It’s always fun to root for the little guy.

When March Madness rolls around next spring, there will be a number of conferences with one attempt to cheer for against big, power conference opponents. What makes this year’s mid-major crop particularly intriguing is the number of returning NCAA tournament teams that are almost full of teams returning.

In an era where small schools are getting hit harder with the passing of each offseason, seeing NCAA tournament teams like Liberty, Vermont, new Mexico state, Colgate and North Dakota state stay together should be a fun story to follow as they are among the few mid-major teams to follow this season.

Programming note: We did not include schools from Atlantic 10 or West mountain until Saint Mary and BYU were dropped off the list as well. It’s not that these programs aren’t good or worth talking about, but at this point I think we all know schools like VCU and Utah state will be very good. 

Making the Round of 32 and knocking out Mississippi State last season, Liberty has another chance to do damage in the NCAA tournament with four returning starters. Two fifth-year seniors have a chance to earn Atlantic Sun Player of the Year honors as wing Caleb Homesley and forward Scottie James are standout players. Homesley lit up the Bulldogs for 30 in the first-round NCAA upset while James is a three-year starter and double-double threat. Senior guard Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz and junior guard Elijah Cuffee both started every game and logged heavy minutes for a 29-win team last season as the Flames have a ton of returning talent and experience. With six neutral site games and road games at Vanderbilt and LSU, Liberty will also test themselves in non-conference play.

Putting a scare into Florida State in the first round last season, Vermont could easily win multiple games in the NCAA tournament with many key players returning. Once America East Player of the Year Anthony Lamb pulled his name out of the NBA Draft the senior became the league’s best returning player. The last three years, the Catamounts are a ridiculous 45-3 in the America East with 83 overall wins. This could be the season they finally break through. Lamb will have significant help on the interior with grad transfer big man Daniel Giddens. The former four-star recruit spent time at Ohio State and Alabama and adds instant experience and credibility inside that the Catamounts lacked.

Junior Steph Smith is another returning double-digit scorer to follow, and of course there Are two more Duncan still in Vermont after Ernie Duncan moved on from a prolific four-year career. Robin Duncan was an all-rookie team selection in the conference while Everett Duncan is a noted floor spacer with some starts in his career. Vermont has early road trials in St. Bonaventure, St. John’s, Virginia, Yale and Cincinnati.

Before Auburn made a surprising Final Four run last season they were nearly ousted by the Aggies in the first round in a one-point game. Although New Mexico State loses experienced rebounding ace Eli Chuha from that group, they return 10 of their 13 rotation players — including eight seniors. A deep and balanced team coming off of a 30-win season, New Mexico State has continued to dominate the WAC under head coach Chris Jans. Terrell Brown and AJ Harris are the top scorers to return as they form a great backcourt along with productive forward Ivan Aurrecoechea and WAC Tournament MVP Trevelin Queen. With a top 40 offense on KenPom, this group gets it done a number of different ways on offense while wearing you down with the deepest rotation in the country (per KenPom) last season.

The Ivy League’s most experienced team combines the conference’s top recruiting class to form a very dangerous team. The Crimson have two Ivy Player of the Year candidates in point guard Bryce Aiken and forward Seth Towns — who missed all of last season due to injury. Aiken is capable of scoring outbursts on any night while having Towns back will be huge for Harvard’s frontcourt. Even without Towns playing last season, Harvard managed an NIT appearance and win over Georgetown. Now, all five starters from last season, Towns and a recruiting class led by four-star forward Chris Ledlum have their sights set on an Ivy title and possibly more. Head coach Tommy Amaker has had plenty of talented teams at Harvard but this group will have some of the highest expectations in recent years.

For only the third time in program history, Colgate made the NCAA tournament last season. Expectations are sky high this season after the Raiders gave Tennessee a solid game in the first round with four starters coming back. Patriot League Player of the Year Rapolas Ivanauskas returns as the solid-shooting forward is skilled and capable of big games. Dynamic point guard Jordan Burns is also back as he can get hot from the perimeter while also being a very good distributor. Senior forward Will Rayman also returns along with reigning Patriot Rookie of the Year Tucker Richardson at guard. The Raiders have star power from multiple spots and veteran shot makers at multiple positions. If Colgate plugs its hole from center and finds some bench pop they could roll through the Patriot once again.

