College Basketball Futures To Like For 2018-19
Duke and UNC lead the title hunt, and other futures to like
Jordan Schultz
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
If the 2018 version of March Madness was any indication of what's to come this season in college basketball, we'd all better buckle up. Last season, Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago made a stunning run to the school's first Final Four in over five decades, and 16-seeded Maryland-Baltimore County upset No. 1 Virginia. Nevada, with emotional head coach Eric Musselman roaming the sidelines, made an Elite Eight. Buffalo hammered Arizona in the first round, while blue bloods like Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan State all failed to advance past the first weekend.
With the 2018-19 season just around the corner, we're offering up our 10 favorite future wagers to help you look smart and win some cash once the Big Dance rolls around.
Odds courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
Duke Blue Devils (5-1 to win title)
If having one of the greatest coaches in the sport's history wasn't enough, then having three potential lottery picks might be. That speaks to the quality of Mike Krzyzewski's latest blue-chip recruiting class in Durham, North Carolina. Dunking sensation Zion Williamson is a YouTube clicks machine. More important, though, is the refined jump shot he flashed during Duke's recent Canadian tour. If Williamson -- who averaged 29.7 points and a team-best 11.3 rebounds in Canada -- can consistently make perimeter shots (he was 64.5 percent from the floor on the tour), he could morph into the most dominant two-way player in the country. In other words, think of him as a legitimate rim protector at 6-foot-7 who changes the way teams draw up their game plans.
Then there is Cam Reddish, a 6-foot-7 wing with a 7-foot-plus wingspan who excels in the 3-and-D role. But he's also resourceful and can serve as an ancillary playmaker.
As good as Williamson and Reddish are however, the jewel of the class is 6-foot-6 Canadian wing R.J. Barrett. He's a slithery left-handed scorer with a repertoire of moves most pros would envy. Barrett is an elite athlete who is always attacking and probing around the rim. His scoring prowess and defensive quickness are the main reasons Duke has such short odds to win its sixth title under Coach K.
So, no, you are not getting the best of odds here, but with these three pros -- plus a quality freshman point guard in Tre Jones (Tyus Jones' younger brother) to run the show -- you are getting the best team.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1 to win title)
While the Zags might not be sporting their typical depth, they have enough talent to make a second Final Four appearance in three seasons. Why? Because French forward Killian Tillie (nearly 13 points and 6 rebounds as a sophomore) is a future NBA player who runs the floor and can score on either block. Expect him to finally become the focal point of Mark Few's offense and to run plenty of pick-and-rolls with senior point guard Josh Perkins, who endured an offseason shoulder surgery but has the scoring punch necessary to take over close games.
The key for Gonzaga -- moreso than in previous seasons -- will be to remain healthy. Few will lean on athletic forward Rui Hachimura (22.4 points per 40 minutes) and swingman Zach Norvell (12.7 PPG as a freshman), as well as a new toy in San Jose State transfer forward Brandon Clarke (first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a sophomore and MWC Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman), a high-level athlete who is excellent in the paint and a monster on the glass.
With a barrage of tough non-conference games -- including North Carolina, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Creighton, Washington and potentially Arizona in Maui -- Gonzaga can make an early statement.
North Carolina Tar Heels (8-1 to win title)
This comes down to Nassir Little, an absolute freak talent with the size and length (6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan) to be an NBA player right now -- and potentially a better pro prospect than Duke's Barrett, according to one sports agent.
Little, the MVP of the McDonald's All American Game thanks to his 28 points in just 21 minutes, displays a pro-style game while constantly attacking defenses. Like Barrett, he has the skill set to become a three-level scorer and a monster in transition thanks to his finishing ability.
Little will be flanked by fellow blue-chipper Coby White, whose attacking mentality will lend itself well to Roy Williams' up-tempo system, and four-star wing Rechon Black, a rangy, playmaking 6-foot-7 prospect who actually operated as a lead guard in high school.
Mr. Reliable, Luke Maye, an All-ACC pick and third-team All-American, will return for his senior season, providing more scoring punch and leadership Williams can count on in tight games.
Virginia Cavaliers (20-1 to win title)
Fresh off their shocking defeat at the hands of 16-seed UMBC, the Cavs return sharpshooting guards Kyle Guy (14.1 PPG on 39.2 percent from 3) and Ty Jerome (10.6 PPG on 37.8 from 3). Then there is 6-foot-7 sophomore small forward De'Andre Hunter, who was injured during the tournament. Hunter is Virginia's most talented player because of his defensive versatility and ability to attack the basket and finish above the rim.
Of course, the question mark with coach Tony Bennett will always be whether his teams are built to withstand poor shooting nights such as the loss to UMBC.
