ESPN: No-Longer-Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2015-16 (SMU #21)

[Harry0569]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... rly-top-25

21. SMU Mustangs

The Mustangs didn't end their 2014-15 season on a particularly high note, but a flubbed measure is forgivable when the rest of the symphony is so good -- the symphony, in this case, being the end of a 22-year March drought. This should have been a good-vibes kind of offseason. Then last week happened. Not only might coach Larry Brown face suspension, but Keith Frazier's return -- which was one of the make-or-break "ifs" of SMU's 2015-16 -- looks less likely than ever. Harsh.

[Harry0569]

25. Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies have never quite found their footing under fourth-year coach Billy Kennedy, but things are looking up for Year 5. Not only will A&M have an enticing blend of experience (three senior returners, most notably Danuel House) and freshmen (the No. 6-ranked recruiting class in 2015), two of his top three newcomers, center Tyler Davis and small forward D.J. Hogg, were both high school and AAU teammates in Texas. Welcome Week should be a breeze.

17. Baylor Bears

Baylor's entire prospectus revolves around guard play, or the potential lack thereof. Rico Gathers will still be the sport's most ferocious rebounder, and Taurean Prince will still be a reliable high-volume scorer with excellent range at his size. But Kenny Chery and Royce O'Neale were the other half of Baylor's "rebound and find an open shooter" offense, and they're both gone. That will, at a minimum, challenge senior Lester Medford to not only manage more possessions but squander fewer of them to turnovers in the process. Integrating freshman shooting guard King McClure -- whom you might remember from such films as "The Verdict Was Mail Fraud" and "The President's Neck is Missing" -- should help.

11. Gonzaga Bulldogs

On last week's ESPNU College Basketball Podcast, Mark Few called his frontcourt the best in the country, and it's hard to argue. Kyle Wiltjer emerged from his post-Kentucky transfer year with a lights-out perimeter jumper and a more polished post game, the combination of which made him basically unguardable. Przemek Karnowski is a monster whose size belies his finesse. Domantas Sabonis is one of the nation's best, and edgiest, rebounders. The question, of course, is whether the best frontcourt in the country will still be the best frontcourt in the country without seniors Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell running the show out top? Sophomore Josh Perkins is a talented replacement, but the Zags' offense might shine a little less brightly in the exchange.

[Pony Boss]

I'm worried about that zags game.

[SMUstangs22]

Terrible. Do you think the writer realizes we were better without KF last year? Now he is a make or break player. No, our make or break is the Nic Markus duo. I'd put Semi ahead of KF in that discussion.

[Tx_Mustang10]

Terrible. Do you think the writer realizes we were better without KF last year? Now he is a make or break player.

It was the second half of the season and the team was gelling.. Keith was getting to the point where he could play some stiff defense And our need for another shooter was dire during some of those games he was out for. We're better with the kid and his enthusiasm from the bench--but he does need more consistency.

[sadderbudweiser]

I'm worried about that zags game.

It should be a great game. Markus and Tolbert have a better shot at maintaining order under the boards than Ben, Cannen and Yanick did last year. They killed us down low. And we should have the better of the guard play. Pressure D from our deep cast should disrupt their guards. It'll be a different game than last year.

Still…they good!!

[bubba pony]

the above article connects to
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=13 ... api_public

go to about minute 15:00 they talk about LB and SMU.