Yardbarker's preseason 2022-23 college basketball top 25

Coming off their first 20-win campaign in six seasons, the Huskies boast the Big East Preseason Player of the Year in 6-foot-9 Adama Sanogo . As a junior in 2021-22, Sanogo averaged 14.8 points and nearly nine rebounds per contest for a UConn squad that went 23-10. Though Connecticut lost a host of starters, East Carolina transfer Tristen Newton (17.7 points per game, 5.0 assists per game, 4,8 rebounds per game) and freshman forward Alex Karaban could be immediate contributors. 

Kevin Obanor (10.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is the only major contributor back from last season's 27-win squad that reached the Sweet 16. However, Mark Adams' cupboard is hardly bare of talent. He's welcomed transfers from Oregon, Texas, and North Carolina. However, 6-11 Fardaws Aimaq, who averaged 18.9 and 13.6 boards for Utah Valley last season, could be the star of the Red Raiders' show. We'll get a good early look at Texas Tech during the Maui Invitational. 

Dayton has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2017 (though the Flyers were a title contender in 2020), but that could change this year. The Flyers return their entire starting lineup and all but one of the top eight scorers from last season's group that won 24 games and beat national-champion Kansas. Dayton also lost to UMass-Lowell, Austin Peay, and Lipscomb. DaRon Holmes II (12.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.2 blocks per game) is coming off a strong freshman season, and Toumani Camara (10.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.6 apg) has the potential to be a star. Also, touted freshman Mike Sharavjamts is worthy of attention.

The reality is that there's no clear-cut preseason favorite in the Big Ten. However, 7-1 Hunter Dickinson (18.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.5 bpg) is just one reason the Wolverines could be in the mix for the league title. Dickinson's supporting cast isn't as clear cut but transfers Joey Baker (Duke) and Jaelin Llewellyn, who averaged 14.0 points in three seasons at Princeton, provide more veteran flair. Meanwhile, 6-9 Lebanese transfer Youssef Khayat is one to watch. Non-conference games against Virginia and Kentucky will be a nice test for the Wolverines. 

As a No. 10 seed with 26 wins, Miami reached the regional final last season. Are the Hurricanes good enough for similar success in 2022-23? With Isaiah Wong (16.1 ppg, 44.3 percent field-goal shooting in the past two seasons combined) leading the way, Miami could make some noise in the ACC. Jordan Miller (10.0 ppg, 56.1 FG percentage) is also back. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how transfers Nijel Pack (17.4 ppg at Kansas State) and Norchad Omier (17.9 ppg at Arkansas State) adapt. 

Sure, the Cavaliers have been unable to recreate the magic from their 2019 national title run. Settling for an NIT bid in 2022 did not help. So, there is pressure on Tony Bennett to get the program dancing this season. But Virginia returns its top six scorers, led by Jayden Gardner (15.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Armaan Franklin (11.1 ppg), and the never-aging Kihei Clark (10.0 ppg, 4.4 apg). Top-tier recruit Isaac McKneely could be the Cavaliers' go-to guy before it's all said and done. 

Matt Bradley (16.9 ppg, 40.1 percent 3-point shooting) is one of the best offensive players in the country, and 6-10 Nathan Mensah (7.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.2 bpg) was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year last season when the Aztecs went 23-9. Add Seattle transfer Darrion Trammell (17.4 ppg, 5.1 apg) to the mix, and SDSU should be the class of the MWC this season. The next step is for the Aztecs to advance beyond the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which they haven't done since 2015.

With three of its top-five scorers gone, Arizona faces a tough task in matching or exceeding its 33-4 mark from last season during Tommy Lloyd's first in charge of the program. However, a second-straight Sweet 16 appearance is not out of the question. Azuolas Tubelis (13.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) is worthy of some All-American consideration, while Kerr Kriisa and Pelle Larsson should have the opportunity to strut their stuff from a distance. Texas transfer Courtney Ramey (career 10.0 ppg) is a nice addition to a Wildcats squad that should challenge for a Pac-12 title.

