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68 reasons to look forward to the 2024-25 college basketball season

We are now just DAYS away from the start of the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Check out our list below for 68 reasons to be excited about what lies ahead over the next few months.

In no particular order:

1. Big games on Opening Day
Remember when college basketball didn’t come out of the gate with a bang? That won’t be the case on Nov. 4th. There’s several juicy matchups on the docket to kick off the season headlined by Baylor/Gonzaga at Spokane Arena and Texas/Ohio State in Las Vegas. Memphis also hosts Missouri and Big 12 sleeper UCF hosts Texas A&M.

2. UConn’s quest for a three-peat
Not since UCLA’s three-year run from 1971-73 under John Wooden has college basketball seen a program win three national titles in a row. Could that change in 2025? UConn lost four starters — Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle, and Donovan Clingan — from last year’s team that finished 37-3 and won it all in convincing fashion, but don’t bet against the Huskies. UConn may not have what it had, but it may very well still have enough.

3. Dan Hurley
The 51-year old head coach passed on the chance to coach the Los Angeles Lakers during the offseason to instead return to Storrs and pursue a three-peat. Under Hurley’s watch, UConn has won 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament games over the past two seasons by an average of 21.7 points all while separating himself as the top coach in the sport.

4. Alex Karaban
The lone returning starter from UConn’s last two national title teams, Karaban is primed to take on a major role in 2024-25. The 6-8 forward averaged 15.5 points and 5.6 rebounds over the last two seasons in the 26 games that he’s had double-figure field goal attempts.

5. Liam McNeeley
The next Gradey Dick? It’s very possible. After initially committing to Indiana, the 6-8 McNeeley is tailor made to have a major role for UConn as a freshman. He’s also a major reason why this could be the best shooting team that the Huskies have had in recent memory.

6. North Carolina’s trip to Kansas on Nov. 8th
Two blue blood programs in the first installment of a home-and-home series at Phog Allen Fieldhouse? Sounds delicious! The sport needs more showdowns like this early in the college basketball calendar. This game is also a rematch of the 2022 national title game, which was won by the Jayhawks.

7. The Champions Classic
The annual blue blood doubleheader will take place on Nov. 12th in Atlanta as Duke faces Kentucky and Michigan State squares off with Kansas.

8. Cooper Flagg
The likely top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg was a social media phenomenon before ever playing a college game. An effortless talent at 6-9, many people believe that Flagg will be the most productive freshman to play in the Blue Devils’ program since Zion Williamson won National Player of the Year honors during the 2018-19 season.

9. Kon Knueppel
The buzz may be palpable surrounding Flagg, but don’t forget about Knueppel. Originally billed as the “sleeper” in Duke’s freshman class, this versatile wing now looks like he’s trending towards being Duke’s second-leading scorer. Remember the name!

10. Kansas
The Jayhawks’ fifth-place finish in the Big 12 last season was the the lowest that they’ve ever finished in the conference standings under Bill Self. Don’t expect history to repeat itself in 2024-25. Thanks to a loaded transfer class and the return of three proud veterans in Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris, and KJ Adams, Kansas should again return to vintage form.

11. Mark Pope
A captain as a player when Kentucky won the 1996 national title, Pope returns to Lexington in hopes of making his alma mater one of the more aesthetically pleasing teams in the sport. An elite offensive coach, Pope should have Rupp Arena salivating for more as he unveils a lineup that’s loaded with shooting, spacing, and skill.

12. Michigan State’s sophomore class
The Spartans need all three of their second year guys — Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, and Xavier Booker — to take significant steps forward if they’re going to carve out a place in the Big Ten’s top tier.

13. John Calipari at Arkansas
30 years ago this month, Calipari led his team at UMass to a rout of the Razorbacks when Arkansas was the top program in the sport and coming off a national title in 1994. After 15 years at Kentucky, the 65-year old Hall-of-Famer should now make Bud Walton Arena a hot ticket and home to one of the best programs in college basketball.

14. Boogie Fland
Calipari’s first team at Arkansas will be anchored by this 6-2 guard, who has the talent to be one of the best guards in the SEC this season. Fland was committed to Calipari at Kentucky before opting to follow his head coach to Fayetteville.

15. D.J. Wagner
A year ago, Wagner was expected to be one of the best newcomers in the sport, but was slowed by injuries. Now healthy and a year older, the 6-4 sophomore is on track to play the best basketball of his college career as he starts a new chapter after transferring from Kentucky to Arkansas.

16. Iowa State’s retention
The Cyclones return four players — Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones, Keshon Gilbert, and Milan Momcilovic — who averaged double figures on last season’s team that won 29 games and advanced to the Sweet 16.

17. Norchad Omier
Baylor’s big addition from the transfer portal has averaged a double-double in the first four years of his college career, which was highlighted by a trip to the Final Four with Miami in 2023.

18. The Big 12
The best league in college basketball added Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah and will now play 20 league games instead of 18. A word to the wise: Don’t show up if you’re soft.

