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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)?
CATEGORIES (weighting)
COACHING (25 percent): Quality of coaching staff over next three seasons, with heavy emphasis on the head coach
CURRENT TALENT (25 percent): Quality of players currently in the program, focusing on the future
RECRUITING (25 percent): Projected quality of 2015 and 2016 recruiting classes, and recruiting momentum
PROGRAM POWER (15 percent): Fan and institutional support, facilities, resources and tradition
STABILITY (10 percent): Accounts for potential roster and coaching staff turnover
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.
1-5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25
1Duke Blue Devils
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
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 as 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 will turn 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 because 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 are 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
2Kansas Jayhawks
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Jayhawks have a future Hall of Fame coach in Bill Self, who has dominated the Big 12 during his tenure. The Jayhawks are now starting to land the one-and-done recruits, and Self has consistently been able to mold teams that might have a possible question mark at a key position (see point guard) but still win the league. Kansas is one of the most stable programs in the country in terms of prestige and support, and that's a main reason Self hasn't been enticed to leave for the NBA. The Jayhawks have also done a tremendous job developing talent and turning role players into conference all-stars to complement the future first-round draft picks on the roster. Kansas will be a perennial title contender. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: Self has established himself as one of the elite recruiters and also X's-and-O's guys in the game. If he left for the NBA (he was in the mix for the Cavs job this past offseason and is well regarded at the next level), the program would certainly take a step back. The only other way the Jayhawks experience a setback is if they are placed on probation -- as was the case due to NCAA violations under Larry Brown's watch. But it's difficult to imagine KU taking much of a step back as long as the 51-year-old Self is in Lawrence, Kansas. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: Kansas pulled in a loaded recruiting class. Kelly Oubre is filling the slot of Andrew Wiggins, and Cliff Alexander comes in as one of the nation's best rebounders and shot-blockers. Perhaps the most important recruit is point guard DeVonte Graham, a much-needed floor leader who reads the game, distributes and scores. Shooting guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk from the Ukraine is a big-time shooter with size. The Jayhawks haven't locked in talent for 2015, but they have great young talent. -- Paul Biancardi
3Kentucky Wildcats
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The current and future talent on this roster alone could keep the Wildcats in the top three in the power rankings. Kentucky has and will continue to land at least one of the top three recruiting classes under John Calipari every year. But Cal doesn't get enough credit for his coaching. He is a future Hall of Fame coach. Look at what he has done with freshman-dominated rosters. Take out the one NIT season, and Kentucky has competed for the national title in four of the five seasons he's been there. Calipari has had to coach to his personnel and altered his style when needed. He does a tremendous job of getting the stars to buy in and shelve their egos. Kentucky could make a case for the top spot, but there's still a question of whether Calipari would take an NBA job sometime during the next three years. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: Billy Gillispie proved it's possible to screw it up -- even in Lexington, Kentucky -- with a putrid two-year stint. However, as long as Calipari is around, the Wildcats will have as much talent as just about anyone else. Kids want to get to the NBA, and nothing has been more successful of late than the Calipari/UK marriage. It's not exactly a dilemma, but constant turnover does make it more difficult to sustain success (e.g., NIT appearance in 2012). As Andy noted, the issue is if Calipari leaves for the NBA, but I think that's unlikely to happen. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: Coming back from last year's No. 1-ranked recruiting class are Andrew and Aaron Harrison, as the twin brothers have the talent to take over any game. This season's class is led by center Karl Towns Jr., who will be fascinating to watch because his skill-to-size ratio is off the charts. The most exciting player to watch is the smallest on the roster, as 5-foot-9 point guard Tyler Ulis could be the best pure playmaker Calipari has ever coached. -- Paul Biancardi
4Louisville Cardinals
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Rick Pitino once mentioned possibly retiring in 2017. That no longer has any validity, and it's one of the main reasons you can count on the Cardinals to be a title contender for the foreseeable future. Like Kentucky, Louisville's passion for the sport is hard to match. The facility is at the top of the sport, and the overall lure of playing for Louisville makes the Cardinals a destination for top-level recruits. This staff also maxes out the talent, often keeping even really good players around for a few years. Pitino and his staff also deserve praise for their development of rotation players -- those guys helped the Cardinals become a national champion. The current talent dip to 90 on the rankings may be a bit unfair because the players fit the system. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: I'm shocked Pitino has been able to overcome some off-the-court issues and also the presence of John Calipari down the road and enjoy as much success as he has in recent years. The Cardinals are recruiting at a high level (they have commitments in 2015 from three of the top players in Donovan Mitchell, Deng Adel and Antonio Blakeney), and Pitino is one of the top tacticians in the game. As long as there's talent at Louisville, Pitino should stick around -- and the talent isn't fading. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: It could be time for sophomore Terry Rozier to take over this team, as I watched him compete and develop this summer. Freshman Shaqquan Aaron is extra-long and has crazy athletic ability and the ball skills to come in and make a difference right away. Pitino's 2015 class is shaping up to be his best in years. Top recruit Blakeney is a supreme scorer with great offensive confidence. -- Paul Biancardi
5Florida Gators
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Billy Donovan's career at Florida is Hall of Fame material. The Gators' run to four straight Elite Eights and most recently the Final Four is as impressive a streak as any other team has had during the same time period. Yet the Gators don't get enough credit in large part because of the shadow of Kentucky in the SEC, even though they routinely beat the Cats. The Gators haven't had the one-and-done talent during this stretch that they did earlier in Donovan's career at Florida. But the development of rotation players and scorers has positioned the Gators to be a major player every season. The "program power" number could have been higher. There is really no reason to knock the consistency and stability of the program under Donovan. The facility could be updated, but the Gators have had no issue landing the players they need to be successful. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: Donovan has done a remarkable job at a "football school" and built the Gators into a national power in hoops, but the question is whether he'll head to the NBA at some point. He's had interest from multiple teams, and one to watch is Oklahoma City if something ever happens with Scott Brooks. Thunder GM Sam Presti is a huge fan of Donovan's. This isn't nearly as easy a job as Donovan has made it look, and the next guy will have his work cut out for him. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: The Gators have a freshman on campus by the name of Devin Robinson who has the chance to be really special. Robinson possesses a 6-9 frame and has fluid movements and the shooting skills of a guard. His potential is as high as anyone else's in this year's freshman class. Already committed for 2015 is stud wide-body Noah Dickerson, who finishes through contact and competes on a consistent basis. Donovan has the Gators well stocked for the future. -- Paul Biancardi
6Arizona Wildcats
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Wildcats have had a remarkable turnaround. Sean Miller was the right person to replace two interim coaches who followed Lute Olson. He has masterfully mixed his recruiting base in the Northeast and an adoption of Arizona's historical past with the state of California's talent. Arizona has been the benchmark program in the Pac-12 for decades now and that trend is going to continue. Arizona can get involved with any of the top players in the West, and the improvements to the McKale Center should make it even more inviting. The results under Miller speak volumes already with a Sweet 16 and two Elite Eight finishes in the past four seasons. The Arizona brand is national once again -- this program will be hunting titles. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: Miller has raised the bar in Tucson, Arizona, over the past few years, but he knows he can't continue to replenish the cupboard if he keeps losing players early to the NBA. Arizona is not Kentucky, Kansas or North Carolina. Miller had some good fortune while Ben Howland and Kevin O'Neill were at UCLA and USC, but now it won't be quite as easy to raid California. The only other concern would be Miller leaving Arizona to return closer to the East Coast, but that's tough to imagine while he's got it going (as he does right now) in Tucson. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: With continuous top-10 recruiting classes, Miller has pretty much owned the West Coast in recruiting. One of the best freshmen in college basketball will be Stanley Johnson, who combines power and finesse. With a rock-solid body and a strong motor, Johnson can dominate anywhere inside the arc and is a more-than-capable 3-point shooter. The Wildcats' 2015 recruiting class is shaping up to yet again be highly ranked. -- Paul Biancardi
