Cnotes Previewing College Basketball Teams 2018 - 2019 !

[Cnotes53]

TCU Preview-Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 21-12, reached first NCAA Tournament since 1998.

Nickname: Horned Frogs.

Coach: Jamie Dixon.

Conference: Big 12.

Who's gone: Forward Kenrich Williams (NBA), forward Vladimir Brodziansky (pro league in Spain).

Who's back: Senior guard Alex Robinson averaged 9.7 points and a team-best 6.1 assists per game last season. Forward J.D. Miller averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 rebounds. Guard Desmond Bane was the Big 12's best 3-point shooter, making 46 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Point guard Jaylen Fisher averaged 10.7 points and 4.4 assists per game, but missed the end of each of his first two seasons because of injury and is hurt again. His sophomore season ended last January because of a torn meniscus in his right knee, and had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in September. Kouat Noi, a 6-7 forward, averaged 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds as a freshman.

Who's new: Kaden Archie is a 6-6 freshman forward from nearby Midlothian, Kevin Samuel is a 6-11 center from Barbuda, and 6-11 forward Yuat Alok is a junior from New Zealand.

The Skinny: After making it to their first NCAA Tournament in 20 seasons, the Frogs are No. 20 in this year's preseason AP poll. With five returning players and eight newcomers for Dixon's third season, the coach says that ranking is based on what they can become, but not what they are now.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have TCU as a long shot to win the NCAA Tournament at 120-1, the same as Big 12 rival Baylor, but well below five other conference foes, including league favorites Kansas at 17-2 and West Virginia at 30-1.

 

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Rutgers Preview-Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 15-19, surprised many by reaching quarterfinals of Big Ten tournament.

Nickname: Scarlet Knights.

Coach: Steve Pikiell.

Conference: Big Ten.

Who's gone: Guard and leading scorer Corey Sanders opted for the NBA and was not drafted. G Mike Williams, F DeShawn Freeman, F Candido Sa, F Matt Bullock and G Souf Mensah.

Who's back: Sophomore guard Geo Baker started 29 games as a freshman, averaging 10.8 points and 2.2 rebounds. Among Big Ten freshmen, ranked top five in minutes, assists and 3-point field goal percentage. Junior forward Eugene Omoruyi started the final seven games, averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds. Junior swingman Issa Thiam started 33 of 34 games, averaging 29 minutes, 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds. Graduate center Shaquille Doorson made his four starts in the final five games. He averaged 12 minutes, 1.8 points and 2.9 rebounds. Sophomore center Mamadou Doucoure started 29 games, averaging 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13 minutes.

Who's new: Sophomore G Peter Kiss, who averaged 13.3 points and 5.6 rebounds as a freshman at Quinnipiac, is eligible after sitting out a transfer season. Freshman center-forward Myles Johnson will play after redshirting last season. The Scarlet Knights have three freshmen who should see action: guards Caleb McConnell, Montez Mathis and swingman Ron Harper Jr. McConnell averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals as a senior SPIRE Institute in Ohio. Mathis was a consensus four-star recruit at John Carroll High School in Baltimore. Harper averaged 20.8 points for Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. JUCO transfer F Shaq Carter will see action.

The Skinny: Rutgers has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1990-91. It has only had five winning seasons since that time, the last in 2005-06. Since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15, it has won nine regular-season games. No wonder Vegas says their odds of winning the national title are 6,000-1.

Expectations: They lost a little too much and they are too young. A .500 season would be great.

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[Cnotes53]

Texas Tech Preview-Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 27-10, reached NCAA Elite Eight for first time in school history

Nickname: Red Raiders

Coach: Chris Beard

Conference: Big 12

Who's gone: Keenan Evans, Zhaire Smith, Niem Stevenson, Zach Smith, Tommy Hamilton IV and Justin Gray.

Who's back: Jarrett Culver is a 6-5 sophomore guard from Lubbock who is the only one of Tech's top six scorers back from last season. Beard said Culver, who averaged 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game last season, has a chance to be one of the top players in college basketball. Brandone Francis is a senior guard who started his career at Florida. Senior center Norense Odiase started 29 of 37 games last season.

