Best Non-UK Team this season

[JJBlue06]

Preseason Polls aside.

Who do you all think is the best team (no blue goggles) in the country for this coming season?

I forgot how good Maryland was going to be between transfers and recruiting.
Projected Line-up:

PG Melo Trimble (former 5 star MCDAA)
SG Rasheed Sulaimon (former 5 star MCDAA)
SF Jake Layman (top 100, seasoned vet, good role player)
PF Robert Carter (former borderline 5 star, GT transfer, UK recruited)
C Diamond Stone (top 5 recruit MCDAA)

Not really sure about the bench, didn't see many names stick out but this is a really solid starting 5. UNC returns alot, Duke will be good, KU should be good, but Maryland will be tough. I'm just really excited for the basketball season ever since I got my Champion's Classic tickets and went to BBM.

 

[Smashcat]

Yep. Maryland on paper looks tough. We'll see how they come together

 

[bigbluelou]

UNC*** is going to be tough. I hope they do great then get banned from postseason play.

 

[prossdog]

I'd say Maryland also. UNC has good but not great players. They were 26-12 and finished 9-8 and brought in nobody new. Their experience could give good teams trouble but they just don't have the talent of some other teams.

 

[bigbluelou]

I'd say Maryland also. UNC has good but not great players. They were 26-12 and finished 9-8 and brought in nobody new. Their experience could give good teams trouble but they just don't have the talent of some other teams.

I agree on a pure, "hyper" talent basis. But they do have skilled and experienced players in all positions and a borderline AA PG in Paige. They're pretty deep, too. Make no mistake, they will be formidable this year. Definitely a FF threat barring injuries.

Now excuse me while I go rinse taste of vomit out of my mouth.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I go with Maryland over UNC as well. If Trimble progresses and doesn't sophomore slump, they could be a real problem. Just have a feeling UNC is gonna fizzle out.

The only correction I'd make for the OP's assessment is Rashweed. I know he was technically a MCDAA but part of that was because he was going to Duke. Not sure he nabs that spot if he goes anywhere else. Not to mention, I don't think he's proven worthy of that spot thus far anyways.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Maryland probably has the best starting five. They are going to play slow down old school pound it inside basketball based on their personnel. Carter and Stone are not fleet of foot. They will look to overpower their opponents.

UNC has a good starting five and maybe a little more depth than Maryland.

Both teams have big strong post players that could give us issues, but they will struggle to contain our guards and stay with our more mobile bigs.

I like KU as well. Very talented team.

I think UK, UNC, Maryland, and KU end up being the 1 seeds this year.

I like Iowa St. as a possible Final Four darkhorse.

Michigan St. with Valentine and Harris on the wings could make some noise in the tourney.

Also like Zona, though they are young. Trier is going to be special, IMHO. Zeus gives them a potentially dominant big man.

And I never count K and the Dukies out. They won't be near as good as last year, but they could be in contention by season's end.

 

[RC_Texas]

Maryland probably has the best starting five. They are going to play slow down old school pound it inside basketball based on their personnel. Carter and Stone are not fleet of foot. They will look to overpower their opponents.

Biggest question is Sulaimon. He didn't blend well with his Duke teammates or coaches. He seems a bit of screw-up.

 

[RC_Texas]

I think UK, UNC, Maryland, and KU end up being the 1 seeds this year.

I like it! Coached by a former Kansas Grad Asst, former Kansas head coach, former Kansas player and a current Kansas head coach. I like the way you think! It could be like 2008 when all the #1 Seeds meet in the Final Four in Texas.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Phew. Glad we appeased the last Kansas fan that hasn't jumped off a bridge yet.

 

[Untouchables22]

I know they fly under the radar and their talent isn't top end but I'm going to take a dark horse and say Virginia. I believe in that defensive system and they did lose their best player but they bring back a lot and they've "been there before" the last couple years so they have a culture of winning lately and expect to win a lot which goes a long way.

 

[RC_Texas]

Phew. Glad we appeased the last Kansas fan that hasn't jumped off a bridge yet.