7North Carolina Tar Heels
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Tar Heels have never had an issue landing elite talent. North Carolina has consistently netted some of the top players for the better part of three decades. But there have been some holes on the roster at key spots (consistent inside scorer since Tyler Hansbrough left and a reliable point guard in the season prior to Marcus Paige's arrival). But John Calipari's presence at Kentucky and Bill Self's emergence at Kansas as even more of a national recruiter have put a dent in the Tar Heels' talent base. Duke's rise -- yet again -- has meant the Tar Heels need to be on their game. And they are still holding on, strong and talented enough to mount a chase for a title. Roy Williams has battled back from a scary tumor situation on his kidney and still has the energy to coach an elite program. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: North Carolina -- much like Kansas and Kentucky -- is one of those programs that will be successful no matter the coach (exception: Matt Doherty). The brand is that big. The question now becomes whether the academic scandal could hinder UNC and ultimately force the 64-year-old Williams to retire earlier than anticipated. There's no natural replacement for Williams, at least not in terms of keeping it in the family. That's where a mistake could be made if UNC decides to give the job to someone with program ties. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: With a deep and talented roster led by Paige on the perimeter and "big baby" Kennedy Meeks in the paint, the Tar Heels add a winning freshman trio that finished No. 3 overall. Frosh Justin Jackson will be on everyone's radar and in opponents' scouting reports because he scores from the midrange exceptionally well and has great length and touch. Joel Berry will be a terrific on-ball defender and a great leader. -- Paul Biancardi
8Syracuse Orange
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Orange are a hit in the ACC, too. The talent pipeline still flows as Syracuse continues to be an attraction for recruits. Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, like Krzyzewski, shows no signs he's ready to call it quits. That's good. His staff has had changes, but top assistant Mike Hopkins has stayed. The stability in the program is not an issue. The current talent is a hair below what it was the past two seasons, but that's not going to derail Syracuse from being an ACC contender. The program power number is probably too low -- Syracuse's national reach is still very high. Getting Syracuse on your schedule is still a coup and a must-see game. The Orange are as much of a mainstay in the top 10 as any of the others listed. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: The Orange aren't currently quite as loaded with talent as we've seen in the past few years, but Boeheim and his staff have already received commitments from four players in the 2015 Top 75. The major question is whether coach-in-waiting Mike Hopkins can keep this thing going once 69-year-old Boeheim calls it quits. Even further, will Hopkins stick around for much longer and wait for Boeheim to retire? As Andy noted, that may not be soon. Hopkins has pursued other jobs and if he leaves, who is next to follow Boeheim? -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: The Syracuse roster is always filled with elite athletes, but freshman Chris McCullough could be special if he puts in the work. His frame is long and athletic, as it fits the model that Syracuse gets in recruiting. He also has advanced ball skills for his size. McCullough has all the tools to make a big-time block and then run the floor for a finish. As Jeff noted, Syracuse already owns four ESPN 100 commitments in 2015. -- Paul Biancardi
9Michigan State Spartans
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Spartans can start planning on a Hall of Fame weekend for Tom Izzo, they may just have to wait awhile. The Spartans have flirted with danger, worrying if Izzo would take an NBA job. But the overtures from Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit and others have come and gone. Izzo has stayed and that's why the program has the stability, the power and the ability to be a Big Ten/national title contender on an annual basis. The current talent is a bit weaker than usual, but to be dismissing this season's team given the coach would be premature. The Spartans rarely win the high grades over the above-mentioned teams in recruiting, yet are there at the end in March. Michigan State's win over Kentucky in Chicago last season was a perfect example of team versus raw talent at that time. The Spartans aren't winning a title this season, but don't cancel out any of the next few. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: There are two concerns with the Spartans and whether they can remain at an elite level. First, will Izzo leave for the NBA? Second, Michigan State has lost to the likes of Duke and Kentucky in recruiting battles, and the current level of talent in the program isn't what it has been. Izzo gets the most out of his players, but he'll need to either beat the big boys for recruits once in a while or change his philosophy. He may have to forgo trying to get the one-and-done talents, and instead focus on trying to land top-50 players. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: ESPN 100 point guard Lourawls Nairn will excite the home crowd in East Lansing, Michigan, with his passion for the game and playmaking talent. Nairn possesses tremendous straight-line speed, pushing the ball in the open floor and making the Spartans run for easy baskets. Next season look for Deyonta Davis to be a dynamic frontcourt addition. He has bounce, shot-blocking and scoring skill. -- Paul Biancardi
