Ten Predictions For the 2024-2025 Men's College Basketball Season
Takes Ranging from Mild to Firey
College basketball is right around the corner, and boy oh boy am I excited. I’m going to make ten predictions for the upcoming men's college basketball season, ranging from lukewarm to scorching hot takes. At the end of the season, we can take a look back to see what I got right and what I got wrong. Without further ado, let's jump into the first prediction.
The ACC Isn’t the Worst Power Conference
It is fairly commonly accepted at this point that the ACC looks like the weakest of the power conferences. The conference is top-heavy, with both Duke and UNC being some of the best teams in the country, but after that the competition falls off pretty heavily. I think Wake Forest led by Hunter Salis can make waves this year in the ACC, and are likely to be a tournament team. Along with Wake Forest, I think Clemson, Pitt and maybe Miami will also make the tournament. Virginia certainly has the talent to make the tournament, but the sudden retirement of head coach Tony Bennett leaves that a bit up in the air. At the end of the year, when it’s all said and done, I think the ACC teams will have better results than teams from the Big 10, and maybe even the Big East.
Gonzaga Has a Disappointing Season and Crashes Out Before the Sweet Sixteen
Gonzaga is ranked #6 in the preseason poll, but I’m a little more doubtful of the Bulldogs chances this season than the AP voters. I think they’ll drop at least two out of three versus Baylor, Kentucky, and Connecticut, and get upset a few times in conference. I can see them as a four or five seed in March that gets bounced out of the tournament early.
UConn Ends the Season with Double-Digit Losses
Doubting on Dan Hurley and Connecticut has been proven to be pretty foolish over the past couple of years, but that’s not going to stop me from hating on the Huskies. If UConn had a target on their back last season, that target is now an all-points bulletin for every team in the country. The Big East is just as good, if not better, and I think the group of “second tier” teams in the Big East are much better than last year. Xavier, Cincinnati, and Providence should all be much better than last year.
A Guard Wins the Player of the Year Awards for the First Time Since the 2017-18 Season
Jalen Brunson at Villanova was the last guard to win the many various “player of the year” awards at the men's d1 level in 2018, but I think that changes this year. The two guards likely to take home the hardware are Alabama's Mark Sears and UNC’s RJ Davis. Sears will likely be the best player on one of the best teams in the nation, always a good formula for success. RJ Davis is simply one of the best players in college, and with one final year left in his college career, I expect him to have one of his best seasons yet.
Baylor Are One of the Best Teams in the Country and Make the Final Four
Baylor is poised to have an incredible year. Getting veteran transfers Jeremy Roach from Duke and Norchad Omier from Miami are huge for the program. The veteran leadership should serve nationally ranked #5 recruit and five-star signee VJ Edgecombe well, I’m very high on him and looking forward to seeing him have a great season. All this, plus the steadfast leadership (and national championship pedigree) of Scott Drew positions Baylor to have an incredible year. If they can see their way through a treacherous Big 12 slate of games, they’ll have an excellent season.
Hunter Dickinson has a Disappointing Season
Hunter Dickinson is a preseason All-American, but I’m not buying it. Him and his Kansas squad struggled down the stretch last season, and Dickinson himself dealt with some nagging injuries, leading him not to play in the 2024 Big 12 Tournament. In the National Tournament they barely squeaked past Samford, and then got demolished by Gonzaga. Dickinson isn’t going to have any more of an easier job this year, and I’m not confident in his ability to be one of the best players in the country, which is what Kansas needs him to be for them this season.
Oregon Surprises in the Big 10 and makes a run in March
Off the heels of a 24-12 season, I think the Ducks can only improve from here. They enter their first year in the Big 10 with high hopes and a roster full of veteran talent. Look for Jackson Shelstad to have a great season. I can see Oregon as a six or seven seed that makes a small run and knocks off one or two teams in March.
McNeese State has Another Great Season, and Will Wade is Hired Away by a Power Team
Okay, this one might not be too hot. McNeese are runaway favorites to win the Southland conference in year two under Will Wade. Right off a 30-4 season, they are showing no signs of slowing down. That early-season matchup versus Alabama should be a fun one. I’m rooting for them to make some noise in March.
Saint John’s has a Poor Season in Year Two Under Rick Pitino
One of the largest media circuses in all of college basketball over the past few seasons has been that of formerly disgraced coach Rick Pitino in his quest to lead Saint John’s to glory. From publicly blasting his players last year calling them “so unathletic they can’t guard anybody without fouling.” and calling his team “not very tough” to calling the schools facilities “shitty,” Pitino has high expectations and a lot of talking to back up. Frankly, I hope he falls on his face and gets embarrassed. Saint John’s doesn’t have the talent or focus required to compete in the Big East.
Duke Wins the National Championship
This is the year. It’s coming back to Durham.
ACC Homer