The Most Intriguing Player on Each CBB Team in the Preseason Coaches Poll

Now that we have our first official preseason college basketball rankings, with Thursday's release of the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll, we're another step closer to the 2015-16 season. The teams that made this initial list did so because they're considered the best and most talented in the country, at least before any games are played.

Each team has great players who will be integral to their success, but certain ones will be more critical than others. It could be a newcomer such as a freshman or a transfer, or someone who is set to move from a reserve role into the starting lineup. Regardless of what we know about them prior to this season, it's how they perform in 2015-16 that could be the difference between a big year for their team or one that falls short of expectations.

We've identified the most intriguing player on each preseason Top 25 team, detailing their importance. Follow along and give us your thoughts in the comments section.

25. Connecticut Huskies

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Shonn Miller, Sr., F

Connecticut won the national title in 2013-14, but a year later it found itself losing a first-round game in the NIT. The road back to the NCAA tourney will be heavily reliant on some graduate transfers, including ex-Seton Hall guard Sterling Gibbs and former Cornell star Shonn Miller.

The 6'7", 210-pound Miller averaged 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season for the Big Red, numbers that would have both been second-best with the Huskies. He might not replicate that production this season, but he "brings a skill set that UConn desperately needs to be an elite team," ESPN.com's Seth Greenberg opined earlier in October.

24. Purdue Boilermakers

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Caleb Swanigan, Fr., F

Purdue has one of the top centers in the country in senior A.J. Hammons, a 7-footer who has averaged at least 10 points and six rebounds each of the past three seasons. It might have picked up the next Hammons late in the recruiting cycle when it signed Swanigan away from another Big Ten school.

The 6'9", 250-pound prospect had originally committed to Michigan State, but before the April signing period came about, he backed out of that pledge and ended up with the Boilermakers. He's already showing his stuff during the preseason, as he had 23 points and 13 rebounds during an Oct. 17 scrimmage, per Pete DiPrimio of the News-Sentinel.

23. West Virginia Mountaineers

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Jevon Carter, So., G

The point guard job is Carter's to take and hold onto this season, though he will need to do a lot better than when he was thrust into the role because of injuries for a stretch as a freshman. Injuries to the now-departed Juwan Staten as well as Gary Browne knocked those two out for three games and put Carter in the starting lineup, and he did not do well.

Carter made only three of 23 field-goal attempts in those games, which spanned the final two of the regular season as well as the Big 12 tournament loss to Kansas. He wasn't that great a shooter to begin with, shooting 36 percent for the season, but he sank even lower during that miserable run.

22. Butler Bulldogs

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Tyler Wideman, So., F

Wideman was a bit player in his first college season for Butler, playing 10.9 minutes per game while averaging 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds. He wasn't asked to do much because Kameron Woods handled the inside game so well, but now that Woods has graduated, the Bulldogs need an instant replacement.

That falls to the 6'8", 245-pound Wideman, who at first will likely rely on his rebounding ability more than his skills as a scorer. Wideman only attempted 56 shots in 34 games, and he was also an atrocious 41.5 percent from the free-throw line, which could make him a liability on offense in clutch situations.

21. Baylor Bears

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Taurean Prince, Sr., F

Prince had the uncommon distinction of being Baylor's top scorer in 2014-15 despite only starting six games, having averaged 13.9 points while playing only 26.3 minutes. He earned various awards as a result, including being named Bleacher Report's Sixth Man of the Year.

Whether he comes off the bench again or is part of the starting lineup this season, expect the 6'8" Prince to remain the Bears' go-to scorer. Sports Illustrated projected him to be the 18th-best scorer in the country, at 16.7 points per game, and he'll get his points both inside and after being a 39.5 percent three-point shooter a year ago.

20. Vanderbilt Commodores

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Damian Jones, Jr., F

Vanderbilt missed out on the NCAA tournament for the third straight season in 2015, but it still managed to finish the year strong by winning eight of 10 regular-season games and then reached the NIT quarterfinals. And during that run, Jones continued his development toward being one of the best low-post players in the country.

The 7'1", 245-pound Jones averaged 14.4 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 56.1 percent, and Commodores head coach Kevin Stallings told CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein the big man "has gotten significantly better since last year."

Jones will have plenty of opportunities to play against other noted big men in college, as Vandy is set to face Baylor and Purdue during the nonconference schedule, and it will play Kentucky twice in SEC play.

19. LSU Tigers

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Ben Simmons, Fr., F

Simmons is the top-rated player in the 2015 recruiting class, per 247Sports, as well as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA draft, according to NBADraft.net. He's getting plenty of hype as the best player in the country, finding himself on nearly every All-American list while also being the reason LSU will brush aside recent underachieving performances to contend in the SEC and make a deep NCAA tournament run.

