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Brian Dunleavy's top 10 NCAA college basketball (CBB) rankings, from a fantasy basketball perspective, as of 4/4/17. His fantasy CBB rankings are updated weekly.
Kansas' Josh Jackson.
If you're like us, you spend much of March focusing on the winners and losers in the NCAA Tournament.
Or heck, even the NIT.
But, to be sure, the real winners in college basketball are those players chosen in the NBA Draft.
With that in mind, for our final rankings of the 2016-17 season, we'll focus on the draft projections for some of the stars for the top teams.
So, here are our final CBB rankings for the season (won-loss records in parentheses).
NCAA College Basketball (CBB) Rankings
1. North Carolina, (33-7)
Were the Tar Heels really the best team in the land? Let's put it this way, they were definitely the best team at the end of the season, which is all that matters. Small forward Justin Jackson (18.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG) projects as a late first-round pick.
2. Gonzaga, (37-2)
If nothing else, the 'Zags proved they belonged, making it all the way to the championship game. Center Zach Collins (10.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.8 BPG) also belongs in the NBA, and could be a top 10 pick.
3. Oregon, (33-6)
As many as three Ducks could go in the NBA draft, but with his recent injury history forward Dillon Brooks (16.1 PPG) has dropped into the second round, according to most draft prognosticators.
4. Kentucky, (32-6)
We know. The Wildcats didn't make the Final Four. And guard Malik Monk (19.2 PPG) likely won't be around for a second try. The freshman is projected to go in the top five, meaning he is seen as an impact player at the next level.
5. Kansas, (31-5)
Bill Self's Jayhawks disappointed on the court in March and off the court for much of the season, but that shouldn't affect forward Josh Jackson's (16.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG) draft status. He's seen by many as the first overall pick.
6. Villanova, (32-4)
Lack of depth hurt 'Nova down the stretch, but star Wildcat Josh Hart (18.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG), a guard, looks like a solid second-rounder.
7. UCLA, (31-5)
In guard Lonzo Ball (14.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.6 APG), the best player in the world (according to his dad), and forward T.J. Leaf (16.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG), the Bruins could have two top 10 picks. Leaf, a freshman, has already declared. Both are talented, but we wouldn't be surprised if a lack of maturity derails them at the next level.
8. Arizona, (32-5)
The Wildcats also have a freshman front court player, Lauri Markkanen (15.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG) who projects as a top 10 pick. The seven-footer needs a bit more muscle to compete as an NBA pivot.
9. South Carolina, (26-11)
We know. The Gamecocks made the Final Four. But we didn't have them ranked all season, and neither did most pollsters. If he stays out of trouble, Sindarius Thornwell (21.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG) could go in the first round.
10. Xavier (24-14)
Actually, given our druthers, we'd put West Virginia here, but the Mountaineers have no projected NBA draftees, according to most "experts," so we'll take the Musketeers, who had a surprisingly deep run in the tourney, even without point guard Edmund Sumner (15.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.0 APG), who missed the team's last 17 games with injury. He still projects as a second-rounder, however, and could be a sleeper pick.
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