Here are teams 16-25 in my 2012-2013 preseason college basketball Top 25 and other teams who just missed the cut.
16. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
The Wolverines lose their two invaluable, hard-working leaders in Zach Novak and Stu Douglas as well as three players who decided to transfer. However, if Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. are together in the backcourt next season, Michigan should be a Big Ten Title contender. Jon Beilein will have more size inside with Jordan Morgan, highly-touted freshman Mitch McGary, and the return of Jon Horford who missed most of last season with a foot injury.
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Mitch McGary (Fr)/Jon Horford (So)/Blake McLimans (Sr)
PF: Jordan Morgan (Jr)/Max Bielfeldt (Fr)
G/F: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Jr)/Glenn Robinson (Fr)/Nick Stauskas (Fr)
SG: Matt Vogrich (Sr)/Eso Akunne (Sr)
PG: Trey Burke (So)
Gone: G-Stu Douglas, G/F-Zach Novak, F-Evan Smotrycz (transfer), PF-Colton Christian (transfer), SG-Carlton Brundidge (transfer)
17. BAYLOR BEARS
Baylor’s level of expectations for next season will depend on whether or not Quincy Miller comes back for his sophomore season. If Miller returns, the Bears will be a preseason Top 25 team. They will lose Perry Jones and Quincy Acy inside but welcome in McDonald’s All-American Isaiah Austin, talented freshman Ricardo Gathers, and J’mison Morgan who redshirted this past season. The backcourt will look the same led by the ultra-speedy and fearless Pierre Jackson.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Isaiah Austin (Fr)/J’mison Morgan (Sr)
PF: Cory Jefferson (Sr)/Ricardo Gathers (Fr)/Chad Rykhoek (Fr)
SF: Quincy Miller (So)/Deuce Bello (So)
SG: Brady Heslip (Jr)/Gary Franklin (Jr)
PG: Pierre Jackson (Sr)/A.J. Walton (Sr)/L.J. Rose (Fr)
Gone: F-Perry Jones III, F/C-Quincy Acy, F-Anthony Jones, F-Fred Ellis
18. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Mike Brey deserves a ton of credit for what he did with the Irish last season after losing Tim Abromaitis early in the season. Notre Dame is still awaiting word on whether Abromaitis and Scott Martin will be granted medical hardships and allowed to play next year. Even if just one of them does return, Notre Dame will bring back most of their core from last year. With their painfully boring burn offense and Brey on the sidelines, I’d be foolish not to include the Irish in my Top 25.
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Jack Cooley (Sr)/Mike Broghammer (Sr)/Garrick Sherman (Jr)
F: Scott Martin (Sr)/Thomas Knight (Sr)/Zach Auguste (Fr)
G/F: Pat Connaughton (So)/Austin Burgett (Fr)
SG: Jerian Grant (So)/Joey Brooks (Sr)/Cameron Biedscheid (Fr)
PG: Eric Atkins (Jr)
Gone: F-Tim Abromaitis, G/F-Alex Dragicevich (transfer)
19. MEMPHIS TIGERS
Will Barton has announced his intentions to enter the NBA Draft, but Josh Pastner still returns a lot of talent to fit his aggressive style of play. Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, and Antonio Barton return in the backcourt while talented sophomore Adonis Thomas who missed a chunk of time this past season due to injury, will step into Will Barton’s role. Everybody returns in the frontcourt which will also feature McDonald’s All-American Shaq Goodwin.
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Tarik Black (Jr)/Stan Simpson (Sr)/Hippolyte Tsafeck (So)
PF: Ferrokohn Hall (Sr)/Shaq Goodwin (Fr)/D.J. Stephens (Sr)
G/F:Adonis Thomas (So)/Damien Wilson (Fr)/Drew Barham (Jr)
SG: Chris Crawford (Jr)/Geron Johnson (Jr)
PG: Joe Jackson (Jr)/Antonio Barton (Jr)
Gone: G/F-Will Barton, F-Wesley Witherspoon, G-Charles Carmouche (MEDICAL REDSHIRT??)
20. MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES
The Golden Eagles have huge shoes to fill in losing one of the best one-two punches in college basketball with Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom. You know Buzz Williams will have his team playing as hard as any other in the country. Getting big man Chris Otule back from injury will give MU a potent inside combo with Davante Gardner. Jamil Wilson will need to emerge as consistently reliable scorer. Junior Cadougan, Vander Blue, and Todd Mayo bring experience to the backcourt but not a ton of scoring ability. That’s where JUCO tranfer and former Oklahoma Sooner T.J. Taylor needs to make his biggest impact.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Chris Otule (Sr)/Davante Gardner (Jr)/Aaron Durley (Fr)
F: Jamil Wilson (Jr)/Juan Anderson (So)/Steve Taylor (Fr)
G/F: Vander Blue (Jr)/Jamail Jones (Jr)/Jamal Ferguson (Fr)
SG: Todd Mayo (So)/T.J. Taylor (Jr)/Jake Thomas (Jr)
PG: Junior Cadougan (Sr)/Derrick Wilson (So)
Gone: SG-Daruis Johnson-Odom, F-Jae Crowder
21. UNLV REBELS
Even though the Rebels lose four of their nine rotation players, UNLV will still be a Top 25 team and contender for the Mountain West crown. Mike Moser deciding to return for his junior season plays a huge part in that as does the addition of transfers Bryce Jones from USC and Pitt’s Khem Birch who won’t become eligible until after the first semester. Incoming freshman Katin Reinhardt is also a big time scorer who will add to a talented backcourt led by Anthony Marshall.