That's a lot of pressure to put on one player, but Simmons has been in the spotlight for years. Originally from Australia, he starred the past few seasons for Florida's Montverde Academy and was stellar at various All-Star Games and showcase events.

A self-described "point forward," the 6'10", 240-pound Simmons plans to be involved in all areas of the Tigers offense.

18. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Bonzie Colson, So., F

Notre Dame made it to the Elite Eight with a very thin rotation that was heavy on perimeter players and relied on just one post presence at a time. That main responsibility again belongs to Zach Auguste, but with the Fighting Irish losing a few key scorers, the push might be to go to more of a three-guard, two-forward lineup.

That would put the emphasis on Colson to do on a full-time basis what he did off the bench in 2014-15. As a freshman, he was instant offense with 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds on 59.5 percent shooting in just over 12 minutes per game.

"What does he do with 30 minutes?," said Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey, per Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune. "That's my plan with him. He never doubts. He just plays."

The 6'5" Colson has slimmed down to 225 pounds this year, so he'll be even smaller than he was last season against frontcourt opponents.

17. Wisconsin Badgers

Ethan Happ, R-Fr., F

Wisconsin has won at least 20 games in each of the past nine seasons and is on a run of 17 straight seasons of making the NCAA tournament. Neither of those streaks figure to be in jeopardy this year, though the loss of 7-footer Frank Kaminsky and versatile star Sam Dekker has lowered the Badgers' expectations.

But coach Bo Ryan has been here before. Two years ago, he had to replace several frontcourt players and turned to a little-used sophomore in Kaminsky, and he erupted into a star.

Wisconsin would like to see if the 6'9", 235-pound Happ can make a similar leap, though instead of being a bit player last season he redshirted.

16. Utah Utes

Lorenzo Bonam, Jr., G

The departure of do-everything guard Delon Wright is a major hole that Utah has to fill for this season. Wright was the team's leading scorer, assist man and stealer and was second in rebounding. It's unlikely one person will be able to make up for all of that production.

The Utes have someone who is potentially capable of that in Bonam, a junior college transfer from Gillette College in Wyoming. Originally from Michigan, the 6'4", 215-pounder has the size to be able to handle much of the physical work that Wright was known for, and he could be a better shooter than Wright.

Utah will work with both Bonam and 6'2" sophomore Isaiah Wright at the point.

15. Indiana Hoosiers

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Thomas Bryant, Fr., F

Indiana has a shot to be the best three-point shooting team in the country this season, as it brings back a lineup that made 309 of the 319 long shots the Hoosiers drained in 2014-15. Yet just being able to score from the perimeter won't be enough to get the job done, which is why the addition of Bryant was so huge for Indiana.

The 6'10", 245-pound freshman is expected to bring some interior toughness to a team that didn't have much of that a year ago. Marco Knudsen of SB Nation noted that Bryant has put on more than 30 pounds in the past three seasons.

"Bryant's workout prowess has been on display for the past three years, as his body type has changed significantly from season to season," Knudsen wrote.

Indiana also needs Bryant to get healthy. An arch injury to one of his feet has limited him in practice.

14. California Golden Bears

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Ivan Rabb, Fr., F

California made one of the biggest splashes on the recruiting trail in the spring when it landed small forward Jaylen Brown over the likes of Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA. Projected by NBADraft.net as the No. 3 pick in 2016, he's an instant star the Golden Bears will build their offense around.

But Cal won't be a one-man team, as it will need to rely on returners, such as Tyrone Wallace, as well as freshman Ivan Rabb, a 6'11", 219-pound power forward. The Oakland product opted to stay close to home rather than sign with Arizona or any other big school, and he may prove to be the key to the Bears' success.

"It's something I thrive on," Rabb told Tom FitzGerald of SFGate.com.

13. Michigan State Spartans

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Eron Harris, Jr., G

Michigan State could have really used Harris' scoring punch last season, but he had to sit out after transferring from West Virginia. Now that he's available, he could be the missing piece to the Spartans offense, especially with Travis Trice no longer around.

The key for Harris, who averaged 17.2 points per game and shot 44.2 percent on three-pointers in 2013-14, is "working on finding a shot he didn't like," coach Tom Izzo said, per Matt Charboneau of the Detroit News. Two seasons ago, Harris took more than 400 shots and also had issues taking care of the ball.

If he can be more selective with his shot-taking, as well as fit well into Michigan State's traditional defensive-minded approach, he'll make a major impact.

12. Wichita State Shockers

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Conner Frankamp, So., G

A reserve for Kansas in 2013-14 who suddenly became a hot shooter during the brief run in the NCAA tournament that season, Frankamp opted not to stick around with the Jayhawks for his sophomore year when he realized he'd be hard-pressed to get playing time.

