The 2024-25 Preseason Men’s College Basketball AP Top 25 Poll results are out!
Kansas enters the season as the No. 1 team, facing Alabama. Meanwhile, back-to-back defending national champion UConn will begin another season outside the top 2 — but we all know what happened the last two times the Huskies did it. Can they turn the clock back and become the first program since John Wooden’s UCLA teams to win three straight titles?
Duke, meanwhile, lands in the top 10 at No. 7 and will look to capitalize on the talent of its freshmen – led by No. 1 recruit and projected No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft Cooper Flagg – to reduce the nets in April. . Don’t sleep on Rutgers, the last top 25, and its two freshman superstars, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
As another season of change thanks to the transfer portal, coaching moves and major conference realignment – hello, Texas in the SEC, Arizona in the Big 12, UCLA in the Big Ten! — approaching (November 4), let’s break down the projected starting lineup and biggest early-season matchups for each of the 25 teams in the AP rankings.
All times Eastern
2023-24 results: 23-11 (lost to 5th seed Gonzaga in round of 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Howard, 8 p.m., ESPN+
The biggest match at the start of the season: Nov. 8 vs. North Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup
Dajuan Harris Jr. (8.5 PPG last season)
Zeke Mayo (18.8 PPG at South Dakota State)
AJ Storr (16.8 PPG at Wisconsin)
KJ Adams Jr. (12.6 PPG)
Hunter Dickinson (17.9 PPG)
2023-24 results: 25-12 (lost to 1st seed UConn in Final Four)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. UNC Asheville, 9 p.m., ESPNU
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 26 vs. Houston, 8 p.m., TBS
Projected starting lineup
Mark Sears (21.5 PPG)
Aden Holloway (7.3 PPG at Auburn)
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (8.9 PPG)
Grant Nelson (11.9 PPG)
Clifford Omoruyi (10.4 PPG at Rutgers)
2023-24 results: 37-3 (national title won in 2024)
Opening of the season: November 6 against Sacré-Cœur, 7 p.m., FS1
The biggest match at the start of the season: December 4 vs. Baylor, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup
Hassan Diarra (6.1 PPG)
Aidan Mahaney (13.9 PPG at Saint Mary’s)
Liam McNeeley (No. 9 in ESPN 100)
Alex Karaban (13.3 PPG)
Samson Johnson (5.4 PPG)
2023-24 results: 32-5 (lost to 4-seed Duke in Sweet 16)
Opening of the season: Nov. 4 vs. Jackson State, 8 p.m., ESPN+
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 26 vs. Alabama, 8 p.m., TBS
Projected starting lineup
Milos Uzan (9.0 PPG at Oklahoma)
LJ Cryer (15.5 PPG)
Emmanuel Sharp (12.6 PPG)
J’Wan Roberts (9.5 PPG)
Ja’Vier Francis (6.0 PPG)
2023-24 results: 29-8 (lost to 3 seed Illinois in Sweet 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 against Miss. Valley State, 8 p.m., ESPN+
The biggest match at the start of the season: Nov. 25 vs. Auburn, 9 p.m., ESPNU
Projected starting lineup
Tamin Lipsey (12.4 PPG)
Curtis Jones (11.0 PPG)
Keshon Gilbert (13.7 PPG)
Milan Momcilovic (10.9 PPG)
Dishon Jackson (11.4 PPG at Charlotte)
2023-24 results: 27-8 (lost to 1-seed Purdue in Sweet 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Baylor, 11:30 p.m., ESPN2
The biggest match at the start of the season: December 7 against Kentucky
Projected starting lineup
Ryan Nembhard (12.6 PPG)
Nolan Hickman (14.0 PPG)
Michael Ajayi (17.2 PPG at Pepperdine)
Ben Gregg (9.0 PPG)
Graham Ike (16.5 PPG)
2023-24 results: 27-9 (lost to 11th-seeded NC State in Elite 8)
Opening of the season: Nov. 4 vs. Maine, 7 p.m., ACC Network
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 12 vs. Kentucky, 9 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup
Tyrese Proctor (10.5 PPG)
Caleb Foster (7.7 PPG)
Kon Knueppel (No. 18 in ESPN 100)
Cooper Flagg (No. 1 in ESPN 100)