Rick Stansbury could finally have the talent to take Western Kentucky back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013. With the return of potential All-American big man Charles Bassey, the Hilltoppers have four starters back as Taveion Hollingsworth, Josh Anderson and Jared Savage are three double-figure scorers around Bassey. Perimeter shooting, a major weakness for Western Kentucky a season ago, should also be improved with the addition of IUPUI transfer Camron Justice. Replacing Lamonte Bearden at point guard will be key to the Hilltoppers’ ceiling. If Lipscomb transfer Kenny Cooper is cleared right away by the NCAA then he’d help a ton while talented four-star freshman Jordan Rawls could also be called on. After falling in the Conference USA Tournament title game in back-to-back seasons, this could be the Western Kentucky team that makes a run.

Winning a First Four battle against NC Central before losing to Duke in the NCAA tournament, the Bison return all five starters and most of a deep rotation from a 19-win team. A team that is designed to space the floor at multiple spots and limit turnovers, North Dakota State doesn’t have any individual star but they should be one of the deepest mid-major teams in the country. Senior guards Vinnie Shahid and Tyson Ward are the team’s leading scorers while vital role players return throughout the roster. As long as the Bison are knocking down three-pointers and improve on their No. 292 KenPom defense from last season and they’ll be in good position to make it back to the Dance.

Coming off of a 24-win campaign, the Bucs have six key players coming back as the return of double-double forward Jeromy Rodriguez was huge. A program that has averaged 25 wins per season in four years under head coach Steve Forbes, East Tennessee State has two very strong shooters in elite bench scorer Tray Boyd III and junior guard Patrick Good. All-conference guard Bo Hodges is also back for the Bucs along with emerging sophomore guard Daivien Williamson. For a program that is consistently competing for the the postseason, this could be the most talented team Forbes has had during his time with the Bucs.

Head coach Nate Oats (Alabama) and five seniors moved on from the Bulls but there is still plenty of talent back for a program looking to make the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in six seasons. Veteran coach Jim Whitesell takes over after four years as an Oats assistant. The former Loyola coach has returning talent at his disposal. Two starting guards return in junior Jayvon Graves and senior Davonta Jordan as they form a strong defensive backcourt who should score more. Sophomores Jeenathan Williams and Ronaldo Segu are also expected to contribute more with Williams being a potential breakout star. Transfers will also help as wing Gabe Grant (Houston) and guard Antwain Johnson (Middle Tennessee) are both eligible after sitting out last season. New pieces have to fit together under a new coach but Oats didn’t leave the roster bare when he left for the SEC. There is still plenty of talent for Buffalo to have another strong season.

Surprisingly winning the Missouri Valley tournament and giving Final Four team Michigan State a tough first-round matchup, the Braves return their three top scorers. Senior guard and first-team All-Valley guard Darrell Brown has nearly 100 starts under his belt as he’s a tough-minded two-way leader. Junior forward Elijah Childs, a third-team all-conference player, also showed flurries of elite play in becoming one of the league’s most improved players last season. And senior sharpshooter Nate Kennel can knock down shots from nearly anywhere on the floor. The Braves lose three vital senior glue guys but figure to replace those minutes with emerging sophomore Ja’Shon Henry and two bigs in Koch Bar and Ari Boya. LSU transfer guard Danya Kingsby is also a potential perimeter option to run alongside Brown.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – In an era when many College basketball players want to speed up their careers in hopes of going Pro, Iowa’s Jack Nange took an unusual step back last season.

The sophomore is redshirted for the Hawkeyes, and they’re hoping to help him blossom into a postseason player this winter.

