College basketball rankings: UCLA’s rebuilt roster has the Bruins moving up in the way-too-early Top 25 And 1

Kansas

This rating relies on Bill Self’s Jayhawks returning three of the high six scorers – particularly Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams and Dajuan Harris – from a crew that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The additions of AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Rylan Griffen (Alabama) and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) from the switch portal, plus two top-50 highschool prospects, will give Kansas the kind of depth it lacked throughout this previous season that was derailed by Kevin McCullar’s lack of availability. — 23-11
2

Houston

This rating relies on Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars returning eight of the high 10 scorers – all people in addition to Jamal Shead and Damian Dunn – from a crew that gained the Big 12 by two video games and earned a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A backcourt of LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Oklahoma switch Milos Uzan ought to make the Cougars amongst the favorites in the Big 12. — 32-5
3

N. Carolina

This rating relies on Hubert Davis’ Tar Heels returning three of the high 5 scorers – particularly RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble – from a crew that gained the ACC regular-season title and secured a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. UNC can be including a top-10 recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell – plus Belmont switch Cade Tyson – that ought to give the program an opportunity to make a twenty second look in the Final Four. — 29-8
4

UConn

This rating relies on Dan Hurley’s Huskies returning 5 of the high 9 scorers – particularly Alex Karaban, Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson, Solomon Ball and Jaylin Stewart – from a crew that gained the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Transfers Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and Tarris Reed (Michigan), plus five-star freshman Liam McNeely, are amongst the newcomers anticipated to maintain UConn in rivalry for a 3rd straight nationwide championship. — 37-3
5

Iowa St.

This rating relies on TJ Otzelberger’s Cyclones returning the high 4 scorers from a crew that gained 29 video games and earned a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Both Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert might compete for Big 12 Player of the Year honors and place Iowa State to possibly make what can be the program’s first journey to the Final Four since 1944. — 29-8
6
(*25*) This rating relies on Scott Drew’s Bears returning three of the high seven scorers – particularly Langston Love, Jayden Nunn and Josh Ojianwuna – from a crew that secured a No. 3 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The addition of a top-10 recruiting class headlined by Duke switch Jeremy Roach, Miami switch Norchad Omier and five-star wing VJ Edgecombe ought to assist offset the departures and have Baylor in its sixth straight NCAA Tournament. — 24-11
7

Gonzaga

This rating relies on Mark Few’s Zags returning each rotation piece in addition to Anton Watson from a crew that superior to the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Graham Ike needs to be the preseason WCC Player of the Year and the predominant cause Gonzaga makes the NCAA Tournament subsequent March for the twenty sixth straight time. — 27-8
8

Alabama

This rating relies on Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide returning two of the high 5 scorers — particularly Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell — from a crew that superior to the 2024 Final Four. The addition of top-35 freshmen Derrion Reed and Labaron Philon – plus transfers Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers), Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), Chris Youngblood (USF) and Aden Holloway (Auburn) – ought to hold Alabama in the nationwide dialog even when Mark Sears stays in the 2024 NBA Draft, which is the present projection right here. — 25-12
9

Duke

This rating relies on Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils returning two of the high six scorers — particularly Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor — from a crew that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Duke additionally has the sport’s top-ranked recruiting class headlined by Syracuse switch Maliq Brown, Purdue switch Mason Gillis and five-star phenom Cooper Flagg, the final of whom is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2024 and projected No. 1 choose of the 2025 NBA Draft. — 27-9
10

Auburn

This rating relies on Bruce Pearl’s Tigers returning three of the high 5 scorers – particularly Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones – from a crew that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The addition of five-star freshman Tahaad Pettiford and Furman switch JP Pegues ought to have Auburn in rivalry to possibly make a second Final Four. — 27-8
11

Texas A&M

This rating relies on Buzz Williams’ Aggies returning 4 of the high 5 scorers – all people besides Tyrece Radford – from a crew that superior to the second spherical of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Wade Taylor might enter the season as the favourite to win SEC Player of the Year for the second straight season, and the addition of SMU switch Zhuric Phelps ought to have Texas A&M in a 3rd straight NCAA Tournament. — 21-15
12

Purdue

This rating relies on Matt Painter’s Boilermakers returning six of the high eight scorers – all people in addition to Zach Edey and Lance Jones – from a crew that superior to the title sport of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers have completed in the high 25 at KenPom.com 9 straight years, and there’s no cause to suppose that streak gained’t proceed subsequent season even with out the two-time National Player of the Year. — 34-5
13

Arizona

This rating relies on Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats returning 4 of the high eight scorers — particularly Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis and Motiejus Krivas — from a crew that gained the Pac-12 regular-season title and secured a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Arizona’s top-five recruiting class headlined by Oakland switch Trey Townsend, Tennessee switch Tobe Awaka, Campbell switch Anthony Dell’Orso and top-40 highschool prospects Joson Sanon, Carter Bryant and Jarari Phillips ought to assist make the program’s transition to the Big 12 go comparatively easily. — 27-9
14

Ohio St.

