4 teams that could reach the Final Four in Detroit

Even in the good old days of like three years ago, it was a seemingly impossible task to try to project a Final Four before the season.

Now it’s nothing more than a fool’s errand.

Between the time this article is filed and posted, which is probably just a matter of hours, multiple lawsuits will probably be decided and new players declared eligible that completely alter the sport’s landscape.

But let’s give it a shot anyway.

Here is a very early look at four teams who could have a legitimate shot of playing basketball in Detroit next April, including a long shot:

Florida

Todd Golden has pulled off the unthinkable in the modern world of collegiate sports.

He found a way to basically run it back.

Golden retained 10 of his top 12 players from last year, including four starters. The biggest addition to the roster is Denzel Aberdeen, who spent last year at Kentucky but was actually a key piece on Florida’s championship roster two years ago.

The Gators not only have cohesion, but motivation. This was a tremendous team last year that fell woefully short of its goal when it got stunned early in the NCAA Tournament by Iowa.

They won’t let that happen again.

Florida boasts the most experienced and dominant frontcourts in the nation with Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu.

Aberdeen won a legal case to regain eligibility, so as long as that holds up this team will be a threat to win it all.

Kansas

There was a time in the past where when we said a college athlete was an NBA player, it was because we were projecting out where his skills could take him in the future.

For Jayhawks star Trey Kaufman-Renn, it’s a description of his past.

Kaufman-Renn was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft after five seasons at Purdue and played for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Summer League.

Now he will return to college and lead a loaded Kansas team as one of the best players in the country.

Bill Self also has brought in Tyran Stokes, the projected No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. He could be an instant superstar.

The Jayhawks got more good eligibility news when returning double-digit scorers Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. were allowed by the courts to come back.

Illinois

Coach Brad Underwood is one of the best in the business, and he has plenty of talent to make a return to the Final Four.

While the loss of superstar guard Keaton Wagler to the NBA will be tough to overcome, Underwood brought in sharpshooter Stefan Vaaks from Providence.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Pastner’s work ethic unrivaled

UNLV’s Jones has something to prove

Graney: Rebels need chemistry

Mountain West capsules

Lady Rebels’ new-look roster

He’s also got his international stars back this season with Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic and twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic.

The twins form an incredibly intimidating duo in the paint.

Underwood bucked the trend a bit by adding six freshmen. It’s a very good class, but most modern day coaches with championship dreams tend to prefer to bring in more experience to add depth to the rotation.

Underwood will need to have the kids ready to contribute.

Texas Tech

This is a bit of a long shot, and there is a giant caveat attached.

Superstar big man JT Toppin will perhaps be the best player in the nation whenever he is healthy enough to play. Toppin is recovering from a torn ACL in February.

It’s likely the Red Raiders take a patient approach and wait for the second half of the season even though Toppin says he is feeling fairly healthy and is ahead of schedule in his recovery.

And then there is the case of Jamichael Stillwell, who is both hurt and ineligible.

His case has bounced around the courts a bit, and he has gone back and forth from eligible to ineligible multiple times.

If Stillwell and Toppin both play down the stretch, they will absolutely make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Grant McCasland is a great coach and will have to keep his team afloat until he can get those guys. There’s more than enough talent to make that happen.

Darrion Williams returns to Lubbock after taking a one-year detour to N.C. State. Cruz Davis should run the point and is capable of scoring 20 points a game while dishing out five assists as he did at Hofstra last season.

Donovan Atwell is an elite shooter and the Red Raiders add UNLV transfer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn in what should be a role that calls for him to be a scorer off the bench.

The season could be very disappointing season if they can’t get Toppin and Stillwell. But if they do, look out.

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.