NCAA Basketball: Top 25 offseason winners entering 2024-25 season
No. 1 - UConn Huskies: Dan Hurley stays put in Storrs
It was a whirlwind, newsworthy-heavy of an offseason for the back-to-back reigning champs, the UConn Huskies. When the buzzer sounded and the confetti began to fall late Monday night in early April, it was widely accepted that HC Dan Hurley would have his work cut out for him in the spring, losing four starters in Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton -- all selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Thankfully for Hurley, he didn’t lose his fifth starter as Alex Karaban withdrew his name from the 2024 NBA Draft.
However, this wasn’t the news that got the most attention this offseason.
In June, Dan Hurley flirted with the Los Angeles Lakers opening. The Lakers presented an attractive offer, offering a reported six-year, $70 million offer to join LeBron James & Co. Despite the allure of joining the professional ranks, Hurley opted to stay put in Storrs -- a massive offseason win not only for the UConn Huskies but for the Big East and most importantly, college basketball in its entirety.
Top 100 impact transfers for 2024-25 season. dark. Next. Top 100 impact transfers for 2024-25 season
Having a coach coming off of two of the most dominant NCAA Tournament runs in history stay in the collegiate ranks makes the UConn Huskies the clear No. 1 offseason winner entering the 2024-25 season.