12 Teams

I am starting a thread on what could be the top 12 teams in men's college basketball going into the upcoming season. It looks to me like there are 2 clearly identifiable top teams from each of the power basketball conferences. I am adding Texas Tech and Gonzaga to make it 12 teams. I will discuss 2 teams each day starting with Texas Tech and Gonzaga and followed by the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East and the SEC. I also will try to list the quality non-conference and exhibition games that each of these teams will be playing. Feel free to chip in as I go along. My first 2 teams are as follows:

Texas Tech: TT came within a hair of keeping the Gators out of the Final Four. They bring back Big 12 POY, JT Toppin, but they lose several solid players led by Darrion Williams (who was unstoppable against us). 2nd-year man, Christian Anderson, looks like he will be a star. LeJuan Watts comes over from Washington State and looks like another star. Donovan Atwell and Tyree Bryan transfer in from UNC Greensboro and Santa Clara, respectively, and both look like solid starters. Add in 4 or 5 solid backups and a great coach, and TT can be a top-tier team in a loaded Big 12 conference. As for TT's 13-game non-conference schedule, their highlight games are against Illinois, Wake Forest, Memphis or Purdue, LSU, Arkansas and Duke. That is a great schedule. I don't know who they play in exhibition games.

Gonzaga: The Zags bring back one of the best big men in college basketball in Graham Ike. Braedon Smith, a highly sought after point guard from Colgate, replaces Ryan Nembhard at the point. Big time shooters, Steele Venters and Adam Miller, join the rotation. 6'10" Braden Huff returns after averaging 11 ppg last season. Tyon Grant-Foster comes in after 2 outstanding years at Grand Canyon. He averaged over 20ppg 2 seasons ago. Jalen Warley from FSU joins this team as do 3 highly touted freshmen. This team appears to be loaded. The Zags' non-conference schedule is always loaded. This coming season's non-conference games include Alabama, Maryland and a 3rd tough team in the Player's Era Festival, plus Oklahoma, Creighton, Kentucky, UCLA, Baylor and Arizona State. That is a monster non-conference schedule. I don't know about exhibition games.

 

I think that Gonzaga might also be playing Kansas this coming season. The WCC was solid last season. It looks like it was rated 7th out of 31 conferences. Better than average teams in the conference last season included St. Mary's, Gonzaga, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Oregon State and Washington State. In the NCAA tournament, the Zags beat Georgia by 21 points before losing to Houston by 5 points. Gonzaga moves to the PAC-12 Conference next season. Don't ask me to name the teams in the PAC-12.

 

I just searched it. 9 members so far: Texas State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State. You are right about the "States." Some of those schools have good sports programs.

 

Seriously?

 

Nothing wrong with a little quibble. I give it to my dog all the time. Never mind; that's kibble. My source is sports-reference.com for the WCC being the 7th best men's basketball conference in the country last season. St. Mary's beat Vandy in the NCAA tournament last season before losing to Alabama. So, the WCC went 2-1 against the SEC in the NCAA tournament. There are about 365 Division 1 men's basketball teams. So, all 6 of the teams that I mentioned should be considered better than average teams. As for Gonzaga, they have made it to the Sweet Sixteen 14 times, which, I think, might have started with their win over the Gators in 1999. Feel free to keep quibbling.