While Kansas is the nation’s top team, other teams, such as Duke, Alabama, UConn, and Rutgers, are making noise that they should also get the top spot.
However, Kansas is not a shoo-in for the final four or even a good year. Injuries and poor form could haunt Kansas, as they did last year when the Jayhawks fell short to Gonzaga in the second round.
Hunter Dickinson, star center for the Jayhawks, has decided to return for a fifth CBB season. Dickinson will be alongside five-star recruit Flory Bidunga, plus key transfer pieces such as Alabama’s Rylan Griffen, and Wisconsin’s AJ Storr. Kansas’ Hall-of-Fame Coach Bill Self has his eyes set on his fifth Final Four appearance, along with hopes of a third career championship.
However, Alabama will likely feel slighted, as they have a legitimate argument to be in the coveted No.1 spot with preseason AP All-American Mark Sears returning for another year. This team put up a strong fight to the eventual champions last year in UConn and is better equipped than the other final four teams of last year. Purdue lost Zach Edey to the NBA Draft, and NC State lost DJ Horne and DJ Burns due to maxed-out eligibility.
Sears took a massive jump last year, nearly doubling his points per game and improving in every offensive category from his junior season. Now a graduate student nearing the end of his Alabama career, he should be looking at another statistical jump, and an even better March Madness run for the Tide with help from his teammates.
Duke has perhaps the most variability when it comes to their season. They have suffered a massive blow losing Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski to the Draft, plus Jeremy Roach, Sean Stewart and Mark Mitchell to the transfer portal.
However, this does not mean disaster as the Blue Devils recruited Naismith High School Player of the Year in Cooper Flagg, who is also the projected 2025 No.1 pick in the NBA Draft. Seniors such as Maliq Brown and Mason Gillis will also bring a senior presence to a locker room full of young guys. The only question about this Duke team is if they can bring it all together, and in time for the Tournament.
Rutgers is also a high-risk-high-reward team this year, going all out for the top freshman in the country. The Scarlet Knights not being one of the blueblood programs in college basketball makes this recruitment feat all the more impressive.
Notable players include No. 2 ESPN-ranked freshman Airious “Ace” Bailey, and No. 4 ranked Dylan Harper, both projected top-five picks for the 2025 Draft. It is not uncommon for the top college basketball programs to pair the best freshmen in the country with each other. However, it’s almost unheard of for schools with this little tradition such as Rutgers.
An instant impact is expected for both, and while it was only an exhibition matchup, both freshmen put on a show against St. Johns. Bailey put up an impressive 25 points, while Harper tallied 20 points against the Red Storm.
“Dylan, for a freshman, he’s got so much control. He plays like a senior,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino told Bleacher Report after the game. “He’s got a lot of Clyde Frazier in him, the way he plays. He was amazing. Ace just has great talent. Both of them are great. I think they’re terrific. Obviously, they deserve the ranking that they’re getting.”
UConn, however, will not have the same riches as they contend for a third straight title. Key players such as Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer, and Tristen Newton have all taken their talents to the NBA, leaving Dan Hurley with a new squad for the upcoming season.
With four of the five starters from last year gone, Hurley has had to make moves concerning recruitment. No. 9 ESPN-ranked freshman Liam McNeeley will instantly be put into the starting lineup for the defending champions and is known for his IQ and shooting skills. Playing alongside the best talent in high school with teammate Cooper Flagg, McNeeley is sure to make an instant impact and have a smooth transition to college basketball.
Arkansas nestled their way into the No.16 spot in the AP preseason poll, despite missing the Big Dance last year. This is due to UMass Hall-of-Famer and former Kentucky Coach John Calipari being hired by the Razorbacks back in April. A noteworthy player he brought from Kentucky is 2023 No. 4 ESPN-ranked freshman DJ Wagner.
Calipari was also active in the transfer portal, snatching up Florida Atlantic’s Johnell Davis, star of the FAU’s 2023 Final Four run. Jonas Aidoo has also transferred to Arkansas, averaging 11.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game at Tennessee.
This roster is made up of experienced players, as well as young, hungry talent that were left unsatisfied after Kentucky’s first-round collapse to Oakland last year. While the Razorbacks did have a losing record of 16-17 last year, with the help of big names and highly touted coach Calipari, there is no reason why Arkansas cannot make a run in this year’s March Madness Tournament.
While Kansas has the top spot to start the season, there is no shortage of teams behind them that are title contenders. Could Rutgers or Arkansas make a run? Will UConn Three-peat? All this and more will be answered when the season gets underway on Nov. 4.
