Today marks the first day of the NCAA college basketball season. So here's a look at each story from the power 6 conferences.
Big East
B1G Ten
How will they finish? Tom Dienhart offers his Big Ten men's hoops predictions
The Big Ten officially kicked off the 2016-17 basketball season with media day in Washington, D.C., today. Talent like Denzel Valentine, Caris LeVert, A.J. Hammons, Yogi Ferrell and Jarrod Uthoff is gone. Still, there is a lot to like about the conference.
Here is my look at the Big Ten and how I see each of the 14 squads finishing.
1. Wisconsin. No team ever is better coached than the Badgers, as Greg Gard has seamlessly picked up the torch from Bo Ryan and kept Wisconsin among the nation’s elite. Led by the likes of Nigel Hayes, Ethan Happ and Bronson Koenig, this looks like a Final Four team.
2. Indiana. The Hoosiers will miss all-time great Yogi Ferrell along with Troy Williams. But big man Thomas Bryant is back to dominate. Is Pitt transfer Josh Newkirk or Robert Johnson the answer at the point? They need to be for this to be a special season. James Blackmon is back from injury, while OG Anunoby looks primed for big things.
3. Michigan State. The Spartans have perhaps the best collection of incoming talent in the nation led by Miles Bridges and Josh Langford. And no doubt that Michigan State will be motivated after last year’s unceremonious first-round NCAA ouster by Middle Tennessee State. Look for Eron Harris to be a star.
4. Purdue. The Boilermakers could make a push for the title with burgeoning star Caleb Swanigan, Frankenstein-esque Isaac Haas and Vince Edwards anchoring a rugged front line. But the key will be guard play, always a worry in West Lafayette.
5. Michigan. There is a lot to like in Ann Arbor, beginning with Derrick Walton and Zak Irvin, two of the best in the Big Ten. A big key: lithe wing man Duncan Robinson taking the proverbial next step in his development. This team has talent and experience. And it’s always well-coached under John Beilein.
6. Illinois. The program has been hurt by turnover and injuries in recent years. But anchored by Tracy Abrams, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Malcolm Hill, the Fighting Illini have talent and depth and should end an NCAA tourney drought that dates to 2013 in what shapes up as a critical season for John Groce.
7. Ohio State. This is an interesting team. Yes, several players transferred. But the Buckeyes may be better for it. Thad Matta is a top coach who will build around Marc Loving, Jae’Sean Tate, JaQuan Lyle and Keita Bates-Diop. Look for a bounce-back season after missing the Big Dance in 2016.
8. Maryland. The Terps are in a major retooling mode with four starters gone. But Maryland does have Melo Trimble, an elite backcourt player. Guys like Damonte Dodd, Dion Wiley and Jared Nickens need to step up, along with a talented freshman class led by Kevin Huerter.
9. Iowa. The Hawkeyes are rebuilding around Peter Jok, an athletic wing man who can do a bit of everything. Freshmen like Tyler Cook and Jordan Bohannon need to impact.
10. Penn State. This is a program on the rise under Pat Chambers. The anchors? Payton Banks and Shep Garner. And the incoming freshmen arrive with fat scrapbooks. Keep an eye on UConn transfer Terrence Samuel.
11. Northwestern. Chris Collins seemingly has this program on the precipice of a breakout. Stealthy point man Bryant McIntosh is surrounded by talent in Vic Law, Aaron Falzon and Dererk Pardon. Is this the year the NCAA tourney drought ends?
12. Minnesota. This is a big season for Richard Pitino, whose Golden Gophers went 2-16 in the Big Ten last year. Off-court issues have cropped up, and attrition has hurt. The result: an unstable roster and program with a lot to prove. Fans are stoked about the arrival of Gopher legacy Amir Coffey, a real gem.
13. Nebraska. Tim Miles needs to pump some air into “Nebrasketball” in what shapes up as a key season in Lincoln. The abrupt departure of Andrew White doesn’t help matters. At least Tai Webster is back.
14. Rutgers. A new coach (Steve Pikiell) and new hope for the woebegone Scarlet Knights, who can build around guards Corey Sanders and Mike Williams. Things have to be better, right?
Big 12
Big East
College basketball preview: The Big East is Villanova's to lose
The crispness of the fall air, the orange hues that overtake the treetops, and the squeak of basketball sneakers in gymnasiums across the country. These are just some of the telltale signs that basketball is back. More importantly, the annual countdown to March Madness can begin anew.
