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Message: [QUOTE="CL82, post: 4072463, member: 44"] [B]19. [URL='https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/STBON/st-bonaventure-bonnies/']St. Bonaventure[/URL][/B]: Let's flash back to this piece last year. Here's what I wrote:[I] "No exaggeration to say there aren't 20 coaches who could average 17.6 wins over 13 years at Bona -- especially when you remember just how decrepit this program was when Mark Schmidt took it over. NIT group at worst, and then if all return for 2021-22, Bonaventure should be a top-60 team."[/I] How's top-20 sound, Bonnies? Bona wasn't even close to the NIT last season; these guys were a No. 9 seed! Now, almost the entire roster is back -- including all starters -- from the best team in the A-10. Look out. It all starts with lead guard [URL='https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/players/playerpage/3042615/kyle-lofton']Kyle Lofton[/URL] and top-10 center Osun Osunniyi. Don't give Schmidt that much to work with -- it's not going to be fun for ya. The offense will probably be top-50, the defense hovering around top-10. It's entirely lame how other power-conference coaches were too afraid to schedule the Bonnies, so a shoutout to UConn's Dan Hurley and [URL='https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/teams/VATECH/virginia-tech-hokies/']Virginia Tech's[/URL] Mike Young for being the only coaches to agree to a game -- and do so on a neutral floor. Last season was one of the best Bona teams in program history. This one will be even better. [B]33. UConn[/B]: There's a lot of tempting weapons who will be eager to prove their worth now that James Bouknight is in the NBA. Whether UConn has that dynamic playmaker to ensure this is a top-35 team remains to be seen. I'll take my chances with Dan Hurley. Who'll be the best player? It's TBD. The answer should come from the trio of Adam Sanogo, [URL='https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/players/playerpage/2892190/isaiah-whaley']Isaiah Whaley[/URL] and [URL='https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/players/playerpage/3141630/r-j-cole']R.J. Cole[/URL]. Whaley could be the top overall defender in the conference. Cole could drop 30 in a night. (Efficiency is the factor.) Sanogo will be the most improved player in the Big East. I think [URL='https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/players/playerpage/2892189/tyler-polley']Tyler Polley's[/URL] capacity as a go-to guy late in games will add a dimension that this team lacked last season. This will be a rugged team, but also one with potential to peel off 14-2 runs. Hitting 80 points will be a special occasion, but there seems to be little doubt that UConn is a top-four Big East squad. [/QUOTE]

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