MainPeanut25's Week Pre-Season Ballot
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | Strong returning core |
| 2 | UConn | Need a center to step up but Hurley will find a way |
| 3 | Duke | Great portal get in Blackwell |
| 4 | Illinois | Will be hard to replace Wagler |
| 5 | Arizona | First-team All-Name Endurance Aiyamenkhue |
| 6 | Texas | Mikey Lewis=Max Abmas? |
| 7 | Louisville | Folgueiras comes from the Young/Harrar/Nunge school of annoying glue guys so they should have a more gritty identity this year |
| 8 | Michigan State | The “right school” will only get you so far |
| 9 | Virginia | Not flashy looking but productive last year |
| 10 | St. John's | Profiting off the declining Baylor/Syracuse with their additions |
| 11 | Michigan | Losing the coach hurts but they still have the players |
| 12 | Texas Tech | All about Toppin ofc |
| 13 | Kentucky | The offseason may have seemed disappointing but they got Momcilovic and that’s all that matters |
| 14 | Houston | Least experienced or flashy team in a while |
| 15 | Tennessee | Almost no returning production but DDA+Washington are good adds |
| 16 | Texas A&M | Underrated all-around |
| 17 | Miami (FL) | Jai Lucas working miracles getting a 5-star |
| 18 | Iowa State | Another year, another Tamin Lipsey sighting |
| 19 | BYU | Robert Wright III is a dawg |
| 20 | Nebraska | Most of last year’s core returns, just need a Rienk replacement |
| 21 | Gonzaga | Ended up with some good guards despite how thin they got |
| 22 | Saint Louis | Will be great until someone dangles 8 figures per year in front of Schertz |
| 23 | Auburn | No way they miss the tournament again, right? |
| 24 | Vanderbilt | Future Ohio State coach Mark Byington got the last laugh on Nebraska by getting Buyuktuncel |
| 25 | Missouri | VERY dependent on Mark Mitchell’s status but still seem pretty good without him |
Overall Rationale
Also considered: LSU* UCLA, Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Cincinnati, USC, TCU, North Carolina, Purdue, Wisconsin, Marquette, Kansas, Creighton, Utah State, Providence, Ohio State, Iowa, VCU, Xavier, Clemson, Grand Canyon, Seton Hall, Maryland, West Virginia, San Diego State, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Nevada, George Mason, Santa Clara, Arizona State, Georgetown, Minnesota, Washington, Wichita State, Dayton, Tulsa, Georgia