Ill_Ad_4429's Week Pre-Season Ballot
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UConn | Defending two time champions |
| 2 | Alabama | Mark Sears and Grant Nelson back from a Final Four Team |
| 3 | Duke | Cooper flagg is the truth |
| 4 | Houston | With Cryer and Sharpe returning, bringing in Uzan and Sampson at the helm, they are title contenders again. |
| 5 | Kansas | AJ Storr, Mayo, and Girffin with the best coach in the game? Top 5 |
| 6 | Tennessee | They lose Knecht but Ziegler is coming back |
| 7 | Gonzaga | Nembhard is arguably the best pure passer in the game and Hickman is lights out from 3, deadly combo + great consistent program. |
| 8 | North Carolina | really good depth, a true stretch 5, aggressive defense, good coach |
| 9 | Auburn | Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell and their interior D will be insane |
| 10 | Iowa State | Return a lot for last years #1 defense that just attacks. Lowkey might be best team in the best conference. |
| 11 | Baylor | They lose a lot but bring in talented transfer + EdgeCombe is scary good. |
| 12 | Arizona | I think Caleb love grows as a player and Arizona comes into the Big XII with something to prove. |
| 13 | Creighton | Kalkbrenner is going to carry this team. |
| 14 | Texas | 3 major transfers (Mark., Pope, Larry) will beef up the roster |
| 15 | Arkansas | John is a good coach |
| 16 | UCLA | Andrews and Mack are back and they added some good players via transfer |
| 17 | Texas A&M | Deep returning roster and I believe in Wade Taylor |
| 18 | Cincinnati | Each of the last two seasons has seen the Bearcats win at least 22 games while making decent runs at the NIT. I think they make the jump. |
| 19 | Oregon | How good Kwame Edwards Jr will surprise a lot of people |
| 20 | Purdue | Painter won't let them fall too far. |
| 21 | Illinois | It's Ty Rodgers and a bunch of transfers, I think they will exceed expectations |
| 22 | Indiana | Do or Die year for Woodson, gotta think he puts his best foot forward. |
| 23 | Kentucky | Gotta see what Pope is made of. |
| 24 | Michigan State | I believe in Izzo |
| 25 | St. John's | Pitino has them trending in the right direction |
Overall Rationale
Marquette is the one team I really think should be ranked if we could pick 26. Preseason rankings for the most part are a lot about vibes around the program, talent on the court and coaching.