5 college hoops predictions for 2022
Another exciting year of NCAA basketball is officially in the books.
Baylor's national championship run, Gonzaga's thrilling Final Four win over UCLA, and Coach K's retirement announcement were among the highlights in 2021.
With the calendar flipping over to the new year, here are five college hoops predictions for 2022.
Baylor is the last unbeaten team
Only four teams remain unbeaten in college basketball almost two months into the season. While it's unlikely a team goes undefeated until the National Championship like last season's Gonzaga squad, the program that knocked the Bulldogs off could be in line to take the unbeaten crown this campaign.
While No. 1-ranked Baylor plays in a challenging Big 12, the Bears won't play either of highly touted Kansas or Texas until February. A lighter conference slate to begin 2022 could see them sitting pretty until then. Meanwhile, the other challengers - USC, Colorado State, and Iowa State - have had the benefits of a lighter non-conference schedule, something that'll change in the coming weeks. That leaves Scott Drew and defending champions Baylor the opportunity to keep 2021's momentum rolling in the new year.
No clear winner for National Player of the Year
The same player has won the National Player of the Year award from six major organizations in six of the last eight seasons, but the race won't be as clear-cut in 2022. There's no Luka Garza or Zion Williamson leading the pack, with many players currently vying for national supremacy.
Ohio State's E.J. Liddell and Kansas' Ochai Agbaji may be the leaders in the clubhouse right now, but don't count out preseason favorite Drew Timme of Gonzaga or potential top pick Paolo Banchero of Duke. That's all before mentioning current national scoring leader Keegan Murray of Iowa.
Sure, one player may break out in the season's closing months, but the most likely answer is that voters will be splitting hairs to determine who takes home college basketball's most prestigious individual award.
DePaul snaps 18-year NCAA tourney drought
It's been 18 years since DePaul went dancing; the Blue Demons were in Conference USA and leading scorer Javon Freeman-Liberty was only four years old. The school has finished above .500 in conference play just once since moving to the Big East in 2005. Expectations remained low as DePaul was picked to finish last in the conference's preseason poll. However, the Blue Demons are off to a 9-2 start and among the pleasant surprises of the college hoops campaign.
Freeman-Liberty's strong two-way play has been a major key. The senior guard ranks 20th in the NCAA in scoring (20.2 points per game) and fifth in the Big East in steals (1.8). He's among four members of the team averaging double digits in points. Defensively, DePaul should improve as Tony Stubblefield's roster is stocked with athleticism and length at multiple positions.
The Blue Demons already have victories over Rutgers and Louisville on their resume. After giving a solid Loyola Chicago team all it could handle, this might be the year DePaul breaks through in the Big East and punches its ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue makes 1st Final Four since 1980
Matt Painter has coached some talented players over nearly two decades at Purdue. However, this season's Boilermakers squad gives him his best shot at that elusive Final Four appearance.
Purdue boasts one of the nation's top-scoring offenses, and each of its primary options has the ability to single-handedly take over a game. Sophomore guard Jaden Ivey has dramatically improved his 3-point stroke and uses his athleticism and strength to finish around the rim. Meanwhile, the center duo of Zach Edey and Trevion Williams has been an interior force on both ends. Williams, an All-Big Ten first-team selection a season ago, has been receptive to his new backup role, allowing Painter to have one of his dominant big men on the floor at all times.
Lastly, every national championship contender has its glue guys. Guard Sasha Stefanovic and forward Mason Gillis fit the criteria. Both players are efficient outside threats and provide space for Edey and Williams to operate in the paint.
Arizona takes home National Championship
Only four times since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams has an unranked program in the preseason won the National Championship, and that hasn't happened since UConn accomplished the feat in 2011. Yet No. 9 Arizona has a good chance to become the fifth unranked preseason team to win the Tournament.
The Wildcats have been a revelation under first-year head coach Tommy Lloyd, and the early success seems far from a fluke. Arizona plays an NBA-style offense, with a fast pace and good spacing, along with two 7-footers down low. The team is led by NBA prospect Bennedict Mathurin but features nine players contributing at least five points per game.
With a good system, star power, depth, and size, the Wildcats have everything needed to come out victorious in March Madness. It's rare for a team to blow away all preseason expectations in such short order, but Arizona has done just that. While it's reasonable to say this elite level of play is unsustainable, there's no reason to doubt the Wildcats until they give reason to do so.