Struggling CBB Teams Looking Forward to a Strong 2017 Recruiting Class

Now that most teams are a few games into their conference schedules, we're starting to get a stronger understanding of where things stand for the rest of the current college basketball season.

We're still two months away from the NCAA tournament, but let's face it, a clear hierarchy has already been established in terms of which teams have legitimate NCAA tournament aspirations. That has some fanbases looking forward to next year and hoping that this year's recruiting fortunes turn into wins next season.

Since most of the 2017 class is signed, the Scout.com national team recruiting rankings are pretty well established at this point. So let's take a look at some teams that aren't likely to make the NCAA tournament but are looking forward to next year.

Some of these schools are having disappointing 2016-17 seasons and are hoping to turn things around while others are firmly rebuilding this season and hoping to make a move in the next year or two. Since seven teams in the Scout.com national team rankings look like they aren't making the NCAA tournament (barring a miracle) let's take a look at seven schools that should have higher hopes for next season.

Recruiting ratings via Scout.com.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information were obtained firsthand. 

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

2016-17 season so far: Don't be fooled by the 11-4 record—Mississippi State's nonconference strength of schedule ranks 342nd on KenPom. The Bulldogs have piled up some wins, but they've yet to beat an NCAA tournament team and have ugly losses to UCF, Lehigh and East Tennessee State. While Quinndary Weatherspoon is having an All-SEC season, the rest of the roster is still young and figuring things out. 

Incoming recruits: Nick Weatherspoon is signed with Mississippi State in the 2017 class, and Quinndary's younger brother gives the Bulldogs a 5-star lead guard who can really score. Joining Weatherspoon is 4-star center Garrison Brooks and 3-star forward Keyshawn Feazell. 

Next season's outlook: Head coach Ben Howland added an astounding five 4-star prospects in 2016, so Mississippi State looks like it should have plenty of talent for years to come. The Weatherspoon brothers are a great duo to build an offense around, and Mississippi State will have the talented perimeter playmakers and rim protectors needed to be a potential tournament team in a year.

6. Arizona State Sun Devils

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

2016-17 season so far: The Pac-12 has been an intriguing conference to follow this season, and Arizona State has had no shortage of storylines. The Sun Devils are 9-8 at the moment, with a 2-2 record in Pac-12 play. Defense has been a major issue, as they rank 258th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency. The future also took a hit when 4-star freshman Sam Cunliffe transferred in December. 

Incoming recruits: Head coach Bobby Hurley continues his rebuild with three more 4-star prospects in the 2017 class. Small forward Kimani Lawrence is the most highly touted prospect of the bunch, while 4-star guard Remy Martin is an attacking guard and 4-star big man Kenny Wooten has been praised throughout the high school season.

Next season's outlook: The Sun Devils will have to replace senior scorers like Torian Graham and Obinna Oleka, but guards Tra Holder and Shannon Evans are both juniors who bring some scoring pop. Lawrence should help with his size and athleticism on the wing, while Martin adds a valuable reserve guard. Wooten should help add another body on the interior to help freshman Jethro Tshisumpa. 

5. Texas A&M Aggies

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Billy Kennedy

2016-17 season so far: After a recent slide to start SEC play, Texas A&M sits at 8-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play. Since the Aggies only have one win over an NCAA tournament-caliber opponent (Virginia Tech), they are in dire need of good wins for the postseason resume.

Incoming recruits: Texas A&M has a four-man class signed, and it includes a few players who should immediately help. Three of the Aggies' four commits (Savion Flagg, Jay Jay Chandler and T.J. Starks) are 4-star guards from Texas, and they also landed 3-star big man Isiah Jasey. 

Next season's outlook: Before the season, the Aggies took a big hit when freshman point guard J.J. Caldwell was ruled ineligible. With the additions of Caldwell, Flagg, Chandler and Starks for next season, along with current point guard Admon Gilder, A&M should have plenty of perimeter talent to help ease things on the interior for center Tyler Davis and forward D.J. Hogg—who will both be juniors next season.

Only guard JC Hampton and reserve forward Tavario Miller are seniors, and freshman forward Robert Williams could turn pro. So this Texas A&M roster could look pretty good next season.

