2023-24 NCAA Males’s Energy Rankings: Pre-Season Version

As in earlier years, SwimSwam’s Energy Rankings are someplace between the CSCAA-style twin meet rankings and a pure prediction of NCAA end order. SwimSwam’s rankings keep in mind how a staff seems to be in the meanwhile, whereas retaining the tip of the season in thoughts by issues like a staff’s earlier trajectory and NCAA scoring potential. These rankings are by nature subjective, and a jumping-off level for dialogue. When you disagree with any staff’s rating, be happy to make your case in our feedback part.

Braden Keith, Spencer Penland, Robert Gibbs, Yanyan Li, Sophie Kaufman and Anya Pelshaw contributed to this report.

Heading into final yr there was some trepidation relating to Arizona State’s ceiling and in the event that they had been a legit NCAA title contender. The Solar Devils proved they had been, placing up an excellent struggle with Cal earlier than falling 52 factors shy in March.

Now, ASU seems to be prefer it may very well be the staff to beat this season, although our writers are fairly break up on who the favourite for nationwide champion must be right here in September.

Regardless, we’re predicting issues to shake out equally to final yr, with a battle between the Bears and Solar Devils for the highest spot adopted by some mixture of Texas, Indiana, NC State and Florida, although the Longhorns are anticipated to drop from their Third-place exhibiting as a consequence of some main losses.

Georgia, Virginia and Notre Dame are three colleges we’re predicting make a soar up the standings, whereas some notable fallers are Auburn, Louisville and Mizzou.

Honorable Mentions: LSU Tigers, Pennsylvania Quakers, Penn State Nittany Lions, North Carolina Tar Heels

I’m satisfied that Matt Fallon alone will put Penn within the prime 25. -YL

#25: KENTUCKY WILDCATS +3 (2023 NCAA RANK: 28)

Look, it was actually tight on this a part of the NCAA standings final season, and the opposite groups at this tier all misplaced main factors contributors. Levi Sandidge is perhaps the Wildcats’ solely scorer, and he would possibly solely rating within the 1650, but it surely may give Kentucky all they should scrape into twenty fifth. -SK

Mainly what Sophie stated. -YL

#24: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE -5 (2023 NCAA RANK: 19)

Alabama suffered huge losses through the offseason, so count on them to slip down the standings in consequence. -SK

#23: PURDUE BOILERMAKERS +15 (2023 NCAA RANK: 38)

Brady Samuels has been constructing momentum and appears like a multi-event scorer this season. Purdue additionally had three diving finishes that had been seventeenth or 18th final season, and if Jordan Rzepka and Sam Bennett can bump up just a few slots that is possible a top-25 staff. -JS

#22: SMU MUSTANGS +17 (2023 NCAA RANK: NF/39*)

*scored zero factors, final place staff (1 level) was thirty eighth

I do know the principle cause why we’re placing SMU is (rightfully) due to Jack Hoagland, however we’ve to do not forget that they certified Colin Feehery (who’s in 400 IM scoring vary) for NCAAs as properly. These two will probably be a terrific dynamic duo. -YL

#21: MIAMI HURRICANES +2 (2023 NCAA RANK: 23)

The diving trio of Max Flory, Mohamed Farouk and Brodie Scapens retains them within the 20-25 vary. -JS

#20: MIZZOU TIGERS -4 (2023 NCAA RANK: 16)

Grant Bochenski is coming off an enormous summer time and will probably be relied upon to drive the relays this season given their vital losses. -JS

#19: USC TROJANS +3 (2023 NCAA RANK: 22)

Shangfei Wang put USC twenty second alone final yr, they usually’re including the Chmielewski brothers and have just a few others with scoring potential. -JS

#18: WISCONSIN BADGERS +5 (2023 NCAA RANK: 23)

After scoring two relays final season, count on that to be some extent of emphasis for the Badgers to go together with particular person standout Jake Newmark. -JS

#17: MICHIGAN WOLVERINES +3 (2023 NCAA RANK: 20)

Let’s name it what it’s: Michigan (by Michigan requirements) wasn’t that nice final yr. That being stated, there’s quite a lot of cause for hope in Ann Arbor. Not solely do the Wolverines have a brand new teaching employees, however they return lots of their greatest athletes from final yr as properly. On prime of that, they’re bringing in a really strong freshman class, which ought to actually assist strengthen a few of the weaker areas of final yr’s staff. -SP

#16: LOUISVILLE CARDINALS -3 (2023 NCAA RANK: 13)

It’s laborious to peg Louisville; they’d an uncharacteristically tough NCAAs, they usually’ve reloaded this yr with a bunch of worldwide recruits. If these freshmen do what it seems to be like they might be able to, look ahead to the Cardinals to climb the rankings once more. -RG

#15: TEXAS A&M AGGIES -1 (2023 NCAA RANK: 14)

The Aggies lose their breaststroker Bustamante, however herald our #13 ranked recruit Logan Brown who can fill in that gap on the medley relays. Baylor Nelson will solely get higher after an exceptional freshman yr. The reported suspension of some swimmers for the autumn throws in some uncertainty, nevertheless. -JS

#14: NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH +4 (2023 NCAA RANK: 18)

They’ve misplaced their prime 2023 NCAA scorer Jack Hoagland, however Chris Guiliano is using a ton of momentum, they usually’ve acquired some incoming transfers which have the potential to be fairly worthwhile to this system. -SK

