DUKE FAN ZONE: WAY-TOO-EARLY- RANKINGS...
Duke Fan Zone has made our WAY-TOO-EARLY-RANKINGS! It's going to be the TOP-25. Here it is:
25: Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals are #25, because they have lost a lot of their good players. I don't expect much from Louisville this year.
24: Michigan Wolverines
Michigan does have Juwan Howard, but they've also lost a lot of players. They do have Isaiah Livers, Eli Brooks, and Franz Wagner coming back. I don't expect much from Michigan either.
23: Stanford Cardinal
Stanford will be better then normal this year. I expect them too do well in the PAC-12, but outside of that, I can't say much.
22: UCLA Bruins
UCLA does have some talent coming back. Their leading scorer last year, Chris Smith is returning. Right now, I have the Bruins at #22... Are they better than that?
21: Houston Cougars
Now, Houston is normally better than this. They are #21 for right now. Will they be better than that, or much worse?
20: Alabama Crimson Tide
You normally hear Alabama's name because they're so good at football. This year, they've got a fine basketball team. I think they'll do well in the SEC, but I can't say much outside of it.
19: West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia is ready to play Kansas, Baylor, and Texas Tech in the BIG 12. Do I think they'll win those games? No, I don't. I think they'll play fine against those teams, but not beat them.
18: Arizona State Sun Devils
Bobby Hurley, who is the Arizona State head coach, and former Duke basketball player, might have a great season.
17: LSU Tigers
LSU has a good amount of talent... Will they be able to use their talent in games? I don't think so.
16: UNC Tar Heels
Now, I know. UNC had a TERRIBLE record last year. You're probably even wondering why they're ranked... I hate to admit it, but they'll be a lot better this year. I don't really know what happened last year. They also have the #2 recruiting class in College Basketball.
15: Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa... They're never really good. Remember, #15 is an outstanding ranking. Teams that have a bad record think the #25 team is AMAZING.
14: Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois has a good team this year... Adam Miller is going to play with them this year, and he could win them some games this year.
13: Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky will be ranked higher if Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr will play for them this year. Right now though, they're #13.
12: Florida State Seminoles
FSU has lost their 2 leading scorers from last year. They got some new players, but I expect Florida State will play really well this year.
11: Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee actually has a fine basketball team this year. I believe they might be 1st or 2nd in the SEC. They have plenty of good players returning, and a few new recruits.
10: Creighton Blue Jays
Creighton is #10 because of their recruits. They actually have some nice ones! Since the Blue Jays are in the Big East, they will 100% win their conference.
9: Wisconsin Badgers
I think the Badgers will play well this year, because they have outstanding recruits. I expect Wisconsin to win the Big Ten.
8: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech's amazing head-coach Chris Beard should be expecting an outstanding season from his team. I'm not saying they will... But if they play well again... Don't rule out another Final Four appearance.
7: Baylor Bears
Last year, I remember seeing Baylor in the rankings, as #10. I kept thinking to myself, How is Baylor any good? I don't think they're any good. Most rankings have them as #2, or #3, but I have them as #7... Why? Well, their 2 best players, Jared Butler and MaCio Teague both went to the NBA draft.
6: Michigan State Spartans
MSU, and head coach Tom Izzo, both are disappointed in losing their best player, Cassius Winston. If they still had him, they'd be much higher.
5: Kansas Jayhawks
Another Big 12 team. It'll be a lot of fun seeing Kansas and Baylor compete against each other for the first spot in the Big 12. Kansas would be higher, if Devin Dotson didn't leave.
4: Villanova Wildcats
Villanova... The 2017 National Champion. That was 2017. Will that happen this year? Maybe. The Wildcats have a lot of young talent... I expect very much from Villanova this year.
3: Virginia Cavaliers
UVA is always really good at basketball. I expect the same this year. Tony Bennett will make smart decisions, and be the #3 team in America.
2: Gonzaga Bulldogs
The 'Zags' are the #2 team, as they have an outstanding recruiting class this year.
1: Duke Blue Devils
Duke has to be #1! This is Duke Fan Zone!