This offseason's biggest stunner was Jay Wright's decision to walk away from the Villanova program . Yet, there are plenty of reasons to believe the Wildcats are in good hands with former assistant Kyle Neptune at the helm. Starters Caleb Daniels (10.3 ppg), Eric Dixon (9.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg), and Brandon Slater return from last year's Final Four squad. Plus, star Justin Moore (14.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.3 apg) could be back from his Achilles' injury in time for the Big East season. However, the star of this season's Villanova squad should be 6-7 Cam Whitmore, the league's preseason freshman of the year and expected lottery pick.

A 28-6 bounce-back season for Auburn in 2021-22 resulted in the regular-season SEC title. There are pieces from that team — Wendell Green Jr. (12.0 ppg, 5.1 apg) and K.D. Johnson (12.3 ppg) — and some new faces, like Morehead State transfer Johni Broome (16.8 ppg, 10.5 rebounds) and prized 6-10 recruit Yohan Traore that should help keep the Tigers in the thick of the conference race and a consistent top 25 team. If we've learned anything in recent years, it's never to underestimate a Bruce Pearl-coached squad.

The return of Big Ten Preseason Player of Year Trayce Jackson-Davis (16.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 apg in three seasons) and Race Thompson (11.1 ppg. 7.5 rpg) give the Hoosiers a solid one-two inside punch. Guard Xavier Johnson also returns after averaging 12.1 points and shooting 38.3 percent from 3-point range in his first season with Indiana, and freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino  should provide an immediate impact. Indiana has some solid depth that makes them expected to win more than those 21 games from last season.

Kofi Cockburn is gone, but the Illini could still be the best team in the Big Ten come March. Last season, Illinois earned a share of the league's regular-season title, and the additions of Terrence Shannon Jr. (11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg in three seasons at Texas Tech) and Matthew Mayer (111 three-pointers in four seasons at Baylor), plus promising freshmen Ty Rodgers and Skyy Clark, give it an early edge for a repeat. Also, look for 6-10 Coleman Hawkins to make strides as a full-time starter. The Illini will face UCLA and either Baylor or Virginia in Las Vegas and meet Texas early on, so we should get a good idea of how they stack up with some of the nation's best.

The Big 12 can be highly entertaining this season, with as many as four teams capable of winning the league. Texas expects to be part of the fun, especially with Iowa State transfer Tyrese Hunter (11.0  ppg, 4.9 apg) in the mix. Chris Beard's first Texas team won 22 games last season, but his next one needs to make it out of the NCAA Tournament's first weekend. Marcus Carr (11.4 ppg) and Timmy Allen (12.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) return from that group, and big things are expected from stud freshman Dillon Mitchell.

The Volunteers recorded an impressive 27 wins and won the SEC tournament title in 2022, but getting out of the first weekend in the NCAA Tournament has been an issue the past two seasons. Santiago Vescovi  is Tennessee's top returning player, but Josiah-Jordan James (10.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and Zakai Zeigler  might also be ready to take their progress to the next level. A favorable early schedule offers the Vols a chance to build some confidence. 

If a third straight Elite Eight appearance for the Razorbacks is in the cards, Eric Musselman's group needs to do it with a rather young group loaded with potential. However, we're talking about one of the best recruiting classes in the country, led by explosive guard Nick Smith. Fellow freshmen Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh are excepted to start, while Wichita State transfer Ricky Council IV (12.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is an option for instant veteran offense.

With the starting lineup intact from last season's 21-win squad, TCU is sort of the "it" team in the Big 12 for 2022-23. Whether the Horned Frogs can live up to the preseason hype remains to be seen, but Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Mike Miles (15.4  ppg) has the potential to go off every night. Meanwhile, Damion Baugh (10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.5 apg) might be the most underrated guard in the country. It's possible TCU could be undefeated entering its Big 12 opener versus Texas Tech on New Year's Eve. 

The Bluejays program has won at least 20 games for seven consecutive seasons, and 2022-23 should continue that run. The preseason pick to win the Big East, Creighton is led by 7-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is starting to live up to his promise after averaging 13.1 points, 7.7 boards, and 2.6 blocks as a sophomore last season. However, the addition of South Dakota State transfer and Summit League Player of the Year Baylor Scheierman  (16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.5 apg) has raised expectations in Omaha.  Meanwhile, sophomores Ryan Nembhard (11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg) and Arthur Kaluma (10.4 ppg) won't make Kalkbrenner and Scheierman do all the heavy lifting. 

