Media by Associated Press – FILE – UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) puts up a shot during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Saint Mary’s College on March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are back for their fourth seasons, a couple of battle-tested veterans who arrived at the same time as coach Mick Cronin to rebuild a program that owns a record 11 national championships. UCLA opens the season at home with two new five-star recruits against Sacramento State on Nov. 7. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)
With the 2022-23 NCAA College Basketball season about to start, let’s take a look at four of the sleepers who could become champions in April.
Creighton +2500
Creighton is going to start the season in the top 10 in the AP poll, but their odds are not equal to their ranking. The Bluejays fell to eventual champion Kansas in the second round last year and gave the Jayhawks all they could handle, despite being short-handed. They return four of their top six players from last year and add two key transfers.
Creighton welcomes back point guard Ryan Nembhard along with center Ryan Kalkbrenner, two key players who missed the Kansas loss. Nembhard ran the offense as a freshman until he was injured late in the season, averaging 11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, and shooting 31% from deep. Kalkbrenner was injured in the NCAA opener after averaging 13.9 pgg and 7.7 rpg and making 65% of his shots on the season.
The Bluejays have added a pair of important transfers in Baylor Scheierman and Francisco Farabello. Scheierman, a 6-foot-7 Nebraska native, averaged 16.2 ppg and 7.8 rpg last year at South Dakota State while shooting 47% from 3-point range. Farabello played 34 games for TCU last year, averaging 4.7 ppg and shooting 38% from deep in 19 minutes per game.
At +2500, the team picked to win the Big East is a good sleeper bet as an NCAA Champion. They are well-coached, can shoot from the outside, can get out and run, and will be battle-tested. The Bluejays will play in the Maui Invitational in November before December games against Texas, BYU, Nebraska, and Arizona State to get them ready for conference action.
Indiana +3500
Don’t be surprised that the Indiana Hoosiers are the top-ranked Big Ten team in the preseason AP Poll. Coach Mike Woodson had a tremendous first season, leading IU back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. Seven of the top nine scorers from last year’s team are back, and Woodson added a top 10 recruiting class.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is the leader, and the center has averaged 19 ppg the last two seasons to go with 8.5 rpg and nearly 60% field goal shooting. Xavier Johnson and Race Thompson both averaged double-digits in scoring last season.
Look for top-100 recruits Malik Reneau, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Kaleb Banks to make an impact this season. The Hoosiers play Xavier and North Carolina in November before facing Arizona and Kansas in December to get tested ahead of Big Ten play. At +3500, Indiana is worth a flyer as a championship sleeper.
UCLA +1600
Two years removed from a Final Four appearance, Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins could be poised for another deep run this season. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell bring the experience with a combined 185 career starts. Jaylen Clark and David Singleton have also been through the wringer of a Pac-12 season.
The Bruins add in a five-star prospect in Amari Bailey, who should contend for Pac-12 newcomer of the year. Adem Bona is a freshman post player who could be the X-factor to help this team make another Final Four run.
The Bruins have to replace Johnny Juzang, Myles Johnson, and Jules Bernard, but they should have more depth this season than in years past. The Pac-12 should be a two-team race with Arizona, and Cronin’s squad has the experience and talent to get the job done.
Texas +2200
If the title stays in the Big 12, perhaps it will be Texas, not defending champion Kansas, who brings home the trophy. Chris Beard’s squad is loaded for his second season after the Longhorns won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in eight seasons. Texas was 22-12 last year, and the top two scorers are back for the 2022-23 season.
Beard adds to that group with the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class and some key transfers. Marcus Carr and Timmy Allen are the main players returning. Carr averaged 11.4 ppg last year and 3.4 apg, while Allen put in 12.1 ppg to go with 6.4 rpg. Christian Bishop averaged 7.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg and returns along with center Dylan Disu.
Dillon Mitchell and Arterio Morris are a pair of freshmen the Longhorns need to hit the ground running. Texas also added Iowa State transfer Tyrese Hunter, the 2021-22 Big 12 Freshman of the Year who averaged 11.0 ppg to lead the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament. Sir’Jabari Rice helped New Mexico State to the NCAA Tournament last year at 11.9 ppg and made the jump to the Big 12.
At +2200, Texas is a good sleeper pick. If Beard and his coaching staff can mend all the pieces together in the non-conference, Texas will be a tough out come March and April.