We're still a few months away from the initial preseason polls of the 2015-16 season, but it's never too early to start thinking about what the top of college basketball will look like once November arrives. My colleague Eamonn Brennan hit you with his Way-Too-Early Top 25 last month, but since I'm not quite ready to narrow it down to 25 at this stage, below are the 50 teams I'd have to consider if my top 25 ballot was due today. The order, and even some of the teams, are likely to change, but here's the way I see things as the month of June approaches:
Projected starting lineup: SG Rasheed Sulaimon, PG Melo Trimble, SF Jake Layman, PF Robert Carter, C Diamond Stone
Mark Turgeon and the Terps are loaded. They have an upper-echelon point guard, experienced wings and talented big men. They also have quality depth with guys like Dion Wiley, Jared Nickens and Michal Cekovsky coming off the bench.
Projected starting lineup: G Marcus Paige, G Joel Berry II, SF Justin Jackson, PF Brice Johnson, C Kennedy Meeks
The Tar Heels brought everyone back besides J.P. Tokoto, who left early for the NBA. North Carolina has veterans and also added a much-needed perimeter shooter in ex-VCU signee Kenny Williams. Theo Pinson could battle Berry for the starting spot.
Projected starting lineup: SG Wayne Selden, SG Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, PG Frank Mason, PF Perry Ellis, C Cheick Diallo
Selden, Mason, Ellis and Diallo are basically locks to start, and Diallo will give the Jayhawks a hard-playing physical presence in the middle. The final spot is up for grabs, likely between Mykhailiuk and Brannen Greene. There’s also a chance Bill Self could go with two point guards in the starting lineup and play Devonte Graham and Mason together, although it’s unlikely.
Projected starting lineup: SG Naz Long, PG Monte Morris, F Abdel Nader, PF Georges Niang, C Jameel McKay
It’s a talented group led by the All-American candidate Niang and Morris, one of the top point guards in the country. McKay only played the second semester last season and gives Iowa State a long, athletic guy up front.
Projected starting lineup: SG Grayson Allen, PG Derryck Thornton, SF Matt Jones, F Brandon Ingram, PF/C Amile Jefferson
The Blue Devils went from a fringe Top 25 team to a Final Four contender within a couple weeks after losing Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones to the NBA. Coach K persuaded Thornton to reclassify and commit, and that solved the point guard issue. Then Ingram, an elite scorer, committed. Fellow frosh Luke Kennard could easily crack the starting lineup.
Projected starting lineup: SG Isaiah Briscoe, PG Tyler Ulis, SF Alex Poythress, PF Skal Labissiere, C Marcus Lee
The Wildcats aren’t quite as overpowering and not nearly as deep as they were a year ago, but John Calipari still has plenty of talent. Ulis becomes the full-time point guard, and Labissiere is extremely skilled and talented. UK is still lacking a small forward who can really score.
Projected starting lineup: SG Malcolm Brogdon, PG London Perrantes, SF Evan Nolte, PF Anthony Gill, C Mike Tobey
The Cavs could have been the preseason No. 1 if Justin Anderson returned, but Tony Bennett still has just about everyone back, including the terrific veteran backcourt of Brogdon and Perrantes. There is also no shortage of quality depth with guys like Marial Shayok and Isaiah Wilkins coming off the bench.
Projected starting lineup: SG Jordan Mathews, PG Tyrone Wallace, SG Jabari Bird, F Jaylen Brown, PF/C Ivan Rabb
I’m honestly not sure what Cuonzo Martin does with the starting lineup, but those are his five best players and he needs to get them on the floor as much as possible. Bird is healthy and Brown and Rabb are potential one-and-done guys.
Projected starting lineup: SG Ron Baker, PG Fred VanVleet, SG Evan Wessel, F Rashard Kelly, PF Anton Grady
The Shockers boast one of the top backcourts in the country, and Wessel is a fixture who brings intangibles. The key will be up front -- where Gregg Marshall added Cleveland State grad transfer Grady -- and he will hope that either Kelly or Shaquille Morris emerges. Remember, Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp becomes eligible at the break, and wing Zach Brown is also a candidate to start.
