With the end of the tournament comes the annual tradition of way-too-early top 25 rankings and bracket projections. There seems to be some general consensus at the top with Michigan State, assuming Cassius Winston returns.
However, people seem to be split on Xavier. I’ve seen multiple polls include Xavier, while others have them outside their top 30 or missing the tournament altogether.
Missing the tournament altogether seems like a bit much, but Xavier should be in everyone’s way-too-early top 25, and here are a few reasons why.
Returning talent
Xavier is losing a starter in Zach Hankins and two other rotation players in Ryan Welage and Kyle Castlin, but the talent they have coming back stacks up very well.