10Michigan Wolverines
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Wolverines have become a national player under John Beilein. He transformed this program back into one that we presume will be in the hunt for the Big Ten title. Trey Burke and Nik Stauskas weren't the most coveted of players, yet both ended up as Big Ten Players of the Year and first-round picks after their sophomore seasons. So, the current talent and at times the recruiting may look lower compared to others in the top 10, but wait at least two seasons to judge this crew. The power of the program will continue to grow. The stability should be a higher number with Beilein looking more and more like this is his last stop. The Wolverines have to be in consideration as one of the elite programs. -- Andy Katz
Dilemma: I'm not sure there's much that will stop the Wolverines in the near future. I guess it's that Beilein is 61 years old, but he appears to be getting better with age. The major concern when he took the job was whether he could recruit at a high enough level; however, he and his staff have done a tremendous job mixing in underrated guys such as Burke and Caris LeVert with top-50 players including Mitch McGary, Zak Irvin, Derrick Walton and Kameron Chatman. -- Jeff Goodman
Pipeline: As a sophomore, small forward Irvin is ready to step up his role and become a main offensive threat for Michigan. He's polished up his jumper this offseason and has the explosiveness to dunk over defenders. Joining Irvin is Chatman, a versatile, high-skilled prospect who will impress the Wolverines fans as he gets stronger. -- Paul Biancardi
11Ohio State Buckeyes
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Buckeyes ranked well in every category, an unsurprising result for the stable, perennially impressive program run by coach Thad Matta. Since his arrival in 2005, Matta has consistently recruited some of the nation's best talent and then put it to good use in his swarming, pressuring man-to-man defenses. The result? This once basketball-averse program is a consistent Big Ten and national title contender. With one of the best recruiting classes in the country arriving this summer (just in time to replace stalwart guard Aaron Craft), the next three years look as bright as ever. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Was OSU's excellence from 2005-06 to 2012-13 (two No. 1 seeds, four No. 2s) the norm, or was it specific to a particular moment when the Big Ten outside of Michigan State and Wisconsin was often weak? Matta has excelled at combining early-entry-level talent with sensational defense, but a stronger conference beyond the Spartans and the Badgers -- exemplified by Michigan's dramatic resurrection -- promises to intensify an already fierce competition for the Midwest's best players. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: This year's top-five class included a trio of players ranked in the top 30. Matta and his staff have also already locked up three players in the Class of 2015 who rank in the top 75: big man Daniel Giddens, shooter Austin Grandstaff and in-state point guard A.J. Harris. There's enough talent in the state of Ohio to make sure that the Buckeyes continue to stay stocked. -- Jeff Goodman
12Gonzaga Bulldogs
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The Zags cracked the 90s in stability, and it's not hard to figure out why. Since 1999, coach Mark Few has coolly turned the Zags from a one-time Cinderella into one of the nation's most consistent year-to-year entities -- never missing an NCAA tournament and turning down plenty of job offers in the process. With their typical mix of experience (Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell) and talent (Przemek Karnowski, Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer) the 2014-15 Bulldogs project as one of the two or three best offensive teams in the country. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Have 15 years of remarkable success brought Few's team face-to-face with the limits of what it can accomplish? A No. 1 seed in the 2013 NCAA tournament got the Bulldogs only as far as a 76-70 loss to Wichita State in the round of 32. The Zags haven't reached a Sweet 16 since 2009. How high can a WCC program rise? The answer might be No. 12, which is awfully high. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Few and his staff have done a nice job mixing it up on the recruiting trail by getting some top-100 kids, finding hidden gems, going the international route and even adding transfers. Assistant Tommy Lloyd is plugged in overseas and has brought in big man Przemek Karnowski and freshman Domantas Sabonis. The Zags also added highly touted point guard Josh Perkins (ESPN, No. 56) this season and have another top-100ish point guard, Jesse Wade, committed for next year. The Zags will do what they do -- and that's mix it up -- to make sure they have enough talent to win the WCC and remain a top-25 program. -- Jeff Goodman
