Nov 11, 20164 min read

CBB: 2016-17 Season Preview

College basketball is back, and yet it still seems like we are back in April, watching one of the greatest games in history play out; as Josh Hart and Marcus Paige battled back-and-forth, with Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beating triple lifting Villanova to the National Championship over North Carolina.

Flash forward more than six months later, and we are getting ready for a brand new season. Blake Stoll and I will preview, in our opinions, how this season is going to go. We will present our own version of the Top 25, predictions for some of the most noteworthy games of Week 1, a couple of bold predictions, short previews of each Power 5 conference, and finally; who we believe will be standing in Phoenix in the Final Four.

Composite Rankings:

1. Duke (0-0)

2. Kansas (0-0)

3. Kentucky (0-0)

4. Oregon (0-0)

5. North Carolina (0-0)

6. Xavier (0-0)

7. Villanova (0-0)

8. Michigan State (0-0)

9. Wisconsin (0-0)

10. Arizona (0-0)

11. Gonzaga (0-0)

12. Louisville (0-0)

13. Virginia (0-0)

14. Purdue (0-0)

15. Indiana (0-0)

16. UCONN (0-0)

17. UCLA (0-0)

18. St. Mary's (0-0)

19. Syracuse (0-0)

20. Cincinnati (0-0)

21. Texas (0-0)

22. Creighton (0-0)

23. Maryland (0-0)

24. Rhode Island (0-0)

25. California (0-0)

On the Bubble:

26. West Virginia (0-0)

27. Florida State (0-0)

28. Colorado (0-0)

29. Michigan (0-0)

30. Florida (0-0)

Week 1 Predictions:

Post:

SF Austin @ No. 3 Kentucky

No. 10 Arizona vs. No. 8 Michigan State

Marist @ No. 1 Duke

Evansville @ No. 12 Louisville

Lehigh @ No. 6 Xavier

No. 15 Indiana vs. No. 2 Kansas

No. 5 North Carolina @ Tulane

Pacific @ No. 17 UCLA

Army @ No. 4 Oregon

Nevada @ No. 18 St. Mary's

Stoll:

SF Austin @ No. 3 Kentucky

No. 10 Arizona vs. No. 8 Michigan State

Marist @ No. 1 Duke

Evansville @ No. 12 Louisville

Lehigh @ No. 6 Xavier

No. 15 Indiana vs. No. 2 Kansas

No. 5 North Carolina @ Tulane

Pacific @ No. 17 UCLA

Army @ No. 4 Oregon

Nevada @ No. 18 St. Mary's

Bold Predictions:

Post: Grayson Allen will score 40+ points in a Duke win, against Marist. It obviously isn't a far stretch to believe the No. 1 team in the country will beat lowly Marist, but I think Allen will start his Player of the Year candidacy with a bang.

Stoll: Savannah State will upset Iowa State in overtime, on opening night. There is always a surprising upset on the first Friday of the season, last year it was Western Illinois over No. 17 Wisconsin, and this year it will be the Cyclones going down. Monte Morris is on his own after Georges Niang graduated and Iowa State will fall.

What players and teams burst on to the scene in the ACC?

Post: Duke is going to be the class of the conference, and probably the country. The Blue Devils are led by Grayson Allen, who is expected to be one of the best players in the nation. Other teams to look out for are North Carolina (player to watch: Joel Berry II), Louisville, and Virginia. Expect a tight race between the 2-4 seeds in the ACC tournament, but no one is going to catch Duke.

Stoll: Duke will be at the top team followed by North Carolina, Louisville, and Virginia. The Blue Devils are heavy favorites to win it all this year so I think they are a lock to win the ACC behind Grayson Allen, potential Wooden Award winner.

Can anyone in the Big 12 compete with Kansas?

Post: No. Every single year, the Kansas Jayhawks win the Big 12 and it's not going to be any different in 2016-17. Josh Jackson is one of the most sought after players by NBA executives and he will impress, alongside Devonte Graham and Frank Mason. Texas should be a team to watch, with freshman Jarrett Allen, and sophomores Eric Davis and Kerwin Roach.

Stoll: Kansas will lead the Big 12 with ease followed by West Virginia, Iowa State, and Oklahoma. Freshman Josh Jackson will widen the path for the Jayhawks, and Bill Self's team will once again take home the Big 12 title en route to a Final Four appearance.

Who is at the top of the Big Ten, players and teams?

Post: The Big Ten is packed, but Wisconsin is my pick to win the conference and find a way to the Final Four. Led by Nigel Hayes, Ethan Happ, and Bronson Koenig, the Badgers are going to be a great squad. Michigan State will be good per usual but they are just too inexperienced in my opinion. Indiana and Purdue should make a run at the conference title but it's Wisconsin's to lose.

Stoll: Michigan State will win the Big Ten followed by Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Maryland. Freshman Miles Bridges will lead Sparty to a Big Ten title, with former West Virginia Mountaineer Eron Harris. Thomas Bryant, of Indiana, and Nigel Hayes, of Wisconsin are worth keeping an eye on.

Is the Pac-12 going to be more than just Oregon?

Post: Yes ... and no. Oregon is going to win the conference, barring any (more) injuries. Dillon Brooks is one of the best players in the country and as long as he gets back on the court quickly, they will be just fine. In the meantime, Casey Benson and Chris Boucher will hold down the fort. I think Arizona will be good, but more like Sweet Sixteen good. Ivan Rabb and California should clinch an at-large tourney berth, as well.

Stoll: Oregon will win the Pac 12, but there are going to be a handful of tournament teams from out West. The Ducks will be at the top, followed by Arizona, California, and Utah. When healthy, Dillon Brooks will lead the Ducks to the regular season conference title and beyond.

Is there any way Kentucky doesn't win the SEC (again)?

Post: Nope. The SEC is just bleh. Besides the Wildcats, every season, we don't know what to expect. Will South Carolina be good again? Maybe. Will Ole Miss? Probably not. Will Texas A&M? Possibly. Will Florida? Who knows. Kentucky is the team to beat because of De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Co. But Texas A&M and (maybe) Florida will make the tournament.

Stoll: Kentucky will take the SEC per usual, because of another stacked recruiting class headlined by Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox, and a plethora of star players. The Wildcats will be followed by South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt.

Current No. 1 Seeds:

1. Duke (0-0)

2. Kansas (0-0)

3. Kentucky (0-0)

4. Oregon (0-0)

Final Four Picks: