SI's 2017-18 College Basketball Season Preview
Sports Illustrated’s College Basketball Projection System is a collaboration between economist Dan Hanner and SI’s Chris Johnson and Jeremy Fuchs that produces our 1–351 team rankings, conference predictions and player statistical forecasts. For a deeper look at how the system works, read this explainer. This model has produced more accurate team rankings than similar projections produced by ESPN, CBS Sports and noted analyst Ken Pomeroy for the past three seasons.
Team Projections
Ranking every Division I team, from 1 to 351
Sports Illustrated
Our model uses historical results, recruiting archives and scouting data to reveal how every team in Division I will fare this season.
The Preseason Bracket
Michael Beller breaks down the bracket that would result if all of SI’s projections came true down to the decimal place. Wichita State vs. Kansas for a trip to the Final Four? Yes please.
Top 50 Offenses
It’s fair to question how long the Blue Devils’ freshmen will need to learn how to play together, as well as whether they’ll have enough perimeter shooting. But Mike Krzyzewski has coached a top-10 offense for nine straight seasons, and his Blue Devils top our 2017-18 projections.
Top 50 Defenses
While our defensive forecasts are much less reliable than are offensive ones, it remains clear Tony Bennett’s pack-line defense at Virginia remains a riddle the rest of the country can’t solve.
Player Projections
Top 10 Player of the Year Candidates
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Grayson Allen and Devonte’ Graham should be in the thick of the Player of the Year race, but we project Michigan State’s Miles Bridges to rake in national honors at the end of the season.
Top 100 Scorers
Keith Srakocic/AP
For the second year in a row, our projections expect a Davidson player to lead the nation in scoring.
Top Freshmen
Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr. is just one of three SEC freshmen projected among the top five first-year scorers in the country.
Top Transfers
Transfers are playing a more significant role than ever at high-major hoops programs around the nation. Who will be this year’s best?
Player Profiles
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Markus Howard’s deep impact
An unheralded Marquette freshman led the NCAA in three-point % last year. What’s next?
Devontae Cacok, the one-jumper wonder
UNC-Wilmington’s man in the middle may have a limited offensive game, but he still led the nation in field goal percentage. Now he wants more than a record to his name.
Conference Previews
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
ACC
Marvin Bagley III & Co. have garnered all the preseason hype, but Duke isn’t the ACC’s only elite roster.
Atlantic 10
The A-10 is home to three of SI’s projected top 10 scorers in the country—but who will have the best team?
American
Big East
This league should be Villanova’s to lose again, but Xavier and Seton Hall have the horses to give the Wildcats a run.
Big Ten
There’s no question Michigan State is the top team in the Big Ten entering this season. How the rest of the league will shake out is far less clear.
Big 12
Kansas is in line to win a record 14th consecutive league title, but West Virginia and TCU will make the Jayhawks earn it.
Pac-12
Allonzo Trier’s decision to return to school was a major boost for the Wildcats, SI’s preseason No. 1 team and the clear Pac-12 favorite.
SEC
The SEC isn’t made up entirely of five-star freshmen—it only seems that way.
Mountain West
Nevada has the talent to make a threatening run in the NCAA tournament, but their conference foes feature standout freshmen and impressive defenses.
