NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2024-25 season
1. Kansas Jayhawks
As good as Kansas was last season, the team's lack of depth, which was a preseason concern, proved to be its downfall in March. Kansas lost star wing Kevin McCullar, along with freshman forward Johnny Murphy and guard Nicolas Timberlake. Sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson is also out for this season due to a recent injury.
To Coach Bill Self’s credit, he added as much depth as possible this roster. Guard Dajuan Harris is back to run the offense, joined by several transfers. Rylan Griffen was a double-digit scorer at Alabama, while AJ Storr (16.8 ppg) led Wisconsin in scoring. David Coit was a 20 ppg scorer at Northern Illinois, while Zeke Mayo (18.8 ppg) comes over from South Dakota State and reigning Summit League Player of the Year. Even former Mississippi State guard Shakeel Moore gives them backcourt depth off the bench.
The Jayhawks also bring back Hunter Dickinson, one of the best players in the country. He averaged 17.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg in his first year with the program and will be an All-American candidate again. In contrast, KJ Adams (12.6 ppg) remains one of the more underrated impact players as a key defender and versatile athlete. Plus, the team adds 5-star center prospect Flory Bidunga to add to the frontcourt depth.
Next. Top 100 returning players for 2024-25 season. Top 100 returning players for 2024-25 season. dark
Alabama and Kansas have a great case for being the No. 1 preseason team. But the injuries to the Crimson Tide give an edge to the Jayhawks for now, though they, too, will have to work out their backcourt rotation. In what will be a loaded Big 12 group at the top, Kansas looks to be the favorite once again.