Packers Offseason Position by Position Preview: Quarterbacks

Projected Starter: Aaron Rodgers, California 

The Packers have the luxury of employing the best quarterback in the NFL and possibly the most accurate passer the National Football League has ever witnessed. His fluidity around the pocket, pinpoint accuracy, and pure arm strength make him without a doubt the best signal-caller on the planet. 

Rodgers was injured throughout the home stretch of the regular season and for the duration of the postseason, and still put up incredible numbers. He willed the Packers to an exciting divisional round victory over the Cowboys at Lambeau Field to end the season undefeated while playing in the state of Wisconsin. 

He had one of the most efficient seasons at the quarterback position, and in fact had the most productive and consistent year while playing at home, throwing for zero interceptions, while tossing 25 touchdowns. 

The Packers are the most set at the starting quarterback position of any other franchise in football, and all members of the Packer faithful should feel beyond comfortable about the way their franchise is trending, as they will be backing the top quarterback for quite a while. 

Free Agency

The Packers two backup quarterbacks from the last two seasons, Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien, will both come off the books this offseason, leaving a very large hole behind Aaron Rodgers at the signal-calling position.

The question that every Packer fan wants to know is which one of these fan favorites are the Packers going to bring back?

If I had to put my money on either of these quarterbacks, it would be Scott Tolzien, as he is a younger quarterback with a strong arm and more potential to thrive into a solid backup for years to come.

The Packers could also elect to look at the free agency market for the quarterback position, however the class this offseason looks mighty bleak. The Packers may take a look at guys like Jake Locker, who at the age of 26, still has some quality upside, as continued stretches of injuries have derailed the dual threat gunner out of Washington's season.

NFL Draft Options

There are actually some very interesting directions in which the Packers could go if they part ways with Flynn and Tolzien, and decide not to sign a brand new gunner from the unrestricted free agency class.

The prospect that has often been linked to the Packers lately has been a projected late round quarterback with the name of Brandon Bridge from South Alabama (Yeah I had to do some research on his game too.) He is an insanely athletic hurler from the small school. He is very raw, which makes the situation in Green Bay particularly bright for the southpaw. He may not be drafted, due to not attending top university, experience, and lack of even decent accuracy . The truth is, however, that he stands at 6-4, and is very strong at 226 pounds and is only 21 years old. Quarterbacks have thrived in a similar physical position as Bridge before, and with the great quarterback developing tools that the Packers coaching staff have with Tom Clements and Mike McCarthy, the Packers could flip the athlete for a higher draft selection in the future.

Throughout the college football season this last fall, I had a football crush on the former Baylor Bears quarterback Bryce Petty. He was just such a classy guy, and gave it his all on the football field, game after game. Petty kills deep zones over the middle with short, quick passes that would pair up nicely with slot speedster Randall Cobb in the mix, of course only if the Packers decide to spend money on #18, but more on that in your wide receivers position preview post.

Projected Backup: Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin

Conclusion

All in all, the Packers will be set if the Packers sign the younger, more promising former Badger quarterback Scott Tolzien. He is comfortable in the Packers offensive schemes and isn't getting impatient on the bench. The Packers should be set at the quarterback position for a long time, as Aaron Rodgers should have the Green and Gold in Super Bowl contention for the rest of his career, a colorful one already that hopefully will be spent all in the small town of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

7 round Packers Mock Draft

The Packers lost in a bitter defeat in the NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks, costing them a chance at hoisting the Lombardi trophy for the fifth time in the franchise's history.

As an avid Packer fan, I will not dwell on the past and turn my head and look forward to the NFL Draft, where the Packers front office, led by Ted Thompson, will look for the NFL's next best stars to fill holes on the roster.

In this article, I will go through each Packers draft selection, and pinpoint the prospects they should try to grab in each round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

This is hard, as the draft can go in all different directions, but this will give fellow Packer fans a few names to know and keep in mind for each of the rounds.

