2024-25 MBB Rankings

DavidBenAkiva

DavidBenAkiva

Member
I debated posting this in the 2024 Way (WAY!) Too Early Rankings before deciding to start a new thread. ESPN's Jeff Borzello released his preseason Top 25 today and has Duke at #8. He had Duke all the way at #1 in April before dropping as other teams reassembled their rosters, mostly through the transfer portals. Duke's additions were early and not as splashy as others.

Here's the article with projected starting lineups for each of the top 25.

  1. Kansas
  2. Alabama
  3. UConn
  4. Houston
  5. Iowa State
  6. Gonzaga
  7. Baylor
  8. Duke
  9. Arizona
  10. Auburn
  11. North Carolina
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Tennessee
  14. Arkansas
  15. Creighton
  16. Purdue
  17. Marquette
  18. Indiana
  19. Cincinnati
  20. Ole Miss
  21. Texas
  22. Florida
  23. Kentucky
  24. UCLA
  25. Rutgers

I'll update my consensus Top 25 as other publications post their rankings as we move closer to November.
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
I debated posting this in the 2024 Way (WAY!) Too Early Rankings before deciding to start a new thread. ESPN's Jeff Borzello released his preseason Top 25 today and has Duke at #8. He had Duke all the way at #1 in April before dropping as other teams reassembled their rosters, mostly through the transfer portals. Duke's additions were early and not as splashy as others.

Here's the article with projected starting lineups for each of the top 25.

  1. Kansas
  2. Alabama
  3. UConn
  4. Houston
  5. Iowa State
  6. Gonzaga
  7. Baylor
  8. Duke
  9. Arizona
  10. Auburn
  11. North Carolina
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Tennessee
  14. Arkansas
  15. Creighton
  16. Purdue
  17. Marquette
  18. Indiana
  19. Cincinnati
  20. Ole Miss
  21. Texas
  22. Florida
  23. Kentucky
  24. UCLA
  25. Rutgers

I'll update my consensus Top 25 as other publications post their rankings as we move closer to November.
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So if my eyes don’t deceive me, he thinks only two teams in the even bigger ACC are top 25-worthy.

These preseason predictions are just a bigger shot-in-the-dark in the new portal world…
 
In his rankings, Borzello lists a top 25 and 5 teams that are next in line, and still no 3rd ACC team. Too much uncertainty, I guess.

Here's what he says about Duke and UNC:

8. Duke Blue Devils

Duke was a national title contender last season but never quite seemed to put it all together for an extended stretch, ultimately falling in the Elite Eight. Jon Scheyer has two of the best NBA prospects in the country in No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg and projected top-10 pick Khaman Maluach, but his roster is completely revamped. Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster are the only returners after seven players left via the portal. Further experience comes by way of transfers Mason Gillis (Purdue), Maliq Brown (Syracuse) and Sion James (Tulane).
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Projected starting lineup

Tyrese Proctor (10.5 PPG)
Caleb Foster (7.7 PPG)
Kon Knueppel (No. 18 in ESPN 100)
Cooper Flagg (No. 1 in ESPN 100)
Khaman Maluach (five-star)
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11. North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels' roster starts with RJ Davis, a first-team All-American and the preseason favorite for the Wooden Award. Davis had a true breakout campaign last season, averaging 21.2 points and leading Carolina to a 1-seed. Hubert Davis has plenty of perimeter options: Elliot Cadeau has to make strides at the point guard position, while junior Seth Trimble, five-star freshman Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are all generating buzz. The frontcourt has some questions, however. How will Belmont transfer Cade Tyson adjust to life in the ACC? Is Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin the answer down low?
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Projected starting lineup

Elliot Cadeau (7.3 PPG)
RJ Davis (21.2 PPG)
Drake Powell (No. 14 in ESPN 100)
Cade Tyson (16.2 PPG at Belmont)
Jalen Washington (3.9 PPG)
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DavidBenAkiva said:
I debated posting this in the 2024 Way (WAY!) Too Early Rankings before deciding to start a new thread. ESPN's Jeff Borzello released his preseason Top 25 today and has Duke at #8. He had Duke all the way at #1 in April before dropping as other teams reassembled their rosters, mostly through the transfer portals. Duke's additions were early and not as splashy as others.

Here's the article with projected starting lineups for each of the top 25.

  1. Kansas
  2. Alabama
  3. UConn
  4. Houston
  5. Iowa State
  6. Gonzaga
  7. Baylor
  8. Duke
  9. Arizona
  10. Auburn
  11. North Carolina
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Tennessee
  14. Arkansas
  15. Creighton
  16. Purdue
  17. Marquette
  18. Indiana
  19. Cincinnati
  20. Ole Miss
  21. Texas
  22. Florida
  23. Kentucky
  24. UCLA
  25. Rutgers

I'll update my consensus Top 25 as other publications post their rankings as we move closer to November.
Click to expand...
I like us at #8. It's almost time to shock the world!

Scanning for our non-con opponents. Kansas 1. Arizona 9. Auburn 10. Kentucky 23. Not too shabby.
 
