NCCAA Basketball Division 1: The Top 5 Teams
Contents
- NCCAA basketball division 1: The Top 5 Teams
- The teams that make up the top 5
- Why these teams are the top 5
- The strengths of the top 5 teams
- The weaknesses of the top 5 teams
- The players to watch on the top 5 teams
- The key games for the top 5 teams
- The predictions for the top 5 teams
- The possible upsets for the top 5 teams
- The conclusion of the top 5 teams
It’s time to take a look at the top 5 teams in NCCAA Division 1 basketball. These are the teams that have proven themselves time and time again and will be vying for the Championship Title
NCCAA basketball division 1: The Top 5 Teams
This year’s NCCAA Basketball season is setting up to be one of the most competitive and hard-fought in recent years A number of top-ranked teams are set to face off against each other, and there are several new challengers emerging from the ranks. As we head into the heart of the season, here are the five teams that we think have the best chance of emerging victorious.
1) Duke
Duke is always a force to be reckoned with in college basketball and this year is no different. The team is currently ranked number 1 in the nation, and they show no signs of slowing down. With an impressive roster of talented players, Duke is always a tough opponent.
2) Kentucky
Kentucky is another team that is always near the top of the rankings. This year they are currently ranked number 2 in the nation, and they are certainly a team to watch out for. Kentucky has a history of success in college basketball and they will be looking to add another championship to their resume this year.
3) Gonzaga
Gonzaga is a team that has been on the rise in recent years and they are finally starting to get some well-deserved attention. They are currently ranked number 3 in the nation, and they have all the pieces in place to make a run at the championship this year. Gonzaga has an impressive roster of players, and they have proven that they can compete with anyone in College Basketball
4) Virginia
Virginia is another tournament favorite that should not be counted out this year. The team is currently ranked fourth in the nation, and they have all the tools necessary to make a deep run in March Madness Virginia has a talented group of players, and they will be looking to make some noise come tournament time.
5) Villanova
Rounding out our list at number five is Villanova. Villanova is coming off a National Championship victory last year, and they will be looking to defend their title this year. The team is currently ranked fifth in the nation, and they have all the talent necessary to make another deep run into March Madness
The teams that make up the top 5
NCCAA Division 1 basketball is full of teams with a lot of talent and heart. These are the top 5 teams in the division right now.
1. Kentucky Wildcats
2. Duke Blue Devils
3. Virginia Cavaliers
4. Gonzaga Bulldogs
5. Michigan State Spartans
Why these teams are the top 5
In order to be considered for the NCAA tournament a team has to first make it through their conference tournament The NCAA Tournament is a single-elimination event, meaning that once a team loses, they are out of contention for the championship. The teams that make it to the NCAA tournament are placed into brackets and each team is ranked according to their seed. The better a team’s regular season record, the higher they are typically seeded. In order to win the NCAA tournament a team must win six consecutive games.
The top 5 teams in Division I Basketball heading into conference tournament play are:
1) Duke Blue Devils Duke has been on fire all season long They boast an impressive 28-2 record and have only lost 2 games all season. One of those losses came at the hands of ACC rival Syracuse, who is also ranked in the top 5. The Blue Devils have an incredibly talented roster led by freshman superstar Zion Williamson Williamson is averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds per game and is a shoo-in for National Player of the Year honors. Duke has also gotten great production from senior forward Cam Reddish and freshmen Rj Barrett and Tre Jones. Barrett is averaging 22 points per game and Reddish is averaging 19 points per game Jones has been solid running the point for Duke, averaging 6 points and 5 assists per game The Blue Devils are certainly one of the favorites to win the NCAA tournament this year.