As much fun as Midnight Madness can be, the culmination of a long offseason is the tipoff of a team's first game. With the start of the 2016-17 season quickly approaching, NCAA.com is cracking the books and breaking things down in each of college basketball's 32 conferences.
RELATED: Midnight Madness 2016 times and dates
Today’s focus: The Big East.
Recap:
Last season was one of the stronger conference-wide performances by the Big East in recent memory. Seven of the league’s 10 teams collected 20 or more wins, and three finished in the top 25 of the final AP Poll.
MARCH MADNESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
JOIN THE TEAM.
Most impressively, a remarkable five Big East teams made it into the NCAA tournament, though only one advanced past the round of 32 — eventual national champions Villanova. It was Villanova’s second national title, and the eighth for the Big East.
This season, for the third year in a row, the Wildcats were the unanimous pick in the preseason coaches’ poll to win the regular season title. In all likelihood, that title is theirs to lose, but the nine other teams in the Big East aren’t going to lay down and give it to them.
Best Player:
Last season, the conference named six players to its All-Big East First Team. Four of those players — Providence’s Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead, and Marquette’s Henry Ellenson —are gone to the NBA. The fifth, Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett, returns for his junior season as the de facto leader for the Musketeers. The final player from the 2015-16 All-Big East First Team is Villanova’s Josh Hart.
Hart, the 6-5 senior guard, finished in the top 10 of the Big East in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. His 15.5 points per game led Villanova, and his 6.8 boards were the most among all guards in the conference. But while Hart’s regular season was certainly impressive, it was his postseason play that truly shined. The junior was named to the NCAA All-Final Four Team after averaging 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two games against Oklahoma and North Carolina.
Villanova is receiving national attention again this season as the Wildacts have the potential for another deep March run this year. Hart, with more experience and responsibility, will be a large part of whether or not that happens.
Also deserving mention is Bluiett, who also finished in the top 15 of scoring and rebounding in the Big East, averaging 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Bluiett also shot 39.8 percent from beyond the arc, hitting 78 three-pointers on the season, second only to Kellen Dunham and Kris Jenkins. Xavier was picked to finish second in the league in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Best Team:
Villanova returns three of five starters from its championship team in Hart, Jenkins (who hit 100 three-pointers on the season, including the game-winning buzzer-beater against North Carolina) and sophomore guard Jalen Brunson. Yes, the Wildcats will be missing starters Ryan Arcidiacano and Daniel Ochefu, but the team should be able to cope.
Bench players Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges both played in every game last season, and averaged more than six points and two rebounds per game and, combined with Darryl Reynolds, add welcome depth to the team.
The Wildcats may have lost two of the most prolific players in school history, but the 2016-17 roster shouldn’t miss a beat as it looks to become the fourth straight Villanova team to win the Big East regular season title.
Sleeper Team:
Two seasons ago, Creighton broke a streak of three-straight NCAA tournament round of 32 appearances when the Bluejays went 14-19 and failed to make any postseason tournament. It could have been the start of a downward spiral in Omaha, but coach Greg McDermott was able to right the ship last year, guiding his team to a 20-15 campaign that included a run to the quarterfinals of the NIT.
Of course, the 2015-16 season also saw the end of two Bluejays’ careers when starters Geoggrey Groselle and James Milliken graduated, but Creighton’s roster should be at least as potent if not more dangerous in the upcoming year.
The Bluejays added 6-3 junior guard Marcus Foster, who transferred from Kansas State where he averaged 14.1 points and 2.2 assists per game in two seasons. Among others, he’ll support senior Maurice Watson, Jr. — the only Creighton player to start in all 35 of the Bluejays’ games last season. Watson averaged 31.4 minutes and a team-high 14.1 points per game last year, and enters his senior campaign as the nation’s active career assist leader with 639 to his name after he averaged 6.5 per contest last season — best in the Big East.
Freshman to Watch:
St. Johns finished last season 8-24, failing to tally 10 wins for the first time since 2005. It was a tough campaign, but it wasn’t without hope. The Red Storm’s young team — four freshman started nine or more games last season — has a season under their belt and valuable experience to draw on. One potential player who will benefit from that experience is true freshman Shamorie Ponds.