13Wisconsin Badgers
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The panel showed an immense amount of respect for Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, and why not? In his entire tenure at Wisconsin -- with wildly differing levels of talent in his roster -- the Badgers have never missed an NCAA tournament and never finished worse than fourth in the Big Ten. Fresh off a Final Four run, Ryan's current roster may be his best yet, and with emerging sophomore forward Nigel Hayes stepping into a larger role, optimism should extend well beyond the 2014-15 campaign. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Ryan is 66. It's easy to say the Badgers would be a natural fit for Tony Bennett someday, but "natural" fits have a way of happening sometimes (for years it was expected that Roy Williams would end up coaching at North Carolina) and not happening other times (for years it was expected that Steve Alford would end up coaching at Indiana). -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Ryan and his staff don't exactly reel in a ton of heralded recruits. Sam Dekker was the exception, not the norm. The Badgers will lose Frank Kaminsky, Josh Gasser, Traevon Jackson and likely Dekker after this season, and the roster doesn't look as though it'll be able to withstand that kind of hit. However, there's always someone who steps in. The Badgers brought in a talented forward this season in Ethan Happ and have an in-state shooting guard, Brevin Pritzl, committed in the Class of 2015. I wouldn't worry about the Badgers too much. Ryan always finds a way. -- Jeff Goodman
14Connecticut Huskies
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Has anyone ever done a better job of coaching -- pure coaching -- in his first two seasons on the job than Kevin Ollie? In 2012-13, Ollie inherited a Huskies team academically suspended from the NCAA tournament and got them to play like a tournament team anyway. In his second season, he took a No. 7 seed to the national title. The current roster has its minor holes, but Ollie's sheer force of personality (and NBA connections) will blend well with UConn's brand name. He'll bring plenty of recruits to Storrs, Connecticut, for years to come. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: For a program that has won four national titles in 16 seasons, No. 14 is of course ridiculously low. Then again the Huskies now find themselves atop a fledgling conference with an RPI-sabotaging bottom half. (Yes, the RPI will still be here in the future. The RPI will bury your grandchildren.) And Kevin Ollie will be mentioned as a candidate for just about any NBA gig that becomes available. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: I was initially concerned about Ollie being able to land elite talent, since he hadn't been in the college ranks for long, but not anymore. Remember, this is a likable guy who had a lengthy career in the NBA, and now everyone knows him after the NCAA championship run last season. Ollie brought in one of the top wings in the country this season in Daniel Hamilton and the Huskies have a commitment from local point guard Jalen Adams (ESPN, No. 33) in the Class of 2015 and are in the top five for elite big man Diamond Stone. UConn will continue to recruit nationally and get its share. -- Jeff Goodman
15Virginia Cavaliers
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Since the Ralph Sampson heyday in the early '80s, Virginia basketball has been a once-in-a-decade kind of program. Every now and then, the Cavaliers would rise up to challenge for the ACC title, but more often than not, folks in Charlottesville, Virginia, were better off focusing on lacrosse. Tony Bennett looks set to change that pace for good. Using tactics first developed by his father, Dick Bennett, at Green Bay and finding the perfect players to fit his system, the fifth-year coach has made UVa -- with its stifling defense and hyper-efficient offense -- into one of the most punishing opponents in the sport. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Let me see if I have this right. Virginia entered last season having won one NCAA tournament game since Bill Clinton left office. And now the Cavaliers are showing up here at No. 15. I'll go out on a limb and say we can chalk that up to the coach. So, sure, as long as Bennett's around the future's very bright for the Hoos. Can a town with a population of 43,475 hold him? The suitors won't be going away. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Bennett has always been known as a guy who recruited to his system, someone who couldn't get the top-100 players and didn't even need them to be successful. Bennett's staff understands the type of player who thrives playing for him, and it's not necessarily the highly rated guy. However, Virginia is starting to get in the mix for elite talent -- but that won't be how the Cavaliers make a living as long as Bennett is in Charlottesville. Virginia landed hard-playing big man Jarred Reuter in the Class of 2015 and already has a commitment from unranked junior guard Ty Jerome out of New York. -- Jeff Goodman