UVa, with its swarming pack-line defense, ranked first in the country last season in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. The concept relies on not allowing both the fast-break and straight-line drives. It's a sound strategy built to maintain leads, but it also keeps games closer because the possession discrepancy is always close. The question Bennett & Co. will be left to answer come March will be whether they can come back from a deficit.
Nevada Wolf Pack (3-1 to reach Final Four)
Remember these guys? After an Elite Eight appearance last season, Eric Musselman landed the most sought-after recruit in program history in power forward Jordan Brown -- Nevada's first-ever five-star prospect.
Brown won two gold medals with USA Basketball, making the Under-17 World Championship team in 2016 and the U16 FIBA Americas team in 2015. He'll be flanked by an experienced bunch. Keep in mind that Nevada's 13 scholarships include fifth-year seniors, fourth-year juniors, and one for a fourth-year senior. Most important, the Martin twins -- Caleb and Cody -- return, as does first-team All-Mountain West power forward Jordan Caroline.
That trio combined to average over 50 points, 20.3 rebounds and nearly 10 assists last season.
"Muss" implores his teams to play fast and find the first good look in transition -- as well as the half court -- which was a key reason why the Wolf Pack ranked seventh nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Auburn Tigers (10-1 to reach Final Four)
The Tigers play at a breakneck pace, often turning games into track meets. The only way to achieve success in the speed game is by deploying good guards, which coach Bruce Pearl has.
Despite losing top scorer Mustapha Heron to St. John's (a sleeper team come March) via transfer, Pearl has Bryce Brown (15.9 PPG, 38.2 percent career 3s) and a bona fide NBA prospect in Jared Harper, who should take another leap forward as an offensive threat. Six of Pearl's eight top scorers return, which means Auburn has two March gold mines: depth and experience.
The 2018-19 version of the SEC doesn't present the same challenge as the ACC, but it's no slouch. The Tigers can potentially notch quality victories over the likes of Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and perhaps Vanderbilt -- and can win the league. That sounds like a high-value wager at 20-1.
Indiana Hoosiers (10-1 to reach Final Four)
ESPN's No. 5 incoming freshman, shooting guard Romeo Langford -- a McDonald's All American who stayed home -- is a potentially dominant scorer and Indiana's best combo man since Victor Oladipo. Head coach Archie Miller's second season in Bloomington will be better, in large part because he will design the offense around Langford and sophomore forward Justin Smith, another freak athlete (48-inch vertical) with NBA ability. Look for Smith to get tougher and more efficient around the rim in Year 2, and to enjoy playing the two-man game with Langford.
Juwan Morgan might be IU's best all-around player. As a junior, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged nearly 17 points and over 7 rebounds. The Hoosiers hope this trio can take them to their ninth Final Four.
Kansas State Wildcats (20-1 to reach Final Four)
While in-state rival Kansas has the pedigree and talent, it does not have the experience or the right odds to make a wager that Kansas State does. Head coach Bruce Weber led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight last season and returns his entire starting five, including a first-round draft prospect in senior Dean Wade (16.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG) and junior guard Barry Brown (15.9 PPG). Weber's capacity to coax his guys into lockdown defense ensures his teams remain within striking distance on frigid shooting nights.
The gauntlet of the Big 12 schedule will prove crucial come tourney time, and K-State will be a tangible threat to reach its fifth Final Four.
Virginia Tech Hokies (20-1 to reach Final Four)
With usual stalwarts Duke, Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia, the ACC is loaded. But don't sleep on the Hokies, who are fresh off their first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances since the mid-1980s.
Armed with a trio of capable scorers, including a potential first-round talent in Nickeil Alexander-Walker -- a 6-foot-5 combo man from Toronto -- head coach Buzz Williams has his best team since he guided Marquette to the Sweet 16 in 2012.
A gifted scorer who knocked down over 39 percent of his triples as a freshman, Alexander-Walker is comfortable playing on and off the ball, and uses his 6-foot-9 wingspan to smother ball handlers and occasionally jump passing lanes. His upside as a sophomore is the main reason why the Hokies have an opportunity to take a sizable leap this season.
Buffalo Bulls (250-1 to reach Final Four)
Could the Bulls be this season's Loyola-Chicago? You bet. Head coach Nate Oats is a rising star with a frontcourt to match.
The versatile 6-foot-7 Jeremy Harris is a bucket-getter who fills it up from deep (41.8 percent on 3-pointers). He's flanked by fellow junior Nick Perkins, who averaged over 16 points and 6 boards last season. Then there is do-everything guard CJ Massinburg, one of just four active players in the nation with at least 1,300 points, 500 rebounds and 200 assists.
The MAC is an underrated league, and Buffalo will face some tricky games. But this remains a talented, experienced club with just enough firepower to make a Final Four. It proved it can shut down an elite offense when it held future No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton and Arizona -- 15th in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom -- to a measly 68 points on 2-for-18 shooting (11.1 percent) from distance last season.
