Here's the complete ranking: http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...cbs-sports-1-351-college-basketball-rankings/
Our non-conference schedule (ordered by CBS ranking):
21. Syracuse
Jim Boeheim believes it's one of his best rosters ever. Andrew White was a late add-on after White left Nebraska. Cuse will have an elite sophomore and likely 2017 NBA pick in Tyler Lydon, a good senior PF in Tyler Roberson, a Providence transfer addition in Paschal Chukwu. Freshmen Matthew Moyer, Tyus Battle and Taurean Thompson align a bright future for SU. And this is a team that somehow broke through to the Final Four last season. It has a better chance at getting back this year.
33. Georgetown
The Hoyas should be able to turn around and forget a 15-18 season. Isaac Copeland could be a First Team guy in the Big East, and Jessie Govan's ready to break out. L.J Peak and Marcus Derrickson are also players oozing with potential.
39. Ohio State
The Buckeyes just need to realize how good they can be. Marc Loving, Keita Bates-Diop, Ja'Quan Lyle, Kam Williams. A solid core four there. Thad Matta cleaned house with some transfers. Expect OSU back in the NCAA Tournament after missing last season.
47. Oklahoma State
Not a big-time roster, but there is a big-time player in Jawun Evans, who could be a top-three point guard in college hoops this season. Travis Ford is gone and Brad Underwood takes over.
95. Auburn
Bruce Pearl is going to have the Tigers roaring in a year, but this team is going to stall a bit thanks to losing Cinmeon Bowers and Tyler Harris. Mustapha Heron will be a top-25 freshmen this year in terms of stats produced and value to his team.
136. Loyola Marymount
An influx of transfers should bump LMU up considerably, especially when you take into account this is Mike Dunlap's third season, and he's gone from eight to 14 wins. They'll flirt with 20 Ws in 2016-17. Brandon Brown is a top-10 WCC player.
174. North Florida
UNF has a stud in Dallas Moore, who could be the league's POY. He's getting real NBA looks, which is something you can say about A-Sun players only so often. VERY fun player. But the Ospreys lose just enough from last year's team that I'm slotting them ever so slightly below the reigning league champs, Florida Gulf Coast.
186. Wagner
Probably the best squad in the Northeast Conference. Bashir Mason is one of the best young coaches in mid-major basketball, and if the Seahawks make the NCAAs this year, he's got to get a bigger job. Name to know: junior shooting specialist, Corey Henson.
205. Boston University
Joe Jones brings back a lot to a team that was 19-15 a year ago. Eric Fanning a dark horse pick for Patriot League's best.
235. Northeastern
Give this program two years and it should be set up to be top-three in the CAA once again. There's not a lot for Bill Coen to work with this season.
Our AAC schedule (by CBS ranking):
Maui field:
Our non-conference schedule (ordered by CBS ranking):
21. Syracuse
Jim Boeheim believes it's one of his best rosters ever. Andrew White was a late add-on after White left Nebraska. Cuse will have an elite sophomore and likely 2017 NBA pick in Tyler Lydon, a good senior PF in Tyler Roberson, a Providence transfer addition in Paschal Chukwu. Freshmen Matthew Moyer, Tyus Battle and Taurean Thompson align a bright future for SU. And this is a team that somehow broke through to the Final Four last season. It has a better chance at getting back this year.
33. Georgetown
The Hoyas should be able to turn around and forget a 15-18 season. Isaac Copeland could be a First Team guy in the Big East, and Jessie Govan's ready to break out. L.J Peak and Marcus Derrickson are also players oozing with potential.
39. Ohio State
The Buckeyes just need to realize how good they can be. Marc Loving, Keita Bates-Diop, Ja'Quan Lyle, Kam Williams. A solid core four there. Thad Matta cleaned house with some transfers. Expect OSU back in the NCAA Tournament after missing last season.
47. Oklahoma State
Not a big-time roster, but there is a big-time player in Jawun Evans, who could be a top-three point guard in college hoops this season. Travis Ford is gone and Brad Underwood takes over.
95. Auburn
Bruce Pearl is going to have the Tigers roaring in a year, but this team is going to stall a bit thanks to losing Cinmeon Bowers and Tyler Harris. Mustapha Heron will be a top-25 freshmen this year in terms of stats produced and value to his team.
136. Loyola Marymount
An influx of transfers should bump LMU up considerably, especially when you take into account this is Mike Dunlap's third season, and he's gone from eight to 14 wins. They'll flirt with 20 Ws in 2016-17. Brandon Brown is a top-10 WCC player.
174. North Florida
UNF has a stud in Dallas Moore, who could be the league's POY. He's getting real NBA looks, which is something you can say about A-Sun players only so often. VERY fun player. But the Ospreys lose just enough from last year's team that I'm slotting them ever so slightly below the reigning league champs, Florida Gulf Coast.