19. The Big Ten
The additions of UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington now make the Big Ten an 18-team league. A new era in a coast-to-coast league is officially about to begin.

20. The Big East
The most emotional conference in college basketball should be in for a big year after only getting three teams — UConn, Marquette, and Creighton — in the NCAA Tournament last season. It says here that the Big East will have at least five teams in March Madness in 2025.

21. Alabama
The most anticipated season in program history is here. Anything less than a trip back to the Final Four will be a major disappointment for Nate Oats’ squad.

22. Mark Sears
Sears’ decision to return for a fifth season instantly made Alabama into a national title contender. The 6-1 lefty is arguably the sport’s most efficient guard as he averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 rebounds last season while shooting an impressive 50.8 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three-point range, and 85.7 percent from the foul line.

23. Cliff Omoruyi’s rim protection
To win a national title, Alabama needed to shore up its defense. It did just that with the addition of of the 6-11 Omoruyi, who transferred from Rutgers. The Crimson Tide blocked 133 shots as a team last season — Omoruyi blocked 93 all by himself with the Scarlet Knights.

24. Houston’s Depth
The deepest team of the Kelvin Sampson era could go 10 deep — at least.

25. Mark Few
Gonzaga’s leader has led the Bulldogs to nine straight appearances in the Sweet 16 and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in every single season that he’s been a head coach. That’s utterly ridiculous.

26. Ryan Nembhard
The least appreciated point guard in the sport is the gas in Gonzaga’s engine. Nembhard had 61 assists to 15 turnovers in six postseason games last March.

27. The Battle 4 Atlantis
A potential Gonzaga-Arizona title game is the headline here. Remember: The Bulldogs have never faced the Wildcats since Tommy Lloyd left his perch as Gonzaga’s top assistant in 2021 to become the head man in Tucson.

28. Players Era Festival
The early season tournament that’s been making all sorts of waves will take place during three days in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving Week and features big brands like Alabama, Houston, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Oregon, Creighton, San Diego State, and Texas A&M.

29. R.J. Davis
A National Player of the Year candidate, Davis opted to return to North Carolina for a fifth season one year after he won ACC Player of the Year honors and made a whopping 113 three-point shots.

30. Purdue without Zach Edey
Life for the Boilers begins without the first player to win National Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons since Ralph Sampson did it at Virginia in the early 1980s. Purdue should again be one of the best teams in the Big Ten, but will have a much different feel without the 7-4 Edey patrolling the paint.

31. Indiana’s improved roster
The Hoosiers added four big pieces — Oumar Ballo (Arizona), Myles Rice (Washington State), Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford), and Luke Goode (Illinois) — from the transfer portal and should be vastly more talented under Mike Woodson.

32. Texas A&M’s experience
Buzz Williams’ team returns 82.5 percent of its scoring from last year’s squad that took Houston to overtime in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

33. Bruce Pearl
Pearl doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the job he’s done at Auburn as the Tigers are now a perennial contender for the SEC regular season title. Auburn should again be formidable in 2024-25 and is led by All-American big man Johni Broome, who averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds last season.

34. The CBS Sports Classic at MSG
A dream doubleheader at the World’s Most Famous Arena on the Saturday before Christmas? You better believe it! Kentucky will play Ohio State and UCLA will face North Carolina in this annual event on Dec. 21st in Manhattan.

35. Duke/Kansas in Las Vegas
Two of the premier programs in the sport will do battle in Sin City two days before Thanksgiving Day in what will feel like a Final Four caliber game.

36. Mick Cronin
UCLA’s fiery head coach got the necessary NIL backing that he needed and restocked the Bruins’ roster via the transfer portal. This should be unequivocally the deepest roster that Cronin has had in his career, which featured 12 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament prior to last season.

37. Kobe Johnson
Can a player really transfer from USC to UCLA? Johnson believes so. The 6-6 wing is a bonafide National Defensive Player of the Year candidate and could be the Bruins’ best player in 2024-25. Think another Matisse Thybulle.

38. Tyler Bilodeau
UCLA’s hidden gem from the transfer portal could emerge as the Bruins’ go-to guy in Westwood. Remember: The 6-9 Bilodeau went for 22 points and seven rebounds last season when he was at Oregon State and the Beavers upset Arizona.

39. Maryland home games
College Park is the Spring Break Capital of the Northeast. If you know, you know.

40. Derik Queen
Maryland’s 6-10 freshman is super skilled and ultra talented. He’ll form a lethal power forward/center combo up front for the Terps alongside Julian Reese.

41. St. John’s second season under Rick Pitino
The Hall-of-Fame head coach led the Red Storm to 20 wins in his first season in Queens before just missing out on the NCAA Tournament. With a significantly more talented roster at his disposal, a return to March Madness feels inevitable for St. John’s in 2025.

