The start of the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season has already given us plenty to discuss.
In less than a week the sport has provided some truly eye-popping blowouts, epic plays down the stretch to cover against the spread and, of course, some classic buzzer-beaters.
So now that we’ve gotten a taste of the sport, it seems like the perfect time to make some predictions and breakdown what we’re most excited about as the season picks up steam.
There are no shortage of storylines or major matchups to dive into and we’ll be following the action all year long. But for now let’s gaze into the future and make some picks.
Conference Winners
Conference Previews
Blake Schuster: Taking Kansas to win the Big 12 might not be a “fun” pick, but it’s definitely a profitable one. The Jayhawks have won at least a share of the conference in 18 of the last 22 years. Elsewhere, it’s hard to bet against a Kentucky team that returns the likely Wooden Award winner in Oscar Tshiebwe and I think an underrated Miami team (fresh off an Elite Eight appearance) offers great value in and ACC bound to beat up on itself.
Caroline Darney: Is it natural to submit picks then immediately hate all of them? The SEC might have the collection of the best teams this season with Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn all in the top-16 on KenPom, but I’m going with the favorite here. The Big 12 will be the toughest top-to-bottom, and I think Baylor, Kansas and Texas will all beat each other up. Going with Virginia out of the ACC as a value play, and the early struggles with Villanova have me picking the favorite in Creighton (though I debated it).
Cole Huff: My picks are mostly odds-on favorites, so sorry for being boring. But the one winner I picked that doesn’t have conference-best odds is Michigan. The Wolverines’ disappointing 2021-22 season doesn’t faze me and I think that Hunter Dickinson, in Year 3, will be even more of a nightmare for opposing teams than he already was. Here’s to a bounce-back year for Juwan Howard, who has an opportunity to coach his son, Jett, to a Big Ten title.
Prince Grimes: My favorite conference picks are all easy picks because I like the favorites, UNC and Kentucky, to win in the ACC and SEC. But in a conference with two teams favored at the top, I’m rolling with Arizona over UCLA in the Pac-12. I like the interior presence Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo give the Wildcats.
2023 National Champion
Blake Schuster: Kansas Jayhawks
Here’s a little secret: If you would’ve asked Kansas fans in 2021 which team had a better chance to win the title between last year’s team and this year’s team, the 2022-23 squad would probably get the nod. Bill Self brought in three McDonald’s All-American freshmen with MJ Rice, Gradey Dick and Ernest Udeh Jr to pair with returning starters Jalen Wilson and Dejuan Harris. Then Self added Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist Kevin McCuller Jr as a transfer from Texas Tech. If this team can get one or two bigs to emerge late like David McCormack did last year, Kansas will have an argument as the deepest Power 5 team and become the first back-to-back NCAA champion since Florida in 2006-2007.
Caroline Darney: Houston Cougars
Wow, I am SHOCKED that Blake picked Kansas. SHOCKED I TELL YOU. I don’t think the Jayhawks go back-to-back, because this is the year that Kelvin Sampson finally gets that elusive title. They have the needed balance of a top-15 offense and defense per KenPom, a mix of youth and experience and a bonafide superstar in Marcus Sasser.
Cole Huff: Houston Cougars
Look at me agreeing with Caroline. I echo much of what she just said and I agree that Marcus Sasser is ridiculously good. The defense should be super, once again, under Kelvin Sampson.
Prince Grimes: North Carolina
Could I be more boring!? Probably not, but I absolutely believe in the Tar Heels this year. A lot more than I believe in another one of the favorites, Gonzaga. North Carolina returns a team full of players who have been to the mountaintop. They won’t be shaken by adversity. And they have a good infusion of new energy with three four-stars joining the likes of Armando Bacot, Caleb Love and R.J. Davis.
Which returning player are you most excited to watch?
Blake Schuster: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
As Edey goes, so will Purdue. I’ve long enjoyed watching the 7’4″ senior run the floor for the Boilermakers but this could really be a legacy year for the center. If he’s able to average, say, 15 points and 12 rebounds per night, Purdue should be able to contend for a Big Ten title. More than anything, I’m going to miss watching opposing players try to drive into him so I’ll be savoring every last bit of that.
Cole Huff: Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
Blake, I see your 7-foot Zach Edey and raise you a 7-foot Ryan Kalkbrenner. It’s truly an experience watching him control the defensive paint and I fully expect the Bluejays’ star center to earn another Defensive Player of the Year honor. He will be maybe the most important player on what could be Creighton’s greatest team ever. If healthy from start to finish, he’ll be up for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
Prince Grimes: Jeremy Roach, G, Duke
Last season was an up-and-down year for Roach, who saw himself in and out of the starting lineup. But he was a five-star recruit for a reason, and he showed why during March Madness, making some of the most jaw-dropping plays I can remember. I look forward to seeing how his game matures as a junior on a team that will need his leadership.
Caroline Darney: Drew Timme, C, Gonzaga
I feel like you either love Drew Timme, or you hate him. I am firmly in the former camp. Timme helped the Zags storm back against Michigan State on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, scoring 22 points in the victory. He’s got incredible footwork, plays with flare and has a great mustache. What more could you want.
Which freshman are you most excited to watch?