Who's new: Graduate transfers Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens, who are both eligible to play immediately. Mooney is the first-team shooting guard from the Summit League, where he averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season at South Dakota. Owens is a 6-10 post player who had a Big East-leading 2.8 blocks per game last season.

The Skinny: After making it to the Elite Eight for the first time last season and being the Big 12 runner-up, the Red Raiders lost a lot of scoring from a year ago. The Red Raiders will depend on hometown player Culver and the two graduate transfers.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers list Texas Tech as 70-1 to win the NCAA Tournament. The only Big 12 teams with better odds are league favorites Kansas at 17-2 and West Virginia at 30-1.

 

[Cnotes53]

Texas Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 19-15, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament

Nickname: Longhorns

Coach: Shaka Smart

Conference: Big 12

Who's gone: Center Mo Bamba (NBA)

Who's back: Guard Kerwin Roach returned for his senior season and is Texas' best two-way player. He averages 12.3 points and consistently draws the toughest defensive assignment. Senior forward Dylan Osetkowski averaged 13.4 points and 7.2 rebounds. Andrew Jones returned to the team as he continues to get treatment and recover from last season's leukemia diagnosis but whether he will play is undecided. Just his appearance on the bench will be an inspiration.

Who's new: Junior guard Elijah Mitrou-Long transferred from Mount St. Mary's, where he averaged 10.7 points and was a 37 percent 3-point shooter.

The Skinny: Smart got Texas winning again but the Longhorns still couldn't make any noise in the postseason with another first-round NCAA Tournament loss. Smart is 50-50 heading into his fourth season at Texas.

Expectations: Texas is expected to be one of the top six teams in the Big 12, which should be good enough for another NCAA Tournament berth.

 

[Cnotes53]

Iowa St-Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 13-18

Nickname: Cyclones

Coach: Steve Prohm

Conference: Big 12

Who's gone: Guard Donovan Jackson, who averaged 15 points a game a year ago.

Who's back: Pretty much everyone else, led by sophomore guard Lindell Wigginton. He scored 16.7 points a game and was a first-team preseason All-Big 12 pick in 2017-18. Senior Nick Weiler-Babb averaged 11.3 points, 7 rebounds and 6.8 assists as a point guard, but he struggled with knee tendinitis toward the end of last season. Sophomore Cam Lard (12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds a game) is a candidate for a breakout season if he can stay out of trouble off the court.

Who's new: Four talented freshmen led by Chicago wing Talen Horton-Tucker, a top-50 recruit who will probably start. Watch out for freshman Tyrese Haliburton, a 6-foot-5 point guard who likely earned time in Prohm's tight rotations with a strong offseason.

The Skinny: The Cyclones should be back in the mix for the NCAA Tournament after an expected rebuilding season. There will be a lot of moving parts, but Iowa State also has enough talent to make some noise in the Big 12 and beyond.

Expectations: Oddsmakers have listed Iowa State's national title hopes at 225-to-1.

 

[Cnotes53]

Oklahoma State Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 21-15, sixth in Big 12, reached NIT quarterfinals.

Nickname: Cowboys.

Coach: Mike Boynton.

Conference: Big 12.

Who's gone: Forward Jeffrey Carroll (NBA G-League), guard Kendall Smith, guard Tavarius Shine, center Mitchell Solomon, guard Brandon Averette, center Yankuba Sima, center Lucas N'Guessan.

Who's back: Guard Lindy Waters III, the team's top returning scorer who averaged 8.7 points per game last season; forward Cameron McGriff, who averaged 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds; guard Thomas Dziagwa, who made 37 3-pointers.

