The college basketball season is here and the AP Poll of the Top 25 teams has been released for some time. After careful evaluation, there are plenty of teams that rank outside of the Top 10 teams that could eventually either make their way up to the Top 10 or could make waves heading into March. Here are the top five teams that could make that splash from unranked to top seed.
5. St. John’s Red Storm
The St. John’s Red Storm added one of the greatest coaches in NCAA History in Rick Pitino. He also brought with him 12 new players on the team and this team has a mantra about them that has been different than any other season they have started. The team will start Daniss Jenkins at the point guard position. Last season, he averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Forward Chris Ledlum will dominate with him. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.4 rebounds last year with 1.1 blocks per game.
4. Texas Christian Horned Frogs
Texas Christian has never been known as a basketball school. They really just get known nationally as a football school. However, former NBA star, Jameer Nelson’s son attends and stars as the floor general of this team. Last season, he averaged 20.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He also averaged 2.4 steals as well. They brought in guard transfer Trevian Tennyson, who averaged 15.7 points last season with Texas A&M Corpus Christi. They will also feature forward Emanuel Miller, who has had a great start to this season in the team’s exhibition games this year.
3. Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes had a decent season last year moving around the Top 25 and getting taken out in heartbreak in the NCAA Tournament. This year, the team will start at No. 13 on the AP Poll which is the highest ranked team on this list. However, they also have the most to prove. They will get center Norchad Omier back this season after he averaged 13.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game as a heavyweight with anyone in this paint. They will also feature Nijel Pack again. He had 13.6 points last season after withdrawing his name from the NBA Draft and returning to the team.
2. San Diego State Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs’ run to the national title game last season was one that shocked the world. They upset the tournament’s No. 1 team in Alabama in a tear of great basketball just coming up short against. The team will be returning plenty of players from that roster including Lamont Butler, Jr., Darrion Trammell, and Jeanine LeDee as this team becomes a household name for the second straight year.
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Here is the story of the last two seasons. The North Carolina Tar Heels exceeded expectations dominating teams on their way to a championship appearance from the No. 8 seed to lose to Kansas in the championship. They went into last season ranked No. 1 in the nation and became the quickest team in CBB history to drop from No. 1 to unranked and became the laughing stock of the season. This year, they are moderately ranked No. 19 with a chip on their shoulder. A Final Four appearance could be back this year with the return of Armando Bacot and RJ Davis.
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