Villanova Ranked #9, Baylor #17 in Latest ESPN Preseason Top 25

Less than four months away from tip-off of the 2019-20 college basketball season, it appears the Myrtle Beach Invitational may play host to two Top 25 teams this November.

2016 & 2018 National Champion Villanova checks in at #9 in the latest ESPN.com Way-Too-Early Top 25, the highest ranked team in the Big East. Baylor is #17.

See what ESPN’s Jeff Borzello had to say about each these teams below:

#9 Villanova

If there was a year for Big East teams to slow down Villanova, last season was the one — and the Wildcats still won an outright Big East regular-season title. And now, despite losing seniors Phil Booth and Eric Paschall, Villanova should be better than last season and back in the national discussion. One of the biggest keys will be the health of five-star shooting guard Bryan Antoine, who suffered a shoulder injury that could impact the start of his college career. Fellow five-star freshman Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will be one of the best players in the Big East. Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels and Saddiq Bey are returning as starters.

#17 Baylor

Much of the optimism surrounding Baylor comes as a result of the way the Bears played in January and February last season. They were 11-5 in their first 15 games of the 2019 calendar year but finished the season losing five of their last six. But Scott Drew still overachieved given the injuries and attrition his team faced. And now he gets Tristan Clark back healthy after missing the last 20 games of the season. Clark was the team’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder before going down. Jared Butler, Mark Vital and Mario Kegler were all key pieces last season, and Drew also adds transfers Davion Mitchell(Auburn) and Macio Teague (UNC Asheville).

To view the complete bracket and schedule for the 2019 Myrtle Beach Invitational click here.