Make College Great Again @ 5th and Mad 9 3

The 2021–22 college basketball season begins adjacent week, and after a one-year hiatus, Sports Illustrated's annual preseason ranking of every men's Division I team is back.

College hoops often feels all-encompassing—it's not uncommon to see the sport's elite teams host even the weakest D-I competition in nonconference play, and every March, programs that the average fan knows nothing about go their chance on the biggest stage. It can be overwhelming to expect at the sheer number of D-I teams (currently 358) and sort through expectations.

That'southward why we're here. This year's 1–358 ranking was put together by SI college basketball author Kevin Sweeney, who set out on the task of weighing the placement of every programme in the country. Some of the rankings of all 358 teams out there are analytical or built with an algorithm. This one isn't that, just several factors were considered: returning production (and projected growth for those players), transfer additions, recruiting gains, program and coach reputation, conference forcefulness and more. The hope was to capture a snapshot of preseason expectations, from the Power 5 down to the low mid-majors.

Below are the results, plus insights and information from Sweeney and editor Molly Geary on the SI preseason top 25 and dozens of other notable teams, all the way down to No. 358. And for briefing ratings based on the national ranking, click hither.

1. Gonzaga (1st in WCC): Dominant mail service scorer Drew Timme and uber-skilled 7' 1" freshman Chet Holmgren will exist the nation'south all-time frontcourt tandem. Add senior point guard Andrew Nembhard, and Marker Few'southward Bulldogs should spend much of the year atop the polls—as they did final season.

ii. Texas (1st in Big 12): New coach Chris Bristles revamped the roster through the transfer portal, bringing in guards Marcus Carr (Minnesota) and Devin Askew (Kentucky); and frontwards Timmy Allen (Utah), Dylan Disu (Vanderbilt), Christian Bishop (Creighton) and Tre Mitchell (UMass). At present comes the difficult role: making everything fit.

3. Kansas (2nd in Big 12): Four starters return, including half-dozen' 5" Ochai Agbaji and half-dozen' eight" Jalen Wilson, who are NBA prospects. Neb Self also addressed the Jayhawks' glaring need for a dynamic ballhandler, landing half dozen-human foot Arizona Country transfer Remy Martin.

iv. UCLA (1st in Pac-12): Terminal year the Bruins became simply the 2d team to accelerate from the First Iv to the Terminal Four, but this time around their tournament ground should be more solid, thanks to the arrival of 6' 10" Myles Johnson (Rutgers) and five-star small forward Peyton Watson.

5. Michigan (1st in Big X): The return of All-American centre Hunter Dickinson should be plenty to go along the Wolverines among the elite. Only they also have SI's No. 1 recruiting class and half dozen' 1" point guard DeVante' Jones, a transfer from Littoral Carolina.

6. Memphis (1st in AAC): Higher basketball'southward most interesting coaching staff (Penny Hardaway and assistants Rasheed Wallace and Larry Brown) will oversee a wildly talented roster led by 6' ix" freshman playmaker (and one-time SI cover star) Emoni Bates.

vii. Baylor (third in Large 12): The defending champions lost four starters just still accept the pieces to make a strong March run, including wing Matthew Mayer (39.5% from 3) and six' i" guard James Akinjo, who led Arizona in scoring last year (15.6 ppg).

viii. Purdue (2nd in Big Ten): The Boilermakers take two of the nation's best bigs (6' 10" Trevion Williams and 7' four" Zach Edey) and an exciting baby-sit in six' 4" Jaden Ivey—a makeup like to the Purdue team that fabricated the Aristocracy Eight in 2019.

9. Kentucky (1st in SEC): Afterwards the Wildcats' worst season (9–sixteen) since 1926–27, John Calipari picks up experience and shooting from the transfer portal and, as usual, a trio of high-end high school talents.

10. Villanova (1st in Big East): No elevation team benefited more from the NCAA's ruling to give players an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19. The Wildcats get back star bespeak baby-sit Collin Gillespie and versatile 6' vii" forward Jermaine Samuels.

11. Knuckles (1st in ACC): The Blue Devils accept plenty talent to give the shortly-to-be-retired Mike Krzyzewski a memorable sendoff. Potential No. i NBA selection Paolo Banchero, a vi' 10", 250-pound forward, is more than polished than any newcomer in the nation. And seven-footer Mark Williams, who shot 66.iv% terminal twelvemonth, is poised to suspension out every bit a sophomore.

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12. Oregon (second in Pac-12): Few teams have the Ducks' combination of depth, experience and talent in the backcourt. Syracuse transfer Quincy Guerrier will thrive as a playmaking big in their spread offense.

thirteen. Houston (2nd in AAC): Kelvin Sampson has built a program with staying power, and then the Cougars will remain relevant despite losing iii starters from a Final 4 squad. Guards Kyler Edwards and Marcus Sasser volition score, and any Sampson-led team volition defend and rebound well.

xiv. North Carolina (2nd in ACC): The Tar Heels certainly seem well-positioned to win big in Hubert Davis's beginning twelvemonth at the helm. Transfers Dawson Garcia (Marquette) and Brady Manek (Oklahoma) form a versatile big-human trio with 6' 10" junior Armando Bacot.

fifteen. Alabama (2nd in SEC): It was a breakthrough second flavor for Nate Oats, whose upbeat attack took off thanks to a deep stable of guards—to which he volition add together five-star recruit and electric leaper JD Davison.

16. Illinois (3rd in Big Ten): Kofi Cockburn's surprise return gives the Illini as good a piece to build effectually as any in the state. The 7-foot, 285-pound junior averaged 17.7 points and 9.v rebounds terminal flavor and pulled out of the draft to render to Champaign.

17. Arkansas (tertiary in SEC): Eric Musselman clearly has this program on an upward trajectory, and a pair of versatile vi' 6" transfers, Stanley Umude (S Dakota) and Au'Diese Toney (Pittsburgh), are perfect fits in his positionless system.

Justin Ahrens (left) and East.J. Liddell are both back for Ohio Country.

Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/United states of america TODAY Network

18. Ohio State (4th in Big Ten): The Buckeyes have finished in the summit 16 of KenPom'southward final rankings in three of 4 years nether Chris Holtmann, but have never fabricated the Sweet 16. E.J. Liddell, a six' seven" forward who averaged 16.two points and a team-loftier six.7 rebounds per game last season, could help alter that.

xix. Indiana (fifth in Large Ten): Excitement is high for the dawn of the Mike Woodson era. Led past 6'9" junior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, the Hoosiers looked impressive during an August trip to the Bahama islands, where they played a Serbian pro team.

xx. Tennessee (4th in SEC): V-star point guard Kennedy Chandler and 6' 6" Auburn transfer Justin Powell, who had a pair of 26-point games before missing well-nigh of the flavour in concussion protocol, course a dangerous backcourt for Rick Barnes.

PREVIEWS: American | ACC | Big 12 | Big Eastward

21. Florida State (3rd in ACC): The Seminoles are consistently dangerous under Leonard Hamilton. While the motorbus lost some of import pieces, Houston transfer Caleb Mills, senior Anthony Polite and a top-x recruiting class should keep that tradition.

22. UConn (second in Big East): James Bouknight is gone, just a trio of upperclassmen (R.J. Cole, Tyrese Martin, Isaiah Whaley), promising sophomore large Adama Sanogo and the return of a salubrious Akok Akok make this versatile group i to sentry.

23. St. Bonaventure (1st in Atlantic 10): The Bonnies had five double-digit scorers last season and bring back all of them—equally seniors. Ane of them, point baby-sit ​​Kyle Lofton, played a higher percentage of minutes (96%) than anyone in the country in 2020–21.

24. Maryland (6th in Big X): Mark Turgeon brought in Fatts Russell (Rhode Island) and Qudus Wahab (Georgetown) to shore upward key holes at point baby-sit and center, respectively. Together with returners Eric Ayala and Donta Scott, the Terps have a talented and experienced core.

25. Oklahoma Land (4th in Big 12): If you thought the Cowboys would fade away at present that Cade Cunningham has moved on, call back again. Point baby-sit Avery Anderson Three looks poised to take the reins equally leading scorer, and a young group that jelled down the stretch will look to concur its own.

26. Texas Tech (5th in Big 12)
27. Auburn (fifth in SEC)
28. Seton Hall (3rd in Big Eastward)
29. Arizona (tertiary in Pac-12)
xxx. Xavier (4th in Big Due east)

Marker Adams, the new head charabanc at Texas Tech (No. 26), is a W Texas guy through and through. His patented no-centre defense force and a talented crop of transfers give the Cherry Raiders a chance to climb the Big 12 ladder. The ceiling of Auburn (No. 27) is defined by the health of star wing Allen Flanigan, who'll miss the kickoff of the season due to an Achilles injury. Kevin Willard has the pieces for a potentially aristocracy defense force at Seton Hall (No. 28), while a pair of transfer guards in Kadary Richmond and Jamir Harris bring huge upside. Arizona (No. 29) features a new head motorcoach in Tommy Lloyd, who was Mark Few'due south correct-hand man in building a dynasty at Gonzaga. And information technology's a must-win yr for Travis Steele at Xavier (No. xxx), which is in its longest men's NCAA tournament drought since the early 1980s.

31. Virginia (4th in ACC)
32. Loyola Chicago (1st in Missouri Valley)
33. Michigan Country (seventh in Big X)
34. Virginia Tech (fifth in ACC)
35. BYU (2nd in WCC)
36. San Diego State (1st in Mountain West)
37. USC (4th in Pac-12)
38. Florida (6th in SEC)
39. W Virginia (6th in Big 12)
xl. Colorado Land (2nd in Mountain West)
41. Rutgers (8th in Big Ten)
42. LSU (7th in SEC)
43. St. John's (5th in Big East)
44. Wichita State (3rd in AAC)
45. Louisville (sixth in ACC)
46. Richmond (2nd in A-ten)
47. Oklahoma (7th in Big 12)
48. Mississippi State (8th in SEC)
49. Syracuse (seventh in ACC)
50. UAB (1st in C-USA)

Tony Bennett remade his roster at Virginia (No. 31) and volition need large things out of senior ​​Kihei Clark, East Carolina transfer Jayden Gardner and sophomore Reece Beekman if the Cavs are to overachieve. Porter Moser left for the task in Norman, simply don't expect Loyola Chicago (No. 32) to go anywhere—particularly with super senior and defensive stalwart Lucas Williamson leading the manner. The vibes out of Due east Lansing seem positive, raising optimism that Tom Izzo's Michigan State (No. 33) squad will rebound later on nigh missing the NCAA tournament. Go on an eye out for touted freshman guard Max Christie.

San Diego State (No. 36) and Colorado State (No. xl) are the strongest contenders to make the Mountain W a ii-bid league for the fourth straight March Madness. The Rams haven't danced since 2013, just they render almost everyone from a team that reached the NIT semifinals. Last March, Rutgers (No. 41) bankrupt the plan'southward long tourney drought and even won a game in that location, and could trip the light fantastic again despite losing three cardinal rotation pieces. LSU'due south (No. 42) depth took a hit when it was recently announced Illinois transfer Adam Miller tore his ACL, dropping the Tigers several spots in our rankings.

Don't sleep on Richmond (No. 46), which brought back everyone except leading scorer Blake Francis and will in one case over again exist i of the nation's most veteran teams. Moser has a new home at Oklahoma (No. 47), where he brought in brothers (and beginning-round NCAA tourney standouts) Tanner and Jacob Groves to join Umoja Gibson and Elijah Harkless. Buddy Boeheim is back to get more buckets at Syracuse (No. 49), and his brother Jimmy transferred in from Cornell (as did Cole Swider, from Villanova). UAB (No. l) could be the form of Briefing Us behind a deep group of high-major transfers.

