College Hoops Season Gets Underway

By Joey Askin ‘24
It is an exciting time for basketball fans nationwide, with men’s college basketball season officially underway. With over 350 Division I schools starting their seasons, it is difficult to predict which team will emerge as the national champion come April.

According to ESPN’s preseason rankings, North Carolina begins the year as the top overall seed, closely followed by Gonzaga and Houston. 
North Carolina had an impressive season in their first year under head coach Hubert Davis, in which they made their way to the national championship as an eighth seed before falling to Kansas. This season, they seem primed to re-establish themselves as one of the top programs in all of college basketball. 
Led by a strong and established core of Armando Bacot, R.J. Davis and Caleb Love, North Carolina seemed to have the perfect formula down since last season. However, after the Tarheels fell just short of the National Championship, many fans were surprised to see none of North Carolina’s stars declare for the NBA Draft. 
Back for what may be their last season together, North Carolina's backcourt of Davis and Love projects to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Both guards possess the ability to score at all three levels, while also showcasing great ball handling and court vision. 
Furthermore, Atlantic Coast Conference preseason player of the year, Bacot is one of the most dominant centers in the nation. Leading the Tarheels in scoring last year at an average of 16 points per game, Bacot projects to be one of the best rebounders and interior defenders throughout the season. 
“Bacot always finds a way to help his team, even without being able to shoot from distance,” said junior Doron Finkel. “Bacot’s value on the court is often overlooked, yet his commanding screens on offense and lockdown interior defense truly fuel this North Carolina squad.”
Although the majority of North Carolina’s team remains the same as last season, they also landed two of the top 50 high school recruits from the class of 2022: Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington, who will almost certainly add crucial depth to an already talented roster. 
Unlike North Carolina, Gonzaga finished the season in an extremely disappointing fashion, as the overall top seed in March Madness was shockingly upset by Arkansas in the sweet sixteen. Despite consistently ranking as one of the top teams during the regular season, Gonzaga has yet to win a national championship in its program’s history. 
This year, however, Gonzaga looks as dominant as ever. All-American forward Drew Timme is returning for his senior season after leading the team in scoring at 18 points per game.
Junior Avi Tobin said, “While Timme is not the most athletic player on the court, he consistently uses his incredible footwork to score at a high efficiency in the paint.” Tobin emphasized Timme’s “tremendous potential to lead this team and thrive at the next level.”
The Bulldogs were unable to land any top recruits this summer, but they instead looked towards the transfer portal to improve their roster. The Bulldogs undoubtedly gained tremendous talent by adding players such as Malachi Smith and Efton Reid, both leaving their previous schools in hopes of competing for a national title. 
Similar to Gonzaga, Houston does not compete in a power five conference, yet consistently finds success during March Madness. Following a final-four appearance just two seasons ago, this year’s Cougars squad seems primed to finally get over the top, with star point guard Marcus Sasser returning from an injury that caused him to miss all but 12 games last season. 
Sasser, one of the main contributors on Houston, headlines this young and athletic team on the offensive end. Meanwhile, the Cougars seem likely to continue to display their regularly suffocating defense this season. 
“Houston has the best defense in the country,” said junior Zach Siegel. “Head coach Kelvin Sampson does a great job teaching his young players to hustle and fight for every loose ball.”
Having one of the top recruiting classes in the entire country, Houston was also able to add five-star (and top ten) recruit, power forward Jarace Walker, and four-star wing Terrance Arceneaux. 
Despite possessing the necessary talent to win every night, Houston must focus on establishing chemistry throughout their young squad if they wish to maintain their status as contenders.
While these top teams seem to possess all the characteristics necessary to win a national championship, North Carolina knows better than anyone after their Cinderella run last tournament that truly anything is possible come March. For fans nationwide, all that is left to do is sit back and enjoy the show.