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5 teams that could overachieve during the 21-22 season

This is ONLY October.

Check below for our list of 5 teams that could overachieve during the 21-22 college basketball season.

In no particular order:

Seton Hall: The Pirates did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament last March for the first time since 2015, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not going to be in contention to be one of the top teams in the Big East this season. Kevin Willard lost Sandro Mamukelashvili to the NBA, but he’s reloaded with two transfers — Alexis Yetna (South Florida) and Kadary Richmond (Syracuse) — who will both be in the starting lineup. The 6-6 Richmond is a potential All-Big East first-team caliber player this season. Myles Cale is back as a fifth-year senior and Jared Rhoden has the potential to emerge into a national star after averaging 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds as a secondary option behind Mamukelashvili. 6-10 junior Tyrese Samuel is also a breakout candidate with tremendous potential. Veterans Ikey Obiagu, Bryce Aiken, Tray Jackson, and American transfer Jamir Harris should all provide solid depth. With Willard pulling the strings, Seton Hall should have one of the more complete teams in the Big East.

Arizona State: Could the Sun Devils be less talented than they were last season, but be a better team? Without question. Bobby Hurley has completely recalibrated his roster following the departures of Josh Christopher (NBA), Alonzo Verge (Nebraska), and Remy Martin (Kansas). Marcus Bagley has All-Pac-12 first-team caliber potential as a sophomore and his decision to return to Tempe for his sophomore season immediately changed Arizona State’s overall ceiling. Alonzo Gaffney (JUCO), Marreon Jackson (Toledo), DJ Horne (Illinois State), Jay Heath (Boston College), and Luther Muhammad (Ohio State) are all newcomers who should have major roles, with the ultra tough Muhammad a candidate to become the Pac-12’s best on-ball defender. Top-50 freshman Enoch Boakye should also see minutes immediately up front alongside veterans Jalen Graham and Kimani Lawrence. Hurley will have this team in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022.

UCF: The Knights return every single player from last season’s team that posted wins over both Auburn and Florida State en route to finishing one game under .500. Johnny Dawkins has also added a likely starter in UNLV grad transfer Cheikh Mbacke Diong, a 6-11 big man who’s coming off a season where he averaged 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. The Knights’ leading scorer — Darius Perry — is also back for an additional year after averaging 14.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Brandon Mahan, Darin Green Jr., and Isaiah Adams are all veterans who boast all-league caliber potential. Keep an eye on the 6-6 Adams, who has a Tayshaun Prince type flavor to his game.

NC State: Kevin Keatts has quietly made NC State a very consistent program in the ACC, as the Wolfpack have regularly stayed in the mix for annual berths in the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. That should again continue. Five players — Jericole Hellems, Cam Hayes, Thomas Allen, Manny Bates, and Dereon Seabron — return who averaged 17.4 minutes or more a year ago. Keatts also feels that he may have two potential starters in transfers Casey Morsell (Virginia) and Greg Gantt (Providence). Four-star freshman Terquavion Smith should also see major minutes. Barring something unforeseen, Keatts should have a more than legitimate chance have his fourth 20-win season in the five years that he’s spent in Raleigh.

Ole Miss: Kermit Davis privately feels that this could be his best team yet in Oxford. After flirting with an NCAA Tournament bid last season and advancing to the Postseason NIT, the Rebels only return one double-figure scorer (Jarkel Joiner) from a 16-12 team, but have added plenty of reinforcements via the transfer portal. Jaemyn Brakefield (Duke), Nysier Brooks (Miami), and Tye Fagan (Georgia) are all imports who could crack the starting lineup. Matthew Murrell (4.2 points) could be in for a breakout season as a sophomore and sturdy veteran Luis Rodriguez (7.6 points, 6.3 rebounds) is rock solid. Top-50 freshman Daeshun Ruffin is in position to be a difference maker in the backcourt at 5-9. Is Ole Miss the sleeper team in the SEC? Sounds like it.

Leftovers