Duke young, supremely talented
Men’s basketball. Records and rankings are from the 2016-17 season.
1. Duke (28-9)
Points: 774 (20 first-place votes). Previous ranking: 13.
Outlook: The Blue Devils will be loaded with youth and inexperience, but it will be supremely talented youth and inexperience. Mike Krzyzewski also will have 611 sophomore Marques Bolden and senior captain Grayson Allen.
2. Michigan State (20-15)
Points: 747 (9). Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Outlook: The Spartans are on most lists as Big Ten and national title contenders. Coach Tom Izzo will have one of his best lineups, featuring experience, talented youngsters and the return of superstar Miles Bridges.
3. Kansas (31-5)
Points: 723. Previous ranking: 4.
Outlook: Bill Self ’s Jayhawks, who will be favored to win their 14th consecutive Big 12 regularseason title, lack depth in the frontcourt but are loaded in the backcourt with Devonte’ Graham and Malik Newman.
4. Kentucky (32-6)
Points: 678. Previous ranking: 5.
Outlook: John Calipari’s task is the same: Replace a mass exodus of talent; coax coherence out of a mass influx of talent. Calipari will have a lot of big, versatile forwards, just not traditional guard/ big man lineups.
5. Arizona (32-5)
Points: 654 (2). Previous ranking: 7.
Outlook: Coach Sean Miller has a colossally talented team, including 6-5 junior Allonzo Trier and 7-1 freshman DeAndre Ayton, enough talent to carry Miller to his first Final Four.
6. Villanova (32-4)
Points: 623. Previous ranking: 8.
Outlook: The Wildcats will boast a veteran bunch, led by jun--- ior guard Jalen Brunson and junior guard-forward Mikal Bridges. Omari Spellman, a 6-9 redshirt freshman who can score inside and out, gets his chance after sitting out last season.
7. Florida (27-9)
Points: 549 (1). Previous
ranking: 10.
Outlook: Mike White led the Gators to the Elite Eight last season, and this should be the most talented team in his three seasons. He will need point guard Chris Chiozza to direct his offense.
8. Wichita State (31-5)
Points: 543. Previous ranking: 21.
Outlook: The Shockers move on from the Missouri Valley to the American, where the games will be tougher. But Wichita State has a veteran roster led by Landry Shamet and Markis McDuffie.
9. North Carolina (33-7)
Points: 515. Previous ranking: 1.
Outlook: The Tar Heels lost three key starters from the 2017 NCAA title team. Coach Roy Williams will count on senior point guardway for Joel the newcomers.Berry II to lead the
10. West Virginia (28-9)
Points: 458. Previous ranking: 11.
Outlook: Coach Bob Huggins’s Mountaineers have three starters back from last year’s Sweet 16 team. Senior point guard Jevon Carter will be a Big 12 player of the year candidate.
11. Southern California (26-10)
Points: 396. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Outlook: The Trojans, who must deal with the cloud of the FBI investigation, are Pac-12 contenders with the size of Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu.
12. Miami (Fla.) (21-12)
Points: 383. Previous ranking: 1.
Outlook: The Hurricanes are on the periphery of the FBI investigation but with no member of the staff charged. On the court, Miami should be strong with Bruce Brown leading a terrific backcourt. 13. Cincinnati (30-6)
Points: 349. Previous rank-- ing: 22.
Outlook: The Bearcats want to remind any new entries to the American Athletic that they were here first. Gary Clark and Jacob Evans are two pieces of what could be Mick Cronin’s best team.
14. Notre Dame (26-10)
Points: 305. Previous ranking: 20.
Outlook: With Bonzie Colson leading a veteran lineup, the Fighting Irish could make a run in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Matt Farrell is the star of the backcourt.
15. Minnesota (24-10)
Points: 303. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Outlook: Nearly all the key contributors are back from last year’s NCAA tournament team. Nate Mason will run the point as part of a talented group of guards.
16. Louisville (25-9)
Points: 295. Previous ranking: 14.
Outlook: Amid the turmoil surrounding the Cardinals, there’s a season to play. Interim coach David Padgett still has talent on hand with Deng Adel and Quentin Snider.
17. Xavier (24-14)
Points: 284. Previous ranking: 18.
Outlook: Chris Mack returns a veteran group as he seeks his eighth NCAA tournament appearance in his ninth season. The senior duo of Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura should provide the scoring.
18. UCLA (31-5)
Points: 275. Previous ranking: 9.
Outlook: The Bruins will look to reload after losses to the NBA. Kris Wilkes and Jaylen Hands headline a talented recruiting class that joins holdovers Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday.
19. Gonzaga (37-2)
Points: 242. Previous ranking: 2.
Outlook: The road back to the title game won’t be as smooth as last season’s historic run by the Bulldogs. Two major pieces from last season are back, Josh Perkins and Johnathan Williams.
20. Northwestern (24-12)
Points: 208. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Outlook: What can the Wildcats do for an encore after their first NCAA tournament? The backcourt of Bryant McIntosh and Scottie Lindsey should end any bubble concerns.
21. Purdue (27-8) Points: 167. Previous ranking: 15.
Outlook: The lone loss for the defending Big Ten regular-season champion is a big one. Caleb Swanigan’s departure leaves a void in the middle, but the development of Isaac Haas will help.
22. Saint Mary’s (29-5)
Points: 152. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Outlook: The Gaels should again threaten Gonzaga for supremacy in the West Coast Conference. Jock Landale, one of the best big men in the country, has Calvin Hermanson for support.
23. Seton Hall (21-12)
Points: 139. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Outlook: The Pirates are the only team featuring three players who have scored 1,000 points in their careers with the trio of Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez.
24. Baylor (27-8)
Points: 107. Previous ranking: 12.
Outlook: The burden of scoring for the Bears should fall on G Manu Lecomte. Fellow seniors Jo Lual-Acuil and Terry Maston will provide size in the middle.
25. Alabama (19-15)
Points: 82. Previous ranking: Not ranked.
Outlook: In their third year with Avery Johnson, the Crimson Tide are poised for their best season with the former NBA coach. Alabama returns four starters, including F Braxton Key.
Others receiving votes: Texas A&M (16-15) 76; Virginia (23
11) 57; Butler (25-9) 43; Missouri
(8-24) 35; TCU (24-15) 32; Rhode Island (25-10) 31; Providence (20
13) 21; Wisconsin (27-10) 21; Maryland (24-9) 20; Oakland
(25-9) 19; Oklahoma (11-20) 19; Michigan (26-12) 13; Texas (11
22) 13; Oregon (33-6) 12; Virginia Tech (22-11) 12; Creighton (25
10) 6; Southern Methodist (30-5)
6; Georgia (19-15) 3; Georgia Tech
(21-16) 3; Arkansas (26-10) 2; Harvard (18-10) 2; Florida State
(26-9) 1; Nevada (28-7) 1; South Carolina (26-11) 1.