42. Kadary Richmond
A bonafide All-American candidate, Richmond’s decision to transfer from Seton Hall to St. John’s turned the Big East completely upside down. The 6-6 guard averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season with the Pirates.

43. Kam Jones
Jones averaged 20.8 points and was 32-62 from three-point range last season when Tyler Kolek was out of the lineup. Whatever “it” is, Jones possesses.

44. Rutgers
The most anticipated season in recent memory for the Scarlet Knights features two freshmen — Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey — who are projected to be lottery picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.

45. Shaheen Holloway
Don’t bet against this guy.

46. Arkansas/Illinois on Thanksgiving Day
A new tradition gets going in Kansas City as a key non-conference game in college basketball follows the NFL on CBS.

47. Brad Underwood
One of college basketball’s best coaches, Underwood has made Illinois into a consistent contender at the top of the Big Ten as well an annual threat to play deep into the NCAA Tournament. While this year’s group currently has more questions than answers, expect Underwood to mold the Illini into a formidable unit by February.

48. Bill Raftery
A better human being doesn’t exist.

49. Standalone Games
It’s a rarity in college basketball when a game is played during an isolated time window, but let’s cherish these opportunities when they come. I’ll say it again: College basketball NEEDS more standalone games.

50. Mid-Major Conference Tournaments
The gap between the “haves and have nots” grows every single day in college sports. That means that the pressure on favorites in mid-major conferences will be even more immense in March of 2025. Be afraid — be very afraid!

51. VCU home games at the Siegel Center
They’re more life altering than a 10-day trip to Europe. If you know, you know.

52. VCU’s perimeter
Ryan Odom has quietly put together one of the top non power conference teams in the sport, headlined by a returning guard core of Max Shulga, Joe Bamisile, and Zeb Jackson. UTA transfer Philip Russell should also have a major impact on the perimeter. The Rams are the team to beat in the Atlantic 10.

53. Bryce Hopkins’ Return
One of the best players in the country, Hopkins is set to return to action at some point early this season for Providence after tearing his ACL last January against Seton Hall. Remember: Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.7 rebounds prior to suffering a season-ending injury and was firmly in the mix for Big East Player of the Year honors.

54. Ole Miss
Chris Beard led Texas Tech to a nine-win improvement during his second year in Lubbock during the 2017-18 season. Don’t be shocked if something similar happens this year in Oxford. The Rebels are legit.

55. Augustas Marciulionis
The reigning WCC Player of the Year is the least appreciated star in college basketball and he’ll again make Saint Mary’s a force under Randy Bennett.

56. Cincinnati returns to national relevance
The Bearcats haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2019, but that should change in 2025. Wes Miller’s squad returns over 75 percent of its scoring from last season’s team that won 22 games and reached the Postseason NIT while adding two impactful transfers in Dillon Mitchell (Texas) and Connor Hickman (Bradley). Fifth Third Arena should be on fire this winter.

57. Ryan Kalkbrenner
Creighton’s 7-1 big man has been the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons and has also never fouled out of a game during his four-year college career.

58. Grant McCasland
Capable of getting blood from a stone, “Miracle Mac” has quietly been one of the sport’s most consistent head coaches. In his last eight seasons as a head coach at Arkansas State, North Texas, and now Texas Tech, McCasland has averaged 22.3 wins per year.

59. Santa Clara’s backcourt
The Broncos’ combo of Adama-Alpha Bal and Carlos Stewart could put this team in position to reach the NCAA Tournament after posting a combined 64 wins in the past three seasons.

60. Jackson Shelstad
Oregon’s sophomore point guard looks like Payton Pritchard 2.0.

61. Amica Mutual Pavillion
Home games at Providence are second to none.

62. Sean Miller
Season-ending injuries to both Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter inhibited Xavier’s ceiling a year ago, but Miller completely revamped the Musketeers’ roster via the transfer portal. Don’t be shocked if this team contends for a Big East regular season title.

63. Northwestern
Prior to Chris Collins’ arrival in Evanston in 2013, this program had never played in the NCAA Tournament. In 2024-25, the Wildcats will attempt to be a participant in March Madness for the third consecutive season. Anarchy? Nope. Just college basketball.

64. The Mountain West
A year ago, this league put a whopping six teams into the NCAA Tournament. The conference would sign for half of that in 2025.

65. Will Wade
Wade led McNeese to the biggest one-year turnaround in college basketball history last season as part of a 30-win campaign that ended in the NCAA Tournament. His roster will be significantly more talented in 2024-25.

66. Magoon Gwath
San Diego State’s skilled 7-footer will be appointment TV by Thanksgiving.

67. Donovan Dent
Averaged 19.8 points and 7.0 assists last season for New Mexico when Jaelen House was out of the lineup in November.

68. Tyon Grant-Foster
After flirting with the 2024 NBA Draft, this 6-7 guard opted to return to Grand Canyon after averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds on a team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With Grant-Foster and several other proud veterans back, Bryce Drew’s team enters 2024-25 with a high ceiling.

Leftovers