The 2024-25 College Basketball season promises to be an exciting one, filled with one of the most talented freshman classes ever, standout preseason All-Americans and several teams looking seriously dangerous to possibly hold up the Waterford Crystal National Championship trophy in early April.
Looking at the incoming freshman class first, all eyes will be on Duke Forward Cooper Flagg. He is set to make a big impact on the Blue Devils’ season, as Flagg was one of the top recruits in the nation. His journey to Duke was marked by standout performances at the high school and AAU levels, where he dominated on both ends of the court.
Another freshman with high expectations is Baylor shooting guard VJ Edgecombe. He is known for his shooting ability and defensive tenacity. He has all the tools to be successful at the collegiate level. His path to Baylor started with impressive performances in high school and on the AAU circuit, where he consistently showed his ability to take over games.
Last but not least, a freshman duo to look out for is Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey at Rutgers University. Both of them are known for their scoring ability. Harper is a versatile guard who can score from anywhere on the court, while Bailey is a dynamic forward with a strong inside-outside game. Their ability to put points on the board will be crucial for Rutgers’ offensive strategy.
This season, there are several college basketball teams to keep an eye on as strong contenders for the national championship.
The traditional powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas are always in the mix, thanks to top tier talent always looking to be recruited. The returning national champions, the University of Connecticut Huskies, are planning to three-peat as they are ranked fourth in the preseason top 25.
Gonzaga continues to be a force with their well-rounded and experienced senior guard Ryan Nembhard. Baylor from the Big 12 has shown in the past years that they can compete at the highest level, as they won a national championship in 2021. Also, watch out for programs on the rise, like Rutgers, with the incoming freshman expected to make a significant impact, which helped them sneak into the preseason top 25.
A surprise to many, Iowa State is starting the year ranked fifth after they have consistently made it to the second weekend of March Madness in the past few years.
There are also some sleeper teams – for example, 15th-ranked Creighton, as they have been improving and shown they can compete with the best, blowing out the number one team ranked in the nation, then being back-to-back national champions UConn in the 2023-24 season. With a strong starting lineup returning, including back-to-back Big East Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner, and gaining transfers like former Texas Tech guard Pop Isaacs, they have a very good chance of making a deep run in the tournament and possibly getting to the program’s first ever national championship. Keep a look out for Creighton, as they could very well be a dark horse.
The Preseason All-American First Team is full of players from prestigious schools. The list includes Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, UNC point guard RJ Davis, Arizona guard Caleb Love, Alabama guard Mark Sears, Auburn forward Johni Broome. These players are all experienced and playing for a championship-contending team.
