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

By Tristan Freeman

Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) talks with head coach Nate Oats during the Final Four semifinal game against Connecticut at State Farm Stadium.
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) talks with head coach Nate Oats during the Final Four semifinal game against Connecticut at State Farm Stadium. / Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
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18. Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue and UConn were battling for the top two spots in the rankings last season and faced off in the national championship game. But for the Boilermakers, they’ll be without Zach Edey, the two-time National Player of the Year big man who led the team with 25.2 ppg and 12.2 rpg.

He’s gone, and there’s simply no way for the team to replace him. The hope is that Purdue can get some combined production out of the five-spot among the bigs they do have. Trey Kaufmann-Renn could be a breakout candidate, while 7’3 freshman center Daniel Jacobsen could be the next great Purdue center.

The key is the returning backcourt. Braden Smith (12.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 7.5 apg) was a breakout star for the Boilermakers and one of the best pure passers in all of NCAA Basketball. Fletcher Loyer averaged 10.3 ppg on 44% shooting from deep and will have a larger role in the offense.

Even without top-40 freshman prospect Kanon Catchings (who de-committed to BYU in the offseason), Purdue's young core has talent, led by four-star guard Gicarri Harris and sophomores Myles Colbin and Camden Heide. While the Boilermakers will take a step back without Edey, they still can be contenders in the Big Ten this season.

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