The college basketball season which just came and went serves as a prelude to the season now being prepared for by coaches across the country. We’re seeing transfers announcing their decisions. Other players are testing the NBA Draft, many declaring for the draft but only some signing an agent and therefore leaving the college ranks for good. Many of the projections below are made on the assumption that players who have declared for the draft but not signed an agent will return to school. In several weeks, these projections could (and probably will) change, so take these rankings with an allowance for changing circumstances.
Kansas Jayhawks
Odds To Win 2018 NCAA Tournament: +1200
This is the most solid projection on the list, because decisions affecting the Jayhawks are final. Devonte Graham has decided to return in the backcourt, and Udoka Azubuike gives the Jayhawks the strong interior presence they didn’t have enough of last season. Assuming Kansas also lands star recruit Trevon Duval, it will have all the pieces it realistically hoped for entering the new season. The Jayhawks will have inside-outside balance and ample depth. They will have addressed the foremost needs after point guard Frank Mason moved on to the pros. The Graham decision was huge, and it is creating momentum which is rippling into other aspects of the program. Bill Self should have another really good team which will very probably be a number one seed next March, in 11 months.
Louisville Cardinals
Odds To Win 2018 NCAA Tournament: +800
There are a lot of anxious people in Louisville, hoping that Donovan Mitchell’s declaration for the NBA Draft (without signing an agent) will turn into a return to school. He has not hired an agent, so he can indeed make that return. If he does, the Cardinals will bring back some rapidly improving big men whom coach Rick Pitino has brought along nicely this past season. Louisville had skilled and rangy players on its roster this past season, but none more talented than Mitchell, who would be in line to become a college basketball superstar should he choose to play one more year for Louisville. There is little doubt among college basketball analysts that Mitchell would make UL a foremost national title contender. This team was a number two seed with a lot of youth and inexperience. With this past season as a teachable moment, the 2018 season would vault the Cardinals into the race for a number one seed.
Villanova Wildcats
Odds To Win 2018 NCAA Tournament: +1500
The Wildcats missed a low-post presence last season. His name was Omari Spellman, but he was not allowed to play. The Wildcats got a number one seed without him, but in the NCAA Tournament, everyone could see that Villanova was missing that hammer in the paint. Spellman will make Villanova a balanced team in 2018. The loss of Josh Hart can be compensated for by Spellman’s presence. This roster might have more answers and solutions against tough opponents next March. Villanova has as good a chance as any team to be the top seed in the East Region.
Arizona Wildcats
Odds To Win 2018 NCAA Tournament: +1500
These Wildcats might not be as good as Villanova, but they recruited well and will have a lot of depth inside if Chance Comanche returns to school – he declared for the NBA Draft but did not sign with an agent. Sean Miller will bring back a stacked roster, and many people in and around college basketball think it is only a matter of time before he crosses the threshold and makes his first Final Four. Arizona should also benefit from Gonzaga, Oregon and UCLA being less imposing this upcoming season relative to the one which just ended.
Kentucky Wildcats
Odds To Win 2018 NCAA Tournament: +800
The story never changes with Kentucky these days: John Calipari might not always make the Final Four, but he will not be out-recruited by anyone. He will land the best freshmen talent and attempt to put it together on the floor. Kentucky hasn’t quite managed to put those pieces together in recent seasons, but the Wildcats came very close this past season and just need a few things to fall in the right place in order to get over the hump.
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