Jordan Schultz
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
If the 2018 version of March Madness was any indication of what's to come this season in college basketball, we'd all better buckle up. Last season, Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago made a stunning run to the school's first Final Four in over five decades, and 16-seeded Maryland-Baltimore County upset No. 1 Virginia. Nevada, with emotional head coach Eric Musselman roaming the sidelines, made an Elite Eight. Buffalo hammered Arizona in the first round, while blue bloods like Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan State all failed to advance past the first weekend.
With the 2018-19 season just around the corner, we're offering up our 10 favorite future wagers to help you look smart and win some cash once the Big Dance rolls around.
Odds courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
Duke Blue Devils (5-1 to win title)If having one of the greatest coaches in the sport's history wasn't enough, then having three potential lottery picks might be. That speaks to the quality of Mike Krzyzewski's latest blue-chip recruiting class in Durham, North Carolina. Dunking sensation Zion Williamson is a YouTube clicks machine. More important, though, is the refined jump shot he flashed during Duke's recent Canadian tour. If Williamson -- who averaged 29.7 points and a team-best 11.3 rebounds in Canada -- can consistently make perimeter shots (he was 64.5 percent from the floor on the tour), he could morph into the most dominant two-way player in the country. In other words, think of him as a legitimate rim protector at 6-foot-7 who changes the way teams draw up their game plans.
Then there is Cam Reddish, a 6-foot-7 wing with a 7-foot-plus wingspan who excels in the 3-and-D role. But he's also resourceful and can serve as an ancillary playmaker.
As good as Williamson and Reddish are however, the jewel of the class is 6-foot-6 Canadian wing R.J. Barrett. He's a slithery left-handed scorer with a repertoire of moves most pros would envy. Barrett is an elite athlete who is always attacking and probing around the rim. His scoring prowess and defensive quickness are the main reasons Duke has such short odds to win its sixth title under Coach K.
So, no, you are not getting the best of odds here, but with these three pros -- plus a quality freshman point guard in Tre Jones (Tyus Jones' younger brother) to run the show -- you are getting the best team.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1 to win title)While the Zags might not be sporting their typical depth, they have enough talent to make a second Final Four appearance in three seasons. Why? Because French forward Killian Tillie (nearly 13 points and 6 rebounds as a sophomore) is a future NBA player who runs the floor and can score on either block. Expect him to finally become the focal point of Mark Few's offense and to run plenty of pick-and-rolls with senior point guard Josh Perkins, who endured an offseason shoulder surgery but has the scoring punch necessary to take over close games.
The key for Gonzaga -- moreso than in previous seasons -- will be to remain healthy. Few will lean on athletic forward Rui Hachimura (22.4 points per 40 minutes) and swingman Zach Norvell (12.7 PPG as a freshman), as well as a new toy in San Jose State transfer forward Brandon Clarke (first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a sophomore and MWC Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman), a high-level athlete who is excellent in the paint and a monster on the glass.
With a barrage of tough non-conference games -- including North Carolina, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Creighton, Washington and potentially Arizona in Maui -- Gonzaga can make an early statement.
North Carolina Tar Heels (8-1 to win title)This comes down to Nassir Little, an absolute freak talent with the size and length (6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan) to be an NBA player right now -- and potentially a better pro prospect than Duke's Barrett, according to one sports agent.
Little, the MVP of the McDonald's All American Game thanks to his 28 points in just 21 minutes, displays a pro-style game while constantly attacking defenses. Like Barrett, he has the skill set to become a three-level scorer and a monster in transition thanks to his finishing ability.
Little will be flanked by fellow blue-chipper Coby White, whose attacking mentality will lend itself well to Roy Williams' up-tempo system, and four-star wing Rechon Black, a rangy, playmaking 6-foot-7 prospect who actually operated as a lead guard in high school.
Mr. Reliable, Luke Maye, an All-ACC pick and third-team All-American, will return for his senior season, providing more scoring punch and leadership Williams can count on in tight games.
Virginia Cavaliers (20-1 to win title)Fresh off their shocking defeat at the hands of 16-seed UMBC, the Cavs return sharpshooting guards Kyle Guy (14.1 PPG on 39.2 percent from 3) and Ty Jerome (10.6 PPG on 37.8 from 3). Then there is 6-foot-7 sophomore small forward De'Andre Hunter, who was injured during the tournament. Hunter is Virginia's most talented player because of his defensive versatility and ability to attack the basket and finish above the rim.
Of course, the question mark with coach Tony Bennett will always be whether his teams are built to withstand poor shooting nights such as the loss to UMBC.