Khaman Maluach (five stars)
2023-24 results: 24-11 (lost to 6th seed Clemson in round of 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 at Gonzaga, 11:30 p.m., ESPN2
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 9 vs. Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
Projected starting lineup
Jeremy Roach (14.0 PPG at Duke)
Jayden Nunn (10.5 PPG)
VJ Edgecombe (No. 3 in ESPN 100)
Langston Love (11.0 PPG)
Norchad Omier (17.0 PPG at Miami)
2023-24 results: 29-8 (lost to 4th seed Alabama in Sweet 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Elon, 9 p.m., ACC Network
The biggest match at the start of the season: Nov. 8 vs. Kansas, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup
Elliot Gift (7.3 PPG)
RJ Davis (21.2 PPG)
Drake Powell (No. 14 in ESPN 100)
Cade Tyson (16.2 PPG at Belmont)
Jalen Washington (3.9 PPG)
2023-24 results: 27-9 (lost to 6th seed Clemson in Sweet 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 against Canisius, 10 p.m., ESPN+
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 22 vs. Duke, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup
Jaden Bradley (7.0 PPG)
Caleb Love (18.0 PPG)
KJ Lewis (6.1 PPG)
Trey Townsend (17.3 PPG in Oakland)
Motiejs Krivas (5.4 PPG)
2023-24 results: 27-8 (lost to 13th seed Yale in round of 16)
Opening of the season: November 6 vs. Vermont, 8 p.m., SEC Network+
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 9 vs. Houston, 9:30 p.m., ESPNU
Projected starting lineup
JP Pegues (18.4 PPG at Furman)
Denver Jones (9.1 PPG)
Miles Kelly (13.9 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Chad Baker-Mazara (10.0 PPG)
John Broome (16.5 PPG)
2023-24 results: 27-9 (lost to 1st seed Purdue in Elite 8)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Gardner-Webb, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
The biggest match at the start of the season: December 14 at Illinois, 5:30 p.m., Fox
Projected starting lineup
Zakai Zeigler (11.8 PPG)
Chaz Lanier (19.7 PPG at North Florida)
Jahmai Mashack (4.5 PPG)
Igor Milicic Jr. (12.8 PPG at Charlotte)
Felix Okpara (6.6 PPG at Ohio State
2023-24 results: 21-15 (lost to 1st seed Houston in round of 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 at UCF, 7 p.m.,
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 27 vs. Creighton, 6:30 p.m., Max
Projected starting lineup
Wade Taylor IV (19.1 PPG)
Manny Obaseki (7.0 PPG)
Zhuric Phelps (14.8 PPG at SMU)
Henry Coleman III (8.8 PPG)
Pharrel Payne (10.0 PPG at Minnesota)
2023-24 results: 34-5 (lost to 1st seed UConn in national championship)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7 p.m., BTN
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 15 vs. Alabama, 8 p.m., Peacock
Projected starting lineup
Braden Smith (12.2 PPG)
Fletcher Rent (10.6 PPG)
Myles Colvin (3.3 PPG)
Camden Heide (3.4 PPG)
Trey Kaufman-Renn (6.4 PPG)
2023-24 results: 25-10 (lost to second-seeded Tennessee in Sweet 16)
Opening of the season: November 6 against UTRGV, 9 p.m., FS2
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 27 vs. Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m., Max
Projected starting lineup
Steven Ashworth (11.1 PPG)
Pop Isaacs (15.8 PPG at Texas Tech)
Jamiya Neal (11.0 PPG at Arizona State)
Mason Miller (5.6 PPG)
Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.3 PPG)
2023-24 results: 16-17 (lost to South Carolina in second round of SEC Tournament)
Opening of the season: November 6 vs. Lipscomb, 8 p.m., SEC Network+
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 9 vs. Baylor, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
Projected starting lineup
DJ Wagner (9.9 PPG at Kentucky)
Johnell Davis (18.2 PPG at Florida Atlantic)
Adou Thiero (7.2 PPG at Kentucky)
Trevon Brazile (8.6 PPG)
Jonas Aidoo (11.4 PPG at Tennessee)
2023-24 results: 19-14 (lost to Nebraska in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals)
