I would not bet the farm on that. Last year we had one or even two preseason All Americans by some as well as an All Big Ten guard in TF, the 3pt record holder from the PAC Ten, as well a a good incoming class and senior leadership and we were around 15 or so. Your either in or your out and unless something changes drastically and we get 3 or 4 of the top 10 transfers then no way will they be ranked in the preseason.
Let's just add some studs and earn our ranking in Vegas. Where you end up is what matters.
I don't think we would be ranked if the season started tomorrow, but I think your average person making the rankings WILL consider that Hawkins looked damn good by the end of the year and we have a top 10 class coming in, headlined by a fairly well-known 5-star. If we use this as an example:
2020-21: Finished #2, lost in the Second Round as a 1-seed, ended at #8 in the final Coaches' Poll. Lost All-American Ayo and a freshman starter in Adam Miller.
---Offseason--- Recruiting class coming in was ranked #24 by 247 and #18 by Rivals. Brought in Plummer as a transfer, and our transfer rating was #18.
2021-22: Started #11 after all of that, so dropped 3-9 spots. Finished #19 in the final AP Poll AND #19 in the final Coaches' Poll after losing to Houston. Lost another All-American and our entire starting lineup! Lol.
---Offseason--- Recruiting class coming in is ranked #7 by 247 and #9 by Rivals, but it also includes a 5-star guard - the type of player who actually CAN often make a significant difference, even as a freshman. With just Dainja, our transfer rating is #38. If we were to land TSJ (one of the top transfers out there), it would easily be top 20 or top 15, IMO. Add a big, and we had one of the best outings on the transfer portal in the country.
2022-23: Bottom line? We indeed have to wait for the dust to settle, but we are likely closer to being ranked than "lost all of our starters" sounds. The "public" generally respects a top 10 class (especially one with a 5-star), Hawkins is indeed a known now (see comments made by Katz) and TSJ would add INSTANT hype to our backcourt. The 5 remains a concern, at least as far as the public is concerned, but a transfer get there all of a sudden makes our starting lineup as talented as most in the Big Ten ... and being near the top of your league gets you ranked. I agree that, as we stand now, we are likely not ranked; I'd guess in the 30s. However, TSJ alone makes us knocking on the door, and a TSJ + serviceable big likely gets us in. One thing I think people are forgetting is that the public is once again used to Illinois being good ... we have been a fixture in the top 25 for three seasons now. We have regained a certain amount of credibility where people assume our "down year" won't be that bad, and going from a top 5 team to a top 15 team and then reloading while losing guys might even out to a top 25 team.