1st Round: Linebacker Denzel Perryman, Miami

Denzel Perryman is probably the hardest hitting inside linebacker in the draft class and he uses is speed and athleticism to take down ball carriers between the hashes. He is adept at stopping runners behind the line of scrimmage and it is rare when you see a back overpower the Hurricane linebacker. He also adds a little pass rushing to the table and would be a great addition due to his proficiency at stopping mobile quarterbacks, something the Packers have struggled mightily at. He brings a level of intensity on every play that the Packers haven't had at the inside linebacker position in quite a while and Perryman will be a great candidate to captain the defense for years to come.

2nd Round: Defensive Tackle Carl Davis, Iowa

What makes me love Carl Davis so much is his motor. He gives his all on every play and is an incredible pass rusher for his size and speed. I watched him against the Badgers, and he was running all the way down the field with the running backs. He takes up a lot of space and can make impact plays in the backfield. His 6-5 321 pound frame helps him win battles up front, and take advantage of poor center play. He played in a 4-3 system in college, but I think he can make the switch to the 3-4 nose tackle position effortlessly. 

3rd Round: Cornerback Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest

Some consider Johnson to be gone by now but if he indeed falls this far the Packers should snatch him up while they can. Johnson is a great, effective tackler in space who has quick feet and uses his long strides to keep up with even the fastest receivers. At 6-1, he has the hight that Thompson loves in his corners and plays man to man about as good as any other cover man in this years class. He played off man at Wake Forest which allowed him to watch plays unfold in front of him so he would be able to pounce on the receiver or ball. Johnson doesn't do well while forced to break off of blocks and doesn't provide a whole lot of support in run defense. With some fixing, Johnson could become the next great great cover corner in Green Bay.

4th Round: Outside Linebacker Jordan Hicks, Texas

At 6-2 and a thin 241 pounds, Jordan Hicks excels at beating the offensive tackle on the edge, and reminds me a bit of a sleeker and faster Nick Perry, although the current Packer has the advantage in terms of strength. He is a flexible, balanced pass rusher, who uses his compact frame to add some pop on most of his hits. He has had some injury issues in the past, as he missed 19 games in the 2012-2013 seasons due to hip and achilles injuries. He struggles to break off of blockers once they have a firm grip on Hicks, and is a big liability in pass coverage. Hicks would fit perfectly in the Packers outside linebacker/pass rushing rotation as just a speed rusher who can force a QB to stick in the pocket and potentially force bad throws once he gets his hands on the signal- caller.

5th Round: Tight End Wes Saxton, South Alabama

The Packers may have a gem at tight end in Richard Rodgers, a rookie last season out of California, however, they may need another athlete to step up and compete at the tight end position to make the Packers already incredible offense more complete. Saxton is one of those rare prospects that have incredible upside, yet will not hear their name called until the later rounds due to going to a school who competes against lesser competition. After watching tape on Saxton, what stood out to me was in balanced athleticism. He has incredible strength, yet has unique speed for a guy of his size and has good leverage on his initial burst. One reason that Saxton will drop this late is because of rawness to the game of football. He has a tendency to drop open passes and gives up on routes to quickly. With a year or two of instruction in Green Bay, expect Saxton to be a stud. He will also be able to contribute early on special teams. 

Sixth Round: Offensive Tackle Tyrus Thompson, Oklahoma

Tyrus Thompson has a chance to rise a couple rounds if he has a good showing at his pro day and combine, however, it is his tendency to make mistakes and not utilize his strength to the full potential that is keeping Thompson from being a second day selection. He also will only be able to play right tackle effectively in the NFL, as the blind-side sacking professionals would tear Thompson a part, and that wouldn't be a reliable fit with Aaron Rodgers as your franchise signal-caller. I guess what intrigues me about Thompson is that he has unbelievable lower body strength and long arms so his problems with strength can be fixed. He also is a mauler in the run game, especially with power backs like Lacy scrapping for every yard they can get. 

Seventh Round: Defensive End Ryan Russell, Purdue

At 6-5, 267 pounds, Russell is a tall and sleek player for his position but makes up for that with his blend of power and versatility against both the run and the pass. He has great initial burst at the point of attack and holds on in gaps to gain leverage on powerful offensive linemen. Purdue University has had recent success at Russell's position as they have sent great players like Cliff Avril, Anthony Spencer, Ryan Kerrigan, and others to the League. He has displayed weaknesses in his game, however, as he needs a lot of time to develop to reach his potential as a pass rusher. 

