College Basketball Officially Starts Today: Come Get Your Hot Takes This Season

I put this out here this morning. It’s the official start of the college basketball season with practices beginning today, so let’s get into hot takes. I took it to the Twitter streets to see what the people were thinking. I have my own, with my hottest one being that NC State will finish top-3 in the ACC and make the second weekend. They are my crush this year with Kevin Keatts and the backcourt they have. They are flying so far under the radar. Here are some of the best ones I got:

Not an impossible feat here. The A-10 is going to be open this year with URI the favorite but UMass is likely a top-6 team in the conference. We’ve seen things get weird during lose and go home events, so Coley and the Minutemen could be quite happy.

The statue is a hotter take than Louisville making the Sweet 16. Chris Mack is one of the best coaches in America.

These are both incredibly hot takes. Ohio State is going to be fine, but they are a middle of the pack Big 10 team after losing Bates-Diop and Tate. Dayton? Uhh, well, they are in the A-10 that’s a fact.

Well, their games aren’t similar, so I don’t know where we’re getting this comparison. Gillespie is a system type defender who is above average and a great shooter. Carter is one of the best guard defenders we’ve seen in recent memory.

I’ll happily take any bet that puts Villanova 4th in the Big East. There’s absolutely no shot they are fourth. Villanova is the best team in the Big East. Again, I’ll take any bet that puts Nova 4th.

My other hot take goes the opposite way here. Maye is going to be on all the preseason awards. He’ll be a preseason All-American, NPOY shortlist and ACC POY shortlist. I actually think we see him have a decent year but not live up to the hype. He benefited a lot last year from having guys like Berry and Pinson there. I think you see Cam Johnson have the year that Luke Maye did last year.

Let’s start with free throws, what do you say?

I’m shocked this is the only Syracuse take I got. You’ll be shocked, but I’m not picking them to win the ACC regular season or tournament.

I’ll defend Sean Miller. I like Arizona. But, I’m taking USC, Washington, UCLA and Oregon (if Louis King is healthy) over them this year.