By: William Smythe

College basketball is around the corner, baby! And now, as the great insider Jon Rothstein has often quipped, “We sleep in May.” There’s no time to cut corners from here on out. It’s time for the reign of college basketball – a great complement to what has been a very fun college football season – and the wait is finally over. Insofar as preseason rankings, we’ll dive into the Top 10, switch some things around, and highlight the Glue Guys and MVPs for the best teams in the nation. The anarchy that ensues will topple these rankings, but, hey, it’s college basketball. You just have to appreciate the fact that uncertainty is the name of the game. And. Here. We. Go.

1. Gonzaga

AP no. 1: North Carolina

I’m throwing myself into the lion’s den with this take, but let’s take a step back and analyze what Mark Few has at his disposal in 2022. The Bulldogs – a no. 1 seed in 2022 who ultimately fell to Arkansas in the Sweet Sixteen – are inevitably dealing with some setbacks. Former freshman and unicorn Chet Holmgren (14.1 ppg, 9.9 ppg) left Spokane after one defensively-dominant season, while the “glue guy” for Few in guard Andrew Nembhard (11.8 ppg, 5.8 apg) also departed for the Draft. The key here – however – is the mustached-sensation Drew Timme. The power forward from Texas – having averaged 17.5 points per game in what was arguably a down year – unlocks this team’s potential. Throw in transfers Malachi Smith (19.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg) – a redshirt junior and Southern Conference POY in 2021 – and Efton Reid (6.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) – a 7-foot sophomore center from LSU – and you’ve got a no. 1 seed that just reloaded. 

2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Rasir Bolton

Team MVP: Senior forward Drew Timme

2. North Carolina

AP no. 2: Gonzaga

The Tar Heels seem like the overwhelming favorite at no. 1, but I’m holding off on immersing myself completely in the hype. Consider that they are eerily similar to UCLA in 2021 – a team that also made a Final Four run as a lower ranked seed – who catapulted themselves to the no. 2 spot in the following preseason AP poll. The Bruins would end their season to the Heels, ironically, as a no. 4 seed – a stark contrast from their early-season ranking. However, this Carolina team on paper is very, very good. When you have a core of senior forward Armando Bacot (16.3 ppg, 13.1 rpg) and junior guards RJ Davis (13.5 ppg, 3.6 apg) and Caleb Love (15.9 ppg, 3.6 apg), you’re in a pretty good position for success. The loss of last year’s Larry Bird doppelgänger Brady Manek will hurt this team from behind the arc, but the addition of Northwestern transfer Pete Nance in the frontcourt will be key. If Nance can replicate Manek’s legendary, one-year career in Chapel Hill, watch out for the Heels. But for now, I can’t put a no. 8 seed from the 2022 NCAA Tournament in the no. 1 spot. 

2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior forward Leaky Black

Team MVP: Senior center Armando Bacot

3. Houston

AP no. 3: Houston

Houston is just so dang well-coached. Kelvin Sampson has proven that time and time again – you need not look further than a 2021 season which ended with a 32-6 record and an Elite Eight appearance, all while junior guard Marcus Sasser (17.7 ppg) was out. Well, Sasser is back, and the Cougars are hungry. After finishing 3rd in national scoring defense (58.8 ppg) in 2021, Houston has established an identity which involves a relentless press and a rangy, athletic defense which will hound you until the ball is coughed up. Expect freshman forward Jarace Walker – ranked no. 10 in the ESPN100 rankings – to complement Sasser offensively while developing his skill on the other side of the court. There’s just too much to like here from a team that seems so criminally underrated every season. Cue references to Phi Slamma Jamma, because the Cougars are back in the national spotlight.

2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior forward Tramon Mark

Team MVP: Marcus Sasser

4. Kentucky

AP no. 4: Kentucky

Can’t count the ‘Cats out even after the 2022 stunner at the hands of St. Peter’s. Everyone’s favorite rebounder and NPOY  – senior forward Oscar Tshiebwe (17.4 ppg, 15.1 rpg) – is back (despite an off-season knee procedure) and in full command of the Kentucky frontcourt. As per usual – and with the suspicious recruiting successes every year – Coach Cal has brought in another swath of talent to Lexington. Freshman guard Cason Wallace and classmate Chris Livingston will compete for the final two starting spots alongside Tshiebwe, senior guard Sahvir Wheeler (10.1 ppg, 6.9 apg) and forward Jacob Toppin (6.2 ppg). Oddly enough, this roster should look relatively similar to last year’s – a treat we don’t usually get from the Kentuckys and Dukes of the world. But out of the blue bloods, the combination of freshmen and veterans makes for a sky-high ceiling for the ‘Cats (who have no excuse to lose with their talent). 

2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Sahvir Wheeler

Team MVP: Senior center Oscar Tshiebwe

5. Creighton

AP no. 5: Baylor/Kansas

Wait, I thought Creighton hasn’t been relevant since Dougie McBuckets? The ghost of Doug lives on through the ascending Blue Jays, who once again find themselves in the top 25 after reaching no. 7 in the 2020-21 season. Might be bold to put Coach Greg McDermott’s team ahead of proven rosters like Baylor, Kansas, and UCLA, but the return of sophomore guard Ryan Nembhard (11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg) and junior center Ryan Kalkbrenner (13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) give the Blue Jays arguably the most talented starting-5 in program city. Throw in potential lottery pick Arthur Kaluma (10.4 ppg) and the headband assassin in South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman (16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and there are virtually no weaknesses – barring of course the depth issue that may play out in Omaha. If McDermott can find one or two key contributors off of the bench, then the Blue Jays will very well slot themselves into top dog status in the Big East. 

2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Baylor Scheierman

Team MVP: Sophomore forward Arthur Kaluma

6. Baylor

AP no. 6: Baylor/Kansas

2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior guard LJ Cryer

Team MVP: Senior guard Adam Flagler

7. UCLA

AP no. 7: Duke

2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Tyger Campbell

Team MVP: Senior forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.

8. Duke

AP no. 8: UCLA

2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior guard Jeremy Roach

Team MVP: Freshman center Dereck Lively

9. Indiana

AP no. 9: Creighton

2022 Glue Guy Award: Senior guard Xavier Johnson

Team MVP: Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis

10. Kansas

AP no. 10: Arkansas

2022 Glue Guy Award: Junior guard Dajuan Harris Jr.

Team MVP: Freshman guard Gradey Dick