NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top-25 power rankings for 2024-25 season

11. Purdue Boilermakers

2023-24 season record: 34-5 (17-3 Big Ten)

Purdue has been one of the best teams in NCAA Basketball over the last few years but the program is going to get tested in a big way, now that Zach Edey won’t be around. The two-time National Player of the Year big man averaged 25.2 ppg and 12.2 rpg and had a whopping 37 points in the national title game against UConn.

Edey isn’t the only departure on the roster. Lance Jones (11.7 ppg) ran out of eligibility, while Mason Gillis and Ethan Morton have transferred out. The good news is that they’ll have the starting backcourt duo of Branden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, with Smith (7.5 apg) one of the best passers in the country.

Unless they land some transfers, the Boilermakers will be fairly young compared to most teams next season. Underclassmen Cam Hiede, William Berg, Myles Colvin and Trey Kaufmann-Renn will get larger roles, while top-40 prospect Kanon Catchings headlines a top-10 incoming recruiting class for the team.

Without Edey, Purdue will fall some spots. The question is by how much? We’ll see if the backcourt can lead the team to wins but for now, this is a top-20 group.