Multiple teams climb in latest top 25 and 1 rankings from CBS Sports

Less than a month has passed since UConn secured its second-straight national championship. However, no shortage of change has already swept through the college basketball scene. On Friday, CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish released his latest Top 25 and 1 rankings.

The list accounts for several standout transfer departures and commitments along with jaw-dropping coaching changes around the nation. From blue-blooded staples to under-the-radar programs, Parrish left no stone unturned.

Look below to see where the college basketball insider currently ranks teams ahead of the 2024-25 season.

1. Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas entered last season as the No. 1 team in the country and Parrish expects the same in the 2024-25 campaign. Despite the Jayhawks’ high expectations last season, the team fell 89-68 to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas has only used the shortcoming as motivation this offseason. The team is returning COVID senior Hunter Dickinson and fifth-year guard Dajuan Harris Jr. Additionally, Kansas boasts a monstrous transfer class, including Rylan Griffen (Alabama), AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Riley Kugel (Florida) and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State).

2. Houston Cougars

Houston suffered a stunning loss to Duke in the Sweet 16 after star guard Jamal Shead exited the game due to an ankle injury with just under seven minutes left in the first half. While Shead won’t have a chance to avenge the loss, his teammates will return next season with a newfound motivation.

Houston returns numerous key players next season, including  LJ Cryer, J’Wan Roberts and Emanuel Sharp. It won’t be easy for Houston to replace Shead, but with another No. 1 national defense, Kelvin Sampson could easily find a way to push his team to new heights.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels

Houston wasn’t the only No. 1 seed that suffered an upset loss in the Sweet 16. Alabama left North Carolina fans teary-eyed after it defeated the Tar Heels 89-87 in the Big Dance. The loss left a bad taste in several of the Tar Heels’ mouths.

Most notably, North Carolina’s leading scorer RJ Davis announced he will return next season. Davis averaged a career-best 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during his senior campaign. Now, along with Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble, Davis will look to help UNC reach new heights next season.

4. UConn Huskies

UConn has won back-to-back national championships and Dan Hurley is hungry for more. The UConn head coach reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to become Kentucky’s next head coach. Instead, he hopes to continue to build his dynasty in Storrs, Conn.

Hurley is off to an excellent start this offseason. The Huskies are expected to return Alex Karaban, Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson for the 2024-25 season. The team also landed a colossal commitment from five-star Liam McNeeley, who is the No. 11 player in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

5. Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State showed spurts of greatness last season. In the 2024-25 campaign, the team will look to become consistently excellent. The Cyclones will return leading scorer Keshon Gilbert next season while adding four players via the NCAA Transfer Portal, including St. Mary’s standout Joshua Jefferson.

It will be head coach TJ Otzelberger’s fourth season at the helm of the program. As usual, defense will be a point of emphasis. Iowa State made a living on defense last season, only allowing 61.5 points per game, the fourth-least in the country.

6. Duke Blue Devils

Duke exceeded expectations in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight before eventually falling to NC State. Duke lost Jeremy Roach in the transfer portal shortly after the season, but make no mistakes — the Blue Devils will be oozing talent next season.

Duke has the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, headlined by No. 1 overall prospect Cooper Flagg. The group includes fellow five-star Khaman Maluach and four, four-star recruits. Add on returners Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, and it’s difficult to argue with Parrish’s expectations for Duke next season.

7. Gonzaga Bulldogs

In a year when postseason expectations were low for Gonzaga, Mark Few made a statement. The tenured head coach guided the Bulldogs to the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual national runner-up Purdue in a hard-fought battle.

Gonzaga has now reached the Sweet 16 or advanced further every year since 2014. Fans shouldn’t expect the 2024-25 season to be any different. With stars such as Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman ready to run it back, the Bulldogs will pack plenty of bite next season.

8. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama head coach Nate Oats didn’t hesitate to make a splash in his third season at the helm of the program. The Crimson Tide lost three of its last four games before the Big Dance. However, they found their rhythm at the perfect time, reaching the Final Four for the first time in program history.

Early in the offseason, it appears Alabama is poised to make another postseason run next year. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. has already announced he plans to return. Additionally, Mark Sears maintained his eligibility while entering the 2024 NBA Draft.

9. Auburn Tigers

Auburn’s March Madness crash-landed before it ever took flight this past season. For the first time under head coach Bruce Pearl, the Tigers suffered a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.

Auburn is doing everything it can to prevent history repeating next year. Not only is Auburn returning standouts such as Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones and Dylan Cardwell, but the program also added All-Southern Conference guard JP Pegues via the NCAA Transfer Portal.

10. Baylor Bears

For the second straight season, Baylor fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, head coach Scott Drew hasn’t lost faith in the future of the program. Like Hurley, the 53-year-old head coach turned down an offer to take the reins at Kentucky with hopes of building something greater in his current environment.

Drew is certainly off to an excellent start. Baylor secured a pivotal commitment from former Duke point guard Jeremy Roach in the transfer portal. Moreover, the Bears boast the No. 4 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, headlined by five-star prospect VJ Edgecombe.

11. Texas A&M
12. Purdue
13. Arizona
14. Ohio State
15. Marquette
16. Tennessee
17. Indiana
18. Creighton
19. Florida
20. UCLA
21. Texas
22. Rutgers
23. Providence
24. Michigan State
25. Xavier
26. Oregon