With the College Basketball season in full swing starting Monday, it would be prudent to take a look at some of the expected title contenders heading into this season. We’re going to do things a bit differently with this article. We’re not going to include any of the teams ranking within the top-10 of the AP Top 25 Poll. We’ll also offer future odds (per FanDuel Sportsbook) for the five squads we select.
Ole Miss (+7500)
People may forget that Chris Beard is quietly building a program down in Oxford, Mississippi. It’s traditionally not an easy place to win, and it’s taken him some time to acquire talent meshing with his scheme. This should be the best Ole Miss team in recent memory, and undoubtedly the best team he’s had since taking the job a few years ago. Fifth-year guard Matthew Murrell is the straw that stirs the drink for this team. He was an all-SEC selection a year ago, and figures to be the leading scorer on this team. He’ll be helped out by fellow returnees Jaylen Murray and Jaemyn Brakefield. All three averaged at least 12.9 PPG a year ago. Also brought in to help the backcourt was Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla. He was among the better point guards in the ACC a season ago. Malik Dia (Belmont) and Dre Davis (Seton Hall) both averaged double-figures at their last stops as well. This is a deep, experienced team that can put up points in a hurry.
Kentucky (+4000)
Mark Pope’s team is going to look a whole lot different than the ones John Calipari had. This year’s group won’t be star-studded with ex-5-star prospects littered throughout the roster. However, it is a team that brought in a ton of experience and offensive firepower. Pope’s BYU squads ran NBA sets routinely and were very efficient in scoring the basketball. Lamont Butler (SDSU) and Kobe Brea (Dayton) are very experienced. Butler was an all-league defender on three separate occasions for the Aztecs. Brea arguably is the best three-point shooter in the country having converted on nearly 50-percent of his attempts a year ago. Big man Andrew Carr came over from Wake Forest, and he, like Brea, is a major threat to bomb threes from beyond the arc. Next to Carr in the front court is Amari Williams — the Drexel big man with elite shot-blocking skills. Throw in gunner Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), former four-star prospect Collin Chandler, and last year’s Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year in Jaxson Robinson, and this team is going to surprise a lot of people.
UCLA (+7500)
Mick Cronin went into the portal and nabbed six players — five of which are upperclassmen. This year’s team will be as versatile and deep a group as he’s had in recent memory. USC transfer Kobe Johnson is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate both in Big Ten play and nationally. Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau might be the most underrated scorer in the country. Soon, fans will know his name. It could take some time for this roster to gel, namely in the backcourt and up front at the five spot. Traditionally, Cronin-led teams get better and better as the season progresses. In terms of pure upside, this team has the ceiling of a Final Four team — and one with more depth than the previous UCLA team we saw a few years ago led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Johnny Juzang.
St. John’s (+4000)
You can never count Rick Pitino out of anything. He’s still one of the best coaches in the country. Now in his second season with the Red Storm, he’s worked ardently to flip the roster upside down and add guys more connected to his style of play. The best embodiment of this is Utah transfer Deivon Smith. A demon on the defensive end of the floor, his quickness and ability to press will be on full display with this group. As a whole, this team will lean on the trio of Zuby Ejiofor, Kadary Richmond, and Simeon Wilcher. Richmond is one of the best players in the Big East. He’s a candidate to win the POY Award and is a legitimate NBA guy. Wilcher looks primed to take another leap as a core scoring option on this team. When throwing in the upside/size of USC transfer Vince Iwuchukwu, watch out for the Johnnies.
Michigan (+6000)
Dusty May came over from Florida Atlantic with some real expectations. This year’s team is not only deep rotation-wise, but it’s also big. Vlad Goldin will be a major matchup issue for teams given his ability to score in the paint and protect the rim. Fellow seven-footer Danny Wolf is less of a bruiser and more of a finesse player with terrific passing skills and three-point range. While unconventional for the college game, if both can play well together, this is a major advantage Michigan would have on virtually every opponent. Roddy Gayle is a wing with plus-athleticism and a rugged disposition. Quintessentially ready for Big Ten play, he’s a guy the Wolverines can lean on to get them a bucket when things get bogged down. Duly, keep an eye on guards Justin Pippen, LJ Cason, and Tre Donaldson.
