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68 reasons to look forward to the 21-22 college basketball season

We are now just DAYS away from the start of the 21-22 college basketball season.

Check out our list for 68 reasons to be excited about what lies ahead over the next few months:

1. The return of fans in the stands
Pulling off a college basketball season and an NCAA Tournament during a once-in-a-century global pandemic was an incredible accomplishment, but the sport needs its in-person juice back on a nightly basis. That will happen this season with the return of regular attendance. The pageantry of college basketball should return in a major way over the next few months.

2. The Champions Classic
College basketball’s annual kickoff event takes place on Nov. 9th at Madison Square Garden as Duke faces Kentucky and Kansas takes on Michigan State. This will be Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

3. Coach K’s Farewell Tour
The most successful college head coach since John Wooden was at UCLA, Krzyzewski’s final season with the Blue Devils has the requisites to be a memorable one. Expect regular tributes and ceremonies in his honor whenever Duke goes on the road. Every single game that the Blue Devils play over the next five months will be one massive event.

4. Paolo Banchero
While much of the early season chatter surrounding Duke centers on Krzyzewski, it will likely shift to this guy once the games start on Nov. 9th. The 6-10, 250 pound Banchero is already in the discussion to be the top overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and will be one of the best players in college basketball. This is the Blue Devils’ best prospect since Zion Williamson.

5. The rematch between UCLA and Gonzaga
Roughly eight months after these two programs provided fans with one of the top Final Four games in college basketball history, UCLA and Gonzaga will meet again on Nov. 23rd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If you’re not excited for this game then you officially hate fun.

6. Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme
The 7-foot Holmgren is a candidate to be the top overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft while Timme is universally viewed as the Preseason National Player of the Year. Together, they’ll form the sport’s most lethal power forward/center combination for Gonzaga.

7. Johnny Juzang
Juzang averaged 22.8 points while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range during six games in last year’s NCAA Tournament. He’ll now be viewed as a first-team All-American as the Bruins aim to return to the Final Four in Mick Cronin’s third season in Westwood.

8. Jaime Jaquez
Juzang received much of the attention during UCLA’s Final Four run, but many well embedded moles in Westwood believe the 6-6 Jaquez is set to become one of the sport’s top players. The Bruins became a different team two years ago when Cronin opted to use Jaquez as a small-ball power forward.

9. Texas’ Chemistry
Chris Beard ripped through the transfer portal like a chainsaw through butter during the offseason. Now he’s got to figure out Texas’ role allocation. Seven different players in the Longhorns’ program averaged in double figures last season.

10. Purdue’s Final Four Quest
Every single player returns from a team that earned a four seed in last March’s NCAA Tournament. It feels like it’s Final Four or bust in West Lafayette. Purdue hasn’t been to the Final Four since 1980.

11. Hubert Davis’ first season as head coach of North Carolina
Davis — who served as a longtime assistant to Roy Williams in Chapel Hill — is set to take over one of college basketball’s most fabled programs; the Tar Heels will be tested early. North Carolina faces Purdue on Nov. 20th in the Hall of Fame Tipoff at Mohegan Sun and then will play either Villanova or Tennessee the very next day.

12. Memphis
Penny Hardaway has assembled enough talent (Emoni Bates, Jalen Duren, Earl Timberlake) for the Tigers to play deep in the NCAA Tournament. But will they? Memphis has still yet to hear its name called on Selection Sunday with Hardaway as its head coach. Anything less than a memorable March run will be considered a disappointment on Beale Street.

13. Larry Brown
81 years young, Brown came out of retirement to be Hardaway’s assistant at Memphis. He hasn’t been in the college game since he resigned as SMU’s head coach in 2016. Expect the Hall-of-Famer to have a massive impact for Memphis, especially with the Tigers’ point guards.

