Over a week ago, the AP preseason poll for the 2024-25 NCAA Basketball season was released. Alabama and Kansas got almost all of the first-place votes, with UConn, Houston, Iowa State, and Gonzaga rounding out the top six.
There were plenty of takeaways from the results among the 25 teams listed but there were also plenty of programs with potential that were left out. Looking at the unranked teams, which of them has the most potential to make a Final Four appearance?
Here are three teams to watch this season.
Illinois Fighting Illini
There are lots of questions with Illinois, having lost star wings, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Markus Domask. However, Coach Underwood retooled with some high-celing pieces. Transfers Kylan Boswell and Tre White have plenty of experience, with a big freshmen class to join. Guard Kasparas Jakucionis and big man Tomislav Ivisic are two of the top international prospects, while 6'8 wing Will Riley is a 5-star reclass player. From a raw talent standpoint, the Illini is a team who could have a big year, in the Big Ten and nationally.
Kansas State Wildcats
No program had as strong an end to the offseason than Kansas State, who landed multiple big-name transfers. Coleman Hawkins, Achor Achor, and Ugonna Onyenso, gives them a formidable frontcourt, while guard transfers Dug McDaniel, Christian Jones, and Brendan Hausen is a lethal scoring bunch. Coach Jerome Tang has taken a team to the Elite 8 already and this group has the talent to make just as deep of a run.
Miami Hurricanes
Yes, last season was rough for the Hurricanes, finishing at the bottom of the ACC standings. And losing three starters, including star big man Norchad Omier, doesn't help. However, the team does bring back a couple of all-league caliber players (Nijel Pack and Matthew Cleveland), along with a talented group of newcomers.
Jalen Blackmon averaged over 21 ppg at Stetson as a premier transfer scorer, while Jalil Bethea is a five-star guard prospect with plenty of potential. With bigs Lynn Kidd and Brandon Johnson giving Miami frontcourt depth, there's plenty of talent on the roster for an unranked team. If the defense can get it together, expect a big bounce-back year for the program.