3. Cole Anthony is the best freshman in college basketball

Discussed this on the podcast, but it’s the perfect marriage of mega-dynamic talent, opportunity on a team that needs a lead ball-handler and perimeter production, and uptempo system.

4. Mississippi or Alabama makes the Sweet 16 (60th and 70th in KenPom’s preseason rankings)

I believe in Kermit and #OvernightOats!

5. The American gets four NCAA bids

Houston, Memphis, Cincinnati, and I think Wichita St. will get there, if healthy (not off to a great start with Jaime Echenique’s injury).

6. Following the two-bid OVC, a mid-major earns an at-large bid again

The best candidates here look like New Mexico State, East Tennessee State, Vermont, and Liberty (potentially Harvard, as well). The Aggies will be hurt by the A.J. Harris injury during a chunk of the non-conference season. The SoCon really upped its profile last year, but ETSU will need to steal a game at Kansas or at LSU to have a true case. Vermont will need worthy challengers to emerge in the America East (Albany, Stony Brook, UMBC), while Liberty’s non-conference slate is almost certainly too weak to nab a bid. Still, I think the committee wants to make this an annual trend and show they’re being “fair” to mid-majors (spoiler: they’re not), so I think someone gets there.

7. The ACC only gets six bids

That means Duke, UNC, Louisville, and Virginia, plus I’m sold on Florida St., leaving room for just one of Notre Dame, NC State, and Syracuse. The problem for the ACC is that I don’t think teams 11-15 will offer any sort of quality win opportunities for the bubble hopefuls, and the top 3-4 teams are so dominant that they’ll separate themselves from the middle, as well. Realistically, this is probably an impossibility due to the power of $$, but I’ll predict it anyways. However, the first two years after expanding to 15 teams (2014 and 2015), the league actually only got six bids, so there is precedent.

8. At least one of Georgetown or Washington misses the NCAA Tournament

Two fanbases who are extremely excited about their young players, but I’m more hesitant. Both could get there, but they have to prove it.

9. Seton Hall ends up in the 6 to 10 seed range, not in the “protected” Top 16.

I’ve (semi-unintentionally) backed myself into a corner against Seton Hall, and while I think this is a good team with an incendiary scoring star, I’m hesitant on the team’s point guard play and defensive versatility without Michael Nzei.

10. Jim Boeheim complains about the new 3-point line distance after a loss, but then completely contradicts himself after a win in which the opponent goes 3/28 from deep against the 2-3

This doesn’t actually feel bold at all, but I wanted to include it.

11. Either New Mexico State or East Tennessee State spends time inside the KenPom Top 40

The two are ranked 64th and 74th, respectively, in Ken’s preseason rankings. This is pretty much the “Wofford Corrolary” - one of these teams will get hot enough to be ascend into a higher echelon. I wanted to only say NMSU, but the A.J. Harris injury has me just nervous enough to add in the Buccaneers.

12. Nebraska wins eight Big Ten games (Pom projects them for 5-15)

This is probably aggressive, but I love Fred Hoiberg and think the ultra guard-centric roster suits him. Once human cinder block Shamiel Stevenson is eligible in December, Hoiberg can really spread the floor 1 through 5 with skill and speed.

13. Chicago State finishes inside the top 330

Rankings the last four years: 347, 335, 346, 351. Preseason ranking: 351. With a full contingent of scholarship players, I say 330th or better. You can do this, Lance Irvin!

14. A list of mid-major coaches who will take new “better” jobs following this season: Steve Forbes (ETSU), Chris Jans (NMSU), John Becker (Vermont), Jeff Linder (Northern Colorado), Pat Kelsey (Winthrop), Matt Langel (Colgate), Bob Richey (Furman)

Just kidding about Pat Kelsey - he’ll get cold feet.

15. Nico Mannion makes an All-American team

I know Mark Titus is on this corner as well (#NicoNation), and my colleague Matt and I adopted “Nico Suave” after watching him in the Nike Hoops Summit. Mannion is just an ultra-competitive MFer who will have unlimited opportunities for a high-profile Pac 12 team.