It’s 100 days to men’s hoops! Top stories, players, games, more

In roughly 100 days, the wait will likely be over and the 2024-25 males’s faculty basketball season will start. Nevertheless it’ll appear to be a distinct season than one we’ve visible prior to.

John Calipari and alternative impressive coaches have brandnew properties — or are now not at the sidelines. An influence convention is formally not more. Supremacy gamers who will have declared for the NBA draft have made up our minds to go back for some other 12 months of faculty basketball and some other prospect at a countrywide identify run. The switch portal took over this season — and agree with us, the most efficient to be had gamers have been additionally the costliest within the call, symbol, likeness (NIL) wars.

The northeastern a part of america, then again, has produced essentially the most important faculty basketball headlines. Cooper Flagg — the Refuse. 1 engage within the magnificence of 2024 out of Maine — is ready to start his faculty profession at Duke. He may just form a historical season and hold the height spot in after summer season’s NBA draft.

And, reigning nationwide champion UConn’s Dan Hurley rejected an offer to coach the Los Angeles Lakers, and can stay in Storrs to chase a historical 3rd consecutive NCAA identify.

School basketball by no means in point of fact forbidden growing information next April 8. So, Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello are right here to backup you get stuck up with what took place as we start the countdown to November 4.

Soar to:
Storylines | Nonconference matchups | Player of the year candidates | Coaches | Freshmen | First-time conference matchups | Transfers | Breakouts

The most productive storylines

UConn‘s historical quest for a three-peat: Dan Hurley and the Huskies need to grow to be the primary program since John Picket’s UCLA groups — and most effective the second one program ever — to win 3 nationwide championships in a row. They noticed 4 gamers decided on in June’s NBA draft, however have reloaded with transfers Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and Tarris Reed Jr. (Michigan) in addition to top-10 engage Liam McNeeley. Attainable All-American Alex Karaban additionally choose to pull back from the NBA draft and go back for some other 12 months. UConn will likely be ranked within the preseason height 5. — Borzello

John Calipari is launch pristine at Arkansas: The splendid information got here ailing at the eve of the nationwide championship sport: John Calipari used to be departure Kentucky next 15 years for… SEC rival Arkansas. Issues had grow to be untenable for Cal in Lexington next the Wildcats’ first-round disappointed loss to Oakland — their 2d first-round travel in 3 years — and a chance to start out pristine in Fayetteville with plethora of NIL used to be remaining to cross up. He’s introduced a number of Kentucky gamers and incoming recruits with him, generation additionally including have an effect on transfers Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic) and Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee). Can Calipari modify, despite the fact that, is the most important query. He’s perceived to recognize he can’t develop title-contending groups with most commonly rookies anymore, however how temporarily will he adapt to the brandnew future of roster building? — Borzello

Mark Pope and the brandnew life of Kentucky: Then whiffing on big-name applicants for its successor to John Calipari, the blueblood college in the long run landed at the former BYU mentor and once-team captain at the 1995-96 Wildcats squad that received a countrywide championship. It hasn’t mattered to Pope that he wasn’t the primary selection, despite the fact that, as he’s temporarily grew to become early skepticism into optimism. Hundreds of fanatics attended his introductory press convention at Rupp Enviornment. He has a top-25 crew stuffed with elite transfers. Extra importantly, he understands that, generation he’s changing John Calipari, the usual has now not modified: he is aware of it’s at all times championship or bust in Lexington. — Medcalf

All optic on Cooper Flagg: There may not be a participant with extra consideration at this time than Duke‘s incoming freshman celebrity. He used to be the Refuse. 1 probability within the 2025 magnificence, later reclassified to 2024 and instantly become the Refuse. 1 probability in that magnificence. He’s the projected Refuse. 1 select within the 2025 NBA draft. He’s already receiving buzz as a possible Picket Award winner — particularly next his scrimmage performances in opposition to Crew USA for the US Make a choice Crew in Las Vegas previous this day. How some distance can Flagg lift the Blue Devils? — Borzello

Rutgers — Rutgers! — has two top-five NBA potentialities: Previous to the 2024 recruiting magnificence, the Scarlet Knights had simply six ESPN 100 potentialities because the ESPN males’s basketball recruiting database started in 2007. Simply a type of used to be ranked within the height 50: Mike Rosario in 2008. The Knights have produced two NBA draft selections since 1991. In Airious “Ace” Bailey and Dylan Harper, despite the fact that, Steve Pikiell has two of the height 4 recruits within the incoming magnificence, and two of the height 3 projected draft selections in ESPN’s 2025 mock draft. The expectancies in Piscataway had been raised dramatically. — Borzello