Who's new: Guard Michael Weathers. The redshirt transfer from Miami, Ohio, has been charged with grand larceny, and the school has suspended him indefinitely as he awaits a court date. He's still listed on the roster. He was the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016-17 after averaging 16.7 points per game. Guard Mike Cunningham, a graduate transfer from USC Upstate, scored 1,181 career points for the Spartans. Curtis Jones, a transfer from Indiana, should be available at the end of the first semester. Boynton said freshman guard Isaac Likekele has been impressive.

The Skinny: Oklahoma State doesn't look like much on paper, but they didn't last year, either. They ended up beating six ranked teams and got Boynton a contract extension. The Cowboys will be competitive if Boynton can instill his principles in a group that includes nine newcomers.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers give Oklahoma State a 350-1 shot at winning the national title, the worst odds in the Big 12.

 

[Cnotes53]

Oklahoma Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 18-14, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Sooners.

Coach: Lon Kruger.

Conference: Big 12.

Who's gone: Guard Trae Young (NBA), guard Kameron McGusty (transfer), center Khadeem Lattin.

Who's back: Guard Christian James started every game last season and averaged 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds; forward Brady Manek averaged 10.2 points and made 59 3-pointers, center Jamuni McNeace split time with Lattin last season and was second on the team with 46 blocks; guard Rashard Odomes averaged 7.2 points per game; forward Kristian Doolittle averaged 2.9 points last season, but he averaged 9.1 points and 6.2 rebounds two seasons ago as a freshman.

Who's new: Guard Aaron Calixte, a graduate transfer who scored 1,125 points for Maine; guard Jamal Bieniemy, a four-star recruit; and guard Miles Reynolds, who averaged 13.3 points per game for Pacific last season.

The Skinny: The Sooners are experienced and could be very good if their point guard play pans out. It will be difficult to replace Young, but the holdovers will be motivated by a chance to have more of an impact.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers give Oklahoma a 225-1 shot at winning the national title, the second-worst odds in the conference.

 

[Cnotes53]

Wisconsin preview capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 15-18, missed NCAA Tournament for first time in 19 years.

Nickname: Badgers.

Coach: Greg Gard.

Conference: Big Ten.

Who's gone: Reserve forwards Aaron Moesch and Andy Van Vliet (transferred to William & Mary).

Who's back: The Badgers get 95 percent of their scoring back from last season, led by senior forward Ethan Happ. The 6-foot-10 Happ (17.9 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists) has been working on foul shooting and developing a mid-range jumper. Three important pieces in the backcourt are back from injuries, starting with guard Brad Davison. He emerged as an emotional leader during a freshman season in which he was hampered by a shoulder injury. D'Mitrik Trice (foot) and Kobe King (knee) give Gard depth and options at the perimeter. Getting guard Brevin Pritzl to hit consistently from 3-point range might make foes think twice about doubling Happ. Six-5 senior Khalil Iverson is the team's best athlete and embraces opportunities to guard an opponent's best scorer. Six-11 sophomore forward Nate Reuvers can hit jumpers but Badgers can get a boost if he can help Happ and Iverson on the boards.

Who's new: Trevor Anderson gives Gard another backcourt option after transferring from Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he averaged 9.8 points and 28 minutes in 20 games. He shot 37 percent from 3-point range. The Badgers added two scholarship players in their freshman class: guard Tai Strickland, who is the son of former NBA player Rod Strickland; and 6-8 forward Taylor Currie from Clarkston, Michigan.

The Skinny: With Happ leading the way, the Badgers have the ingredients of a team that should return to the NCAA Tournament. Happ, along with key upperclassmen Iverson and Pritzl, played on tourney teams that included Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig. The backcourt should be stronger with a healthy Davison, Trice and King. The Badgers won five of their last eight games last season because of better defense. They're stressing defense again going into this season.

Expectations: Wisconsin was a long shot to win the NCAA Tournament at 120-1, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. It's on par with other Big Ten teams Maryland and Penn State. Michigan and Michigan State are the top favorites out of the league at 35-1.

 

[Cnotes53]

Northwestern Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 15-17

Nickname: Wildcats

Coach: Chris Collins

Conference: Big Ten

Who's gone: Point guard Bryant McIntosh, guard Scottie Lindsey, forward Gavin Skelly.