51. Washington Country (5th in Pac-12)
52. Wisconsin (9th in Large Ten)
53. Drake (2d in MVC)
54. Nevada (tertiary in Mountain West)
55. Miami (8th in ACC)
56. Notre Matriarch (9th in ACC)
57. Belmont (1st in Ohio Valley)
58. Arizona State (6th in Pac-12)
59. Providence (6th in Large East)
sixty. SMU (4th in AAC)
61. NC State (10th in ACC)
62. Butler (7th in Large East)
63. Iowa (10th in Big 10)
64. Ole Miss (9th in SEC)
65. Saint Mary'due south (3rd in WCC)
66. TCU (8th in Big 12)
67. Dayton (third in A-10)
68. Western Kentucky (second in C-The states)
69. Creighton (eighth in Big East)
70. San Francisco (4th in WCC)
71. Northwestern (11th in Big Ten)
72. Colorado (seventh in Pac-12)
73. Missouri Land (tertiary in MVC)
74. Texas A&M (10th in SEC)
75. Stanford (eighth in Pac-12)

Prentiss Hubb led the Fighting Irish in scoring last season.

Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports

Few, if any, teams in college basketball are older than Drake (No. 53), which will beginning two sixth-years, two fifth-years and a fourth-twelvemonth who helped pb terminal twelvemonth's Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament. Miami (No. 55) and Notre Dame (No. 56) are difficult to crevice in the ACC: Both take pregnant problems on the defensive end, merely are experienced and have keen guards in Isaiah Wong and Prentiss Hubb, respectively.

In the Large East, Providence (No. 59) and Butler (No. 62) volition define how deep the league is in 2021–22. Each has reasons for optimism: Providence brings back one of the best scoring big men in the land in Nate Watson, while Butler'south young core, led by Chuck Harris, was feisty at domicile a season ago and should be much improved. Nosotros'll see if either has the talent to snag an at-large bid. If you prefer a transfer-heavy team, take a wait at TCU (No. 66)—eight of 12 scholarship players are D-I transfers, including star frontwards Emanuel Miller.

A couple of mid-majors with significant upside worth mentioning are Dayton (No. 67) and San Francisco (No. 70). The Flyers are immature but talented, with transfers Toumani Camara (Georgia) and Kobe Elvis (DePaul) expected to make a significant touch on. San Francisco knocked off Virginia early final season before fading late, and optimism is high that the return of star guard Jamaree Bouyea combined with a bolstered frontcourt will produce a special season for the Dons.

Keep an eye on Northwestern (No. 71). Chris Collins's seat has warmed while a young core has taken its lumps in Large 10 play, but in that location's promise in Evanston for a breakthrough year with a at present-veteran group. Stanford (No. 75) is still seeking its first trip to the Big Dance since 2014. It looks somewhat unlikely to change that in March, but senior Jaiden Delaire and a top-25 recruiting class led by Harrison Ingram are pieces to build around.

PREVIEWS: Big 10 | Pac-12 | SEC | Best of Rest

76. Northern Iowa (4th in MVC)
77. Georgia Tech (11th in ACC)
78. Louisiana Tech (3rd in C-Usa)
79. Loyola Marymount (5th in WCC)
80. Marquette (9th in Large East)
81. Cincinnati (fifth in AAC)
82. Kansas State (ninth in Big 12)
83. VCU (4th in A-10)
84. Buffalo (1st in MAC)
85. Penn Land (12th in Big X)
86. UCF (6th in AAC)
87. Iona (1st in MAAC)
88. Nebraska (13th in Large 10)
89. Vanderbilt (11th in SEC)
90. Clemson (12th in ACC)
91. Boise State (fourth in Mountain West)
92. Oregon Land (9th in Pac-12)
93. Davidson (5th in A-10)
94. North Texas (quaternary in C-USA)
95. Saint Louis (6th in A-10)
96. New Mexico State (1st in WAC)
97. Missouri (12th in SEC)
98. Ohio (second in MAC)
99. Utah (10th in Pac-12)
100. Toledo (3rd in MAC)

Star baby-sit AJ Dark-green is salubrious later on missing about of final season with a hip injury, a huge boon for Northern Iowa (No. 76) and its hopes of competing atop the MVC. Coming off an ACC tournament title, Georgia Tech (No. 77) could slide downwardly the standings after a pair of major departures but has a potential star senior in Michael Devoe. Loyola Marymount (No. 79), led by senior Eli Scott, should exist a scattering on offense, specially if information technology tin assuage its typical turnover woes.

The Shaka Smart era opens at Marquette (No. 80), just it could be a bumpy Year i after significant roster turnover. Buffalo (No. 84) and its breakneck pace are back, and an offensive-glass-crashing veteran group has information technology poised to top the MAC. The Rick Pitino era at Iona (No. 87) began with an NCAA tournament appearance (the program'southward fifth straight) despite COVID-19 challenges, and the Gaels are our favorite in the MAAC to become there yet again.

Recent conference lesser-dwellers Nebraska (No. 88) and Vanderbilt (No. 89) could take incremental steps forward this year. The Cornhuskers add the first five-star in programme history, Bryce McGowens, while Scotty Pippen Jr. is in line to again exist among the nation's top scorers for the Commodores, who add proven 7-footer Liam Robbins. Davidson (No. 93), Ohio (No. 98) and Toledo (No. 100) tin can commiserate over losing their meridian scorers off top-40 KenPom offenses, but the Bobcats and Rockets should remain competitive in the MAC. Bob McKillop'due south Wildcats face a more uphill climb in the A-x fifty-fifty equally sharpshooting inferior Hyunjung Lee moves into a pb role.

Scotty Pippen Jr. is probable to be among the nation'south pinnacle scorers.

