There are many changes in ESPN’s latest way-too-early top 25 for the 2019-2020 college basketball season, but there aren’t any changes at the top.
Michigan State holds down the fort at the top spot, remaining there after ESPN (and many other outlets) pegged them as 2020’s top contender mere hours after Virginia held up the trophy to conclude last season. Duke checks in at #2, with Kentucky, Villanova and Michigan rounding out the top 5 in that order.
Cassius Winston announcing his return to East Lansing for his senior season, “cemented (MSU’s) spot as the early favorite to be ranked as the preseason No. 1 team in the country,” writes ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.
Add in a healthy Josh Langford, a couple of impact freshmen in Rocket Watts and Malik Hall and a whole roster of developing talent, including the primed-for-a-breakout Aaron Henry, and it’s clear why lofty expectation are being heaped upon the Spartans after an exciting Final Four run in 2019.
11 Rising Stars from @TheAndyKatz:
1. Ashton Hagans
2. Aaron Henry
3. Kihei Clark
4. Corey Kispert
5. McKinley Wright IV
6. Kyler Edwards
7. David Collins
8. Jermaine Samuels
9. Kyle Lofton
10. Bryce Aiken
11. Stef Smith
👉 https://t.co/nszwFWsd6h pic.twitter.com/rxgLQO4s5x— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 29, 2019
Other Big Ten teams in the top 25:
- #7 Ohio State
- #9 Maryland