Who's back: Forward Vic Law, the top returning scorer at 12.0 points per game last season, said he feels 100 percent for the first time after battling injuries throughout his career. With McIntosh gone, the offense figures to run more through center Dererk Pardon. He averaged 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds last season. Senior Jordan Ash and freshman Ryan Greer figure to get a look at point guard.

Who's new: Graduate transfer guard Ryan Taylor led the Missouri Valley in scoring last season at 21.3 points per game for Evansville. Greer bypassed his senior year of high school. He spent his junior season at Northfield Mount Hermon in Massachusetts after attending The Lovett School in Atlanta the previous two years.

The Skinny: The Wildcats are back on campus in a renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena after playing home games last season about 15 miles away at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Don't underestimate that. Northwestern is banking on a return home to a sparkling arena to help restore the buzz that fizzled last season coming off the program's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have Northwestern as a 350-1 shot to win the NCAA Tournament.

 

[Cnotes53]

Indiana Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 16-15, lost to Rutgers in first round of Big Ten Tournament.

Nickname: Hoosiers.

Coach: Archie Miller.

Conference: Big Ten.

Who's gone: Guard Robert Johnson, guard Josh Newkirk, forward Colin Hartman, forward Freddie McSwain Jr.

Who's back: Juwan Morgan returns after declaring for the NBA draft following his best season (16.5 points per game, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks). Forward De'Ron Davis (9.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) started 15 games before a torn Achilles tendon cost him almost the entire conference season. Forward Zach McRoberts started his career at Vermont before becoming Indiana's best defensive player last season. Guard Devonte Green finished his sophomore season strong 7.6 ppg, 2.5 assists) and demonstrated he could be a key player in an even stronger rotation this season.

Who's new: The Hoosiers welcome one of the Big Ten's top freshmen classes, the prize being guard Romeo Langford - the state's reigning Mr. Basketball Award winner and the best in-state recruit to choose Indiana since Cody Zeller. Guard Rob Phinisee and forward Damezi Anderson also earned all-state honors after scoring more than 2,000 points in high school. Forwards Jake Forrester and Jerome Hunter also could be in the mix. Graduate transfer Evan Fitzner, a 6-foot-10 forward from St. Mary's (California) can stretch the floor after making 41.4 percent of his 3-pointers in three seasons.

The Skinny: This roster looks far different from the one Miller inherited. Morgan is the tested leader. McRoberts will be the defensive stopper. Davis, if healthy, provides size inside and Green, Justin Smith and Aljami Durham each possess enough athleticism to make a difference. With the addition of the five talented freshmen and Fitzner, Miller has more depth and overall talent than last season.

Expectations: The Las Vegas oddsmakers certainly expect the Hoosiers to be better. They're giving them a 40-1 shot of winning a sixth national title. Michigan and Michigan State, at 35-1, are the only Big Ten schools listed ahead of Indiana.

 

[Cnotes53]

Purdue Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 30-7, lost to Texas Tech in regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Boilermakers

Coach: Matt Painter

Conference: Big Ten

Who's gone: Forward Vince Edwards, center Isaac Haas, guard Dakota Mathias, guard P.J. Thompson.

Who's back: Guard Carsen Edwards (18.5 points per game) was the leading scorer on a senior-dominated team and became the lead vote-getter on the preseason All-American team after withdrawing from the NBA draft. Guard Nojel Eastern (2.9 points, 2.5 rebounds) showed steady improvement as a freshman and will try to fill the void left by Vince Edwards. Energetic forward Matt Haarms played dominant defense last season (3.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks in 17.1 minutes) and has spent the summer refining his offensive moves. Guard Ryan Cline (4.0 ppg) has primarily been used as a 3-point specialist off the bench but should play a bigger role in his final college season.