16UCLA Bruins
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The basketball world looks almost nothing like the one John Wooden bestrode like a colossus in the 1960s and 1970s, but the UCLA brand still attracts top talent. That's the main reason this outlook remains high, despite the relative lack of voter confidence in coach Steve Alford's X's-and-O's ability: Alford and his staff are gobbling up top West Coast talent. The former New Mexico coach had a rocky introduction to UCLA fans, followed by an impressive first season. The Bruins will need to deliver on their prospects' potential to satisfy Bruins fans' high expectations. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Alford is off to an outstanding start, signing blue-chippers left and right and serving notice that the Bruins are back as major players. Can he sustain the momentum? Since John Wooden retired, UCLA has hired nine head coaches. Average length of service of the previous eight: four seasons. Even Ben Howland, who took this team to three consecutive Final Fours, was fired eventually. Can Alford buck that trend? -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: When Alford was hired, I said that he'd have no issue getting high-level talent to Westwood. Why? Well, first of all kids grow up in California wanting to play at UCLA. There's also a ton of talent these days coming out of the state -- where that wasn't necessarily the case the last few years of Howland's tenure. The Bruins brought in three big men this season who were all ranked in the top 75 and they have commitments from two of the top 60 players -- Prince Ali and Aaron Holiday -- in the Class of 2015. UCLA also landed one of the top players in the Class of 2016 in local point guard Lonzo Ball. Alford & Co. have it rolling when it comes to recruiting. -- Jeff Goodman
17Xavier Musketeers
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Xavier didn't rate as highly as many of the teams in terms of pure coaching; Chris Mack still remains in the shadow of Sean Miller and Thad Matta, his two elite XU predecessors. But the Musketeers landed this high because they have almost always been a stable entity. From 2008 to 2011 -- the last two seasons of Miller's tenure, and Mack's first -- Xavier was the only team to make three straight Sweet 16s. Even in the wake of a couple of disappointing seasons, the Musketeers' long-term institutional stability can't be discounted. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Is Xavier really here at No. 17 solely on the strength of what the program is yet to do? Or have my fellow voters and I looked past the "Future" in "Future Power Rankings" and given rather too much credit to what the likes of Miller and Matta were able to do with past Musketeers teams? -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: The Musketeers lost Semaj Christon after last season, but have enough talent to withstand his departure. Mack and his staff put together a quality recruiting class for this season that includes top-50 player Trevon Bluiett -- who chose Xavier over UCLA -- as well as fellow top-100 player Edmond Sumner. These guys are in good shape for the next couple of years with the influx of quality young talent. -- Jeff Goodman
18Villanova Wildcats
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Despite the return of almost everyone from 2013-14's bounce-back campaign, voters seemed unsold on the strength of Villanova's current talent. Likewise, the Wildcats don't boast the same structural resources as many of the nation's elite programs. If anything, Jay Wright's decade-long success at the school -- pockmarked by just one truly bad season, that dreary 13-19 run in 2011-12 -- has long since obscured Villanova's historical underdog status. Now the Wildcats have a deep base of existing players to pair with a handful of promising arrivals to come. They're not going anywhere. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Wright's team will be an easy pick as the favorites in this season's Big East. What that status will really mean in the years to come is less clear. If the Big East can sustain its credentials as a major basketball conference when none of its programs play FBS football, it will be something of an outlier. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: For a while there, Wright got away from what made him successful -- and part of the issue was he kept losing members of his coaching staff. Now the staff seems to have stability and Wright is back to recruiting his type of guys: tough, hard-nosed kids who aren't focused on the wrong things. The Wildcats have a pair of top-100 kids who will be freshmen this season in Mikal Bridges and Phil Booth and have two more commitments in the Class of 2015, including top-100 guard Donte Divincenzo. -- Jeff Goodman
19San Diego State Aztecs
