Here are my four favorite words to hear: college basketball is back.
There are many storylines to follow, including the final year of the Pac-12, the battle of the bigs, and the surprises that are inevitable to arrive.
In this article, we will briefly look at the best players in college basketball, along with conference champions and Final Four picks.
Player of the Year: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Last year’s Wooden Award winner is back in West Lafayette as a heavy frontrunner to repeat as the best player in college basketball. There are tons of great bigs in college basketball: Edey, Kansas’s Hunter Dickinson, Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, North Carolina’s Armando Bacot and UConn’s Donovan Clingan. However, I will take the double-double machine that has proven to be a prolific scorer for Matt Painter and the Boilermakers.
Coach of the Year: Hubert Davis, North Carolina
No one is talking about Bacot and the Tar Heels, who despite losing star guard Caleb Love look to be one of the contenders in the ACC. It might be a make-or-break year for Davis, who had an underwhelming season after being the preseason No. 1 last year. I think North Carolina will bounce back in a big way this season.
All-American Team:
G – Tyler Kolek, Marquette
G – Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
F – Bryce Hopkins, Providence
F – Kyle Filipowski, Duke
C – Zach Edey, Purdue
Major Conference Awards:
ACC
Champion: Duke
The Blue Devils are rapidly rising, securing the best recruiting class in 2024, headlined by No. 1 overall player Cooper Flagg. However, they are not here yet. So why pick Duke? In Jon Scheyer’s second season in Durham, I love their chances to win the ACC. Filipowski returned for a second season and looks to be one of college basketball’s best players. Along with him is a loaded backcourt of Tyrese Proctor and Jeremy Roach, two excellent guards who complement each other well. Watch out for freshman Jared McCain, who could have a massive impact that no one is talking about.
Player of the Year: Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke
Filipowski averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game last season on an efficient 44.1% shooting from the floor. I thought he would go to the NBA after his freshman year, but he has some work to do before being considered NBA-ready. His three-point shooting needs to improve, shooting 28.2% from long-range. If he can improve from the perimeter, he will be even more lethal than expected this season.
Big East
Champion: UConn
The defending national champions are not the favorite to win the conference. However, with Clingan, Tristan Newton and Alex Karaban returning, in addition to Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer and a loaded freshman class headlined by five-star guard Stephon Castle, the Huskies are loaded. UConn has not won the Big East regular season since 2006. They last won the Big East Tournament during the legendary 2011 run. I do not see Marquette going back to back. That is rare in a stacked conference. I think the most balanced team on both offense and defense is Connecticut.
Player of the Year: Tyler Kolek, G, Marquette
I love Clingan, but Tyler Kolek looks to be the best in the Big East. Not only can he score, he’s also unselfish with the ball, as one of the nation’s returning assists leaders. I love Kolek’s game. In my opinion, he is the best guard in the country and one of the true point guards you’ll see this season.
Big Ten
Champion: Purdue
I like Purdue’s chances this season. It’s not just because of Edey, but they have a good supporting cast led by sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer and sophomore Braden Smith. Smith came up big in Big Ten play last season, especially in crunch time against Ohio State. Michigan State is a close second, but I think the Boilermakers are a better team this year.
Player of the Year: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
The National Player of the Year will win his conference’s Player of the Year award. He would become the first Boilermaker to win two Big Ten Player of the Year awards. The last player to win back-to-back awards was Luka Garza at Iowa.
Big 12
Champion: Kansas
Kansas is the preseason No. 1 team in both the AP and Coaches Poll. It’s a new-looking team in Lawrence, led by Michigan transfer Dickinson. Two other Jayhawks made the Naismith Trophy Watch List: guards Dajuan Harris Jr. and Kevin McCullar Jr. They’re loaded this season and will look better from the perimeter with Towson transfer Nick Timberlake, who should bring percentages similar to what Gradey Dick had last year.
Player of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, C, Kansas
He will probably be hated this season, especially by Michigan fans, but sometimes the most hated players are the best. Dickinson was a double-double machine at Michigan and has made one of the All-Big Ten teams every year in Ann Arbor. He’s the centerpiece of what could be a special season for Bill Self’s Jayhawks.
Pac-12
Champion: Arizona
Arizona has a strong duo of Oumar Ballo and North Carolina transfer Caleb Love as the Wildcats look for another Pac-12 Championship. They’ll be battle-tested early, with Duke on Friday, but that should help them prepare for conference play.
Player of the Year: Boogie Ellis, G, USC
Ellis has improved every season he’s played college basketball, whether it’s at Memphis or USC. I love the talent that the fifth-year guard has to offer, as he averaged 17 points per game and shot roughly 43% from the floor. Ballo will be his competition, but I think Ellis will win it.
SEC
Champion: Tennessee
With star guard Santiago Vescovi, the Volunteers are in for a big season in Knoxville. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi said it best: they’re in the best-golfer-to-never-win-a-major category. Along with Vescovi, Zakai Zeigler headline arguably the best backcourt in college basketball. Rick Barnes has yet to make a big run at Tennessee. The 2023-24 season may be the year.
Player of the Year: Wade Taylor IV, G, Texas A&M
Taylor had a breakout sophomore year in College Station, doubling his points per game average and nearly doubling his assists per game average. Texas A&M looks strong this year, and he’s the clear leader. If he can play a point guard role for the Aggies, much like what he did last season, he will be the SEC Player of the Year:
Final Four:
Duke (champion)
Gonzaga (runner-up)
Tennessee
UConn
Calhoun's Corner 