The initial preseason 2019-2020 college basketball AP Preseason Poll is out and Ohio State checks in at No. 18. While that’s a respectable ranking, it may not be as high as many thought. After all, many very early projections had this year’s team pegged higher than that — often at or near the top ten.
But don’t tell the very well respected Ken Pomeroy and his computer rankings that Ohio State is barely a top twenty team. No, according to kenpom.com, the Buckeyes are more closely aligned to a top ten team– just outside of it at No. 11.
And there’s a good reason to think that the Buckeyes might be a little undervalued. It has a deep pool of talent returning, an All-Big Ten performer on the post in Kaleb Wesson, a grad transfer with experience at the point guard position in C.J. Wilson, and three new top fifty recruits to add to the mix.
Of course the Buckeyes have a very challenging schedule, and time will tell, but the Ken Pom rankings are one of the best in the business.
Here is the complete top 25 according to kenpom.com:
1. Michigan State*
2. Kentucky*
3. Louisville
4. Duke
5. Virginia
6. North Carolina*
7. Purdue*
8. Villanova*
9. Gonzaga
10. Kansas
11. Ohio State
12. Florida
13. Baylor
14. Florida State
15. Texas Tech
16. Maryland*
17. Marquette
18. Xavier
19. Tennessee
20. Seton Hall
21. Michigan*
22. Auburn
23. VCU
24. Arizona
25. Oklahoma
* Denotes Ohio State opponent in 2019-2020
What do you think? Too high, too low?
