NCAA Basketball: Power ranking all 364 teams for 2024-25 season

It is finally here! The greatest sport in the world is back! The 2024-2025 NCAA basketball season is set to commence, and it will be a great season. That means the rankings, betting lines, and, most importantly, real live games with fans are almost here. Every team in the country could utilize the transfer portal to bolster their teams. With the new NIL deals and the new NIL markets, some schools have created what they call a super team. This is also something to monitor as it is a huge basis for many transfers this year. That will make this year even more interesting because there are a lot of teams who could have some of their best seasons ever and some teams who have assembled their best rosters ever.

There are also a lot of teams who can make the final four. Usually, heading into a season, there are eight to ten teams who have a reasonable chance to make a final four, and this year, with the overall talent pool being expanded because of the extra NIL money and the sheer volume of transfers, means there are around 15 to 20 different teams who can reasonably make a final four and five or six of those teams can win a National Title. This is going to be an extremely interesting year for those reasons. There is also one new Division 1 team this season. Two teams have joined Division 1, making it an even 364 teams. The Mercyhurst Lakers and the West Georgia Wolves are the two teams who have been added to the Division 1 ranks.

Getting all of that out of the way below, you will find the comprehensive preseason rankings for all 364 teams in NCAA Division 1 Basketball. In each ranking, I also provide a player to watch for each team; preseason rankings do not mean much but are usually a good indicator of where the team stands heading into the season, and it is a vehicle for the broadcasters and fans alike to talk about. Enough of the introduction; let us get on with the rankings. Enjoy!

364. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils - Last Season Ranking: 362

Conference: SWAC

The Delta Devils were predicted to be the worst team in the country last year and their 1-30 record would show they were. They had the worst offense in the country and one of the worst defenses. Mississippi Valley State has a revamped roster with JUCO players and I don’t know if that will make the Delta Devils any better. Antonio Sisk averaged 19 a game in JUCO last year.

363. Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - Last Season Ranking: 347

Conference: MEAC

It is a new era for the Hawks as former head coach Jason Crafton leaves after a pretty successful career at Eastern Shore. Cleo Hill Jr. is the new coach for Maryland Eastern Shore and not a single player on the roster earned minutes for the Hawks last year. It is a rebuilding year for the Hawks. Hassan Perkins scored 16 a game last year in JUCO.

362. Coppin State Eagles - Last Season Ranking: 355

Conference: MEAC

Coppin State moved on from Juan Dixon before the start of the year, and it didn’t get any better for new coach Larry Stewart. The Eagles won two games last year but couldn’t score, rebound, or move the ball. This year, coach Stewart has acquired more talent through the transfer portal and has a star guard in Ryan Archey to work with. They enter the year on a 13-game losing streak.

361. Mercyhurst Lakers - Last Season Ranking: N/A

Conference Northeast

This is first season in Division 1 for Mercyhurst. The Lakers and head coach Gary Manchel play a defensive style of basketball that will lead to a lot of games being low scoring and close. Mercyhurst had trouble scoring last season, but the Northeast is a conference that is a perfect starting point for the Lakers. Jeff Planutis averaged 17 points per game last year.

360. VMI Keydets - Last Season Ranking: 351

Conference: Southern

VMI went 1-28 against Division 1 competition last season. The Keydets had one of the worst offenses coupled with one of the worst defenses in the country. That led to every starter finding a new place to play. VMI isn’t going to be good again and it is getting grim for head coach Andrew Wilson. Rickey Bradley Jr. returns to the Keydets after a year at Georgia State. He will be their star.

359. Houston Christian Huskies - Last Season Ranking: 359

Conference: Southland

The Huskies enter a new era with a new coach in Craig Doty. Coach Doty has turned around the programs he has led but Houston Christian has a long history of being one of the worst teams in the sport. They were the worst defensive team in the country last season. This year the new coach has brought in a new roster from the transfer portal. It has a lot of experience but needs to improve its talent. Peyton Rogers was the conference defensive player of the year at Emporia State, he can hopefully start to set the tone on defense.