14. Kentucky’s Bounce Back Attempt
Last season’s 9-16 campaign was John Calipari’s worst year as a head coach since his inaugural season at UMass in 1988-89. It will fascinating to see just how much better this group of Wildcats is following last season’s massive disappointment.

15. TyTy Washington
The best teams at Kentucky under Calipari have always featured a dynamic lead guard at the point of attack. The 6-3 Washington looks like he’s next in line. Expect this five-star prospect to have a major impact in Lexington.

16. The SEC
No conference in college basketball did more to help itself via the transfer portal than the SEC, which looks on paper to be deeper than it’s ever been. Could eight teams from this league make the 2022 NCAA Tournament? Don’t rule it out of the realm of possibility.

17. Remy Martin
The 6-foot guard was the Preseason Player of the Year in two different conferences (Pac-12, Big 12) over the past year. His ability to mold his game to Bill Self’s liking will ultimately determine Kansas’ overall ceiling. Martin averaged 19.1 points in each of the last two seasons at Arizona State before transferring to Lawrence.

18. Juwan Howard
The reigning AP National Coach of the Year is a combined 42-17 in two years as Michigan’s head coach. Expect the momentum to continue. The Wolverines are currently ranked SEVENTH in the ROTHSTEIN 45.

19. Andre Curbelo
Ayo Dosunmu is no longer a part of Illinois’ program, but Curbelo is. That alone makes the Illini formidable. The lightning quick point guard averaged 10.3 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in games last season where he logged 30 minutes or more. Curbelo is ready to explode nationally.

20. Kofi Cockburn
The 7-foot, 285 pound big man is back for another season as he aims to lead Illinois to the Final Four for the first time since 2005. Don’t be shocked if averages 20 points and 10 rebounds after tallying 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds a year ago.

21. The Battle 4 Atlantis
With all due respect to the other early season tournaments in college basketball, this has become the sport’s most consistent event. This year’s field includes Auburn, UConn, Michigan State, Loyola Chicago, Baylor, Arizona State, Syracuse, and VCU. Six of those teams are currently ranked in the ROTHSTEIN 45. Not too shabby.

22. Baylor’s Freshman Class
The Bears’ incoming core suffered a blow when Langston Love was lost for the season due to a torn ACL, but Baylor’s other two freshmen — Kendall Brown and Jeremy Sochan — are very impressive. Even without Love, Scott Drew should have the most impactful freshman class in the Big 12.

23. Adam Flagler
Flagler scored 13 points in the national title game against Gonzaga and averaged 11.7 points during Baylor’s NCAA Tournament run last spring. But he’s still under-the-radar nationally because he played behind Davion Mitchell, Jared Butler, and MaCio Teague. It won’t stay that way for long.

24. Patrick Baldwin Jr.
This five-star prospect spurned some of the top programs in the country to play for his father — Patrick Baldwin Sr. — at Milwaukee. How good is Patrick Baldwin Jr.? Early projections have him going somewhere in the lottery of the 2022 NBA Draft.

25. The burgeoning rivalry between Texas and Texas Tech
Folks in Lubbock absolutely detest Chris Beard for leaving the Red Raiders for his alma mater. Every meeting between these two programs moving forward will be appointment television.

26. The return of the Ivy League
This conference didn’t play a single game last season due to COVID. Its return is great for college basketball. Keep an eye on both Yale and Harvard at the top.

27. Noah Kirkwood
Speaking of Harvard, most college basketball junkies forgot about this guy. They’ll soon remember. The 6-7 Kirkwood averaged 12.1 points and 3.7 rebounds two years ago for the Crimson and has the ability to be the Ivy League Player of the Year. Remember the name.

28. There’s Another Boeheim
Syracuse fans know all about their Hall-of-Fame coach (Jim Boeheim) and their All-American shooting guard (Buddy Boeheim), but there’s another member of the family ready to have an impact in the 315. A transfer from Cornell, Jimmy Boeheim is a 6-8 forward who should push for a spot in the Orange’s starting five. He averaged 16.7 points and 5.6 rebounds two seasons ago in the Ivy League.

