The college basketball season is starting up, and there are countless star freshmen and returners who have arrived. Star studded freshman and countless sound returners have arrived in this 2024-25 season.
Kansas takes the AP poll #1 spot, they are the highest rated team to start the season. Kansas holds five players on EPSNs preseason top 100 players list, the most out of any team in college basketball. They are Hunter Dickinson, Zeke Mayo, KJ Adams Jr., AJ Storr, and Dajuan Harris Jr. All of Kansas' top 100 players are upperclassmen and have significant college experience. These five players can score rebound and play defense at will and that is what head coach Bill Self is looking for. The Jayhawks are looking for a better season this year after their second round exit vs Gonzaga in last year's tournament.
The Jayhawks were the top seed in last year's preseason AP poll and are trying to take their capable and veteran roster to a national championship. Following them in the poll is the Alabama Crimson Tide who are trying to take their reloaded roster back to the Final Four where their season ended last year. They have two Player of the year caliber players, Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, who are on the ESPN top 100s players list at 3 and 43 respectively. Two expected contributors plucked from the transfer portal, Chris Youngblood from South Florida and Aden Holloway from Auburn, were both starting point guards on their former teams. Head coach Nate Oats has high expectations for this season.
"The best roster we've had since we've been here," Oats said. Oats and his staff are taking a different approach to this upcoming season, not always using the orthodox way in conditioning and drilling his players.
“I am excited about this upcoming season because of the new freshmen and the new faces in the game. As a UConn fan, I really want to see a third straight championship,” Newtown High School Junior Lucian Place said.
UConn follows Alabama, landing the #3 spot in the AP poll. UConn is the back to back defending champion and still has a loaded roster, bringing in top 10 recruit the 2024 class, Liam Mcneeley and a star transfer Aidan Mahaney from Mount Saint Mary’s. UConn also comes with the best odds to win a third straight national championship at +900. UConn head Coach Dan Hurley turned down a 6 year $70 million dollar deal from the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason and chose to stay with his Huskies for 6 years $50 million dollars, showing his commitment to the program he has built and to his players.
“I am excited for college basketball because I want to see a tournament where anyone can win and upsets can happen. Living in Connecticut is fun too because getting to watch UConn is super cool,” NHS Junior Stephan Singlak Said.
Other top 10 teams include Houston, Iowa State, Gonzaga, Duke, Baylor and North Carolina, respectively. Duke brought in six 5 star recruits, including the Number 1 player in ESPN preseason top 100 players: Cooper Flagg. Flagg has super high expectations for this year as does the entire Duke roster. Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Tyreese Procter, and Caleb Foster along with Flagg complete the Blue Devils starting lineup. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer is ready for this group to compete immediately, depending on the development of his young freshman.
"It's not the external noise, but I'm just excited because I feel we have a group that can do something special," Scheyer said.
These teams are trying to recreate the success they had last year and the success they have had in past years. Arkansas, although the number 16 team in the country, fans have high hopes and aspirations for this upcoming season with the hiring of former Kentucky coach John Calipari and the players that went with him from Kentucky, like Boogie Fland, DJ Wagner, Zvonimir Ivišić, and Karter Knox.
UNC’s RJ Davis is the #2 overall player in the country and experienced point guard is ready for the challenge to lead a young team this season. UNC is not only Davis, Elliot Cadeau returns with him who looks to take the next step this season. Tar Heel fans are also looking for the 5 star Freshman Ian Jackson who is going to contribute right away for the Heels.
With all the returners and all the star freshmen with their respective teams this year's banner is up for grabs.
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