College basketball teams across the nation begin practice in about three weeks, and the season will be here before you know it — just like the NBA.
The major news organizations will be publishing their polls soon enough, but we are getting a jump on them because schools are in session, “informal” practices are already ongoing and a whole new crop of “one and done” players have already discovered that dorm food is never, ever an option.
So without further ado, here is the SheridanHoops Preseason Top 25 for the 2012-13 season.
1. LOUISVILLE (30-10 last season)
Key losses: Kyle Kuric, Chris Smith, Jared Swopshire
Key returnees: Chane Behanan, Wayne Blackshear, Gorgui Dieng, Mike Marra, Peyton Siva, Russ Smith
Key newcomers: Luke Hancock (George Mason transfer), Montrezl Harrell
The skinny: The Cardinals return virtually everyone from last year’s Final Four team, and coach Rick Pitino is expecting big things from newcomer Hancock off the wing.
2. INDIANA (27-9)
Key losses: Verdell Jones, Tom Pritchard, Matt Roth
Key returnees: Maurice Creek, Jordan Hulls, Victor Oladipo, Will Sheehey, Christian Watford, Cody Zeller
Key newcomers: Yogi Ferrell, Jeremy Hollowell, Hanner Perea
The skinny: Coach Tom Crean has Indiana back near the top thanks to the return of Zeller, a likely lottery pick had he chosen to leave, and the introduction of a stellar recruiting class.
3. KENTUCKY (38-2, national champs)
Key losses: Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, Eloy Vargas
Key returnees: Kyle Wiltjer
Key newcomers: Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin, Ryan Harrow (N.C. State transfer), Julius Mays (Wright State transfer), Nerlens Noel, Alex Poythress
The skinny: A year after winning it all, Coach John Calipari probably doesn’t have as much talent as he had a year ago. He will have to blend transfers Mays and Harrow in with the talented freshmen, led by shot-blocking sensation Noel and athletic scorer Goodwin.
4. MICHIGAN STATE (29-8)
Key losses: Draymond Green, Austin Thornton, Brandon Wood
Key returnees: Keith Appling, Russell Byrd, Branden Dawson, Derrick Nix, Adreian Payne, Travis Trice.
Key newcomers: Matt Costello, Gary Harris, Kenny Kaminski (will redshirt), Denzel Valentine.
The skinny: Tom Izzo’s club suffered a blow recently when the 6-7 Kaminski, a freshman forward, was lost for the season due to a torn labrum. The Spartans will have the 6-6 Dawson back from a torn ACL in time for the start of the season. Costello, Harris and Valentine all figure to play key roles.
5. SYRACUSE (34-3)
Key losses: Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph, Fab Melo, Dion Waiters
Key returnees: Michael Carter-Williams, Rakeem Christmas, C.J. Fair, Baye Keita, James Southerland, Brandon Triche
Key newcomers: DaJuan Coleman, Jerami Grant
The skinny: Could this be Jim Boeheim’s last year coaching the Orange? It could be if he elects not to move with his team to the ACC in 2013. Regardless, expect much bigger roles this year for Carter-Williams, a scoring sensation, and Fair, a candidate for Big East Preseason Player of the Year honors.
6. UCLA (19-13)
Key losses: Jerime Anderson, Lazeric Jones
Key returnees: Tyler Lamb, Norman Powell, Josh Smith, Anthony Stover, David Wear, Travis Wear
Key newcomers: Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson, Larry Drew II (North Carolina transfer), Shabazz Muhammad, Tony Parker
The skinny: Muhammad is currently being investigated by the NCAA and his fate remains unclear. If he misses only a few games and can then get on the court, he should be one of the most explosive wings in college hoops. If his penalty is longer, UCLA will be missing a key piece and embattled coach Ben Howland could suffer as a result.
7. KANSAS (32-7)
Key losses: Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor
Key returnees: Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford, Jeff Withey
Key newcomers: Anrio Adams, Perry Ellis, Ben McLemore, Zach Peters, Jamari Traylor, Andrew White
The skinny: The Jayhawks lost two huge pieces off their NCAA runner-up team in Robinson and Taylor, but at Kansas they just re-load. Big things are expected from Johnson, Releford and Withey, as well as athletic wings Adams and White. Ellis is a highly acclaimed freshman forward.
8. SAN DIEGO STATE (26-8)
Key losses: Garrett Green, Tim Shelton
Key returnees: Jamaal Franklin, LaBradford Franlin, James Rahon, DeShawn Stephens, Chase Tapley, Xavier Thames
Key newcomers: James Johnson (Virginia transfer; mid-year); Dwayne Polee (St. John’s transfer), J.J. O’Brien (Utah transfer), Winston Shepard, Matt Shrigley, Skylar Spencer
The skinny: The Aztecs return their top four scorers in Jamaal Franklin, Tapley, Thames and Rahon, who combined to put up more than 52 points a game last season. Coach Steve Fisher must integrate a slew of transfers and newcomers into an established team.
9. DUKE (27-7)
Key losses: Miles Plumlee, Austin Rivers
Key returnees: Quinn Cook, Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Josh Hairston, Ryan Kelly, Mason Plumlee, Tyler Thornton
Key additions: Amile Jefferson, Alex Murphy, Marshall Plumlee, Rasheed Sulaimon
The skinny: The Blue Devils may actually benefit without having Rivers’ dominating the ball as much anymore. Cook has a year of experience under his belt at the point, and Murphy and Jefferson provide some added elements down low.
