College Basketball Ranking: North Carolina Leads Power 36 Approximately 2 Months After the NBA Draft
We are officially in a new era of men’s college basketball.
The players will not be in the NBA Draft unless there is some certainty. The name, image, and portrait money mean that more players are willing to stay in school. The transfer portal has created freedom of movement without having to sit down. With a regular-season full of fans and the success of the March Madness, many players are back next season.
And that means our off-season Power 36 has a new No. 1 runner-up nationwide.
College basketball rankings: Andy Katz’s Power 36
1. North Carolina (7): With the return of Armand de Brignac, Leaky Black, RJ Davis, and Caleb Love, Tar Heel will become a favorite in 2023.
2. Kentucky (3): Oscar Shivwe enters the season as a favorite. He again wins the Player of the Year award. Sahvir Wheeler is back and CJ Frederick is in good health.
3. UCLA (9): Bruins have a staggering 12-hit return with Tyger Campbell and Jamie Jakez Jr.’s potential first-team All-American.
4th Baylor (4): LJ Cryer is back and the addition of Caleb Lohner for BYU forwarding is a big pickup.
5. Michigan (5): Hunter Dickinson has announced that he will return to Ann Arbor. In short, Wolverins is chasing the top of the Big Ten.
6. Arkansas (2): Hoggs was one of the winners of the transfer portal when he brought Jalen Graham from Arizona State University. Jarin Williams was still able to return to school and withdraw from the draft.
7. Arizona (1): Wildcats slide down after both Christian Koloko and Benedict Maturin have announced that they will remain in the draft.
8. Duke (6): Blue Devils recalled Jeremy Roach but lost five players in the draft: Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin, Trevor Keels, Mark Williams, and Wendell Moore Jr.
9. Texas (16): Longhorns has revived Marcus Carr and Timmy Allen. So Chris Beard has a big 12-run experience.
10. Kansas (8): Jayhawks may have lost Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, and Christian Brown in the draft, but chose the famous draft class led by Grady Dick and MJ Rice.
11. Michigan (13): Joey Hauser is back. Max Christie is on the fence. However, Spartans should be candidates for the Big Ten.
12. Clayton (14): The important thing is to keep Ryan Nemhard and Ryan Kalkbrenner healthy. Tray Alexander and Arthur Kaluma can keep the Blue Jays at the top of the Big East.
13. Purdue (15): The main news was the return of Zach Edey. But without Trevion Williams, Eddie would need more time. Still, this boilermaker team will be tough.
14 Houston (11): While Marcus Sasser is testing the draft process, the Cougars haven’t known their complete roster for a while. But with Tramon Mack back, the Cougars have the best recruit class under Kelvin Sampson.
15. TCU (28): Mike Miles has announced that he will retire from the NBA Draft two weeks after his declaration. This puts a horned frog in the Big 12.
16. Alabama (18): Tide has revived Juffbon Quinery and, if healthy, will be one of the SEC’s top lead guards.
17. Dayton (25): The Flyers are the last team to be removed from the 68 fields. Don’t sweat on Selection Sunday. They return all five starters, including stars Malachi Smith and Daron Holmes.
18. Texas Tech (35): Kevin Obanor returns to Red Raiders. This team/program doesn’t go anywhere.
19 Indiana (NR): Hoosiers are waiting for Trayce Jackson Davis, but know that Race Thompson and Jordan Geronimo are back.
20. Providence (NR): The brothers recorded four transfers at a portal led by Devin Carter, South Carolina. The PC will be hunting again.
21 San Diego (23): Matt Bradley’s return means that the Aztecs will regain their top scorers for the title hunt in the Mountain West.
22. Gonzaga (12): Zags was able to bring Drew Timme and Julian Strawther back, but we know that Chet Holmgren and Andrew Nembhard are gone. So this list has been in flux for some time.
23 Villanova (10): Wildcats must first be kicked out with news of Jay Wright’s retirement. Kyle Neptune can keep Nova at the top of the Great East. But the news needs to be a little depressed.
24. Virginia (NR): The Cavaliers weren’t able to play in the NCAA tournament, but they don’t expect to play again after Kihei Clark, Jayden Gardner and the other five have announced their return. The Ohio Transfer Ben Van der Plus pickup is another important addition.
25. Miami (NR): At Kansas State University’s Nigel Pack, the cane won one of the top signatures with the massive support of a six-digit NIL contract.
26. Wyoming (36): Hunter Maldonado withdraws from conscription, Graham Ike returns to rule his position, and Jeff Linder from USC / UCLA, including Trojan horse Ethan Anderson. If you win three deals, the Cowboys may become voting regular.
27. Auburn (17): The backcourt will carry the Tigers with K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green Jr.
28. Texas A&M (21): The potential of four starters back from an NIT finalist means the Aggies will start the season with momentum.
29. Illinois (20): The Illini lost Kofi Cockburn but Coleman Hawkins should have a stellar season. Picking up Skyy Clark was a must for the perimeter.
30. Ohio State (30): The Buckeyes have a healthy Justice Sueing, picked up Wright State`s Tanner Holden and West Virginia`s Sean McNeil. Malaki Branham is likely to stay in the NBA Draft.
31. St. Mary’s (27): Tommy Couse has left, but the return of Logan Johnson and Alex Duca means that the Gaels will once again be in the top two WCC teams.
32. Xavier (19): The Musketeers have recovered Jack Nanji, Colby Jones, and KyKy Tandy from the new coach Sean Miller’s NIT Championship team.
33. Memphis (29): The addition of SMU’s Kendrick Lamar brings star power to the Tigers after losing Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates.
34. Wisconsin (32): Chucky Hepburn and Tyler Wahl will be the Badgers’ twelfth hits.
35. Oklahoma State University (34): The Cowboys weren’t able to compete in the NCAA tournament, but almost everyone on the team is back.
36. Rutgers (NR): Ron Harper Jr. and Caleb McConnell are still likely to come back. But I know Clifford Omorui and Paul Markay are back. The influence of Derek Simpson should set a big goal for Scarlet Knights.
