We’re days away from the start of the men’s college basketball season, which means it’s time to lock in predictions for 2021–22. A year ago, Baylor and Gonzaga successfully turned preseason hype into a national championship meeting, but things don’t always work out so neatly.
Nevertheless, Sports Illustrated’s writers and editors are taking their best shot at the 2022 Final Four and national champ, plus National Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and more. Whose time for a breakthrough is here? Which contender is getting a bit too much hype? And which bold prediction do we foresee coming true?