Caroline Darney: Ryan Dunn, Virginia
This is absolutely an overreaction pick to a debut for the team I am most familiar with, but the question was who I am most excited to watch. Ryan Dunn isn’t the highest ranked player in Virginia’s 14th rated class, but the four star from Freeport, NY might have the highest ceiling. In his collegiate debut against Monmouth, Dunn did a little of everything with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting (1-for-1 from three), six rebounds, three blocks, two steals, two assists and zero turnovers. Monmouth head coach King Rice compared Dunn to former UVA star DeAndre Hunter, a player who helped the Hoos win a national championship and was drafted No. 4 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. Let the overreactions commence!
Blake Schuster: Gradey Dick, Kansas
Ok, let’s keep the Kansas love rolling. Last season’s Gatorade National Player of the Year is already off to a thrilling start as he transitions to college. Dick had to most prolific debut at Kansas of any freshman since Xavier Henry with 23 points, two rebounds, two steals and four-of-six behind the arc. He also showed off some ridiculous athleticism in attacking the rim.
OH UH GRADEY DICK THROWDOWN 🔨 pic.twitter.com/dOGMvSkGLz
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) November 8, 2022
Dick has a high release and as quick of a shot as we’ll see in college basketball this year. Get ready to see him rocket up every mock draft board if he comes close to reaching his potential this season.
Cole Huff: Cam Whitmore, Villanova
I’m a Big East guy and on top of seeing how Villanova looks without Jay Wright on the sidelines, I’m excited to watch Cam Whitmore compete throughout the season. He’s a projected lottery pick, and while he hasn’t played yet, the physical qualities and athleticism he displayed as a prospect are special. Can’t wait to see it translate.
Prince Grimes: Cam Whitmore, Villanova
I’m always looking for the next great talent from the DMV area, and Whitmore fits that billing for all the reasons Cole went over. He was the top recruit from the state of Maryland, so I’m excited to see how that translates at ‘Nova.
Who's winning the Wooden Award?
Blake Schuster: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Let’s keep rolling with the repeat theme. Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds last year for Kentucky and could be better this season. There hasn’t been a two-time Wooden Award winner in college since Ralph Sampson went back-to-back for Virginia in 1982-83.
Cole Huff: Drew Timme, Gonzaga
The Zags will be fantastic, per usual, and Drew Timme will have his best season yet in his final go-around as a college basketball player. It’ll lead to a Wooden Award.
Prince Grimes: Armando Bacot, UNC
Sticking with the theme of bigs, I’ll roll with Bacot. He was a double-double machine last season, averaging 16 points and 13 boards. And his scoring average is already up to 22 points through two games this year.
Caroline Darney: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
I think this will be the closest race in recent memory. All of the guys listed by my wonderful coworkers here are absolutely correct, and I struggled with which big to pick. I went with Tshiebwe, but my biggest bet is that it’s going to be a big man.
Which Mid-Major will become this year's darling?
Caroline Darney: San Diego State
Does it count as a “darling” if they’re expected to be good? SDSU is top-20 in the KenPom rankings and should be very strong defensively. Matt Bradley transferred in before the 2022 season and shot over 40% from three (including a 48.3% mark in conference play). They’ll face BYU, St. Mary’s, Ohio State and Stanford in the non-conference, giving us a good idea of who they are.
Blake Schuster: Bryant Bears
Picked to finish second behind Vermont in the America East conference, I’m riding with Bryant to make back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament after Peter Kiss took the Bears to the dance last year. Why? Because Saint Peters sensation Doug Edert is now leading the program alongside Charles Pride. With a starting lineup of all upperclassmen—and a non-con schedule that features Syracuse, Cincinnati and Tulane—get ready to see Bryant build a strong resume.
Cole Huff: Drake Bulldogs
I’m unapologetically a Tucker DeVries fan and I believe he has the talent to do some special things in an NCAA Tournament setting. Drake should be able to go dancing this season, and from there, we all know it’s in Cinderella’s hands.
Prince Grimes: San Diego State
It’s got to be the Aztecs. Even with relatively high expectations and a top 25 ranking after last season’s run to the NCAA tournament and first-round exit, a deep tournament run would qualify San Diego State as a darling. And they have the tools to get it done with a veteran roster and some impact transfers.
Which head coach is already on the hot seat?
Caroline Darney: Jeff Capel, Pitt
Jeff Capel took over a terrible situation at Pitt after being hired to take on a squad that went 0-18 in conference play under Kevin Stallings. Things haven’t gotten too much better as the Panthers are 21-53 in ACC games under Capel.
Blake Schuster: Mike Boynton, Oklahoma State
It’s not all Boynton’s fault. The results just haven’t been there in Stillwater beyond landing Cade Cunningham. He enters the season 87-73 overall since 2017, but just 39-51 in the Big 12. Oklahoma State hasn’t finished better than fifth in the conference during Boynton’s tenure—which is exactly where it was picked to finish again this year. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been in the NCAA Tournament just once since Boynton took over for Brad Underwood, though to be fair he lost one tournament opportunity due to the pandemic and another due to NCAA eligibility. It’s probably time for a new era at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Cole Huff: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
I’m not saying that Ewing will lose his job, he might have some leash considering his stature at the university. Also, the Hoyas did win the Big East Tournament a couple of years ago to advance to the NCAA Tournament. But if you remove those things, the Hoyas haven’t been good under Ewing’s leadership, and another poor season might be enough to really get the G’Town faithful upset.
Prince Grimes: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
I hate to pile on Ewing, but Cole is right. Unlike other schools that have strong football teams to lean on, basketball is supposed to be what Georgetown does. But they haven’t been very good at it for a long time. The Hoyas went 0-19 in the Big East last season, which likely leaves Ewing very little room for error.
