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Top 10 Backcourts In College Basketball For 2015-16 Season

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Top 10 Backcourts in College Basketball For the 2015-16 Season

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A successful college basketball team needs to have a reliable backcourt. Some backcourts rely on depth while others depend on a couple talented guards. This list takes into account the players who are projected to be impactful members of the backcourt rotation. These are the 10 most elite backcourts in the nation for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

10. Iowa State- Monte Morris, Naz Long, Deonte Burton, Matt Thomas, Hallice Cooke

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10. Iowa State- Monte Morris, Naz Long, Deonte Burton, Matt Thomas, Hallice Cooke

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To start off, Morris is a big-time playmaker who sets the stage for the offense. Like Morris, Long is a clutch shot-maker who connected on 77 three-pointers last year and should be the second perimeter scoring option. Thomas is a better shooter than his 33 percent mark from behind the arc. In addition, Burton is a bulldozing two guard while Cooke can light it up from three.

9. Northwestern State- Jalen West, Zeek Woodley

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9. Northwestern State- Jalen West, Zeek Woodley

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No backcourt duo scored more combined points than the two dynamic guards. Woodley is a very physical 6-foot-2 guard who absolutely dominates the game with his strong drives. He averaged 22.2 points and West averaged 20.0 points, 7.7 assists and 2.1 steals as the lead guard. They might not receive a ton of national attention, but West and Woodley are as explosive as any backcourt tandem in America.

8. LSU- Tim Quarterman, Keith Hornsby, Antonio Blakeney, Josh Gray, Jalyn Patterson

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8. LSU- Tim Quarterman, Keith Hornsby, Antonio Blakeney, Josh Gray, Jalyn Patterson

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Outside of Ben Simmons, all of the impact players on LSU lie in their backcourt. Hornsby’s numbers may dip, but he’ll still be one of the SEC’s top shooters. At 6-foot-6, Quarterman can provide flexibility by playing and defending three spots on the perimeter. Blakeney is one of the best scorers in his class, so expect some offensive fireworks. Gray is a steady backup point, and Patterson will thrive in a spot-up shooter role.

7. California- Tyrone Wallace, Jabari Bird, Jordan Mathews

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7. California- Tyrone Wallace, Jabari Bird, Jordan Mathews

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California’s frontcourt will get more attention, but the backcourt has the experience necessary to live up to the hype. Wallace can do it all and is arguably the best player on the team. Mathews is a long-range sniper who can score in a multitude of ways. Even though Bird has yet to live up to his expectations, he is still an athletic 6-foot-6 guard with a sweet outside stroke.

6. Oklahoma- Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard

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6. Oklahoma- Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard

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It’s no secret that Hield is going to be one of the best shooting guards in the country. However, the returns of Cousins and Woodard are just as important to the success of the Sooners. It may be difficult for Cousins to duplicate his sensational 45 percent three-point shooting, but he’ll still be the second scoring option. Woodard’s numbers aren’t too flashy, but he’s a heady two-way guard.

5. Kansas- Frank Mason, Wayne Selden, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Brannen Greene, Devonte’ Graham

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5. Kansas- Frank Mason, Wayne Selden, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Brannen Greene, Devonte’ Graham

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This ranking hinges on the emergence of Selden and Mykhailiuk. Selden could be an athletic force and Mykhailiuk has all of the tools to be a knockdown shooter capable of scoring all over. Mason is a fearless leader who brings production every night. Health is the only thing stopping Graham from being one of the best backup point guards, and Greene is one of the purest shooters in the Big 12.

4. North Carolina- Marcus Paige, Justin Jackson, Joel Berry, Nate Britt

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4. North Carolina- Marcus Paige, Justin Jackson, Joel Berry, Nate Britt

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While Jackson is kind of a tweener on the perimeter, he will play most of his time at shooting guard. His versatility mixes well with Paige’s playmaking ability. Berry is the future point guard for the Tar Heels and could find himself playing big minutes in a smaller lineup alongside Paige and Jackson. Although Berry’s stock is rising, Britt is an improved shooter capable of defending for 90 feet.

3. Wichita State- Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker, Evan Wessel, Conner Frankamp

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3. Wichita State- Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker, Evan Wessel, Conner Frankamp

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VanVleet and Baker make up the best two-way backcourt in the nation. Both had down years, but their maturity and work ethic point to a dominant final year in Wichita. Even though Wessel plays more of a forward role, he is naturally a guard who scraps and stretches the floor. After being lost in Kansas’ backcourt, Frankamp will be a welcome addition with his sharpshooting ability.

2. Villanova- Ryan Arcidiacono, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Phil Booth

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2. Villanova- Ryan Arcidiacono, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Phil Booth

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It’s yet to be determined who starts for the Wildcats. Arcidiacono is a lock after sharing the Big East Player of the Year award. After a breakout year, Hart put himself in position to take over as the leading scorer. However, Brunson is going to be a star for years to come. He may find himself in a lineup with Hart and Arcidiacono. Booth will be a key shooter off of the bench.

1. Kentucky- Jamal Murray, Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe

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1. Kentucky- Jamal Murray, Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe

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You've got one of the nation’s top true point guards in Ulis, a physical combo guard in Briscoe and a future lottery pick in Murray. There is no backcourt with the talent to compete with Kentucky’s three-headed monster. Murray may be the most talented, as a 6-foot-5 point guard who is comfortable playing with or without the ball. I look forward to seeing how Coach Calipari uses the star trio.

Reed Hunnicutt is an ACC Basketball Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @rd_hunnicutt04, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Reed Hunnicutt is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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