• Player stats from 2021-22 season.
• Player classification projected for 2022-23 season.
• 2022 freshman rankings are the 247Sports Composite Rating.
1. NORTH CAROLINA
BACK: F Armando Bacot (Sr., 16.3 ppg), G Caleb Love (Jr., 16.0 ppg), G RJ Davis (Jr., 13.5 ppg), SG Leaky Black (Sr., 5.0 ppg), SF Puff Johnson (Jr., 2.8 ppg), G Dontrez Styles (Soph., 2.0 ppg), F Justin McKoy (Sr., 1.1 ppg), G D’Marco Dunn (Soph., 1.0 ppg), F Will Shaver (didn’t play)
GONE: F Brady Manek (15.2 ppg), F Dawson Garcia (9.0 ppg), G Kerwin Walton Jr., (3.4 ppg), G Anthony Harris (Jr., 2.6 ppg)
ADD: F Pete Nance (Northwestern, 14.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg), PG Seth Trimble (No. 34), C Jalen Washington (No. 41), SF Tyler Nickel (No. 74)
The Tar Heels will bring back everyone of note besides Brady Manek from a team that played in the national title game, and Hubert Davis picked up a replacement for Manek in Northwestern transfer Pete Nance. Nance doesn’t shoot it quite as well but he can score and rebound, giving UNC an experienced, team-first big man. This puts the Tar Heels over Gonzaga for the No. 1 spot entering the season.
2. GONZAGA
BACK: PF Drew Timme (18.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg), F Julian Strawther (Jr., 11.8 ppg), SG Rasir Bolton (Sr., 11.2 ppg), F Anton Watson (Sr., 7.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg), PG Nolan Hickman (Soph., 5.1 ppg), G Hunter Sallis (Soph., 4.3 ppg), F Ben Gregg (Soph., 2.4 ppg), F Kaden Perry (Soph., 1.8 ppg), G Dominick Harris (Soph. – injured)
GONE: F Chet Holmgren (14.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.7 bpg), PG Andrew Nembhard (11.8 ppg, 5.8 apg), G Martynas Arlauskas (0.9 ppg)
ADD: PG Malachi Smith (Chattanooga, 19.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.0 apg), F Efton Reid (LSU, 6.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg), PF Braden Huff
When Drew Timme opted to come back, the Zags became one of the favorites this season. He joins Strawther and Bolton to return to Spokane, but the key to how far they can go in March will be in the backcourt with the development of sophomores Hickman and Sallis, and the addition of Smith.
3. HOUSTON
BACK: G Marcus Sasser (Sr., 17.7 ppg), G Tramon Mark (Jr., 10.1 ppg), PG Jamal Shead (Jr., 10.0 ppg, 5.8 apg), F Reggie Chaney (Sr., 3.2 ppg), G Ramon Walker (Soph., 3.2 ppg), F J’Wan Roberts (RS Jr., 3.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg), F Ja’Vier Francis (Soph., 1.2 ppg), G Emanuel Sharp (did not play)
GONE: G Kyler Edwards (13.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg), F Fabian White Jr. (12.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg), C Josh Carlton (11.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg), G Taze Moore (10.4 ppg), C Kiyron Powell (2.3 ppg), Robbie Armbrester (1.2 ppg)
ADD: PF Jarace Walker (No. 10), SF Terrance Arceneaux (No. 37), G Mylik Wilson (Texas Tech, 2.5 ppg), F Darius Bowser (Grad, Charleston Southern, 5.0 ppg)
Kelvin Sampson nearly took Houston to a second consecutive Final Four despite losing Sasser and Mark to injury back in December. Both are back, and so are a pair of talented frosh in Walker and Arceneaux. This group has all the pieces to make another deep run.