What a schedule we have. Its all there for the taking. Basically by November 26th against Kansas, we will know (not really) if we will be a 1 seed or 3-4 seed.
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
I debated posting this in the 2024 Way (WAY!) Too Early Rankings before deciding to start a new thread. ESPN's Jeff Borzello released his preseason Top 25 today and has Duke at #8. He had Duke all the way at #1 in April before dropping as other teams reassembled their rosters, mostly through the transfer portals. Duke's additions were early and not as splashy as others.

Here's the article with projected starting lineups for each of the top 25.

  1. Kansas
  2. Alabama
  3. UConn
  4. Houston
  5. Iowa State
  6. Gonzaga
  7. Baylor
  8. Duke
  9. Arizona
  10. Auburn
  11. North Carolina
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Tennessee
  14. Arkansas
  15. Creighton
  16. Purdue
  17. Marquette
  18. Indiana
  19. Cincinnati
  20. Ole Miss
  21. Texas
  22. Florida
  23. Kentucky
  24. UCLA
  25. Rutgers

I'll update my consensus Top 25 as other publications post their rankings as we move closer to November.
Click to expand...
I am really surprised that UConn is that high. I still think they will have a very good team, but a lot of talent walked out the door. As for Duke, eight feels a little low but not egregiously so.
 
azzefkram said:
I am really surprised that UConn is that high. I still think they will have a very good team, but a lot of talent walked out the door. As for Duke, eight feels a little low but not egregiously so.
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To the victor go the spoils.

I'm not as high on UConn either. Diarra is not Newton at PG and Samson Johnson is a significant downgrade from Donovan Clingan at C. The offensive dropoff at those two key positions is being overlooked. I'm not sure anyone on the roster this season is as good as the guy they replaced with the exception of Karaban because he's still there. But they've won each of the past 2 National Titles, so it's all just assumed it will work out.
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
To the victor go the spoils.

I'm not as high on UConn either. Diarra is not Newton at PG and Samson Johnson is a significant downgrade from Donovan Clingan at C. The offensive dropoff at those two key positions is being overlooked. I'm not sure anyone on the roster this season is as good as the guy they replaced with the exception of Karaban because he's still there. But they've won each of the past 2 National Titles, so it's all just assumed it will work out.
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I'm also in the camp on thinking, on paper, they are a bit overrated, but also have in the back of my mind that they are going to come back Michael Myers style for at least one more scare. It's Hurley's sport until proven otherwise.
 
crote said:
I'm also in the camp on thinking, on paper, they are a bit overrated, but also have in the back of my mind that they are going to come back Michael Myers style for at least one more scare. It's Hurley's sport until proven otherwise.
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That UConn offense is a work of art. But how will it play without Klingan?
 
MChambers said:
Evan Miyakawa also has Duke at #3, behind Houston and Gonzaga. Brooke of Auburn is his preseason #1; Flagg is #6.

blog.evanmiya.com

2024 Team Preseason Projections

Diving into some notable team rankings and projections methodology changes
blog.evanmiya.com blog.evanmiya.com
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Dork Polls - at least T-Rank and Evan Miyakawa's - seem to think higher of Duke than the preseason rankings I have seen so far. Not sure what to make of that. I want to believe the computers are not clouded by as much bias. On the other hand, the models are built with the biases of the modelers. I guess we'll just have to see the team play some teams to see for ourselves.
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
Dork Polls - at least T-Rank and Evan Miyakawa's - seem to think higher of Duke than the preseason rankings I have seen so far. Not sure what to make of that. I want to believe the computers are not clouded by as much bias. On the other hand, the models are built with the biases of the modelers. I guess we'll just have to see the team play some teams to see for ourselves.
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I think the range of polls is fair. I expect us to have an outstanding defense from game 1, but it might take our offense a little time to gel since it looks like we are starting 3 freshmen at the 3-5.

Or it could be that we come out and just flatten teams like the Zion year. We'll find out soon....
 
DavidBenAkiva said:
I debated posting this in the 2024 Way (WAY!) Too Early Rankings before deciding to start a new thread. ESPN's Jeff Borzello released his preseason Top 25 today and has Duke at #8. He had Duke all the way at #1 in April before dropping as other teams reassembled their rosters, mostly through the transfer portals. Duke's additions were early and not as splashy as others.

Here's the article with projected starting lineups for each of the top 25.

  1. Kansas
  2. Alabama
  3. UConn
  4. Houston
  5. Iowa State
  6. Gonzaga
  7. Baylor
  8. Duke
  9. Arizona
  10. Auburn
  11. North Carolina
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Tennessee
  14. Arkansas
  15. Creighton
  16. Purdue
  17. Marquette
  18. Indiana
  19. Cincinnati
  20. Ole Miss
  21. Texas
  22. Florida
  23. Kentucky
  24. UCLA
  25. Rutgers

I'll update my consensus Top 25 as other publications post their rankings as we move closer to November.
Click to expand...
Reminds me of the 2018 pre season rankings. When Kansas was sitting at #1 and Duke was further down the list I think at #4 with a bunch of talented freshmen, ready to crush Kentucky at #2 to kick off the season. Duke @ #8 here is hilarious. This team has so much more depth and better outside shooting.
 
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