1 N. Carolina The Tar Heels’ ranking is based on North Carolina returning all rotating players except Brady Manek, including American Armando Bacot, NCAA Tournament star Caleb Love, and defensive specialist Leaky Black. UNC has the best and most successful core of the sport. – 29-10 2 The Houston Cougars standings are based on Houston returning a core with the two players he lost through injury in December (Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark) plus Jamal Shead. These are three double-digit scorers that Kelvin Sampson should have to match with Jarace Walker, a 5-year freshman who is among the reasons Houston will once again be the AAC favorite. – 32-6 3 Arkansas The Razorbacks’ ranking is based on Arkansas returning three of the top five scorers on a team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, including Jaylin Williams and Davonte Davis. Eric Musselman will add three 5-star prospects to this core and will have a good enough group to make Arkansas return to the Final Four for the first time since 1995. – 28-9 4 Kentucky Wildcats standings are based on CBS Sports National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe returns (alongside teammate Sahvir Wheeler) and is joined by a prominent recruiting class from five-star goalkeeper Cason Wallace. Keion Brooks was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn’t move the ball around with his usual grace. – 26-8 5 Gonzaga The Bulldogs’ ranking is based on the fact that Gonzaga returned five of the top eight scorers on a team that finished first in KenPom, including All-American Drew Timme. This would give Mark Few a strong veteran core that will have the backing of transfers like former 5-star prospect Efton Reid. – 28-4 6 UCLA The Bruins’ ranking is based on Jaime Jaquez, Jules Bernard and Tyger Campbell providing Mick Cronin with a veteran core to pair with a top 10 recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospects Amari Bailey and Adem Bona. If things go that way, UCLA should have a real chance of reaching the Final Four for the second time in three years. – 27-8 7 Baylor The Bears’ ranking is based on LJ Cryer, Adam Flagler and Flo Thamba returning from a team that shared the title of the Big 12 with Kansas. The addition of 5-star guard Keyonte George should give Baylor one of the best back-to-back tracks in the sport. – 27-7 8 Kansas The Jayhawks’ ranking is based on Kansas returning a core of Jalen Wilson, Dajuan Harris and Joseph Yusefu from the team that won the national championship. One of the top five recruiting classes featured by potential 5-star Gradey Dick, MJ Rice and Ernest Udeh, in addition to Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar, should have the Bill Self program competing for another Big 12 title. – 34-6 9 Duke’s ranking The Blue Devils is based on the fact that Duke lost five players before the NBA Draft, namely Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin, Mark Williams, Wendell Moore and Trevor Keels. But first-year coach Jon Scheyer is gearing up for success by securing the best recruiting class in the country, one that includes potential 5-star Dereck Lively, Kyle Filiiipowski, Dariq Whitehead and Mark Mitchell. – 32-7 10 Tennessee The Volunteers’ ranking is based on Tennessee returning four of its top five scorers, including Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James. Tennessee will miss outfielder Kennedy Chandler, but should still be a factor near the top of the SEC thanks in part to the addition of five-star striker Julian Phillips. – 27-8 11 Creighton The Bluejays’ ranking is based on Creighton returning five of the top seven scorers on a team that advanced to the 32nd round of the NCAA Tournament. The incorporation of South Dakota state transfer Baylor Scheierman, the player of the year in the Summit League, makes Greg McDermott’s team the clear favorite in the Far East. – 23-12 12 Texas The Longhorns’ ranking is based on the fact that Texas returned the top two scorers on a team that finished 15th in KenPom, namely Timmy Allen and Marcus Carr, each of whom is using a fifth. year of eligibility. Chris Beard adds to this core a recruiting class among the top 15 featured by two five-star prospects (Dillon Mitchell and Arterio Morris) and Iowa State transfer Tyrese Hunter. 4 22-12 13 Michigan The Wolverines’ ranking is based on a return core of Hunter Dickinson and Moussa Diabate joined by an incoming class prominent by the transfer of Princeton Jaelin Llewellyn and best prospect Jett Howard, the latter of whom he was named MVP in the Iverson Classic. Michigan looks like the Big Ten favorite. 1 19-15 14 Auburn The Tigers’ ranking is based on Auburn returning four of the top six scorers, including KD Johnson, Wendell Green and Allen Flanigan, from a team that finished second in the NCAA Tournament . This core will be joined by a good incoming class highlighted by Morehead State transfer Johni Broome and five-star center Yohan Traore. 1 28-6 15 Arizona The Wildcats’ ranking is based on Arizona returning all relevant players from its Pac-12 championship team except Bennedict Mathurin, Christian Koloko and Justin Kier. A core of Azuolas Tubelis, Kerr Kriisa and Dalen Terry should keep the Tommy Lloyd program as part of the national conversation. – 33-4 16 Villanova The Wildcats standings are based on Villanova returning six of his team’s top nine top scorers in the Final Four -…