Wichita ended up landing his services, though because Frankamp didn't announce his transfer until December, he won't be eligible to play for the Shockers until the end of their first semester. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI in January, but that hasn't impacted his future with Wichita.

According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Wichita coach Gregg Marshall called Frankamp the best shooter he's coached in 31 years of basketball. Though he'll be playing behind senior guards Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet, expect him to contribute off the bench with instant offense.

11. Gonzaga Bulldogs

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Domantas Sabonis, So., F

Three big men for two spots—what ever will Gonzaga do?

The Bulldogs sport three players at 6'10" or taller who were part of the main rotation last season in Sabonis and seniors Przemek Karnowski and Kyle Wiltjer. There were only a handful of occasions where all three saw the court at the same time, combining to play 73.7 minutes per game. Sabonis had the fewest at 21.6, during which he averaged 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds on 66.8 percent shooting.

Sabonis would be the go-to big man for most teams in the country, but the 7'1" Karnowski has a firm hold on the starting center job, and Wiltjer is one of the most complete players in Division I now that he's added strength to be able to handle playing inside to go with his perimeter shooting ability.

When Sabonis is able to contribute, though, he usually comes through. He made 19 of 31 shots during the NCAA tournament, going for 18 points in the third round against Iowa and 12 in the Sweet 16 win over UCLA.

10. Arizona Wildcats

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Kadeem Allen, Jr., G

Allen was the NJCAA junior college player of the year in 2013-14, but Arizona opted to redshirt him. He averaged 25.9 points per game at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas but needed to develop into a player who could be more of a team player, and a year off would help him with that and also become a better student.

"It's very difficult to leave junior college, hit the ground running, and then in two quick years, get the degree," Arizona coach Sean Miller said, per Jason Bartel of SB Nation.

Allen still traveled with Arizona on its Pac-12 road trips, giving him an idea of what he'd be dealing with this season. The Wildcats are deep at shooting guard, but the 6'3" guard could handle the point guard spot backing up sophomore Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

9. Villanova Wildcats

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Daniel Ochefu, Sr., F

Villanova has never had any problems getting effective guard play, nor have its wing players ever lacked in ability and production. Inside, though, the Wildcats continue to search for a consistent and reliable post player who can provide more than just rudimentary contributions.

JayVaughn Pinkston did the best he could the past few seasons, but at 6'7", he was too small to handle the bigger defenders inside. Ochefu is 6'11" and 245 pounds, but to this point in his career, he's yet to be much of a presence on offense; the scoring and rebounding has gone up each season, but last year he only took 5.6 shots per game.

If Pinkston can take the next step toward being a go-to scorer inside, combined with the lineup of perimeter players Villanova has, there will be no problem winning a third straight Big East regular-season title, and a deep run in the NCAA tournament might finally be possible.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

Akolda Manyang, Jr., C

A junior college transfer who dominated at that level, the 7'0", 243-pounder is the biggest player Oklahoma has had since 1999-2000, per SoonerSports.com (via TulsaWorld.com). His size should bring a different dynamic to the Sooners, particularly on defense, where they had just five blocked shots last season.

Yet Manyang's development was stunted during the summer when he suffered a stress fracture in his right heel. He's returned to practice as Oklahoma prepares for 2015-16, though how much he'll be able to participate early on is uncertain.

"It just feels good to be around my team so I can support them and just do what I can do," Manyang told Justin Hite of Scout.com. "If I can't score, I'm going to rebound. If I can't rebound, I'm going to block shots. I'm just going to do the little things."

7. Iowa State Cyclones

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Hallice Cooke, So., G

Of all the new coaches in Division I for the 2015-16 season—there were 40, to be exact—no one is walking into a better situation than Steve Prohm. The ex-Murray State coach inherits an Iowa State roster that is loaded with talent that Fred Hoiberg had put together through a blend of high school and junior college players as well as transfers form other D-I programs who were looking for a fresh start.

Cooke falls into that category, having spent one season at Oregon State before transferring to the Cyclones and sitting out 2014-15. The 6'3" guard started 18 games for the Beavers as a freshman, averaging 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

He wasn't able to practice with ISU last season, though, because of a pair of hip surgeries to repair lingering issues he'd dealt with at OSU. Now fully healthy, he'll provide key depth in the Cyclones' backcourt and is already showing off his shooting prowess by beating junior Matt Thomas for the three-point shooting title at Hilton Madness on Friday.