Andrew Nelles/Tennessean.com/Usa TODAY Network

101. Wake Woods (13th in ACC)
102. Wright State (1st in Horizon)
103. Louisiana (1st in Sun Belt)
104. Southward Carolina (13th in SEC)
105. Washington (11th in Pac-12)
106. Utah Land (fifth in Mount Westward)
107. George Mason (seventh in A-ten)
108. Iowa State (10th in Big 12)
109. Colgate (1st in Patriot)
110. Liberty (1st in A-Lord's day)
111. Pittsburgh (14th in ACC)
112. Tulsa (7th in AAC)
113. Morehead State (2nd in Ohio Valley)
114. South Dakota Land (1st in Summit)
115. Chattanooga (1st in SoCon)
116. Georgia State (second in Sun Belt)
117. Georgetown (tenth in Big East)
118. Rhode Isle (8th in A-10)
119. Stephen F. Austin (2nd in WAC)
120. Southern Utah (1st in Large Sky)
121. Fresno State (6th in Mountain West)
122. DePaul (11th in Big Eastward)
123. Stony Brook (1st in America Due east)
124. Cleveland State (2nd in Horizon)
125. Oral Roberts (2nd in Summit)

Plenty of high-major coaches would love to take Louisiana'south (No. 103) frontcourt, which features shot-blocking extraordinaire Theo Akwuba and sometime 5-star Hashemite kingdom of jordan Brown. Washington (No. 105) hopes a roster loaded with local ties can exceed expectations, otherwise Mike Hopkins'southward seat will rut upwards rapidly. New passenger vehicle Kim English has breathed life into George Bricklayer (No. 107), and he inherited quite the building block in star large Josh Oduro. The Patriots could exist sneaky in the A-10.

Few teams came out of nowhere in 2020–21 more than Morehead Country (No. 113), which rode star freshman big Johni Broome to an NCAA tournament bid. They won't sneak up on anyone this flavour. Silvio De Sousa (of chair-brandishing fame) resurfaces at Chattanooga (No. 115), and the old elite recruit might just be the missing piece for a talented Mocs team. 1 major casher of players getting an extra year of eligibility was Stephen F. Austin (No. 119), which brought back 3 double-figure scorers for 1 more season later the team was ineligible for the postseason in 2021. It's i of four former Southland schools moving to the WAC and should exist a worthy rival for New Mexico State at the top of the league.

Let'due south requite Todd Simon and Southern Utah (No. 120) their flowers. Simon has brought the Thunderbirds from half dozen wins the year before he arrived to twenty a season ago—and the potential for even more in 2021–22. Elijah Olaniyi is executing what we'll call a "boomerang transfer" back to Stony Beck (No. 123) after spending a year at Miami. He'll be one of the America East'due south best players. And of course, whatever fans of the sport are familiar with Oral Roberts (No. 125) and Max Abmas, the overwhelming favorite to pb the nation in scoring as a inferior. Abmas won't have running mate Kevin Obanor alongside him this year afterward Obanor departed for Texas Tech this offseason.

126. Grand Coulee (3rd in WAC)
127. UC Irvine (1st in Big West)
128. Furman (2d in SoCon)
129. Temple (eighth in AAC)
130. Kent Land (4th in MAC)
131. Valparaiso (fifth in MVC)
132. Murray State (3rd in Ohio Valley)
133. Vermont (2d in A-Eastward)
134. San Diego (6th in WCC)
135. UMass (ninth in A-10)
136. Charlotte (fifth in C-USA)
137. UC Santa Barbara (2nd in Large West)
138. Yale (1st in Ivy)
139. UNLV (seventh in Mount West)
140. Southern Illinois (6th in MVC)
141. Minnesota (14th in Big 10)
142. Santa Clara (7th in WCC)
143. East Tennessee State (third in SoCon)
144. Bradley (seventh in MVC)
145. Akron (5th in MAC)
146. Old Dominion (sixth in C-U.s.a.)
147. James Madison (1st in CAA)
148. Winthrop (1st in Big South)
149. Weber State (2nd in Big Sky)
150. Eastern Kentucky (second in A-Sun)

After reaching its first D-I NCAA tournament, Grand Canyon (No. 126) loses its top two players and volition demand to recalibrate with point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. and a number of transfers, including ASU'due south Holland Woods II and Taeshon Cherry. UC Irvine (No. 127) is consistently a threat in the Large West under Russell Turner, and with skilled frontward Collin Welp back, that volition remain the case. Over at Valparaiso (No. 131), a quartet of names Large Ten fans may recognize (Wisconsin's Kobe Male monarch, Trevor Anderson and Joe Hedstrom; Michigan State'due south Thomas Kithier) will await to help push the newly renamed Beacons forward.

Vermont (No. 133) is home to the last five men's America Due east Actor of the Year winners, and could make it six as the virtually recent honoree, Ryan Davis, returns for his senior season. UC Santa Barbara (No. 137) brings back four starters from its NCAA tournament squad and will push button Irvine in the Big Due west fifty-fifty without JaQuori McLaughlin. The Ivy League is dorsum after a one-year pandemic absence with Yale (No. 138) equally its favorite. The Bulldogs are led past senior baby-sit Azar Swain, who has 201 career threes. It could exist a very long Twelvemonth 1 for Ben Johnson at Minnesota (No. 141). Most an entirely new roster arrives, one that's mostly unproven at the high-major level.

James Madison (No. 147) and Winthrop (No. 148) are both projected SI conference winners; the Dukes took a large step forward last year after existence among the nation's worst teams in 2019–20 but are replacing CAA Role player of the Yr Matt Lewis, and the Eagles lose do-it-all star Chandler Vaudrin—not to mention motorcoach Pat Kelsey—from a 23–2 campaign. Winthrop does retain a solid cadre, and new coach Mark Prosser brought Western Carolina'southward Cory Hightower and Sin'Cere McMahon with him. Erstwhile Utah State/Marquette guard Koby McEwen has come up back to his home land to finish his career at Weber State (No. 149), which could ride some other strong shooting team to Big Sky contention.

Antoine Davis has been starring for iii seasons at Detroit Mercy.

Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports

151. UTEP (7th in C-United states)
152. Georgia (14th in SEC)
153. UC Riverside (3rd in Big West)
154. Boston College (15th in ACC)
155. Marshall (8th in C-USA)
156. Wofford (4th in SoCon)
157. South Florida (9th in AAC)
158. Duquesne (10th in A-10)
159. Hofstra (2d in CAA)
160. Detroit Mercy (3rd in Horizon)
161. Penn (2nd in Ivy)
162. Indiana Land (eighth in MVC)
163. Cal (12th in Pac-12)
164. North Dakota State (3rd in Summit)
165. South Alabama (tertiary in Sun Chugalug)
166. Pacific (8th in WCC)
167. Abilene Christian (4th in WAC)
168. Texas State (4th in Sun Belt)
169. College of Charleston (3rd in CAA)
170. Rice (9th in C-United states)
171. East Carolina (tenth in AAC)
172. George Washington (11th in A-x)
173. Tulane (11th in AAC)
174. Northern Kentucky (4th in Horizon)
175. Bowling Light-green (6th in MAC)

Concluding March, Joe Golding brought Abilene Christian from "the worst program in Partitioning I" to beating Texas in the NCAA tournament. His adjacent act? Turning effectually a one time-proud UTEP (No. 151) program that hasn't lived up to its potential lately. Speaking of bully coaching jobs, Mike Magpayo lifted UC Riverside (No. 153) to its best season in programme history a season ago, all while the school pondered dropping D-I sports. The Highlanders volition be expert again in 2021–22.

One of the cracking scorers in college hoops is Antoine Davis at Detroit Mercy (No. 160). He has already amassed 2,000 career points in three seasons and will likely finish his career as one of the top-25 scorers in the sport's history. The Missouri Valley is known every bit a league where teams play slow, but Indiana State'southward (No. 162) new passenger vehicle Josh Schertz has built his career at the D-2 level by pushing the pace. It has certainly worked at Lincoln Memorial, where Schertz won 83% of his games over 13 years and averaged over xc points per game terminal season.

Southward Alabama (No. 165) has get the mid-major 'Transfer U.' This yr's roster is a who's who of high-major down-transfers, only the best newcomer might be VMI grad transfer Greg Parham. The defensive mastermind behind Abilene Christian's (No. 167) rise into a mid-major darling was assistant motorbus Brette Tanner, who rightfully takes over the program with Golding off to UTEP. Across the state, Texas State (No. 168) surprised many past winning the league'due south regular season title a flavour ago under interim bus Terrence Johnson. Johnson is now the total-time head man and has a solid roster dorsum headlined by betoken guard Mason Harrell.

It's hard to imagine a much better rent than the one College of Charleston (No. 169) made in Pat Kelsey, a proven winner in the same state at Winthrop. He'll become things rolling in no time with the Cougars. George Washington (No. 172) is coming off a very disappointing season marred by transfers out of the program and needs a bounceback in Year three of the Jamion Christian era in Foggy Bottom.

176. New United mexican states (eighth in Mountain W)
177. Bryant (1st in NEC)
178. Arkansas Land (5th in Sun Belt)
179. Saint Peter's (2nd in MAAC)
180. Florida Gulf Coast (tertiary in A-Sun)
181. Campbell (2nd in Big South)
182. Wyoming (9th in Mountain Due west)
183. Appalachian State (6th in Sun Belt)
184. Siena (3rd in MAAC)
185. Harvard (3rd in Ivy)
186. Saint Joseph's (twelfth in A-ten)
187. Seattle (5th in WAC)
188. Ball State (7th in MAC)
189. FIU (10th in C-United states of america)
190. Northeastern (fourth in CAA)
191. Jacksonville Country (4th in A-Sunday)
192. Pepperdine (9th in WCC)
193. Princeton (quaternary in Ivy)
194. FAU (11th in C-The states)
195. Miami-Ohio (eighth in MAC)
196. Drexel (5th in CAA)
197. Illinois State (9th in MVC)
198. UNC Greensboro (5th in SoCon)
199. Utah Valley (6th in WAC)
200. Delaware (6th in CAA)

New Mexico (No. 176) is still chasing the programme's better days, with its NCAA tournament drought at present sitting at eight years. The arrival of Richard Pitino after his firing at Minnesota offers a fresh start, but he has a big rebuilding job on his hands. After losing in the NEC championship, Bryant (No. 177) brings back iv starters from a group that loves to push the pace and ranked 16th nationally (37.7%) in iii-point shooting. The return of defensive whiz KC Ndefo to Saint Peter'due south (No. 179) after testing the transfer waters was massive for the Peacocks. The senior is a human eraser in the paint and led the nation in cake rate as a inferior.

Arkansas State (No. 178) and Campbell (No. 181) take one large thing in common: Anybody of note is back. The Crimson Wolves even add Arkansas transfer Desi Sills, who could accept over a starring role in his hometown of Jonesboro. Meanwhile, the Camels should fence in the Large Due south behind senior Cedric Henderson Jr. and a sweetness-shooting offense. Siena'due south (No. 184) roster features a hodge-podge of former transfers. Additions of Anthony Gaines (Northwestern), Colby Rogers (Cal Poly) and Jayce Johnson (Middle Tennessee) will make upwardly for some key losses and go on the Saints competitive in the MAAC.

Another team with a lot coming back: Seattle (No. 187), which has not fabricated the Big Dance since its return to D-I. Darrion Trammell is arguably the best player in the WAC, and if things break correct this could exist Jim Hayford's best Redhawks team. Jacksonville State (No. 191) has moved over to the A-Sun from the Ohio Valley and has the pieces to contend in Year 1 of its new home; its eight superlative scorers are back, and it adds former Mount St. Mary's standout Jalen Gibbs. Illinois Land (No. 197) has been in or almost the MVC basement for two years running, and turns to Tennessee State transfer ​​Mark Freeman to assist stabilize another young roster.

Oakland'south Jalen Moore averaged 8.4 assists terminal season.