The 6-foot-11 Nunge, who started 14 games as a freshman in 2017-18, picked up next season partly because Iowa wanted to balance his frontcourt depth over the next few seasons and partly so he could bulk up. Nange’s work behind the scenes – along with the expected loss of star forward Tyler cook to the NBA – should put him in a position to compete for significant minutes this season.

Iowa (23-12 in 2018-19), which is coming off its fourth NCAA tournament appearance in six seasons, opens November 8 against southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

“I just thought it was the best decision for me, my skill development and getting to, ultimately, where I want to be,” Nunge said Wednesday during the team’s annual media day. “I became much stronger. I have to work on my game a lot.”

“Physically, he’s in a completely different place, especially as it relates to his ability to do things in this position,” Iowa coach Fran Mccaffery said. “He was always a good post player, but he was on the thin side. He’s not on the thin side anymore. He finishes the performances. Defensively, he always had huge defensive instincts, so now you have more body to fight against talented players in this League.”

How the Hawkeyes use Nunge in non-conference play will be one of their more interesting storylines ahead of Big Ten play.

Nunge is currently listed at 245 pounds, but he also has a surprisingly strong shot for a guy his size, shooting 40% on 3s and 80% off the line in earning Mr. Basketball finalist honors as a senior training in Indiana.

Those numbers dropped to 33.3% from beyond the arc and 75.5% from the line as a College freshman, but Nunge’s potential as a big man who can stretch the floor and create space for All-Big Ten honorable mention Luca Garza, emerging scorer Joe Wieskamp and others remains Intriguing.

“Be a mismatch guy,” Nunge said when asked about his role. “Taking someone who may not be as good on defense on the street, or placing up a smaller guy below.”

Nunge will not be guaranteed a starting spot, with Ryan Kriner and Cordell Pemsl also competing for frontcourt minutes. Nunge may have an inside track on the game along with Garza quite a bit on the power forward.

“He’s a great shot. Huge shooter. Really stretches the floor well, ” Garza said. “He’s really comfortable on the block now, as opposed to earlier in his career.”

Oregon state freshman N’faly Dante won’t be able to play until at least December 14.

The five-star freshman released a statement from Shams Charania stadium on Tuesday morning that he would not be allowed to play for the first six weeks of the season.

“On December 14, 2019, I plan to go to College and play College basketball at the University of Oregon,” Dante said in a statement. “I have completed my academic requirements and I am currently waiting for the NCAA eligibility completion process.

“Every potential student athlete who purchases an NCAA Eligible center ID, regardless of their gender or background, should be eligible for a timely and transparent process that is consistent with the student’s target enrollment date.”

Dante is one of eight rookies in Oregon’s program this season. The ducks are a preseason top 25 team, currently sitting 12th in the NBC Sports Top 25. Dante is their highest-rated freshman, but with UNLV grad transfer Shakur Juiston to Eugene, Dante won’t necessarily be a starter from day one.

Starting in September and running until November 5, the first day of the season, College Basketball Talk will be opening 2019-2020 NBCSports.com College hoops pre-pack.

On Monday, we published the official NBC Sports Preseason Top 25 and our expert picks for each award and power conference champion.

Today we produce NBC Sports Preseason all-American teams.

Winston is coming off a season where he was a first-team All-American, averaging 18.8 points and 7.5 assists for a team that won 32 games, the Big Ten regular season title, the Big Ten tournament and reached the Final four. It’s also a team that brings back enough talent to be the preseason No 1 team in the country in the NBC Sports Top 25.

As for the other players on this list, I don’t think there are many arguments here. When the best returning player in a sport is on the best team in the sport, you call him the preseason player of the year.

On the podcast above, I mentioned that I think that Howard is the guy that is the most likely to go from being in the conversation for First Team All-America in the preseason to out of the mix come March. There are two reasons for that. For starters, I think there is a real chance that the Golden Eagles end up being a team that falls in that 10-12 seed range come Selection Sunday, and the past has taught us that you need to have a truly special season to make a run at Player of the Year on a team that isn’t a title contender. The other reason is that there is a world where Howard’s efficiency goes in the tank. I like some of the other pieces that Wojo has at his disposal, but without the Hauser brothers, this is a different basketball team that is much easier to guard.

