The 2021-2022 college basketball season will begin the 1st week of November. Many times have already held their preview days or midnight madness'. With what we know from returning players and incoming freshman we will dive into the early college season preview and take a look at what teams may be still standing come March.
Preseason AP #1 Gonzaga
A win shy of hoisting the National title back in March, the Zags will sit at the top of the basketball world once again coming into November. With the loss of Jaylen Suggs and Corey Kispert, the Bulldogs reloaded with an outstanding incoming Freshman class and No.1 prospect in the 2021 class, Chet Holmgren. They also get No. 24 recruit Nolan Hickman, transfer Rasir Bolton (15.5 ppg) from Iowa State, and the return of Drew Timme (19 ppg). It looks again the Bulldogs are built to make a run in the NCAA tournament, however will Mark Fews offseason antics be a distraction for this well talented team. Few was suspended for the first game of the season as he plead guilty to a DUI charge.
AP #2 Kansas
Returning four starters and they will add one of the best transfers in the county, Remy Martin (19 ppg.) from Arizona State. Bill Self needed reinforcements at the point guard spot -- and he went out and grabbed maybe the best one on the market, Arizona State transfer Remy Martin. A two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection, Martin has elite speed and scoring ability, but will need to adapt his game and become more of a playmaker and distributor.
AP #3 UCLA
If you think back the UCLA bruins overcame a 14 point deficit in the First Four games of the NCAA Tournament. A good possibility they would not be ranked a 3 here if they were but Cronin and the Bruins made a huge run to the Final Four and find themselves in a great spot for this year. Mick Cronin brings back every player from the Bruins' Final Four run, adds a lottery pick in Peyton Watson and one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten in Rutgers graduate transfer Myles Johnson.
AP #4 Villanova
With the returns of Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels, taking advantage of their extra year of eligibility, Villanova became a lock top-five team nationally. Gillespie is arguably the best point guard in the country, while Samuels continues to expand his game every season in college. With all the pieces there with an ESPN 100 recruit, Nnanna Njoku, Villanova could be primed for a Final Four run in March.
AP #5 Texas
The Longhorns bring back two veteran starters on the perimeter in Courtney Ramey and Andrew Jones, and Beard is supplementing that guard duo with six of ESPN's top 30 transfers. Top-40 recruit Jaylon Tyson has earned rave reviews early, too. Beard has plenty of experience with transfers and he's made it work in the past; if he does it again, this team will be fun to watch.
AP Outsiders
#7 Memphis
Penny Hardaway's Tiger could be a team to watch in March as well. A loaded team with several scorers, with top No. 3 recruit Emoni Bates. Dominant big man Jalen Duren looks to do work on both end for the Tigers. That's on top of three returning starters, including leading scorer Landers Nolley II and DeAndre Williams.
#11 Duke
Coach K's final tour and he will definitely not retire on a bad note. Elite recruit Paolo Banchero might be the most college-ready freshman in the country and could be the go-to-guy and anchor this team needs on the offensive end. A.J. Griffin is garnering lottery buzz, while Trevor Keels can really score the basketball. Among the returnees, expect big steps forward from Jeremy Roach, Wendell Moore Jr. and Mark Williams.
#15 Houston
Kelvin Sampson's last four seasons at Houston: 111-24 overall, two AAC regular-season championships, one conference tournament title, seven NCAA tournament wins, one Final Four appearance. SImple find ways to continue winning.
#25 Virginia
The Cavaliers have finished in the top 20 at KenPom.com in all but one of the last eight seasons -- and they won 11 of their final 12 games that season. Tony Bennett always has teams with great success with his pack line defense.
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