10. Oklahoma Sooners
Projected starting lineup: G Isaiah Cousins, G Buddy Hield, PG Jordan Woodard, PF Khadeem Lattin, C Ryan Spangler
The Sooners return every starter except for TaShawn Thomas. Look for the 6-foot-9 Lattin to battle with 7-foot junior college product Akolda Manyang for the final spot. Manyang is a shot-blocker who runs the floor and could ultimately enable Spangler to move to the power forward spot.
11. Indiana Hoosiers
Projected starting lineup: SG James Blackmon Jr., SG Robert Johnson, PG Yogi Ferrell, F Troy Williams, C Thomas Bryant
The trio of Ferrell, Blackmon and Williams all flirted with leaving for the NBA draft but decided to return to Bloomington. That, along with the addition of true post player Bryant, makes the Hoosiers a team that could challenge for the Big Ten title.
12. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Projected starting lineup: SG Silas Melson, PG Josh Perkins, SF Kyle Dranginis, PF Kyle Wiltjer, C Przemek Karnowski
Mark Few will have to bring one of Domantas Sabonis, Wiltjer or Karnowski off the bench, and the other question for the Zags comes in the backcourt, where they have to replace Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. Perkins and Melson are capable. Former Tulsa and Vandy guard Eric McClellan is also a candidate to start.
Projected starting lineup: PG Jalen Brunson, PG Ryan Arcidiacono, SF Josh Hart, PF Kris Jenkins, C Daniel Ochefu
The Wildcats lost three starters -- Darrun Hilliard, JayVaughn Pinkston and Dylan Ennis -- but Jay Wright also adds arguably the best point guard in the nation in Brunson. Hart and Jenkins will see their roles expand and Ochefu has developed each year on the Main Line.
Projected starting lineup: SG Eron Harris, PG Tum Tum Nairn Jr., SF Denzel Valentine, PF Deyonta Davis, C Gavin Schilling
Tom Izzo will slide in Nairn to replace Travis Trice, who made significant strides over the course of his college career. Harris, the former West Virginia guard, should provide scoring, and Davis is a talented big who should move into the starting lineup before long.
Projected starting lineup: SG Caris LeVert, PG Derrick Walton, SF, Aubrey Dawkins, PF Zak Irvin, C Ricky Doyle
LeVert missed the second half of the season due to a foot injury, and if he and Walton are healthy, the Wolverines will have one of the best backcourts in the Big Ten -- and maybe even the country. Dawkins showed flashes last season, Irvin is a tough matchup and Doyle and Mark Donnal both have a year under their belt now.
16. Arizona Wildcats
Projected starting lineup: G Gabe York, G Allonzo Trier, PG Parker Jackson-Cartwright, PF Dusan Ristic, C Kaleb Tarczewski
Sean Miller’s team will have depth, but may not have that bona fide star after losing four starters (T.J. McConnell, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brandon Ashley). Trier can really fill it up, and Ristic and Tarczewski (or Boston College transfer Ryan Anderson in place of Ristic) could be an intriguing 4-5 combo. However, Miller has plenty of options -- guards Kadeem Allen, Justin Simon and Elliott Pitts, wings Ray Smith and Mark Tollefsen (a San Franciso transfer) and raw-but-talented big man Chance Comanche.
Projected starting lineup: SG Wade Baldwin IV, PG Riley LaChance, SF Matthew Fisher-Davis, PF Luke Kornet, C Damian Jones
I’m going with the Commodores as the second-best team in the SEC. Kevin Stallings is a terrific coach -- and he has a pro up front in Jones. The guards also have experience, and everyone of note is back.
Projected starting lineup: SG Zak Showalter, PG Bronson Koenig, F Nigel Hayes, PF Ethan Happ, PF Vitto Brown
OK, so this obviously isn’t the same team without Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Josh Gasser and Traevon Jackson. However, Hayes and Koenig are both high-level players, and we all know Bo Ryan can coach. The keys are Happ and Brown up front.
19. SMU Mustangs
Projected starting lineup: SG Malik “Shake” Milton, SG Keith Frazier, PG Nic Moore, PF Jordan Tolbert, C Markus Kennedy
The Mustangs should have their top three scorers back from a team that won 27 games -- as long as Frazier is reinstated. Larry Brown will also bring in a talented wing in Milton, and Tolbert is eligible after transferring in from Texas Tech.