2) Gonzaga Bulldogs– Like Duke, Gonzaga has been near perfection this season with just 2 losses on their 27-2 record. The Bulldogs’ only 2 losses came against conference foes BYU and St Mary’s, both of whom are also ranked in the top 25 nationally. Gonzaga is led by sophomore forward Rui Hachimura who averages 20 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 60% from the field. Junior point guard Josh Perkins leads the Bulldogs in assists with nearly 5 per game while also scoring 13 points per contest himself. In addition to Hachimura and Perkins, Gonzaga also relies heavily on junior forwards Brandon Clarke (16 ppg, 8 rpg) and Killian Tillie (12 ppg, 5 rpg). Gonzaga has all the pieces necessary to make a deep run in this year’s NCAA Tournament
3) North Carolina Tar Heels– North Carolina rounds out the trio of ACC schools in the top 5 with a 27-4 record entering conference nt play this week . The Tar Heels have only lost 4 games all season with 2 of those losses coming against low top 5 Duke squad while another came against Kentucky early in the season when UNC was without star freshman point guard Coby White . White has been sensational for UNC this season , averaging 16 points , 4 assists , 3 rebounds per contest while shooting over 40% from three point range . He’s not alone though as North Carolina gets great production across its entire starting lineup . Senior forward Luke Maye averages a double-double with 17 points 10 rebounds per game while junior guard Kenny Williams chips in 9 points 3 assists off UNC’s bench . With Coby White leading charge , do not be surprised if you see UNC cutting down nets come early April .
4) Virginia Cavaliers– After losing in last year’s National Championship Game to Villanova , Virginia looks poised to make another deep run this year as they enter Conference Tournament play with a 26-3 record . Virginia is once again one of college basketball’s best Defensive Teams , allowing just 53 points per contest which ranks second best nationally behind only Texas Tech . The Cavaliers offense isn’t too shabby either , averaging 71 points per contest which ranks 28th nationally . Virginia is led by junior guard Kyle Guy who averages 15 points 3 assists while shooting 43% from three point range . Senior center Mamadi Diakite chimes in with 12 points 6 rebounds per contest while sophomore forward De’Andre Hunter rounds out Virginia’s starting five with 11 points 4 rebounds per game . If Virginia can get Defensive Player of the Year candidate Mamadi Diakite back from injury , they will be even more dangerous come March Madness time .
5) Kentucky Wildcats– Despite some early struggles , Kentucky enters conference tournament play this week with 23 wins under their belt which was good enough for them to earn a share of SEC regular season title alongside Tennessee . Kentucky started SEC play off slow at just 2-2 but caught fire following that loss Tennessee and went on win 13 of their final 14 SEC games which included victories over then No ranked Auburn , then No ranked LSU , then No ranked Tennessee again as well as Mississippi State who were ranked No at time . As good as Kentucky has been lately , they might be most dangerous come NCAA Tournament time as they will likely be receiving a lower seed than what
The strengths of the top 5 teams
In the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, there are many talented basketball teams Out of all of these teams, there are five that stand out above the rest. These five teams have worked hard throughout the season and have proven themselves to be the best of the best. Here is a look at the strengths of each of these top five teams.
1. The University of Kentucky Wildcats are one of the most successful teams in NCAA Division I history. They have a strong tradition of winning and always seem to be in contention for the NCAA championship each year. One of their strengths is their ability to recruit top talent from around the country. Another strength is their team cohesion; they always seem to play well together and support each other on and off the court.
2. The Duke Blue Devils are another very successful team in NCAA Division I basketball. They have won 5 NCAA Championships and have been to more Final Fours than any other team in history. Their success can be attributed to their strong recruiting efforts; they always seem to land some of the best High School players in the country each year. Another one of their strengths is their coaching; they have had some of the best coaches in College Basketball history, including Mike Krzyzewski who has won more NCAA championships than any other coach in history.
3. The University of North Carolina Tar Heels are another storied program in NCAA Division I basketball. They have won 4 NCAA championships and have been to 18 Final Fours, more than any other team in history. Their strength lies in their ability to consistently produce great teams year after year; even when they lose Key Players to graduation or early entry into the NBA draft they always seem to Reload (a term used by UNC fans) and compete for a championship the following season. Another strength is their home-court advantage playing at The Dean Dome gives them a huge advantage over most other teams because it is one of the loudest and most intimidating arenas in college basketball
4. The Louisville Cardinals are another team that has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years They have won 1 NCAA championship and been to 4 Final Fours since 2009 (more than any other team during that time period). One reason for their success is their Head Coach Rick Pitino, who is one of the best coaches in college basketball History; he has won 2 National Championships both with different schools (Kentucky and Louisville). Another reason for their success is their style of play; they like to play an up-tempo, pressure defense style that can cause problems for even the best teams in college basketball When they’re Playing at home (at The KFC Yum! Center) Louisville Fans can be very loud and intimidating, making it tough for opposing teams to win there..
