A guide to the 2018-19 college basketball season
The 2017-18 college basketball season had everything a fan could want. Standout performances, a No. 1 seed finally falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and Villanova cutting down the nets for the second time in three seasons.
Oh, and Sister Jean and Chicago-Loyola giving hope to underdogs everywhere by reaching the Final Four.
A new season starts Tuesday, and it’s been a long seven months to wait for a sport that seems to top itself every year.
To get you ready, we’ve got a guide on the top teams, players and other tidbits to look for in 2018-19:
TOP TEAMS
• Kansas: Bill Self has another strong recruiting class, a preseason All American in Memphis transfer Dedric Lawson and a No. 1 ranking.
• Kentucky: Coach Cal has another roster full of future pros. He’s also got Reid Travis, a grad transfer from Stanford who happens to be one of the nation’s top players.
• Gonzaga: The Zags broke through to the Final Four two years ago. They could be even better this year.
• Duke: Coach K outdid himself with this year’s recruiting class with what could be three of the top five picks in the NBA draft.
• Virginia: OK, so that first-round NCAA Tournament loss to UMBC was ugly and history-making. But the Cavaliers have nearly everyone back and plenty of motivation.
• Tennessee: The Vols have never been to the Final Four. That could change this season — they’re that good.
TOP PLAYERS
• Carsen Edwards, Purdue: He was super productive as a sophomore last season. Expect even more from him now that the Boilermakers need him even more.
• Luke Maye, North Carolina: The player who hit the shot to send the Tar Heels to the Final Four in 2017 averaged a double-double last season and will be counted on even more this year.
• R.J. Barrett, Duke: The athletic freshman has yet to play a game but has already created a buzz and could be the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.
• Dedric Lawson, Kansas: The former Memphis forward gives the Jayhawks plenty of talent and experience on an otherwise young roster.
• Ethan Happ, Wisconsin: The Badgers sure are glad this multitalented big man decided to withdraw from the NBA draft. Opponents will not be.
• Caleb Martin, Nevada: The do-everything forward’s decision to return with twin brother Cody is a big reason the Wolf Pack are being mentioned as a Final Four team.
MID-MAJOR MONSTERS
• Nevada: The Muss bus is loaded with talent and is driving toward what could be the best season in program history.
• Loyola-Chicago: No way the Ramblers and Sister Jean will be overlooked again.
• Western Kentucky: Top recruit Charles Bassey will push the Hilltoppers up the big hill.
• Buffalo: Bulls have five of their top six scorers back from a team that knocked off Arizona in the opening round of the NCAAs.
• Marshall: The Thundering Herd and coach Dan D’Antoni are looking for an even deeper March run after knocking off Wichita State in the opening round of the NCAAs.
FRESHMEN PHENOMS
• Zion Williamson, Duke: Basket supports beware: One of the nation’s top freshmen is a known rim wrecker.
• Cam Reddish, Duke: Doesn’t get the pub Barrett and Williamson get, but he’s a legit top-five NBA prospect.
• Romeo Langford, Indiana: Locking up the state of Indiana’s best player was a huge get for coach Archie Miller as he tries to get the Hoosiers back to national prominence.
• Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky: He eschewed the Power Five programs to stay in-state and could dominate Conference USA — and beyond.
• Nassir Little, North Carolina: Long and athletic, he was a big get for coach Roy.
• Bol Bol, Oregon: Manute’s son can shoot inside, outside and swat shots, just like Pops.
TOP NONCONFERENCE GAMES
• No. 4 Duke vs. No. 2 Kentucky, Tuesday in Indianapolis. It will be a blue-blooded kickoff to the season.
• No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 10 Michigan State, Tuesday in Indianapolis. The opening act in Indy isn’t bad, either.
• No. 19 Michigan at No. 9 Villanova, Nov. 14. Early season, title-game rematch? Yes, please.
• Ohio State at Cincinnati, Wednesday. It finally happened, and hoops fans are the beneficiaries.
• Marquette at Indiana, Nov. 14. Marquette’s Markus Howard vs. Indiana freshman Romeo Langford is worth it right there.
• Arizona vs. No. 3 Gonzaga, Maui Invitational. OK, both teams have to win their opening games, but we can dream of the West’s two marquee programs meeting in Maui, can’t we?