The 363 Madness 2023-24 Preseason Basketball Rankings (Week 1)

Welcome to 363 Madness' Preseason Top 25! I use an interesting ranking system here, so let me explain (scroll for rankings) - 

^ Here's Kentucky as an example. As you can see, we have laid out a starting 5 and a bench. The average starting 5 Player Rating will be added to the Bench Rating (a sum of all bench players), as well as a rating for chemistry/coaching.

*Note that this explanation has nothing to do with Kentucky's ranking this year, nor is it Kentucky's roster this year.

Colors Explained - 

I have used colors as a scale of likeliness for a player to return to college basketball

No Color - Freshman/Transfer

Green - Returning Starter

Starter Ratings Explained - 

95-99 - All-American

90-95 - High-Major Star

85-90 - Above Average High-Major Starter / Mid-Major Star

80-85 - Below-Average High-Major Starter / Above-Average Mid-Major Starter

75-80 - Below Average Mid-Major Starter

Bench Ratings Explained -

(1.5) - 5-star/ Mid-Major Star / High-Major Starter

(1) - Top 100 Freshman / Mid-Major Starter / High-Major Role Player

(.5) - 4-star Freshman (non top-100) / Mid-Major Role Player / High-Major Reserve

(.25) - 3-star Freshman / Under 10 MPG (in general), or very low reserve

*if you see a .75, that means I was unable to decide between a 1 and a .5. Calculation remains the same.

Let's get started!

363 Madness Preseason Top-25

1. Duke (ACC) (101.250

Very rarely do we see a team return most players from a #1 recruiting class then bring in a #2 recruiting class the following year. Well, that's basically Duke this year. Their ceiling is unmatched, but will need contributions from freshman Jared McCain and breakouts from Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell to avoid another slow start

PG - Jeremy Roach (90)

SG - Tyrese Proctor (93)

SF - Jared McCain (91)

PF -  Mark Mitchell (89)

C - Kyle Filipowski (97)

Bench - Ryan Young (+1), Sean Stewart (+1.5), Caleb Foster (+1.5), TJ Power (+1.5), Jaylen Blakes (+.5), Jaden Schutt (+.5), Christian Reeves (+.25) (+6.25) | Chem (+2.5)

2. Marquette (Big East) (101.1)

Marquette returns 5 of their top 6 scorers from a team who won the Big East last season. Big East 6th Man of the Year David Joplin is back and will fill in the starting spot vacated by round 1 draft pick Olivier Maxence-Prosper. However, that's not all; they bring in two 4-stars in Tre Norman and Zaide Lowery, as well as returning two top breakout guys in Chase Ross and Sean Jones.

PG - Tyler Kolek (97)

SG - Stevie Mitchell (88)

SF - Kam Jones (95)

PF - David Joplin (90)

C - Oso Ighodaro (93)

Bench - Chase Ross (+1), Sean Jones (+1), Tre Norman (+1), Zaide Lowery (+.5), Ben Gold (+.5), Al Amadou (+.25), Caedin Hamilton (+.25) (+6) | Chem (+4)

3. Michigan State (Big 10) (100.2)

Michigan State has the definition of a perfectly-built roster; they've got an experienced, 6'4 point guard in AJ Hoggard, a guard who shot 41% from 3 last season in Tyson Walker, a breakout candidate in Jaden Akins, an experienced leader and rebounder in Malik Hall, a top-5 recruiting class, and plenty of great role players, all led by a top 3 coach in college basketball, Tom Izzo.

PG - AJ Hoggard (93)

SG - Tyson Walker (96)

SF - Jaden Akins (90)

PF - Malik Hall (87)

C - Xavier Booker (90)

Bench - Mady Sissoko (+1), Jeremy Fears (+1), Jaxon Kohler (+1), Carson Cooper (+.5), Tre Holloman (+.5), Coen Carr (+1), Gehrig Normand (+.5) (+6.5) | Chem (+3.5)

4. Kansas (Big 12) (99.7)

Halfway through this past offseason, Kansas' roster looked like it would be a bit worse than it had been in past years. Without a clear leader and a star, they would have to rely on questionable breakouts to remain atop the Big-12. Then, Bill Self landed the top player to possibly ever enter the transfer portal: Hunter Dickinson. With that commitment, Kansas immediately re-entered title conversation and now is the #1 ranked team in the country.