5..The Michigan State Spartans are another team that has been very successful lately,. They have won 1 NCAA championship and been to 7 Final Fours since 2000,. Their head coach Tom Izzo is considered one Of college basketball ‘s best coaches ever,. And he has led Michigan State to consistent success year after year,. One secret To Michigan State ‘s success Is That they place A lot Of importance On defense,. And it shows In Their results – They usually Have One Of The Top 5 defenses In college basketball Each season,. Another area where They excel Is On The glass – They Are Usually Among The Top 5 Teams In rebounding Both offensively And defensively.,
The weaknesses of the top 5 teams
In a league as competitive as the NCCAA Division 1, every team has its weaknesses. Here are the top 5 teams in the league and their weaknesses.
1. The University of Connecticut Huskies are the reigning champions, but their lack of experience could be their downfall this season.
2. The Duke Blue Devils are one of the most experienced teams in the league, but their age could be a factor in the later stages of the season.
3. The Kentucky Wildcats are one of the best defensive teams in the league, but they lack a consistent scoring threat.
4. The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the deepest teams in the league, but they lack a true star player
5. The Wichita State Shockers are one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league, but they tend to struggle against physical defenses.
The players to watch on the top 5 teams
Duke blue Devils
Zion Williamson – Williamson is a 6’7” freshman forward who has been compared to Lebron James He is widely considered to be the best player in college basketball and he is expected to be the number one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft
R. J. Barrett – Barrett is a 6’7” freshman guard who is ranked second in the nation behind Williamson. He is also expected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA Draft
Cameron Reddish – Reddish is a 6’8” freshman forward who rounds out Duke’s talented trio of freshmen. He is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA draft
Virginia Cavaliers
De’Andre Hunter – Hunter is a 6’7” sophomore forward who was recently named ACC Player of the Year. He is averaging 15 points and 5 rebounds per game this season.
Kyle Guy – Guy is a 6’3” sophomore guard who averages 15 points per game and has been shooting 46% from three-point range this season.
Ty Jerome – Jerome is a 6’5” sophomore guard who averages 13 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game for Virginia this season. He has been excellent from three-point range, shooting 43%.
The key games for the top 5 teams
In no particular order, here are the top 5 games to keep an eye on this season:
1. Duke vs. Gonzaga – December 19th
2. Kansas vs. Tennessee – December 18th
3. Michigan State vs. Florida – December 8th
4. Virginia vs. Maryland – February 11th
5. Auburn vs. Kentucky – February 16th
The predictions for the top 5 teams
It’s that time of year again! The NCCAA Basketball Division I season is upon us and there is no better time to start making predictions for the top 5 teams. Here are our picks for the top 5 teams in the NCCAA this season:
1. Duke University
2. University of Kentucky
3. University of North Carolina
4. Michigan State University
5. Indiana University
The possible upsets for the top 5 teams
1. Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils are the number one team in the country and they have been playing very well lately. However, they have some tough games coming up against ranked opponents and they could be upset in the tournament.
2. Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers are another top team in the country and they have also been playing well recently. However, they have some tough games coming up against ranked opponents and they could also be upset in the tournament.
3. Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are a strong team and they have been playing very well recently. They have some tough games coming up against ranked opponents, but they should be able to win most of them. However, if they lose one of their key players to injury, then they could be upset in the tournament.
4. Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are a very talented team, but they have been inconsistent this season. They have some tough games coming up against ranked opponents, but if they can play to their potential, then they should be fine. However, if they continue to play inconsistently, then they could be upset in the tournament.
The conclusion of the top 5 teams
The top 5 teams in the NCCAA Division I are as follows:
1. Kentucky Wildcats
2. Duke Blue Devils
3. Kansas Jayhawks
4. Arizona Wildcats
5. North Carolina Tar Heels