A Brooklyn native, Ponds is the all-around guard that St. John's lacked a season ago. He can shoot, pass, handle and defend; Ponds is likely to become a household name in the Big East for years to come.
This season, Big East coaches expect to see a marked improvement in the Red Storm, as the preseason coaches’ poll picked St. Johns to finish eighth in the league. If that improvement is going to happen, look for Ponds to be at the center of it.
The crispness of the fall air, the orange hues that overtake the treetops, and the squeak of basketball sneakers in gymnasiums across the country. These are just some of the telltale signs that basketball is back. More importantly, the annual countdown to March Madness can begin anew.
As much fun as Midnight Madness can be, the culmination of a long offseason is the tipoff of a team's first game. With the start of the 2016-17 season quickly approaching, NCAA.com is cracking the books and breaking things down in each of college basketball's 32 conferences.
RELATED: Midnight Madness 2016 times and dates
Today’s focus: The Big East.
Recap:
Last season was one of the stronger conference-wide performances by the Big East in recent memory. Seven of the league’s 10 teams collected 20 or more wins, and three finished in the top 25 of the final AP Poll.
MARCH MADNESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
JOIN THE TEAM.
Most impressively, a remarkable five Big East teams made it into the NCAA tournament, though only one advanced past the round of 32 — eventual national champions Villanova. It was Villanova’s second national title, and the eighth for the Big East.
This season, for the third year in a row, the Wildcats were the unanimous pick in the preseason coaches’ poll to win the regular season title. In all likelihood, that title is theirs to lose, but the nine other teams in the Big East aren’t going to lay down and give it to them.
Best Player:
Last season, the conference named six players to its All-Big East First Team. Four of those players — Providence’s Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead, and Marquette’s Henry Ellenson —are gone to the NBA. The fifth, Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett, returns for his junior season as the de facto leader for the Musketeers. The final player from the 2015-16 All-Big East First Team is Villanova’s Josh Hart.
Hart, the 6-5 senior guard, finished in the top 10 of the Big East in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. His 15.5 points per game led Villanova, and his 6.8 boards were the most among all guards in the conference. But while Hart’s regular season was certainly impressive, it was his postseason play that truly shined. The junior was named to the NCAA All-Final Four Team after averaging 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two games against Oklahoma and North Carolina.
Villanova is receiving national attention again this season as the Wildacts have the potential for another deep March run this year. Hart, with more experience and responsibility, will be a large part of whether or not that happens.
Also deserving mention is Bluiett, who also finished in the top 15 of scoring and rebounding in the Big East, averaging 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Bluiett also shot 39.8 percent from beyond the arc, hitting 78 three-pointers on the season, second only to Kellen Dunham and Kris Jenkins. Xavier was picked to finish second in the league in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Best Team:
Villanova returns three of five starters from its championship team in Hart, Jenkins (who hit 100 three-pointers on the season, including the game-winning buzzer-beater against North Carolina) and sophomore guard Jalen Brunson. Yes, the Wildcats will be missing starters Ryan Arcidiacano and Daniel Ochefu, but the team should be able to cope.
Bench players Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges both played in every game last season, and averaged more than six points and two rebounds per game and, combined with Darryl Reynolds, add welcome depth to the team.
The Wildcats may have lost two of the most prolific players in school history, but the 2016-17 roster shouldn’t miss a beat as it looks to become the fourth straight Villanova team to win the Big East regular season title.
Sleeper Team:
Two seasons ago, Creighton broke a streak of three-straight NCAA tournament round of 32 appearances when the Bluejays went 14-19 and failed to make any postseason tournament. It could have been the start of a downward spiral in Omaha, but coach Greg McDermott was able to right the ship last year, guiding his team to a 20-15 campaign that included a run to the quarterfinals of the NIT.
Of course, the 2015-16 season also saw the end of two Bluejays’ careers when starters Geoggrey Groselle and James Milliken graduated, but Creighton’s roster should be at least as potent if not more dangerous in the upcoming year.
The Bluejays added 6-3 junior guard Marcus Foster, who transferred from Kansas State where he averaged 14.1 points and 2.2 assists per game in two seasons. Among others, he’ll support senior Maurice Watson, Jr. — the only Creighton player to start in all 35 of the Bluejays’ games last season. Watson averaged 31.4 minutes and a team-high 14.1 points per game last year, and enters his senior campaign as the nation’s active career assist leader with 639 to his name after he averaged 6.5 per contest last season — best in the Big East.
