College Basketball is back, and this year there are a lot of teams with tons of talent. This year is highlighted by the return of a lot of sophomores, such as, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones, Harrison Barnes and many more. But this article isn’t about the players. It’s about who I think are the top 5 teams in the country.
*No. 1 North Carolina *
This team reminds me of the 2009 national championship team. The Tar Heels are returning all of their key players in Harrison Barnes, who almost showed his full potential late in the season after his rocky start in the beginning. They have a scary frontcourt with returning players John Henson and Tyler Zeller. Kendall Marshall is becoming a rising star at the point guard position, and the sky is the limit for him. They also recruited well, highlighted by James McAdoo. It’s going to be hard to beat a team that’s stacked like this. Speaking of stacked teams, this leads to the number two team.
*No. 2 Kentucky *
Kentucky is stacked with a lot of talent. Anthony Davis was the top high school recruit this year. Michael Gilchrist is a very solid forward and John Calipari adds another stud of a point guard in Marquis Teague. Kentucky also returns the point forward Terrence Jones, who should have a solid season. Sharpshooter Doron Lamb can light up the scoreboard, and they also return a tough defender in Darius Miller. The only knock on Kentucky is that they are very young and inexperienced.
No. 3 Ohio State
The Ohio State University will be led by Jared Sullinger, who everyone thought would declare for last year’s NBA Draft. Sullinger has improved his jumpshot, post play, and he even gotten slimmer. I expect Sullinger to be in the running for national player of the year all season. Ohio State isn’t all about Jared Sullinger though. The Buckeyes return scoring threat William Buford, tough point guard Aaron Craft, who is an excellent on ball defender and a player with a lot of upside in DeShaun Thomas. They also bring in Freshman Amir Williams, who is a center/power forward, who should help Sullinger carry the load in the frontcourt.
No. 4 U Conn
Kemba who? Even though UConn lost Kemba Walker to the NBA Draft it returns all of its key players who played a role in their national-championship run. They return Alex Oriakhi, Walker’s backup last year, Shabazz Napier, who should have a better overall year now that Walker is gone and an all around player, who should also be in the running for national player of The year in Jeremy Lamb. They also have a freshman stud in Andre Drummond, who is a freak of nature.
*No. 5 Duke *
Last but not least are the Duke Blue Devils. The Blue Devils lost Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving. Just because they lose these three players, who played a big role on last year’s team, does not mean you can count them out. They return the Plumlee brothers, Mason and Miles. They return three-point threats Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins. They also bring in diaper-dandy Austin Rivers, who could score points in bunches. They also bring in freshman Marshall Plumlee, who is the third of the Plumlee brothers, and Quinn Cook, another solid point guard. With all of this talent featured, Duke should be as good, if not better than last year’s team.