PG - Dajuan Harris (90)

SG - Nick Timberlake (88)

SF - Kevin McCullar (89)

PF - KJ Adams (91)

C - Hunter Dickinson (98)

Bench - Elmarko Jackson (+1.5), Parker Braun (+.5), Zach Clemence (+.5), Jamari McDowell (+1), Johnny Furphy (+1) (bench adj +.35) (+4.85) | Chem (+3.5)

5. Creighton (Big East) (99.6)

Last year, Creighton had one of the most star studded starting-5s in the country. They lost PG Ryan Nembhard and PF Arthur Kaluma to the transfer portal, but quickly replaced Nembhard with top mid-major guard Steven Ashworth and Kaluma with Virgnia's Isaac Traudt and Memphis' Jonathan Lawson. That 4 position is still very questionable, however - as Traudt has yet to play a game in college basketball. Despite that, Creighton's other 4 experienced starters should be able to give Traudt the time he needs to get accustomed to a starting role in college basketball.

PG - Steven Ashworth (91)

SG - Trey Alexander (93)

SF - Baylor Scheierman (93)

PF - Isaac Traudt (85)

C - Ryan Kalkbrenner (97)

Bench - Francisco Farabello (+.5), Fredrick King (+1), Mason Miller (+1), Jonathan Lawson (+1), Josiah Dotzler (+.25), Jasen Green (+.25), Brock Vice (+.25), Sterling Knox (+.25) (+4.5) | Chem (+3.5)

6. Purdue (Big 10) (99.1)

Purdue returns Wooden Award winner Zach Edey, but still seems to have the problems that led to their loss to 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in last year's March Madness. They now rely on SIU transfer Lance Jones and Trey Kaufman-Renn, who should breakout this year. If those two guys can perform offensively at a level that Caleb Furst and Ethan Morton were unable to, this team could return to yet another #1 overall seed come March.

PG - Braden Smith (88)

SG - Lance Jones (87)

SF - Fletcher Loyer (89)

PF - Trey Kaufman-Renn (87)

C - Zach Edey (99)

Bench - Caleb Furst (+1), Mason Gillis (+1), Ethan Morton (+1), Myles Colvin (+1), Camden Heide (+.5), Will Berg (+.25), Brian Waddell (+.25) (+5.25) | Chem (+4)

7. FAU (AAC) (98.85)

It's rare to see a final four team return nearly their entire roster; but FAU did that, only losing 6th-man Michael Forrest. Their chemistry this year will be unmatched, and we'll see how good they truly are at the high-major level with games against Illinois and Arizona in their non-conference slate.

PG - Nick Boyd (88)

SG - Johnell Davis (91)

SF - Bryan Greenlee (88)

PF - Alijah Martin (91)

C -  Vladislav Goldin (88)

Bench - Giancarlo Rosado (+1), Brandon Weatherspoon (+1), Jalen Gaffney (+.75), Tre Carroll (+.5), Isaiah Gaines (+.25), Brenen Lorient (+.75), Devin Vanterpool (+.25), Jakel Powell (+.25) (+4.25) | Chem (+5)

    8. Tennessee (SEC) (98.8)

About a week ago, I had Tennessee at #20. My thoughts about them changed when they played an exhibition game at #3 Michigan State. Tennessee dominated the first half, then pulled out a win in the second half despite a late Michigan State surge. And the best part? They won without arguably their best two players, Zeigler and Vescovi. Their bench is deep enough to compete, and they once again have the pieces to be frontrunners in the SEC.

PG - Zakai Zeigler (89)

SG - Santiago Vescovi (92)

SF - Josiah Jordan - James (89)

PF - Dalton Knecht (88)

C - Jonas Aidoo (86)

Bench - Jordan Gainey (+1.5), Jahmai Mashack (+1). Freddie Dilione (+1), JP Estrella (+1), Cameron Carr (+1), Tobe Awaka (+.75), DJ Jefferson (+.5), Cade Phillips (+.25) (+7.5) | Chem (+2.5)

    9. St. John’s (Big East) (98.7)

After a short stint with Iona, top-5 coach in college basketball Rick Pitino is back at the high-major level. And in his first season, he's built a star-studded roster, bringing in Penn's Jordan Dingle, who was 4th in the nation in PPG last season, and returning St. John's leading scorer last year in Joel Soriano. The bench has potential as well, with 4-star Simeon Wilcher looking to play a major role and Kansas transfer Zuby Ejiofor having high breakout potential. It's very dangerous to think about what Rick Pitino can do with this roster.

PG - Daniss Jenkins (88)

SG - Jordan Dingle (92)

SF - Chris Ledlum (88)

PF - Naheim Alleyne (87)

C - Joel Soriano (91)

Bench - Simeon Wilcher (+1), Glenn Taylor (+1), Sean Conway (+1), RJ Luis (+1), Zuby Ejiofor (+1), Cruz Davis (+.5), Drissa Traore (+.5), Sadiku Ibine Ayo (+.5), Brady Dunlap (+.25), (+6.75) | Chem (+2.5)

    10. Houston (Big 12) (98.7)

Houston may be playing their first season at a power-5 school, but they shouldn't take a step down. They bring in one of the best players in the Big 12 last year in LJ Cryer, as well as returning PG Jamal Shead and center J'Wan Roberts. Howevers, they are relying on breakouts from Terrance Arceneaux and Emanuel Sharp for depth that will be needed to win the Big 12 this season.

PG - Jamal Shead (91)

SG - LJ Cryer (96)

SF - Damian Dunn (88)

PF - Terrance Arceneaux (87)

C - J’Wan Roberts (89)

Bench - Emanuel Sharp (+1), Joseph Tugler (+1), Ja’Vier Francis (+.75), Jacob McFarland (+.75), Kordelius Jefferson (+.5), Mylik Wilson (+.5), Ramon Walker (+.25), Cedric Lath (+.25) (+5.25) | Chem (+3)

    11. UConn (Big East) (98.7)

• Very solid, experienced core

• Watch a Clingan breakout

• #3 recruiting class

PG - Tristen Newton (90)

SG - Stephon Castle (92)

SF - Cam Spencer (89)

PF - Alex Karaban (88)

C - Donavan Clingan (92)

Bench -  Hassan Diarra (+.5), Solomon Ball (+1), Jaylin Stewart (+1), Jayden Ross (+.5), Samson Johnson (+.75), Youssouf Singare (+.5), Apostolos Roumoglou (+.25) (+4.5) | Chem (+4)

    12. Oregon (Pac-12) (98.65)

Oregon has sort have gone undercover this offseason in terms of the national spotlight, despite returning 4 of their top 3 scorers. However, those returnees are not what has earned them this ranking: it's their top 10 class in both transfers and recruits. They bring in Georgia's best player in Kario Oquendo and one of the best mid-major transfers in Jesse Zarzuela, as well as Arizona State's Devan Cambridge and 3 5-stars. Oregon may have some kinks to work out this season, but there's no doubt that they have one of the most talented rosters in college basketball.

PG - Keeshawn Barthelemy (87)

SG - Jermaine Couisnard (88)

SF - Kario Oquendo (89)

PF - Kwame Evans (90)

C - N’Faly Dante (93)

Bench - Jesse Zarzuela (+1.5), Devan Cambridge (+1), Mookie Cook (+1.5), Jackson Shelstad (+1.5), Nate Bittle (+1), Brennan Rigsby (+.5), Ethan Butler (+.25) (+5.25) | Chem (+2)

13. Illinois (Big 10) (98.6)

• Insane frontcourt with Dainja getting more PT

• See if backcourt transfers can mesh with frontcourt returnees

• They always start strong but burn out; this year may be the same

PG - Terrence Shannon (97)

SG - Justin Harmon (88)

SF - Marcus Domask (88)

PF - Coleman Hawkins (92)

C - Dain Dainja (88)

Bench - Sincere Harris (+1), Quincy Guerrier (+1), Jeremiah Williams (+1), Luke Goode (+1), Ty Rodgers (+1), Amani Hansberry (+1), Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (+.25), Zacharie Perrin (+.25) (+6.5) | Chem (+3)

