Wednesday, July 25, 2012

UPDATED: 2012-2013 College Basketball Top 25 Preseason Rankings

Now that most of the incoming freshman/transfers have chosen their destination and all of the NBA-ers have moved on, it’s time for an updated college basketball preseason ranking.

Most of the changes in these 2012-2013 rankings were due to personal biases, or things that were overlooked in the first set of rankings.

In any case, these rankings shouldn't change much until just before the preseason tournaments.


1. Indiana
Leaving:  Verdell Jones, Tom Pritchard, Matt Roth
Returning:  Cody Zeller, Christian Watford, Jordan Hulls, Victor Oladipo, Will Sheehey, Maurice Creek
New:  Yogi Ferrell, Hanner Perea, Jeremy Hollowell

This is the season the Hoosiers have been longing for. With their size, shooting, defense and consistent play from freshman PG Yogi Ferrell, they should be in good position for a Final Four run. This might be their one shot, as Watford and Zeller are both likely gone next season.

2. Louisville
Leaving:  Kyle Kuric, Chris Smith, Jared Swopshire
Returning:  Gorgui Dieng, Peyton Siva, Russ Smith, Chane Behanan, Wayne Blackshear, Rakeem Buckles, Mike Marra
New:  Luke Hancock (George Mason), Terry Rozier

Louisville will be one of the best defensive squads in the nation this season, which will keep them near the top of the major polls. The question will be whether they will be dangerous from the perimeter after the departures of Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith.

3. Ohio State
Leaving:  William Buford, Jared Sullinger
Returning: Aaron Craft, Deshaun Thomas, Lenzelle Smith, Sam Thompson, Shannon Scott, Evan Ravenel, Amir Williams, LaQuinton Ross
New:  None

Deshaun Thomas was one of the best players last March and should cap off his collegiate career with another good season. The question will be whether there is enough scoring outside of Thomas that will help alleviate double-teams. Should Lenzelle Smith become the #2 scoring threat, this team will be very dangerous. Aaron Craft at PG is also a major advantage that the Buckeyes will have over its opponents.

4. Kentucky
Leaving:  Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, Eloy Vargas
Returning:  Kyle Wiltjer
New:  Nerlens Noel, Archie Goodwin, Alex Poythress, Willie Cauley, Ryan Harrow (N.C. State)

It's hard to evaluate a team that has nothing left from the prior season. But the Nerlens Noel YouTube video is pretty impressive and Archie Goodwin will be a top scorer.

5. Kansas
Leaving:  Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor, Conner Teahan
Returning:  Jeff Withey, Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford, Justin Wesley, Kevin Young
New:  Ben McLemore, Jamari Traylor, Andrew White, Perry Ellis

At this point, how can you not rank Kansas as #1 in the Big 12?

6. UCLA
Leaving:  Lazeric Jones, Jerime Anderson
Returning:  Josh Smith, Travis Wear, David Wear, Tyler Lamb, Norman Powell, Anthony Stover
New:  Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson, Tony Parker, Jordan Adams, Larry Drew II (North Carolina)

Much of the Bruins' success will be based on the play of their three prized freshmen.

7. Florida
Leaving:  Bradley Beal, Erving Walker
Returning:  Patric Young, Kenny Boynton, Erik Murphy, Mike Rosario, Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete
New:  Braxton Ogbueze, Michael Frazier
8. Michigan State
Leaving:  Draymond Green, Brandon Wood, Austin Thornton
Returning:  Keith Appling, Derrick Nix, Adreian Payne, Branden Dawson, Travis Trice, Brandan Kearney, Russell Byrd
New:  Gary Harris, Matt Costello, Denzel Valentine, Kenny Kaminski

9. Syracuse
Leaving:  Scoop Jardine, Dion Waiters, Fab Melo, Kris Joseph
Returning:  Brandon Triche, C.J. Fair, James Southerland, Michael Carter-Williams, Rakeem Christmas, Baye Keita
New:  DaJuan Coleman, Jerami Grant

10. Michigan
Leaving:  Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, Evan Smotrycz
Returning:  Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jordan Morgan
New:  Mitch McGary, Glenn "Tre" Robinson, Nick Stauskas

This team will have a very good starting five, but will be thin when Beilein looks to his bench.