Freshman to Watch:
St. Johns finished last season 8-24, failing to tally 10 wins for the first time since 2005. It was a tough campaign, but it wasn’t without hope. The Red Storm’s young team — four freshman started nine or more games last season — has a season under their belt and valuable experience to draw on. One potential player who will benefit from that experience is true freshman Shamorie Ponds.
A Brooklyn native, Ponds is the all-around guard that St. John's lacked a season ago. He can shoot, pass, handle and defend; Ponds is likely to become a household name in the Big East for years to come.
This season, Big East coaches expect to see a marked improvement in the Red Storm, as the preseason coaches’ poll picked St. Johns to finish eighth in the league. If that improvement is going to happen, look for Ponds to be at the center of it.
B1G Ten
How will they finish? Tom Dienhart offers his Big Ten men's hoops predictions
The Big Ten officially kicked off the 2016-17 basketball season with media day in Washington, D.C., today. Talent like Denzel Valentine, Caris LeVert, A.J. Hammons, Yogi Ferrell and Jarrod Uthoff is gone. Still, there is a lot to like about the conference.
Here is my look at the Big Ten and how I see each of the 14 squads finishing.
1. Wisconsin. No team ever is better coached than the Badgers, as Greg Gard has seamlessly picked up the torch from Bo Ryan and kept Wisconsin among the nation’s elite. Led by the likes of Nigel Hayes, Ethan Happ and Bronson Koenig, this looks like a Final Four team.
2. Indiana. The Hoosiers will miss all-time great Yogi Ferrell along with Troy Williams. But big man Thomas Bryant is back to dominate. Is Pitt transfer Josh Newkirk or Robert Johnson the answer at the point? They need to be for this to be a special season. James Blackmon is back from injury, while OG Anunoby looks primed for big things.
3. Michigan State. The Spartans have perhaps the best collection of incoming talent in the nation led by Miles Bridges and Josh Langford. And no doubt that Michigan State will be motivated after last year’s unceremonious first-round NCAA ouster by Middle Tennessee State. Look for Eron Harris to be a star.
4. Purdue. The Boilermakers could make a push for the title with burgeoning star Caleb Swanigan, Frankenstein-esque Isaac Haas and Vince Edwards anchoring a rugged front line. But the key will be guard play, always a worry in West Lafayette.
5. Michigan. There is a lot to like in Ann Arbor, beginning with Derrick Walton and Zak Irvin, two of the best in the Big Ten. A big key: lithe wing man Duncan Robinson taking the proverbial next step in his development. This team has talent and experience. And it’s always well-coached under John Beilein.
6. Illinois. The program has been hurt by turnover and injuries in recent years. But anchored by Tracy Abrams, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Malcolm Hill, the Fighting Illini have talent and depth and should end an NCAA tourney drought that dates to 2013 in what shapes up as a critical season for John Groce.
7. Ohio State. This is an interesting team. Yes, several players transferred. But the Buckeyes may be better for it. Thad Matta is a top coach who will build around Marc Loving, Jae’Sean Tate, JaQuan Lyle and Keita Bates-Diop. Look for a bounce-back season after missing the Big Dance in 2016.
8. Maryland. The Terps are in a major retooling mode with four starters gone. But Maryland does have Melo Trimble, an elite backcourt player. Guys like Damonte Dodd, Dion Wiley and Jared Nickens need to step up, along with a talented freshman class led by Kevin Huerter.
9. Iowa. The Hawkeyes are rebuilding around Peter Jok, an athletic wing man who can do a bit of everything. Freshmen like Tyler Cook and Jordan Bohannon need to impact.
10. Penn State. This is a program on the rise under Pat Chambers. The anchors? Payton Banks and Shep Garner. And the incoming freshmen arrive with fat scrapbooks. Keep an eye on UConn transfer Terrence Samuel.
11. Northwestern. Chris Collins seemingly has this program on the precipice of a breakout. Stealthy point man Bryant McIntosh is surrounded by talent in Vic Law, Aaron Falzon and Dererk Pardon. Is this the year the NCAA tourney drought ends?
12. Minnesota. This is a big season for Richard Pitino, whose Golden Gophers went 2-16 in the Big Ten last year. Off-court issues have cropped up, and attrition has hurt. The result: an unstable roster and program with a lot to prove. Fans are stoked about the arrival of Gopher legacy Amir Coffey, a real gem.
