Here are teams 16-25 in my updated 2012-2013 preseason college basketball Top 25 and other teams who just missed the cut.
16. WISCONSIN BADGERS
I’m sure as hell that whole Bo Ryan/Jared Uthoff transfer saga is over. As per usual, the Badgers will always be able to compete for a Big Ten Title with their stellar defense and deliberate offensive attack. There won’t be a go-to scorer like Taylor but UW has plenty of weapons with guys like Ryan Evans, Jared Berggren, Josh Gasser, and Ben Brust being able to share the offensive load. Redshirt freshmen George Marshall should become an immediate contributor along with Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin, Sam Dekker.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Jared Berggren (Sr)/Frank Kaminsky (So)/Evan Anderson (So)
F: Ryan Evans (Sr)/Zach Bohannon (Jr)
F: Mike Bruesewitz (Sr)/Sam Dekker (Fr)/Duje Dukan (Jr)
SG: Ben Brust (So)/Traevon Jackson (So)
PG: Josh Gasser (Jr)/George Marshall (Fr)
Gone: PG-Jordan Taylor, G/F-Rob Wilson, F-Jared Uthoff (transfer)
17. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Jared Sullinger and William Buford will be gone but DeShaun Thomas’ decision to remain in Columbus is a sigh of relief. Thomas will have to emerge as the Buckeyes’ true go-to score.. Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith Jr. return in the backcourt and will have to develop into consistent offensive weapons. Other than that, OSU will need young guys like Sam Thompson, Amir Williams, and Shannon Scott to step into bigger roles especially since Jordan Sibert and J.D. Weatherspoon has chosen to transfer.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Evan Ravenel (Sr)/Amir Williams (So)/Trey McDonald (So)
F: DeShaun Thomas (Jr)/LaQuinton Ross (So)
G/F: Sam Thompson (So)
SG: Lenzelle Smith (Jr)/Amedeo Della Valle (Fr)
PG: Aaron Craft (Jr)/Shannon Scott (So)
Gone: C-Jared Sullinger, SG-Willian Buford, SG-Jordan Sibert (transfer-Dayton), F-J.D. Weatherspoon (transfer)
18. CINCINNATI BEARCATS
Mick Cronin deserves a ton of credit for the success Cincy has had the past two seasons, especially this year when things could have easily spiraled out of control. The ‘Cats lose two starters but return everybody else including sharpshooter Sean Kilpatrick and some talented young players who either redshirted or saw limited minutes last season.
Projected Depth Chart
C/F: Cheikh Mbodj (Sr)/Kelvin Gaines (So)
PF: Justin Jackson (Jr)/Titus Rubles (Jr)/Octavius Ellis (Fr)
G/F: Sean Kilpatrick (Jr)/Shaquille Thomas (Fr)/Jermaine Sanders (So)
G: JaQuon Parker (Sr)/Jeremiah Davis (So)
PG: Cashmere Wright (Sr)/Ge’Lawn Guyn (So)
Gone: C-Yancy Gates, SG-Dion Dixon
19. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Mike Brey did it again last season despite losing Tim Abromaitis early in the season to injury. 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: Tim Abromaitis (Sr???)/Thomas Knight (Sr)/Zach Auguste (Fr)
G/F: Scott Martin (Sr???)/Pat Connaughton (So)/Austin Burgett (Fr)
SG: Jerian Grant (So)/Joey Brooks (Sr)/Cameron Biedscheid (Fr)
PG: Eric Atkins (Jr)
Gone: G/F-Alex Dragicevich (transfer)
20. 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??)
21. 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)
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
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. 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
24. 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 Chapman (So)/Andre Yates (Fr)
Gone: PG-Antoine Young
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, Texas, Arizona, Pitt, Butler, VCU, Miami (FL), St. Mary’s, Murray State, Georgetown, Alabama, Purdue, Ohio
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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