yung_communism's Week Pre-Season Ballot
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | It's hard to argue against returning four starters from a title game team. Hopefully Hubert can play deeper into his bench and maybe we'll get a different taste of Nance as opposed to Manek |
| 2 | Houston | I am really going back and forth at UNC/Houston for #1. I love how Sampson's style of play can be just as successful as these fast-paced teams at the top |
| 3 | Kentucky | Hard not to like the returning NPOY running this team. Let's get some more shooting on the court and see what happens |
| 4 | Baylor | Not enough people are grouping Baylor with these top teams. They have really turned themselves into "Backcourt U" and these guards will be awesome, again |
| 5 | Gonzaga | For what seems like at least the third year in a row, Mark Few has assembled arguably the best roster in the country. Will this finally be the year he gets that chimp off his back and cuts down the ne |
| 6 | UCLA | This is the end of tier 1 for me. Not a lot of holes to poke at any of these first six teams. Plugging in Bailey and Bona next to two AA candidates is just what UCLA needed to reach this top tier. |
| 7 | Kansas | Bill Self gets everything out of his teams. Hopefully McCullar becomes HIM, get the rotation at 5 set and I really like this team |
| 8 | Arkansas | Muss is up for the task again! He has proven to bring in a lot of new faces and make them work, but is this his tallest task in Fayetteville, yet? Back to back E8s gets them this high |
| 9 | Tennessee | A lot of experience plus the regular season consistency of Rick Barnes, there's enough to like |
| 10 | Arizona | The end of tier 2 for me. An awesome coach gets them this high with enough returning pieces from their 1 seed team plus I'm banking on a Ballo emergence |
| 11 | San Diego State | Another team propelled by their awesome coach. Excited to see what Mensah the menace can put together. |
| 12 | Duke | Unproven coaching keeps them out of tier 2, otherwise similar profile to Arkansas. Lots of ?? to be answered, but it's Duke |
| 13 | Creighton | Everyone's preseason darling, moreso than UNC relative to last year's finish. A lot of leaps to be expected, but not everyone can become a star. Kalk is fantastic |
| 14 | Texas | Much of the team last year had been trying to figure their role, will that be the case this year at PG with big egos in Carr and Hunter. Ramey/Jones addition by subtraction? Love Allen/Bishop up fron |
| 15 | TCU | The end of tier 3. Absolute defensive menace upside, but can they score? This ranking is subject to one (1) eligible Damion Baugh |
| 16 | Villanova | From this point on is where I really begin to have question marks. A healthy Moore and Whitmore really complete this roster, so I buy them having a deep run in March, just not yet, coaching downgrade |
| 17 | Xavier | It can't be understated how massive of a coaching upgrade has been made here. Get some good guard play going, and I am really in on this team. |
| 18 | Indiana | There doesn't seem to be a great team on paper in the B1G preseason. I actually think Illinois has the higher upside potential, Indiana has a higher floor. Interior defense will be absurd. Shooting no |
| 19 | Virginia | I'm a VT fan, but not sure if this team will become top 15 good or end up unranked. Would rather see beekman at PG full time and insert BVP into start. Maybe defensive strides? More bad shooting?oot |
| 20 | Illinois | Probably my pick to win the B1G, but a lot of unproven. Roster is loaded with talent, just need to see it gel. Kofi loss is massive, but maybe more spacing this year |
| 21 | Michigan | The second of two back-to-back schools with unbelievably annoying fanbases, Dickinson on the roster is a good start plus Jett upside |
| 22 | Texas Tech | I don't care if Helen Keller is suiting up for TTU, as long as Mark Adams is there, they're going to play some nasty defense. Need to get Fardaws back ASAP |
| 23 | Florida | I'm a Todd golden believer, and I know what Castleton is capable of. Think they are well balanced for the job a new coach has done in assembling this roster |
| 24 | Dayton | The Creighton-lite of the offseason. A lot of sophomore leaps expected, everyone can't be a star (but I think Holmes is), great coaching |
| 25 | Purdue | Edey + Painter = still top 25 good for me |
Overall Rationale
Also considered: UCONN, Florida State, Miami, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Iowa, UAB I am a lot lower on the Alabama teams than most. Auburn has the same erratic guard play back, Flannigan gone, frontcourt is probably their strength, but how do you replace a top-3 pick and the Naismith DPOY? Alabama - Oats is still unproven to me, erratic results, potential chemistry issues, their 2020-21 team was seriously awesome, but until proven otherwise is a flash in the pan (led by players he didn't recruit, defense dropped off afterwards).