4. CREIGHTON
BACK: C Ryan Kalkbrenner (Jr., 13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.6 bpg), PG Ryan Nembhard (Soph., 11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg), F Arthur Kaluma (Soph., 10.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Trey Alexander (Soph., 7.4 ppg), G Shereef Mitchell (Sr., 3.5 ppg), G John Christofilis (Fr., 0.5 ppg), F Mason Miller (redshirted)
GONE: F Ryan Hawkins (13.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg), SG Alex O’Connell (11.8 ppg), F Keyshawn Feazell (3.1 ppg), G Rati Andronikashvili (1.8 ppg), F Modestas Kancleris (0.2 ppg)
ADD: G Baylor Scheierman (South Dakota State, 16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.5 apg), G Francisco Farabello (TCU, 4.4 ppg), C Fredrick King, G Ben Shtolzberg, PF Jasen Green
The losses of both Hawkins and O’Connell will hurt, but Greg McDermott will return everyone else from a team that nearly beat Kansas in the NCAA tourney without Kalkbrenner and Nembhard. Creighton also added South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman, who averaged 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds and was an elite long-range shooter this past season.
5. UCLA
BACK: G Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Sr., 13.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg), G Tyger Campbell (Sr., 11.9 ppg, 4.3 apg), G Jaylen Clark (Jr., 6.7 ppg), G David Singleton (Sr., 4.8 ppg), F Kenneth Nwuba (Sr., 1.2 ppg), F Mac Etienne (RS Fr. – injured), G Will McClendon (Fr. – injured)
GONE: G Johnny Juzang (15.6 ppg), G Jules Bernard (12.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg), F Cody Riley (7.3 ppg), C Myles Johnson (3.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), SF Peyton Watson (3.3 ppg), SF Jake Kyman (2.4 ppg)
ADD: G Amari Bailey (No. 7), C Adem Bona (No. 15), PG Dylan Andrews (No. 39), G/F Abramo Canka
With Jaquez and Campbell back in the fold, and the addition of three talented freshmen, the Bruins should have a chance to win the Pac-12 and be one of the top teams in the country. The key will be the immediate impact of Bailey and Bona.
6. BAYLOR
BACK: G Adam Flagler (Sr., 13.8 ppg), G LJ Cryer (Jr., 13.5 ppg), C Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (Sr., 8.4 ppg), Flo Thamba (Sr., 6.2 ppg), G Dale Bonner (Sr., 3.1 ppg), SF Jordan Turner (Jr., 2.0 ppg), C Zach Loveday (Jr., 1.0 ppg), G Langston Love (Fr. – injured)
GONE: G James Akinjo (13.5 ppg), SF Matthew Mayer (9.8 ppg), Kendall Brown (9.7 ppg), Jeremy Sochan (9.2 ppg)
ADD: G Keyonte George (No. 6), F Jalen Bridges (West Virginia, 8.4 ppg), F Caleb Lohner (BYU, 7.0 ppg), C Joshua Ojianwuna (No. 150), G Dantwan Grimes
Scott Drew will still have a talented backcourt in Flagler and Cryer, and they add two impact transfers — Bridges and Lohner — in addition to one of the top freshmen in the country with scoring wing Keyonte George. It’s tough to question the Bears and their culture these days.
7. KENTUCKY
BACK: C Oscar Tshiebwe (17.4 ppg, 15.1 rpg), PG Sahvir Wheeler (Sr., 10.1 ppg, 6.9 apg), F Jacob Toppin (Sr., 6.2 ppg), F Daimion Collins (Soph., 2.9 ppg), F Lance Ware (Jr., 1.5 ppg), CJ Fredrick (Jr., – injured)
GONE: G TyTy Washington (12.5 ppg), SG Kellan Grady (11.4 ppg), F Keion Brooks Jr. (10.8 ppg), G Davion Mintz (8.5 ppg), G Dontaie Allen (2.2 ppg), F Bryce Hopkins (2.1 ppg), G Shaedon Sharpe (Redshirted)
ADD: G Cason Wallace (No. 8), SF Chris Livingston (No. 11), G Antonio Reeves (Illinois State, 20.1 ppg), G Adou Thiero, F Ugonna Onyenso
Obviously, the return of the National Player of the Year, Tshiebwe, was huge. But the question that remains is perimeter shooting. Illinois State transfer Reeves will be impactful in that area and so will a healthy Fredrick. John Calipari should still have enough talent to be among the top teams in the country with a handful of returnees and the addition of a pair of top-10 freshmen.
