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

10. Texas A&M Aggies - Last Season Ranking: 17

Conference: SEC

The Aggies were a team that needed help scoring consistently. They couldn’t shoot the ball from deep and ran an inefficient offense. Then, during the NCAA tournament, Texas A&M got hot and had two of the best scoring outputs of any team in the NCAA tournament. The Aggies return 4 out of 5 starters, and most of their depth from last year finds them in the top 15. Wade Taylor IV will be an All-American.

9. Gonzaga Bulldogs - Last Season Ranking: 9

Conference: West Coast

Gonzaga didn’t win the West Coast Conference last year, which was what many expected, as they were picked to finish second in the WCC in the preseason. The Bulldogs still had their normal season, made the NCAA tournament, and made the Sweet 16. Gonzaga appears to have fixed its issues this year, got a lot of extra ball handlers, and will still finish at the top of the conference. Ryan Nembhard is perfect for the Mark Few offense.

8. Baylor Bears - Last Season Ranking: 16

Conference: Big 12

Scott Drew has turned Baylor into one of the country's most consistent and predictable teams. Every season, the Bears will get a lot of high-profile Freshmen, run an excellent offense, shoot the ball well, and play great defense. That all leads to a team finishing at or near the top of the loaded Big 12 every year. Langston Love is ready for his breakout season.

7. Iowa State Cyclones - Last Season Ranking: 38

Conference: Big 12

Iowa State is becoming a Big 12 powerhouse under head coach TJ Otzelberger. The Cyclones finished second in the league last year, won the conference tournament, were a two-seed in the NCAA tournament, and made the Sweet 16. Iowa State has four of its top players back from last year and added three huge pieces in the transfer portal. They are going to be good again. Keshon Gilbert is one of the players running for conference Player of the Year.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels - Last Season Ranking: 28

Conference: ACC

The Tar Heels were in prove-it mode for me last year, and they proved it and then some. They won the ACC regular season, earned a 1 seed, and made the second weekend. Hubert Davis did a fantastic job with that team, but they still didn’t finish the job. North Carolina is among the top 10 this year as one of the favorites to win the title. RJ Davis will be a trendy pick for National Player of the Year.

5. UConn Huskies - Last Season Ranking: 5

Conference: Big East

The two-time defending champs have gone 68-11 over the last two years. The Huskies had one of their best teams ever last season, and it was pretty evident from the beginning of the year that they would win the title again. Head coach Dan Hurley has a lot of new pieces this season, and they are still a favorite for the National Title and can easily three-peat. Liam McNeeley is a five-star freshman who is likely one-and-done.

4. Duke Blue Devils - Last Season Ranking: 4

Conference: ACC

It does not matter the year you know Duke will be one of the best teams in the country. They are a basketball powerhouse, and last year, the Blue Devils got hot and made a run to the Elite Eight. Heading into this season, head coach Jon Scheyer has built a team with a lot of talent, incoming freshmen, and depth. Duke is going to be good. Cooper Flagg is a name you will hear a lot of this season.

3. Houston Cougars - Last Season Ranking: 6

Conference: Big 12

The move to the Big 12 from the American didn’t negatively affect Houston. They won the league outright and earned a top seed in the NCAA tournament. The Cougars would have made a deeper run but did lose their point guard in the Sweet 16 against Duke. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has most of the roster back from last season and is a favorite to win the Big 12 again. LJ Cryer shot just under 40% from deep last year.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide - Last Season Ranking: 19

Conference: SEC

Alabama made the Final Four last year and did it in true Nate Oats style. That is, shoot many threes, make a ton of threes, and be efficient on offense. The Crimson Tide also loves to play track meets and get out and run better than any other team in the country. Alabama has a lot of that roster back from last year and got some huge commitments in the transfer portal. They enter the year as my team to beat and will make a deep run again. Mark Sears is the best player in the country.

1. Kansas Jayhawks - Last Season Ranking: 1

Conference: Big 12

Kansas entered the preseason and ranked number 1 in my rankings last year. They were loaded from top to bottom but played a tough schedule and took some losses. The Jayhawks lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament, which was a disappointing season for the favorites to win the title coming into the year. Kansas is loaded again this year, opening the year in the top spot and my pick to win the National Championship. Hunter Dickinson is a finalist for the National Player of the Year.