Geary: Paolo Banchero, Duke Who will win the national championship?įorde: UCLA. The Timme-Holmgren frontcourt duo is formidable, and let’s not forget Mark Few has accumulated past recruiting talent, like Julian Strawther, that are ready to step into a larger role. Gonzaga: The Zags lost a lot, but this train isn’t slowing down. Oats’s group will score early and often and lock up defensively. Nate Oats’s crew lost experienced leaders, but returns, arguably, the most talented crop of guards in the country, including SI99 top-10 prospect JD Davison.

Buffalo transfer DeVante' Jones and freshman sniper Caleb Houstan will add substantial firepower on the wing.ĭark-horse Final Four team: Alabama. Michigan: Hunter Dickinson is back patrolling the paint for the Wolverines and Eli Brooks gives Juwan Howard experience in the backcourt, which should help his plethora of young guards develop. Luckily, they have potentially the best player in college hoops in Paolo Banchero and a strong supporting cast.

The Jayhawks also added one of the most dynamic guards in the country in Arizona State transfer Remy Martin (19.1 ppg.).ĭuke: Though they’re trying to downplay the “win it for K” theme to the season, the Blue Devils won’t be able to escape the motivation for their sixth national title being rooted in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season in Durham. Kansas: Bill Self returns four starters, who make up four of his top five scorers from last season. It should be much better on defense thanks to the additions of Myles Johnson (Rutgers) and five-star freshman Peyton Watson. UCLA: This isn’t the same UCLA team that went on the miracle run to the Final Four. It could prove to be the perfect marriage and get the Jayhawks back to the Final Four. Kansas: Bill Self’s team has four starters back and adds Arizona State transfer Remy Martin at point guard.

Much has been made of UT’s deep frontcourt, but I love the backcourt quartet of Marcus Carr, Courtney Ramey, Andrew Jones and Devin Askew.

Texas: It will likely take the Longhorns some time to jell, but this roster is loaded. 1 recruit in the country (Chet Holmgren) and one of the top point guards in the sport (Andrew Nembhard). Gonzaga: The Bulldogs have the nation’s best player (Drew Timme), the No. Might be able to close that gap this year. They were close last year, losing a hotly contested regional final to eventual national champion Baylor. Razorbacks have a nice combination of returning talent (JD Notae, Davonte Davis, Jaylin Williams) with a new infusion of transfers (four starters at their last schools).

Ncaab expert picks