8. KANSAS
BACK: F Jalen Wilson (RS Jr., 11.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg), PG Dajuan Harris Jr. (Jr., 5.5 ppg, 4.2 apg), G Joseph Yesufu (Jr., 2.1 ppg), F Zach Clemence (Soph., 2.1 ppg), G Bobby Pettiford (Soph., 1.4 ppg), KJ Adams (Soph., 1.1 ppg), F Cam Martin (Sr. – redshirted), G Kyle Cuffe Jr. (Fr. – redshirted)
GONE: SG Ochai Agbaji (18.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), SG Christian Braun (14.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg), C David McCormack (10.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg), PG Remy Martin (8.4 ppg), F Mitch Lightfoot (4.7 ppg), G Jalen Coleman-Lands (3.8 ppg)
ADD: G Kevin McCullar (Texas Tech, 10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg), SF Gradey Dick (No. 19), SF MJ Rice (No. 28), C Ernest Udeh Jr. (No. 29), PF Zuby Ejiofor (No. 49)
Agbaji and Braun are gone, but Wilson is back along with McCullar from Texas Tech. Bill Self will have a bunch of talented sophomores ready for expanded roles in Pettiford, Clemence and Adams. With a quartet of top-50 frosh coming into Lawrence, the defending champs have reloaded.
9. VIRGINIA
BACK: F Jayden Gardner (Sr., 15.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), PG Kihei Clark (Sr., 10.0 ppg, 4.4 apg), G Armaan Franklin (Sr., 11.1 ppg), G Reece Beekman (Jr., 8.2 ppg), F Kadin Shedrick (RS Jr., 6.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), C Francisco Caffaro (Sr., 4.3 ppg), G Taine Murray (Soph., 2.0 ppg)
GONE: C Kody Stattmann (3.3 ppg), G Carson McCorkle (1.3 ppg), F Igor Milicic
ADD: F Ben Vander Plas (Ohio, 14.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.1 apg), F Isaac Traudt (No. 54), G Isaac McKneely (No. 55), SF Leon Bond (No. 58), SF Ryan Dunn
Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers struggled a year ago, but he has everyone back — and also added some talented freshmen ranked in the top 75.
10. TEXAS
BACK: F Timmy Allen (Sr., 12.1 ppg), G Marcus Carr (Sr., 11.4 ppg), F Christian Bishop (Sr., 7.0 ppg), F Dylan Disu (Sr., 3.7 ppg), F Brock Cunningham (Sr., 2.3 ppg)
GONE: G Andrew Jones (11.2 ppg), G Courtney Ramey (9.4 ppg), F Tre Mitchell (8.7 ppg), G Jase Febres (3.9 ppg), G Devin Askew (2.1 ppg), F Jaylon Tyson (1.8 ppg), G Avery Benson (0.1 ppg)
ADD: SF Dillon Mitchell (No. 5), G Tyrese Hunter (Iowa State, 11.0 ppg, 4.9 apg), PG Sir’Jabari Rice (New Mexico State, 11.9 ppg, 3.1 apg), PG Arterio Morris (No. 16), PG Rowan Brumbaugh (No. 80), F Alex Anamekwe
Chris Beard brings back multiple playmakers from a team that won a tourney game last season. Texas also brings in a trio of talented freshmen and a couple of transfer point guards in Hunter and Rice, who both come from winning programs.
11. INDIANA
BACK: F Trayce Jackson-Davis (Sr., 18.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg), G Xavier Johnson (Sr., 12.1 ppg, 5.1 apg), F Race Thompson (Sr., 11.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg), G Miller Kopp (Sr., 6.0 ppg), G Trey Galloway (Sr., 5.5 ppg), G Jordan Geronimo (Sr., 4.4 ppg), G Tamar Bates (Soph., 3.9 ppg), G Anthony Leal (Sr., 1.9 ppg), C Logan Duncomb (Jr., 0.7 ppg)
GONE: G Parker Stewart (6.2 ppg), G Robert Phinisee (4.5 ppg), F Michael Durr (1.5 ppg), G Khristian Lander (2.9 ppg)
ADD: G Jalen Hood-Schifino (No. 22), PF Malik Reneau (No. 27), PF Kaleb Banks (No. 83), SG CJ Gunn
With Jackson-Davis returning to Bloomington, Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers have most of their key pieces back from an NCAA tourney team. They also added a couple of talented freshmen in Hood-Schifino and Reneau, and that makes IU the pick to win the Big Ten.
