Another season has concluded, which means it is time for my final edition of the Honor Roll.
Michigan (37-3) finished No. 1 after beating Arizona and UConn to claim the program’s second national title. They were the best defensive team all season long, and you could see this team’s potential during the Players Era Festival in November. Congrats, Wolverines. Well deserved.
UConn (34-6) finished No. 2 after an incredible run to a third national championship game in four years. However, the fouls and missed shots had the Huskies come up short for the first time (6-0 in title games prior to Monday night). Thank you, Alex Karaban, Malachi Smith and Tarris Reed Jr.
Arizona (36-3) finished No. 3 despite getting destroyed in Saturday’s Final Four loss to Michigan. This team was loaded: Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, Motiejus Krivas. Not to mention, the Wildcats were one of two teams to finish top-5 in offensive and defensive efficiency, the other being Michigan.
Illinois (28-9) finished No. 4 after having one of the best offensive seasons in KenPom history. The Fighting Illini made the Final Four for the first time since 2005, losing to Connecticut in the national semifinal.
Duke (35-3) finished No. 5 after a heartbreaking ending in the Elite Eight as Braylon Mullins hit the game-winning shot with 0.4 seconds left. What a year Cameron Boozer had. Too bad the Blue Devils dealt with injuries at the wrong time.
Purdue (30-9) finished No. 6 after falling to Arizona in the West Regional Final. Braden Smith set the all-time assists record during this season as the Boilermakers reached the end of an era.
Tennessee (25-12) finished No. 7 after coming up short yet again, as Michigan ended the Volunteers’ season in the Elite Eight. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament, take a bow.
Iowa (24-13) finished No. 8 after a miraculous run to the Elite Eight, where the Hawkeyes came up short against Big Ten foe Illinois. The Hawkeyes did not end the season the way they hoped, but no one expected an Elite Eight run with the lack of momentum they had. Well done, Ben McCollum and Bennett Stirtz.
Houston (30-7) finished No. 9 after losing to Illinois in what was practically a home game in the Sweet Sixteen. The Cougars, led by freshman phenom Kingston Flemings, were one of four teams in the top-15 in offensive and defensive efficiency.
Iowa State (29-8) finished No. 10 after falling to Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen. I will give the Cyclones the benefit of the doubt, as Joshua Jefferson got hurt during the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan State (27-8) finished No. 11 after nearly completing a 19-point comeback in the Sweet Sixteen against UConn, the national runner-up. Jeremy Fears Jr. was one of my favorite players to watch in college basketball this year.
Alabama (25-10) finished No. 12 after getting beaten by eventual champion Michigan, 90-77. It was impressive the Crimson Tide were in the Sweet Sixteen with all the off-the-court issues they dealt with. Props to Nate Oats on getting his team ready.
Nebraska (28-7) finished No. 13 after the most magical season in program history. Fred Hoiberg deserved to sweep all the National Coach of the Year awards after leading the Cornhuskers to not only their first NCAA Tournament win, but to the Sweet Sixteen.
Arkansas (28-9) finished No. 14 after John Calipari and freshman superstar Darius Acuff Jr. (who will be a stud in the NBA) helped the Razorbacks win the SEC Tournament and make it to the Sweet Sixteen.
St. John’s (30-7) finished No. 15 after winning back-to-back Big East regular season and tournament titles, helping the Red Storm make the Sweet Sixteen, where their season would end at the hands of Duke. Zuby Ejiofor is forever one of the greatest players in St. John’s history.
Texas (21-15) finished No. 16 after a run from the First Four to the Sweet Sixteen in year 1 of the Sean Miller era. The Longhorns finished with a top 15 offense in terms of adjusted efficiency and could be making noise for the years to come.
Gonzaga (31-4) finished No. 17 after yet another successful season under now-Hall of Fame coach Mark Few, a well-deserved induction.
Virginia (30-6) finished No. 18 following a terrific first season of the Ryan Odom era. He will be terrific for the Cavaliers for a long time.
Kansas (24-11) finished No. 19 after the Jayhawks had their third-straight 10+ loss season. The season was a roller coaster for Bill Self’s squad, with the health of Darryn Peterson providing headlines throughout the season. I went to Allen Fieldhouse for UConn’s win over Kansas, and I took away this: no other arena beats the Phog and Melvin Council Jr. is awesome. The Jayhawks will be back, but Flory Bidunga hitting the transfer portal is painful for them.
Louisville (24-11) finished No. 20 after a brutal ride through ACC play. The Cardinals were not healthy at times, especially with Mikel Brown Jr. only playing in 21 games. This Louisville team could have been dangerous in March, but they were far too inconsistent.
Kentucky (22-14) finished No. 21 following a rocky season that had fans panicking (shocker). Can you believe that this team was at one point the No.1 team on KenPom?
Miami (Fla.) (26-9) finished No. 22 in the first year of the Jai Lucas era. He is a promising fit for the Hurricanes.
Utah State (29-7) finished No. 23 after back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under Jerrod Calhoun (no relation, by the way). Calhoun will now take over at Cincinnati, so expect some growing pains in Logan, now.
Saint Louis (29-6) finished No. 24 after one of the best seasons in program history. Josh Schertz has built one of the best mid-majors in the country.
TCU (23-12) finished No. 25 after yet another strong finish by Jamie Dixon. There was a stretch where the Horned Frogs lost four straight. A near-perfect February helped TCU get to the Big Dance.