Howard’s going to get it, he’s going to have nights where he goes for 50 and he’s going to get on runs where he makes four, five or six triples in a row. He’s cool. But when everyone in Milwaukee knows he’s getting the ball, how often do these runs come?

I’m very high on Seton Hall this year and the biggest reason why is the return of Powell, who has grown into one of the top scorers in the country. He’s coming off a season where he averaged 23.1 points and put on some scoring displays that looked a lot like what Howard can do. He will have a monster senior season, the fights between him and Howard will be legendary and the Pirates, with essentially everything back from a season ago, should be good enough to launch a Big East title if all goes well.

Nwora was one of the breakout stars in college basketball last season, opting to withdraw from the NBA draft and return to school for his junior year. A combo-forward and a big-time shot-maker, Nwora is the perfect fit for Chris Mack’s offense, and his presence is the biggest reason that the Cardinals enter this season as a top five team in the NBC Sports Top 25. The big question with Nwora is going to be where he improved this offseason. If he comes back to school as a more fluid and explosive athlete, someone that can put the ball on the floor and create at a higher level, there’s no doubt that National Player of the Year is within his range of outcomes. He’s that good and Louisville is that good.

I don’t think that Wiseman is going to be the most productive freshman in college basketball this season but I do think that he is going to be the best freshman. His combination of physical tools, athleticism and a system at Memphis that should allow him to show them off is ideal. My big question with Wiseman is how well his skillset translates to the role he is going to be asked to play in college. At the next level, I think that he becomes the next Myles Turner, an elite defensive presence that can space the floor and create matchup problems against bigger defenders. I do not expect that that will be the way he is used at Memphis – nor should it be – and it will be interesting to see just how well he can overwhelm players that aren’t as physically gifted as he is.

COLE ANTHONY, North Carolina: Anthony will have a massive first season. I don’t see any way around it. He’s going to slot right into the role that Kobe white has vacated, he’s going to play just as fast-paced and he’s not going to have any near-term talent around him. I think he averaged 20 points and six assists. North Carolina’s ceiling will be determined whether those 20 points come on 15 shots or 25 shots, and if those six assists are paired with two turnovers or eight turnovers.

DEVON DOTSON, Kansas: Trying to figure out who the slot is as an all-American at Kansas is tough. I don’t think I can go with Udoka Azubuike after seeing Villanova neutralize all of him in the Final four two years ago, and while I’m in love with Ochai Agbaji, I believe he’s still a year away from really being in this conversation. That leaves the snake’s head, point guard Devon Dotson. He really came on a down stretch last season, and as his turnovers went down and efficiency went up, Kansas improved. I think he has a big sophomore season.

KERRY BLACKSHEAR JR., Florida: I love Blackshear. He’s a 6-foot-10, 250 pound big man who averages 14.9 points, 7.5 boards and 2.4 assists on the slow-paced Virginia Tech team as a third-choice offense. He can overpower smaller defenders in the post. He can make threes. He can beat more defenders from dribbling. He’s all Florida needs at five this season.

MAMADI DIAKITE, Virginia: I’m on a limb on this, and frankly, I think there’s a very strong case to be made that both of Diakite’s frontcourt mates-Jay Huff and Braxton Key-deserve to slot in here instead. But I love what Diakite provides defensively, I expect him to build from a terrific NCAA tournament run, and I’ll ride or die with UVA in starting power forward. Let’s see if it pays off.

ISAIAH STEWART, Washington: If Anthony isn’t the most productive freshman in this class, he very well could end up with Stewart, who is an absolute hose on the block. He’s going to soak up Noah Dickerson’s shots and anchor the zone that they work defensively.

TRE Jones, Duke: I love Tre Jones. I think he’s the key to this Duke team. I wrote all about it here.