12. TCU
BACK: G Mike Miles (Jr., 15.4 ppg, 3.8 apg), G Damion Baugh (Sr., 10.6 ppg, 4.5 apg), F Emanuel Miller (Sr., 10.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg), F Chuck O’Bannon (Sr., 9.5 ppg), C Eddie Lampkin (Soph., 6.8 ppg), G Micah Peavy (Jr., 6.1 ppg), F Xavier Cork (Jr., 3.3 ppg), F JaKobe Coles (Soph., 2.7 ppg), G Shahada Wells (Sr, 1.9 ppg), Souleymane Doumbia (Jr., 1.0 ppg), G Tyler Lundblade
GONE: G Francisco Farabello (4.7 ppg)
ADD: G PJ Haggerty, G Rondel Walker (Oklahoma State, 6.3 ppg)
When Miles and Baugh decided to return, the Horned Frogs became a top-20 team. Jamie Dixon also has just about everyone else of note returning from an NCAA tourney group.
13. TENNESSEE
BACK: G Santiago Vescovi (Sr., 13.3 ppg), G Josiah-Jordan James (Sr., 10.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg), PG Zakai Zeigler (Soph., 8.8 ppg), F Olivier Nkamhoua (Sr., 8.6 ppg), F Uros Plavsic (Sr., 4.2 ppg), F Jonas Aidoo (Soph., 2.1 ppg), G Jahmai Mashack (Soph., 0.7 ppg)
GONE: PG Kennedy Chandler (13.9 ppg), F John Fulkerson (7.5 ppg), F Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (3.9 ppg), G Justin Powell (3.7 ppg), G Victor Bailey Jr. (2.6 ppg), G Quentin Diboundje (1.7), F Handje Tamba
ADD: SF Julian Phillips (No. 12), G Tyreke Key (Indiana State, 17.2 ppg), BJ Edwards (No. 104), G D.J. Jefferson, F Tobe Awaka
The Vols could be one of the top teams in the SEC this season with everyone notable back besides Chandler and Fulkerson. They do have experience and depth, and the late addition of the highly-ranked Phillips will help.
14. ARKANSAS
BACK: Devo Davis (Jr., 8.3 ppg), F Kamani Johnson (Sr., 2.3 ppg)
GONE: G JD Notae (18.3 ppg, 3.7 apg), SF Stanley Umude (11.9 ppg), F Jaylin Williams (10.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg), G Au’Diese Toney (10.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), PG Chris Lykes (7.6 ppg), C Connor Vanover (Sr., 3.9 ppg), F Trey Wade (3.6 ppg), G Jaxson Robinson (Jr., 3.4 ppg), KK Robinson (1.5 ppg), Chance Moore (1.0 ppg)
ADD: SG Nick Smith (No. 1), PG Anthony Black (No. 17), SF Jordan Walsh (No. 18), G Derrian Ford (No. 68), SF Barry Dunning (No. 91), SF Joseph Pinion (No. 94), G Ricky Council IV (Wichita State, 12.0 ppg), F Trevon Brazile (Missouri, 6.6 ppg), C Makhel Mitchell (URI, 10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), C Makhi Mitchell (URI, 9.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg), PF Jalen Graham (Arizona State, 9.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
There’s no doubt that Eric Musselman will have talent in Fayetteville this season behind an impressive freshman class (led by Nick Smith) and a quality group of transfers, but the key will be chemistry and how quickly they can come together.
