"A rule change allowing college basketball programs to schedule legitimate preseason matchups against other top programs has provided a few new data points to consider for preseason rankings. With the start of the men's college basketball season one week away, I've made a few adjustments to my original preseason poll. Those preseason games do not count, but as North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said last week, it's not like they're lab experiments. They keep score, Davis said."
"That's why I've dropped Purdue from the top spot. Not sure you could watch Friday's preseason loss at Kentucky and come away thinking the Boilermakers were the better team. Overreaction? Possible. Two years ago, Purdue lost at Arkansas in the preseason and ended up one of the best two teams in the sport, while Arkansas watched the NCAA Tournament at home. But Purdue was trying to win Friday. Kentucky just looked better. And Purdue's lack of athleticism compared to other top teams is noticeable."
"Michigan is my new No. 1. What the Wolverines have at center Aday Mara starting and Morez Johnson Jr. as the backup reminds me of the center combos UConn had on its back-to-back title teams. Each brings different strengths, and the ability to always have an elite center fresh is a huge advantage. I've also taken into account conversations with coaches and NBA scouts over the last month."
A rule change now allows college basketball programs to schedule legitimate preseason matchups against other top programs, producing new data points for preseason rankings. Preseason games do not count officially, but competitive results can reveal relative team strengths. Purdue's preseason loss at Kentucky exposed concerns about its athleticism and prompted a drop in ranking. Michigan's frontcourt depth, with Aday Mara starting and Morez Johnson Jr. backing up, provides sustained elite center play similar to UConn's recent title teams. Input from coaches and NBA scouts has influenced recent ranking adjustments. Massive roster turnover across the sport makes early predictions difficult, and turnovers will be a key factor this season.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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