ESPN unveils updated way-too-early Top 25 college basketball rankings

With the NBA Draft come and gone and commitments wrapping up, the rosters of next season’s college basketball season are nearly set. Plenty of coming and going required a new update to some media outlet’s early preseason rankings. ESPN was the latest to release their most newest ‘Way-Too-Early Top 25’ early on Tuesday. Jeff Borzello’s rankings may have shifted but his top team remained the same if not bolstered.

ESPN’s Updated Way-Too-Early Top 25

1. North Carolina Tarheels
2. Gonzaga Bulldogs
3. Houston Cougars
4. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Duke Blue Devils
6. Kansas Jayhawks
7. Creighton Bluejays
8. Baylor Bears
9. UCLA Bruins
10. Arkansas Razorbacks
11. Texas Longhorns
12. Auburn Tigers
13. Tennessee Volunteers
14. Villanova Wildcats
15. Indiana Hoosiers
16. Arizona Wildcats
17. TCU Horned Frogs
18. Oregon Ducks
19. Alabama Crimson Tide
20. Virginia Cavaliers
21. San Diego State Aztecs
22. Texas Tech Red Raiders
23. Dayton Flyers
24. UConn Huskies
25. Illinois Fighting Illini

North Carolina was the previous No. 1 team in ESPN’s last ranking. The return of four key starters from the national runner up justified that position for the Tarheels. The latest addition, Northwestern transfer Peter Nance, only further confirmed that selection. At 6’10, Nance fills the role of Brady Manek with averages of 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds on 45.2% from deep. With all those pieces, new and old, Hubert Davis’ squad will be ready to run it back next season.

While some teams lost a lot to the NBA Draft or transfer portal, Gonzaga ended up benefitting from them. They did lose Chet Holmgren to the pros as the No. 2 pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Andrew Nembhard to the Indiana Pacers. Still, Drew Timme, Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton all elected to return to Spokane. Add in transfers Malachi Smith and Efton Reid and the Bulldogs will remain in the mix in 2023.

Rounding out ESPN’s Top 5 are Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars, John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats, and the Duke Blue Devils under new head coach Jon Scheyer. They’re followed by the reigning champion Kansas Jayhawks in sixth. Creighton, Baylor, UCLA, and Arkansas make up the remainder of the Top 10.

The SEC and Big 12 lead the the way for ESPN with five selections apiece in the Top 25. The ACC and PAC-12 have three while the Big 10 has the least of the Power 5 with two. Non-Power 5 teams hold seven spots in the updated rankings.

There’s a long summer and fall ahead before any of these teams hit the floor next season. Still, the roster changes are effectively complete as these programs start summer workouts. From there, all 25 of these squads will start their journey towards Houston next season for the 2023 Final Four.