11. Duke
Leaving:  Austin Rivers, Miles Plumlee
Returning:  Mason Plumlee, Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly, Andre Dawkins, Quinn Cook, Tyler Thornton, Josh Hairston
New:  Marshall Plumlee, Rasheed Sulaimon

12. UNC
Leaving:  Tyler Zeller, Kendall Marshall, John Henson, Harrison Barnes
Returning:  Dexter Strickland, Reggie Bullock, P.J. Hairston, James Michael McAdoo, Leslie McDonald
New:  Marcus Paige, J.P. Tokoto, Joel James, Brice Johnson

13. Baylor
Leaving:  Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller, Quincy Acy, Anthony Jones
Returning:  Pierre Jackson, Brady Heslip, A.J. Walton, Gary Franklin, Deuce Bello, Cory Jefferson
New:  Isaiah Austin, L.J. Rose, Ricardo Gathers

14. Memphis
Leaving:  Will Barton, Wesley Witherspoon
Returning:  Adonis Thomas, Joe Jackson, Tarik Black, Chris Crawford, Antonio Barton, Ferrakohn Hall, Stan Simpson, D.J. Stephens
New:  Shaq Goodwin, Damien Wilson, Geron Johnson

15. UNLV
Leaving:  Chace Stanback, Oscar Bellfield, Brice Massamba, Kendall Wallace
Returning:  Mike Moser, Anthony Marshall, Justin Hawkins, Carlos Lopez, Quintrell Thomas, Reggie Smith
New:  Anthony Bennett, Bryce Jones (USC), Khem Birch (Pitt -- midyear), Katin Reinhardt, Daquan Cook, Demetris Morant

16. Wisconsin
Leaving:  Jordan Taylor
Returning:  Ryan Evans, Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz, Josh Gasser, Ben Brust, Frank Kaminsky
New:  George Marshall, Sam Dekker, Zach Bohannon (Air Force), Zak Showalter

17. Saint Louis
Leaving:  Brian Conklin, Kyle Cassity
Returning:  Kwamain Mitchell, Dwayne Evans, Cody Ellis, Mike McCall, Jordair Jett, Rob Loe
New:  Jared Drew, Keith Carter

18. NC State
Leaving:  C.J. Williams, Alex Johnson
Returning:  Lorenzo Brown, C.J. Leslie, Richard Howell, Scott Wood
New:  Rodney Purvis, Tyler Lewis, T.J. Warren

19. Gonzaga
Leaving:  Robert Sacre, Marquise Carter
Returning:  Elias Harris, Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell, Sam Dower, Guy Landry-Edi, Kelly Olynyk, Mike Hart, David Stockton
New:  Przemek Karnowski
20. Creighton
Leaving: Antoine Young
Returning: Doug McDermott, Gregory Echenique, Grant Gibbs, Ethan Wragge, Jahenns Manigat, Josh Jones
New: None

21. Arizona
Leaving:  Kyle Fogg, Jesse Perry, Josiah Turner
Returning:  Nick Johnson, Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom, Angelo Chol, Jordin Mayes
New:  Brandon Ashley, Kaleb Tarczewski, Grant Jerrett, Gabe York

22. Missouri
Leaving:  Marcus Denmon, Kim English, Ricardo Ratliffe, Matt Pressey
Returning:  Phil Pressey, Michael Dixon, Laurence Bowers
New:  Alex Oriaki (UConn), Keion Bell (Pepp.), Ernest Ross (Auburn), Jabari Brown (Oregon), Tony Criswell, Stefan Jankovic, Domonique Bull, Ryan Rosburg, Negus Webster-Chan

23. SDSU
Leaving:  Garrett Green, Tim Shelton
Returning:  Jamaal Franklin, Chase Tapley, Xavier Thames, James Rahon, DeShawn Stephens, LaBradford Franklin
New:  J.J. O'Brien (Utah), Dwayne Polee (SJU), James Johnson (Virginia -mid-yr), Winston Shepard, Skylar Spencer, Matt Shrigley

24. Kansas State
Leaving: Jamar Samuels
Returning: Rodney McGruder, Will Spradling, Jordan Henriquez, Angel Rodriguez, Thomas Gipson, Adrian Diaz, Shane Southwell, Martavious Irving
New: None

25. Minnesota
Leaving: Ralph Sampson III
Returning: Trevor Mbakwe, Rodney Williams, Austin Hollins, Andre Hollins, Julian Welch, Joe Coleman, Maurice Walker
New: Wally Ellenson, Charles Buggs