yung_communism's Week Pre-Season Ballot

Rank	Team	Reason
1	UConn	You won't catch me pissing off Dan Hurley. The two-time defending champs have enough talent and returning production to justify the top spot. They have an elite wing crop, but PG and C?
2	Houston	We know exactly what this program will be under Kelvin Sampson. Who will become the next alpha after Jamal Shead's departure?
3	Kansas	Proven production at every spot + depth + a pissed off Bill Self = watch out
4	Alabama	Supreme talent is apparent, but will they be able to raise the floor this year, defensively?
5	North Carolina	I would argue they have the best backcourt in the country, can their frontcourt be serviceable enough?
6	Iowa State	Houston's cousin. Will we see another race for #1 defense like last year?
7	Gonzaga	Like Kansas, Mark Few is healthy and deep again (no disrespect to Steele Venters, that legetimately sucks)
8	Duke	Not a lot of holes you can pick at this roster, but it's time Scheyer performs to his talent (getting better, but still)
9	Baylor	See "Alabama"
10	Arizona	Tommy Lloyd has been elite in the regular season. The backcourt is all-the-way legit, will take some time to get the bigs going(?)
11	Purdue	I am still a believer of this program in the post-Edey apocalypse
12	Auburn	They will be incredibly tough year after year. Broome is an elite CBB shit talker
13	Tennessee	I am still a believer of this program in the post-Knecht apocalypse
14	Creighton	Will be another exciting duel between Marquette and Creighton in the big east, but they have a 3x Conference DPOY
15	Marquette	See "Marquette"
16	Cincinnati	I am buying high on the hype train. The roster is sexy. Who will be their emerging star?
17	UCLA	Veteran roster that has got Mick thirsty for blood
18	Wake Forest	This roster has what it takes to contend in the ACC. I see them taking a similar "Cincinnati" type leap this year
19	St. John's	They can very easily get into the elite defensive conversation, and that's where Pitino does his best. They'd be higher if he was actually around to coach them.
20	Texas Tech	Grant McCasland is cooking, JT Toppin is a star in the making
21	Texas A&M	I feel like this core has hit its ceiling, and it's still good that Wade Taylor and Co. have been getting Buzz to the tourney, but I am not as high
22	Illinois	A lot of controversial opinions with this team, but Brad Underwood has proven himself to me at this point
23	Indiana	The roster is so, so much better than the ranking, but Woodson will underperform it.
24	Arkansas	Does Cal still have his fastball? I am not as high on them as others
25	Kentucky	Excited to see this new look Kentucky roster. Who will become their Alpha?

Overall Rationale

NEXT FIVE: FLORIDA, MICHIGAN, RUTGERS, BYU, KANSAS STATE