Projecting a Final Four months before the season has become increasingly difficult as lawsuits and eligibility rulings continue to reshape college basketball rosters. The Las Vegas Review-Journal offered an early look at four teams with legitimate shots to reach Detroit next April, including one significant long shot.
Florida tops the list after coach Todd Golden retained 10 of his top 12 players, including four starters. The Gators add Denzel Aberdeen, a key piece on Florida's championship roster two years ago who spent last season at Kentucky and won a legal case to regain eligibility. With a frontcourt featuring Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu, the team enters the season with cohesion and motivation after an early NCAA Tournament exit last year.
Kansas returns second-round NBA Draft pick Trey Kaufman-Renn, who played Summer League for the Minnesota Timberwolves before returning to college. Coach Bill Self also secured the return of double-digit scorers Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. through court rulings and added Tyran Stokes, the projected No. 1 pick in next year's draft.
Illinois coach Brad Underwood brings back international standouts Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, and twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic while adding sharpshooter Stefan Vaaks from Providence. Underwood bucked the trend toward experienced transfers by signing six freshmen, a strategy that adds talent but less proven depth.
Texas Tech represents the long shot. Superstar big man JT Toppin is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in February and may not play until the second half of the season. Forward Jamichael Stillwell remains both injured and entangled in eligibility litigation that has seen his status flip multiple times. If both are available down the stretch, the Red Raiders could make a deep run.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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