There is a lot of Kansas fans who come to Rupp to find the strength to continue on. Thank you.

 

[truebluewildcat]

obviously most of the blue bloods and top teams already discussed...

as for some squads that maybe aren't getting as much love yet...

Gonzaga is going to make a lot of noise...they'll go 7'1, 6'11, and 6'10 in the front court...Wiltjer and Karnowski are sr veterans, the sophomore sabonis is a lottery pick...and guard play under mark few is always solid...

Ohio State could sneak up on some people and spoil somebody's dance...Jaquan Lyle is elite, they have a solid class coming in with him, and the big transfer from Va-Tech...

Cal...two lottery picks plus senior Wallace who is projected first round should have them competing in the Pac 12 and dancing...

Wisconsin and Wichita State will both be very good for the same reasons they've been very good here recently...

interested in seeing what LSU and Miss St can do with their lottery pick studs...Aggies have a great class full of top texas talent coming in to go along with Sr House who should get drafted and a lot of returning pieces...

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Speaking of Gonzaga, should we pencil them in as a #2 or #3 seed in Duke's region? Still the same mid-major, solid but unathletic team that will roll through fairly weak competition to a 4-5 loss record.

 

[CatChow]

Zona
Zona
Zona
Zona

 

[CatPhight]

Zona
Zona
Zona
Zona

Yeah, Miller has had some bad luck in March.

 

[UK D Shack]

obviously most of the blue bloods and top teams already discussed...

as for some squads that maybe aren't getting as much love yet...

Gonzaga is going to make a lot of noise...they'll go 7'1, 6'11, and 6'10 in the front court...Wiltjer and Karnowski are sr veterans, the sophomore sabonis is a lottery pick...and guard play under mark few is always solid...

Ohio State could sneak up on some people and spoil somebody's dance...Jaquan Lyle is elite, they have a solid class coming in with him, and the big transfer from Va-Tech...

Cal...two lottery picks plus senior Wallace who is projected first round should have them competing in the Pac 12 and dancing...

Wisconsin and Wichita State will both be very good for the same reasons they've been very good here recently...

interested in seeing what LSU and Miss St can do with their lottery pick studs...Aggies have a great class full of top texas talent coming in to go along with Sr House who should get drafted and a lot of returning pieces...

Im curious to see how Ohio St and Cal shape up too.

 

[DodgerDukie1985]

Gonzaga is going to make a lot of noise...they'll go 7'1, 6'11, and 6'10 in the front court...Wiltjer and Karnowski are sr veterans, the sophomore sabonis is a lottery pick...and guard play under mark few is always solid...

I do wonder about Wiltjer defensively if Few decides to start him with Sabonis and Karnowski. He'd struggle big time on that end (and he's already got trouble there as it is) if asked to guard opposing wings. Although Few may not have the luxury of bringing Sabonis off the bench with Byron Wesley gone.

Their guard play has more questions this season minus Pangos, Bell and Wesley, but Josh Perkins (consensus 4 star) should at least be a good replacement for Pangos.

 

[DodgerDukie1985]

Im curious to see how Ohio St and Cal shape up too.

Cal could win the Pac-12 with that recruiting class and having everyone important returning with the exception of David Kravish, who averaged about 11 per game for them. IMO no excuse for Cuonzo Martin and Co. to at least not finish 2nd. Ohio State is kind of a mystery to me. No D'Angelo Russell, but Jae'Sean Tate should be good. I could see them finishing third or fourth or seventh or eighth in the B1G. Maryland and Michigan State are the top two and then you've got Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Wisconsin mixed in there as well.

Three unranked squads I have my eyes on are Texas A&M, Georgetown and Florida State. A&M and FSU are bringing just about everyone back of importance and both have top 10 recruiting classes coming in. G-Town got their best player back (Smith-Rivera) after he thought about leaving and have a solid group of sophomores who could break out as well. If only I trusted a John Thompson III team in the NCAA Tourney more. They haven't faired very well there since the Jeff Green/Roy Hibbert teams.