Opening of the season: November 6 against SIUE, 9 p.m., BTN
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 16 vs. South Carolina, 4 p.m., Peacock
Projected starting lineup
Myles Rice (14.8 PPG at Washington State)
Kanaan Carlyle (11.5 PPG at Stanford)
Mackenzie Agbo (12.2 PPG)
Malik Reneau (15.4 PPG)
Oumar Ballo (14.2 PPG at Arizona)
2023-24 results: 27-10 (lost to 11th-seeded NC State in Sweet 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Stony Brook, 8:30 p.m., FS1
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 19 vs. Purdue, 9 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup
Kam Jones (17.2 PPG)
Stevie Mitchell (8.8 PPG)
Chase Ross (6.1 PPG)
David Joplin (10.8 PPG)
Ben Gold (5.0 PPG)
2023-24 results: 21-13 (lost to 2nd seed Tennessee in round of 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Ohio State, 10 p.m., TNT
The biggest match at the start of the season: Dec. 8 vs. UConn, 5 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup
Jordan Pope (17.6 PPG at Oregon State)
Tramon Mark (16.2 PPG at Arkansas)
Tre Johnson (No. 5 in ESPN 100)
Arthur Kaluma (14.4 PPG at Kansas State)
Kadin Shedrick (7.7 PPG)
2023-24 results: 22-15 (lost to Indiana State in NIT quarterfinals)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7 p.m., ESPN+
The biggest match at the start of the season: December 14 against Xavier, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Projected starting lineup
Jizzle James (8.8 PPG)
Dan Skillings Jr. (12.9 PPG)
Simas Lukosius (11.8 PPG)
Dillon Mitchell (9.6 PPG at Texas)
Aziz Bandaogo (6.6 PPG)
2023-24 results: 24-12 (lost to 10th seed Colorado in round of 16)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. South Florida, 8:30 p.m., SEC Network
The biggest match at the start of the season: Dec. 17 vs. North Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup
Walter Clayton Jr. (17.6 PPG)
Alijah Martin (13.1 PPG at Florida Atlantic)
Will Richard (11.4 PPG)
Alex Condon (7.7 PPG)
Rueben Chinyelu (4.7 PPG at Washington State)
2023-24 results: 16-17 (lost to Oregon in Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals)
Opening of the season: November 4 against Rider, 10:30 p.m., FS1
The biggest match at the start of the season: December 14 in Arizona, 3 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup
Dylan Andrews (12.9 PPG)
Dominick Harris (14.3 PPG at Loyola Marymount)
Kobe Johnson (10.9 PPG at USC)
Tyler Bilodeau (14.3 PPG at Oregon State)
William Kyle III (13.1 PPG at South Dakota State)
2023-24 results: 23-10 (lost to 14th seed Oakland in round of 16)
Opening of the season: Nov. 4 vs. Wright State, 7 p.m., ESPNU
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 12 vs. Duke, 9 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup
Lamont Butler (9.4 PPG at San Diego State)
Koby Brea (11.1 PPG at Dayton)
Jaxson Robinson (14.2 PPG at BYU)
Andrew Carr (13.5 PPG at Wake Forest)
Amari Williams (12.2 PPG at Drexel)
2023-24 results: 20-12 (lost to Texas A&M in second round of SEC tournament)
Opening of the season: November 4 vs. LIU, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network+
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 28 vs. BYU, 4:30 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup
Sean Pedulla (16.4 PPG at Virginia Tech)
Matthew Murrell (16.2 PPG)
Dr. Davis (15.0 PPG at Seton Hall)
Jaemyn Brakefield (12.9 PPG)
Malik Dia (16.9 PPG at Belmont)
2023-24 results: 15-17 (lost to Maryland in first round of Big Ten tournament)
Opening of the season: November 6 against Wagner, 6 p.m., BTN
The biggest match at the start of the season: November 27 vs. Alabama, 10 p.m., TBS
Projected starting lineup
Dylan Harper (No. 4 in ESPN 100)
Jeremiah Williams (12.2 PPG)
Airious “Ace” Bailey (No. 2 in ESPN 100)
Zach Martini (8.4 PPG at Princeton)
Emmanuel Ogbolé (2.1 PPG)