CBB Future Power Rankings
http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college ... ee-seasons
The question at the heart of Insider's College Basketball Future Power Rankings project is simple: Which college hoops programs will have the most success over the next three seasons (2014-15, '15-16, '16-17)?
To come up with the answer, we had a panel of experts rate programs on a 1-to-10 scale in five different categories: Coaching, Current Talent, Recruiting, Program Power and Stability. We compiled the results and weighted the categories (for a more in-depth description of the category weighting and the methodology behind the rankings, see the inline at right or click here) to produce the top 25 rankings you see below.
Our panel: Andy Katz, Jeff Goodman, John Gasaway, Paul Biancardi, Jay Bilas, Eamonn Brennan.
For each selection, our panelists explain why the team is here, offer a potential stumbling block to success, and then discuss the young talent on the roster or on the way via recruiting.
Here you have it -- our top 25 ranking of the teams best positioned for success over the next three seasons. It's a group that offers a number of surprises.
1 Duke Blue Devils
Why they are here: The Blue Devils are atop the power rankings for one main reason: Mike Krzyzewski. He's the all-time winningest coach, is riding a strong wave of recruiting, and has shown no signs of stepping down anytime soon. His stability and the Duke brand equate to high-level recruits choosing the Blue Devils. Their current roster is loaded with players coveted by other schools and the most recent recruiting class has a few more potential one-and-done players. Duke chooses players, as much if not more so than any other school. The Blue Devils play national games on a regular basis outside of their conference (even if only one every other year is a true road game, it still resonates). Duke has had poor first-round losses to Mercer and Lehigh, but the projection will still be for the Blue Devils to compete for the ACC and national titles in each of the next three seasons. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: Krzyzewski is Duke basketball and as long as he's around, the Blue Devils will compete for Final Fours and national championships. But Coach K turns 68 in February, and it's anyone's guess how much longer he'll coach. When he does step down, it'll be interesting to see who takes over since there is no clear-cut successor. Another factor that could make it more difficult for Duke to land elite players is if Coach K steps down from coaching the Olympic and national teams after the 2016 Olympics. The Duke program has benefited greatly from his presence there. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: Already on campus is the nation's No. 1 recruiting class and the No. 1 player in the class, Jahlil Okafor. Okafor will demand attention, point guard Tyus Jones will make the game easy for his teammates by facilitating, while small forward Justise Winslow will add versatility. Also keep an eye on Grayson Allen, a physical and fearless scoring guard. Even if Okafor isn't around long, the future stays extremely bright as Duke has two studs committed for next season in Chase Jeter and sharpshooter Luke Kennard. -- Paul Biancardi
