2015-2016 College Basketball Look Ahead

By Andrew Musur on April 24, 2015

If you are anything like me, you have probably been trying to fill the void that March Madness left. It has been 16 days since the NCAA Tournament championship game was played.

This year left me with so many memories, but as any sports fan knows, the offseason takes an awfully long time.

Since I have a little time from now until the tip off of the 2015-2016 season, I wanted to look at some teams I think will be competing for a National Title next season.

No. 1) Kentucky Wildcats

I know, I know, seeing Kentucky on top of every preseason poll every single year is no fun.

Lucky for the Wildcats, they are once again deserving of their preseason number one spot. On April 9, Kentucky fans everywhere had a small heart attack as seven of the nearly perfect Wildcats from this year’s team were taking their talents to the professionals.

The Wildcats lose a lot of talent, but they lose talent every year and still compete. Coach John Calipari is a master at replacing players, and his number one recruiting class will have no problem filling in the holes from last year’s team.

Calipari’s solid recruiting class and the returning of Tyler Ulis, Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress will make Kentucky one of the final teams in the title hunt.

Side note: Kentucky is still in the race for 7-footer Thon Maker. Maker is an instant program changer.

No. 2) Virginia Cavaliers 

Tony Bennett took a once lowly Virginia team that could barely win ACC games, and made them into National Title contenders. Bennett’s rebuilding project is something to take note of, and it seems that his team next season will be his best yet.

Virginia has almost everyone on their roster returning. The only thing the Cavaliers lose is an All-American caliber player in Justin Anderson. Anderson broke his hand halfway through last season, and decided he would forgo his final season to enter the NBA draft.

Though Virginia loses Anderson they still have several players returning such as: Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, London Perrantes, Marial Shayok and Mike Tobey.

Bennett has continually produced the best defense in the country during his time at Virginia, and this defensive mindset will have to play a huge part if the Cavaliers plan on making a run.

No. 3) North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina is going to be one of the best teams in the country next season. The Tar Heels are expected to return all of their starters, except for J.P. Tokoto. Marcus Paige, Kennedy Meeks, Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson are all set to return to a North Carolina team that exploded to a Sweet 16 birth.

The Tar Heels will have to utilize their athleticism and veterans to bring Roy Williams back to the Final Four.

No. 4) Maryland Terrapins

Maryland is my sleeper National Championship pick. The Terrapins will be an extremely talented team next year for a couple of reasons. First, Maryland returns their prolific scoring point guard, Melo Trimble.

Trimble dominated the Big Ten as a freshman and proved he could go toe to toe with the best in the country. Second, Maryland only loses Dez Wells next year. The Terrapins could have used the senior for another year, but junior forward Jake Layman and  Jared Nickens have the potential to be huge for the Terrapins.

Lastly, Mark Turgeon just landed the biggest commit in his tenure at Maryland: Wisconsin big man, Diamond Stone, pledged his allegiance to Turgeon back on March 27. Stone will be one of the best Big Ten centers when this season is finished.

No. 5) Oklahoma Sooners

With the return of Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield, the Sooners will be a force to be reckon with come next season.

Jordan Woodard, Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler are all guys that will be returning for the Sooners as well, and will need to step up their play if Oklahoma hopes to stop Kansas from winning their 12th straight Big 12 Championship.

No. 6) Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State would be in a lot of trouble if they weren’t able to pick up several necessary transfers. The Cyclones will have Hallice Cooke (Oregon State), Deonte Burton (Marquette) and Darien Williams (junior college) join them next season.

Along with the three transfers Iowa State will have forward Georges Niang returning next season. Niang was a giant reason Iowa State was so successful in the Big 12 this season. The UAB loss is still being felt by many Iowa State fans, but next year’s team should take that sour taste away.

No. 7) Villanova Wildcats

Villanova is a team that usually has fantastic regular seasons and dies out come tournament time, which is exactly what happened last season. The Wildcats won’t be completely bare coming into next season as they return Big East Player of the Year Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart and Daniel Ochefu.

Along with those three, Villanova will also have the number two point guard in the country coming in next season, Jalen Brunson. Brunson was an absolute monster during his high school time and there will be plenty of expectations when he arrives on campus next fall.

No. 8) Gonzaga Bulldogs

Many said the Gonzaga team last season was Mark Few’s best team during his time in Spokane, but I think this year might be a little bit more promising.

Yes, it will be hard for the Bulldogs to replace their captain and leader, Kevin Pangos. However, Gonzaga has plenty of depth beyond Pangos (Josh Perkins and Kyle Dranginis).

The Bulldogs also return three key pieces: Kyle Wiltjer, Przemek Karnowski and forward Domantas Sabonis. Wiltjer has the possibility of being a first team all American next season and Gonzaga has the possibility of making a surprising run in the tournament.

No. 9) Wichita State Shockers

There is no doubt that Wichita State will have to do a lot to replace their seniors from last season, Tekele Cotton and Darius Carter. However, the Shockers shouldn’t have a problem doing that as coach Greg Marshall will be returning to coach at WSU.

Marshall was being offered an incredibly lucrative contract from the University of Alabama, but he decided to stay. The Shockers not only return their coach, but also two of the greatest players to ever don the Wichita State uniform, Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker.

Baker and VanVleet have single-handedly put the Shockers on the map and they will get one more year to prove Wichita State belongs.

No. 10) Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks will lose both freshman Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre Jr., but that doesn’t mean they won’t be a solid team next season. Kansas will return Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr., Frank Mason III and Brannen Greene.

Add five-star-recruit Carlton Bragg into that mix and the Jayhawks will be someone to keep an eye on next season.

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