Our gift to you? The Bilastrator. The Bilas Index is back as the 2023-24 men's college basketball season is set to tip off. As always, you're welcome.
Welcome to The Bilas Index, Vol. I, for the 2023-24 college basketball season. As everyone knows, while the masses in the press and general public stumble around in the dark wondering which teams and players are best, you will see the light, as illuminated by The Bilastrator.
The defending 2022 national champions followed up the net cutting with more net cutting, winning yet another Big 12 title and securing yet another No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. But, with Bill Self sidelined by a health scare and unable to coach the Jayhawks, Kansas was clipped by Arkansas in the second round after a 28-win season. Kansas lost talent to the NBA and also through the transfer portal, yet Self has another title-caliber team. That, ladies and gentlemen, is Kansas Basketball.
This is the team that one would expect from Shaka Smart, given what we saw at VCU, especially in 2011. Smart might have his best team since that Final Four group that put him on the radar as one of the nation's best coaches. Smart looks incredibly comfortable at Marquette, and he seems incredibly confident in this group. Marquette has skill and versatility, and a maturity level and togetherness that are impressive.
No team had the roller-coaster ride of emotions that Texas took. Chris Beard was dismissed, and Rodney Terry took over and won the job on a permanent basis. With all of the speed bumps and adversity, Texas still won 29 games and reached the Elite Eight, a remarkable achievement given the difficulties in its way. But, with Timmy Allen, Marcus Carr, Sir'Jabari Rice and Christian Bishop now gone, there were holes to fill. Well, Terry and his staff filled them.
The Razorbacks have proved to be legit, with legit staying power, year after year under Eric Musselman. One could credibly argue that this is the best Arkansas Basketball has been over an extended period, with consistent NCAA tournament success season after season since Musselman took over. Bud Walton is rocking again, and the Hogs have high expectations. That said, the Razorbacks lost a ton of firepower from last year's team, but they have been very active in the portal to replace it.
... It doesn't matter, and it is doubtful whether there is one, true explanation. Here is the most likely explanation for last season's poor results: The Heels were overrated at preseason No. 1 and did not handle the expectations well at all. From this seat, which is really a throne, Carolina was not the running and offensive rebounding team it had been in the past, and"easy" baskets were too few and very far between.
Mick Cronin is in unfamiliar territory, having lost his top five scorers from last season, including veteran leaders Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell. While very few known commodities remain, the cupboard is far from bare thanks to the return of sophomore big manand an influx of top-flight international talent. There is a wide range of potential outcomes with a team this young, so it will be very interesting to see how it plays out.
Brad Brownell's crew won 23 games last season and tied for third in the ACC and still didn't get invited to the Big Dance. Hunter Tyson's rebounding and well-rounded game will be missed, but the Tigers bring back one of the top players in the ACC in 6-10The Hoosiers lost a ton of production from last year's 23-win team, so Mike Woodson is counting on the return of point guard, who missed the final three months of the season to injury, as a spark plug.
After a run to the Sweet 16, coach Sean Miller will have to replace leading scorer Souley Boum and Colby Jones, who is now a member of the Sacramento Kings. On top of that for Miller,both appear to be unlikely contributors this season due to injury. The transfer portal and international recruits have added to the roster, but there will be a lot of new faces for the Musketeers this season in a competitive Big East.