falconlover79's Week Pre-Season Ballot
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke | Only question mark is the coach, but the roster seems too talented to fail. |
| 2 | Michigan State | My biggest concern about the Spartans in recent years has been the frontcourt, Xavier Booker and others will alleviate some pressure from Sissoko |
| 3 | Purdue | I think the concern about the guards is overblown, plus I love the Lance Jones transfer. Would love to see a true co-star emerge from the veterans |
| 4 | Kansas | 4 definite studs on this team, but I worry a little about the depth. A couple of injuries could leave the door open for other B12 teams. |
| 5 | UConn | Similar concerns as with KU, but this starting 5 is rock solid. Clingan has Edey-level upside and I think Newton goes off as well. |
| 6 | Houston | Replacing Marcus Sasser won't be easy, but I said the same about Quentin Grimes, Corey Davis and Rob Gray. The reality is Sampson can coach and develop like no other. |
| 7 | Marquette | How does Marquette follow up last year's dream like season? By returning almost everyone, including Tyler Kolek. I knew he'd be good when he was freshman at GMU, but he's exceeded my wildest dreams. |
| 8 | Creighton | The Jays didn't live up to last year's top 10 hype in the regular season, mostly due to injuries and Kalk being sick for a lot of big non-con games. This year they live up to the potential. |
| 9 | Tennessee | Rick Barnes always finds a way to reload, but this offseason he added a player that surprised me, Dalton Knecht. Who knows if he can fit in defensively, but the added splash of shot making is good. |
| 10 | Baylor | I think this year's Bears squad will be a more solid defensive unit, a healthy JTT and the addition to Jayden Nunn will help. |
| 11 | Texas A&M | Despite their quick exit in the tournament last year (let's go PSU!), this team was legit last year, and they will be once again. Wade Taylor is that dude. |
| 12 | Arizona | It's only been 2 years, but Tommy Lloyd is quickly becoming a trustworthy coach. Caleb Love is a strange add, but the offensive pop could compliment the strong post game of Ballo and Veesaar. |
| 13 | Arkansas | Musselman's army of grad transfers should continue to be a menace to the SEC. Travon Brazile is all-conference caliber if he can stay healthy. |
| 14 | Iowa State | 14 may seem crazy, but Otz and the Cyclones have challenged the top 10 in both recent seasons. The addition of the #7 recruiting class will raise the ceiling. |
| 15 | Illinois | There is no bigger addition-by-subtraction in the country than Matt Meyer. Even better, the Illini replaced him with some great players. Maybe they'll be able to beat Penn State this year! |
| 16 | Texas | I have no idea what to think of this team. The roster is top 10 level, but I don't fully trust Terry and Disu might not be healthy right away. Abmas will be fun to watch at least. |
| 17 | Auburn | There's no Jabari Smith, but this Tigers team feels similar to 2021-22. Broome, Williams and Cardwell lock down the paint while some talented shooters roam the outside. |
| 18 | USC | Can't remember another #1 overall recruit going this far under the radar, thanks Bronny. Collier will feast and the frontcourt is sneaky deep. |
| 19 | Gonzaga | This is really just a ranking based off respect of Mark Few. Nembhard and Watson are solid but the depth is pretty sketchy, and Ike is not exactly the picture of health. |
| 20 | Maryland | Willard has some real studs back in College Park, and some intriguing freshmen help fill out a somewhat-thin roster. |
| 21 | Kansas State | It's going to be tough for Tang to follow up last year. I could see Perry and Tomlin having a similar jump to Nowell and Johnson, but I'm not counting on that. |
| 22 | Ohio State | I'm throwing out last year completely. Whether fair or not, injuries, vibes, and a gauntlet of a B1G schedule broke the Buckeyes. This year, Holtmann proves it was a fluke. |
| 23 | Florida Atlantic | Perhaps lower than consensus, I love the Owls but I have my concerns about how they'll transition into a much tougher schedule. |
| 24 | Virginia | Last two spots are reserved for phenomenal coaches who love nothing more than winning with a score in the 50's. |
| 25 | Saint Mary's | Next 15: Kentucky, Bama, Colorado, Indiana, St. John's, TTU, Miami (FL), Nova, SDSU, UNC, BYU, Miss State, TCU, Memphis, Iowa |
Overall Rationale
Preseason is always tough, but I like teams with great coaches first and foremost. Looking at rosters, I like returning production and guys who have been in the system for a while. Rosters built mainly on transfer portal are scary, but I'll include them in some circumstances.