358. IU Indianapolis Jaguars - Last Season Ranking: 324

Conference: Horizon League

The school formerly known as IUPUI was a little better last year than the previous year but former coach Matt Crenshaw still lost his job. The Jaguars brought in Paul Corsaro from University of Indy to be the new coach. The team has zero players who got minutes last year. Ebenezer Ogoh has a very high ceiling coming from Harcum College.

357. Texas A&M Commerce Lion s- Last Season Ranking: 285

Conference: Southland 

The Lions are entering their third season in Division 1, and they have had identical 13-win seasons. Texas A&M Commerce has struggled in the Southland. Offense has never been a problem, but defending has led to their downfall. It also doesn’t help that the Lions must play a ton of buy games. This year, the roster is full of JUCO players and is led by Scooter Williams Jr., who averaged over 20 a game last season.

356. Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions- Last Season Ranking: 341

Conference: SWAC

The Lions had one of the best offenses in the country last year but one of the worst defenses. All of that and Pine Bluff ended up with 13 overall wins and finishing in the middle of the SWAC. It felt like a missed opportunity because of the amount of scoring that team had. The Lions enter the year with a largely unproven roster and may have a tough year. Quentin Bolton had a promising year at Charleston Southern.

355. Long Island University Sharks - Last Season Ranking: 358

Conference: Northeast

Rod Strickland has the almost impossible task of trying to rebuild the Long Island program. The Sharks were better last year, winning seven games in total but being far more competitive in the Northeast conference. It looks like it will be another tough year for Long Island this year. They did lose their three top scorers and have a very young team. Terell Strickland needs to be healthy this season for the Sharks.

354. Stonehill College Skyhawks - Last Season Ranking: 335

Conference: Northeast

Year 2 was a completely different experience for coach Chris Krause and the Skyhawks. They went from winning the NEC in year 1 to finishing last in the league and winning four games overall. Stonehill had a hard time scoring and an even harder time defending. If they can keep the game low-scoring, they give themselves a great chance every night. Chas Stinson runs an efficient offense and will be the leader for the Skyhawks.

353. Lindenwood Lions - Last Season Ranking: 357

Conference: Ohio Valley

Lindenwood has its best roster since joining Division 1 in the 2022-2023 season. Coach Kyle Gerdeman was able to fill the roster with experienced transfers who have played a lot of college basketball. The hope is that this helps turn this program around quickly. Reggie Bass has already had a great career at Central Michigan and Kent State and is going to be the star for the Lions in his final season.

352. Buffalo Bulls - Last Season Ranking: 254

Conference: MAC

I missed on Buffalo last year, I figured they would be a lot better than they turned out to be. The Bulls won 4 games and had one of the worst offenses and worst defenses in the country. Head coach George Halcovage is trying hard to get this program back to their expectations but there isn’t much to fall back on. Anquan Boldin Jr. has immense talent and is ready for a breakout.

351. Florida A&M Rattlers - Last Season Ranking: 348

Conference: SWAC

It has been 17 years since the Rattlers had a winning season. That was also the last season Florida A&M made the NCAA tournament. The Rattlers are in full rebuild mode under new head coach Patrick Crarey II. The roster has a lot of transfers but doesn’t have much quality depth. Milton Matthews followed the coach from the previous school and scored 45 points in a game last year.

350. St. Francis (Pa) Red Flash - Last Season Ranking: 360

Conference: Northeast

Saint Francis was not a good team last year. They had one of the youngest rosters in the country, and it showed. This year, it will not be any different, as the Red Flash lost three of their five starters, including their top two scorers. Coach Rob Krimmel has his work cut out for him, but he does have a star point guard in Ace Talbert to build the team around.

