Kansas, Duke lead Power 36 men's basketball rankings after NBA's early exit deadline (2023)

We are in a new era.

College basketball is getting older, wiser and more experienced. Credit NIL, transfer portals, COVID-19 an extra year of eligibility, and some common sense about the NBA draft early entry process.

Design deadline is May 31. For the second straight season, the consensus winner of Player of the Year is back. After the 2022-23 season, Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe returns after winning all Player of the Year awards. Now, Purdue's Zach Edey is determined to do the same for the 2023-24 season.

A shock first-round exit might not have been the deciding factor in either decision, but it had a big impact on each. Tshiebwe and Kentucky lost to Saint Peter's in the second-ranked game. No. Game 15 of the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Edey and Purdue became the second team ever to lose at No. 1 to No. 16 when the Boilermakers lost to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round in March.

Portal isn't quite finalized yet. There are also transfers that may find another home. Still, starting June 1, we finally have a better look at some of the roster. So it's time to introduce our newest Power 36 for the 2023-24 season.

1. Kansas:The Jayhawks are chasing the national title for the second time in three seasons. The big catch is getting Hunter Dickinson in downtown Michigan. The return of Kevin McCullars, Dajuan Harris and KJAdams gives Bill Self enough to run again.
   
2. Duke:The Blue Devils returned their top four scorers in Kyle Filipowski, Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell. They also added one of the best freshman programs in the country. Jon Scheyer has a year left in his head coaching stint and is ready to fight for a title.
   
3. Michigan:The Spartans brought back nearly every key piece except for Joey Hauser. Jaden Akins, AJ Hoggard, Tyson Walker and Malik Hall bring Michigan State to the lineup. Freshmen Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears will impress immediately.
   
4. Purdue:The Boilermakers brought back Zach Edey National Player of the Year. With all but one top scorer back, the Boilermakers still have to figure out how to deal with faster guards. that's whyPurdue loses to FDU in stunning fashion. These pieces are for Purdue to avenge -- just as Virginia did in 2019 after losing to No. 16 seed UMBC in 2018.
   
5. Marquette:The Golden Eagles finished second to Division Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Tyler Kolek to win the Big East title. He led a veteran team to another Big East title.
   
6. Florida Atlantic:The Owls will be their new conference -- the Americans -- selection after the Final Four. Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin return to lead the Owls in Dusty May. The core of this group knows how to win -- big.
   
7. Miami:The Hurricanes made it to the Final Four after Nijel Pack. He came back looking for another opportunity. Like Norchad Omier. The Canes also earned the 2022 ACC Sixth Man of the Year award for Matthew Cleveland in Florida.
   
8. Gonzaga:Zags has a new look, but it's full of star power. Wyoming's Graham Ike and Creighton's Ryan Nembhard will be an inside-out duo. Veterans Anton Watson and Nolan Hickman are also back. The list isn't complete, but the team should be in the top 10.
   
9. Clayton:The Blue Jays lost their point guard to the Zags, but their big man Ryan Kalkbrenner and their top tight end Trey Alexander and Baylor Scheierman are back. In addition, Utah's Steven Ashworth (Steven Ashworth) will also join them. The Blue Jays should be back in contention for the Big East title.
   
10. University of Connecticut:The 2023 champions are without three key players in Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson. But the lineup is still at the Big East championship level, with Donovan Klingan inside, Alex Caraban and Tristen Newton anchoring the perimeter. The full list of newcomers is still being scrubbed.
    
11. Texas:The Longhorns took one of the nation's top scorers in Max Abmas from Oral Roberts. He, along with Tyrese Hunter, Dylan Disu and Dillon Mitchell, provided enough options for new full-time head coach Rodney Terry to finish in the top four in the Big 12.
    
12. University of Southern California:The Trojans return with a head recruiting class led by scorer Boogie Ellis and top players in Isaiah Collier and Bronny James. The return of top guard Kobe Johnson also gave the Trojans a much-anticipated backcourt. If the frontcourt plays well, the Trojans can and should win the Pac-12.
    
13. Houston:The Cougars won't be making another tough adjustment to the Big 12 because their roster is full. Jamal Scheider led five of the top eight return scorers. Add Baylor transfers LJ Cryer and Kelvin Sampson and you have a Big 12 team.
    
14. Arkansas:Devo Davis and Trevon Brazile lead the returners, while transfers Tramon Mark and Khalif Battle should open up some holes for Eric Musselman's crew. Here's another SEC title contender.
    
