It’s no secret that a team’s talent level is an indicator of its capacity for success. While there have been instances where star-studded rosters have fallen short of expectations, or teams lacking such players have gone farther than they “should have,” it’s nearly impossible to win without a certain degree of skill in addition to that oh-so-critical team chemistry.
In college basketball, a team’s supposed talent level is commonly associated with its players’ national rankings from high school. Although this perspective doesn’t take into account an underrated player’s development, or the failure of a heralded high school recruit to adjust to the college game, the teams that cut down the nets in April are often the ones that acquire the best talent.