CBS Sports recently tanked all D1 schools. Here is our schedule based on those rankings:
11/13
310. Maine
The Bears were one of the worst defensive teams in the country last year, allowing a 55.8 effective field-goal percentage against (worst in the NCAA). The first place to look for improvement will be there.
11/17
174. New Hampshire
The Wildcats return all but one of their major contributors from last year, and could take a major step forward in an improved America East if things go right.
11/21
262. Furman
After a lackluster regular season, they nearly beat Wofford for the NCAA Tourney bid. They return a lot from last year's group, and Niko Medved is well-regarded as a coach.
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
11/26
30. Michigan
Caris LeVert is going to have to carry a big load in his senior season -- after returning from a season-ending injur a year ago. How good is the Big Ten this season? We consider Michigan a top-30 team, yet it's entirely reasonable to see the Wolverines finishing sixth in the league.
11/27
43. Syracuse
One of those SU rosters that Orange fans are feeling ambivalent about. Perhaps a bubble team. We're not seeing top-25 caliber here, but certainly a step up from last season.
OR
256. Charlotte
Mark Price comes into town for his first head job, and it'll be interesting to see how this experiment goes. The expectations will be low this year after losing most of the talent from last year's team.
11/28
10. Gonzaga
The Zags probably have the best returning frontcourt in America, including potential national player of the year Kyle Wiltjer. Their key will be if they can get enough stability out of the backcourt, with Josh Perkins taking over for Kevin Pangos.
OR
27. Texas A&M
Just barely missed our Top 25 (and one), but we love the talent on the roster. Danuel House is a problem, and Jalen Jones has a really nice skillset. Freshman D.J. Hogg could come in and drain 100 3s this season. Biggest question for us is how point guard Alex Robinson grows in his second season.
OR
33. Texas
New coach Shaka Smart should have some nice toys to play with on a deep roster led by point guard Isaiah Taylor. There's a lot of athleticism here on the perimeter to go with an experienced frontcourt, which could lead to a surprising result in Year 1.
OR
167. Washington
The Huskies are the biggest question mark in the Pac-12, with what amounts to a brand new roster around Andrew Andrews due to transfers, dismissals and graduations. Dejounte Murray and Noah Dickerson are the newcomers to watch in this transition year.
12/2
287. Sacred Heart
The Pioneers made a jump from five to 15 wins in Anthony Latina's first two seasons. Getting above 15 Ws this year is a hard sell for us, though.
12/8
4. Maryland
The starting five is going to be so good by midseason. Robert Carter is eligible following a redshirt year, and Jake Layman still doesn't get enough love nationally. A lot of pressure on Melo Trimble to perform like an All-American, but he'll have so much talent around him, the Terps should be top 10-good almost wire to wire.
12/12
52. Ohio State
Replacing D'Angelo Russell is no easy task, but the Buckeyes bring in a top-10 recruiting class with five four-star prospects led by lead guard JaQuan Lyle. Look for them to be bubbly all season while learning on the job before coming together for a run in 2016-17.
12/20
346. UMass Lowell
Pat Duquette will need a few more years to get the River Hawks out of the cellar of the America East.
12/23
345. Central Connecticut State
It's the Blue Devils who aren't those other Blue Devils. This five-win team from a season ago loses its most important player, Faronte Drakeford.
12/29
33. Texas
New coach Shaka Smart should have some nice toys to play with on a deep roster led by point guard Isaiah Taylor. There's a lot of athleticism here on the perimeter to go with an experienced frontcourt, which could lead to a surprising result in Year 1.
1/2
259. Tulane
The Wave lost a lot to transfers this offseason, including Jonathan Stark, so they could be in for a rough year in the AAC.
1/5
61. Temple
Jesse Morgan and Will Cummings gone. Jaylen Bond, this is your time. Fran Dunphy almost always squeezes a little extra whatnot out of his guys, too.
1/9
62. Memphis
We admit this could be too low for the Tigers. But Memphis lacks depth and certainly lacks an amount of stability right now. Plus, Kedren Johnson's season is in doubt. At its best, Memphis could be borderline Top 25. We're not expecting that, but would love to see Josh Pastner put together that kind of team.
1/14
49. Tulsa
Frank Haith's probably got the best team you don't know much about. Half the team and the majority of the major minutes getters are starters! This group should be playing in March's meaningful bracket.
1/17
150. Houston
From 13-19 last season to above .500 in the year ahead for Kelvin Sampson's team. That's our forecast.
1/19
259. Tulane
1/23
28. Georgetown
Hoyas are the Big East's second best team, led by D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who not enough people know about outside the conference. And sophomore Isaac Copeland is going to have a breakout year. Watch for it.
1/28
25. Cincinnati
The Bearcats can absolutely win the AAC, and we think Octavius Ellis is among the most valuable players Mick Cronin's ever coached.
1/31
257. UCF
They still won't be quite up to snuff in the AAC talent-wise, but 7-6 Tacko Fall will be fun to watch when he gets minutes.
2/4
62. Memphis
2/7
187. East Carolina
The program has not had a four-game winning streak against D-I opponents since March of 2013. The best news for Jeff Lebo is B.J. Tyson is only a sophomore.
2/11
61. Temple
2/13
49. Tulsa
2/18
24. SMU
Larry Brown will need to get his team to compete, but with Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy in tow the team has enough talent to win an AAC regular season title.
2/20
25. Cincinnati
2/25
286. South Florida
Orlando Antigua is a fine recruiter and molding himself into a good coach, but this is going to take more time. We think the Bulls win 11 games this season.