15. San Diego State:The Aztecs could go deep again in March after Lamont Butler and Jaedon LeDee decided to return to San Diego. USC's Reese Dixon-Waters is also on hand to help. The team will retain its defensive identity under Brian Dutcher.
    
16. Arizona:The Wildcats signed North Carolina's Caleb Love to join returners Oumar Ballo and Pelle Larsson. The Wildcats won't have the same offense as they did preseason, but they're still a serious Pac-12 contender.
    
17. North Carolina:The Tar Heels once again have the talent to make it to the NCAA tournament. But they have to be a better team. The players are in place, with RJ Davis and Armando Bacot forming a lineup that includes Stanford's Harrison Ingram as a rising star. Elliott's reclassification should also mean the Tar Heels have depth.
    
18. Kentucky:The Wildcats have the best recruiting class in the country, led by Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw and DJ Wagner. But a lack of veterans will plague this team and could prevent the Wildcats from winning a championship.
    
19. Ohio:In the final weeks of the season, the Buckeyes were one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten. But the return of Zed Key, Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle and Felix Okpara, along with the addition of Minnesota shooting guard Jamison Battle and Penn State's Evan Mahaffey, make the Buckeyes a Big Ten threat.
    
20. Illinois:The Illini got their 1-2 star hit in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins. Illinois has yet to strengthen its perimeter, but experience has returned.
    
21. Tennessee:The Vols will once again return with an experienced team including Josiah-Jordan James, Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler.
    
22. Maryland:The Terps brought back Jahmir Young and Donta Scott for another game. Getting Jordan Geronimo out of Indiana was a big step. It's also a solid recruiting class.
    
23. Texas A&M University:The Aggies have returned nearly the entire core of their team and should be back in the middle of the SEC hunt. Buzz Williams has managed to find the right pieces to make the Aggies matter again.
    
24. northwest:With the return of All-Big Ten guard Boo Buie, the Wildcats will be back in the top five of the Big Ten. He joins budding Big Ten star Brooks Barnhizer, regular big man Matthew Nicholson and Princeton shooting guard Ryan Lambert.
    
25. West Virginia:The Mountaineers were strong in the gates, acquiring two key players in Arizona's Kerklisa and Syracuse's Jesse Edwards. Tre Mitchell is back, as is Joe Toussaint, giving the Mountaineers a solid Big 12 squad.
    
26. Mississippi:Tolu Smith returns to the Bulldogs, which means they will once again challenge for the NCAA Tournament.
    
27. Indiana:Xavier Johnson, Trey Galloway and Malik Reneau join Kel'el Ware (Oregon) and freshman Mackenzie Mgbako to give Indiana the chance to play in another NCAA tournament.
    
28. Alabama:The Tide brought back Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly to rebuild the lineup for Nate Oats.
    
29. UCLA:Mick Cronin has brought back Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Adem Bona, but he will rely on a young roster to get the Bruins to the NCAA tournament.
    
30. Providence:With Devin Carter and Bryce Hopkins back, Kim English has a lot of work to do in Year 1. This should be an NCAA tournament team.
    
31. the state of Wisconsin:The Badgers are back with their core five: Tyler Val, Chucky Hepburn, Conor Essegian, Steven Crow and Max Kleismit.
    
32. Villanova:Kyle Neptune added key shots in goal along with Maryland's Hakim Hart and Washington State's TJ Bamba to match the return of Eric Dixon and Justin Moore.
    
33. maroon:Johni Broome and Jaylin Williams are back, which means the Tigers will be in the SEC hunt.
    
34. Colorado:existsmallLeprosy is here with Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson returning to Ted Boyle's crew.
    
35. Pete:The Panthers were the ACC's surprise last season, but with the return of Blake Hinson, Federiko Federiko and twins Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham it should be relevant again.
    
36. Rutgers University:The decision to return Cliff Omoruyi puts the Scarlet Knights back in the running for the NCAA bid. Paul Mulcahy is expected to return with a top recruiting class of Mawot Mag, Aundre Hyatt and Derek Simpson and Steve Pikiell.

NCAA Candidates: Baylor, St. Mary's, Iowa State, TCU, Virginia, Xavier, St. John's, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Kansas, Clemson, Dayton, Syracuse, Boise State, New Mexico, Memphis.