ANTHONY COWAN, Maryland: I’m torn on Cowan. On the one hand, he is the best player and leading defender in a team with ten talents. This is a good thing. Is there a problem? Maryland guards seem to stop improving after a while. Melo Trimble never got better during his three years on campus. Cowan didn’t take the leap we all expected him to take last season. Will it be this year?

TYRESE MAXEY, Kentucky: I had a very difficult time choosing which Kentucky player I think will be their best. I see arguments in favor of Ashton Hagans and E. J. Montgomery. I see Kalil Whitney is a guy. Johnny Juzang advertising train has already got rolling. But I’ll go with Tyrese maxey. He’s a terrific lead guard and John Calipari is usually good with terrific lead guards.

JARRON CUMBERLAND, Cincinnati: it feels like no one ever mentions Cumberland when discussing the best players in the country, but here’s a rise of seniors that just came out and averaged 18.8 points, 4.4 boards and 3.6 assists while shooting 38.8 percent from three. It’s not bad.

SAM MERRILL, Utah: Neemias Queta seems to be the name that most people know about Utah state, but Merrill was their best player last season. His return to school is why the Aggies cracked the top 15 in the NBC Sports Top 25.

Rob Dowster joined Travis Hines this week to talk through every team in the Big 12. Can Kansas start a new streak? Is everything going on around the program going to be too much for them to overcome? How good is Texas tech? Can Baylor make a run at the championship? Where does Kansas fall? Why is Texas so interesting this year?

Here’s a full worn out or League:

Iowa State: 10: 15

Kansas: 18: 51

Kansas State: 31: 19

TCU: 37:05

Oklahoma: 42: 40

Oklahoma: 47: 00

Texas: 53: 15

Texas tech: 1: 05: 30

West Virginia: 1: 12: 35

Starting in September and running until November 6, the first day of the season, College Basketball Talk will be opening 2019-20 NBCSports.com College hoops pre-pack.

Today we are pre-empting the Big 12 conference.

It finally happened.

For the first time since President George W. Bush’s first term, Kansas did not win the Big 12 regular season title.

Despite last year’s results, Kansas is again a heavy favorite heading into this season after retooling the roster. The other 2019 contenders have suffered big losses, but there is enough talent and experience across the League to think the Jayhawks will have to truly earn a second-string start.

The Jayhawks ‘ 14-year streak of winning at least a share of the Big 12 title came to an end last spring, but didn’t get it twisted. The Jayhawks remain the class of this conference. They struck gold with Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson electing to return along with Silvio de Souza, whose ineligible benefits suspension was cut by the NCAA to make him eligible this season. Other contributors return while Iowa sniper Isaiah moss grad-transferred in. Kansas is not only a Big 12 favorite but a leading national title contender.

Of course, on-court exploits are only half the story this year for Kansas. The NCAA has leveled aggressive notice of allegations on the program stemming from the FBI’s investigation into the sport, and the Jayhawks, along with bill Self, will be looking at a host of issues – and possibly developments from – the situation all year. There may not be, however, a program more adept at successfully dealing with disputes than Kansas.

Unless it’s Snoop Dogg. Then they are not very good. So just avoid Snoop for the foreseeable future, guys.

We’ve all come to understand how great Texas Tech was last year, but it’s worth going back to how they got there. Remember the spring of 2018. That’s when Chris Beard and Keenan Evans time badass and Zeir Smith turns into a top 20 NBA draft pick as the Red raiders made the elite eight. The two then left with Zach Smith and Justin gray. It’s a huge loss to sustain, and yet somehow, Texas Tech got even better. Seconds away from a national title is better. Pretty crazy.

So despite another spring of heavy losses, including top-10 pick Jarrett CULVER, the prevailing wisdom is not only will the beard team be a Big 12 opponent again, they are a preseason top-10 team. Doubt them at your peril after what they pulled off last year. Graduate transfers Chris Clark and TJ Holyfield will likely be the key to how far Texas Tech can go in replicating last year’s success.