15. DUKE
BACK: PG Jeremy Roach (Jr., 8.6 ppg, 3.2 apg), G Jaylen Blakes (Soph., 1.0 ppg)
GONE: F Paolo Banchero (17.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G Wendell Moore (13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.4 apg), G Trevor Keels (11.5 ppg), C Mark Williams (11.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.8 bpg), F AJ Griffin (10.4 ppg), F Joey Baker (4.5 ppg), F Theo John (2.8 ppg), F Bates Jones (1.4 ppg)
ADD: C Dereck Lively (No. 1), SF Dariq Whitehead (No. 2), PF Kyle Filipowski (No. 4), PF Mark Mitchell (No. 21), SG Jaden Schutt (No. 63), G Christian Reeves (No. 134), PG Tyrese Proctor, PF Ryan Young (Northwestern, 8.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), SG Jacob Grandison (Illinois, 9.6 ppg), F Kale Catchings (Harvard, 9.1 ppg)
Coach K is out and Jon Scheyer is in — with a talented freshman class that includes a pair of front-court studs in Lively and Filipowski. Lively is a long, athletic shot-blocker who can step out and make shots, while Filipowski is a skilled forward who can really space the court. The question is experience, although the additions of Young and Grandison should be huge for Scheyer.
16. IOWA
BACK: F Patrick McCaffery (RS Jr., 10.5 ppg), F Kris Murray (Jr., 9.7 ppg), G Tony Perkins (Jr., 7.4 ppg), C Filip Rebraca (RS Sr., 5.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg), F Payton Sandfort (Soph., 5.0 ppg), PG Ahron Ulis (Jr., 3.1 ppg), G Connor McCaffery (Grad, 2.5 ppg), F Riley Mulvey (Soph., 0.9 ppg)
GONE: F Keegan Murray (23.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg), G Jordan Bohannon (11.0 ppg), G Joe Toussaint (4.3 ppg)
ADD: PG Dasonte Bowen, G Josh Dix, G Dante Eldridge
Sure, the Hawkeyes lost two huge contributors in Murray and Bohannon. But Fran McCaffery brings back plenty of talent and experience with Patrick McCaffery, Kris Murray and Perkins, who should all be double-digit guys. Rebraca is an experienced big who knows his role, while Sandfort could be a breakout guy. The key is point guard play and whether Ulis and Bowen can combine to be solid and limit their mistakes.
17. OREGON
BACK: G Will Richardson (Sr., 14.1 ppg), F Quincy Guerrier (Sr., 10.1 ppg), F N’Faly Dante (Sr., 8.1 ppg), G Rivaldo Soares (Sr., 4.7 ppg), C Nate Bittle (Soph., 1.7 ppg), F Lok Wur (Jr., 0.9 ppg)
GONE: G Jacob Young (12.0 ppg), G De’Vion Harmon (10.8 ppg), F Eric Williams Jr. (8.4 ppg), C Franck Kepnang (Jr., 4.7 ppg), C Isaac Johnson (2.4 ppg)
ADD: C Kel’el Ware (No. 9), G Keeshawn Barthelemy (Colorado, 11.1 ppg), G Jermaine Couisnard (South Carolina, 12.0 ppg), G Tyrone Williams, G Brennan Rigsby, F Ethan Butler
Dana Altman and the Ducks had a tough season this past year, but don’t expect another. Richardson, Guerrier and Dante return with a cast that also includes a top recruit and the addition of Colorado transfer Barthelemy and South Carolina transfer Couisnard.
18. AUBURN
BACK: G K.D. Johnson (Jr., 12.3 ppg), G Wendell Green (Jr., 12.0 ppg), G Allen Flanigan (Sr., 6.3 ppg), F Jaylin Williams (Sr., 5.6 ppg), G Zep Jasper (Sr., 5.1 ppg), C Dylan Cardwell (Jr., 3.0 ppg), F Chris Moore (Jr., 1.7 ppg), C Babatunde Akingbola
GONE: F Jabari Smith (16.9 ppg), C Walker Kessler (11.4 ppg), G Devan Cambridge (5.3 ppg)
ADD: F Yohan Traore (No. 25), SF Chance Westry (No. 35), F Johni Broome (Morehead State, 16.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg), PG Tre Donaldson (No. 127)
Bruce Pearl. That’s the reason I’ve got the Tigers this high despite losing Smith and Kessler. The roster is solid, but the hope is that Traore and Westry can come along quickly and instantly be impact freshmen, and that Broome can help with experience up front.