186. Wagner
Probably the best squad in the Northeast Conference. Bashir Mason is one of the best young coaches in mid-major basketball, and if the Seahawks make the NCAAs this year, he's got to get a bigger job. Name to know: junior shooting specialist, Corey Henson.
205. Boston University
Joe Jones brings back a lot to a team that was 19-15 a year ago. Eric Fanning a dark horse pick for Patriot League's best.
235. Northeastern
Give this program two years and it should be set up to be top-three in the CAA once again. There's not a lot for Bill Coen to work with this season.
Our AAC schedule (by CBS ranking):
30. Cincinnati
The Bearcats have been consistent and tough as hell under Mick Cronin. This is an NCAA Tournament team again. I'd rank Troy Caupain among the 10 most overlooked players in America right now. Gary Clark is also a guy battling to make our list of the top 100 (and one) players in the sport.
56. SMU
The Ponies could be better, but let's just settle here at 56. Larry Brown left the program amid contract disputes over the summer. Tim Jankovich takes over. Shake Milton will compete with UConn's Jalen Adams as one of the best sophomores in the American. Ben Moore is probably the team's best player.
72. Houston
A 22-win team last season that played the 333rd-toughest non-con schedule. Kelvin Sampson will up the challenges this year. Damyeon Dotson, formerly at Oregon, will be a big player for the Cougars this season. Rob Gray Jr. will threaten to put up 14-16 per game.
75. Temple
Fran Dunphy's team will be young but have some nice pieces coming in. Ultimately, how good can Obi Enechionyia be down low, and are questions about Josh Brown's health going to linger into the season?
83. Memphis
Tubby Smith takes over here after being lured away from Lubbock, Texas, after Josh Pastner took the Georgia Tech gig. Memphis lost games it shouldn't have under Pastner. Memphis will win games it shouldn't under Smith. Dedric Lawson could become the best player in the American. The Tigers will also play much slower under Smith than Pastner.
110. UCF
Johnny Dawkins was fired at Stanford, but he takes over here for the fired Donnie Jones. This is the team with the 7-foot-6 guy with the funny name (Tacko Fall). A.J. Davis also up front makes this team one of the tougher scouts in the AAC.
141. East Carolina
Caleb White, B.J. Tyson, Kentrell Barkley. That's the three-headed apparatus that needs to get East Carolina out of the dregs and competing in the American. This program is in need of a jolt in the worst way. I think it improves from last year's 12-20 mark, absolutely.
151. Tulsa
The shocking at-large selection from last year's NCAA Tournament. Frank Haith has to start all over with this roster, so it's going to be a rebuilding year. Most believe this team is bottom-four in the AAC for 2016-17.
211. South Florida
The Bulls are a program in some flux right now, as the program is under investigation for academic fraud. The coach's brother, an assistant, resigned. Talent-wise, Jahmal McMurray will probably lead the team in scoring and put up more than 230 3-point attempts this season.
254. Tulane
The Green Wave have brought in Mike Dunleavy, former NBA coach, to get this thing going. It's an interesting experiment. Dunleavy has X-and-O acumen but not college experience. This looks like the worst roster in the American this season.
The Bearcats have been consistent and tough as hell under Mick Cronin. This is an NCAA Tournament team again. I'd rank Troy Caupain among the 10 most overlooked players in America right now. Gary Clark is also a guy battling to make our list of the top 100 (and one) players in the sport.
56. SMU
The Ponies could be better, but let's just settle here at 56. Larry Brown left the program amid contract disputes over the summer. Tim Jankovich takes over. Shake Milton will compete with UConn's Jalen Adams as one of the best sophomores in the American. Ben Moore is probably the team's best player.
72. Houston
A 22-win team last season that played the 333rd-toughest non-con schedule. Kelvin Sampson will up the challenges this year. Damyeon Dotson, formerly at Oregon, will be a big player for the Cougars this season. Rob Gray Jr. will threaten to put up 14-16 per game.
75. Temple
Fran Dunphy's team will be young but have some nice pieces coming in. Ultimately, how good can Obi Enechionyia be down low, and are questions about Josh Brown's health going to linger into the season?
83. Memphis
Tubby Smith takes over here after being lured away from Lubbock, Texas, after Josh Pastner took the Georgia Tech gig. Memphis lost games it shouldn't have under Pastner. Memphis will win games it shouldn't under Smith. Dedric Lawson could become the best player in the American. The Tigers will also play much slower under Smith than Pastner.
110. UCF
Johnny Dawkins was fired at Stanford, but he takes over here for the fired Donnie Jones. This is the team with the 7-foot-6 guy with the funny name (Tacko Fall). A.J. Davis also up front makes this team one of the tougher scouts in the AAC.
141. East Carolina
Caleb White, B.J. Tyson, Kentrell Barkley. That's the three-headed apparatus that needs to get East Carolina out of the dregs and competing in the American. This program is in need of a jolt in the worst way. I think it improves from last year's 12-20 mark, absolutely.