2/28
150. Houston
3/3
24. SMU
3/6
257. UCF
11/13
310. Maine
The Bears were one of the worst defensive teams in the country last year, allowing a 55.8 effective field-goal percentage against (worst in the NCAA). The first place to look for improvement will be there.
11/17
174. New Hampshire
The Wildcats return all but one of their major contributors from last year, and could take a major step forward in an improved America East if things go right.
11/21
262. Furman
After a lackluster regular season, they nearly beat Wofford for the NCAA Tourney bid. They return a lot from last year's group, and Niko Medved is well-regarded as a coach.
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
11/26
30. Michigan
Caris LeVert is going to have to carry a big load in his senior season -- after returning from a season-ending injur a year ago. How good is the Big Ten this season? We consider Michigan a top-30 team, yet it's entirely reasonable to see the Wolverines finishing sixth in the league.
11/27
43. Syracuse
One of those SU rosters that Orange fans are feeling ambivalent about. Perhaps a bubble team. We're not seeing top-25 caliber here, but certainly a step up from last season.
OR
256. Charlotte
Mark Price comes into town for his first head job, and it'll be interesting to see how this experiment goes. The expectations will be low this year after losing most of the talent from last year's team.
11/28
10. Gonzaga
The Zags probably have the best returning frontcourt in America, including potential national player of the year Kyle Wiltjer. Their key will be if they can get enough stability out of the backcourt, with Josh Perkins taking over for Kevin Pangos.
OR
27. Texas A&M
Just barely missed our Top 25 (and one), but we love the talent on the roster. Danuel House is a problem, and Jalen Jones has a really nice skillset. Freshman D.J. Hogg could come in and drain 100 3s this season. Biggest question for us is how point guard Alex Robinson grows in his second season.
OR
33. Texas
New coach Shaka Smart should have some nice toys to play with on a deep roster led by point guard Isaiah Taylor. There's a lot of athleticism here on the perimeter to go with an experienced frontcourt, which could lead to a surprising result in Year 1.
OR
167. Washington
The Huskies are the biggest question mark in the Pac-12, with what amounts to a brand new roster around Andrew Andrews due to transfers, dismissals and graduations. Dejounte Murray and Noah Dickerson are the newcomers to watch in this transition year.
12/2
287. Sacred Heart
The Pioneers made a jump from five to 15 wins in Anthony Latina's first two seasons. Getting above 15 Ws this year is a hard sell for us, though.
12/8
4. Maryland
The starting five is going to be so good by midseason. Robert Carter is eligible following a redshirt year, and Jake Layman still doesn't get enough love nationally. A lot of pressure on Melo Trimble to perform like an All-American, but he'll have so much talent around him, the Terps should be top 10-good almost wire to wire.
12/12
52. Ohio State
Replacing D'Angelo Russell is no easy task, but the Buckeyes bring in a top-10 recruiting class with five four-star prospects led by lead guard JaQuan Lyle. Look for them to be bubbly all season while learning on the job before coming together for a run in 2016-17.
12/20
346. UMass Lowell
Pat Duquette will need a few more years to get the River Hawks out of the cellar of the America East.
12/23
345. Central Connecticut State
It's the Blue Devils who aren't those other Blue Devils. This five-win team from a season ago loses its most important player, Faronte Drakeford.
12/29
33. Texas
New coach Shaka Smart should have some nice toys to play with on a deep roster led by point guard Isaiah Taylor. There's a lot of athleticism here on the perimeter to go with an experienced frontcourt, which could lead to a surprising result in Year 1.
1/2
259. Tulane
The Wave lost a lot to transfers this offseason, including Jonathan Stark, so they could be in for a rough year in the AAC.
1/5
61. Temple
Jesse Morgan and Will Cummings gone. Jaylen Bond, this is your time. Fran Dunphy almost always squeezes a little extra whatnot out of his guys, too.
1/9
62. Memphis
We admit this could be too low for the Tigers. But Memphis lacks depth and certainly lacks an amount of stability right now. Plus, Kedren Johnson's season is in doubt. At its best, Memphis could be borderline Top 25. We're not expecting that, but would love to see Josh Pastner put together that kind of team.
1/14
49. Tulsa
Frank Haith's probably got the best team you don't know much about. Half the team and the majority of the major minutes getters are starters! This group should be playing in March's meaningful bracket.
1/17
150. Houston
From 13-19 last season to above .500 in the year ahead for Kelvin Sampson's team. That's our forecast.
1/19
259. Tulane
1/23
28. Georgetown
Hoyas are the Big East's second best team, led by D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who not enough people know about outside the conference. And sophomore Isaac Copeland is going to have a breakout year. Watch for it.
1/28
25. Cincinnati
The Bearcats can absolutely win the AAC, and we think Octavius Ellis is among the most valuable players Mick Cronin's ever coached.
1/31
257. UCF
They still won't be quite up to snuff in the AAC talent-wise, but 7-6 Tacko Fall will be fun to watch when he gets minutes.
2/4
62. Memphis
2/7
187. East Carolina
The program has not had a four-game winning streak against D-I opponents since March of 2013. The best news for Jeff Lebo is B.J. Tyson is only a sophomore.
2/11
61. Temple
2/13
49. Tulsa
2/18
24. SMU
Larry Brown will need to get his team to compete, but with Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy in tow the team has enough talent to win an AAC regular season title.
2/20
25. Cincinnati
2/25
286. South Florida
Orlando Antigua is a fine recruiter and molding himself into a good coach, but this is going to take more time. We think the Bulls win 11 games this season.
2/28
150. Houston
3/3
24. SMU
3/6
257. UCF
Last edited:
