Sparty is in the Driver’s Seat
Michigan State is the favorite in NCAA men’s basketball in 2019-20
Whitney expected to lead the way. No. 6
Florida will be led by Senior Kerry Black-
shear, Jr., and Freshman Scottie Lewis.
No. 22 LSU will be led by Sophomores
Javonte Smart and Emmitt Williams.
After a surprising Final Four run last year,
Auburn is at No. 24, with its top players
being Senior Samir Doughty and Fresh-
man Isaac Okoro.
at No. 12, behind Junior Sandro Mamuke-
lashvili and Senior Myles Powell. Xavier
rounds it out at No. 19, with its leaders
being Senior Tyrique Jones and Junior
Naji Marshall.
Big 12
Kansas starts the season at No. 3, look-
ing to return to national prominence be-
hind Sophomores
Devon Dotson
and Ochai Agbaji.
Texas Tech, com-
ing off a Final
Four run, returns
Senior T.J. Holy-
fi eld and wel-
comes Freshman
Jahmi’us Ramsey
and comes in at
No. 13. Baylor is
at No. 16, being
led by Sopho-
more Jared Butler
and Junior Macio
Teague.
By Ryan Marderosian
Chieftain Staff
The 2019-20 college basketball season
is shaping up to be a good one. The usual
powerhouses are ranked high, and many
of them have the right pieces to compete
for the championship.
Some of the best players from last sea-
son returned for their Senior years, while
plenty of incoming
Freshman look to
play a big role.
Here is a look at
what should be a
great season of bas-
ketball.
ACC
The ACC has three
teams in the Top 10.
No. 4 Duke replaces
Zion Williamson and
R.J. Barrett with Ver-
non Carey, Jr., and
Matthew Hurt. No. 6
North Carolina looks
strong, with recruits
like Cole Anthony
PAC-12
Senior Guard Cassius Winston (5) and Michigan State are heavy favorites to win it all in 2019-20
and Armando Bacot.
Oregon comes
No. 9 Louisville, led
in at No. 15, with its
by Jordan Nwora and Steven Enoch, is
leaders being Seniors Payton Pritchard
Big East
poised to return to national contention.
Villanova comes in at No. 10 and will be and Anthony Manthis. No. 21 Arizona,
Defending champ Virginia, No. 23, lost
led by Freshmen Zeke Ninaji and Nico
led by Freshman Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
most of its top players and will be led by and Sophomore Saddiq Bey. Seton Hall is Mannion, is looking to bounce back after
Senior Mamadi Diakite.
not making the tournament last year.
Big Ten
Heavy favorite Michigan State
comes in at No. 1, behind Player of
the Year candidate Cassius Win-
ston, a Senior, and Junior Xavier
Tillman. Maryland is at No. 7 and
will be led by Sophomore Jalen
Smith and Senior Anthony Cowan,
Jr. No. 18 Ohio State and Juniors
Kyle Young and Kaleb Wesson.
No. 23 Purdue features Jahaad
Proctor and Matt Haarms.
SEC
Kentucky is No. 2, with Fresh-
men Tyrese Maxey and Kahlil
B ROTHE R R I C E H I G H S C HO O L C H I E F TA I N
Predictions
Player of the Year
Cassius Winston
All-American Team
Cassius Winston, MSU
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Kerry Blackshear, Jr., Florida
James Wiseman, Memphis
Wiseman
Final Four
Michigan State, LSU, Oregon, Louisville
National Championship
Michigan State over Louisville
P AGE 7
Best of Rest
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, com-
ing out of the WCC, are at No. 8 and
20, respectively. Gonzaga brings
back Sophomore Filip Petrusev and
Junior Corey Kispert, while Saint
Mary’s has Senior Jordan Ford and
Junior Malik Fitts leading the way.
Memphis, out of the AAC, has a
new head coach in Penny Hardaway
and the top recruit in the 2019 class,
James Wiseman. The Tigers look to
bring 14th-ranked Memphis back to
relevancy. Out of the MWC, Utah
State is at No. 17 and will be led by
Senior Sam Merrill and Sophomore
Justin Bean.
N O V E M B E R 2019