The way-too-early men's college basketball top 25 for 2020-21

As is the case with every team on this list, who returns and who goes leaves all this with the potential to change — obviously. In the case of the Spiders, the potential of bringing back most of their key contributors from a squad that won 24 games and finished 14-4 for second place in the Atlantic 10, behind Dayton, in 2019-20 is there. If back, guard Blake Francis (17.7 points per game) and defensive whiz Jacob Gilyard could leave Richmond as the team to beat in the A-10.

The cancellation of the 2019-20 season ended the Scarlet Knights' hope of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. The good news: It seems Ron Harper Jr. (12.1 ppg) and Geo Baker (10.9 ppg, 3.5 assists per game) are set to return with the hopes of Rutgers picking up where it left off from its first winning season since 2005-06 and 20-victory campaign since 2003-04.

The Longhorns were an NCAA Tournament bubble team in 2019-20, and there's reason to believe the seat is still hot under coach Shaka Smart. However, the Longhorns return most of a team that won five of its final six games. Matt Coleman (12.7 ppg) has the potential to take the next step in his offensive progression, while 6-foot-11 Kai Jones looks to build on a decent freshman season.

Another squad with the potential to bring back plenty of talent. Ex-Kansas guard Quentin Grimes (12.1 ppg) would be the leader of that group, but Caleb Mills (13.2 ppg) and Nate Hinton (10.6 ppg, 8.7 rebounds per game) — who will test the NBA waters — can likely make 2019-20 co-champs Houston the team to beat in the American Athletic Conference next season.

No Payton Pritchard, but Chris Duarte (12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Will Richardson (11.0 ppg) are set to lead the way for the reigning Pac-12 champions. The Ducks are also expected to make out well in the transfer game and should be one of the deepest teams in the nation come next season. Whether that leads to great things remains to be seen, as always.

Should Malachi Flynn return (17.6 ppg, 5.1 assists per game) return, the Aztecs could start the season inside the top 15. Still, San Diego State, which did not lose its first game of the 2019-20 season until Feb. 22, has enough talent to begin the upcoming campaign as the favorite in the Mountain West. Cal State Northridge transfer Terrell Gomez (19.8 ppg, 44 3-point percentage) should be a nice addition. 

The Wolverines were an inconsistent group during Juwan Howard's first season as coach, but if Isaiah Livers (12.9 ppg) returns, Michigan, with a year of experience in this system, could seriously challenge for the Big Ten title. Franz Wagner (11.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg) also appears likely to return, and Eli Brooks (10.6 ppg) is an underrated talent. Five-star power forward Isaiah Todd is a nice get for the Wolverines. 

The arrival of five-star freshman Jaden Springer might be what it takes for Tennessee to be a consistent top 25 presence in 2020-21. A full season with guard Santiago Vescovi (10.7 ppg, 3.7 apg) should also elevate a Vols offense that was inconsistently last more often than not in 2019-20. Swingman Yves Pons (10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) should be one of the top defensive players in the country.

Is UCLA basketball officially back on track? In their first season under coach Mick Cronin, the Bruins made a surprise run to second place in the Pac-12. While leading scorer Chris Smith intends to see if he's draft worthy, there is more than serviceable talent returning to Westwood, starting with spark plug Tyger Campbell (5.3 apg), who helped bring the passion back to Pauley Pavilion this past season.

Though leading scorer and rebounder Oscar Tshiebwe (11.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg) will see if he's ready for the the NBA , there remains a good chance he will be back. Coach Bob Huggins also is expected to have 6-foot-10 Derek Culver (10.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg) around, so the Mountaineers could have one of the best frontcourts in the country next season. Regardless of who is on the floor, we know this team will play its usual stingy defense.

Star Jordan Nwora entered his name in the NBA Draft , but coach Chris Mack should have enough to fall back on next season. Six-foot-11 Malik Williams (8.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) has the potential to be one of the top big men in the ACC, and David Johnson, who turned it on late during his freshman season, seems like a star in the making. The addition of Radford graduate transfer Carlik Jones (20.0 ppg, 40.9 3-point percentage) could be huge.

This past season was a straight up basketball nightmare for the Tar Heels, and now they look to rebound without star Cole Anthony. If Carolina can stay healthy, 2020-21 has the potential to make last season look like a fluke. Garrison Brooks (16.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg) returns, but the excitement revolves around Roy Williams' star-studded freshman class that includes McDonald's All-Americans R.J. Davis, Walker Kessler, Day'Ron Sharpe and likely star Caleb Love.

Yes, the reigning ACC champs are losing leading scorer Devin Vassell and fellow underclassmen Patrick Williams to the NBA Draft. However, coach Leonard Hamilton has won at least 23 games in four straight seasons, and that run seems likely to continue. Why? Because guard M.J. Walker (10.6 ppg) is a budding star, and incoming 6-foot-7 freshman Scottie Barnes has the ability to be a game-changer.