Who's new: Freshman Eric Hunter Jr. and redshirt freshman Aaron Wheeler are expected to make the biggest impact. Hunter, a 6-foot-3 guard, scored nearly 2,600 points in high school, finished his career as the career scoring leader in Marion County (Indianapolis) and should help add the scoring punch Purdue needs. Wheeler is not the Boilermakers prototypical 6-9 forward. Long and slender, he uses length to his advantage and is more athletic than some of his predecessors.

The Skinny: It won't be the same without the four seniors, but the Boilermakers still have scorers, size, depth and defenders. Painter is too good of a coach to accept a significant drop-off, even after losing so many key players. And with Edwards, perhaps the best player in the Big Ten, leading the way, steady improvement could keep Purdue in the Big Ten title mix again.

Expectations: Las Vegas doesn't expect the Boilermakers to be the same. But they're not completely off the bandwagon, either. They've installed Purdue as a 60-1 shot to win the national title, fourth among conference teams behind only the two Michigan schools and rival Indiana.

 

[Cnotes53]

Iowa Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 14-19

Nickname: Hawkeyes

Coach: Fran McCaffery

Conference: Big Ten

Who's gone: Forward Ahmad Wagner, guard Brady Ellingson.

Who's back: Forward Tyler Cook, who led the team in scoring (15.3 points per game), rebounding (6.8) and field goal percentage (.566), returned for his junior season after flirting with the pros. Fellow junior Jordan Bohannon averaged 13.5 points and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 43 percent on 3s a year ago. Six-foot-11 center Luke Garza (12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds a game) could take a big step forward as a sophomore, but he was slowed by a cyst on his spleen in the offseason and may not be ready for the opener.

Who's new: Freshman Joe Wieskamp, the two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Iowa, is a scoring wing who will likely start immediately for a team seeking an infusion of elite-level talent.

The Skinny: The Hawkeyes were arguably the worst defensive Power Five team in America a year ago. They have their top nine scorers back this season, but if those guys don't learn how to get stops it won't matter much.

Expectations: Iowa is a 250-to-1 longshot to win the national title. The Hawkeyes would probably settle for 20 wins and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

 

[Cnotes53]

Illinois Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 14-18, lost to Iowa in first round of Big Ten tournament.

Nickname: Fighting Illini.

Coach: Brad Underwood (second year).

Conference: Big Ten.

Who's gone: For the second offseason in a row, Illinois saw a number of offseason departures. The Illini not only lost three starters, and the team's best player, but also some valuable depth players. Gone are top player Leron Black, along with starters Mark Alstork and Michael Finke, and backup players Greg Eboigbodin, Clayton Jones, Cameron Liss, Te'Jon Lucas and Matic Vesel.

Who's back: Guards Trent Frazier (2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game) and Da'Monte Williams (3.5 ppg), who is returning from a torn ACL suffered in the fourth game of last season, and forward Kipper Nichols (10 ppg, 4.2 rebounds).

Who's new: Six new recruits and three transfers join the Illini this fall. They are four-star recruits Ayo Dosunmu and Tevian Jones, along with Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Alan Griffin, Anthony Higgs and Samba Kane. Griffin, Kane, Bezhanishvili and Higgs are rated as three-stars. Dosunmu is a combo guard, Griffin a shooting guard, Higgs and Jones are small forwards, Bezhanishvili is a power forward, and Kane will play center behind projected starter Adonis De La Rosa.

The Skinny: Illinois has missed the NCAA Tournament the past five years and posted a dismal 41-67 record in conference play over that span. It will likely be another tough year for Underwood to find his footing in the Big Ten.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have Illinois as a long shot to win the NCAA Tournament at 200-1.

 

[Cnotes53]

Minnesota Preview Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 15-17, lost to Rutgers in first round of Big Ten Tournament.

Nickname: Golden Gophers.

Coach: Richard Pitino.

Conference: Big Ten.

Who's gone: Point guard Nate Mason (graduated), center Reggie Lynch (overseas), backup shooting guard Jamir Harris (transferred), backup forward Davonte Fitzgerald (transferred), backup forward Bakary Konate (graduated), backup forward Gaston Diedhiou (graduated).