20. UConn Huskies
Projected starting lineup: G Sterling Gibbs, PG Jalen Adams, SF Daniel Hamilton, PF Shonn Miller, C Amida Brimah
There are a bunch of scenarios for the starting lineup, but what is clear is that the Huskies have some depth. Rodney Purvis could start, and so could Kentan Facey. Miller and Gibbs are fifth-year transfers who will help immediately.
21. Texas A&M Aggies
Projected starting lineup: G Alex Caruso, PG Anthony Collins, SF Danuel House, PF Jalen Jones, C Tyler Davis/Elijah Thomas
Billy Kennedy returns key pieces from last year’s team -- House, Caruso and Jones -- adds a key transfer in Collins (USF) at the point, and also will welcome in a talented recruiting class that features a pair of talented bigs in Davis and Thomas.
Projected starting lineup: PG Johnny Hill, SG Rapheal Davis, SF Vince Edwards, PF Caleb Swanigan, C A.J. Hammons
Matt Painter has one of the most potent frontlines in the country with the addition of Swanigan to accompany 7-footer Hammons and Isaac Haas. Davis and Edwards are solid wings and Hill should start at the point after transferring in from UT-Arlington.
23. Butler Bulldogs
Projected starting lineup: SG Kellen Dunham, PG Tyler Lewis, SF Roosevelt Jones, F Andrew Chrabascz, F Tyler Wideman
Chris Holtmann has two of the top players in the Big East back in Durham and Jones. He’ll also swap out Alex Barlow for the offensive-minded Lewis, who transferred in from NC State. The frontcourt duo of Chrabascz and Wideman is solid.
24. Utah Utes
Projected starting lineup: G Lorenzo Bonam, G Brandon Taylor, SF, Jordan Loveridge, PF Brekkott Chapman, C Jakob Poeltl
Larry Krystkowiak will have to find a way to replace Delon Wright, but he returns the majority of the team. The key will be whether Bonam or Isaiah Wright can play the point, but there’s certainly enough around them with Poeltl down low, Taylor, Loveridge and Chapman.
25. Dayton Flyers
Projected starting lineup: G Kyle Davis, G Charles Cooke, PG Scoochie Smith, F Dyshawn Pierre, F Kendall Pollard
Archie Miller returns four starters from a team that won 27 games last season. Look for Cooke -- who averaged 14.3 points two seasons ago at James Madison, to take Jordan Sibert’s spot. The Flyers will also have some much-needed size with the addition of 6-foot-11 Steve McElvene.
Projected starting lineup: G Mikey Thompson, G Chandler Hutchison, SF, Anthony Drmic, F James Webb III, Nick Duncan
Leon Rice’s team won 25 games last season and went 14-4 in Mountain West play. The Broncos lose Derrick Marks, but get Drmic (ankle) back after his season ended after just seven games. These guys are older, and just about everyone on the court can shoot it.
Projected starting lineup: G Myles Davis, SG Remy Abell, F J.P. Macura, F Trevon Bluiett, C Jalen Reynolds
Chris Mack will need to replace Matt Stainbrook down low and also point guard Dee Davis but he has enough depth to do so. Don’t be shocked if redshirt freshman Edmond Sumner winds up cracking the starting group at some point.
Projected starting lineup: G Trey Lewis, SG Donovan Mitchell, SG Damion Lee, PF Jaylen Johnson, C Mangok Mathiang
Rick Pitino’s team looked like a fringe NCAA tourney club until the Cards pulled in a pair of fifth-year grad transfers. Lewis comes from Cleveland State and is a combo guard while Lee was one of the most sought-after transfers after starring at Drexel. Mitchell is also talented, so this will be a perimeter-oriented team that will need a couple of bigs to step up.
Projected starting lineup: SG Kevin Johnson, PG Troy Caupain, SF Shaq Thomas, PF Gary Clark, C Octavius Ellis
The Bearcats will have all five starters back from a team that won a game in the NCAA tournament -- and they will also get their coach, Mick Cronin, back after he missed most of last season due to health issues.
