Recent transfers force changes in latest top 25 and 1 from CBS Sports
On-court action may have ceased after UConn cut down the nets in Phoenix but college basketball has not slept. Between big-time coaching jobs coming open and the NCAA transfer portal being as crazy as ever, the 2024-2025 season is shaping up to be quite spectacular.
With some transfer movement in recent days, CBS has changed up the top 25 and 1. Duke is the team on the rise, moving up a spot thanks to landing a coveted transfer. Somebody had to move down for the Blue Devils to rise and an SEC program wound up falling.
The offseason is far from over as plenty of key players are still out there. But for now, the latest top 25 and 1 from CBS Sports is here.
1. Kansas Jayhawks
The last two seasons have ended in early NCAA Tournament exits for Kansas, something Bill Self did not plan on occurring. So, he’s hit the NCAA transfer portal hard and brought some scorers to Lawrence, something the Jayhawks dearly missed last season.
Returning players will be just as impactful, headlined by Hunter Dickinson. Kansas is always viewed as a top team in the preseason but Self has put together a squad worthy of being No. 1 heading into the year.
2. Houston Cougars
Questions surrounded Houston this time last year, moving up in competition to the Big 12. All they did was win the regular season title by two games and earn a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Kelvin Sampson might have a conference foe above him but the Cougars will be as dangerous as anyone. Key losses of Jamal Shead and Damian Dunn hurt but returning LJ Cryer could turn out to be huge for the program.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
RJ Davis deciding to come back for the 2024-2025 season is arguably the top storyline of the offseason. The Consensus All-American instantly shoots North Carolina up in the preseason rankings and should be the preseason ACC Player of the Year.
Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble return too, providing experience from UNC’s ACC regular season title and No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Hubert Davis is used to having high preseason expectations and is hoping to deliver on them again.
4. UConn Huskies
Storrs might be home to the back-to-back national champions and UConn is gunning for a three-peat. There are no rebuilds for Dan Hurley, no matter what kind of NBA talent he loses.
A late recruiting addition of Liam McNeeley will bring shooting to the Huskies and they expect to be just as dominant inside with Samson Johnson hoping to develop like Donovan Clingan did this season. Hurley will once again coach one of the best rosters in college basketball.
5. Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State figured things out last season, earning a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now, the Cyclones have their top scorers returning and will compete atop what should be an incredible Big 12.
The Cyclones have not made the Final Four since World War II and their last Elite Eight came at the turn of the century. With the type of squad they have returning to Ames, this might be their best shot in quite some time.
6. Baylor Bears
Scott Drew quickly got through coaching rumors and began to build the Baylor roster for next season. He’s made a splash in the portal, bringing in two key players from the ACC — Jeremy Roach and Norchad Omier.
VJ Edgecombe is another exciting freshman Drew has brought to Waco. Already the fourth Big 12 team in the top six, the Bears are once again expected to be at the top of the conference.
7. Gonzaga Bulldogs
We did not see a vintage Gonzaga team last season, spending some time on the bubble. Mark Few found a way to get into the NCAA Tournament and made it into the second weekend.
This year is expected to be different, returning a ton of key rotation players. Experience is there as Gonzaga looks to return as the West Coast’s top dog.
8. Duke Blue Devils
Jon Scheyer has recruited at a high level since taking over but Cooper Flagg brings a different level of excitement. The On3 Industry Rankings No. 1 overall prospect, people will be tuning into Blue Devils games just to see Flagg.
Outside of Flagg, Scheyer was left with a bare cupboard on the roster. He’s brought in multiple players through the portal, most recently Sion James via Tulane, and looks primed to contend for an ACC championship.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama is fresh off the school’s first-ever Final Four and you could argue Nate Oats has upgraded the roster. Adding more shooters to the roster is a plus but winning the Clifford Omoryui recruitment brings the rim protector the Crimson Tide did not have last season.
Grant Nelson has announced his return to Tuscaloosa and now, all eyes are on Mark Sears. If Sears decided to play another year for Alabama, they might wind up higher than No. 9.
10. Auburn Tigers
On the other side of the state, Bruce Pearl feels pretty good about the roster he’s put together. The returns of Dylan Cardwell and Johni Broome — a favorite to be preseason SEC Player of the Year — means Auburn will once again be a threat inside.
Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford brings a ton of excitement, while Furman transfer JP Pegues will bring experience at the guard position. The SEC will certainly run through the Yellowhammer State during the 2024-2025 season.
11. Texas A&M Aggies
12. Purdue Boilermakers
13. Arizona Wildcats
14. Ohio State Buckeyes
15. Marquette Golden Eagles
16. Tennessee Volunteers
17. Indiana Hoosiers
18. UCLA Bruins
19. Creighton Bluejays
20. Florida Gators
21. Texas Longhorns
22. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
23. Arkansas Razorbacks
24. Xavier Muskateers
25. Providence Friars
26. Michigan State Spartans