CBB: 2019-20 Preseason Projections
1. Virginia: The Cavaliers are coming off a national title victory, and should see most of their players go back for another go-around. De'Andre Hunter is likely going pro as he's a projected lottery pick, but Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, Kihei Clark, Mamadi Diakite, and Braxton Key should return. Guy is a possible ACC Player of the Year candidate after averaging 15.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. This team will definitely be No. 1 or No. 2 in the preseason rankings.
2. Kentucky: The Wildcats will lose some players to the NBA Draft like usual, but should return a ton of talent too in Ashton Hagans, E.J. Montgomery, and Nick Richards. Tyler Herro's decision to stay or leave could be the key factor in this team winning it all next season. Kentucky will also add Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney, Keion Brooks, and others. Herro averaged 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in his freshman season for the Wildcats.
3. Michigan State: The Spartans reached the Final Four this past season and will have pretty much their entire team back. Now Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid graduate so they'll have to fill in those spots, but Joshua Langford coming back from injury and Malik Hall coming in for his freshman year should suffice. Cassius Winston, the Big Ten Player of the Year, will be back after averaging 18.8 points and 7.5 assists. Aaron Henry and Xavier Tillman also return.
4. Duke: The Blue Devils underwhelmed, which is tough to say for an Elite Eight team, but it did seem like this team was Final Four or bust. They'll lose Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish, but Tre Jones is back. Every other key piece should be here. Vernon Carey, one of the top players in high school, will be in Durham and Wendell Moore is a highly regarded recruit as well. Alex O'Connell should improve on his 4.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
5. Michigan: The Wolverines have been to the Sweet Sixteen the last three years so expect them to be back there again, but with Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske being seniors, they'll look to get even further in the tournament. Senior Charles Matthews will depart, and the futures of Ignas Brazdeikis and Jordan Poole will decide where this team is heading into 2019-20. Both could potentially enter the draft. Brazdeikis averaged 14.8 points as Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
6. Tennessee: The Volunteers will have to say goodbye to one of the best players in school history in Admiral Schofield, and the same could be said if Grant Williams decides to go to the NBA Draft. If Williams comes back then this team could very well be a favorite to get to the Final Four, but without him, they'll drop behind the likes of Auburn and LSU in the SEC. Either way, though, Jordan Bowden and his 10.6 points and 3.5 rebounds will be returning.
7. Oregon: The Ducks underperformed for the better part of the season, sitting at just 15-12 and looking like a NIT berth was likely. And then Oregon won eight straight games, won the Pac-12 Tournament, and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Payton Pritchard will be back. Louis King and Kenny Wooten should be back. Chris Duarte is transferring to Eugene. This team has a ton of talent and three big recruits. Watch for Pritchard to be the Pac-12 Player of the Year.
8. LSU: The Tigers won't have Naz Reid after one season on campus, but Tremont Waters will still be around, and he is going to be one of the best players in the country. Waters averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game this past year. Javonte Smart will also be back for his sophomore season, while Skylar Mays, the sharpshooter, will be a starter again. Three starters returning is usually a good sign, and LSU should be a contender in the SEC again.
9. Kansas: The Jayhawks will lose Dedric Lawson to the league, and his brother K.J. Lawson has announced his decision to transfer. Devon Dotson is going to be the starting point guard, though, and he had a spectacular freshman year. I think he has the potential to be one of the best players in the Bill Self era, and he'll have Quentin Grimes back too. Those two should put Kansas near the top of the Big 12. Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack should return too.
10. North Carolina: The Tar Heels are going to lose everyone. Well, not everyone but pretty much. Coby White and Nasir Little are going to the NBA and Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye, and Kenny Williams will graduate. Garrison Brooks will hold down the paint, though, and Seventh Woods will slide into the starting point guard slot. Brandon Robinson will improve on his 3.4 points with more playing time. Armando Bacot will also have impact as a freshman forward.
Player of the Year:
1. Cassius Winston
2. Kyle Guy
3. Grant Williams
4. Tremont Waters
5. Vernon Carey
6. Ignas Brazdeikis
7. Devon Dotson
8. Payton Pritchard
9. Ashton Hagans
10. Garrison Brooks
Photo Credit: KSLA News.