I believe the Combating Irish are one of the fascinating groups to observe for this season, particularly with Abdelrahman Elaraby arriving to assist out the relays. -RG

One of many largest narratives of the NCAA season will probably be Tanner Filion. He was one of many largest stars in DIII and is now getting an opportunity on the DI stage with a rising program. -YL

#13: AUBURN TIGERS -3 (2023 NCAA RANK: 10)

Relays will probably be essential for Auburn to have an opportunity at sustaining their place within the top-10 from final season. There aren’t many swimmers in scoring place exterior of the Stoffle brothers. -JS

#12: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES -1 (2023 NCAA RANK: 11)

The Buckeyes lose some relay members however convey again a really comparable squad, with the return of Ruslan Gaziev being significantly essential. -JS

#11: VIRGINIA CAVALIERS +4 (2023 NCAA RANK: 15)

Matt King was such an vital a part of this UVA staff the final time they completed prime 12, so his absence will harm. Nonetheless, the Cavs simply acquired a HUGE inflow of sprinters (Anthony Grimm, Jack Maddoch, Hayden Belotti), and sprinters win championships. -YL

The Cavalier males underperformed at NCAAs final for the primary time within the DeSorbo period. This rating is predicated on my assumption that it received’t occur once more, particularly given simply how a lot expertise there may be on this staff. -RG

#10: GEORGIA BULLDOGS +2 (2023 NCAA RANK: 12)

The returning fifth-year crew does so much to maintain the Dawgs afloat. Ruard van Renen and Miles Simon may additionally show to be big pick-ups for Georgia. -SK

#9: VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES – (2023 NCAA RANK: 9)

The Hokies hit a program-best end final yr regardless of not firing on all cylinders at NCAAs. #9 feels nearly proper once more, though the ceiling is definitely greater. -RG

#8: STANFORD CARDINAL – (2023 NCAA RANK: 8)

How their high-powered freshmen class seems will probably be one of many largest deciding elements in how Stanford’s season seems. -SK

#7: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS – (2023 NCAA RANK: 7)

Let’s see what this dash crew can do with out Josh Huger. -YL

Nikoli Blackman may give Tennessee top-of-the-line dash free 1-2-3s within the league with Jordan Crooks and Gui Caribe, however it will likely be fascinating to see how your complete dash group responds to Josh Huger‘s departure. -SK

#6: TEXAS LONGHORNS -3 (2023 NCAA RANK: 3)

Actually, given the staggering losses, the Longhorns could should battle simply to carry on to sixth. Will Modglin and Nate Germonprez ought to assist save the relays, however there’s a nonetheless of holes. -RG

#5: NC STATE WOLFPACK – (2023 NCAA RANK: 5)

The Wolfpack are anticipated to be within the struggle with Florida, Texas and Indiana, identical to final season, and it appears as if, whereas their losses aren’t as vital as Texas, the Gators and Hoosiers are in a extra favorable spot. Shedding a relay horse like Korstanje, and a person 25-point scorer like Gallant, is hard. However they’ve at all times managed to area excellent relays, so nothing is about in stone. -JS

#4: INDIANA HOOSIERS – (2023 NCAA RANK: 4)

Love how the Hoosiers look going into this season. Two huge losses in Van Mathias and Andrew Capobianco. Nonetheless, IU brings in an enormous incoming class, each in its measurement and its potential to provide NCAA factors for them. Ahmed Hafnaoui, who may very properly win each the 1650 and 500 free clearly headlines that class. -SP

I’m excited to see what Ahmed Hafnaoui brings to the NCAA this season. -SK

#3: FLORIDA GATORS +3 (2023 NCAA RANK: 6)

I believe the battle for third between Florida and Indiana will probably be tremendous shut (they each have big beneficial properties and main losses, however in the end I believe Florida wins it with their ridiculous relays and a greater recruiting class. -YL

#2: CAL GOLDEN BEARS -1 (2023 NCAA RANK: 2)

I need to see what Cal seems to be like earlier than placing Arizona State forward of them. The Solar Devils look good, however Cal additionally has a terrific incoming class. -SP

I get the argument for placing ASU within the prime spot, and it wouldn’t shock me if the Solar Devils make a run on the title, particularly given how sharp they appear already. However Cal retains sufficient expertise that I believe they get they keep right here till they present they don’t deserve it. -RG

Even with the Commonwealth champion Pieter Coetze deferring a yr, Cal has a ton of freshmen expertise coming in. Their tempo of improvement will decide if Durden’s crew can maintain off Arizona State for a three-peat. -BK

#1: ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS +1 (2023 NCAA RANK: 2)

Okay, so right here’s the mathematics—Cal beat ASU by 52 factors final yr. Hugo Gonzalez, Lucas Henveaux, and Reece Whitley (who’re gone now), mixed for 81 factors, whereas Grant Home (ASU’s solely huge loss) scored 30 factors. In order that makes them about even, and I believe Ilya Kharun + the opposite ASU freshmen (underneath Bob Bowman, we by no means know who’s gonna come out of nowhere and develop tremendous properly) can outscore Cal’s whole freshman class this yr. So I’m going with ASU on prime. -YL

Exhausting to not love ASU after these twin meets towards Georgia this previous weekend. Ilya Kharun is one way or the other already one of many quickest flyers within the NCAA. -SP

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