6. Virginia Cavaliers

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London Perrantes, Jr., G

Even with some key departures in Justin Anderson and Darion Atkins, the well-oiled Virginia machine is expected to operate with the same defensive dominance and offensive efficiency that has led the Cavaliers to consecutive ACC regular-season titles. Yet there's always room for improvement, none more so than in terms of production from the point.

Perrantes averaged 6.4 points and 4.6 assists last season, ranking sixth on the team in scoring despite playing a team-high 33.3 minutes per game. He only shot 35.4 percent from the field, often passing up open shots for what he hoped was a better opportunity for a teammate.

Without Anderson available anymore, that's one less experienced scoring option for Virginia, meaning Perrantes will need to show more aggression on offense.

5. Kansas Jayhawks

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Cheick Diallo, Fr., F

The prize piece of Kansas' freshman class, Cheick Diallo was a highly coveted prospect who had a monster spring that included earning MVP honors at a pair of high school All-Star Games. The 6'9", 220-pound power forward from Africa could have the impact that Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid had in 2013-14 and that Cliff Alexander was expected to provide last season.

But that would require Diallo to be cleared to play this season. Issues with the classwork he took at Our Savior New American High School in New York has held up his eligibility with the NCAA, and there's no certainty this will get cleared up or resolved before the season starts. Even with that, Diallo has been named the Big 12's preseason freshman of the year.

The Jayhawks should still be good if Diallo isn't able to play, but his inclusion could put them over the top.

"Diallo represents the best chance Kansas has of exceeding its already-high baseline," ESPN.com's Eamonn Brennan wrote. "His presence could well prove the difference between a very good team and a real national title contender."

4. Duke Blue Devils

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Sean Obi, So., F

Duke has brought in a star-studded recruiting class that will help replace four starters from the national title team who either graduated or turned pro. Several in that group will either start or get major minutes in the Blue Devils' rotation, but it's a transfer who joined the program a year ago who is the biggest question mark.

Obi was an all-freshman selection in Conference USA for Rice in 2013-14, where he averaged 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds. He left the Owls after a coaching change and had to sit out last season, per NCAA rules, but he was able to practice alongside and against Jahlil Okafor throughout the year.

Now the 6'9", 250-pound Obi is battling with freshman Chase Jeter for playing time up front. Though he's nowhere near the offensive presence that Okafor was, Obi has the size and bulk to be a force inside depending on how Duke wants to play inside.

3. Maryland Terrapins

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Damonte Dodd, Jr., C

Maryland has added one of the best big men in the 2015 recruiting class in Diamond Stone, a 6'11", 255-pound beast who is expected to give Maryland a huge boost on the interior. But the Terrapins are also expecting big things from a holdover Stone will be trying to steal minutes from.

The 6'11" Dodd started 31 games in 2014-15 but only scored 4.0 points with 3.8 rebounds per game while logging 51 blocks. His presence on the court was limited to less than 16 minutes per game, though, so he's in there more to protect the rim and keep defenders off the boards.

Maryland has a luxury with these two big men to split minutes with, though in order to have the most success, it needs a veteran such as Dodd to play like someone who's in his third year of college.

"Turgeon said (he) believes Dodd could not only beat out Stone for the starting position to begin the season, but also make a push for national defensive player of the year," Josh Stirn of 247Sports wrote.

1. (tie) North Carolina Tar Heels

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Justin Jackson, So., F

North Carolina had the good fortune of not losing any of its talented freshmen from last year to the draw of the NBA. This includes Jackson, who at No. 9 in the 2014 recruiting class, per 247Sports, is the highest-rated player from that class who is still in college.

Jackson averaged 10.7 points 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 47.7 percent shooting, and he had some of his best games down the stretch when he reached double figures in 11 of the Tar Heels' last 12 games, including in six of seven postseason games.

Despite the numbers, though, there were many times the 6'8" Jackson looked tentative and unsure on the court. Coach Roy Williams expects that to no longer be an issue.

"I think he's much more confident now," Williams said, per Andrew Carter of the News & Observer. "He's far better than he was last year at this time."

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article38928696.html#storylink=cpy

1. (tie) Kentucky Wildcats

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Isaac Humphries, Fr., C

Kentucky's 2015-16 team has been a work in progress since last season ended, as John Calipari had to replace seven players who declared early for the NBA draft. As a result, there were several late additions to the newest recruiting class, reaching out beyond the United States to Canada and Australia.

Humphries is from the latter, a 7-footer who committed and signed in August and joins Skal Labissiere as newcomers to a frontcourt that lost four key contributors. This means the 260-pounder will need to make an instant impact, even though he's only 17 after having reclassified from 2016 to be able to play this season.

It also means he's the one player on the Wildcats that Calipari knows he'll have for at least two seasons, since he won't be old enough to turn pro until after his sophomore year.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.