Sam’s Top 100: 60-41

By Sam Federman

Photo by Associated Press

These are going to be shorter than usual, I'm going to try to keep it to a few key things about each team.

60. Florida State Seminoles (ACC)

Year one for Luke Loucks features a lot of the athleticism that you’re used to with FSU teams in the frontcourt. Between Lajae Jones, Chauncey Wiggins, Alier Maluk, and Alex Steen, this should be a tough team to beat on the glass and down low. Backcourt defense is questionable, but I think Martin Somerville is an absolute stud offensively and should be really good for the Noles.

59. Cincinnati Bearcats (Big 12)

Cincinnati is going to be the same team that we’ve seen over the last few years. A frontcourt of Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam – and Jalen Haynes too – will be daunting defensively, and Sencire Harris can lock down your best guard, but nobody on this roster screams scorer. The Bearcats need a lot from freshman Shon Abaev in order to get the offense going.

58. Loyola Chicago Ramblers (A-10)

Loyola dealt with a ton of injuries last year and still finished 12-6 in the A-10 and made the NIT Final Four. This year, Miles Rubin is back to protect the rim, Kymany Houinsou and Justin Moore return, and a few talented transfers will make an impact. Joshua Ola-Joseph and Xavier Amos are athletic four men who can play inside out, and both Deywilk Tavarez and Dominick Harris bring some offensive juice.

57. Saint Louis Billikens (A-10)

SLU didn’t have any depth last year, especially after some injuries, but this year’s team is deeper and more complete. The frontcourt is completed with the addition of Paul Otieno next to Kalu Anya and superstar Robbie Avila. The backcourt has more options, with exciting Xavier transfer Trey Green running the show alongside Quentin Jones, Brady Dunlap, Dion Brown, Ishan Sharma, and Amari McCottry. SLU should be able to throw out an excellent five man group, but also play eight or nine guys a night in the main rotation.

56. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten)

The Buckeyes return three of the top four scorers from last year’s team. Superstar point guard Bruce Thornton is already one of the best in the Big Ten, Devin Royal took a step forward last year, and John Mobley had an impressive freshman season. Jake Diebler replaced his frontcourt pieces with Wright State transfer Brandon Noel and Santa Clara transfer Christoph Tilly.

55. Texas Longhorns (SEC)

Sean Miller brings some Big East toughness to the SEC with St. John’s transfer Simeon Wilcher and his key Xavier transfer Dailyn Swain for year one at Texas. He also returns Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark, and Chendall Weaver from the last administration in Austin, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how you view it. The center duo of Matas Vokietaitis and Lassina Traore will be interesting.

54. Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten)

Nick Martinelli is back for his senior season in Evanston, and surrounded by a fun group of ball handlers. KJ Windham had a solid freshman year, while Jayden Reid is an elite playmaking transfer from USF, and Max Green impressed as a freshman at Holy Cross. Arrinten Page comes in to shore up the frontcourt.

53. Georgetown Hoyas (Big East)

The culture started to change at Georgetown last year, and even without Thomas Sorber, that will continue in Ed Cooley’s third year. By bringing in KJ Lewis, DeShawn Harris-Smith, Isaiah Abraham, and Jeremiah Williams from the portal, he established a clear defensive identity. Offenisvely, this is Malik Mack’s team, and they brought in experienced shooter Langston Love from Baylor as well.

52. SMU Mustangs (ACC)

SMU has an extremely talented freshman class headlined by Jaden Toombs, surrounding a veteran team that had a solid season last year. Boopie Miller and Samet Yigitoglu are back, while Corey Washington and Jaron Pierre were big additions from the portal.

51. New Mexico Lobos (Mountain West)

I’m definitely higher on New Mexico than I probably should be, but I trust Eric Olen’s evaluation and I like some of the pieces. Deyton Albury has been a favorite of mine since his time at Queens. Antonio Chol was one of the best JUCO players in the country last year, and Chris Howell was an extremely versatile piece for UCSD last year. 

50. VCU Rams (A-10)

Another mid-major program with a new coach that I’m higher on than most, Phil Martelli Jr.’s first VCU team has electricity. A backcourt with Ahmad Nowell, Nyk Lewis, and Jadrian Tracey will score plenty at the A-10 level, while Tyrell Ward and Barry Evans are great fits on the wing. The defensive identity will also stick with Christian Fermin, Keyshawn Mitchell, Michael Belle, and Brandon Jennings.

49. Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC)

Neoklis Avdalas is a major name to know for college basketball fans. The 6 foot 8 Greek guard/wing will be one of the best players in the ACC right off the bat for the Hokies. Mike Young returned Tobi Lawal’s athleticism in the paint, and brought in Izaiah Pasha and Amani Hansberry from the transfer portal as well.

48. Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten)

This isn’t one of the better Michigan State rosters in recent years – especially after Kaleb Glenn’s injury – but I’ll be damned if Tom Izzo doesn’t find a way to make this team work. Trey Fort will need to hit his shots, and Jeremy Fears will need to be more aggressive as a scorer. Spacing is a question mark with a frontcourt of Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper, but all three of those guys are experienced and have been parts of winning.

47. Oklahoma Sooners (SEC)

Oklahoma paired two talented offensive-slanted guards together in Xzayvier Brown and Nijel Pack to play around more physically developed wings in Derrion Reid, Jadon Jones, and Tae Davis. Porter Moser brings back Mo Wague in the frontcourt, and gets Jeff Nwankwo back from injury on the wing.

46. Texas A&M Aggies (SEC)

The biggest question for Texas A&M will be how much does Bucky McMillan stray from his Buckyball pace and press, and how well can it work in the SEC with a whole new roster. Bringing in power conference veterans like Mackenzie Mgbako, Rylan Griffen, and Pop Isaacs should give the Aggies a nice floor, while depth pieces need to hit in order for the ceiling to come into play.

45. Miami (FL) Hurricanes (ACC)

While depth will be a major question mark, Miami put together a formidable starting five, especially on the defensive end in year one for Jai Lucas. Tre Donaldson and Tru Washington form one of the best defensive backcourts in the ACC. Malik Reneau will be a reliable inside scorer.

44. Boise State Broncos (Mountain West)

Leon Rice’s stable of versatile 6 foot 7 players may have lost Tyson Degenhart, but returns RJ Keene, Andrew Meadow, and Javan Buchanan. The Broncos also upgraded at point guard with UCLA transfer Dylan Andrews, who should be one of the best players in the Mountain West. Georgetown transfer Drew Fielder can play in multiple offenses as a five man.

43. Mississippi State Bulldogs (SEC)

This is another Mississippi State team built on physicality in the frontcourt and letting the guards cook. Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps may not be the best defensive backcourt, but they’ll fill it up. Chris Jans took a buy-low on Achor Achor, who struggled at K-State last year, and also brought in Quincy Ballard from Wichita State.

42. Missouri Tigers (SEC)

Mizzou returns two probable All-SEC players from a 5-seed team in Anthony Robinson at point guard and Mark Mitchell as a wing/forward. Sebastian Mack comes in from UCLA to add a little more juice in the backcourt and Shawn Phillips brings size to the post. Dennis Gates needs one of his underclassmen to step up and have a breakout season.

41. West Virginia Mountaineers (Big 12)

West Virginia nailed the hire of Ross Hodge, and built a roster that fits his physical identity. Between Jasper Floyd, Chance Moore, Brenen Lorient, Jackson Fields, and Harlan Obioha, he brought in players who just want to run through you and stop you from running through them. Then, Honor Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff are two of the best shooters in the country surrounding them.