28. The CBS Sports Classic
The Saturday before Christmas has become a date to circle on the calendar because of this tremendous doubleheader. This year’s matchups include UCLA against North Carolina and Kentucky versus Ohio State.

29. Ohio State’s Perimeter
Chris Holtmann has three All-Big Ten caliber players up front in Justice Sueing, E.J. Liddell, and Kyle Young, but his backcourt remains a major question. The quality of play that the Buckeyes receive from their perimeter will ultimately determine their ceiling in 21-22.

30. Maryland home games at the Xfinity Center
College Park is the Spring Break Capital of the Northeast. If you know, you know.

31. Hakim Hart
The X-Factor for Maryland has grown to 6-8 and looks primed for a breakout season. How will the Terps replace Aaron Wiggins? This guy.

32. Rutgers’ quest to return to the NCAA Tournament
The Scarlet Knights haven’t heard their name called on back-to-back Selection Sundays since the mid 70s. There’s a good chance that changes after this season.

33. Cliff Omoruyi
How will Steve Pikiell replace Myles Johnson in the middle for Rutgers? This guy. Expect the 6-11 Omoruyi to explode in 21-22 after averaging 3.8 points and four rebounds as a freshman.

34. Kelvin Sampson
There’s not five better coaches in college basketball.

35. Trayce Jackson-Davis
An AP Preseason First-Team All-American, the 6-9 forward has an improved supporting cast thanks to the transfer portal and should have an excellent chance to lead the Hoosiers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016.

36. Mike Woodson’s first season at Indiana
Supporters of this program wanted one of their own to lead a rebuild. They got just that with Woodson, who starred at guard for the Hoosiers under Bob Knight roughly 40 years ago. Indiana should be in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.

37. Keegan Murray
With Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp no longer in Iowa’s program, Fran McCaffery will turn to this versatile forward. The 6-8 Murray averaged 7.2 points and 5.1 rebounds last season as a freshman.

38. Pinnacle Bank Arena
Nebraska has never won a game in the NCAA Tournament, but may have the most underrated home venue in the sport.

39. Northwestern
Are the Wildcats ready to party like it’s 2017? Chris Collins has three potential All-Big Ten players in Boo Buie, Chase Audige, and Pete Nance. This team should be in the Big Ten hunt.

40. Kendric Davis
One of the least appreciated guards in the sport, Davis led the American Athletic Conference last season in both scoring (18.8) and assists (7.4). His decision to return to school makes SMU a potential NCAA Tournament team in 2022.

41. The Pac-12
This conference had four teams (UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Oregon State) in the Sweet 16 last spring as well as three (UCLA, USC, Oregon State) in the Elite Eight. One of its teams — UCLA — reached the Final Four. There is a major opportunity for this league to continue its national momentum.

42. Tommy Lloyd’s first season at Arizona
Mark Few’s longtime top assistant takes over for Sean Miller in Tucson and should have a team good enough to reach the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

43. VCU home games at the Siegel Center
A 40-minute game at this venue is more life altering than a 10-day trip to Europe. If you know, you know.

44. St. Bonaventure
Mark Schmidt returns five starters and five double figure scorers from last year’s team that lost to the LSU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

45. Richmond’s experience
The average age in the Spiders’ starting lineup is 23.

46. Notre Dame’s quest
This program hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2017, but Mike Brey’s top six players all have at least four years of college experience.

47. Auburn’s frontcourt
The Tigers’ troika of Allen Flanigan, five-star freshman Jabari Smith, and North Carolina transfer Walker Kessler could be the best three-four-five alignment in college basketball.

48. UConn’s frontcourt
This is the deepest that the Huskies’ baseline has been since Andre Drummond, Alex Oriakhi, Tyler Olander, and Roscoe Smith made up UConn’s frontcourt during the 2011-12 season.

