2024-25 College Basketball Preview: 10 Storylines to Follow

The 2024-25 season of college basketball officially begins on November 3, 2024, marking the 130th year of its existence. Notably, Kansas has secured the number one preseason ranking under the guidance of Coach Bill Self, who has capitalized on the transfer portal by acquiring Zeke Mayo, the Summit League Player of the Year. He is expected to synergize well with preseason All-American Hunter Dickinson, setting the stage for a promising campaign. On the other hand, UConn is looking to add to its illustrious history by aiming for a three-peat in the national championships. While the team lost four starters from its previous title-winning squad, it has demonstrated resilience in the past by overcoming similar challenges, winning its six national titles since 1999. However, teams like Houston remain in pursuit of their first national championship, despite making numerous Final Four appearances. Meanwhile, there is a notable shift in conference alignments, with prominent programs moving in and out, affecting rankings across the board. This is particularly relevant for the Big Ten, which hopes to break a drought since its last national title. With numerous teams ranked in the top 25 across major conferences, the upcoming season promises to be fiercely competitive. The focus will be not only on individual performances but also on how teams manage to adapt to player departures and changes in team compositions, making every game critical in the journey towards the NCAA tournament.