TSL5_CBB's Week Pre-Season Ballot
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | Bring back Haugh, Condon, Chinyelu, and Fland and as long as Aberdeen is eligible, they'll be dangerous in Gainesville again. |
| 2 | Duke | Straight talent and depth again for Scheyer, bringing Blackwell will be huge at the guard spot, and Boumtje Boumtje-Ngongba frontcourt is scary. |
| 3 | UConn | Demary-Mullins backcourt returns from a Final Four team...replaced Karaban with Khamenia and Reed with Hines...still question depth but Jayden Ross should step up. |
| 4 | Illinois | Brought back Stojakovic, Mirkovic, Ivisic bros, and add in Vaaks and Coleman to the backcourt and Brad Underwood could have Illinois back in the Final Four. |
| 5 | Arizona | Holt will be in a battle with Stokes all year for best freshman, but I also really like Kharchenkov and Krivas...biggest question remains PG production... |
| 6 | Michigan State | Jeremy Fears Jr. is the best player in the country going into this year...maybe one of Izzo's last pushes for another title will have Carr/Scott as 2nd best player? |
| 7 | Tennessee | One of the most stacked transfer classes ever seen in the history of college basketball...Juke Harris will look to be 1st team All-American but watch for Terrence Hill Jr. to light it up as well. |
| 8 | Michigan | The defending national champions rather abruptly got their head coach yanked from them...now will Mike Boynton be able to be the right coach to run it back? I have my concerns. |
| 9 | Virginia | I actually have a lot of hope for Ryan Odom this year after returning de Ridder and Mallory...the underrated pickups of Dixon and Vide should surely help them later on. |
| 10 | Gonzaga | After a rough start to the offseason losing Mario Saint-Supery to Spain...the Zags patched it up with Xaivian Lee and Javon Bennett backcourt and they look poised to bring back the Gonzaga standard. |
| 11 | Miami (FL) | The Hurricanes will be in competition all year in the ACC with the Cavs for 2nd best ACC team...bringing back Reneau is huge...and Caleb Gaskins is one of the most underrated freshmen this season. |
| 12 | Houston | Not my favorite team on paper...but Kelvin Sampson is a good coach. Dedan Thomas Jr. should be a solid PG...but can Miller/McCarty step up? |
| 13 | Arkansas | Very high ceiling for Cal's group this season...Jordan Smith Jr. will be elite and him and Jeremiah Wilkinson will be a great backcourt duo and don't forget Billy Richmond! |
| 14 | Texas | Yeah...I have Texas almost outside the top 15...even with Vok back, can Isaiah Johnson prove to be a winning player? And can Sean Miller satisfy high expectations finally? |
| 15 | St. John's | Pitino is a legend...and similarly to Gonzaga...made it work in the latter half of the Offseason...will be most interested in Quinn Ellis and hopefully eligible Keyshawn Hall. |
| 16 | Kansas | Tyran Stokes and friends. But really, if TKR is able to play that will be a huge boost to the frontcourt...and bringing back Council and White is nothing to scoff at. |
| 17 | Louisville | PK getting it done in the portal...Bidunga, Shelstad, and Karter Knox while bringing back Wooley should spice up the ACC a bit. |
| 18 | Texas Tech | Darrion Williams is back and it was absolutely needed knowing JT Toppin will be out for extended time...while he might not be his old form...surrounding him with Cruz and DGL should end up working out |
| 19 | Alabama | Amari Allen looks like a true No. 1 option, and if Aden Holloway and one of the freshman (Samuels, Richardson) step into a key role, Bama can compete in the SEC. |
| 20 | USC | This might be the season for Muss. So long as Rice and Arenas stay healthy, and Christian Collins proves to be a lottery-level talent, USC should make the big dance. |
| 21 | Kentucky | No way I'd possibly leave off Kentucky...but there was a time this Offseason where it was a real possibility...Zoom and Wilkins should be a good SEC backcourt...and Momcilovic has to be a star. |
| 22 | Vanderbilt | Tyler Tanner is one of the best in CBB this season...Ace Glass is an awesome player as well...Byington ball should be still up and going this season. |
| 23 | Providence | Dink Pate out but I still have Providence in...more of a testament to how I think Hodgson will do in year 1...Malik Mack and Miles Byrd are good vets to have; should keep the Friars in the top of BE. |
| 24 | Nebraska | Pryce Sandfort returns from the magical season that was for the Huskers...also Essegian and Leonhardt and Orme were good adds as well. |
| 25 | Baylor | No this is not solely because of the UF exhibition win...I have been high on Baylor all Offseason and it's time for Drew to get Waco back on the map. |
Overall Rationale
Added a few fun teams at the tail end of the top 25, but overall top 10 is pretty set. Just outside: Villanova, BYU, UCLA, Indiana, Missouri