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The 2014-2015 men’s college basketball season may have just ended 3 days ago and the 2015-2016 season may still be months away, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start making BOLD flaming hot takes about next year, concerning not only the Kentucky Wildcats but all of college basketball.
Kentucky will win a lot of games, again. Let’s get something out of the way right now: Just because the Wildcats are losing 7 guys early to the NBA doesn’t mean that next year will suck. Yeah, no one should start dreaming of “forty and oh” but I’m setting the over/under on UK wins next season at 28. Take the over.
Tom Crean will continue to embarrass himself. Ahh, yes, Tom Crean. If he didn’t exist, the Internet would have to invent him, just for our amusement. Indiana has the potential to be pretty good next season and, in spite of Tom Crean’s coaching, ought to compete for a Big 10 title. But college basketball fans, and Internet meme makes everywhere, will almost assuredly have their pick of Tom Crean faces to plaster across social media.
The SEC will, at all times next season, have at least 5 teams ranked in the Top 25. Besides Kentucky, I expect Florida, Arkansas, Texas A&M, and LSU to find permanent spots in the Top 25 all year long. And 2-3 more teams will pop in and out throughout the season.
Kansas won’t win the Big XII next year and teams will continue to choke in the NCAA Tournament. The Big XII sucks. I’ve already proved how overrated the conference is and their NCAA Tournament performance provided additional support.
Duke won’t win the ACC for a sixth consecutive year. Obviously, the Blue Devils won college basketball’s ultimate prize on Monday night but the Blue Devils streak of not winning at least a share of the regular season conference championship will stretch to 6 years.
Louisville will struggle much of the year, finish 6th in the ACC, and still make the Sweet 16. It’s gonna be an up-and-down year for the Cardinals but they’ll finish strong (ACC semi-finals) and make it to the second weekend of the Tournament.
Tom Izzo’s “March Magic” will either surprise everyone or disappoint us all. After the Spartans run to the Final Four this year, you can guarantee that when March 2016 rolls around, everyone will be talking about how you can’t count out Izzo in March. Which means, that either we’ll count out Izzo in March and Sparty makes the Final Four or everyone will pick Sparty to make it to the Final Four and Michigan State will lose to a 12-seed.
A Mid-Major will crash the Final Four in Houston. I don’t know which one it will be. But hot takes are about feelings and I FEEL like a mid-major will make it to the Final Four. Heck, the last time the Final Four was in Houston two mid-majors crashed the party.
Kentucky, Maryland, and Arizona will join the aforementioned mid-major in Houston. Kentucky makes it 3 straight Final Fours; Sean Miller finally gets over the Elite 8 hump; and Maryland makes its, too.
Kentucky wins its 9th National Championship. Kentucky will beat Maryland in the title game to win its 9th National Championship. Alex Poythress is the Final Four MOP.
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