Review

The Packers have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, and with their three headed monster of Rodgers-Lacy-Nelson and potentially add Cobb to the mix with an extension, and that equals to the most dangerous offense in the NFL. If the Packers are able to resign Bulaga as well, that would cement their offensive line as a top five machine in the NFL, as well. Most of their problems come on defense, especially along the front seven and at cornerback for depth. With a successful draft class mainly focused on the front seven talent, the Packers can make the next step and get closer to getting back to the Super Bowl. 

NFC Conference Championship Game: Packers at Seahawks

The NFC championship clash between the Seahawks and Packers pins arguably the best offense in the NFL against the undoubtedly best defense the league has seen in a while. In this article, I will share the three X-factors for each team on both sides of the ball, and my prediction.

Seattle Seahawks offense:

1. Take advantage of read option on rushing downs: 

It is basically a given that Clay Matthews will and should be on the inside on first and second downs to take away the big play from Marshawn Lynch, which is definitely easier said than done. Russell Wilson has a tendency to run right more than running left, which will be a problem as the athletic beast of a linebacker in 35 year-old Julius Peppers just happens to be lined up there. That means he has to run to the left more times then not during the first two downs of every four down series, as the slower Mike Neal or Nick Perry will be there. Nick Perry has a hard time defending running quarterbacks, evidence by the egg he laid last year against Colin Kaepernick.

2. Use Marshawn Lynch as much as possible.

The Packers defensive game plan will be solely based on stopping Beast Mode, and it is essential to use #24 as often as possible, giving Seattle’s overly-aggressive defense a break on the sideline, and keeping Rodgers and Co. sitting on the bench as well. Using Lynch will also provide dividends for the Hawks in the passing game, giving the receivers time to create openings for Wilson.

3. Control Game Clock.

This is something the Seahawks haven’t had much of a problem with, as their rushing offense is second to none in the NFL. In fact,  in every victory the Seahawks acquired over the course of the season, they had the ball for the majority of the ball game. As long as the Packers aren’t lighting up the scoreboard, whoever controls the ball for longer will likely be heading to the desert for the Super Bowl.

Seattle Seahawks defense: 

1. Take away Jordy Nelson.

Aaron Rodgers is going to want to spread the ball around, and perhaps the only playmaker capable of shredding the stout secondary of the Hawks for a big scoring play is #87 of the green and gold.  Byron Maxwell will most likely line up across from the former Kansas State walk-on, and he will have to provide his best play for the Legion of Boom to once again bottle up the stout Packers aerial attack.

2. Force Eddie Lacy outside. 

The Seahawks are missing both starting defensive tackles in Branden Mebane and Jordan Hill, which will provide a huge hole for the Packers rushing assault. This means that the Hawks linebackers need to bite early up the middle so that Lacy is forced to bounce outside and feel the wrath of the most physical defensive back the league has seen in a while, Kam Chancellor.  I cringe at the sight, even now, as a Lacy-Chancellor collision may cause an earthquake on the football field. It will be interesting to see who gets overpowered, even if the safety who is flying at full speed has the “slight” advantage.

3. Bring your copyrighted noise CenturyLink.

CenturyLink Field holds the record for highest decibels recorded at an NFL game, and is notorious around the country for the noise the fans in the stands provide while their defense roams the playing ground. Rodgers, who will be strictly be limited to running the offense from the pocket, will have a tough time notifying the rest of the offense changing audibles and the provided game plan.

Green Bay Packers offense: 

1. Feed the beast, and send him up the gut. 

As stated before, the Seahawks will be ailing at the interior defensive line. This provides maybe the most important mismatch the Packers will have in this game, their interior offensive line. The trio of Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, and T.J. Lang has proved to be one of, if not the very best, interior offensive line groups in the NFL. The last time the Seahawks faced this stout of an offensive line, it was in a HOME loss to the Dallas Cowboys front led by Travis Frederick and rookie Zack Martin. And that was with a healthy Mebane and Hill in the mix.

