2011: Mid-Summer Preseason Top 50 Ranking

Team

2010*

1

Purdue

11

Big 3 returned as expected, so Boilers will be a true national title contender.

2

Duke

2

Getting Singler back was huge. Even without him, they had a top 10 roster.

3

Michigan State

18

Morgan is the only senior, and newcomer Payne might be a better forward anyways.

4

Kansas St

5

Pullen is back, and there's more then enough returning talent to make this squad legit once again despite losing Clemente .

5

Kentucky

4

Welcome a ridiculously loaded class that includes 5 guys ranked in the Top 33 of the country according to Rivals.com.

6

Pittsburgh

19

The core of the team returns intact, and Dixon has a nice new extension.

7

Villanova

16

Season ended on a sour note, but Cats might go into next season underrated.

8

Butler

7

Gordon Hayward is gone but Matt Howard, Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored all return. Khyle Marshall is an intriguing freshman at the same position as the departed Hayward.

9

Kansas

1

Added Selby since April, so get a boost there, but he can't help replace the loss of Aldrich in the middle. There is a ton of young talent hiding on the roster.

10

Syracuse

6

Rautins & Johnson are certainly big losses. But Boeheim welcomes the Big East's top class.

11

Ohio State

20

The loss of Turner is obviously huge, but the Buckeyes welcome another loaded Matta class. Sullinger is a rock in the middle, but Deshaun Thomas is x-factor.

12

Vanderbilt

27

Despite losing Jermaine Beal, Vandy has a chance to make some serious noise in the SEC.

13

Missouri

43

A couple seniors depart, but this is still an improving team with some underrated freshmen joining the fold. Very dangerous squad.

14

West Virginia

3

Will take a step back without do-everything Da'Sean Butler, but still a quality squad that is being overlooked nationally.

15

UNC

62

Losing Ed Davis isn't the end of the world. Success will depend on whether the 5-star class excels or plays like the underachieving 09 crew.

16

San Diego St

25

With everyone of note returning from the MWC champs, Aztecs are one of the best out west.

17

Tennessee

9

Lose Chism, Prince, Maze. Tobias Harris is their name freshman, but Jordan McRae might be the true star.

18

Baylor

8

Fr Perry Jones tries to offset Udoh's departure, but who will replace Tweety Carter?

19

Florida

57

All of the young talent will eventually gel, but the roster is still too frontcourt-heavy.

20

Temple

10

With Fernandez & Allen returning, the Owls will be solid once again, but may be a tad overrated in some preseason rankings.

21

Wisconsin

22

Losing Hughes & Bohanon will hurt, but Bo Ryan always finds a way.

22

BYU

24

The return of Fredette helps BYU remain MWC contenders. Tyler Haws will only get better as well.

23

Georgetown

14

Who will step up in the middle to replace Greg Monroe? The Hoyas at least welcome a solid 4-man class that should help provide much needed depth.

24

Texas

36

Tristan Thompson eases the loss of Damion James, and Pittman was never that dominant to begin with. Jordan Hamilton still has star potential.

25

Illinois

68

Coming off a weak season, Illinois returns everyone of note along with a top-notch 3-man class. Bruce Weber has no excuses this year.

26

Memphis

58

If Elliot Williams returned to school, this could have been a top 10 team considering the loaded recruiting class coming in.

27

Xavier

17

Had Jordan Crawford returned, the Muskies might have had Top 10 aspirations. Will still be in the A-10 mix regardless.

28

Florida State

44

The usual FSU-type team.. good, but not great. A lot of depth, but no dominant players.

29

Washington

34

Will be hard to make up for Pondexter loss. A bit overrated nationally in my opinion due to their hot finish last year.

30

Clemson

41

Booker is the big loss, but there's more then enough depth remaining.

31

Gonzaga

31

Harris ended up staying in school after all, which is huge. But there's not too much incoming talent to get excited about.

32

Utah St

38

Senior Quayle is the only loss and the Aggies are still the team to beat in the WAC.

33

Virginia Tech

59

The surprise return of Malcolm Delaney catapults VT back into the Top 50

34

Arizona St

72

Glasser is an important loss, but Keala King has a chance to be special, and Herb Sendek knows how to coach.

35

UNLV

48

Everyone of not returns from a team that made the Big Dance.

36

Richmond

26

Kevin Anderson returns to lead the improving Spiders. Will quietly emerge in the middle of A-10 race once again.

37

Maryland

23

Vasquez is the big loss, but 2 other seniors leave. One of the Terps better all-around classes in recent years joins fray.

38

Marquette

54

Lazar Hayward is a big loss, but look out for newcomer Vander Blue.

39

Old Dominion

28

With Lee graduating, it will be up the solid core of current juniors to lead the way.

40

Texas A&M

12

Lose top 3 players, but the freshmen class is underrated, and A&M can fall back on good team D.

41

New Mexico

15

Hobson and Martinez were the core of the team. Though the freshmen aren't bad, there will certainly be a drop from last year

42

Ole Miss

50

The Rebels always seem on the verge of making some noise, so maybe this is the year it happens.

43

St Louis

86

Rick Majerus quietly possesses a young roster that's quickly learning how to win games.

44

UTEP

42

Except for Derrick Caracter, the core of this underrated team returns. Tim Floyd is a step down though.

45

Minnesota

61

Loss of Westbrook not that big of a deal. This team will win about 10 games in the Big Ten.

46

Wichita St

51

Do lose their best player in Clevin Hannah, but enter the season the MVC favorite in my estimation.

47

Murray St

57

On the verge of becoming the Butler of the OVC?

48

Alabama

103

Could be an underrated squad heading into the year. Green & Mitchell have pro talent.

49

Cincinnati

65

Losing Stephenson isn't the end of the world, all the pieces for a tourney team are there.

50

UCLA

137

Despite the disappointment and turmoil, all is not lost. Josh Smith is legit.