349. Cal Poly Mustangs - Last Season Ranking: 345

Conference: Big West

Cal Poly enters a new era with coach Mike DeGeorge. Coach DeGeorge had a great run at Colorado Mesa and will now be tasked with building up the Mustangs' program. Cal Poly only won four games last season, so that is a tall order. It is going to start with a heavy three-point offense and building the team with shooters. Mac Riniker followed his coach from Colorado Mesa and shot over 40% from deep last year. Coach DeGeorge hopes it translates.

348. Fairleigh Dickinson Knights - Last Season Ranking: 299

Conference: Northeast

The Knights finished in the top half of the NEC again, but this time Fairleigh Dickinson was blown out in the first round of the NEC tournament. Head coach Jack Castlebury has a young team that is inexperienced at the Division 1 level this year but still has enough to be competitive in the league. Jo’el Emanuel is a breakout candidate in the NEC.

347. Loyola Maryland Greyhounds - Last Season Ranking: 307

Conference: Patriot League

The Greyhounds had a tough year and the year culminated with 7 wins and a last place finish in the Patriot League. Loyola Maryland couldn’t score outside of one player who averaged 18 a game. They became very predictable on offense. The roster doesn’t have much this year in the way of go to scorers but they will defend, play slow, and keep games close. Milos Ilic is the most experienced returning player.

346. The Citadel Bulldogs - Last Season Ranking: 293

Conference: Southern Conference

The Citadel will always be the team that has never made the tournament in over 100 years of playing basketball. All things must come to an end, but unfortunately for the Bulldogs, this year is not the year they will make the tournament. Coach Ed Conroy has a young roster and not much depth. Brody Fox averaged 27 points a game last year in Division 3.

345. South Carolina Upstate Spartans - Last Season Ranking: 280

Conference: Big South

The Spartans head into the 2024-2025 season with a new coach and a new roster. Head coach Marty Richter gets his first head coaching job after six years on the bench at Drake. He helped turn Drake into a MVC power. USC Upstate does not have a single player that received minutes on the roster this year. Isaiah Skinner has the highest ceiling of any player on the roster.

344. New Orleans Privateers - Last Season Ranking: 296

Conference: Southland

The Southland isn’t a very deep conference, and New Orleans will be thankful for that this season. The Privateers have a new coach and a young roster and lost 90% of their scoring from last season. It looks like it will be a tough year in the bayou for New Orleans, but they are in a rebuilding phase. Turk Vincent is a potential breakout player and has a very high ceiling.

343. Detroit Mercy Titans - Last Season Ranking: 301

Conference: Horizon League

Everybody missed on Detroit Mercy last year. The Titans won 1 game and were not competitive the entire season. That got the previous coach fired and brought in alumni Mark Montgomery to coach the team. The roster is mostly young and inexperienced, and it will likely be another tough year in Detroit. Ryan Hurst showed a lot last year before he got hurt.

342. Holy Cross Crusaders - Last Season Ranking: 333

Conference: Patriot League

Holy Cross started out well and beat Georgetown in DC last season. That high only lasted for a little while as the Crusaders struggled to score points, defend, and ultimately win games. Head coach Dave Paulsen heads into year 2 with an unproven roster but does have three out of five starters back, including leading scorer Caleb Kenney. The Crusaders may be a little better.

341. Sacred Heart Pioneers - Last Season Ranking: 286

Conference: MAAC

The Pioneers leave the Northeast conference and start play in the MAAC this year. Sacred Heart had one of the oldest rosters in the country last year which means they have one of the youngest and most inexperienced rosters this year in the transition. The MAAC is a better conference and Sacred Heart may struggle this year with their youth. Tanner Thomas will have a huge breakout for the Pioneers.

340. LeMoyne Dolphins - Last Season Ranking: 361

Conference: Northeast

The Dolphins passed their first test in the Northeast Conference, finishing in the top half of the league and beating the league favorites in the regular season. Season 2 will be the true test. Coach Nate Champion had to rebuild the roster using the transfer portal and lost two 15-point per-game scorers. Darrick Jones Jr. is a three-point shooter ready for a breakout.

339. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles - Last Season Ranking: 316

Conference: Ohio Valley

The Golden Eagles have always been one of those teams that always has a chance to win the Ohio Valley. They are going to finish in the middle of the league, and with the talent upgrade they have this year, they may be a team to take seriously once conference play starts. Jaylon Johnson was an All-American at the College of Southern Idaho and can score at an elite level.

338. Chicago State Cougars - Last Season Ranking: 315

Conference: Northeast

The Cougars were the talk of the non conference season last year when they beat NCAA tournament team Northwestern and took Kansas State to the wire. The Cougars are going through some changes this year as they have a new conference in the NEC, a new coach in Scott Spinelli, and a revamped roster. Brent Davis is the player with the most experience on the roster.

337. Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks - Last Season Ranking: 288

Conference: Ohio Valley

The Skyhawks won a share of the regular season Ohio Valley title last year before losing to Morehead State. Now the entire roster has flipped, and coach Ryan Ridder is off to a new job. Head coach Jeremy Shulman brought a lot of his team from Eastern Florida State Junior College with him. It might be a tough year for Tennessee Martin. Tarence Guinyard had a decorated Junior College career and is an elite scorer.

336. Alabama A&M Bulldogs - Last Season Ranking: 334

Conference: SWAC

Like all SWAC teams, the Bulldogs will likely not win much until 2025. However, they will be competitive in the SWAC and will do so in an unorthodox way. Alabama A&M is extremely balanced, rarely shoots threes, and gets fouled a lot. They do most of their work in the paint and at the line. The talent is just lacking compared to power schools. Angok Anyang can score from everywhere and should have a breakout year.

335. NJIT Highlanders - Last Season Ranking: 327

Conference: America East

The Highlanders are in a full rebuild, and coach Grant Billmeier enters his second year with some nice foundational pieces. The second year is usually better than the first, and given that NJIT couldn’t score and couldn’t defend, everyone in the program hopes it's better. The America East is a tough conference to rebuild in. Tariq Francis looks to build off his 15-point-per-game effort last year.

334. Prairie View A & M Panthers - Last Season Ranking: 336

Conference: SWAC

The Panthers won 10 games last year, but for the first time in a while, they were not a factor in the SWAC. Head coach Byron Smith flipped the entire roster, most of it with players from the JUCO ranks. There are a lot of question marks with the roster, but they still have talent enough to make a little noise in the SWAC. Braelon Bush should be the starting point guard and the star of the team.

333. Siena Saints - Last Season Ranking: 269

Conference: MAAC

Heading into last season, I never would have guessed that the Saints would be one of the worst teams in the country. Siena won four games, barely scored, and couldn’t stop anyone. This cost former coach Carmen Maciariello his job. The 2024-2025 season is a rebuilding year with new coach Gerry McNamara. Justice Shoats averaged 20 points per game in JUCO last season.

332. West Georgia Wolves - Last Season Ranking: N/A

Conference: Atlantic Sun

This is the Wolves' first season in Division 1. West Georgia is coming off one of its best seasons in school history and has been trending upward under coach Dave Moore. Division 1 is a much harder level, and the Wolves' expectations need to be tempered. Kyric Davis is a JUCO all-American who will lead the team through the transition.

331. Eastern Illinois Panthers - Last Season Ranking: 343

Conference: Ohio Valley

Head coach Marty Simmons has done a great job with Eastern Illinois's rebuild. The Panthers play a slow defensive brand of basketball that relies on getting the ball inside and, if run correctly, is hard to prepare for. The Panthers won 14 games last year and finished middle of the pack in the Ohio Valley. That is likely the story again for Eastern Illinois. Kooper Jacobi returns from injury to be the star of the team.