2. Attack Richard Sherman, a lot. 

This seams like a dumb game plan, as Sherman may be the best corner the league has to offer, but it will be essential if the Packers want to leave the state of Washington with a win on Sunday. The Packers will likely have the up and coming star in DaVante Adams line up opposite of the All-Pro corner, and he will try to ride the momentum he created last week against the Cowboys into the conference championship game. Attacking Sherman not only eliminates the Packers preference to one side of the football field, but also takes the heat off of the dynamic pass-catching duo of Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, and of course, A-Rod himself.

3. Know that Rodgers will deliver when asked to.

There is a country-wide feeling of how important this game is to the legacy of Aaron Rodgers. If the Green Bay Packers end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February, Rodgers will be the front runner for the best quarterback of all time. At age 31. I just have a feeling that he is going to make an incredible play in this game that will hush the home crowd and take the breath away from not only Packer nation, but in the homes of NFL fans from coast to coast.

Green Bay Packers defense: 

1. Move Clay Matthews around.

It will be crucial that Clay Matthews shows up big in the conference championship game, as his play as a wall for the powerful Lynch and rushing the instinctive and clutch Russell Wilson will be necessary for the offense of the Pack to get back on the field, and to provide solid field position, for that matter. Force Wilson to make adjustments and have to identify where #52 lines up on every down,

2. Have Haha Clinton Dix spy on Wilson.

With Morgan Burnett providing his run-stopping support from the back end, and no particularly speedy linebackers in green and gold, the control of Russell Wilson’s legs rests on the center fielding rookie out of Alabama. He provides the combination of tackling and speed that none of the rest of the Packers defenders provide. With no particular deep threats on the edges for Seattle, this will allow Clinton-Dix to sneak up and keep a close eye on the former Wisconsin Badger signal-caller.

3. Win the line of scrimmage battle.

This is an interesting call because both the Seahawks offensive line and the Packers defensive line don’t really strike fear into the opponents eyes. Both positional groups do have star players however. The matchup of Mike Daniels on guard Dan Carpenter  will supply a pivotal battle as they  both provide star power along their respective lines. The winner of the line of scrimmage will be a critical element in this game, because if the Seahawks take advantage, Lynch and Co. will run over them. If the Pack win this battle, they will close all inside running lanes for the number one rush attack in the league.

PREDICTION: 

This game has the feeling of a legendary game, as neither teams seem prone to a blowout, especially in an all-important game like this. All the talking heads of the NFL right now have the home team as victors, and for good reason, as they have perhaps the best home-field advantage in the NFL. I think the lost of both starting defensive tackles is being overlooked in the media across the US, as Mebane and Hill have been run-stopping machines all season long. With two backup defensive tackles in the ball game, the Seahawks won’t be able to provide substantial pressure to A-Rod without bringing heavy and loaded blitzes. Even with Rodgers and Lacy both not being 100%, I think the Packers have all the tools to leave Seattle with a victory, as long as they win the turnover battle and limit Seattle from scoring more than two touchdowns over the course of the game. Aaron Rodgers and Julius Peppers will lead their respective units to a victory, with a little help from Mason Crosby. Crosby will officially prove all his doubters wrong, hitting a 39 yard game winning field goal in the closing seconds.

Packers win 24-23

Divisional Round Preview: Cowboys vs. Packers

The Dallas Cowboys head north this weekend to the cold that everyone in Wisconsin feels on a regular basis. In this post, I will give you the X-factors for both teams offense, and a prediction. 

Green Bay Packers offense:

Pound the rock: With Rodgers having a slight tear in his calf muscle, the production of Eddie Lacy will be needed even more than ever. Lacy is having a spectacular year so far, amassing 1139 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground, and an astounding 427 yards through the air, reaching the promised land 4 times. I think the Packers have game planed for this week with a very strong offensive line to take advantage of a beat up weak defensive line.  Look for Eddie Lacy to finally show us what a playoff force he can be, as I predict over 100 yards and a touchdown for #27 of the green and gold.

Protect Aaron: Do you kind of understand the narrative here, the weight of the Packers offense this week  stands squarely on the shoulders of the beef up front. If David Bahktiari and Bryan Bulaga is able to contain the Cowboys edge rushers, and the all star trio of Josh Sittoon, T.J. Lang, and Corey Linsley can hold up against a weak interior defensive line, than Rodgers shouldn't have trouble picking apart one of the worst secondaries in football. It is imperative that the Packers keep Rodgers upright and give him another week to heal that leg.