Now a season removed from its run to the national championship game, Texas Tech should be better from than its 18-13 mark from this past season. Leading scorer Jahmi'us Ramsey could be NBA bound, but Davide Moretti (13.0 ppg) and Terrence Shannon (9,8 ppg, 4.1 rpg) have the potential to carry this team. Incoming freshman and McDonald's All-American Nimari Burnett could be the guy Chris Beard revolves everything around.

The Big Ten was full of surprises in 2019-20 (Rutgers, Penn State), but Wisconsin claiming a piece of the league crown might have been the biggest stunner. The Badgers closed the season with eight straight victories and should return a ton from that 21-win group. The frontcourt of 6-foot-11 Nate Reuvers (13.1 ppg), 6-10 Micah Potter (10.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Aleem Ford could be among the best in the country.

If national Player of the Year candidate Luka Garza (23.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg) does return, then the Hawkeyes could be in for a special season. Guard Joe Wieskamp (14.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) continues to improve, but Iowa must also find a way to play better on the road, where it went 2-7 in the Big Ten last season. The Hawkeyes have dropped eight straight road games against ranked opponents within the league as well. 

Even if Xavier Tillman decides to make the jump to the NBA, the Spartans should again be in the hunt for a Big Ten title. Aaron Henry (10.0 ppg), Rocket Watts (9.0 ppg) and former Marquette guard Joey Hauser would be a good base to work with if Tillman — and Joshua Langford — are not around. We should know by now that it's never wise to count out the Spartans.

Tre Jones and Cassius Stanley are NBA bound, and it would seem Vernon Carey will follow. That's quite a bit to lose from a team that was often hard to figure at times last season. However, Coach K still has another elite freshman class (stud Jalen Johnson, point guard Jeremy Roach and pure scorer D.J. Steward) to play with and to likely challenge for an ACC championship. Matthew Hurt (9.7 ppg) and Wendell Moore Jr., if healthy, also provide some potential experienced stability.

Ashton Hagans and Tyrese Maxey have declared for the NBA Draft, while Immanuel Quickley (16.1 ppg) and Nick Richards (14.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg) appear up in the air at the moment for John Calipari's program. But much like Duke, Kentucky will bring in another stellar recruiting class (McDonald's All-Americans Terrence Clarke and Brandon Boston) that should have the program among the best in the nation right off the bat.  

The Jayhawks finished the canceled 2019-20 as the No. 1 team in the nation and the closest thing to an NCAA Tournament favorite. One would think Devon Dotson (18.1 ppg, 4.0 apg) would be headed to the NBA, but Marcus Garrett is the best overall defender in the country and guard Ochai Agbaji (10.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg) should be ready for a larger role. Prized prospect Bryce Thompson could contribute right away.

We know Tony Bennett's Cavaliers will again be among the best defensive teams in the nation, but their offense should also improve with the addition of forward Sam Hauser (career 12.7 ppg, 44.5 3-point percentage) from Marquette. Plus, Kihei Clark (10.8 ppg, 5.9. apg) continues to progress and could be one of the top players in the ACC come next season.

Big East Player of the Year Marcus Zegarowski (16.1 ppg, 5.0 apg) should be healthy and ready to help an expected-to-be-loaded Bluejays team defend the piece of the league title it earned this past season. We expect Creighton to once again rely on the three-point shot (38.6 percent from distance in 2019-20) this coming season, which should determine how much success will be in store for Greg McDermott's squad.

If Saddiq Bey (16.1 ppg) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (10.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg) decide the NBA waters are not to their liking, the Wildcats could open the 2020-21 season as the No. 1 team in the nation. Of course, they still might not be the top squad in the Big East if Creighton has something to say. Collin Gillespie (15.1 ppg, 4.5 apg), Justin Moore (11.3 ppg), Jermaine Samuels (10.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 apg) and a potentially strong bench should have Villanova in the top 10 regardless if Bay and Robinson-Earl return.

Obviously a lot depends on the pending collegiate status of stars Jared Butler (16.0 ppg) and MaCio Teague (13.9 ppg), but the Bears should still have plenty of talent to challenge for a Big 12 crown and possible NCAA title. Guard Davion Mitchell is one of the top defenders in the nation, while 6-foot-10 Tristan Clark could be the wild card following a rather disappointing 2019-20 season. 

If prized recruit Jalen Suggs does not opt to play professional ball internationally and top returning scorer Filip Petrusev (17.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg) decides to come back for his junior season, then the Zags should open 2020-21 as the team to beat. That's because Corey Kispert (13.9 ppg, 43.8 3-point percentage), Joel Ayayi (10.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg) and 6-10 Drew Timme (9.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) are together capable of keeping Gonzaga among the elite teams in the country.