Flo 25: NCAA DI Mens Preseason Rankings #20-16

This article features 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Top 25 preseason rankings.

Aug 24, 2017 by Ben Colin

Flo 25: NCAA DI Mens Preseason Rankings #20-16

With the NCAA season rapidly approaching, we decided to come up with our own preseason NCAA Division I Top 25 rankings. First up, we will release the men's rankings -- five teams per day. Next, we will release the women's rankings -- five teams per day.

So how did we create with the rankings?

The Formula

First, we compiled a rankings list of all returning swims in each event from last season. Next, we added the best times from each incoming freshman to the event lists to complete the preseason time projections for each race. From there, the events are scored two different ways: First is a top 50 points system to analyze depth -- starting with the top-ranked team receiving 50 points and descending to one point. Second is the NCAA's top 16 scoring system. Relays are included into this as well. Combining those factors, we found the average of each team to create the final top 25 preseason rankings.

In case you missed Nos. 25-21, visit the link below.

Flo 25: NCAA DI Men's Preseason Rankings #25-21

20) Ohio State

2017 NCAA Finish: 19th

This is a team with four returning potential NCAA championship final swims. Sprint star Josh Fleagle has used up his eligibility, leaving a large hole in the Buckeyes' roster. It isn't unfillable, but the majority of scoring has to come from other events -- more specifically, Noah Lense in the 200 fly (1:41.44), Jack Barone in the 100 breast (52.26), Brayden Seal's 500 free (4:15.11), and especially Mossimo Chavez in the 50 free (19.45). Those swims will likely be a tremendous amount of Ohio State's productivity this year. The X-factor is seeing how the Buckeyes respond to the combining of the men's and women's programs under Bill Dorenkott after the recent retirement of longtime OSU head coach Bill Wadley.

19) Notre Dame

2017 NCAA Finish: 25th

The Irish have to replace NCAA finalist Trent Jackson and relay qualifier Reed Fujan. Notre Dame has 14 returning swims ranked among the top 50 in their events. Of those, Justin Plaschka (19.35) and Daniel Speers (19.38) rank in the top 25 in the 50 freestyle. Notre Dame has added four top 100 recruits, but none are sprinters -- two are middle distance and up, and the final two are stroke swimmers. Zachary Yeadon leads the incomers as the No. 19 recruit in the nation. Yeadon is a 1:37/4:19/14:49 freestyler and will look to make an impact in the distance events and potentially 800 freestyle relay on the first night at NCAAs.

18) Texas A&M

2017 NCAA Finish: 16th

The Aggies have one attribute that outweighs the others: Mauro Castillo Luna is the fastest returning swimmer in the 200 breaststroke (1:52.01). Texas A&M is the only team that isn't ranked in the top 10 with the quickest returner in an event. Castillo Luna is also a top 10 returner in the 100 breaststroke (52.12). Tanner Olson, the 27th-ranked recruit in the country, is also a breaststroker with times of 53.18 and 1:56.89 in the 100 and 200, respectively. The Aggies have a lot in the stroke events with the likes of backstroker Brock Bonetti (45/1:41), but the same doesn't apply to the freestyle events. With the loss of a 19.04 flat-start 50 free from Cory Bolleter, TAMU will look to plug a massive relay hole.

17) Harvard

2017 NCAA Finish: 27th

It doesn't take a genius to figure out why Harvard is starting the 2017-18 season ranked in the top 20. When you have a swimmer in Dean Farris who can place top eight in three events you're almost guaranteeing to finish in the top 25. Farris has been 42.06 in the 100 free, 1:31.56 in the 200 free, and 1:39.99 in the 200 back. Farris isn't alone either -- senior Shane McNamara will bring points in the breaststroke events with a 52.76 and 1:53.82 in the 100 and 200, respectively, to his name already. Harvard may even sneak in and score with a relay at NCAAs as well.

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16) Arizona State

2017 NCAA Finish: 14th

There is no doubt that the presence of head coach Bob Bowman has catapulted the Sun Devils to national relevancy -- having already raked in some top 10 recruits. Top-ranked Grant House out of Cincinnati, Ohio, will be taking his talents to Tempe this year. House is a 43/1:34/4:19 freestyler who will be a massive addition to the Sun Devils relay squads. Sophomore Cameron Craig returns with 100 (41.95) and 200 (1:31.71) freestyle times in the top 10.

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