Scott drew really did an amazing job at Waco. It’s been interesting to watch his career progression, from the butt of national jokes to now being nationally recognized for being a legally qualified coach. The bears were once a team that would load up with lazy on huge talent, but have been a grittier group as of late.

Now it seems drew has a good mix of both, even if he doesn’t have the NBA draft lottery talent of yesteryear. Tristan Clarke returns after a knee injury cost him the second half of last season after he was on a tear. Much of the core from last year’s squad is also returning while transfers MaCio Teague and Davion Mitchell are also set to contribute.

Bears will be good.

Iowa state was the big 12 most talented team last year, and it saw two players (talen Horton-Tucker and Marial Shayok) go in the second round of the NBA draft and a third (Lindell Wigginton) land an Exhibition 10 contract. The cyclones ‘ best NBA prospects, however, are back in school for his sophomore season, not as much as even testing NBA waters.

Tyrese Haliburton is the envy of many NBA decision makers as a long-serving 6-foot-5 guard with a high shooting percentage and an even higher basketball Iq. He was relegated to a supporting role last year on the cyclone’s loaded roster, but he will take on a huge amount of responsibility this season. If he can show that he can take it on – and more scoring loads – he can find himself in the lottery conversation.

I think there’s only one of two ways it goes for Texas this season. Either the Longhorns are really good and Shaka Smart has been praised for finally having his breakout season in Austin despite the lack of lottery picks he’s had in the past, or the Longhorns aren’t great and the only discussion anyone wants to have about them is regarding Smart’s job security.

If Texas is so-so or even just good, that’s probably not enough to quell questions given the level of expectations – and piles of cash – that were heaped on Smart when he arrived from VCU. So either win big or face a large number of questions. In any case, it will be interesting to track outside.

This will be the fourth season on campus for the 7-foot-1, 270-pound, but we’ve only seen one healthy season from him. That year was pretty dang impressive, though, as Azubuike averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and 1.7 blocks while shooting 77 percent from the floor (insert eye and flame emoji here). He missed most of last season with a bum wrist, but eschewed going pro to return to Lawrence, where he’s likely a preseason All-American. He’s a old-school, back-to-the-basket big, which while out of vogue, is incredible difficult to stop when it comes in such a large and skilled package like Azubuike. He’s a singular force in the league – and maybe the country.

At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds with athleticism and a clean jumper, Lindy waters is the type of player coaches across the country crave. He has been steadily improving all three years he has been at Stillwater, and now looks poised to potentially be the type of star that could propel Oklahoma State to a surprise team in the League. A double-digit scorer with a length that shot 45 percent from 3-point range last year, waters has plenty of tools to be great.

After years of giving up big jobs, Shaka Smart finally left VCU in 2015 to take one of the fattest jobs in the country. Texas has big money and a big brand, but modest expectations. Smart’s arrival was to awaken the Longhorns after years of malaise under Rick Barnes. Instead, Barnes made Tennessee a national rival while Smart and Texas languished in mediocrity. Just, just, just didn’t work out very well.

That’s not to say it was a disaster – it wasn’t – but two NCAA tournament appearances, zero tournament wins and one last-place finish just doesn’t live up to expectations of what Texas can and should be. This year’s team will probably be just fine, but, again, is that the goal? Texas doesn’t seem to be in much of a rush to move on from Smart – or its $ 10 million buyout – but if it’s another so-so year, does Smart look for an outlet on its own, potentially with a lucrative landing spot that’s a better fit?

The big 12 is again one of the strongest leagues in the country, but probably not as many “Final four” threats as it has been in years past.

Kansas winning the national title and giving Snoop Dogg – and his acrobatic dancers? – championship ring.

1. KANSAS: last year would have been perfectly acceptable for most programs across the country, but the Jayhawks aren’t into that, are they? So they’re back this season as one of the top two or three teams in the country, and not only are they likely to start a new big 12 streak, but they could get bill Self that second national title as well.