19. VILLANOVA
BACK: G Justin Moore (Sr., 14.8 ppg), G Caleb Daniels (10.3 ppg), F Eric Dixon (Jr., 9.1 ppg), F Brandon Slater (8.5 ppg), G Jordan Longino (1.8 ppg), G Chris Arcidiacono (Sr., 1.6 ppg), F Nnanna Njoku (Soph., 0.7 ppg), F Trey Patterson (Soph., 0.6 ppg), G Angelo Brizzi (Fr. – redshirt)
GONE: G Collin Gillespie (15.6 ppg), F Jermaine Samuels (11.1 ppg), G Bryan Antoine (1.5 ppg), F Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (0.8 ppg)
ADD: SF Cam Whitmore (No. 13), G Mark Armstrong (No. 48), SG Brendan Hausen (No. 109)
The shocker of the offseason was Jay Wright calling it a career, and now former assistant Kyle Neptune has the unenviable task of trying to replace the Hall of Famer. The roster isn’t overpowering and has question marks, but Moore, Slater and Daniels are all back from a Final Four team, and the Wildcats bring in a heralded frosh in Whitmore. A major key will be when Moore returns from a torn Achilles.
20. ALABAMA
BACK: G Jahvon Quinerly (Sr., 13.8 ppg, 4.2 apg), C Charles Bediako (Soph., 6.7 ppg), F Noah Gurley (Sr., 6.8 ppg), F Darius Miles (Jr., 5.8 ppg), G Nimari Burnett (Soph., Injured)
GONE: G Jaden Shackelford (16.6 ppg), G Keon Ellis (12.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G JD Davison (8.5 ppg, 4.3 apg), F Juwan Gary (6.5 ppg), F James Rojas (5.4 ppg), F Keon Ambrose-Hylton (1.0 ppg), G Jusaun Holt (0.7 ppg), F Alex Tchikou
ADD: SF Brandon Miller (No. 14), G Mark Sears (Ohio, 19.6 ppg, 4.1 apg), G Dominick Welch (St. Bonaventure, 12.3 ppg, PG Jaden Bradley (No. 24), SG Rylan Griffen (No. 50), PF Noah Clowney (No. 69), F Nick Pringle
The Crimson Tide bring in two of the top freshmen in the country with Miller and Bradley, and also get Bediako back. Quinerly might not be back on the court until February after suffering a major knee injury at the end of the season. The Tide added Sears from the portal to help at the point guard spot.
21. DAYTON
BACK: F DaRon Holmes (Soph., 12.8), F Toumani Camara (Jr., 10.9), G Malachi Smith (Soph., 9.3), G Kobe Elvis (Soph., 8.9), G Koby Brea (Soph., 8.1), G R.J. Blakney (Soph., 6.5), F Mustapha Amzil (Soph., 5.6), F Kaleb Washington (Soph., 1.4 ppg), F Zimi Nwokeji (Soph., 0.9), F Richard Amaefule (Fr. – redshirted)
GONE: G Elijah Weaver (6.6 ppg), G Lynn Greer III (2.7 ppg), C Moulaye Sissoko (2.4 ppg)
ADD: F Mike Sharavjamts (No. 84), F Tyrone Baker (Georgia)
The Flyers return just about everyone from a team that went 24-11 and finished a game back from the A-10 regular-season title. Now, it’ll be a sophomore-laden group, and that should make a huge difference.
22. SAINT LOUIS
BACK: G Javonte Perkins (Sr., 17.1 ppg in 2020-21), G Gibson Jimerson (RS Soph., 16.3 ppg), PG Yuri Collins (Jr., 11.1 ppg, 7.9 apg), F Francis Okoro (Sr., 10.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), G Fred Thatch Jr. (RS Jr., 9.3 ppg), F Terrence Hargrove Jr. (Jr., 6.7 ppg)
GONE: G Jordan Nesbitt (8.2 ppg), F Marten Linssen (7.0 ppg), G DeAndre Jones (4.0 ppg)
ADD: G Javon Pickett (Missouri, 11.1 ppg), F Jake Forrester (Temple, 5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg), G Sincere Parker (Soph., Moberly Area), G Larry Hughes Jr., G Kellen Thames, G Nick Kramer, C Mouhamadou Cisse, F Daniel Rivera
Travis Ford didn’t just bring back his top four scorers from a team that won 23 games a year ago, but he also brings back Perkins, a senior who missed last year due to a torn ACL after averaging 17.1 points two seasons ago. The Billikens are going to be able to score with just about anyone, but the keys will be their defense and team chemistry.