151. Tulsa
The shocking at-large selection from last year's NCAA Tournament. Frank Haith has to start all over with this roster, so it's going to be a rebuilding year. Most believe this team is bottom-four in the AAC for 2016-17.
211. South Florida
The Bulls are a program in some flux right now, as the program is under investigation for academic fraud. The coach's brother, an assistant, resigned. Talent-wise, Jahmal McMurray will probably lead the team in scoring and put up more than 230 3-point attempts this season.
254. Tulane
The Green Wave have brought in Mike Dunleavy, former NBA coach, to get this thing going. It's an interesting experiment. Dunleavy has X-and-O acumen but not college experience. This looks like the worst roster in the American this season.
Maui field:
6. North Carolina
The reigning national runner-up will be in the mix for another Final Four. Kennedy Meeks, Joel Berry, Theo Pinson, Justin Jackson and Isaiah Hicks make up a terrific starting five, and Nate Britt's a terrific sixth man. UNC should get nice production in spots from five-star frosh Tony Bradley as well. (Check out our list of the top 20 freshmen right here.)
7. Oregon
Dana Altman has a loaded roster. This team was a 1-seed last year that got upended by Oklahoma and the Buddy Band in the Elite Eight. Dillon Brooks is the team's MOP, but there's so much more. Chris Boucher, Tyler Dorsey, Jordan Bell, Dylan Ennis with a sixth year of eligibility. The Ducks have to be considered the favorites in the Pac-12.
12. Wisconsin
Almost everyone is back from a Badgers team that won 22 games and has the Big Ten preseason player of the year in Nigel Hayes. Bronson Koenig will wind up being the team's most important player, I think, and Ethan Happ is going to establish himself as a top-20 guy in the Big Ten by the time we get to league play. We're going to be talking about Wisconsin this season as much as just about any team not named Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina or Villanova.
19. UConn
Like the Huskies this season because there's undeniable talent at every position in the starting five, and even the backups are capable of stepping in and playing against pretty good competition. The favorite in the AAC, I think. Jalen Adams is the breakout candidate, while Rodney Purvis, Amida Brimah and Kentan Facey are the vets in position to get UConn back to the NCAAs.
33. Georgetown
The Hoyas should be able to turn around and forget a 15-18 season. Isaac Copeland could be a First Team guy in the Big East, and Jessie Govan's ready to break out. L.J Peak and Marcus Derrickson are also players oozing with potential.
47. Oklahoma State
Not a big-time roster, but there is a big-time player in Jawun Evans, who could be a top-three point guard in college hoops this season. Travis Ford is gone and Brad Underwood takes over.
103. Tennessee
Rick Barnes loses an unexpected star in Kevin Punter and Armani Moore's graduation means I can't vault UT higher than this. Those guys were really good for a 15-19 team. A very good young corps here, though. Should be a top-75 team a year from now.
The reigning national runner-up will be in the mix for another Final Four. Kennedy Meeks, Joel Berry, Theo Pinson, Justin Jackson and Isaiah Hicks make up a terrific starting five, and Nate Britt's a terrific sixth man. UNC should get nice production in spots from five-star frosh Tony Bradley as well. (Check out our list of the top 20 freshmen right here.)
7. Oregon
Dana Altman has a loaded roster. This team was a 1-seed last year that got upended by Oklahoma and the Buddy Band in the Elite Eight. Dillon Brooks is the team's MOP, but there's so much more. Chris Boucher, Tyler Dorsey, Jordan Bell, Dylan Ennis with a sixth year of eligibility. The Ducks have to be considered the favorites in the Pac-12.
12. Wisconsin
Almost everyone is back from a Badgers team that won 22 games and has the Big Ten preseason player of the year in Nigel Hayes. Bronson Koenig will wind up being the team's most important player, I think, and Ethan Happ is going to establish himself as a top-20 guy in the Big Ten by the time we get to league play. We're going to be talking about Wisconsin this season as much as just about any team not named Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina or Villanova.
19. UConn
Like the Huskies this season because there's undeniable talent at every position in the starting five, and even the backups are capable of stepping in and playing against pretty good competition. The favorite in the AAC, I think. Jalen Adams is the breakout candidate, while Rodney Purvis, Amida Brimah and Kentan Facey are the vets in position to get UConn back to the NCAAs.
33. Georgetown
The Hoyas should be able to turn around and forget a 15-18 season. Isaac Copeland could be a First Team guy in the Big East, and Jessie Govan's ready to break out. L.J Peak and Marcus Derrickson are also players oozing with potential.
47. Oklahoma State
Not a big-time roster, but there is a big-time player in Jawun Evans, who could be a top-three point guard in college hoops this season. Travis Ford is gone and Brad Underwood takes over.
103. Tennessee
Rick Barnes loses an unexpected star in Kevin Punter and Armani Moore's graduation means I can't vault UT higher than this. Those guys were really good for a 15-19 team. A very good young corps here, though. Should be a top-75 team a year from now.
