The Commish's "Ridiculously Early" Power Rankings

1. Blue Devils (Kevin Snyder). Let's start with three 1st Team Pre-season all league players, and a 3rd Teamer to boot. Add double figure scorer Sulaimon. That's all before we talk about Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood. Plus, the #1 seed from last year is hungry after the loss to the #8 seeded Huskies.
2. Red Storm (Russ Lynch). With 4 returning players averaging over 12ppg (all stars in Sampson, Harrison, Rudd and Edwin), plus Greene, God's Gift returning and frosh Rysheed Jordan, the Storm can win it all. Orlando Sanchez may be a sleeper as well.
3. Irish (Nate Wethje). If Whittington didn't go down for the season (Georgetown PF, 12ppg, 7rpg in 2011-2012), the Irish could possibly have unseated the Blue Devils at the #1 spot. But Young, Harris, Grant, Atkins and Rahon are still a powerful nucleus. Connaughton, Jefferson and Jackson are all possible starters with big upside.
4. Huskies (Alan Snyder). When they Huskies picked up Sean Kilpatrick it was expected that he was a late year rental. By staying put, he joins UConn stars Boatright, Calhoun and Daniels in chasing 3rd straight crown. Claher, Judge, Brown, Tobey, Atkins and Kirk provide adequate role players.
5. Wildcats (Scott Taylor). Teague, Pinkston, Arcidiacano and Hanlon form a formidable nucleus, but the "Cats will have to draft well to return to the glory days (which are becoming a faded memory). There is little else on the bench so the 'Cats will have to draft well.
6. Bearcats (John Cleland). Bearcats picked up White, Moore and Garrett for Kilpatrick, but both Garrett and Moore have transferred. Still, studly Bryce Cotten teams with White, Batts and Carter to give the Bearcats a chance. Frosh Lawrence could be a difference maker. Jackson and Crockett averaged nearly 9ppg and may get protected as well.
7. Orange (George/Mike Snyder). Fair, McKie and Gardner have star power to lead this team to a title, but will Ennis run the show? Making the right choices on which Syracuse players to keep may determine fate. Mayo, Whisnant and Gbinije may also get protection consideration.
8. Cardinals (Tim Snyder). With so many players on the cusp of break-out seasons (Harrell, Grant, Obepka, Behanan) the Cards could vault up the board quickly and make a run at the crown. Anderson, Hancock and Cook are able role players, while Chris Jones is a wildcard taking over the PG spot for Louisville.
9. Hoyas (Tom Plavcan). The slow and steady Hoyas always seem to be relevant come play-off time, and this year should be no different. With Napier, Starks, Smith-Rivera and Beidscheid, the Hoyas will need to find some bigs, but expect that they will.
10. Terrapins (Mike Duberstein). Apart from a trade, the Terps will have Wells and McDermott in tow, plus another stud drafted in the 4-5 range. If they can build from there is anyone's question, but the nucleus should be there.

11. Warriors (Greg Snyder). There is a heated debate within the Warriors management team over whether to keep players like Blackshear, Thomas, Ochefu, Filer, Branch and Johnson. Mitchell, Mack and Wilson need help, and the help may be there already.

12. Cowboys (Caleb Morris).  The Cowboys start with a Big 3 as good as anyone's, but will 1st year Coach Morris have the ability to draft and build around them. This team could vault upwards behind lottery-ready Marcus Smart plus LeBryan Nash and Markel Brow, all who average ove 14 ppg.
13. Tar Heels (Steve Flanagan). Flanagan immediately runs into turmoil with the Heels as Hairston is suspended. However, keeping McAdoo and going into the 1st Round should give the Heels plenty of talent. But will they drop Miller (8.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Paige (8.2 ppg, 4.6 apg), Hicks (Rivals #16 recruit) and others to do so?
14. Tigers-Memphis (Andrew Melrose). Melrose takes Memphis franchise and joins the Cowboys as the two expansion franchises. He has three double figure scorers to protect, but faces tough decisions with the five recruits from the class that some say rivals the Kentucky recruiting class.
15. Panthers (Nick Riddlesberger). Newcomer Riddlesberger is immediately confronted with major decisions regarding whether to protect Zhanna, Robinson, Dunn, Lubick and Bolden. They could get to 1 with either Zhanna or Robinson and rebuild for the draft, or keep some of these players on the cusp! Welcome to the league.

16. Deacons (John Cavanaugh). The once formidable Friars franchise took their talents to Winston Salem, following son Tyler to the Demon Deacons. Much like the Wake Forest team, the Deacons wallowed last year as young players gained experience. Now, Cavanaugh must decide whether to stay with this nucleus, or rebuild from the outside.