This rating relies on Jake Diebler’s Buckeyes returning two of the high seven scorers – particularly Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal – from a crew that missed the NCAA Tournament however closed with an 8-3 report after Diebler changed Chris Holtmann in February. The additions of South Carolina switch Meechie Johnson, Kentucky switch Aaron Bradshaw, San Diego State switch Micah Parrish and Duke switch Sean Stewart ought to assist Ohio State be related once more in Diebler’s first full season. — 22-14
15

Marquette

This rating relies on Shaka Smart’s Golden Eagles returning each rotation participant in addition to Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro from a crew that secured a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Kam Jones’ announcement that he’ll return means Marquette may have a fourth-year guard who simply averaged 17.2 factors per sport to construct round. — 27-10
16

Tennessee

This rating relies on Rick Barnes’ Volunteers returning two of the high 5 scorers — particularly Zakai Zeigler and Jordan Gainey — from a crew that gained the SEC regular-season title and secured a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The departures of Dalton Knecht, Jonas Aidoo and Josiah-Jordan James are enormous, however Tennessee ought to nonetheless simply make the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight yr thanks in half to the additions of Hofstra switch Darlinstone Dubar, Ohio State switch Felix Okpara and Charlotte switch Igor Milicic Jr. — 27-9
17

Indiana

This rating relies on Mike Woodson’s Hoosiers returning three of the high 4 scorers — particularly Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway — from a crew that completed tied for sixth in the Big Ten. The additions of Myles Rice (Washington State), Oumar Ballo (Arizona), Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) and Luke Goode (Illinois) from the switch portal means Indiana is including 4 skilled items, three of whom simply spent a season beginning in the Pac-12. — 19-14
18

UCLA

This rating relies on Mick Cronin’s Bruins returning 4 of the high 5 scorers – all people besides Adem Bona – from a crew that completed fifth in the Pac-12. The additions of Skyy Clark (Louisville), Kobe Johnson (USC), Dominick Harris (Loyola Marymount), Eric Dailey Jr. (Oklahoma State), Tyler Bilodeau (Oregon State) and William Kyle III (South Dakota State) from the switch portal, and top-35 level guard Trent Perry from the Class of 2024, suggests UCLA ought to have a pleasant bounceback season. 2 16-17
19

Creighton

This rating relies on Greg McDermott’s Bluejays returning three of the high six scorers – Ryan Kalkbrenner, Steven Ashworth and Mason Miller — from a crew that superior to the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The addition of Arizona State switch Jamiya Neal offers an skilled double-digit scorer to assist offset the losses of Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander. 1 25-10
20

Florida

This rating relies on Todd Golden’s Gators returning six of the high 9 scorers – all people in addition to Zyon Pullin, Tyrese Samuel and Riley Kugel – from a crew that secured a No. 7 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The transfer-portal additions of Alijah Martin (FAU) and Sam Alexis (Chattanooga) give Florida a pair of productive mid-major items, the former of whom helped Florida Atlantic make the 2023 Final Four. 1 24-12
21

Texas

This rating relies on Rodney Terry’s Longhorns returning two of the high six scorers – particularly Kadin Shedrick and Chendall Weaver – from a crew that secured a No. 7 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A top-25 recruiting class headlined by five-star guard Tre Johnson, Arkansas switch Tramon Mark and Oregon State switch Jordan Pope needs to be sufficient to get Texas to what can be a fifth straight NCAA Tournament. — 21-13
22

Rutgers

This rating relies on Steve Pikiell’s Scarlet Knights solely returning one double-digit scorer (Jeremiah Williams) from a crew that completed beneath .500. But the enrollment of five-star prospects Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper — plus NEC Player of the Year Jordan Derkack and Eastern Michigan switch Tyson Acuff — will give Rutgers sufficient expertise to begin the season with a quantity beside its title. — 15-17
23

Arkansas

This rating relies on John Calipari’s Razorbacks returning zero gamers from a crew that completed 16-17 underneath Eric Musselman. Arkansas continues to be constructing however already achieved sufficient to crack these rankings by securing commitments from transfers Johnell Davis (FAU), Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee), Adou Thiero (Kentucky) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Kentucky) and heralded freshmen Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond. — 16-17
24

Xavier

This rating relies on Sean Miller’s Musketeers returning three of the high seven scorers – particularly Dayvion McKnight, Trey Green and Dailyn Swain – from a crew that completed tied for eighth in the Big East. The return of Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter from accidents, plus the enrollment of transfers Dante Maddox (Toledo), Ryan Conwell (Indiana State), John Hugley (Oklahoma), Marcus Foster (Furman) and Cam Fletcher (Florida State) ought to have Xavier in rivalry to enhance as a lot as anyone from one season to the subsequent. 2 16-18
25

Providence

This rating relies on Kim English’s Friars 4 of the high seven scorers — particularly Bryce Hopkins, Jaden Pierre, Corey Floyd and Rich Barron — from a crew that completed tied for sixth in the Big East. Bensley Joseph (Miami), Jabri Abdur-Rahim (Georgia), Christ Essandoko (Saint Joseph’s) and Wesley Cardet Jr. (Chicago State) are three incoming transfers who mission as probably starters at Providence. 1 21-14
26

Michigan St.

This rating relies on Tom Izzo’s Spartans returning 5 of the high eight scorers – particularly Jaden Akins, Tre Holloman, Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears and Carson Cooper – from a crew that secured a No. 9 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Combine that with a recruiting class headlined by top-50 freshmen Jase Richardson and Kur Teng, plus Omaha switch Frankie Fidler, and Izzo ought to prolong his streak of NCAA Tournament appearances to 27. 1 20-15