Nikos Frazier/Periodical & Courier/Usa TODAY Network

201. Littoral Carolina (7th in Sun Belt)
202. Hartford (third in A-East)
203. La Salle (13th in A-10)
204. UTSA (12th in C-U.s.)
205. Milwaukee (5th in Horizon)
206. Passenger (4th in MAAC)
207. Mercer (6th in SoCon)
208. Prairie View A&M (1st in SWAC)
209. California Baptist (7th in WAC)
210. Robert Morris (sixth in Horizon)
211. Northern Colorado (3rd in Big Heaven)
212. Nicholls State (1st in Southland)
213. Elon (7th in CAA)
214. Cal State Fullerton (4th in Big West)
215. Southern Miss (13th in C-Us)
216. Montana State (4th in Big Sky)
217. Stetson (5th in A-Sun)
218. Norfolk State (1st in MEAC)
219. Wagner (2nd in NEC)
220. Evansville (10th in MVC)
221. Boston University (2d in Patriot)
222. Oakland (7th in Horizon)
223. South Dakota (4th in Height)
224. Marist (5th in MAAC)
225. Primal Michigan (ninth in MAC)

It's easy to root for Hartford (No. 202) and head motorcoach John Gallagher, whose reward for the program's reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time was the school's announcing plans to motion down to D-3. Milwaukee (No. 205) is maybe the most interesting sub-200 squad in the country thanks to the presence of Patrick Baldwin Jr., the five-star recruit and likely NBA lottery pick who'll play for his dad, Pat, rather than Duke. Colour united states of america skeptical he'll lead the Panthers to Horizon League celebrity. Mercer (No. 207) has more teeth than your average No. half-dozen pick in a one-bid league. Neftali Alvarez is an impressive veteran betoken guard and head double-decker Greg Gary, a Matt Painter disciple, has an outstanding offensive listen.

Iii low-major conference favorites to mention here are Prairie View A&Thou (No. 208), Nicholls State (No. 212) and Norfolk Land (No. 218). At Prairie View, preseason SWAC Histrion of the Year Jawaun Daniels has quite the story: He spent more two months on Rikers Isle during high school after being caught upwardly in a gang sweep. Nicholls dealt with tragedy this offseason when Louisiana was ravaged by Hurricane Ida, but the Colonels are now dorsum dwelling and closer than ever later relocating to Eastern Kentucky for much of September. And at Norfolk, Robert Jones has won 74% of his MEAC games as the coach of the Spartans and is severely underrated nationally for the job he does there annually.

If you similar point guards who tin actually pass, check out Jalen Moore sometime at Oakland (No. 222). He averaged over eight dimes per game a flavour ago and got quite the running mate to feed from the portal in former Marquette forrad Jamal Cain. Cardinal Michigan (No. 225) has a new coach in former UTEP and Auburn head man Tony Barbee, who most recently spent several years on staff with John Calipari at Kentucky. He'll have a rebuild on his hands with the Chippewas.

226. Fordham (14th in A-10)
227. Sam Houston State (eighth in WAC)
228. Portland State (fifth in Large Heaven)
229. New Hampshire (4th in A-Due east)
230. Hawaii (fifth in Big West)
231. UIC (8th in Horizon)
232. Monmouth (6th in MAAC)
233. Samford (7th in SoCon)
234. Jackson State (2nd in SWAC)
235. Navy (tertiary in Patriot)
236. Morgan State (2nd in MEAC)
237. UC Davis (6th in Big West)
238. LIU (3rd in NEC)
239. VMI (8th in SoCon)
240. UMBC (5th in A-Eastward)
241. Lipscomb (sixth in A-Sunday)
242. UNC Asheville (tertiary in Big South)
243. Kansas Urban center (fifth in Top)
244. Tennessee State (fourth in Ohio Valley)
245. Cal State Bakersfield (seventh in Big Due west)
246. Troy (8th in Sun Chugalug)
247. Montana (6th in Large Sky)
248. UT-Arlington (9th in Sun Belt)
249. Gardner-Webb (quaternary in Big Due south)
250. Texas Southern (3rd in SWAC)

Kyle Neptune takes over for Jeff Neubauer at Fordham (No. 226), and the first gild of business organization is improving a, frankly, disastrous offensive situation. Three years ago, New Hampshire (No. 229) embarked on a five-win season. The Wildcats have climbed the America East standings since, and the Jayden Martinez–Nick Guadarrama frontcourt duo figures to requite them a risk at the program'south starting time NCAA tournament trip. Jackson Country (No. 234) rode the SWAC's stingiest defense last season (including ranking beginning nationally in effective field goal D) to a shared regular-flavor championship. Three starters return, including conference player of the twelvemonth candidate Jayveous McKinnis.

Morgan State (No. 236) will accept one of the nation's most experienced rosters, headlined by veterans De'Torrion Ware and Malik Miller (It also adds former UNC and Due south Carolina guard 7th Woods). The coach who led UMBC (No. 240) to underdog glory, Ryan Odom, took the chore at Utah Country, and Jim Ferry—coming off the Penn Land interim task—takes over in Baltimore. Lipscomb (No. 241) senior Ahsan Asadullah is 1 of the most underrated centers in the country. Of players half dozen' 8" or taller, he ranked third in assist rate (30.vi%, per KenPom) and 60th overall final season.

Under Billy Donlon, Kansas Urban center (No. 243) plays at 1 of the slowest tempos in the country and places a premium on defense and forcing pressure level. With three starters gone, the Roos will need to stay consistent on that terminate to make a push in the Top. Texas Southern (No. 250) has made three of the terminal four NCAA tournaments; it volition need to overcome the transfer of standout Michael Weathers to make it four of five.

Standout Tamenang Choh is back at Brownish afterward the Ivy League returns from a i-year absence.

