ESPN picks defending national champion UConn atop its Way Too Early Top 25 for 2023-24 season

ESPN revealed its way-too-early top 25 for the 2023-24 season and picked national champion UConn as its No. 1 team.

The Huskies dominated their way to a national title, their fifth in program history. Dan Hurley pushed all the right buttons for a 76-59 win over San Diego State, controlling the game from the get-goo.

The Aztecs made the early top 25, but were not close to the top spot. In fact, they tumbled toward the bottom end of the top 25.

But there was a surprise, or maybe not a surprise if you live in Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic is a top five team according to ESPN going into next season. How about those Owls?

Below are the way-too-early top 25 teams in college basketball for 2023-24, according to ESPN.

ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25

1. UConn
2. Marquette
3. Duke
4. Kentucky
5. Florida Atlantic
6. Michigan State
7. Kansas
8. Arizona
9. Houston
10. Creighton
11. Alabama
12. Arkansas
13. Colorado
14. Miami
15. Purdue
16. USC
17. Texas A&M
18. Texas
19. North Carolina
20. Baylor
21. Gonzaga
22. San Diego State
23. Tennessee
24. Saint Mary’s
25. UCLA

The only way to top the 2023 season for UConn and Hurley would be to win another one. The Huskies are certainly set up to do so.

“Obviously, a dream come true for all of us,” Hurley said postgame. “It was a part of the program — we sold the vision. I sold the vision to David Benedict and President Herbst and President Radanka and the university that I could put together a special group of people, coaching staff, unbelievable players like this. So it feels great to come through on promises made by me to all the great people of Connecticut and then with these guys. This was our vision. This was our dream. This is what we talked about when we recruited these guys, that we could get together and do something big like this.

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“It’s just great to come through on promises made to players and to this university, and it was an honor to play against San Diego State today, too. I’ve got to tell you, I think it was probably the most physical, one of the toughest teams we played this year, certainly one of the best. And I just got so much admiration and respect for how they play, their culture, and their coach. He’s one of the best coaches in the country.”