Someone is going to have to knock UCONN off their perch before the Huskies hand over the title as college basketball’s best program. Dan Hurley’s crew was decimated by departures, but incoming transfer Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and five-star recruit Liam McNeeley should cushion the blow. Some players will just have to make a huge leap for a potential three-peat.
Kansas posted an underwhelming 23-11 mark in 2023-2024, leaving many to wonder if the magic was running low in Lawrence. However, the Jayhawks return enough talent to warrant a top spot in the land, headlined by bigs Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams. They’ll also get a sizable boost from transfers AJ Storr (Wisconsin) and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State).
Transfer guard Jeremy Roach (Duke) is one of the new faces in Waco, ready to lead Scott Drew’s squad – yes, Scott Drew who didn’t jump ship for Kentucky or other jobs – back to the Final Four. The Bears look to have that staple Baylor DNA with hard to handle guards and some strong options inside, such as Miami transfer Norchad Omier. You don’t want to mess with Baylor.
It’s staying power that Mark Few and company have held on to and man, does Gonzaga have the team to maybe orchestrate their best run yet at a National Championship. The Zags have two legitimate guards returning in Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman, they add transfers Michael Ajayi (Pepperdine) and Khalif Battle (Arkansas) and Graham Ike anchors the interior.
Not that opponents have ever slept on Kelvin Sampson’s group at Houston, but the Cougars have gone a remarkably quiet 125-19 over the past three seasons, with a Final Four, Elite Eight and two Sweet Sixteens to their name. Culture reigns supreme with the Cougars and LJ Cryer is ready for his season of glory. Bet against Houston at your own risk, but I won’t be. That’s for sure.
TJ Otzelberger was not the headline-grabbing hire that looked like he’d shake up the Big 12 back in 2021, but a steady rise in Ames has put the Cylones among the country’s elite. Unlike most of the teams in the top ten, Iowa State relies more around stability – like the team’s top four scorers returning to campus – and a culture built on teamwork, efficient offense and ferocious defense.
The return of frontrunner for Big East Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner makes Creighton a contender once again in a fluid conference. The Bluejays return Steven Ashworth and added some likable pieces in Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech) and Jamiya Neal (Arizona State). Offensively efficient and anchored with star power, I don’t see a real fall-off coming for the Omaha boys.
Mike Woodson’s time in Bloomington has been met with similar results as his recent predecessors, with moments of confusion, ascension and sheer letdown. Oumar Ballo (Arizona) joining the mix gives the Hoosiers a strong post option and Indiana cleaned up with other transfers in Myles Rice (Washington State), Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford), Langdon Hatton (Bellarmine) and Luke Goode (Illinois).
Style of play – most notably an abundance of threes and chaotic attacking defense – always keep Alabama as a wildcard program in the SEC. Latrell Wrightsell and Grant Nelson should be a year better and they’ll both get some help around them from what else – transfers – in Chris Youngblood (South Florida) and Cliff Omoruyi (Rutgers). Nate Oats will need to push hard on this team.
Giving John Calipari the benefit of the doubt that a move to Arkansas is what will reignite the coaching juices, the Razorbacks have done what they need to do to make things interest. Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic) and Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee) will be his bookends, Zvonmiri Ivisic (Kentucky) is the enigma he needs and great recruits like guard Boogie Fland could be game changers.
Point guard RJ Davis gave Tar Heels’ fans the glimmer of hope they needed to believe in this group when he returned for one last go-round. Transfer Cade Tyson (Belmont) will be huge here.
The Blue Devils add the country’s top recruit in Cooper Flagg, but will have to sort some roster changes out. By March, this will be one of the ACC’s elite teams. Early on, it may look a bit ugly.
Not that Auburn ever lacks in excitement, but Bruce Pearl has a really fun group down on the plains. Johni Broome is a top talent in the SEC and transfer JP Pegues (Furman) will be electric.
Not seeing Mick Cronin in the big dance for the first time since 2010 was a weird sight. The Big Ten could suit his style of play more, but this Bruins team has more talent than meets the eye.
Tommy Lloyd has gone a staggering 88-20 over three seasons in Tucson, but now the test of the Big 12 adds some spice to things. How Arizona handles their new logistics will be a huge factor.
Dan Hurley would tell you to beat Providence now – while you still can – because Kim English is getting this program to that next level. Jabri Abdur-Rahim (Georgia) could be a game-changer.
If you love a team that bets heavy on transfers, High Point is going big with Terry Anderson (Lamar), D’Maurian Williams (Texas Tech), Chase Johnston (Stetson) and Bobby Pettiford Jr. (Kansas).
Rodney Terry is definitely on the prowl for guys who want to be at Texas and he got some real talent through the door between Jordan Pope (Oregon State), Tramon Mark (Arkansas) and Jayson Kent (Indiana State).
Zakai Zeigler should finally get his due as one of the nation’s elite floor generals, even if the room around his isn’t as filled. Rick Barnes has some transfers to work in, which clouds the vision.
Florida can be the SEC’s dark horse. Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard proved their legitimacy at the top level and a guy like Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic) might set things over the top.
The Big East and Shaka Smart built teams simply go together. Marquette’s Kam Jones should already be a star, but he’s on his way there. Big man David Joplin will be critical to this core.
Don’t overlook Sean Miller making this Xavier team into one of the top teams in the Big East. The Musketeers are versatile, deep and have real depth at every position. This is a team to fear.
Zach Edey will be the most obvious departure from Purdue’s national runner-up campaign – as the Boilermakers got very comfortable playing through the post. It’s a guards team now.
Buzz Williams’ teams are known for being a process throughout the season, yet their late-year developments have been something to behold. Is Wade Taylor IV a legitimate All-American?
The last time Saint Mary’s won less than 21 games (sans Covid) was 2007, so bet against Randy Bennett at your own peril. The Gaels need to find some new pieces within their own roster.
