The new NCAA basketball season is already quickly approaching, as we have about a month and a half to go until the first official games tip off, with Michigan Wolverines guarding the title and quite a few dark horses ready to surprise everyone.
New season comes after a summer full of uncertanities regarding the eligibility of many senior players, which is still a hot topic in the spectrum. Nevertheless, most of the teams have their rosters already sorted out and are ready for action.
- LJ Wells commits to Louisville after breakout season
- Brandon McCoy underwent surgery, bad news for Michigan Wolverines
Summer practices are over and it’s time for the real deal. In about months time, we will have exhibition games, where we will have the first opportunity to see the teams in real play.
But when it comes to pure player quality, some of the teams already stand out in front. Here we list the Top 5 “dark horses” to go far this season, the teams that could surprise everyone.
In the coming days, we will also be analysing which teams are the very best and will be the main title contenders.
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DARK HORSE #1 – UCLA Bruins
This summer was maybe the one that was the most different when Mick Cronin is in the center of attention. The UCLA head coach decided to shift to recruiting international players for the first time in his career.
And UCLA got the main pick with Nikola Kusturica commiting to the program. The young Serbian is already talked about as being the very top pick in the NBA Draft in about two years time.
With a strong guarding lane and Trent Perry and Jaylen Petty outside, as well as Eric Dailey and Xavier Booker outside, UCLA really does look like the real deal.
And yes, Filip Jovic and Sergej Macura will also have their say. Auburn and Mississippi State fans have already seen what they can do in the focal moments. That is why UCLA is amongst the top NCAA dark horses this season…
DARK HORSE #2 – Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns had a quite a nice season behind them, as they managed to reach Sweet 16, even though they were not projected to go far in the NCAA Tournament.
This year will be a bit different, as the team has now got together even more and has added some crucial newcomers to the squad.
The most important for Texas Longhorns was to maintain Matas Vokietaitis in the squad, after such a dominant season in the paint last year in the Southeastern Conference. They did that, and even added another Lithuanian to the squad, Mantas Laurencikas.
It will be a fun ride in Austin…
DARK HORSE #3 – Michigan State Spartans
Do not sleep on Michigan State. The Spartans have so much to show for this season and will certainly want to improve that Sweet 16 exit in the NCAA Tournament from this season.
They did lose Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper comparing to last year, but Coen Carr and Jeremy Fears are still there, up and running.
Anton Bonke from Charlotte could be a huge addition to the squad, especially in the later parts of the season, when everything settles down. Spartans could be one of the huge dark horses in NCAA basketball this year.
DARK HORSE #4 – Louisville Cardinals
It’s hard to say where Louisville will sit this year, but we are confident that they can go quite far. They did change a lot comparing to last year…
Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Karter Knox (Arkansas), Alvaro Folguieras (Iowa), Bouyan Zhang, Seth Trimble (UNC), LJ Wells (Northern Kentucky) are all worthy newcomers.
In fact, they could all form a Starting Five, but there are still some players left from last season that actually deserve that spot as well.
Even though they changed so much, the Cardinals can, at least, hope for a very fun and turbulent season ahead of them. If all goes well, maybe we will even see them go as far as Elite Eight.
DARK HORSE #5 – St. John’s Red Storm
St. John’s have worked very hard this season to impress some important international players to come to play in the NCAA.
With Rick Pitino at the helm, that wasn’t a problem at all, as the experienced coach, who worked in Greece paved his way through and was a very important part in the whole plan.
Olimpia Milano and Euroleague star Quinn Ellis will play for St. John’s this season and with the experience he has in top games abroad in Europe, he could make a big bang in the NCAA.
It is worth noting that Tounde Yessoufou also transfered from Baylor to St. John’s, while one of the best players of Auburn, Keyshawn Hall is still awaiting his verdict on eligibility.
If he is given the green light, that could be a couple more points in hand for the Red Storm this season.
