1. Houston is ranked highly due to Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars returning almost every rotation piece from a successful team that won the Big 12 and earned a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. With a strong backcourt featuring Jamal Shead, LJ Cryer, and Emanuel Sharp, Houston has a chance to make a second Final Four appearance in five years.
2. North Carolina is ranked based on Hubert Davis’ Tar Heels returning key scorers like RJ Davis, Harrison Ingram, and Elliot Cadeau from a team that won the ACC and secured a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. With a talented recruiting class, including top prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, UNC is poised to make a deep tournament run.
3. Iowa State is ranked highly as TJ Otzelberger’s Cyclones bring back their top scorers from a successful team that earned a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Players like Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert could lead Iowa State to their first Final Four appearance in decades.
4. Kansas is ranked based on Bill Self’s Jayhawks retaining key players from a team that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, with added transfers Riley Kugel and Zeke Mayo strengthening the roster. Kansas is expected to be a top contender in the competitive Big 12 conference.
5. Duke, under Jon Scheyer, is ranked with returning scorers Jeremy Roach and Caleb Foster from a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, along with a highly touted recruiting class led by Cooper Flagg. Duke has the potential to make a deep tournament run with their talented roster.
6. UConn, led by Dan Hurley, is ranked with a solid core of returning players from a team that won the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Despite some key departures, UConn is expected to remain a strong contender under Hurley’s leadership.
7. Gonzaga, under Mark Few, is ranked highly with most of their rotation returning from a team that reached the Sweet 16 in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga is expected to continue their impressive NCAA Tournament streak.
8. Auburn, coached by Bruce Pearl, returns key scorers from a team that earned a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, with incoming freshman talent adding depth to the roster. Auburn is poised to make another tournament run under Pearl’s leadership.
9. Purdue, led by Matt Painter, retains most of their top scorers from a team that reached the championship game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers have a consistent track record of success and are expected to continue their strong performance in the upcoming season.
10. Alabama, under Nate Oats, retains most of their rotation players from a team that reached the 2024 Final Four, with the potential return of Mark Sears adding strength to the roster. Alabama is a team to watch for in the upcoming season.
