NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2024-25 season

3. Houston Cougars

The Cougars had a successful first year in the Big 12, winning the regular season title and making the Sweet 16 overall. But they had to replace its best player Jamal Shead, who averaged 12.9 ppg and 6.3 apg, earning Conference Player of the Year honors. Rotation guard Damian Dunn opted to transfer out to Pittsburgh as well.

The good news is that everyone else is back for Houston. Leading scorer LJ Cryer (15.5 ppg) returns as a favorite for Big 12 Player of the Year, while Emanuel Sharp (12.6 ppg) will have a larger role too. Mylik Wilson is one of the top backup ball-handlers, while Terrance Arceneaux is back after missing most of last year with injuries.

The frontcourt remains intact, making the team top-tier on the defensive end. Starters Ja’Vier Francis and J’Wan Roberts return, with Joseph Tugler is back after his own injury issues. Look for redshirt freshmen Kordelius Jefferson and Jacob McFarland to be a potential part of the rotation after sitting out last year.

The x-factor for Houston will be transfer Milos Uzan, who started two years at Oklahoma. He averaged 9.0 ppg and 4.4 apg on 39% shooting from the field and is a proven Big 12 performer. If he can have anywhere near the kind of impact that Shead had as the lead guard, the Cougars will be a Final Four contender again.