Ridiculously Early Preseason Top 25 (and one): UK No. 1 -- now
This task is an impossible task because there's still no way to know for sure which players will return, transfer and enroll. But fans love rankings, and I love doing them. So every year at this time I make educated guesses, project certain guys to leave and certain guys to stay, and then I rank college basketball teams accordingly.
Am I always right?
No.
  Who's the early favorite for next season? Kentucky Syracuse Ohio State North Carolina Vanderbilt Another team Total Votes: 41,614 |
And I won't be 100 percent correct this year, either. But it's never too early to start the debate. So with that in mind, here's the Ridiculously Early (But Still Kind of Fun) Preseason Top 25 (and one). When the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the NBA Draft passes on May 8, rest assured, I'll reshuffle and do it all again.
(For the purposes of these rankings, I'm assuming Kentucky's Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones, Duke's Kyrie Irving, North Carolina's Harrison Barnes, Connecticut's Kemba Walker, Memphis' Wesley Witherspoon, Texas' Jordan Hamilton, UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt, Kansas' Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris and Josh Selby, Arizona's Derrick Williams, Baylor's Perry Jones, San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard, Colorado's Alec Burks, Georgia's Trey Thompkins and Tennessee's Tobias Harris will all either enter and remain in the NBA Draft or not return to their current schools for some other reason. Again, I'll be wrong about some of them, and some of the players I have returning to school will actually leave. Like I said, I'll correct any and all mistakes on May 8 and adjust accordingly. But for now, this is it.)
| 1. Kentucky | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Josh Harrellson Notable players expected to leave early: Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones Notable players expected to return: DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller, Doron Lamb Notable newcomers: Anthony Davis, Mike Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Kyle Wiltjer |
| 2. North Carolina | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: None Notable players expected to leave early: Harrison Barnes Notable players expected to return: Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Kendall Marshall, Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, Reggie Bullock Notable newcomers: James McAdoo, P.J. Hairston |
| 3. Syracuse | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Rick Jackson Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche, Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair, James Southerland, Mookie Jones, Fab Melo, Baye Moussa Keita Notable newcomers: Rakeem Christmas, Trevor Cooney, Michael Carter-Williams |
| 4. Ohio State | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Jared Sullinger, William Buford, Deshaun Thomas, Aaron Craft Notable newcomers: Amir Williams, LaQuinton Ross, Sam Thompson, Shannon Scott, Trey McDonald, Eric Ravenel |
| 5. Vanderbilt | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: None Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: John Jenkins, Jeff Taylor, Festus Ezeli, Brad Tinsley, Lance Goulbourne, Steve Tchiengang, Rod Odom, Andre Walker, Kyle Fuller Notable newcomers: Dai-Jon Parker, Shelby Moats, Kedren Johnson |
| 6. Texas | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Gary Johnson, Dogus Balbay, Jai Lucas, Matt Hill Notable players expected to leave early: Jordan Hamilton Notable players expected to return: Tristan Thompson, J'Covan Brown, Cory Joseph, Alexis Wangmene, Clint Chapman Notable newcomers: Myck Kabongo, Kevin Thomas, Jonathan Holmes, Julien Lewis, Sheldon McClellan |
| 7. Duke | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler Notable players expected to leave early: Kyrie Irving Notable players expected to return: Mason Plumlee, Miles Plumlee, Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins Notable newcomers: Austin Rivers, Quinn Cook, Marshall Plumlee, Michael Gbinije |
| 8. Butler | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Matt Howard, Shawn Vanzant, Zach Hahn Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Shelvin Mack, Andrew Smith, Khyle Marshall, Ron Nored, Chase Stigall, Chrishawn Hopkins Notable newcomers: Kameron Woods, Jackson Aldridge, Roosevelt Jones, Andrew Smeathers |
| 9. Louisville | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Preston Knowles Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Kyle Kuric, Peyton Siva, Terrence Jennings, Chris Smith, Rakeem Buckles, Mike Marra, Gorgui Dieng Notable newcomers: Wayne Blackshear, Zach Price, Chane Behanan, Angel Nunez |
| 10. Memphis | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Will Coleman Notable players expected to leave early: Wesley Witherspoon Notable players expected to return: Will Barton, Joe Jackson, Tarik Black, Antonio Barton, Charles Carmouche, Chris Crawford, D.J. Stephens Notable newcomers: Adonis Thomas, Ferrakohn Hall |