Kris Craig/The Providence Journal/USA TODAY Network

​251. Brownish (5th in Ivy)
252. Georgia Southern (tenth in Sun Belt)
253. Longwood (5th in Big Southward)
254. William & Mary (8th in CAA)
255. Sacred Centre (fourth in NEC)
256. Lamar (9th in WAC)
257. Albany (sixth in A-E)
258. Long Beach State (8th in Big West)
259. Towson (9th in CAA)
260. Fairfield (7th in MAAC)
261. Louisiana-Monroe (11th in Sun Belt)
262. Army (4th in Patriot)
263. Southeast Missouri State (5th in Ohio Valley)
264. New Orleans (second in Southland)
265. Heart Tennessee (14th in C-USA)
266. Youngstown State (9th in Horizon)
267. Jacksonville (7th in A-Sun)
268. Eastern Washington (7th in Big Sky)
269. NC A&T (6th in Big Due south)
270. UNC Wilmington (10th in CAA)
271. Northern Illinois (10th in MAC)
272. Purdue Fort Wayne (tenth in Horizon)
273. Tennessee Tech (sixth in Ohio Valley)
274. St. Thomas (6th in Summit)
275. Piffling Rock (12th in Sun Belt)

Brownish (No. 251) got a boost when star forrard Tamenang Choh decided to return for his graduate yr one time the Ivy League green-lit postgraduate players to play in 2021–22 due to last season's counterfoil. Longwood (No. 253) has never made the NCAA tournament since moving to D-I, but transfer additions Isaiah Wilkins (Wake Wood) and Michael Christmas (JMU) give the Lancers a puncher'due south chance in the Large South.

New coaches take the reins at Lamar (No. 256) and Albany (No. 257). Lamar Hall of Honor member Alvin Brooks gets another shot at running his ain program after assisting Kelvin Sampson at Houston and has a talented backcourt trio of Kasen Harrison, Davion Buster and Jordyn Adams. New Albany coach Dwayne Killings is a loftier-energy guy who was due for a caput job. Transfers De'Vondre Perry and Gerald Drumgoole Jr. should help make the transition a smoother one.

Fairfield'south (No. 260) surprising run to the MAAC championship game a flavor ago could serve as a springboard in a wide-open conference. Speaking of springboards, Center Tennessee (No. 265) could use 1: The Blue Raiders are simply 24–62 in three years since Kermit Davis left for Ole Miss, which should heat upwardly Nick McDevitt'due south seat entering 2021–22.

Two of the 35 coaches of color hired this leap are Jordan Mincy and Rashon Burno at Jacksonville (No. 267) and Northern Illinois (No. 271), respectively. Both have been deserving of an opportunity like this for multiple years. If you're looking for a fun story to runway this year, how about St. Thomas (No. 275)? The Tommies are the first men's team in nearly 30 years to jump directly from D-Iii to D-I, condign the 2d D-I program in Minnesota. Coach Johnny Tauer has a PhD in social psychology, is a tenured member of the St. Thomas faculty and runs the Princeton offense.

276. Manhattan (8th in MAAC)
277. Bellarmine (8th in A-Sun)
278. Dartmouth (6th in Ivy)
279. Bucknell (5th in Patriot)
280. Merrimack (5th in NEC)
281. Eastern Michigan (11th in MAC)
282. Mount St. Mary'southward (6th in NEC)
283. North Carolina Central (third in MEAC)
284. Radford (seventh in Big South)
285. Austin Peay (7th in Ohio Valley)
286. Portland (10th in WCC)
287. UT Rio Grande Valley (10th in WAC)
288. San Jose State (10th in Mountain W)
289. UMass-Lowell (seventh in A-Due east)
290. Niagara (ninth in MAAC)
291. Northern Arizona (8th in Big Sky)
292. Tarleton State (11th in WAC)
293. Quinnipiac (10th in MAAC)
294. Western Michigan (12th in MAC)
295. Grambling State (4th in SWAC)
296. Coppin State (4th in MEAC)
297. St. Francis PA (seventh in NEC)
298. Loyola (Medico.) (6th in Patriot)
299. North Alabama (9th in A-Sun)
300. Southern (5th in SWAC)

The D-I debut of Bellarmine (No. 277) went quite well, with the Knights winning x straight A-Sunday games at 1 bespeak. Their cutting-friendly criminal offence ranked 7th nationally in the one-half court on a points-per-possession basis (per Synergy Sports), merely the momentum may be slowed without leading scorer Pedro Bradshaw. The transfer of NEC title game hero Damian Chong Qui is a tough blow for Mount St. Mary's (No. 282), just the development of its returning core will determine this team'due south ceiling.

Portland (No. 286) has one(!) total WCC win the last iii seasons, which earned Terry Porter's Feb firing. Shantay Legans arrives from Eastern Washington facing a massive rebuild, and he starts it with a brand-new roster built, in a large way, from the portal. After two years off from the profession, old Nebraska jitney Tim Miles has landed at San Jose Country (No. 288). He'll need to work some magic in Twelvemonth 1 afterwards too filling out his team via transfers—including a handful of additions from the benches of Power five programs. Tarleton State (No. 292), some other addition to D-I last yr (and coached by Billy Gillispie), hopes the return of six of its top seven scorers leads to more consistency as the WAC expands.

Kevin Marfo returns to Quinnipiac (No. 293) later a season spent at Texas A&M. In 2019–xx with the Bobcats, the now-24-twelvemonth-old'southward 13.3 rebounds per game led the country. Without a squad offensive turnaround, though, it may be a long year. Coppin State (No. 296) has fabricated strides nether Juan Dixon, improving its KenPom concluding ranking each season. A heavy road schedule threatens to make doing that for a fourth straight year tough. The good news for St. Francis PA (No. 297)? Per T-Rank, 91% of its possession minutes return. The bad news? That group went just vi–sixteen a season ago—though it did notch a win over Pitt.

Will Ryan, son of Bo, enters Year 2 coaching Green Bay.