30. Baylor Bears
Projected starting lineup: SG Al Freeman, PG Lester Medford, F Taurean Prince, PF Rico Gathers, C Johnathan Motley
Medford will be critical in replacing Kenny Chery, but the good news for Scott Drew is that he has Gathers and Motley back on the frontline and also his leading scorer in Prince. Look for Freeman to step up with Royce O’Neale graduated.
31. LSU Tigers
Projected starting lineup: SG Antonio Blakeney, SG Keith Hornsby, PG Tim Quarterman, F Ben Simmons, C Darcy Malone
The Tigers lost Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey but still have a chance to be a Top 25 team. Johnny Jones will welcome in the most versatile player in the freshman class in Simmons, and he also landed a talented shooting guard in Blakeney. The key, though, will be up front and whether Malone and Elbert Robinson can be solid.
32. West Virginia Mountaineers
Projected starting lineup: G Jevon Carter, G Daxter Miles Jr., G Jaysean Paige, PF Jonathan Holton, C Devin Williams
Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers lose Juwan Staten, but the team has a bunch of guards who can help pick up the slack by committee. Williams is one of the top big men in the league.
Projected starting lineup: SG Trey Kell, PG Jeremy Hemsley, SF Winston Shepard, PF Malik Pope, C Skylar Spencer
Steve Fisher didn’t really have a point guard a year ago, but now he’ll give freshman Hemsley a chance. Kell can move to his natural position and Pope, a skilled shooter with length, should be healthy from the outset. Even after losing three key seniors, the Aztecs are deep with Angelo Chol, Zylan Cheatham and Matt Shrigley all likely coming off the bench.
34. Syracuse Orange
Projected starting lineup: SG Trevor Cooney, PG Michael Gbinije, SF Malachi Richardson, F Tyler Roberson, C DaJuan Coleman
Jim Boeheim will lose Rakeem Christmas and Chris McCullough, but he returns Gbinije, Cooney, Roberson and will likely get the oft-injured Coleman back. The Orange also bring in a strong recruiting class that includes wing Richardson and shooter Tyler Lydon.
35. Georgetown Hoyas
Projected starting lineup: SG L.J. Peak, PG D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, F Paul White, F Isaac Copeland, C Jesse Govan
The Hoyas have a senior guard in Smith-Rivera and three talented sophomores who should make a significant jump from their freshman campaigns. Govan gives John Thompson III a long and athletic big man who can score in the post.
36. Oregon Ducks
Projected starting lineup: G Dylan Ennis, G Tyler Dorsey, F Elgin Cook, F Dillon Brooks, C Jordan Bell
The Ducks will have to find a way to replace Joseph Young, who did it all last season, but Dana Altman does return everyone else and he adds a talented freshman in Dorsey and also a fifth-year grad transfer in Ennis.
37. Memphis Tigers
Projected starting lineup: SG K.J. Lawson, PG Ricky Tarrant, F Dedric Lawson, PF Austin Nichols, C Shaq Goodwin
The Tigers didn’t have a quality point guard last season, but Josh Pastner added Tulane/Alabama transfer Tarrant to battle Kedren Johnson for the job. He also added the Lawson brothers, who should help immediately.
Projected starting lineup: SG Steve Vasturia, PG Demetrius Jackson, SF V.J. Beachem, PF Bonzie Colson, C Zach Auguste
The Irish lost Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton, but Mike Brey still has Jackson, Auguste and Vasturia -- three starters from last year’s group that nearly knocked off Kentucky. Colson and Beachem will both see expanded roles.
39. Florida Gators
Projected starting lineup: SG KeVaughn Allen, PG Kasey Hill, F Devin Robinson, F Dorian Finney-Smith, C John Egbunu
New coach Michael White inherits a roster that is fully capable of contending for one of the top few spots in the SEC. Egbunu, who sat out last season after transferring from South Florida, is a key, and Alex Murphy and Brandone Francis also have a shot to earn starting spots.
40. BYU Cougars
Projected starting lineup: SG Chase Fischer, PG Kyle Collinsworth, SF Nick Emery, PF Kyle Davis, C Corbin Kaufusi
Life without Tyler Haws won’t be easy, but the Cougars could be even better. Collinsworth is one of the best point guards in the country, Kaufusi has a chance to be terrific in the middle and ex-Cougar Jackson Emery’s little brother, Nick, will make an immediate impact in Provo.