| 11. Connecticut | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Donnell Beverly, Charles Okwandu Notable players expected to leave early: Kemba Walker Notable players expected to return: Jeremy Lamb, Alex Oriakhi, Shabazz Napier, Roscoe Smith, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander Notable newcomers: Ryan Boatright |
| 12. Wisconsin | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil, Tim Jarmusz Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Jordan Taylor, Josh Gasser, Mike Bruesewitz, Ryan Evans Notable newcomers: Jarrod Uthoff, Traevon Jackson, Frank Kaminsky, George Marshall |
| 13. Kansas | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, Mario Little Notable players expected to leave early: Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Josh Selby Notable players expected to return: Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson, Travis Releford, Jeff Withey, Elijah Johnson Notable newcomers: Naadir Tharpe, Ben McLemore |
| 14. Pittsburgh | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Brad Wannamaker, Gilbert Brown, Gary McGhee Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Ashton Gibbs, Nasir Robinson, Travon Woodall, Dante Taylor, Talib Zanna, J.J. Moore, Lamar Patterson Notable newcomers: Khem Birch, Malcolm Gilbert, Durand Johnson, Jaylen Bond, John Johnson |
| 15. Florida | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Vernon Macklin, Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, Erik Murphy, Patric Young, Scottie Wilbekin Notable newcomers: Brad Beal, Mike Rosario, Walter Pitchford |
| 16. Michigan | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: None Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Darius Morris, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jordan Morgan, Zach Novak, Stu Douglass, Evan Smotrycz, Matt Vogrich Notable newcomers: Carlton Brundidge, Trey Burke, Max Bielfeldt |
| 17. Arizona | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Jamelle Horne Notable players expected to leave early: Derrick Williams Notable players expected to return: Lamont Jones, Kyle Fogg, Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom, Jesse Perry, Jordin Mayes, Brendon Lavender Notable newcomers: Josiah Turner, Angelo Chol, Nick Johnson, Sidiki Johnson |
| 18. Cincinnati | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Rashad Bishop, Ibrahima Thomas, Larry Davis, Darnell Wilks Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Yancy Gates, Dion Dixon, Sean Kilpatrick, Cashmere Wright, Justin Jackson Notable newcomers: Jermaine Sanders, Shaquille Thomas, Jeremiah Davis, Ge-Lawn Guyn, Octavious Ellis |
| 19. UCLA | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: None Notable players expected to leave early: Tyler Honeycutt Notable players expected to return: Reeves Nelson, Malcolm Lee, Joshua Smith, Lazeric Jones, Jerime Anderson, Brendan Lane, Tyler Lamb Notable newcomers: Norman Powell, David Wear, Travis Wear, De'End Parker |
| 20. Xavier | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Jamel McLean, Dante Jackson, Andrew Taylor Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Tu Holloway, Mark Lyons, Kenny Frease, Jeff Robinson, Brad Redford Notable newcomers: Dezmine Wells, Dee Davis, Jalen Reynolds, Travis Taylor, Justin Martin |
| 21. Missouri | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Justin Safford Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Kim English, Phil Pressey, Matt Pressey, Ricardo Ratliffe, Michael Dixon, Marcus Denmom, Laurence Bowers Notable newcomers: None |
| 22. Gonzaga | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Steven Gray Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Elias Harris, Robert Sacre, Sam Dower, David Stockton, Kelly Olynyk, Demetri Goodson, Marquise Carter Notable newcomers: Gary Bell, Kevin Pangos, Ryan Spangler |
| 23. Marquette | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Jimmy Butler, Dwight Buycks, Joseph Fulce Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Darius Johnson-Odom, Vander Blue, Jae Crowder, Chris Otule, Junior Cadougan, Davonte Gardner Notable newcomers: Todd Mayo, Derrick Wilson, Juan Anderson, Jamil Wilson |
| 24. Texas A&M | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: B.J. Holmes, Nathan Walkup Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Khris Middleton, David Loubeau, Kourtney Robinson, Naji Hibbert, Dash Harris, Ray Turner Notable newcomers: Jamal Branch, Elston Turner, Jordan Green |
| 25. George Mason | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Cam Long, Isaiah Tate Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: Ryan Person, Luke Hancock, Andre Cornelius, Mike Morrison, Vertail Vaughns, Jonny Williams Notable newcomers: Corey Edwards, Vaughn Gray |
| 26. Alabama | |
 | Notable players definitely gone: Senario Hillman, Charvez Davis, Chris Hines Notable players expected to leave early: None Notable players expected to return: JaMychal Green, Tony Mitchell, Trevor Releford, Andrew Steele, Charles Hankerson Notable newcomers: Levi Randolph, Nick Jacobs, Moussa Gueye, Rodney Cooper |
