ESPN Analysts Predict Kentucky, Michigan State, Kansas, Duke and Arizona as Top Five

It’s the same story every year: freshmen get lots of attention at the dawn of a new hoops season—simply because they’re freshmen.  Just ask Kansas incoming 6’8” phenom Andrew Wiggins—among other buzzed-about freshmen—who will likely participate in the 2014 NBA Draft, considered one of the best in years.

ESPN The Magazine’s annual College Basketball Preview issue, which hits newsstands Friday, November 1, devotes its pages to this highly anticipated season, revealing what you need to know, projecting tournament seeds and even predicting the order that teams will finish within every conference across the nation.

In “ESPN Power Rankings,” The Mag ranks the top 25 teams coming into the season with Kentucky as No. 1, followed closely behind by Michigan State, Kansas, Duke and Arizona.

The accompanying cover feature – “The Best 121 Days of His Life” –reveals that despite Wiggins’ inevitable NBA future, he is determined to make each moment in Lawrence, Kan. count.

The College Basketball Preview Issue also features “The Return of Russdiculous,” which explains why Louisville’s top scorer Russ Smith surprisingly returned for his senior year.

In addition, The Mag features “The Near-Death & All-American Life of Orlando Antigua” where Tim Keown sat down with John Calipari’s right-hand man at Kentucky to hear his one-of-a-kind recruiting pitch, as well as “Holy Crap, They Gave Me Another Chance,” which features ever-rebellious Marshall Henderson who returns to Ole Miss, swearing this time will be different.

Other 2013-14 College Basketball Preview Issue Features:

The Beef
Jay Bilas gives us an essay on radical things college hoops can do to compete. (Hint: We could learn a few things from the NBA.)

They Did What?!?!!
Five first-round locks (Marcus Smart, Mitch McGary to name a couple) who put the pros on hold and whether or not it was a good call.
By Jordan Brenner

Tankapalooza ’14: How to Win by Losing
We talk anonymously to an NBA GM on why his team is gutting its roster this offseason to get this class of one-and-dones, and Chad Ford’s first-round mock of the draft that has everyone talking.

The Near-Death & All-American Life of Orlando Antigua
Coach Cal’s top assistant survived a bullet to become one of the most feared recruiters. Can the Cats stellar incoming class show that a program that embraces one-and-dones win on a consistent basis?
By Tim Keown

College Basketball Confidential
College ballers dish on getting paid, shaving points and making a pass at the coach’s daughter.

For more information on the NBA Preview issue, visit espn.com.

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