Yesterday CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein released his latest “Rothstein 45 for 2021” and had the Badgers as the No. 5 team in the country.
Filip Petrusev's decision to leave Gonzaga means we have a new top team in the ROTHSTEIN 45.
UPDATED TOP 5:
1. Villanova
2. Baylor
3. Iowa
4. Virginia
5. Wisconsinhttps://t.co/KS37fpHmwf— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 20, 2020
As seen above, the four teams ahead of the Badgers–in order–are Villanova, Baylor, Iowa and Virginia, with Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, Duke and Creighton rounding out the top 10.
This ranking continues an offseason of ranking and media love for Greg Gard’s team as they were recently the highest-seeded Big Ten team in Joe Lunardi’s bracketology and the No. 7 team in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25.
The biggest story surrounding the team is the fact that they return nearly all of their meaningful contributors from last season while welcoming in an impressive freshman class.
But the biggest thing for me about this team? They are in nearly every writer’s top 25 without having an NBA Draft prospect in their starting five.
Though Villanova is at the top of Rothstein’s rankings also without an NBA Draft prospect, nearly the entire top 10 has at least one or two players set to hear their name called next year.
It obviously still needs to come to fruition on the court, but Gard’s team is poised for a big season in the most Wisconsin way ever–stellar defense, consistent offense and no players set to join the NBA ranks.