 Dallas Cowboys offense:

Let DeMarco Murray run wild: The Dallas Cowboys have a tendency to shy away from the run, even with a lead, evidence from last year's confrontation when Matt Flynn led the Packers on a 23-point comeback and stole the game from the jaws of defeat. The Packers have one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL, and although they have improved since the move of Matthews inside, they aren't immortal. Especially against a talent like DeMarco Murray, who can, with the help of 3 or 4 Pro Bowl offensive linemen, keep Rodgers and Co. off the field. 

Use Jason Witten on third down and in the Red Zone: Great Tight ends have been a struggle all season long for the Packers, as Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkoski's big games against them. If the Cowboys implement quick curl routes and cutting routes for Witten on short yardage plays, then the Cowboys will have enough space in the middle to hit him in stride. 

Prediction: In a matchup of the ages, an 8-0 road squad visiting an 8-0 home team, I am going to go with the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys just don't have enough defensive firepower to cause Rodgers and the star receivers problems, and expect Lacy to have a huge game. If the Cowboys can have some huge plays with Bryant and Murray and stop that high-powered offense the Packers possess, than they have a chance. I just don't think they will be able to. 

Battle for Atlantis: Previewing Wednesday's Action in the Bahamas

Wednesday in the Bahamas is loaded with college basketball at Atlantis as Wisconsin takes on Alabama-Birmingham, Florida battles with Georgetown, UCLA and Oklahoma square off, and Butler will go for the upset against North Carolina.

Game 1: Butler vs. North Carolina (ESPN 2) 12:00 PM

This game should be interesting as the high-powered Tar Heels will depend on the talent and athleticism of point guard Marcus Paige.  The Brandon Miller-led Bulldogs will try to contain the superstar while hoping to get point production from their own budding stars of Kellen Dunham and Roosevelt Jones. Alexander Barlow will be essential defensively if Butler wants to get the W as he will be tested with defending Paige. I think that the Tar Heels win this one, but are victorious because of a big games from their front court beast Brice Johnson. Expect Butler to expend a lot of their defensive energy attempting to contain Paige, and Roy Williams will take advantage of this, revolving the offense instead around Brice Johnson.

PF Brice Johnson 

 

Game 2: UCLA vs. Oklahoma (ESPN 2) 2:30 PM

This game should also be interesting pinning two well-respected coaches in Steve Alford of UCLA and Lon Kruger of Oklahoma against each other.  For Oklahoma, they cannot rely their offense completely on Buddy Hield, like they usually do, as Alford will take advantage of this and pin down Hield to force other Sooners to try and score. Because of this, expect Kruger to try and get Jordan Woodard and Ryan Spangler some good looks early to open up Hield late in the game. As for UCLA, Alford fields a long and lean lineup led by senior guard Norman Powell and freshman athletic freak Kevon Looney.  They will get a lot of open looks in the paint but their X-factor might be the play of Thomas Welsh and Kevon Looney inside as they can take advantage of less height in the front court of the Sooners.  I like Lon Kruger and the Oklahoma Sooners to shoot the three ball a little better with the likes of Hield, Spangler, and Woodard, as they steal a big one from the Bruins.

PG Jordan Woodard 

 

Game 3: Wisconsin vs. Alabama-Birmingham (Access  TV) 7:00 PM

This one won't be pretty. Wisconsin's front court will absolutely overpower the undersized and small UAB big men. Frank Kaminsky will stretch their defense with his deadly three-point shot, and Nigel Hayes and Sam Dekker will punish them inside. Traevon Jackson and Josh Gasser will play mistake-free ball while hitting a couple of key three pointers. Bo Ryan and the feisty Badgers should coast to a win.

