NCAA Basketball: Alabama, Kentucky rises in latest way-too-early top-25 power rankings for 2024-25

22. Cincinnati Bearcats

It’s been a sneaky good offseason for the Bearcats, bringing back each of its top three scorers to start out. Guards Daniel Skillings, Simas Lukosius, and Day Day Thomas are back, joined by Bradley transfer, Connor Hickman. And while they did lose a couple of frontcourt pieces, they added former 5-star prospect, Dillon Mitchell, from Texas.

There’s plenty of depth on this roster for Cincy and the defensive potential of Mitchell and Aziz Bandaogo is high inside. We’ll see if someone can breakout into an All-Big 12 player to raise the overall ceiling for this team. Otherwise, they’ll be vulnerable versus the top tier of the loaded conference.

21. Florida Gators

The big news around the draft deadline was the return of Walter Clayton, who led the team with 17.6 ppg last season. While Zyon Pullin is gone, the Gators will have Clayton, Will Richard, and FAU transfer Alijah Martin to round out the backcourt. The key will be the frontcourt production after losing Tyrese Samuel.

Chattanooga transfer Sam Alexis could start but the sophomore duo of Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon could be breakout candidates. The health status of starting center Micah Handlogten is something to watch but there's plenty of depth on this roster overall.