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Carlos Lopez (Jr)/Khem Birch (So)
F: Mike Moser (Jr)/Quintrell Thomas (Sr)/Demetris Morant (Fr)
G/F: Bryce Jones (So)/Karam Mashour (Jr)
SG: Justin Hawkins (Sr)/Katin Reinhardt (Fr)
PG: Anthony Marshall (Sr)/Reggie Smith (Jr)/DaQuan Cook (Fr)
Gone: SF-Chace Stanback, PG-Oscar Bellfield, C-Brice Massamba, SG-Kendall Wallace
22. GONZAGA BULLDOGS
Another year, another loaded team for Mark Few and the Zags. Four starters return and Sam Dower should be able to fill in for Robert Sacre at center. Gonzaga also gets Kelly Olynyk back after he redshirted last season and still have the versatile Elias Harris in the frontcourt. Expect the freshmen backcourt of Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. to be even better next season and the Zags to take back the WCC crown.
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Sam Dower (Jr)/Kelly Olynyk (Jr)
F: Elias Harris (Sr)/Ryan Spangler (So)
G/F: Guy Landry Edi (Sr)/Mike Hart (Sr)/Mathis Monninghoff (Jr)
SG: Gary Bell Jr. (So)/Kyle Dranginis (Fr)
PG: Kevin Pangos (So)/David Stockton (Jr)/Chris Sarbaugh (Fr)
Gone: C-Robert Sacre, G-Marquise Carter, G/F-Mathis Keita (transfer)
23. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS
Coming off their 29-win season, everybody will be back for the Blue Jays except starting point guard Antoine Young. Still, the will be plenty of pieces surrounding Doug McDermott who became one of the best scorers in the country as a sophomore. With Wichita State losing a ton of seniors, Creighton should be the team to beat in the Missouri Valley.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Gregory Echenique (Sr)/Will Artino (So)/Geoffery Goeselle (Fr)
F: Doug McDermott (Jr)/Ethan Wragge (Jr)/Tevin Calhoun (JUCO)
G/F: Josh Jones (Sr)/Avery Dingman (So)/Nevin Johnson (Fr)
SG: Jahenns Manigat (Jr)/Ross Ferrarini (Sr)/Isaiah Zierden (Fr)
PG: Grant Gibbs (Sr)/Austin Chatman (So)/Andre Yates (Fr)
Gone: PG-Antoine Young
24. TEXAS LONGHORNS
Rick Barnes did perhaps his best coaching job this past season by leading an incredibly young Longhorn team to the NCAA Tournament. Myck Kabongo has already decided to return to the school, but J’Covan Brown is leaving for the NBA Draft. Even without Brown, Texas should take a step forward next season due to the experience they gained this past year but will still have a roster compiling of only underclassmen. The Horns should also be a more physical team inside with incoming freshman Cameron Ridley who is considered one of the best center prospects in the 2012 class.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Cameron Ridley (Fr)/Prince Ibeh (Fr)
F: Jonathan Holmes (So)/Jaylen Bond (So)/Connor Lammert (Fr)
G/F: Shelden McClellan (So)/Ioannis Papapetrou (Fr)
SG:Julien Lewis (So)
PG: Myck Kabongo (So)/Sterling Gibbs (So)/Javan Felix (Fr)
Gone: G-J’Covan Brown, C-Alexis Wangmene, C-Clint Chapman
25. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
When you consider how well the Gophers played late in the season, making a run to the NIT title game without Ralph Sampson or Trevor Mbakwe; there is reason to be optimistic heading into next year. Sampson is the only player Minnesota loses and Mbakwe was granted an additional year due to his season-ending injury this past season. The young Gophers backcourt has shown steady growth and should be even better as a collective whole. Add Rodney Williams to the mix and Minnesota is Top-25 worthy.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Elliott Eliason (So)/Mo Walker (So)
PF: Trevoe Mbakwe (Sr)/Andre Ingram (Sr)/Oto Osenieks (So)/Charles Buggs (Fr)
SF: Rodney Williams (Sr)/Wally Ellenson (Fr)
SG: Austin Hollins (Jr)/Joe Coleman (So)/Chip Armelin (Jr)
PG: Andre Hollins (So)/Julian Welch (Sr)/Maverick Ahanmisi (Jr)
Gone: C-Ralph Sampson III
Other teams considered: Tennessee, UCLA, Alabama, Pitt, Butler, VCU, Georgetown, Miami (FL), St. Mary’s, Arizona, Purdue, Murray State, St. Joseph’s, St. Louis
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.
You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.
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