Who's back: Forward Jordan Murphy, who was named to the 20-player preseason All-Big Ten team, is the senior standout coming off career-best averages of 16.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. ... Starting forwards Amir Coffey (shoulder) and Eric Curry (knee) are healthy and primed for breakout years, after Coffey was limited to 18 games and Curry was out for the whole season. ... Point guard Isaiah Washington had a rocky freshman year, shooting just 24.1 percent from 3-point range. ... Shooting guard Dupree McBrayer gritted out an injury-influenced junior season, averaging 9.4 points per game. ... Forward Michael Hurt returns in a reserve role.

Who's new: Shooting guard Brock Stull is a fifth-year graduate transfer from Milwaukee who was the second-leading scorer for the Panthers last season. ... The three incoming freshmen are all from Minnesota, shooting guard Gabe Kalscheur, forward Jarvis Omersa and center Daniel Oturu. The 6-foot-10 Oturu was a consensus four-star recruit who helped lead Cretin-Derham Hall High School to the Class 4A state championship. ... Center Matz Stockman, a 7-foot native of Norway who sat out last season after transferring from Louisville, played three years for the Cardinals. ... Point guard Marcus Carr is another transfer who played one year at Pittsburgh but the NCAA has yet to rule on whether he'll be able to play immediately or have to redshirt this season.

The Skinny: Pitino's sixth year with the Gophers begins with a fresh start after the injury-ruined 2017-18 season that also included a midseason suspension of Lynch for alleged sexual assault. Mason's leadership and scoring touch at both the rim and from 3-point range will be dearly missed, with the erratic-but-exciting Washington in line to take over as the primary ball-handler. Curry and Oturu ought to help take some of the burden off Murphy around the basket. The Gophers could be one of the conference's surprises like two seasons ago when they reached their only NCAA Tournament under Pitino.

Expectations: Oddsmakers have Minnesota as a 200-1 long shot to win the NCAA Tournament. The Final Four is at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, less than 2 miles from campus. The Gophers were picked to finish ninth out of 14 teams in a preseason Big Ten media poll.

 

[Cnotes53]

Michigan State basketball preview capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 30-5, won Big Ten title and lost in second round of NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Spartans.

Coach: Tom Izzo.

Conference: Big Ten.

Who's gone: Miles Bridges (NBA), Jaren Jackson (NBA), Tum Tum Nairn, Gavin Schilling, Ben Carter.

Who's back: Nick Ward entered his name in the NBA draft before deciding to stay in school for his junior season. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward ranked third on the team last season with 12.4 points and first with 7.1 rebounds. Junior point guard Cassius Winston trailed only Bridges in scoring, averaging 12.6 points a game, made a Big Ten-best 49.7 percent of his 3-point shots and had a team-high 6.9 assists per game. Junior shooting guard Joshua Langford averaged 11.7 points and showed the potential to do more, including his 23-point performance against North Carolina.

Who's new: Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo said at least two freshmen will play right away: Aaron Henry, a 6-6, 210-pound forward, and Foster Loyer, a 6-foot point guard.

The Skinny: The Spartans are No. 10 in the preseason poll because they have a lot of experience, which they hope will help the program advance past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 when Izzo reached his seventh Final Four.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have Michigan State as a 35-1 shot win the NCAA Tournament, odds that are tied with rival Michigan and trail 11 schools.

 

[Cnotes53]

Michigan Preview-Capsule
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 33-8, reached national title game.

Nickname: Wolverines.

Coach: John Beilein.

Conference: Big Ten.

Who's gone: Forward Moe Wagner, guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, guard-forward Duncan Robinson.

Who's back: Charles Matthews passed on the NBA and returned to the Wolverines. He averaged 13 points a game last season. Point guard Zavier Simpson shot just 29 percent from 3-point range and 52 percent on free throws, but his defensive intensity set the tone for much of Michigan's success. Jordan Poole averaged only 6 points a game as a freshman, but his 3-pointer at the buzzer beat Houston to send Michigan to the Sweet 16. Isaiah Livers and Eli Brooks combined for 34 starts in 2017-18. At 7-foot-1, Jon Teske gives the Wolverines a big defensive presence inside, and he's shown flashes on offense.

