College Basketball Season Preview: UCONN is the favorite to repeat as National Champions
UCONN was dominant late last season, winning every NCAA tournament game by double digits in route to winning the 2023 National Championship. The scary thing is that despite losing several important pieces from that team, this year’s version might be even better.
The Huskies return my preseason favorite for Player of the Year, big man Donovan Clingan. At 7’2” and 280 pounds, Clingan is an absolute monster, but he’s also extremely skilled. He’s got great touch around the rim, dominates the boards, and has the court vision to find the open man when the defense collapses on him. His size and length make it extremely difficult for any opponent to score around the basket, but he’s far from the only thing UCONN’s opponents will have to worry about this season.
UCONN has incredible depth. Both their starting unit and their bench might be better than any other team’s best five, and for that reason they are the biggest preseason favorite I’ve seen in a long time. Obviously this is not the consensus opinion, but from what I’ve seen, the size, length, athleticism, and overall talent of this team is better than any college program I’ve seen, maybe ever.
Coach Dan Hurley has figured something out after taking over this UCONN program in 2018. He’s doing an amazing job recruiting and evaluating talent, so much so that it almost feels unfair not to mention the entire roster as players that will make a big impact this season.
Freshman Stephon Castle is the highest-rated prized recruit, but he’s joined by fellow freshmen Jayden Ross, Soloman Ball, and a whole host of other players that make this year’s UCONN squad the favorite to cut down the nets and repeat as national champs this season. They’ve got shooters all over the floor, many guys that can handle the ball and make plays for their teammates, and a never-ending wave of talented athletes that will make life difficult for their opponents on both ends of the floor.
Here’s a few opportunities I’ve seen to benefit from the success of this impressive UCONN team…
+300 to win the Big East, my favorite wager of the year
+510 to make the Final 4
+1600 to win the NCAA Championship and go back-to-back
Donovan Clingan +2500 to win Player of the Year
Miami has a great chance to make it 2 straight Final 4’s
Miami is fresh off its first final four appearance ever, but despite losing two of its best players to the NBA draft, this year’s team has a chance to be even better. Norchad Omier should be dominant inside once again, and looks to have made major improvements on his shooting and ball-handling. Nijel Pack also returns to offer his leadership and sharp-shooting on the perimeter, and he’s joined in the backcourt by guards Wooga Poplar and Bensley Joseph.
They’ll be supported by a deep and talented group of freshmen, transfers, and other young players that give this team a chance to win not only the ACC, but maybe even a national championship. Matthew Cleveland is a versatile transfer from Florida State that should make a major impact right away, while little talked about freshman Kyshawn George looks poised to be one of the biggest surprises of the year. George hasn’t been mentioned much alongside this year’s top incoming freshmen, but his combination of size, length, ball-handling, and basketball IQ make him a potential first-round NBA draft pick in my eyes.
The Hurricanes will also bring some serious firepower off the bench early in the season, as A.J. Casey, Michael Nwoko, and Christian Watson could all be starters on most teams. Look for Miami to outplay their preseason #13 ranking and be among the top teams in the country this season.
UCLA has reloaded and will move up the rankings quickly
UCLA lost a lot from last year’s Sweet 16 team, including three players picked in the 2023 NBA Draft. This year’s version will certainly be extremely young and inexperienced, which is probably why they’ll start the season unranked in the AP poll and #25 in the Coach’s rankings. Despite these low ratings to start the season, I’m expecting Mick Cronin to rebuild quickly and have this team in the mix to win another Pac-12 championship.
The main reason I believe in this Bruin squad is their freshman point guard Sebastian Mack. He wasn’t hyped up like many of the top incoming first-year players, but from what I’ve seen he has a chance to be the best point guard in college basketball this season.
He’s strong and athletic and always stays on the attack. He’s a great ball-handler who gets to the rim with ease, and he’s a fantastic finisher around the basket. He’s a really good passer who finds the open man when a shot isn’t there for him, and he’s also an extremely tough defender. Sebastian Mack does everything well and will just keep getting better.
Fellow freshman Ilane Fibleuil will also be a major contributor right away, along with the more heralded 7’3”, 240-pound Aday Mara. Devin Williams is another first-year player that could end up playing a big role. Right now he’s extremely thin and certainly needs to continue adding strength, but he’s got a great skill-set and has a bright future ahead of him.
The freshmen are joined by returning centers Adem Bona and Kenneth Nwuba, and sharp-shooting Utah transfer Lazar Stefanovic. Mara, Bona, and Nwuba form one of the more intimidating front-court combos in the country and should make this Bruin team incredibly difficult to score against inside.
This team might be young, but they’ve got all the tools to contend for another Pac-12 title, and potentially make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins will compete against an extremely difficult Maui Invitational field early this season, and while they come in with the 6th best odds to win it, they have as good a chance as anyone and present a great value at +1200 to come away with the title. I’d also take them at +375 to win the Pac-12 again.
Preseason Team Rankings
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