2. BAYLOR: it’s Easy to forget that Tristan Clark was one of the most productive players in the Big 12 last year before his injury, but his return to Waco makes the bears formidable with most of last year’s core also back and passing MaCio Teague and Davion Mitchell also I n times.

3. TEXAS TECH: the Red raiders are essentially trying to do this year what they did last: Replace a huge amount of talent and production without missing a beat. Given that they are projected by most in the top 10 team, there is a lot of confidence that they will be able to pull it off. It is a vote of confidence by Chris Beard that several other coaches – especially those with a relatively limited head coaching track record-are given. Beard, however, is good.

4. IOWA STATE: The Cyclones lost five of their top seven players from last year’s team, but there’s optimism in Ames with starters Tyrese Haliburton and Michael Jacobson returning, Solomon Young back from injury and the injury sophomore center George Conditt IV stepping into a bigger role. The reason to be real bullish on Iowa State, though, the newcomers who should bolster the roster in a big way. Prentiss Nixon is eligible after sitting out last season following his transfer from Colorado State while Rasir Bolton, who averaged 11 ppg as a freshman at Penn State, is immediately eligible and fills a huge scoring need on the perimeter. The Cyclones lost a ton, but probably won’t take a significant step back.

5. OKLAHOMA STATE: last year was a complete and utter train wreck for the cowboys. Players got kicked off the team, and the team basically got kicked around the Big 12. Here’s a guess what the changes are this year. All five starters returned, including the aforementioned Lindy waters. Isaac Likekele was one of the standouts at FIBA U19s for team USA. Yor Anei is one of the best shot blockers in the country. Thomas Dziagwa and Cameron Mcgriff proved the Big 12 players. It’s a great Foundation.

And on top of that, Mike Boynton hails top-25 class set and UMass grad pass Jonathan Laurent, who shot 46.7 percent from 3-point range last year. They could easily be a surprise opponent in the conference this season.

6. TEXAS: there Are a lot of good parts to Austin, but probably not a lottery pick, which is what Shaka Smart had the advantage of early in his tenure. It could be argued that this may be Smart’s least talented team. Again, lots of solid players, but are there true gamechangers?

7. OKLAHOMA: Christian Doolittle and Brady Manek return from last year’s NCAA tournament team while long Kruger also gets Wichita state transfer Austin Reeves and top-50 rookie De’vion Harmon, but the rest of the roster looks thin.

Kruger is one of the nation’s top coaches, so he could get enough out of this group to get another tournament appearance, but it will be a tough sledge against the rest of the Big 12. Luckily for them, flirt with .500 in this League keeps you in the selection and discussion.

8. KANSAS STATE: Barry brown, Kamau Stokes and Dean Wade are gone, ending an era in Manhattan that saw the elite eight and Big 12 title. Those three, especially Wade, were really the face and heart of the program in its recent run of success. Their losses will be difficult to overcome.

The Wildcats do, however, bring back Xavier Snead, a bona fide NBA Prospect along with McCall Omein, Carter Diarra and Mike McGuirl. It’s a solid group, but is it enough to score? And can they be as great defensively as the last two years?

The horned frogs have suffered quite a bit of attrition, but so far Desmond Bain, one of the League’s top shooters, and Kevin Samuel, one of the conference’s promising young big men. RJ Nembhard, who has shown promising flashes, steps into a big role and George Mason transfer Jaire Grayer will help, but it’s hard to see this TCU team competing near the top half of the conference.

10. WEST VIRGINIA: Bob Huggins made no secret of his commitment to his team throughout last year’s last-place finish, but the mountaineers showed some signs of life late in the year after booting a couple of players. However, Huggins called last year’s campaign “pathetic” as losses mounted.

West Virginia could be in line for a similar season despite bringing in McDonald’s All-American Oscar Tsheibwe, a center with a 7-foot-5 wingspan that could remind those in morgantown of Sagaba Konate. It’s usually not a good idea to doubt Huggins can pull out of his teams, but looking at his roster relative to the rest of the Big 12, it looks like another last-place finish is in order.