$2 million NIL summers: When the call, symbol, likeness craze started in the summertime of 2021, most effective the height stars in males’s and ladies’s basketball and faculty soccer fix vast trade in. 3 years after, the cost for an elite switch continues to be on one?s feet, confirmed by way of one of the vital money reportedly thrown round this offseason. Great Osobor, extreme season’s Mountain West participant of the 12 months, transferred from Utah State to Washington next securing, sure, a $2 million NIL do business in. Former Illinois standout Coleman Hawkins additionally reportedly signed a seven-figure NIL do business in to switch to Kansas State. — Medcalf

The returners: A couple of faculty basketball gamers who examined the NBA draft waters made up our minds to go back to university, making extra NIL money and sustaining the game’s height tier within the procedure. North Carolina‘s R.J. Davis is the one AP first-team All-American to go back however 4 alternative gamers who cracked the second one and 3rd AP groups (Hunter Dickinson, Caleb Love, Johni Broome and Mark Sears) will likely be in faculty jerseys once more. — Medcalf

Realignment can have shifted the stability of energy — however the Bulky 12 nonetheless appears the most efficient: There are plethora of brandnew systems in brandnew parks this season. The Percent-12 is not more. USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington are within the Bulky Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are within the Bulky 12. Texas and Oklahoma are within the SEC. Stanford, California and SMU are within the ACC. Oregon State and Washington State are (form of) within the WCC. In spite of the entire shuffling, despite the fact that, the Bulky 12 nonetheless appears to be the most efficient league within the nation, with Kansas, Houston, Baylor, Iowa State and Arizona all most probably top-10 groups. — Borzello

Indiana‘s scorching seat is lively once more: Mike Woodson, two-time All-American at Indiana within the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties, understands the project in Bloomington. He used to be rented in 2021 to show the Hoosiers into nationwide identify contenders once more. However that hasn’t took place, and his fan bottom is getting antsy. Indiana, which has 5 nationwide titles in its college historical past, is 31-29 within the Bulky Ten beneath Woodson, who’s now dealing with scorching seat communicate. He’ll now have to accomplish beneath power — albeit together with his easiest roster to week, which incorporates Arizona switch Oumar Ballo. –Medcalf

Doug Gottlieb, media personality-turned-head mentor: School basketball’s height brass hasn’t ever been afraid to suppose out of doors the field. Former NBA gamers with restricted training revel in have fix just right jobs. Millennials had been rented by way of powerbrokers. However Gottlieb, the brandnew Green Bay head mentor, has spent the majority of his skilled profession as a radio host and media persona. His pledge with the Horizon League college, which completed 18-14 extreme season, will permit him to mentor a Section I crew and proceed his display. This will likely be attention-grabbing, to mention the least. — Medcalf

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Easiest nonconference matchups

North Carolina at Kansas (Nov. 8): Two of essentially the most storied systems in faculty basketball historical past cross head-to-head, that includes two of the most efficient returning gamers: UNC’s RJ Davis and Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson. The Jayhawks may just discoverable the season ranked Refuse. 1, generation the Tar Heels will have to be within the height 10.

Duke vs. Kentucky (Nov. 12 in Atlanta on the Champions Vintage): Cooper Flagg’s marquee debut in faculty basketball. Mark Pope’s first colossal sport because the brandnew mentor of Kentucky. The alternative sport of the Champions Vintage will see Kansas tackle Michigan Surrounding.

Houston vs. Alabama (Nov. 26 in Las Vegas on the Gamers Moment Pageant): Each will most probably input the season ranked within the height 5 — with Alabama vying with Kansas for the Refuse. 1 spot. The Red Stream had been one of the most easiest offensive groups within the nation beneath Nate Oats, generation Houston’s protection beneath Kelvin Sampson is elite each and every season. (Additionally in Vegas in this week: Duke vs. Kansas on the Vegas Showdown.)

Baylor at UConn (Dec. 4): There have been a number of Huskies video games to choose between: In addition they face Gonzaga in Fresh York in mid-December. Both will likely be a just right check for Dan Hurley’s crew, which goes for 3 nationwide championships in a row; however this one could be tougher, as Scott Drew has situated the Bears as a reliable Ultimate 4 ultimatum with Jeremy Roach, Norchad Omier and V.J. Edgecombe at the roster.

