Top NCAA Basketball Teams
If you are a fan of basketball and haven’t attended college games, then we recommend you do. Here we will outline the top NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball teams. You might consider getting basketball tickets to watch a game too.
1. Gonzaga
Despite losing Nembhard and Chet Holmgreen to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft, Gonzaga has the depth to handle departures like this. Six of their top eight scorers will be returning from the dominant 2021-2022 Gonzaga squad. Drew Timme will be back under the rim for the Bulldogs. With a play style similar to Larry Bird, Timme looks to be a dominant force in the paint for yet another season. After a gut-wrenching loss in the Sweet 16 last year, motivation will be higher than ever going into this season. A veteran coach like Mark Few will make the necessary adjustments this off-season. Look for Drew Timme and transfer Malachi Smith to keep Gonzaga at the top of the NCAA basketball world in 2022-2023.
2. Houston
A team that looked destined for greatness in 2021-2022 fell short in the elite eight to Villanova. Houston put up 44 points in its biggest game of the season. Now, this goes without mentioning the detrimental injuries that plagued this squad all year. It began with Marcus Sasser when he broke his toe in the early weeks of the season. The star guard was averaging 17 points a game and was the general on the floor for this team. To accompany this, Tramon Mark underwent shoulder surgery in December that took him out for the rest of the season. Mark was another guard that held a huge role on this team. However, the good news is that both of these players are coming back this upcoming season. Don’t forget Jamal Shead, the strong forward that averaged double-digit points last year, who will also be back. An experienced Houston Cougars squad should find itself still playing deep into March.
3. UNC (University of North Carolina)
A season full of emotions that can be described as a rollercoaster is how the 2021-2022 season went for UNC. After an up-and-down season, the Tar Heels limped their way into the NCAA tournament. An improbable run led by Caleb Love and Armando Bacot put them in the National Championship. After blowing a huge lead, they went home without any hardware. However, Caleb Love will be returning and was the face of this UNC offense. Bacot and Leaky Black will be back, and both are very high on some draft boards. An experienced and strong core will take UNC to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and possibly the top of the country in the upcoming 2022-2023 NCAA basketball season.
4. Duke
With Coach K gone, this season will surely look different for the Blue Devils. Things won’t be the same, but one thing remains: the recruiting pull of Duke continues to dominate the field. Pulling in both the number one and the number two recruits in the country for this upcoming season, Duke will be a team full of NBA talent once again. Paolo Banchero and supporting cast left the Blue Devils for the NBA, but that hole has been filled quickly. Jon Scheyer will take over the helm in Durham, North Carolina. However, he is full of experience after playing his college career at Duke and being an assistant under Coach K for many years. Look for either Duke or UNC to bring home the ACC championship.
5. Kentucky
National player of the year candidate, Oscar Tshiebwe, will be making his return to the Kentucky Wildcats in the upcoming season. John Calipari is a veteran coach who has a recruiting pull similar to Duke’s. Five-star guard Cason Wallace will be looking to make a big impact for Calipari and the Wildcats. Jacob Toppin (Obi Toppin’s brother) will also be back for this squad, adding a strong depth chart in terms of height and size. Kentucky was the first-round victim of Saint Peter’s magical NCAA tournament run last season. The Cats should build off this setback and keep it in the rearview mirror. A strong Southeastern Conference (SEC) will keep Kentucky on its toes.
6. UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles)
Since arriving at UCLA in 2019, Mick Cronin has taken this school back to the heights they are used to. Cronin won PAC 12 Coach of the Year in his first season. He has continued to build off his success and brings in a recruiting class that ranks top 10 in the country. Highly-touted recruit Amari Bailey will be playing for UCLA in the upcoming season and should be making an immediate impact. Jaime Jaquez also accompanies an experienced and older core that will help mesh the younger players with the standards of the team. This squad looks like it is headed to another PAC 12 championship here in 2022-2023.
7. Tennessee
Four starters return for the Tennessee Volunteers in the upcoming season. Despite losing Kennedy Chandler to the draft, a good recruiting class will fill the holes easily. Rick Barnes returns at the helm for this team and the veteran coach doesn’t disappoint. Josiah-Jordan James will be returning for the Volunteers and should be the floor general for this squad. They will rely heavily on production from James this season. Five-star big man Julian Phillips will be a huge addition for this squad. Tennessee and Kentucky will be running the SEC in 2022-2023. Look for some thrilling games between the two squads.
8. Baylor
Baylor spent the majority of the 2021-2022 season in the top five of the national rankings. Doing so, every game they had a target on their back. It seemed as it got to them at the end, falling to UNC early in the second round of the NCAA tournament. However, the main core will be back for the Bears this year. Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer will lead the way for the veteran core while also adding a heavyweight recruiting class. Keyonte George highlights the class, a five-star guard out of IMG Academy. IMG produces the best of the best. Look for another season at the top of the polls from Baylor.
9. Texas
Chris Beard has seemed to revive a fan base that hasn’t had a heartbeat in years. Texas has struggled in recent years to compete on a high level. Last year, Texas put up a 16-3 home record that was highlighted by wins over number eight Kansas, number 20 Iowa State and number 18 Tennessee. Despite a second-round exit in the 2021-2022 NCAA tournament, Texas will be bringing back a veteran core alongside a strong recruiting class. Timmy Allen and Marcus Carr, the top two scorers from last year’s team, will be back for the Longhorns in 2022-2023. To add to that, Beard is bringing in a recruiting class ranked top 15 in the country. A class that is filled with two five-star recruits and an Iowa State transfer. Texas is back.
10. Auburn
Bruce Pearl has propelled this school to the highest ranks of all college basketball. Holding the number one ranking for multiple weeks last year, Auburn has become a dominant force in SEC basketball. Four of their top scorers will be back in 2022-2023. As expected, a recruiting class ranked top 20 in the nation is coming in for the Tigers as well. Bruce Pearl has created a winning culture at Auburn and looks to build on his early success at this school. While this year may not be as successful as last year’s team, look for a competitive squad game in and game out.