C Frank Kaminsky

 

Game 4: Florida vs. Georgetown (Access TV) 9:30 PM

This game may actually be one to watch. The Gators are coming off an embarrassing upset loss at the hands of Miami while Georgetown has experienced a successful start to their 2014-2015 campaign. For Florida, they will be without Eli Carter and Dorian Finney-Smith.  Look for Billy Donovan to run his offense around Chris Walker in the paint and Michael Frazier II around the perimeter. There is no reason the Gators should lose this one as long as Walker and battery-mate Jon Horford can control the inside.  As for the Hoyas, they are looking good with that 3-0 record as we have seen solid performances from Josh Smith, who will be essential guarding Horford and Walker inside for Georgetown. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera will run John Thompson III's offense but I don't think it will be enough to oust Donovan's Gators for a first round upset. Maybe next time, Georgetown.

C Chris Walker

 

 

 

NFL Week 9 Picks

Buccaneers at Browns: This matchup may be more interesting than many think, but I like the Browns at home, where they have been dominant lately. Brian Hoyer is still trying to convince the rest of the country that he deserves to be the top dog in Cleveland and securing a victory against a Tampa Bay team looking to get a top pick in the upcoming draft would further his case against the ultra-athletic and outgoing Johnny Manziel.  Browns win 27-13

Cardinals at Cowboys: I think the Cardinals have gotten quite lucky avoiding Tony Romo, who is hurt and the Cowboys lose a valuable piece of their offense. Todd Bowles will rip a part Brandon Weeden. Look for Bowles and that strong Arizona defense to completely sell out against the run and focus their entire defensive game plan on DeMarco Murray. All Carson Palmer has to do is outscore Weeden, something I think he can do with ease. Cardinals win 20-16

Eagles at Texans: I am going with an upset here, because I think Arian Foster is going to have another unbelievable game and will open up a passing attack in Houston. J.J. Watt will reinvigorate the Texans defense to stop Nick Foles. Texans win 31-27

Jets at Chiefs: The Chiefs are going to win this game at home against a horrible Jets team. The only thing going for the Jets are Rex Ryan and Geno Smith wanting to keep their jobs. I think Jamaal Charles and the offense will have a field day, and Smith will be hassled and throw more turnovers. Chiefs win 24-13

Jaguars at Bengals: This will almost be like a bye week for the Bengals, as they will try to fix their problems against the inexperienced Jacksonville team with a very untalented defense. Bengals win 37-10

Chargers at Dolphins: I like the Dolphins to upset at home against a Chargers team who is still licking their wounds after a huge loss to their divisional rival Denver Broncos. Look for a big game from Ryan Tannehill and a few interceptions from Phillip Rivers. Dolphins win 24-20

Redskins at Vikings: This is a battle between divisional bottom-feeders and I think this will be a rushing war between Alfred Morris and Jerrick McKinnon. The difference in this game is the addition of Robert Griffin III to the Redskins offense who will light up the Vikings depleted secondary. Redskins win 27-17

Rams at 49ers: The Rams were able to sneak a victory at home against the Seahawks, but I am not sure they will be able to take one away on the road against San Francisco. Look for the 49ers to get their running game going to open up Collin Kaepernick and the passing attack late in the game to secure a W. 49ers win 21-13

Broncos at Patriots: These passing attacks will go toe to toe in this game, the only difference is that the Broncos have more support from the defense. Tom Brady will pour his heart out and give it his all but Peyton Manning will rip through the Patriots horrible secondary. Broncos win 38-35

Raiders at Seahawks: This shouldn't be hard for Seattle. The talent gap between these two teams is gigantic and the Seahawks will take advantage of this old and tired defense, and overpower the Raiders under-average offense. Seahawks win 24-9

Ravens at Steelers: The Steelers are on a roll, with Ben Roethlisberger giving one of the most complete performance the NFL has ever seen. That said the Ravens are being overlooked by the rest of the league and will be a threat to the Steelers. The Ravens will be focused on the Steelers loss to Cleveland to see how they can exploit their weaknesses. I like the Ravens with an upset on the road. Ravens win 34-31

Colts at Giants: The Colts will win this ballgame solely because of the matchup of Andrew Luck against the Giants defense. He will also receive support from Ahmad Bradshaw. The key for the Giants is their offense. I don't think they will do enough to get the primetime upset at home. Colts win 35-24

Reviewing Preseason College Basketball AP Top 25

The college basketball season is rapidly approaching and the Associated Press just released its preseason top 25 poll. I will go spot by spot and preview each team and if they are in the right spot.