Harrison Barden/USA TODAY Sports

301. High Indicate (8th in Big South)
302. Canisius (11th in MAAC)
303. Presbyterian (9th in Big South)
304. Eastern Illinois (eighth in Ohio Valley)
305. North Florida (10th in A-Lord's day)
306. Fairleigh Dickinson (8th in NEC)
307. Green Bay (11th in Horizon)
308. UC San Diego (ninth in Big Due west)
309. SIU Edwardsville (9th in Ohio Valley)
310. Alabama A&M (6th in SWAC)
311. Holy Cantankerous (7th in Patriot)
312. Sacramento Land (9th in Big Sky)
313. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7th in SWAC)
314. Northward Dakota (seventh in Summit)
315. Southeastern Louisiana (3rd in Southland)
316. Lehigh (eighth in Patriot)
317. Cal Poly (tenth in Large West)
318. NJIT (8th in A-East)
319. Idaho State (10th in Big Heaven)
320. Hampton (10th in Big South)
321. Lafayette (9th in Patriot)
322. The Citadel (ninth in SoCon)
323. Columbia (seventh in Ivy)
324. McNeese Land (4th in Southland)
325. Air Force (11th in Mountain Westward)

Reggie Witherspoon at Canisius (No. 302) is arguably i of the more influential coaches in the country equally the man who brought the continuity ball screen offense to the masses. He might exist in for a rough twelvemonth with the Golden Griffins, though. Longtime Evansville caput coach Marty Simmons is dorsum in the game at Eastern Illinois (No. 304), and he'll rely on a pair of Big X transfers in Elijah Wood (Nebraska) and Jermaine Hamlin (Illinois) early in his tenure.

Bo Ryan's son, Will, is in his second year at the helm at Green Bay (No. 307), merely saw his roster gutted past transfers this spring. The loss of leading scorer Amari Davis to Missouri is the most significant ane. Holy Cross (No. 311) and star big man Gerrale Gates have to be looking forward to a more normal schedule than last season, when their 16 games came against merely four opponents (including six against Boston Academy). Speaking of scheduling quirks, how about the Southland's new in-season tournament, featuring Southeastern Louisiana (No. 315)? Every team will play three games confronting conference foes in early January that will count as nonconference games.

Cal Poly (No. 317) could wind up outperforming this ranking thanks to a very stiff transfer class that features former All–Big Sky guard Jacob Davison, high-scoring big Sean Rhea and Oregon State downward-transfer Julien Franklin. The Citadel (No. 322) has star power thanks to the return of Hayden Brown, who averaged more than than 18 points and 10 rebounds a season agone. I more transfer-heavy group to lookout: McNeese Country (No. 324), which added TJ Moss (South Carolina), Brendan Medley-Salary (VCU) and Christian Shumate (Tulsa) among others.

326. St. Francis Brooklyn (9th in NEC)
327. Western Illinois (eighth in Summit)
328. Dixie State (twelfth in WAC)
329. Kennesaw State (11th in A-Sun)
330. Maine (ninth in A-Eastward)
331. Idaho (11th in Big Heaven)
332. Alcorn Country (8th in SWAC)
333. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (5th in Southland)
334. Omaha (9th in Height)
335. American (10th in Patriot)
336. USC Upstate (11th in Big South)
337. Cal State Northridge (11th in Large West)
338. IUPUI (12th in Horizon)
339. Cornell (8th in Ivy)
340. Western Carolina (tenth in SoCon)
341. Incarnate Give-and-take (6th in Southland)
342. UT Martin (10th in Ohio Valley)
343. Binghamton (10th in A-East)
344. Charleston Southern (12th in Large South)
345. Denver (10th in Top)
346. Northwestern State (7th in Southland)
347. Florida A&M (9th in SWAC)
348. Howard (5th in MEAC)
349. Central Connecticut (10th in NEC)
350. Bethune-Cookman (10th in SWAC)
351. Central Arkansas (12th in A-Sun)
352. Houston Baptist (8th in Southland)
353. Delaware State (6th in MEAC)
354. Alabama State (11th in SWAC)
355. South Carolina State (7th in MEAC)
356. Chicago State (13th in WAC)
357. Mississippi Valley Land (12th in SWAC)
358. Maryland-Eastern Shore (8th in MEAC)

Dixie Country (No. 328) opens its 2nd year in D-I with a trip to No. 1 Gonzaga, a fellow aficionado of playing fast. Kennesaw State (No. 329) won just 2 games against D-I foes last season. Tin can the return of the Owls' top six scorers bring at to the lowest degree somewhat better days despite an expanded A-Dominicus? Idaho (No. 331) had a COVID-19 season to forget, going one–21. Grand Canyon transfer Mikey Dixon leads a litany of newcomers, but this team is probably however ticketed for the Big Sky basement.

Speaking of COVID-19, American (No. 335) was hit hard with interruptions and played merely 10 games in 2020–21 … split up across four opponents. We'll see if the Eagles' strong perimeter shooting in that pocket-size sample size can sustain itself. The Ivy League's pandemic counterfoil hit Cornell (No. 338) hard, and multiple impact transfer departures left this roster with precious little starting feel. Incarnate Word (No. 341) shot and dedicated the three well last twelvemonth, but had piddling else to hang its hat on. A shrunken Southland and Oral Roberts transfer RJ Glasper offer potential opportunity.

Makur Maker's time at Howard (No. 348) lasted all of 47 playing minutes, with the Bison opting out of the season subsequently five games due to the pandemic. They'll host Notre Dame on Martin Luther King Jr. Twenty-four hours in a spotlight moment for HBCUs. Bethune-Cookman (No. 350) too opted out of 2020–21 and restarts play with an most entirely new roster.

Mississippi Valley Land (No. 357) earned the distinction of having D-I'south least-efficient KenPom offense and defense last flavour. The Delta Devils earned a majority of their points from behind the arc and improved their perimeter shooting downwardly the stretch, and then perhaps there'south reason for a sliver of optimism on that cease. Finally, bringing up the rear is UMES (No. 358), another 2020–21 opt out. It retains only 2 players from its last competitive season.

More than College Basketball Coverage:

• 64 Reasons to Be Excited for the CBB Flavor
• Men's National Player of Yr Candidates
• Superlative Men'southward Breakout Player Candidates
• Coaches on the Ascent Entering 2021–22

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Source: https://www.si.com/college/2021/11/02/ncaa-basketball-rankings-every-team-daily-cover

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