23. OHIO STATE
BACK: F Zed Key (Jr., 7.8 ppg), G Eugene Brown (Jr., 3.5 ppg), F Justice Sueing (Sr., did not play), F Kalen Etzler (Fr.)
GONE: F E.J. Liddell (19.4 ppg), G Malaki Branham (13.7 ppg), G Jamari Wheeler (7.1 ppg), F Kyle Young (8.2 ppg), F Justin Ahrens (4.8 ppg), G Cedric Russell (4.2 ppg), G Meechie Johnson Jr. (4.4 ppg), C Joey Brunk (2.4 ppg), G Jimmy Sotos (1.8 ppg), F Seth Towns
ADD: SG Roddy Gayle Jr. (No. 41), PG Bruce Thornton (No. 42), C Felix Okpara (No. 57), SF Brice Sensabaugh (No. 60), G Isaac Likekele (Oklahoma State, 7.1 ppg), G Sean McNeil (West Virginia, 12.2 ppg), G Tanner Holden (Wright State, 20.1 ppg), SG Bowen Hardman
It’s a revamped roster with the early departure of Liddell and Branham, but Chris Holtmann has reloaded through the portal with guys like Likekele, McNeil and Holden, and also with a strong recruiting class that has four top-75 guys.
24. ARIZONA
BACK: F Azuolas Tubelis (Jr., 13.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg), PG Kerr Kriisa (Jr., 9.7 ppg, 4.7 apg), C Oumar Ballo (RS Jr., 6.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg), G Pelle Larsson (Jr., 7.2 ppg), G Adama Bal (Soph., 1.5 ppg)
GONE: Bennedict Mathurin (17.7 ppg), Christian Koloko (12.6 ppg), Dalen Terry (8.0 ppg)
ADD: G Courtney Ramey (Texas, 9.4 ppg), SG Cedric Henderson (Campbell, 14.0 ppg), PG Kylan Boswell, F Dylan Anderson, F Henri Veesaar, F Filip Borovicanin
Tommy Lloyd lost a ton from last year’s team that secured both the Pac-12 regular-season and tourney title, but he brings back four key players and also added Ramey and a couple of talented freshmen in Veesaar and Anderson. This team won’t have as much high-end talent as last year, but should compete for another league title.
25. ILLINOIS
BACK: F Coleman Hawkins (Jr., 5.9 ppg), G RJ Melendez (Soph., 3.8 ppg), G Luke Goode (Soph., 2.0 ppg), C Brandon Lieb (Jr., 0.8)
GONE: C Kofi Cockburn (20.9 ppg, 10.6 rpg), G Alfonso Plummer (14.6 ppg), G Trent Frazier (11.6 ppg, 4.1 apg), G Jacob Grandison (9.6 ppg), PG Andre Curbelo (7.5 ppg), F Da’Monte Williams (3.9 ppg), G Austin Hutcherson (2.0 ppg), C Omar Payne (1.8 ppg), F Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (1.6 ppg), G Brandin Podziemski (1.4 ppg)
ADD: G TJ Shannon (Texas Tech, 10.4 ppg), F Matthew Mayer (Baylor, 9.8 ppg), PG Skyy Clark (No. 30), PF Ty Rodgers (No. 48), C Dain Dainja (Baylor, 2.0 ppg), G Jayden Epps (No. 67), SG Sencire Harris (No. 106)
It’s a completely revamped Illini team with the departure of Cockburn, Plummer, Frazier and even Curbelo. Brad Underwood will play fast with the addition of guys like Mayer and Shannon and also a trio of top-75 freshmen.