1. Kentucky Wildcats: John Calipari brings back yet another stacked recruiting class led by five stars  center Karl Towns and point guard Tyler Ulis. This comes with the return of the Harrison brothers, Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson and Alex Poythress. Kentucky belongs in the conversation for best team in America, but with all this youth, you have to wonder how long it will take for the growing pains to finally wear off. But then again, John Calipari has been successful many times with very young lineups, including last season.
PG: Andrew Harrison
SG: Aaron Harrison
SF: Alex Poythress
PF: Karl Towns
C: Willie Cauley-Stein
Bench: Anthony Lee, Tyler Ulis, Trey Lyles, Devin Booker, Dominique Hawkins

2. Arizona Wildcats: The Wildcats of the southwest join their fellow cats at the top of the poll in large part due to the amount of impact players they return. Even with the losses of stars Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon, they return T.J. McConnell, Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. It also helps when you bring in arguably one of the best freshman in Stanley Johnson. Any Sean Miller-led team should be in the discussion for top team in America, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Wildcats of Arizona in the Final Four, which would make it Sean Miller's first.
PG: T.J. McConnell
SG: Stanley Johnson
SF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
PF: Brandon Ashley
C: Kaleb Tarczewski
Bench: Gabe York, Elliot Pitts

3. Wisconsin Badgers: The surprise Final Four-bound team from a year ago brings back every impact player except sharpshooting specialist and tough player Ben Brust, who graduated. They return two of the top players in the country in center Frank Kaminsky and forward Sam Dekker. They also return clutch shooter and team leader Traevon Jackson, son of Ohio State legend Jim Jackson. The Badgers will rely on Josh Gasser, the defensive stalwart and efficient shooter to pick up the offensive slack that Brust leaves behind him. There is a question regarding who takes the final starting spot, which will likely be a toss up between bruising forward Nigel Hayes and speedy sharpshooting guard Bronson Koenig. The Badgers boast one of the top starting fives in the nation and have one of, if not the most consistent coach in Bo Ryan. CBS Sports College Basketball Analyst and ESPN contributor Doug Gottlieb has the Badgers as his top team in the nation.
PG: Traevon Jackson
SG: Josh Gasser
SF: Sam Dekker
PF: Nigel Hayes
C: Frank Kaminsky
Bench: Bronson Koenig, Duje Dukan, Vitto Brown, Jordan Hill

4. Duke Blue Devils: Coach K brings in two of the top recruits in the nation which includes the number one overall recruit: center Jahlil Okafor. Joining him as top-rated freshmen are point guard Tyus Jones, shooting guard Grayson Allen, and forward Justice Winslow. Duke does lose superstars Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood. Duke will once again compete for bot the ACC title and national title as long as Coach K is still at the helm.
PG: Tyus Jones
SG: Quinn Cook
SF: Justice Winslow
PF: Amile Jefferson
C: Jahlil Okafor
Bench: Rasheed Sulaimon, Grayson Allen

5. Kansas Jayhawks: Bill Self did a nice job in recruitment as he picked up a huge commitment from big man Cliff Alexander, who will slide in nicely for the loss of star Joel Embiid. Another five star freshman coming to KU is Kelly Oubre and four star point guard Devonte Graham. Self will have a hard time putting a starting five together but there is no doubt that there is a lot of talent in Lawrence. Kansas is in line to win yet another Big 12 title and compete for the national championship.
PG: Devonte Graham
SG: Wayne Selden Jr.
SF: Kelly Oubre
PF: Perry Ellis
C: Cliff Alexander
Bench: Frank Mason, Jamari Traylor

6. North Carolina Tar Heels: Roy Williams is one of the best coaches in college basketball and actually all six coaches that have their teams in the top six are probably the best coaches in college basketball as long as you save room Jim Boeheim, Tom Izzo, and Billy Donovan. (you will hear him next) I think that North Carolina brings back the best player in college basketball in point guard Marcus Paige. He also hit it big with the recruitment of shooting guard Justin Jackson, who will be a key contributor if Roy William's Tar Heels want to reach the Final Four.
PG: Marcus Paige
SG: Justin Jackson
SF: J.P. Tokoto
PF: Brice Johnson
C: Kennedy Meeks
Bench: Joel Berry,