Big 12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings entering 2024-25 season

2. Houston Cougars

Returning four of five starters on a team that ran away with the Big 12 regular season title last year was quite the start to the offseason for Kelvin Sampson. Losing Jamal Shead -- arguably the most irreplaceable PG in NCAA Basketball -- hurts, but instilling doubt in a Kelvin Sampson-led team is ill-advised.

Replacing Shead is Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan, who led the Sooners in assists (4.4) last season as a playmaking, versatile guard. Emmanuel Sharp will look to take another leap forward this season. LJ Cryer establishes veteran stability on the perimeter. J’Wan Roberts is back and so is a healthy Terrance Arceneaux.

The Cougars, who were recently ranked first in the country KenPom’s preseason rankings, show no signs of taking their foot off the gas pedal anytime soon.

1. Kansas Jayhawks

Arguably no team in NCAA basketball had a better offseason than the Kansas Jayhawks, the preseason No. 1 team in the country. 

Hunter Dickinson -- a consensus preseason All-American First Teamer -- returns. It’s veteran PG Dajuan Harris returns. The ultra-physical KJ Adams returns. That trio alone is as good as anybody in the country, but it's the supporting cast thatmakes the Jayhawks the top team in the Big 12.

The knock on Kansas last year was its lack of depth. And Bill Self made sure that would not happen again.

That’s where sharpshooter Rylan Griffen (Alabama) enters the fold. AJ Storr, among the top players available in the transfer portal, also enters the fold, filling the void left by Johnny Furphy. The reigning Summit League POY, Zeke Mayo, will find consistent minutes. Shakeel Moore (Mississippi State) and David Coit Jr. (NIU) are excellent backup options in the backcourt.

What transpired last year left a number on Bill Self. The Jayhawks are locked and loaded as the No. 1 team in the Big 12.