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Here's a fun fact: San Diego State didn't become a Division I school until 1970. When Steve Fisher arrived in 1999, he was two years removed from the Chris Webber scandal at Michigan; the job was seen as a bottom-barrel lifeline to a disgraced former coach. By 2002, Fisher had the Aztecs in the NCAA tournament for the third time in school history. In the years since, he's built SDSU into a magnet for overlooked West Coast talent, taken his teams deep into the NCAA tournament, built one of the rowdiest and most dedicated fan bases in the country and established the Aztecs as an undoubtable top-25 team no matter the makeup of his roster. Not too shabby. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Fisher is 69. The Aztecs have never won an NCAA tournament game under any other coach. Is this a program, or a coach? -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Fisher and his staff have done a tremendous job mixing in transfers and now getting top-100 players. The Aztecs brought in a terrific recruiting class (ranked No. 17 in the country) that includes Malik Pope, Trey Kell and Zylan Cheatham. They additionally have a commitment in the Class of 2015 from top-100 guard Jeremy Hemsley. San Diego State works well through the transfer route, recently adding Angelo Chol (Arizona). It's really amazing what these guys have done of late, both on and off the court. -- Jeff Goodman
20Harvard Crimson
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: If you thought San Diego State's program power score was low, say hello to Harvard. The nation's oldest and most prestigious university spent pretty much all of its life as a basketball loser: Before 2012, Harvard's lone NCAA tournament appearance came in 1946, long before the NCAA tournament was an important (let alone the defining) year-end competition. Now Harvard -- thanks to a 2006 university-wide policy that allows financial aid for students whose parents make less than $180,000 a year and Tommy Amaker's ability to land Harvard-level students who happen to be highly talented basketball players -- the Crimson are much, much more than just the toast of the Ivy League. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Harvard, Yale and Princeton once dominated college football, but following World War II the Ivies made a considered decision to opt out of college sports' (already) rapidly escalating arms race. Now Amaker has transcended that decision rather surprisingly and spectacularly. But can Amaker -- or any coach -- really stay in these rankings at an Ivy League school? -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Amaker and his staff have done a tremendous job over the past few years, taking a program that didn't stand a chance against the other high-end academic-basketball schools such as Stanford and Vanderbilt to a place where it can stand toe-to-toe. However, the Crimson will need to make sure they continue to recruit at a high level -- not so much to remain dominant in the Ivy League, but to make sure they remain on the national stage. -- Jeff Goodman
21Pittsburgh Panthers
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Under Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh's rosters never look like they're stocked with elite talent. It is only when Dixon's players perform together -- or after they've had a few years to develop into elite talents (see: Lamar Patterson) -- that the rugged, rebound-Hoovering whole exceeds the sum of its parts. In recent seasons, Pittsburgh has fallen short of the perennial standard Dixon set from 2004 to 2011. Still, in 11 years Dixon has had only one truly down season (2012's 22-17 campaign), the only season the Panthers finished worse than 25th in adjusted efficiency. There's no reason to expect anything but good results in the years to come. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: The knock on Pitt used to be that the Panthers looked great every year in the Big East tournament but never got to the Final Four. Now Dixon's team is in the ACC and hasn't made a Sweet 16 since 2009. So the questions for the future are simple: Dixon or no Dixon, who are these guys? What is Pitt's identity? -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Dixon and the Panthers haven't done it with household names of late. They usually go after the underrated guys who have a chip on their shoulder and are willing to play hard. However, Pittsburgh has commitments from Georgia point guard Damon Wilson (ESPN, No. 57) in the Class of 2015 and Mustapha Heron (ESPN, No. 26), a wing out of Connecticut, in the Class of 2016. -- Jeff Goodman
22UNLV Rebels
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: The jury remains very much out on UNLV coach Dave Rice. A player under beloved glory days icon Jerry Tarkanian, Rice represented a break from predecessor Lon Kruger's more conservative style -- he would put the "Runnin'" back into "Runnin' Rebels." Thus far, results on the court have been mixed. But Rice and his staff are fully re-creating the glory days in at least one regard: recruiting. In their three classes to date, UNLV has signed seven top-100 players, including 2013 No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Anthony Bennett. If Rice can appropriately marshal his players' gifts, blood-pumping basketball can't be far behind. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Rice is a recruiting powerhouse, a fact that our esteemed voting panel has clearly recognized here. Now, when will all that recruiting success translate into a top-two Mountain West finish? Or a trip to the Sweet 16? These remain open questions. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Rice has had talent, but he needs the right type of kids -- and that will be the question moving forward. The Rebels have brought in some players who haven't meshed with his coaching style. The current freshman crop is talented, with scoring wing Rashad Vaughn (ESPN, No. 19), big man Goodluck Okonoboh (ESPN, No. 26) and power forward Dwayne Morgan (ESPN, No. 39). Rice and his staff can recruit, but are they recruiting the right players for his system and style? -- Jeff Goodman
