. Both forwards Dakota Mathias (45%) and Ryan Cline (41%) shot over 40% from 3, and give Purdue much needed shooting it hasn’t had in recent years. The Boilermakers are very dynamic on offense and no longer need to play bully ball down low. Nojel Eastern is Painter’s prized recruit, coming out of high school as a high-level athlete. Purdue will likely take a slight step back after the loss of Swanigan, but the Boilermakers still are a top-tier Big Ten team.
21. Seton Hall Pirates — Kevin Willard has Seton Hall destined for their top finish in years. Even with a disappointing first round loss to Arkansas in the tournament, the Pirates have been on a steady incline in recent years, and are on breakout watch entering 2017. The Pirates will start four seniors, and the best of the returning group is power forward Angel Delgado. Already a double-double machine averaging 15 points and 13 rebounds a game a year ago, Delgado dominates the glass and has a lethal arsenal of post moves on the low block. Khadeen Carrington will serve as the primary ball-handler for the Pirates. He’s a proven scorer (17 PPG last year), but he has a bigger responsibility as a playmaker in this offense. Dezi Rodriguez is the athletic small forward that can score in many ways. If he improves his shooting, this offense could be unstoppable. Myles Powell played a large role for a freshman last year (10 PPG in 22 MPG), but his role will increase as the main shooting guard and secondary ball-handler in the back-court. Ismael Sanogo looks to improve as a secondary option in the low post besides Delgado. The Seton Hall bench is very young, but talented. Michael Nezi will serve as the main backup to the front court and Eron Gordon will provide scoring off the bench. Willard is very excited about freshman Sandro Mamukelashvili and his potential down the road. Villanova and Xavier are the top Big East teams, but Seton Hall is loaded with talent, depth, and experience.
Next week, a West Coast Conference not named Gonzaga cracks the rankings and an upstart team from the SEC stakes its claim in the top 25.