The reality will soon set in. When the Blue Devils officially open the season against Jacksonville on Nov. 7, Mike Krzyzewski won't be on the sidelines or working the refs. After 42 years, a new era of Duke basketball coaching will dawn. Former Blue Devil and longtime assistant Jon Scheyer is in charge. And, in typical Duke fashion, he has what's arguably the best recruiting class in the country with five-star forwards Dereck Lively  and Kyle Filipowski, guard Dariq Whitehead, plus Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell. In terms of veteran leadership, Jeremy Roach is the man. He averaged 12.3 points and shot 48.1 percent in his final nine games of the season.

The Bears are the preseason favorite in the Big 12, and the talent is there to earn a third straight No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed. Adam Flagler (13.8 ppg) seems ready to step into the leading-man role at Baylor, but LJ Cryer (13.5 ppg, 46.8 3-point FG percentage) and 6-10 Flo Thamba are worthy supporting characters. Meanwhile, guard Keyonte George was named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year, and West Virginia transfer Jalen Bridges is a solid two-way performer.

Last season, Marcus Sasser (17.7 ppg) and Tramon Mark (10.1 oog) combined to play 19 games before Christmas before injuries shut both down, but Houston still reached the regional final one year after making the Final Four. Sasser and Mark are healthy, Jamal Shead (10.0 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 spg) is looking to build on a strong sophomore season, and freshman Jarace Walker is a potential star. In the last four seasons, the Cougars went 116-22 and made two Elite Eight appearances and a Final Four. The fun should continue.

After a Final Four stop in 2021, the Bruins are poised to keep that level of success going. With Jaime Jaquez Jr. (13.9 ppg, 47.2 FG percentage, 5.7 rpg, 2.3 apg) and Tyger Campbell (11.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 41 3-point FG percentage) leading the way, there's a good chance for that to happen. Five-star freshmen Amari Bailey  and Adem Bona are expected to hit the ground running for the Bruins. UCLA is looking for more consistency during the regular season than they've displayed in recent seasons.

The reigning national champs don't have the established experience like last season's team, but the talent level can still be described as elite. Will it be good enough to repeat? We'll see, but Jalen Wilson (11.4 ppg, 44 FG percentage, 7.7 rpg the past two seasons) is among the country's best and should be counted on to lead this team. Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar (10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.6 apg) could take some of the pressure off Wilson, while touted freshmen Gradey Dıck and Ernest Udeh seem ready to roll.

The sting of that first-round exit to No. 15 seed Saint Peter's might be enough to motivate the Wildcats to better days in 2022-23. Of course, the presence of reigning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe (17.4 ppg, 15.1 rpg) helps. Tshiebwe is dealing with a knee issue that could force the Wildcats star to miss some early action . That would be a hurdle for Kentucky to clear, but guard Sahvir Wheeler (10.1 ppg, 6.9 apg) is an All-SEC performer, while Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston have a chance to follow in that long line of fantastic Kentucky freshmen. 

The Zags lucked out with Drew Timme (18.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.8 apg) back as perhaps the best big man in the country. He makes Gonzaga a national title contender once again, but Julian Swather (11.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Rasir Bolton (11.2 ppg) and Chattanooga transfer (and 2022 Southern Conference Player of the Year) Malachi Smith (19.9 ppg) will be counted on to help carry the load. Gonzaga has posted a national-best 316 wins since the start of the 2012-13 season but is still searching for that elusive national championship. Will this be the year?

There was a point last season when North Carolina was a question mark to even make the NCAA Tournament during coach Hubert Davis' initial campaign. Then, as a No. 8 seed, the Tar Heels caught fire and nearly won the whole thing before blowing that 15-point halftime lead to Kansas in the title game. But that was the past. Three of North Carolina's top-four scorers are back, led by player of the year candidate Armando Bacot (16.3 ppg, 13.1 rpg). Caleb Love (15.9 ppg) and RJ Davis (13.5 ppg) might be the best backcourt in America, while 6-9 Leaky Black is an elite defender. Add Northwestern transfer Pete Nance (14.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.7 apg) to the mix, and the Tar Heels are more than worthy of topping our preseason rankings.