College Basketball Preview, What’s in Store After Brutal Scandal

Before dipping your foot into the murky waters of contemporary college basketball, understand that the 2018 offseason passed with blood-red colores. An ongoing FBI probe uncovered a deep diving string of fraud, payola, and corruption, prompting Rick Pitino’s pink slip and a general bloodbath for the Louisville program. Cash offers from programs as recruiting “incentives” and other cosmetic regulations added to the confusion for players testing NBA waters during their draft decision process, and anxiety is swelling with the NBA’s impending decision to dissolve the one-and-done rule and allow prospects to enter the draft without any postsecondary education.

The landscape of college basketball is changing whether we like it or not (which we don’t). But, while the variables and political sidestories keep moving slowly, the season is coming quick. And if past president stays true, these worries will soon be an afterthought.

So, what’s to expect from a basketball perspective?

Well, Villanova remains king, a posse of hopeful schools are playing for the throne. With the annual batch of touted freshman saturating headlines, will one finally use the platform to claim the POTY title? Which teams will be contenders come March, but sleepers today? Not to mention the gripping subplots and profound factors to follow week by week. All these questions and predictions will be answered in the 2018 edition of Red Cup News’ College Basketball Preview.

Top-Four Contenders (for the moment):

1. Kentucky: The Wildcats outclass prior “frontrunner strata” with a diversified roster. Keldon Johnson leads a star-studded freshman class, PJ Washington, Quade Green, and Nick Richards return for their second go-around, along with graduate transfer, Reid Travis staring their frontcourt. The grass doesn’t get much greener.
2. Duke: If RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, and Tre Jones could play 40 minutes through their ACC gauntlet, Duke would be contender number-one. But, their bench talent is void, and the offense will become increasingly predictable. The get the nod, though, because of the freshman pool.
3. Kansas: Deeming contenders is, to an extent, a guessing game, and Kansas epitomizes the “hit or miss” suit. Roster turnover had a profound effect on the persona of Kansas basketball, as they begin 2018 with a hodgepodge of returners, transfers, and incoming recruits. Growing-pains aren’t an if, but a matter of when and how long it will last.
4. Auburn: Auburn gets contender appeal by means of quantity of talent. With Bryce Brown, Jared Harper, and Anfernee McLemore the apples ripe for Pearl to push for the Final Four.

POTY Watch; Leaders, Could-Be’s, and Dark Horses

Favorites:

Carsen Edwards, Guard, Purdue

Luke Maye, Forward, North Carolina

RJ Barrett, Guard, Duke

Caleb Martian, Forward, Nevada

Ethan Happ, Center, Wisconsin

Zion Williamson, Forward, Duke

Tyus Battle, Guard, Syracuse

Could-Be’s:

Kris Wilkes, Forward, UCLA

Tremont Waters, Guard, LSU

Cameron Reddish, Guard, Duke

Markus Howard, Guard, Marquette

Mike Daum, Forward, SDSU

Dark Horses:

Romeo Langford, Guard, Indiana

Naz Reid, Forward, LSU

Shamorie Ponds, Guard, St. John’s

Bryce Brown, Guard, Auburn

Soon To Be Contenders and or March Cinderellas

LSU, Contender: The Tigers have used coaching turnover as the boogieman for their problems. This year, whether Will Wade is good or not, their talent pools takes them past the threshold of elite. Five-star forward Naz Reid can stretch the floor with his Joel Embiid-esque skillset, and Tremont Waters returns for a highly anticipated sophomore season. Not to mention the subtle by impactful role pieces like Emmitt Williams and Skylar Mayes.

St. John’s, Cinderella: Shamorie Ponds and Auburn transfer, Mustapha Heron are super-teaming at St. Johns and preparing to claim the Big-East throne. They are still a lifetime from contention, but senior guards are prone to late tournament runs.

Indiana, Contender: Romeo Langford and Juwan Morgan will be the alphas on the Hoosiers roster, but a steady dose of bench minutes and viable role players will be key to their 2018 season. Expect Indiana to be the heir of the Big-10 crown.

Image Source: https://www.crimsonquarry.com/2017/10/26/16550140/what-would-you-do-for-romeo-langford-and-darius-garland

---