Who's new: Freshmen Brandon Johns and David DeJulius were rated No. 60 and No. 93 in ESPN's Class of 2018 Top 100. Ignas Brazdeikis averaged 28.4 points as a senior at Orangeville Prep in Canada.

The Skinny: Michigan's defensive resurgence helped the Wolverines to a Sweet 16 berth in 2017 and last season's Final Four run. Wagner will be tough to replace, and a lot may depend on how much Poole, Livers and the new freshmen can contribute offensively.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have Michigan at 35-1 to win the NCAA Tournament, the same odds as rival Michigan State. Only 11 teams - and none from the Big Ten - are given shorter odds.

 

[Cnotes53]

Clemson Preview Capsule
October 26, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 25-10, reached first Sweet 16 since 1997.

Nickname: Tigers.

Coach: Brad Brownell.

Conference: Atlantic Coast.

Who's gone: Shooting guard Gabe DeVoe, forwards Donte Grantham, forward Mark Donnal.

Who's back: Guard Marcquise Reed was the team's leading scorer who considered the NBA before coming back for senior season. Point guard Shelton Mitchell, like Reed, also tested his NBA prospect before returning to form one of the ACC's most experienced backcourts. Forward Elijah Thomas, who led the Tigers with 8.1 rebounds a game, is also back for his senior season. Clemson made it four-for-four in returning seniors when David Skara, a 6-foot-8 forward who is considered the Tigers' best defender, first chose to leave and play professionally in his native Croatia, then in the summer changed his mind and came back to college.

Who's new: 6-10 forward Javan White transferred from Oral Roberts and has two years left at Clemson as a graduate student. Freshman Trey Jemison is a 6-11 forward and tallest player on the Tigers.

The Skinny: The Tigers were a surprise last season in winning 11 ACC games to finish third in the league. They won't sneak up on anyone this year. But with four experienced seniors to lead the way, a return to the NCAA is expected.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have Clemson as long shot to win the NCAA Tournament at 120-1, on par with Arizona, Butler and Mississippi State.

 

[Cnotes53]

Miami Preview-Capsule
October 26, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 22-10, lost to Loyola of Chicago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Hurricanes.

Coach: Jim Larranaga.

Conference: Atlantic Coast.

Who's gone: Guard Lonnie Walker IV (NBA), guard Bruce Brown Jr. (NBA), guard Ja'Quan Newton.

Who's back: Forward Dewan Hernandez considered the NBA before deciding to return for his junior season and change his name from Dewan Huell. The 6-foot-10 Hernandez averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. Also back are dynamic 5-7 sophomore guard Chris Lykes (9.6 points), junior guard DJ Vasiljevic (9.0 points), senior guard Anthony Lawrence (8.8 points, 6.5 rebounds), 6-10 sophomore forward Sam Waardenberg (3.3 points), 6-10 senior center Ebuka Izundu (5.0 points) and 7-0 junior center Rodney Miller (1.2 points).

Who's new: Senior guard Zach Johnson transferred from Florida Gulf Coast, where he averaged 16.1 points last season. Redshirt freshman guard Anthony Mack is also expected to contribute.

The Skinny: Miami should reach the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven seasons. With three starting guards departed, depth at that position is a concern, and the Hurricanes will likely go to a bigger lineup and be less perimeter-oriented than a season ago. The athletic Hernandez will face the basket more, and he and Lykes should form a formidable one-two punch. Miami will look for more inside scoring from Izundu and Miller.

Expectations: The Hurricanes are an 85 to 1 choice to win the NCAA Tournament, which puts them 25th in the country and fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

 

[Cnotes53]

North Carolina preview capsule
October 26, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 26-11, reached second round of NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Tar Heels.

Coach: Roy Williams.

Conference: Atlantic Coast.

