Top 10 College Basketball Teams to Watch in the 2024-25 Season
The NCAA basketball season is right around the corner. There are NCAA basketball rankings already released, and the college basketball schedule is rife with great matchups. According to news about basketball, there are a few teams that stand out as the ones to watch. Here are the teams from the college basketball rankings everyone should be watching.
Kansas Jayhawks
The consensus No. 1 in the college basketball rankings. A dominant program, they return big man Hunter Dickinson, added impact transfers Rylan Griffen and AJ Storr, and feature DaJuan Harris and KJ Adams. Kanas will feature heavily in the college basketball schedule.
Houston Cougars
Few teams have been as consistent in NCAA basketball as the Cougars. Despite losing Jamal Shead, the Cougars will be tough to beat. With tons of high-caliber transfers, the Cougars should be a top-five unit.
Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State is high in the NCAA basketball rankings, and their backcourt has a lot to do with that. Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey should help keep the Cyclones in contention this season.
Baylor Bears
The Bears had one of the best off-seasons in NCAA basketball. They added Jeremy Roach from Duke, Norchad Omier from Miami FL, and Jalen Celestine from Cal. VJ Edgecombe, a 5-star recruit, could be the breakout on a promising team, guaranteed to win awards.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Zags have one of the deepest rosters in the nation, arguably their best since the 2021 team that went to the national championship. Braden Huff, Dusty Stromer, Nolan Hickman, and others return to form one of the country's deepest and most dangerous rosters.
UConn Huskies
The back-to-back national champs are reloading after losing a ton of talent. They have a ton of talent returning as well but will depend on youngsters like Solo Ball, Jayden Ross, and Jaylin Stewart to make another run.
North Carolina Tarheels
All-American RJ Davis is back for his final season. He will lead what should be one of the best offenses in the country, especially with long-range threat Cade Tyson transferring in. Add in a couple of 5-stars and the Heels will be deadly.
Alabama Crimson Tide
After a run to the Final Four, the Tide have beefed up their roster under head coach Nate Oats. Big transfer additions are coming in, plus Derrion Reid (5-star recruit) could be a breakout candidate. Alabama should be the team to beat in the SEC once again.
Duke Blue Devils
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Duke has some incredible incoming prospects. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 recruit in the nation, could be a superstar. Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor are back but it will be the youngsters that take Duke forward.
Texas A&M Aggies
Though changes are coming, returning Wade Taylor – an SEC Player of the Year type of player – will help. Transfers Pharrel Payne, CJ Wilcher, and others will help ease the transition in the wake of a few important graduations. The Big 12 is extremely tough but the Aggies are ready to contend.