Projected starting lineup: SG Montay Brandon, PG Xavier Rathan-Mayes, SF Dwayne Bacon, PF Phil Cofer, C Boris Bojanovsky
Leonard Hamilton has a terrific point guard in Rathan-Mayes and also brings in one of the most talented wings in the country with Bacon. It will be interesting to see if Cofer or Jarquez Smith can earn the bulk of the minutes or if they wind up splitting time.
Projected starting lineup: SG Davon Reed, PG Angel Rodriguez, SF Sheldon McClellan, PF Kamari Murphy, C Tonye Jekiri
The ‘Canes will have no shortage of age and experience. Rodriguez, McClellan and Murphy are all in their fifth year of college, while Jekiri is a senior and Reed is a junior. There’s enough depth with guys like Ja’Quan Newton, James Palmer, Omar Sherman and Ebuka Izundu coming off the bench.
43. Texas Longhorns
Projected starting lineup: PG Isaiah Taylor, G Javan Felix, G Kendal Yancy, PF Connor Lammert, C Cameron Ridley
The Longhorns may not have a star, but new coach Shaka Smart does have enough pieces. Taylor can be an upper-tier point guard, and Smart also retained two talented signees (Eric Davis and Kerwin Roach) and signed Tevin Mack (ex-VCU signee).
Projected starting lineup: PG Jarvis Garrett, SG Jared Terrell, G E.C. Matthews, F Kuran Iverson, F Hassan Martin
Danny Hurley has a potential A-10 Player of the Year in Matthews, and also one of the better frontline guys in Martin. Terrell was productive as a freshman, but the key could be Iverson, who is talented, yet enigmatic.
Projected starting lineup: SG Jae’Sean Tate, PG JaQuan Lyle, SF Marc Loving, F Keita Bates-Diop, C Daniel Giddens
Thad Matta and his staff will have to figure out a way to replace do-it-all guard D’Angelo Russell. Lyle, a freshman, will likely have the ball in his hands from Day 1. Loving can provide some punch, but scoring will likely come via committee.
46. Georgia Bulldogs
Projected starting lineup: G Charles Mann, G Kenny Gaines, G J.J. Frazier, PF Yante Maten, C Derek Ogbeide
Mark Fox has two senior guards (Mann and Gaines) who have a ton of experience, another junior guard (Frazier) who will likely start and a pair of big, strong, athletic big men (Maten and Ogbeide). If Maten can become one of the SEC’s top frontcourt players, the Bulldogs can be a Top 25 team.
Projected starting lineup: SG Terry Henderson, PG Anthony “Cat” Barber, F Caleb Martin, PF Abdul-Malik Abu, C Beejay Anya
Mark Gottfried’s team would have been a lock Top 25 team if Trevor Lacey had returned. Even without him, the Wolfpack can be pretty good. Henderson, a West Virginia transfer, is eligible after sitting last season, and a key will be whether Anya can get into shape.
48. UCLA Bruins
Projected starting lineup: SG Isaac Hamilton, PG Bryce Alford, SF Jonah Bolden, PF Thomas Welsh, C Tony Parker
The Bruins will have more depth this season, despite losing Kevon Looney and Norman Powell. Bolden gives the team length and perimeter shooting, and Welsh could emerge as one of the top big men in the Pac-12.
Projected starting lineup: SG Kendrick Nunn, PG Tracy Abrams, SG Malcolm Hill, PF Darius Paul, C Mike Thorne
John Groce gets Abrams back healthy and also added Thorne, a Charlotte grad transfer who gives him a big, strong physical presence. Hill can be a first-team all-league guy, and there’s depth now with the return of Paul and also a quality freshmen class that includes Jalen Coleman-Lands, D.J. Williams and Aaron Jordan.
Projected starting lineup: SG Jalen Lindsey, G Junior Lomomba, PG Kris Dunn, SF Rodney Bullock, PF Ben Bentil
The transfer of 7-footer Paschal Chukwu really hurt the Friars, who now will have to play small much of the time. Dunn returned despite being a lock first-rounder, but he’ll need help from guys like Lindsey and Bullock.