Three that are overrated:
UCLA: Firing coaches, you say? What school fits the criteria I outlined above? UCLA does and Mick Cronin is a miserable man with bad vibes. After his first 0-2 trip east in Big 18 play this year, the wheels will start in motion as Mick looks for an escape path.
Iowa State: Ok, this hurts. Local guy makes good. Great friend’s kid is a sophomore at Ames so I’m cheering for them for multiple reasons but 44 pre-season in KenPom offense and 48 in T-Rank? Get an offensive coordinator, T.J. Yes, pre-season analytics don’t mean a ton until we have real data but historical precedence of T.J. at Iowa State says that’s a problem for them.
St. John’s: 7 in T-Rank, 16 in KenPom to open the season. 5th in the AP. Lots of expectations for this team but UConn reclaims the Big East throne and we get a lot of interesting Rick Pitino pressers.
Three that are underrated:
Kansas: They go as far as Darryn Peterson takes them and he can take them to a Final Four. Love Tre White here. Love Melvin Council here. A KU team whose sum of parts will equal a return to a Big XII title.
Gonzaga: It’s possible we’re at the Mark Few decline stage but the last year in the WCC feels like they should go out with a bang. Graham Ike is worth a flyer for NPOY. Zags move to the whatever the hell league they’re joining next year deserves a big send off. Vibes, folks.
Marquette: Homer pick, so to speak but they are flying under the radar nationally. If this were a team of transfers, we’d probably rate them higher (H/T Cracked Sidewalks). But because they’re returning everyone and there isn’t a bona fide star that we see, I think they’re being overlooked. Shaka has basically taken the Bo Ryan path where many seasons, we looked at the Badgers roster and said, ah-ha!, this is the season they unravel. Won’t be surprised if this is a top-3 Big East team.
Final 4:
Kentucky
Gonzaga
Tennessee
Michigan
National Champ: Kentucky over Michigan
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