10. NORTH CAROLINA (32-6)
Key losses: Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall, Tyler Zeller
Key returnees: Reggie Bullock, P.J. Hairston, James Michael McAdoo, Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland
Key newcomers: Joel James, Brice Johnson, Marcus Paige, J.P. Tokoto
The skinny: Roy Williams recently had a tumor removed from his right kidney and hopefully he is OK to coach the season. The Heels lost four starters to the NBA but now it’s time for Bullock, McAdoo, Hairston and a healthy McDonald to shine.
11. FLORIDA (26-11)
Key losses: Bradley Beal, Erving Walker
Key returnees: Kenny Boynton, Eric Murphy, Mike Rosario, Patric Young, Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete
Key newcomers: Dillon Graham, Michael Frazier, Braxton Ogbueze
The skinny: If Rosario can rediscover the vast depth of talent he possesses, he and Boynton could be a lethal combination as shooters on the wings. Young figures to be one of the best big men in the SEC, and the Gators have depth down low with Murphy, Yeguete and Casey Prather.
12. CINCINNATI (26-11)
Key losses: Dion Dixon, Yancy Gates
Key returnees: Ge’Lawn Guyn, Justin Jackson, Sean Kilpatrick, JaQuon Parker, Jermaine Sanders, Cashmere Wright
Key newcomers: David Nyarsuk, Titus Rubles, Shaq Thomas
The skinny: Once again, Cincinnati will be in the mix for the Big East title. The Bearcats return a slew of experience and talent led by Kilpatrick, Parker and Wright. At 7-1, Nyarsuk is the tallest player in program history.
13. OHIO STATE (31-8)
Key losses: William Buford, Jared Sullinger
Key returnees: Aaron Craft, Evan Ravenel, LaQuinton Ross, Shannon Scott, Lenzelle Smith, Deshaun Thomas, Sam Thompson, Amir Williams
Key newcomers: None
The skinny: With Buford and Sullinger gone, this team will revolve around Craft at the point and Thomas on the wing. Head coach Thad Matta said this week that Thomas is down to 268 pounds and is more agile and must rebound better.
14. BAYLOR (30-8)
Key losses: Quincy Acy, Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller
Key returnees: Deuce Bello, Gary Franklin, Brady Heslip, J’Mison Morgan, Pierre Jackson, Cory Jefferson
Key newcomers: Isaiah Austin, Rico Gathers, L.J. Rose
The skinny: The Bears lost three NBA frontcourt players in Acy, Miller and Jones III, but they return their entire backcourt. They return one of the nation’s top point guards in Jackson, the potential Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. They also return Heslip at the two and Bello and Franklin and Rose. Up front, they return the 6-10 Jefferson while adding elite-level bigs in the 7-1 Austin and the 6-8 Gathers.
15. MARQUETTE (27-8)
Key losses: Jae Crowder, Darius Johnson-Odom
Key returnees: Juan Anderson, Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan, Davante Gardner, Todd Mayo, Chris Otule, Jamil Wilson
Key newcomers: Trent Lockett (Arizona State transfer), Steve Taylor, Jr.
The skinny: Coach Buzz Williams dealt with injuries to Gardner and Otule last year, but expects both to be fully healthy year this year. Lockett averaged 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds last year at Arizona State and should make up for some of the scoring Crowder and DJO took with them to the NBA. (Logo is intentional-CS)
We stumbled over here from a different web address and thought
I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following
you. Look forward to looking at your web page yet again.
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out
your website on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the knowledge you provide here
and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, fantastic
blog!
I’m gone to convey my little brother, that he should also go to see this webpage on regular basis to obtain updated from newest information.
Kentucky is still No. 1, i don’t care what anybody says, their the defending champs and their this year champs. Bet money!! Archie Goodwin, Alex Poythress, and Nerlens Noel (who will lead the season in blocks!) who is another Anthony Davis. So we will see in April when we beat the Cards!
Go UK
They’re = They are.. BTW, NN is NO Anthony Davis. An Anthony Davis comes along once in a blue moon.
Adam, You didn’t even mention Ben MacLemore for Kansas, as one of the key potential element new-comers! That just solidifies a pretty good preseason estimate of where they sit on the gauge.
Look out for the Aztecs this year…doin work #SDSU
Glad to see my Cards at #1. If we can stay healthy for once (which is a lot to ask for) we should almost run the table all year. I’m not worried about Syrawho because we always handle them or Duke, I’m more worried about Notre Dame, Pitt, Memphis and Kentucky. Final Four: Louisville, Indiana, Kentucky, NC State, championship game: Louisville vs Kentucky, champions: Louisville. L1C4!
Syrawho swept your Cards last year if I’m not mistaken.
But the CARDS beat the Cuse 7-8 straight before that. Just sayin.
GO CARDS!!!
When I saw SDSU as top 8 I was like, not buying it, but after reviewing their roster, I was very scared in what SDSU is capable of. Seems like a Final Four team on paper. Looks like I will be watching the San Diego State vs Syracuse game. Should be very interesting and exciting.
Stay out of my territory