CBS Sports releases updated Top 25 and 1 to reflect recent roster decisions

by:Steve Samra•06/19/22•

SamraSource

A brand-new Top 25 and 1 has been released by CBS Sports, as the college basketball offseason continues to be affected by the transfer portal and decisions regarding the 2022 NBA Draft.

The top four remains the same – Gonzaga, North Carolina, Houston and Kentucky – while Duke snuck past the Razorbacks of Arkansas to nab the last top five spot in the rankings.

Meanwhile, the Tar Heels received a huge addition on Saturday, as graduate transfer Pete Nance chose to join their program. However, it isn’t enough for Gary Parrish of CBS Sports to move them ahead of the Bulldogs.

“After considering everything I know to consider, I’ve decided to leave the Tar Heels at No. 2 in the 2022-23 CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 And 1 — one spot behind top-ranked Gonzaga,” wrote Parrish. “Put simply, I just like Gonzaga’s roster a little better than I like North Carolina’s roster. The rosters are close in my mind. Very close. But I’m giving a slight edge to the Zags thanks to the fact that they’re returning six of the top eight scorers from a team that was the No. 1 overall seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament — among them two-time All-American Drew Timme and double-digit scorers Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton.

“Gonzaga has also been bolstered this offseason by the arrival of transfers Malachi Smith and Efton Reid. Smith averaged 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season at Chattanooga and is the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year. Reid is a former five-star recruit who played last season at LSU.”

As you can see, Parrish is still high on Gonzaga entering next season, but anything can change throughout what has been a wild offseason.

Here is the updated Top 25 and 1 from CBS Sports as of June 19.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article.