Who's gone: The program has lost mainstays from its 2017 national championship winner in point guard Joel Berry II - a former Final Four most outstanding player - and swingman Theo Pinson.

Who's back: Forward Luke Maye followed his last-second shot to beat Kentucky in the 2017 NCAA Elite Eight with a star-turning junior season, averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 points to be an Associated Press third-team All-American. He's now a preseason AP All-American and picked as ACC player of the year. Starters Cameron Johnson (12.4 points) and Kenny Williams (11.4) are back on the perimeter, which also has junior point guard Seventh Woods competing to take Berry's job. There's also a rotation of serviceable big men, led by sophomores Garrison Brooks and Sterling Manley.

Who's new: The Tar Heels have their best recruiting class in years, perhaps not coincidentally as they emerge from years of uncertainty due to a now-resolved NCAA academic case. Wing Nassir Little is the kind of five-star McDonald's All-American and possible one-and-done talent that shunned the Tar Heels in recent years. There's another McDonald's All-American in Coby White, an top-25 national recruit who will compete to be the new point guard after setting a North Carolina state scoring record with more than 3,500 points in high school. And the 6-foot-7 Rechon ''Leaky'' Black brings size and versatility to the perimeter.

The skinny: There's no questioning talent and scoring potential on a team with Maye, Johnson and Williams joined by the touted rookie class. There are two main questions here: the Tar Heels need White or Woods to play well at the point with Berry gone, and that revolving door of big men needs to provide some interior toughness that was lacking at times as UNC leaned heavily on a small-ball lineup last year. If the eighth-ranked Tar Heels resolve both issues, this is a Final Four contender.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have UNC at 10-to-1 to win it all, tied with Villanova for the fifth-best odds nationally.

 

[Cnotes53]

North Carolina State preview capsule
October 26, 2018
By The Associated Press

Last season: 21-12, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament.

Nickname: Wolfpack.

Coach: Kevin Keatts.

Conference: Atlantic Coast.

Who's gone: A lot of scoring walked out the door with the loss of graduate transfer Allerik Freeman (16.1 points) and 7-footer Omer Yurtseven, a third-team all-ACC pick who averaged 13.5 points but has transferred to Georgetown. N.C. State also lost valuable experience with the departures of fifth-year senior Lennard Freeman, another graduate transfer in Sam Hunt and senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu.

Who's back: Senior Torin Dorn is the top returning scorer (13.9) after thriving in his first year in Keatts' system. Sophomore Braxton Beverly provided outside shooting and ballhandling, though he is recovering from surgery for a broken left hand and it's unclear when he'll be ready. And junior Markell Johnson is back at the point after ranking fifth nationally by averaging a league-best 7.3 assists.

Who's new: There's college-ready help in several transfers. The list starts with Utah transfer Devon Daniels, UNC Wilmington transfer C.J. Bryce and Missouri transfer Blake Harris, while Samford's Wyatt Walker and Florida International's Eric Lockett are graduate transfers. Daniels and Bryce worked out with the Wolfpack all last season while sitting out as transfers, while Harris sat out the spring semester after joining the program. Daniels is a 6-foot-5 redshirt sophomore who averaged 9.9 points while starting 26 games at Utah, while the 6-5 Bryce is a redshirt junior and first-team all-Colonial Athletic Association performer while averaging 17.4 points under Keatts at his previous stop. The 6-9 Walker will provide rebounding help, while Lockett will help with depth.

The skinny: Keatts brought a needed won't-back-down competitiveness to the Wolfpack in Year 1, which included wins against nationally ranked Arizona, Duke and rival North Carolina. He had said several times that last year's team was able to do maybe about 75 percent of what he envisions for the long term with its fullcourt and pressure style of play. There's potential for the Wolfpack to do more in Year 2 with a lot of experience and versatility on the wing. Picked to finish eighth in the 15-team ACC, N.C. State seems positioned to return to the NCAA Tournament again.

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have N.C. State at 85-to-1 to win it all, tied for 25th-best odds nationally.