LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The confetti had not yet all fallen on the Alamodome court in San Antonio before ESPN was out with its first "Way Too Early" Top 25 for next season.
Way Too Early has never been a better descriptor, given that we’re not even at the halfway point of transfer portal jostling. But as clickbait goes, there’s not much better. Who can resist peeking ahead.
Back in the old days, when covering the Final Four was an annual ritual, no matter who was in it, I remember heading back to the media hotel after the championship game, where the NCAA usually had some kind of ballroom set up with ice cream bars posted in various spots. And the gathered reporters would sit around and debate the next season’s Top 25.
It's never been harder, this far out, to take a stab at it, but ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, God bless him, has done so. And the results will no doubt leave Louisville and Kentucky fans in anticipation all summer.
He has Houston solidly at No. 1 and Purdue at No. 2.
But then at No. 3, ESPN lists Louisville. The rationale:
"Pat Kelsey has had as strong an offseason as any coach in the country through the first couple of weeks, landing impact transfers Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) to go with top-10 recruit Mikel Brown Jr. in next season's backcourt. There are questions up front, as neither J'Vonne Hadley nor Kasean Pryor has definitively announced a return to the Cardinals for another season. James Scott and Aly Khalifa are options up front, as is Germany native Sananda Fru."
Kentucky coach Mark Pope instructs his team during a loss to Auburn.
Not far behind, and with a recruiting class far from complete, is Kentucky. The comment:
"Kentucky could be loaded on the perimeter next season, with the arrivals of transfers Jaland Lowe (Pitt) and Kam Williams (Tulane), as well as top-25 prospects Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis. That's on top of the potential returns of leading scorer Otega Oweh and rotation players Collin Chandler and Travis Perry. Mark Pope needs more options up front, but Monday's commitment from Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate gives the Wildcats some toughness and versatility."
Borzello has UConn at No. 4 and Michigan at No. 5, with Arkansas, Duke, St. John’s and UCLA rounding out the Top 10.
Kelsey’s current transfer portal class is ranked No. 1 in the nation by On3 Sports, and the overall recruiting class is No. 7. Mark Pope at Kentucky currently has the No. 3-ranked overall class, with more expected to join.
ESPN’s early look has just two SEC teams in the top 10 but seven in the Top 25.
Besides Louisville and Duke, the ACC has just one other team — North Carolina at No. 25.
The Big Ten clocks in with three in the Top 10 and seven in the Top 25.
Sports Coverage:
BOZICH | My final AP men's college basketball Top 25 ballot
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