peachios's Week Pre-Season Ballot
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | Basically everyone that maters returns except Brady Manek, which could be an issue as he seemed quite the firestarter.But another year older, and more experience with coach seems good |
| 2 | Gonzaga | I mean Drew Timme is back, and there is just some magic with him, also a LOT of the team returns, sure no 5 star frosh and lost Chet. But they still are top tier |
| 3 | Baylor | Scott Drew has really turned Baylor into a dominant force, great team last year, adding Keyonte is a big get |
| 4 | Houston | Again with coaches who proved they are insalely good, I mean he took WSU to the tourney in the 90s! But returns some from injury and a 5 star. |
| 5 | Kentucky | People probably only think bad caus they got got in the tourney which happens, as always a top tier recruiting class, and Calipari does normally keep teams top tier |
| 6 | Kansas | So last years champ, returning some players, top 5 class, and a coach who is the best or in the talk of best right now? idk seems benefit of the doubt for losing folks is allowed |
| 7 | Duke | now this is weird one, first year coach, but the talent incoming is insane. Its like, should they be this high? yes on talent, but who knows |
| 8 | UCLA | Jaime Jaquez and Tyger are great experience, 2 5 stars, and Cronin is the best ucla coach ever I have heard said |
| 9 | Tennessee | Sure no one trusts them in the tourny, but thats not why they are here. a top 15 team last year, and returning 4/5 scorers, and a 5 star. SEC is deep this year |
| 10 | Arkansas | See what I mean, 3 in the top 10, this is like duke in a sense though with on the floor talent, most are gone, but 3 5 stars (jesus not many 5 stars left) and Muss buss obviously is a great coach |
| 11 | Arizona | while he isn't too experience Lloyd and a majority of the returners back froom a #1 seed and a 5 star seems great for success |
| 12 | Creighton | this is the most confusing one for me honestly with everythign out there, McDermott is a fine coach, but hasn't seemed THAT amazing yet (2020 is a blur to me), but he's been on the up and seems strong |
| 13 | Texas | idk maybe I trust Beard too much due to backlash from TTU fans, but return top2 scorers who are experiences, and 2 5 stars and a good transfer |
| 14 | Indiana | a top 10 recruiting class, and maybe mike woodson can coach. Indiana back-ish? |
| 15 | Auburn | sure I know folks hate Pearl skeeziness, but he can recruit and coach and has experience from a great team. |
| 16 | Illinois | took a little for Underwood to get it goingbut sems he got should have the Illini now |
| 17 | Villanova | with our weird offseason having no Jay Wright is ... weird, but he does leave the cupboards stocked |
| 18 | Texas Tech | So perhaps TTU fans are right and it wasn't Beard it was Mark Adams who was the mastermind, damn so many transfers coming in too and 4 were double digit scorers (3 at power 5 good schools) |
| 19 | Alabama | Nate Oats appears quite the coach, has top 5 receruiting class with 2 5 stars, and some returnees on a decent team last year. Only question is shouldn't they be higher? |
| 20 | TCU | Dixon's done well at TCU, maybe taken a little longer to be higher echelon, but some years seemed unlucky not to get to NCAAT. Last year beat Kansas and took Zona to OT so seems solid. top 6 return |
| 21 | San Diego State | 23-5 last year, schedule a little weak maybe, but return 4 of 5 top scorers and are VERY experiencd 9 of 12 Jr/Sr to go with 3 freshmores |
| 22 | Michigan | solid returnign team and recruiting class/transfers. Howard proved before he can get them up there, lets see if they can bounce back better than last year, did well, but ranked for example |
| 23 | Florida State | Other than last year (injuries) Leonard has had FSU at or near the top of the ACC/rankings. As normal they will be tall/long, but also young once we go deep. |
| 24 | Virginia | Now this is a I believe in Bennett (hell again another WSU coach who took them to the tourney?) and of course we all know done well at Virgina. Many returnees and finished well |
| 25 | Dayton | top 5 scorers, Anthony Grant has them doing well recently (mostly NIT and covid ruined amazing season) others fighting for this are Oregon, UCONN, Purdue, OSU, Miami, A and M its a mess down here |
Overall Rationale
Pre season is all assumptions (kinda). Basically good/great coaches, experience, and high end talent mean a lot. Of course will mention last year and recent years if the coach has done well, cause nothing else to go on. except "secret" scrimmages that don't matter anyways