4. Texas Longhorns

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Shaka Smart

2016-17 season so far: Shaka Smart's second season in Austin wasn't supposed to look like this, but the Longhorns are off to a bad start. Texas already has home losses to UT-Arlington and Kent State from nonconference play and stands at 7-8 with a 1-2 Big 12 record. The young guards on this roster haven't met expectations, and the rest of the Big 12 is better than many expected this season. 

Incoming recruits: Luckily for Texas fans, Smart has done a nice job of securing more elite talent for next season. Staying in-state will be 4-star guard Jase Febres and 4-star forward Royce Hamm, while 4-star center Jericho Sims is also committed.

Next season's outlook: Texas is going to need more from its current players, but with a core group of mostly freshmen and sophomores, the future still looks bright. Because senior big man Shaquille Cleare will be gone and Texas could lose Jarrett Allen to the pros, adding Hamm and Sims to the frontcourt was key.

With the Longhorns only shooting 30.5 percent from three-point range, adding a noted perimeter specialist like Febres will help in that department. 

3. Western Kentucky

Michael Noble Jr./Associated Press

Rick Stansbury

2016-17 season so far: The Hilltoppers have been fun to watch in head coach Rick Stansbury's first season, as they're currently 9-8. Western Kentucky is going to have to win the Conference USA tourney to make the NCAA tournament, but they have a roster filled with upperclassmen who should make them a tough out in the conference tournament.

Incoming recruits: Landing 5-star center Mitchell Robinson was a huge coup for Stansbury since the nation's best high school shot-blocker should make a major impact for the Hilltoppers on both ends of the floor. Robinson also gets help from 4-star guard Josh Anderson and 3-star guard Taveion Hollingsworth, while transfers like Buffalo guard Lamonte Bearden should also help.

Next season's outlook: Stansbury took this year's roster and loaded it with graduate transfers like Que Johnson (Washington State), Pancake Thomas (Hartford) and Junior Lomomba (Providence), so next year's freshman class could see a lot of minutes.

Robinson and Bearden should be expected to compete for starting spots, while Anderson could also work his way into the lineup. Junior forward Justin Johnson will be counted on as the veteran on the roster.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Chris Pietsch/Associated Press

2016-17 season so far: In his second season as head coach, Avery Johnson has helped guide the Crimson Tide to a 9-6 record. That looks OK on paper, but the Tide have yet to beat an NCAA tournament-caliber opponent and have struggled to shoot the ball (31.4 percent three-point shooting). Alabama is going to need a lot of good wins in the SEC to find itself dancing in March.

Incoming recruits: The star of the class is 5-star lead guard Collin Sexton, a scoring machine who led the Nike EYBL in scoring this spring. Joining Sexton is 4-star guard John Petty and 4-star forward Alex Reese, while 3-star center Galin Smith and 3-star forward Herb Jones add more depth.

Next season's outlook: Alabama will lose veterans Shannon Hale and Jimmie Taylor, but the rest of the roster looks intriguing. Freshman Dazon Ingram should get help in the backcourt from Sexton and Petty, while Braxton Key's unique skill set should help create shots for all three of those players.

The youth of the frontcourt and the team in general could lead to some growing pains, but there is a lot to like about what Alabama could do on the hardwood next season.

1. Washington Huskies

William Mancebo/Getty Images

2016-17 season so far: Even with a potential No. 1 pick in freshman guard Markelle Fultz, the Huskies have struggled to an 8-7 start and will need a miracle to make the NCAA tournament. The defense has been a disaster, and Washington already owns losses to Yale, TCU (twice) and Nevada this season. 

Incoming recruits: Washington's five-man 2017 class is headlined by 5-star forward Michael Porter, and he's joined by 4-star guards Daejon Davis and Jaylen Nowell as well as 3-star guard Blake Harris and 3-star forward Mamoudou Diarra.

Next season's outlook: Washington might be struggling to find consistency this season, but its young roster mostly remains in place for next year. Assuming the Huskies lose Fultz early to the NBA draft, they would still return double-figure scorers like sophomore guard David Crisp and sophomore big man Noah Dickerson, while sophomore Matisse Thybulle has also been good this season.

With Porter's production coming in and the other freshmen joining the roster, this Washington team could fit better together since Porter can play off the ball.