23Memphis Tigers
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Since his ascendance to the Tigers' job, Josh Pastner has drawn a circle around Memphis, a burgeoning talent hotbed, and kept nearly every elite prospect home. This has occasionally presented its own challenges, in the form of provincial rivalries that carry over into collegiate rosters. But by-and-large Pastner has managed his players well while slowly but surely shaking off the more stinging local criticisms of his coaching acumen. In 2013, Pastner brought five top-100 players into a team still stocked with talented veterans. That class will emerge as a standard-bearer in 2014-15 and beyond. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Memphis is like a scaled-down UCLA in that both programs are always talented, yet always the victims of invidious comparisons to their own previous coaches and far more storied pasts. It's been that way at Memphis now for five years and counting. In the future will the Tigers' present ever eclipse their past? -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Recruiting is the last thing I worry about when it comes to Memphis. That's Pastner's bread and butter. He's done a nice job keeping most of the local talent home, and he made sure that will continue when he hired Keelon Lawson -- the father of Memphis commits K.J. Lawson (Class of 2015), Dedric Lawson and two more talented younger brothers. I wouldn't ever be concerned that Memphis doesn't possess high-level talent as long as Pastner is in charge. -- Jeff Goodman
24Georgetown Hoyas
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Georgetown fans have had their share of grumbles during John Thompson III's tenure, the most notable being the Hoyas' tendency to leave the NCAA tournament early, and at the hands of a double-digit seed. But it's hard to complain too much about Thompson's output: In 10 seasons, his team has been a top-three seed five times. He has also recruited well. The latest evidence arrived this summer, when the Hoyas landed three top-100 players, including five-star power forward Isaac Copeland. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: Since the Hoyas reached the 2007 Final Four, the program is 2-5 in NCAA tournament play -- with all five losses coming to lower-seeded opponents. And "the Big East" doesn't mean what you or I think it does to recruits already too young to remember Jeff Green or Roy Hibbert. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: The Hoyas had a strong recruiting campaign this past year, which was necessary. Thompson III and his staff brought in three players ranked in the top 35: Copeland (ESPN, No. 16), L.J. Peak (ESPN, No. 31) and Paul White (ESPN, No. 34). The Hoyas always find a way to get talent, and it's not just in the immediate area. They got Greg Monroe out of Louisiana, went to the Midwest to get D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and plucked White from Illinois. Georgetown also has a pledge from one of the top big men in the Class of 2015: New Yorker Jessie Govan. -- Jeff Goodman
25Virginia Commonwealth Rams
The bar graphs reflect the average rating given by the voters for each category.
Category averages are weighted by importance to generate overall score.
Why they are here: Programs that make unexpectedly deep tournament runs can go one of two ways. They can either fade back into relative obscurity, or use the success as a rope to climb to a new level of success. Under Shaka Smart, VCU has resoundingly been on the prestige climb. Smart has a keen eye for prospects suited to his hectic pressing system, and a complete stylistic devotion to that system's principles, and it works: Since 2010-11's Final Four run, the Rams have been to the NCAA tournament every year, left the old Colonial Athletic Association for the more competitive A-10, and, in 2014, will welcome the best recruiting class in school history. -- Eamonn Brennan
Dilemma: One of these days someone may actually succeed in hiring Smart away from VCU. All coaches not named "Mark Few" are hired away eventually. You've been warned, Rams. -- John Gasaway
Pipeline: Smart and the Rams' Final Four run, in addition to the playing style, have raised the profile of the program to the extent that Smart and his staff now can reel in top-100 players. Can they beat the big boys for top-25 kids? No, but they can beat plenty of other programs, as was the case to get three top-100 players (Terry Larrier, Mike Gilmore and Justin Tillman) for the Class of 2014. The Rams should battle for A-10 supremacy as long as Smart is around. -- Jeff Goodman
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