14. USC (Pac-12) (98.55)

• Return wooden award front runner Ellis

• Collier is the #1 freshman in the country, watch Bronny James

• Have good depth with former 5-star Iwuchukwu, role players, and transfer Rodman

PG - Isaiah Collier (95)

SG - Bronny James (87)

SF - Boogie Ellis (97)

PF - Kobe Johnson (87)

C - Vince Iwuchukwu (88)

Bench - DJ Rodman (+1), Joshua Morgan (+1), Arrinten Page (+1), Kijani Wright (+.5), Brandon Gardner (+1), Oziyah Sellers (+.5), Harrison Hornery (+.25) (+5.25) | Chem (+2.5)

15. North Carolina (ACC) (98.55)

• Bacot and Davis are still dangerous

• Ingram is a former 5-star; can he return to his former self?

• Need some of their young guys to contribute

PG - RJ Davis (91)

SG - Elliot Cadeau (91)

SF - Cormac Ryan (87)

PF - Harrison Ingram (88)

C - Armando Bacot (97)

Bench - Jalen Washington (+1), Seth Trimble (+1), Jae’Lyn Withers (+1), Paxson Wojcik (+1), Zayden High (+1) James Okonkwo (+.5), (bench adj. (+.25)) (+6) | Chem (+2)

16. Arkansas (SEC) (98.5)

• Best backcourt in the nation

• Brazile comes back from injury

• Shaky rotation, could go anywhere

PG - Davonte Davis (90)

SG - El Ellis (89)

SF - Tramon Mark (89)

PF - Trevon Brazile (90)

C - Jalen Graham (87)

Bench - Khalif Battle (+1.5), Layden Blocker (+1.5), Keyon Menifield (+1.25), Baye Fall (+1), Jeremiah Davenport (+1), Chandler Lawson (+.75), Denijay Harris (+.5), Joseph Pinion (+.5) (+8) | Chem (+1.5)

17. Texas A&M (SEC) (98.5)

• Taylor and Radford are a top 3 SEC backcourt

• Very experienced

• Obaseki and Washington have high breakout potential

PG - Wade Taylor IV (97)

SG - Tyrece Radford (91)

SF - Eli Lawrence (87)

PF - Julius Marble (87)

C - Henry Coleman III (88)

Bench - Jace Carter (+1), Manny Obaseki (+1), Solomon Washington (+1), Andersson Garcia (+.5), Hayden Hefner (+.5), Wildens Leveque (+.5), Bryce Lindsay (+.25), Brandon White (+.25) (+5.5) | Chem (+3.5)

18. Virginia (ACC) (98.4)

The Wahoos are another team that have gone under the radar this offseason, but with a coach like Tony Benentt, you can't count them out. They bring back preseason all-ACC first team selection Reece Beekman, and have a pair of the top breakout guys in the country in McKneely and Dunn. The Hoos bring in an impressive transfer class as well, bringing in the #2 scoring freshman in the country last season in Andrew Rohde, the best player on the NEC Champions, Merrimack's center Jordan Minor, high-potential Dante Harris, and former Oklahoma sharpshooter Jacob Groves. If there's anybody that can put together all these pieces, it's Tony Bennett.

PG - Reece Beekman (92)

SG - Isaac McKneely (88)

SF - Andrew Rohde (88)

PF - Ryan Dunn (88)

C - Jordan Minor (87)

Bench - Leon Bond (+1), Dante Harris (+1.5), Jacob Groves (+1), Blake Buchanan (+1), Elijah Gertrude (+1), Taine Murray (+.5), Anthony Robinson (+.25), Desmond Roberts (+.25) (+6.25) | Chem (+3.5)

19. Arizona (Pac-12) (98.15)

• Could fix backcourt woes with overwhelming talent in former 5-stars Boswell and Bradley

• Best frontcourt in the Pac-12 with Johnson, Larsson, and more importantly, Ballo

• Bench is a bit weak, relying completely on Boswell, Lewis, and Anderson

PG - Jaden Bradley (88)

SG - Caleb Love (94)

SF - Pelle Larsson (87)

PF - Keshad Johnson (87)

C - Oumar Ballo (96)

