COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Men’s basketball poll. Records and rankings are from 201516. Outlooks by Scott Gleeson and Eddie Timanus.
1. Duke (25-11)
Points: 792 (27 first-place votes). Previous ranking: 18. Outlook: High-flying guard Grayson Allen (21.6 ppg) returns after an All-America season and will be in the running for national player of the year. He’s joined by key returnees Luke Kennard (11.8 ppg) and Matt Jones (10.4 ppg) and a strong group of freshmen.
2. Kansas (33-5)
Points: 721 (1). Previous ranking: 3. Outlook: Kansas has a strong dose of returning talent — Frank Mason III (12.9 ppg) and Devonte Graham (11.3 ppg) in the backcourt — and incoming talent, led by star forward Josh Jackson and 6-11, 270-pound Udoka Azubuike.
3. Villanova (35-5)
Points: 700 (1). Previous ranking: 1. Outlook: Leading scorer Josh Hart (15.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg), championship game star Kris Jenkins and ready-to-breakout-even-more point guard Jalen Brunson return. Fordham eligible transfer Eric Paschall (15.9 ppg) should fit in the rotation nicely.
4. Kentucky (27-9)
Points: 695 (2). Previous ranking: 16. Outlook: Another batch of incoming stars features three top-10 freshmen in point guard De’Aaron Fox, shooting guard Malik Monk and forward Bam Adebayo. Rounding out the class are top-25 forwards Wenyen Gabriel and forward Sacha Killeya-Jones. The lone returning starter is Isaiah Briscoe (9.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.1 apg).
5. Oregon (31-7)
Points: 620 (1). Previous ranking: 6. Outlook: Dillon Brooks (16.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.1 apg) makes Oregon a legitimate Final Four contender, though he’ll be sidelined early recovering from foot surgery. No. 2 scorer Tyler Dorsey (13.4 ppg) also is back.
6. North Carolina (33-7)
Points: 614. Previous ranking: 2. Outlook: UNC returns six of its eight top scorers and adds a top-10 freshman class headlined by big man Tony Bradley and guards Brandon Robinson and Seventh Woods. Last year’s supporting cast — Justin Jackson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, Nate Britt and Joel Berry II — will have larger roles.
7. Virginia (29-8)
Points: 596. Previous ranking: 5. Outlook: Coach Tony Bennett has reloaded with a top-10 recruiting class, and Memphis transfer Austin Nichols and veteran point guard London Perrantes will take on heavier roles as more of offensive threats.
8. Xavier (28-6)
Points: 552. Previous ranking: 11. Outlook: Much of the talent from Chris Mack’s roster is back, including leading scorer Trevon Bluiett (15.1 ppg) and point man Edmond Sumner (11.0 ppg).
9. Michigan State (29-6)
Points: 544. Previous ranking: 7. Oulook: Coach Tom Izzo has hauled in his best-ever freshman class (No. 3 via Rivals), including Miles Bridges, so expect to see a young nucleus on the court this season. That makes the roles of returning point guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. and off-guard Eron Harris (9.3 ppg) all the more important.
10. Wisconsin (22-13)
Points: 487. Previous ranking: 23. Outlook: Leading scorer Nigel Hayes (15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and clutch-shooting point guard Bronson Koenig (13.1 ppg) return alongside a more developed cast for the Badgers.
11. Arizona (25-9)
Points: 468. Previous ranking: 22. Outlook: The Wildcats should be better in 2016-17 with a revamped roster that’s loaded with potential. Allonzo Trier (14.8 ppg) should make a big leap as a sophomore, and Sean Miller brings in two top-20 recruits in Rawle Alkins and 6-6 point guard Kobi Simmons.
12. Indiana (27-8)
Points: 435. Previous ranking: 9. Outlook: The Hoosiers get back James Blackmon Jr., their best scorer, after he missed half of last season with a knee injury. They also return blossoming sophomore center Thomas Bryant (11.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg).
13. Gonzaga (28-8)
Points: 371. Previous rank
ing: 21. Outlook: Mark Few could have one of his best teams thanks to key transfers. Washington transfer Nigel Williams- Goss (15.6 ppg, 4.9 apg and 4.7 rpg in 2014-15) leads the backcourt. Few will need 7-footer Przemek Karnowski to stay healthy.
14. Louisville (23-8)
Points: 367. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: The NCAA recently issued its notice of allegations in the Louisville scandal, but the case is ongoing. In the meantime, coach Rick Pitino thinks he has a strong and deep team that can excel in the fullcourt game with Quentin Snider running the point and Deng Adel providing big numbers.
15. Purdue (26-9)
Points: 324. Previous ranking: 19. Outlook: Matt Painter’s Boilermakers again will enjoy a size advantage against most opponents with Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan on the blocks. Vince Edwards is another solid option at small forward.
16. Connecticut (25-11)
Points: 239. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: The Huskies will be built around one of the American Athletic Conference’s top backcourts. Senior Rodney Purvis (12.8 ppg) will be
rejoined by sophomore Jalen Adams, best known for his tying 70-foot buzzer-beater in the AAC quarterfinals against Cincinnati.
17. Syracuse (23-14)
Points: 224. Previous ranking: 10. Outlook: The experience of forwards Tyler Roberson and DaJuan Coleman will help. So will the return of breakout star Tyler Lydon (10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), who appears poised for a huge sophomore season.
18. West Virginia (26-9)
Points: 204. Previous ranking: 14. Outlook: Points will always be hard to come by against coach Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers, but Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr. must improve their offensive production.
19. Saint Mary’s (29-6)
Points: 203. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: Guards Emmett Naar and Joe Rahon are excellent distributors who take care of the ball. If 6-10 Evan Fitzner improves on the 8.7 points and 4.4 rebounds he averaged as a freshman, it will give this team another gear.
20. UCLA (15-17)
Points: 185. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: There are a lot of returning players such as leading scorer Isaac Hamilton and 7-footer Thomas Welsh, and the Bruins will count heavily on electrifying freshman Lonzo Ball.
21. Maryland (27-9)
Points: 153. Previous ranking: 12 (tie). Outlook: Having star guard Melo Trimble back is big. More will be asked of 6-7 junior Jared Nickens, and 6-7 freshman Justin Jackson might be asked to play both forward positions early and often.
22. Texas (20-13)
Points: 124. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: Returning guards Eric Davis and Kerwin Roach must carry the load until touted newcomers, such as 6-11 freshman Jarrett Allen, acclimate to the college game.
23. Creighton (20-15)
Points: 113. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: Guard Maurice Watson, forward Cole Huff and Kansas State transfer Marcus Foster should have the Bluejays in the mix in the Big East.
24. Rhode Island (17-15)
Points: 85. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: When 6-5 guard E.C. Matthews (16.9 ppg in 2014-15) went down with a knee injury in Game 1, Rhode Island never recovered. But he’s back along with three other starters and Indiana transfer Stanford Robinson.
25. Cincinnati (22-11)
Points: 75. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Outlook: Senior guard Troy Caupain will provide terrific leadership, 6-8 Gary Clark will bring solid frontcourt defense and 6-9 North Carolina State transfer Kyle Washington becomes eligible.