UVa, with its swarming pack-line defense, ranked first in the country last season in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. The concept relies on not allowing both the fast-break and straight-line drives. It's a sound strategy built to maintain leads, but it also keeps games closer because the possession discrepancy is always close. The question Bennett & Co. will be left to answer come March will be whether they can come back from a deficit.
Nevada Wolf Pack (3-1 to reach Final Four)Remember these guys? After an Elite Eight appearance last season, Eric Musselman landed the most sought-after recruit in program history in power forward Jordan Brown -- Nevada's first-ever five-star prospect.
Brown won two gold medals with USA Basketball, making the Under-17 World Championship team in 2016 and the U16 FIBA Americas team in 2015. He'll be flanked by an experienced bunch. Keep in mind that Nevada's 13 scholarships include fifth-year seniors, fourth-year juniors, and one for a fourth-year senior. Most important, the Martin twins -- Caleb and Cody -- return, as does first-team All-Mountain West power forward Jordan Caroline.
That trio combined to average over 50 points, 20.3 rebounds and nearly 10 assists last season.
"Muss" implores his teams to play fast and find the first good look in transition -- as well as the half court -- which was a key reason why the Wolf Pack ranked seventh nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Auburn Tigers (10-1 to reach Final Four)The Tigers play at a breakneck pace, often turning games into track meets. The only way to achieve success in the speed game is by deploying good guards, which coach Bruce Pearl has.
Despite losing top scorer Mustapha Heron to St. John's (a sleeper team come March) via transfer, Pearl has Bryce Brown (15.9 PPG, 38.2 percent career 3s) and a bona fide NBA prospect in Jared Harper, who should take another leap forward as an offensive threat. Six of Pearl's eight top scorers return, which means Auburn has two March gold mines: depth and experience.
The 2018-19 version of the SEC doesn't present the same challenge as the ACC, but it's no slouch. The Tigers can potentially notch quality victories over the likes of Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and perhaps Vanderbilt -- and can win the league. That sounds like a high-value wager at 20-1.
Indiana Hoosiers (10-1 to reach Final Four)ESPN's No. 5 incoming freshman, shooting guard Romeo Langford -- a McDonald's All American who stayed home -- is a potentially dominant scorer and Indiana's best combo man since Victor Oladipo. Head coach Archie Miller's second season in Bloomington will be better, in large part because he will design the offense around Langford and sophomore forward Justin Smith, another freak athlete (48-inch vertical) with NBA ability. Look for Smith to get tougher and more efficient around the rim in Year 2, and to enjoy playing the two-man game with Langford.
Juwan Morgan might be IU's best all-around player. As a junior, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged nearly 17 points and over 7 rebounds. The Hoosiers hope this trio can take them to their ninth Final Four.
Kansas State Wildcats (20-1 to reach Final Four)While in-state rival Kansas has the pedigree and talent, it does not have the experience or the right odds to make a wager that Kansas State does. Head coach Bruce Weber led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight last season and returns his entire starting five, including a first-round draft prospect in senior Dean Wade (16.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG) and junior guard Barry Brown (15.9 PPG). Weber's capacity to coax his guys into lockdown defense ensures his teams remain within striking distance on frigid shooting nights.
The gauntlet of the Big 12 schedule will prove crucial come tourney time, and K-State will be a tangible threat to reach its fifth Final Four.
Virginia Tech Hokies (20-1 to reach Final Four)With usual stalwarts Duke, Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia, the ACC is loaded. But don't sleep on the Hokies, who are fresh off their first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances since the mid-1980s.
Armed with a trio of capable scorers, including a potential first-round talent in Nickeil Alexander-Walker -- a 6-foot-5 combo man from Toronto -- head coach Buzz Williams has his best team since he guided Marquette to the Sweet 16 in 2012.
A gifted scorer who knocked down over 39 percent of his triples as a freshman, Alexander-Walker is comfortable playing on and off the ball, and uses his 6-foot-9 wingspan to smother ball handlers and occasionally jump passing lanes. His upside as a sophomore is the main reason why the Hokies have an opportunity to take a sizable leap this season.
Buffalo Bulls (250-1 to reach Final Four)Could the Bulls be this season's Loyola-Chicago? You bet. Head coach Nate Oats is a rising star with a frontcourt to match.
The versatile 6-foot-7 Jeremy Harris is a bucket-getter who fills it up from deep (41.8 percent on 3-pointers). He's flanked by fellow junior Nick Perkins, who averaged over 16 points and 6 boards last season. Then there is do-everything guard CJ Massinburg, one of just four active players in the nation with at least 1,300 points, 500 rebounds and 200 assists.
The MAC is an underrated league, and Buffalo will face some tricky games. But this remains a talented, experienced club with just enough firepower to make a Final Four. It proved it can shut down an elite offense when it held future No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton and Arizona -- 15th in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom -- to a measly 68 points on 2-for-18 shooting (11.1 percent) from distance last season.