13. Nebraska. Tim Miles needs to pump some air into “Nebrasketball” in what shapes up as a key season in Lincoln. The abrupt departure of Andrew White doesn’t help matters. At least Tai Webster is back.
14. Rutgers. A new coach (Steve Pikiell) and new hope for the woebegone Scarlet Knights, who can build around guards Corey Sanders and Mike Williams. Things have to be better, right?
Big 12
Coaches unanimously pick Kansas to win 13th consecutive Big 12 championship
Of course it's Kansas.
The Big 12 preseason poll was released Thursday afternoon, with Kansas coming in as the unanimous pick to win the league. It's the fifth straight year KU's been the choice in October. For the past 12 seasons, Bill Self's program has finished with the best record in the conference. It's an unprecedented run of in-league dominance by one program in any conference in the past 40 years of college basketball.
Here's the poll as voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own programs, meaning Self could not vote for KU. His choice was not disclosed.
1. Kansas (9)* 81
2. West Virginia 65
3. Texas 59
4. Iowa State 56
5. Baylor 53
6. Oklahoma 40
7. Oklahoma State 32 (tie)
7. Texas Tech 32 (tie)
9. Kansas State 20
10. TCU 12
Kansas ranks third in the CBS Sports preseason Top 25 (and one). Texas is 17th, Iowa State is 24th and West Virginia is 25th. Oklahoma, coming in sixth, takes a big dip from last year as a Final Four team due to the loss of national player of the year Buddy Hield, plus Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler graduating.
Frank Mason, left, and Devonte Graham are key vets returning for favored KU. USATSI
Last week, the Big 12 announced its preseason player awards. Iowa State's Monté Morris was tabbed as preseason Player of the Year.
Preseason Player of the Year
Monté Morris, Iowa State, G, Sr., 6-3, 175, Flint, Mich./Beecher
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Josh Jackson, Kansas, G, Fr., 6-8, 270, Detroit, Mich./Prolific Prep [Calif.]
2016-17 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Johnathan Motley, Baylor PF
Monté Morris, Iowa State PG
Devonte' Graham, Kansas PG
Frank Mason III, Kansas SG
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State PG
Matt Norlander has been with CBS Sports since 2010, primarily covering college basketball but also writes about the NBA Draft, the Olympics and the World Cup. He lives in Connecticut and loves to play... Full Bio
Of course it's Kansas.
The Big 12 preseason poll was released Thursday afternoon, with Kansas coming in as the unanimous pick to win the league. It's the fifth straight year KU's been the choice in October. For the past 12 seasons, Bill Self's program has finished with the best record in the conference. It's an unprecedented run of in-league dominance by one program in any conference in the past 40 years of college basketball.
Here's the poll as voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own programs, meaning Self could not vote for KU. His choice was not disclosed.
1. Kansas (9)* 81
2. West Virginia 65
3. Texas 59
4. Iowa State 56
5. Baylor 53
6. Oklahoma 40
7. Oklahoma State 32 (tie)
7. Texas Tech 32 (tie)
9. Kansas State 20
10. TCU 12
Kansas ranks third in the CBS Sports preseason Top 25 (and one). Texas is 17th, Iowa State is 24th and West Virginia is 25th. Oklahoma, coming in sixth, takes a big dip from last year as a Final Four team due to the loss of national player of the year Buddy Hield, plus Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler graduating.
Frank Mason, left, and Devonte Graham are key vets returning for favored KU. USATSI
Last week, the Big 12 announced its preseason player awards. Iowa State's Monté Morris was tabbed as preseason Player of the Year.
Preseason Player of the Year
Monté Morris, Iowa State, G, Sr., 6-3, 175, Flint, Mich./Beecher
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Josh Jackson, Kansas, G, Fr., 6-8, 270, Detroit, Mich./Prolific Prep [Calif.]
2016-17 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Johnathan Motley, Baylor PF
Monté Morris, Iowa State PG
Devonte' Graham, Kansas PG
Frank Mason III, Kansas SG
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State PG
Matt Norlander has been with CBS Sports since 2010, primarily covering college basketball but also writes about the NBA Draft, the Olympics and the World Cup. He lives in Connecticut and loves to play... Full Bio
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