John Fanta
College basketball broadcasters and reporters
The college basketball season is far from over, as evidenced by teams accessing the transfer portal the day after Selection Sunday, which already has more than 1,000 names.
Roster construction is currently underway across the country, but it's never too early to start thinking ahead to the 2024-25 campaign.
With that in mind, it's time to present the first edition of FOX Sports' Top 25 All-Time Men's College Basketball Rankings.
We will update the story as it becomes clear throughout the spring and summer, but let's get right to it!
1. university huskies
Last April, the Huskies finished fourth in the top 25 prematurely after Dan Hurley said goodbye to Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins. That didn't seem to matter, which speaks to the blue blood Hurley brought back in Storrs. I won't be fooled anymore. Until further notice, Connecticut is number one.
2. duke blue devils
Say hello to the Cooper Flagg era at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The 17-year-old phenom is an attractive prospect who could compete for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft due to his versatility, improved defense and wingspan. The Blue Devils have the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, bringing in wings Isaiah Evans and Con Knuppel, as well as 6-foot-11 Patrick Ngomba.
3. kansas jayhawks
After a disappointing season by their standards, I expect the Jayhawks to reload and be a top-five team next season. Bill Self wasted little time, bringing in quality transfers in South Dakota State's Zeke Mayo and Florida State's Riley Kugel. With Darjuan Harris and KJ Adams likely back, the biggest question is simple: Will Hunter Dickinson return for his final season of college basketball? we will see. Freshman name to watch: 5-star center Florrie Bidunga.
Four. iowa cyclone
Tammin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert return for the Cyclones, who are coming off a 29-8 season and looking to take the Sweet 16 spot. The veteran backcourt is intact, Milan Momcilovic is expected to return, and there are plenty of other potential offseason additions on the horizon. Together with TJ Otzelberger's team, we have developed a known product in a world where there is uncertainty surrounding many others.
Five. gonzaga bulldogs
Mark Few, who made his ninth straight Sweet 16 appearance and finished the 2023-24 season on a high note, has good roster continuity heading into the 2024-25 season. Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman can continue to charge in the backcourt, and the Zags have another weapon to complement the perimeter with Michael Ajayi (17.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG) transferred from Pepperdine. Ben Gregg and Graham Icke headline the frontcourt, with a solid bench. The Zags are in great shape.
6. arizona wildcats
The Wildcats had the best record in college basketball over the past three years under Tommy Lloyd, going 88-20, but like the rest of the team, they had a disappointing showing in the NCAA Tournament. How will they handle the transition to the Big 12, where they will have to play against schools in the league like Kansas, Houston, and Iowa State? – Lewis returns, and along with a top-five recruiting class headlined by Carter Bryant and Joeson Sannon, they have a roster that is one of the best teams in the country.
7. volunteer tennessee
The Volantes are in the top 10 because they have been winning at a high level the past few seasons and have some familiar faces next year, including point guard Zakai Zeigler. Expect to see improvement from Jordan Gainey and Jamai Masiak, and big man Jonas Aidoo will also return. Dalton Knecht will likely move on to the NBA, but Tennessee also has the assets to get some help in the transfer portal.
8. houston cougars
You can't doubt Kelvin Sampson. He went 97-15 over the past three seasons and took the program to the Big 12 this year, leading them to a regular-season championship after many thought they might have growing pains. I think Jamal Shehed's status is up in the air while L.J. Cryer and Emmanuel Sharpe return. Houston has enough roster continuity and Sampson will find good replacement players in the portal to make this a top-10 team.
9. purdue boiler maker
The Boilermakers will be saying goodbye to one of the greatest players in school history and two-time National Player of the Year Zach Eady, but if they have the level of talent and experience to return. , will accomplish a great deal. Better than many other rosters across the country. Braden Smith is an All-American, Fletcher Royer continues to get better, Mason Gillis returns, Camden Heide is a breakout candidate, and Matt Painter is part of a top-15 recruiting class. The boiler continues to pump steam.
Ten. market golden eagles
It's time for The Cam Jones Show to take center stage. Tyler Kolek has been as good as any point guard in college basketball over the past two seasons, and as a result, it felt like Jones didn't always get the attention he deserved. The rising senior, who averaged more than 17 points per game last season, will lead Shaka Smart's program that has won a total of 56 games over the past two years. Robust defender Stevie Mitchell also returns, and he expects David Joplin and Ben Gold to form a sneaky, versatile frontcourt. While Tre Norman and Zaide Lowry should take a leap forward as sophomores, let's not forget Chase Ross and what he means to this team.
11. north carolina tar heels
12. florida gators
13. baylor bears
14. alabama crimson tide
15. auburn tigers
16. creighton blue jays
17. St Mary's Gaelic
18. miami hurricanes
19. UCLA Bruins
20. arkansas razorbacks
twenty one. BYU Cougars
twenty two. mississippi state bulldogs
twenty three. maryland terrapin
twenty four. rutgers scarlet knights
twenty five. Xavier Musketeers
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, including calling games on FS1, serving as the lead host on the BIG EAST digital network, and providing commentary on the Field of 68 media network. Follow him on Twitter @John Fanta.
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