10 College Basketball Teams With The Most Final Four Potential In 2015-16

College Basketball Teams With The Most Potential

Before embarking on the journey that is listing off 10 college hoops teams with major Final Four potential, let’s make a few things very clear: (1) The season is very young, and many teams could still emerge … or fall. (2) There really isn’t a clear-cut No. 1 team, as expected, so this year’s eventual champion is a complete mystery. (3) We don’t even know what is going to happen tomorrow in this crazy 2015-16 season, so who knows what is going to go down come tournament time.

Okay, now let’s get to some college basketball squads that have Final Four potential written all over them.

College Basketball Teams With The Most Potential

Before embarking on the journey that is listing off 10 college hoops teams with major Final Four potential, let’s make a few things very clear: (1) The season is very young, and many teams could still emerge … or fall. (2) There really isn’t a clear-cut No. 1 team, as expected, so this year’s eventual champion is a complete mystery. (3) We don’t even know what is going to happen tomorrow in this crazy 2015-16 season, so who knows what is going to go down come tournament time.

Okay, now let’s get to some college basketball squads that have Final Four potential written all over them.

Teams That Just Missed The Cut

Yes, there are a lot, but these teams had to, at the very least, be mentioned.

Villanova Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats

Indiana Hoosiers

Vanderbilt Commodores

Virginia Cavaliers

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Xavier Musketeers

Teams That Just Missed The Cut

Yes, there are a lot, but these teams had to, at the very least, be mentioned.

Villanova Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats

Indiana Hoosiers

Vanderbilt Commodores

Virginia Cavaliers

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Xavier Musketeers

10. Wichita State Shockers

Fact: The Wichita State Shockers have gotten off to a horrible 4-4 start, but just let them get healthy.

Also, remember these two things: (1) Wichita State just needs to win the MVC tournament and it will make the dance. (2) Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker are still gracing the college basketball level with their presence.

This is not the Shockers’ first rodeo, folks.

10. Wichita State Shockers

Fact: The Wichita State Shockers have gotten off to a horrible 4-4 start, but just let them get healthy.

Also, remember these two things: (1) Wichita State just needs to win the MVC tournament and it will make the dance. (2) Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker are still gracing the college basketball level with their presence.

This is not the Shockers’ first rodeo, folks.

9. Purdue Boilermakers

The Purdue Boilermakers have been a pleasant surprise so far. They have one of the best defenses in the country when it comes to opposing teams putting the ball in the hoop — which tends to be pretty important — and they have plenty of talent.

9. Purdue Boilermakers

The Purdue Boilermakers have been a pleasant surprise so far. They have one of the best defenses in the country when it comes to opposing teams putting the ball in the hoop — which tends to be pretty important — and they have plenty of talent.

8. Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State Cyclones know how to ruin NCAA tournament brackets. Just look back at their "performance" in last year's tourney to figure that one out. Still, Georges Niang came back, and the Cyclones will once again challenge the Kansas Jayhawks for a Big 12 title.

If nothing else, this team should have no problem putting up big numbers in the scoring department.

8. Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State Cyclones know how to ruin NCAA tournament brackets. Just look back at their "performance" in last year's tourney to figure that one out. Still, Georges Niang came back, and the Cyclones will once again challenge the Kansas Jayhawks for a Big 12 title.

If nothing else, this team should have no problem putting up big numbers in the scoring department.

7. Oklahoma Sooners

Buddy Hield, Buddy Hield, Buddy Hield.

That is the name you are going to be hearing all season, and for good reason.

As for the Sooners, they are talented enough to do two things: (1) Win a Big 12 title. (2) Win a national championship.

7. Oklahoma Sooners

Buddy Hield, Buddy Hield, Buddy Hield.

That is the name you are going to be hearing all season, and for good reason.

As for the Sooners, they are talented enough to do two things: (1) Win a Big 12 title. (2) Win a national championship.

6. Duke Blue Devils

It's crazy to think that Duke could still win a title after losing so much talent in the offseason. That is because the Kentucky Wildcats aren't the only one-and-done machine on the block (okay, so the Blue Devils aren’t as bad as Kentucky). It certainly doesn't hurt that Grayson Allen is one of the best players in the sport.

6. Duke Blue Devils

It's crazy to think that Duke could still win a title after losing so much talent in the offseason. That is because the Kentucky Wildcats aren't the only one-and-done machine on the block (okay, so the Blue Devils aren’t as bad as Kentucky). It certainly doesn't hurt that Grayson Allen is one of the best players in the sport.

5. Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks are loaded with talent and experience. That experience thing is taken for granted in college ball nowadays.

Also, it appears that Wayne Selden Jr. is finally living up to the hype.

5. Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks are loaded with talent and experience. That experience thing is taken for granted in college ball nowadays.

Also, it appears that Wayne Selden Jr. is finally living up to the hype.

4. Michigan State Spartans

Can someone say exceeding expectations?

At the time of writing, the Michigan State Spartans are the No. 1 team in the country, and Denzel Valentine is arguably the best player in the nation. Not a bad combo.

Once again, that Tom Izzo guy seems to have everything down.

4. Michigan State Spartans

Can someone say exceeding expectations?

At the time of writing, the Michigan State Spartans are the No. 1 team in the country, and Denzel Valentine is arguably the best player in the nation. Not a bad combo.

Once again, that Tom Izzo guy seems to have everything down.

3. Kentucky Wildcats

No matter how the Kentucky Wildcats finish on a yearly basis, they will always have one of the most talented teams in college basketball. This year's version of the one-and-done Wildcats is no different.

Side note: Some talented players did return, so I will give the credit where the credit is due.

3. Kentucky Wildcats

No matter how the Kentucky Wildcats finish on a yearly basis, they will always have one of the most talented teams in college basketball. This year's version of the one-and-done Wildcats is no different.

Side note: Some talented players did return, so I will give the credit where the credit is due.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels

Experience, talent and one of the best players in the country — it sounds like Roy Williams has a winner on his hands.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels

Experience, talent and one of the best players in the country — it sounds like Roy Williams has a winner on his hands.

1. Maryland Terrapins

This Maryland Terrapins team entered the season loaded. To no one's surprise, it is still loaded.

It would be one thing if opposing teams just had to worry about Player of the Year candidate Melo Trimble, but opposing squads also have to worry about Robert Carter and Jake Layman. Rasheed Sulaimon is also back to his sharp-shooting ways. Oh yeah, there's also Diamond Stone (aka the best name in college basketball and a true freshman force).

1. Maryland Terrapins

This Maryland Terrapins team entered the season loaded. To no one's surprise, it is still loaded.

It would be one thing if opposing teams just had to worry about Player of the Year candidate Melo Trimble, but opposing squads also have to worry about Robert Carter and Jake Layman. Rasheed Sulaimon is also back to his sharp-shooting ways. Oh yeah, there's also Diamond Stone (aka the best name in college basketball and a true freshman force).