With the start of college basketball just one day away, why wouldn’t we start looking at the capstone of the season before the season even starts? With more than four teams that could end up deserving the four No. 1 seeds that March will hand out, which of those teams will end up being considered one of the best four teams in the nation after their schedule, injuries, developments, and everything else is done? Here are those four teams.
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Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils have one of the best teams in the nation, complete with stellar sophomores, top recruits, and transfer players. Kyle Filipowski will anchor down the inside, while Tyrese Proctor and Jeremy Roach will command the defense and open up transition offense. However, Duke has one of the hardest schedules in the country. The Blue Devils will see No. 12 Arizona and No. 4 Michigan State in the first two weeks. They have a total of seven Top 25 matchups according to the preseason rankings. However, they have a real shot of being the Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed if they come out of that schedule with one or fewer losses.
Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks have a similar strength of schedule to Duke. They have seven Top 25 matchups, including five of those in the last month leading up to the tournament. It is very possible that this team holds the No. 1 overall seed heading into February and losses it against such tough back-to-back opponents. However, if this team can weather that schedule, then it can dominate the tournament. The Jayhawks are bringing back Dejuan Harris, Kevin McCullar Jr., and K.J. Adams Jr. They also pulled in the No. 26 high school player in the nation Elmarko Jackson. The biggest news of all this offseason was the transfer in of Michigan star Hunter Dickinson to solidify the offense and defense. He averaged 18.5 points per game last season with the Wolverines.
Houston Cougars
The Cougars, led by head coach Kelvin Sampson, has been the best defensive team in the Top 25 for at least the last three years. One of the more rare traits to find is a coach that values lockdown defense more than high scoring offense. Last season, the team never dropped out of the Top 5 and finished the season as the No. 2 team in the nation, earning one of the four top spots. The Cougars eventually lost in the Sweet 16 to Miami (FL.). The biggest hindrance to this team being a top seed is its competition this season. With the move from the AAC to the Big 12, the Cougars will now face six preseason Top 25 teams, including No. 1 ranked Kansas twice.
USC Trojans
No. 21 USC is ranked too low, especially if it is able to get a healthy Bronny James back on the court. This team ended last year as a Top 25 team and the Trojans brought back their leading scorer in Boogie Ellis, as well as adding the No. 1 player in the country in Isaiah Collier. If Ellis, Collier and James get on the court together this could be one of the most high-powered scoring offenses in the country. The Trojans would be able to beat you from anywhere on the court. Should those things transpire, along with only three scheduled games against preseason Top 25 opponents, this could be a dynamic undefeated team.
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