Bench -Kylan Boswell (+1.5), KJ Lewis (+1), Dylan Anderson (+1), Filip Borovicanin (+.25), Henri Veesaar (+.25), Conrad Martinez (+.25) (+4.25) | Chem (+3.5)

20. UCLA (Pac-12) (98.05)

• Bench is extremely loaded

• See if Petrus is going to be 5-star level or 4-star level

• Weak frontcourt, but Andrews breakout and Clark return should carry them

PG - Dylan Andrews (88)

SG - Illane Fiblueli (87)

SF - Berke Buyuktuncel (89)

PF - Adem Bona (91)

C - Aday Mara (93)

Bench - Lazar Stefanovic (+1), Sebastian Mack (+1), Devin Williams (+1), Brandon Williams (+1), Jan Vide (+1), Will McClendon (+.75), Kenneth Nwuba (+.25), Ege Demir (+.25) (+6.25) | Chem (+2)

21. Gonzaga (WCC) (98)

• Experience mixed with talent

• Ike, Venters, and Nembhard need to mesh

• Lots of question marks on the bench other than Hickman

PG - Ryan Nembhard (94)

SG - Nolan Hickman (87)

SF - Steele Venters (87)

PF - Anton Watson (91)

C - Graham Ike (93)

Bench - Dusty Stromer (+1), Ben Gregg (+1), Jun Seok Yeo (+.5), Luka Krajnovic (+.5),  Braden Huff (+.5), Pavle Stosic (+.5) (+4) | Chem (+3.5)

22. Kentucky (SEC) (98)

• Mix of young talent and experienced talent

• Watch Onyenso and Thiero improvement, both may start this season

• Bring in #1 recruiting class

PG - Robert Dillingham (91)

SG - DJ Wagner (95)

SF - Justin Edwards (93)

PF - Tre Mitchell (88) 

C - Aaron Bradshaw (93)

Bench - Ugonna Onyenso (+1), Reed Sheppard (+1), Zvonimir Ivisic (+.75), Adou Thiero (+1), Jordan Burks (+.5), Joey Hart (+.25) (+4.5) | Chem (+1.5)

23. Miami (ACC) (97.8)

• Pack and Omier step up in loss of Wong

• Cleveland has all-american potential

• Watch Joseph, Poplar, Nwoko, Casey breakouts for bench depth

PG - Nijel Pack (94)

SG - Bensley Joseph (86)

SF - Wooga Poplar (87)

PF - Matthew Cleveland (93)

C - Norchad Omier (95)

Bench - Michael Nwoko (+1), AJ Casey (+.75), Jakai Robinson (+.75), Christian Watson (+.5), Kyshawn George (+.25), Paul Djobet (+.25) (+3.25) | Chem (+3.5)

24. Alabama (SEC) (97.75)

• Wrightsell, Sears, and Estrada are a tough backcourt to play against

• Watch Rylan Griffen breakout

• Not much bench outside of Stevenson, who may end up starting

PG - Mark Sears (94)

SG - Latrell Wrightsell (87)

SF - Aaron Estrada (91)

PF - Rylan Griffen (88)

C - Grant Nelson (92)

Bench - Jarin Stevenson (+1.25), Nick Pringle (+.5), Kris Parker (+.5), Sam Walters (+1), Mouhamed Diabite (+.25), RJ Johnson (+.25) (+3.75)  | Chem (+3.5)

25. Kansas State (Big 12) (97.75)

• Losing Nowell and Johnson is very rough

• Perry will be good, but can he play in the Big 12?

• Watch a Tomlin breakout, but they may be one piece away

PG - Tylor Perry (93)

SG - Ques Glover (88)

SF - Arthur Kaluma (92)

PF - David N’Guessan (86)

C - Nae’Qwan Tomlin (91)

Bench - Cam Carter (+1), Dai Dai Ames (+1), RJ Jones (+1), Macaleab Rich (+.75), Will McNair (+.5), Dorian Finster (+.5), Taj Manning (+.25), Jerrell Colbert (+.25), (+4.75) | Chem (+2)

Next Up - Villanova, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Colorado, Texas

In the Hunt - Baylor, TCU, Syracuse, Indiana, Wake Forest