49. Adama Sanogo
The broad shouldered big man averaged 9.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in games last season where he played 20 minutes or more. He’ll be UConn’s best player in 21-22.

50. St. John’s
The Red Storm haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2000 — the longest drought among current Big East programs. That could change in 2022. Mike Anderson has a team built to win now.

51. Posh Alexander
Julian Champagnie may be the only All-American candidate in St. John’s program, but if the Red Storm were a snake, Alexander would be the head. The 6-foot point guard averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 steals last season as a freshman.

52. Ohio State at Xavier in the Gavitt Games
This is quietly one of the best non-conference games that nobody is really talking about. The Cintas Center should be on fire for this in-state battle on Nov. 18th in Cincinnati.

53. Iverson Molinar
If Molinar played at Kentucky or Tennessee, he’d be regularly talked about as an All-American. Instead, he’s producing in mild obscurity at Mississippi State. Remember the name.

54. Tennessee’s perimeter
The Vols’ guard core of five-star freshmen Kennedy Chandler, Santiago Vescovi, Victory Bailey, Josiah-Jordan James, and Auburn transfer Justin Powell is as capable as any in college basketball.

55. Mid-Major Conference Tournaments
The gap between the “haves and have nots” grows every single day in college sports. That means that the pressure on favorites in mid-major conferences will be even more immense in March of 2022.

56. Mark Pope
Pope is a combined 44-15 in two years at BYU, with a 23-6 mark in WCC regular season games. He’s a major reason why the Cougars should be able to be competitive out of the gate when they join the Big 12 in a few years.

57. Loyola Marymount
This program hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1990, but Stan Johnson has the Lions on an upward trajectory. Antennas are up.

58. Dave Pasch and Bill Walton
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll thank us later.

59. The Mountain West
The quality of play in this league was through the roof last season and that was without all fans in attendance. Three NCAA Tournament bids feels possible for this conference in 2022.

60. Grant Sherfield
Nevada’s star guard is a dark horse candidate to be an All-American. Sherfield averaged 19.4 points and 7.7 assists during the final 10 games of last season.

61. Home games at Viejas Arena
One of college basketball’s top homecourt advantages will return this season and that’s great news for San Diego State. The Aztecs weren’t the same team on their home floor last season without fans in attendance. This will create a huge advantage for Brian Dutcher’s squad.

62. Niko Medved
The 48-year old Medved has quietly done a terrific job at Colorado State, posting back-to-back 20-win seasons. He returns everyone of significance from last year’s team that spent a significant amount of time on the bubble before qualifying for the Postseason NIT.

63. Kadary Richmond
This 6-6 transfer from Syracuse is the most physically imposing guard that Kevin Willard has had at Seton Hall since Isaiah Whitehead. Richmond has first-team All-Big East caliber potential — this season.

64. The Missouri Valley
This league should be one of the top-10 conferences in the sport this season. Loyola Chicago, Drake, Northern Iowa, and Missouri State all have postseason potential.

65. Kenneth Lofton Jr.
At 6-7 and 275 pounds, Lofton may look more like an offensive lineman than a basketball player, but he’s still very effective. Jamie Dixon regularly featured this star from Louisiana Tech for Team USA during the FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia this past summer. Lofton will be right in the mix to be the Conference-USA Player of the Year.

66. Rick Pitino
The Hall-of-Famer somehow led Iona to the NCAA Tournament last March despite multiple lengthy COVID pauses. He’s drastically upgraded his roster entering his second season in New Rochelle.

67. Andy Kennedy
No one worked the transfer portal harder during the offseason than Kennedy, who completely restocked UAB’s roster with power conference talent. Anything less than an appearance in the NCAA Tournament will be a disappointment in Birmingham.

68. Standalone Games
It’s a rarity in college basketball when a game is played during an isolated time window, but let’s cherish these opportunities when they come. I’ll say it again: College basketball NEEDS more standalone games.

Leftovers