Purdue vs. Auburn (Dec. 21 in Birmingham): How will Purdue fare within the post-Zach Edey life? Is Auburn’s Johni Broome significance of preseason All-American situation? The Tigers are knocking at the door of the preseason top-10, generation Matt Painter’s crew will tackle a distinct glance at the back of the veteran backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. — Borzello

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Participant of the 12 months applicants

Cooper Flagg, Duke: Most effective 3 rookies have received the lads’s Picket Award: Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson. Flagg may just realistically grow to be the fourth — and the second one participant from Duke. He registered double-figures in a matchup in opposition to Crew USA in June, drawing honour from height NBA stars. Presen it’s uncommon for a freshman to dominate a school basketball season, all indicators level to the 6-9 ahead doing simply that.

RJ Davis, North Carolina: The primary-team AP All-American is arguably the height returning participant in The united states next a stellar marketing campaign in 2023-24: 21.2 PPG, 40% from past the arc, 87% from the fund stripe. He additionally could be Flagg’s height pageant for this award. The reigning ACC participant of the 12 months, scored 30 issues or extra in 4 video games extreme 12 months.

Hunter Dickinson, Kansas: The go back of Dickinson, an all-Bulky 12 first crew member extreme 12 months, may have solidified Kansas because the Refuse. 1 crew in each and every respected preseason ballot. The 7-2 middle made 57% of his pictures within the arc and averaged 17.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG and 1.4 BPG extreme season. He used to be additionally ranked twenty second in EvanMiya.com’s BPG scores that measure a participant’s have an effect on when he’s at the ground.

Mark Sears, Alabama: The fifth-year standout is again for Nate Oats next averaging 21.5 PPG, 44 p.c from the 3-point layout at the season, 24.2 PPG within the NCAA match and important Alabama to its first Ultimate 4 look. He’s the chief of a program this is able to some other Ultimate 4 run. He’s additionally the height returning offensive participant, consistent with EvanMiya.com’s offensive BPR scores which measure a participant’s offensive have an effect on when he’s at the ground.

Caleb Love, Arizona: The reigning Percent-12 participant of the 12 months’s go back guarantees Tommy Lloyd’s program is a contender for the Bulky 12 championship in its first season within the league. The previous North Carolina switch shot 37% from 3 in Percent-12 motion on tips on how to the overall league championship. The 6-4 secure is without doubt one of the maximum explosive gamers within the nation. — Medcalf

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The brandnew coaches to look at

Mark Pope, Kentucky Wildcats: When we strike November, the offseason optimism and honour Pope has loved will shift, as he faces the expectancies each and every Kentucky head mentor has persevered. However, he’s greater than a former participant who changed John Calipari. At BYU, he received 110 video games in 5 years and led the Cougars to a fifth-place end within the Bulky 12, regardless of being picked to complete thirteenth of their first season within the league.

John Calipari, Arkansas Razorbacks: Cal’s tenure soured lately, however in his brandnew house he appears to be taking the similar manner that helped him seize a countrywide identify in Lexington greater than a decade in the past. Johnell Davis leads a gaggle of transfers, height freshman and previous Kentucky gamers in Calipari’s first season in Fayetteville, a 12 months that would come with the pursuit of an SEC championship.

Eric Musselman, USC Trojans: Musselman returns to California, the place he grew up (San Diego) and had a couple of training gigs (Yellowish Surrounding Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles D-Fenders). The previous Arkansas mentor, who reached the NCAA match two times within the generation 4 years, now replaces Andy Enfield, who completed 8-12 in league play games extreme season. He’ll need to rebuild the Trojans program however he’s excelled within the switch portal life.

Dusty Might, Michigan Wolverines: Then a historical Ultimate 4 run with Florida Atlantic in 2023, Might used to be a height candidate for training vacancies in that offseason however stayed in Boca Raton — as did the majority of that crew — for some other run. He now replaces Fab 5 member Juwan Howard at Michigan, and can try to reboot a program that received simply 8 video games in extreme season and now has extra league pageant with the addition of 4 former Percent-12 colleges.

Danny Sprinkle, Washington Huskies: Then profitable the Mountain West in his first and most effective season at Utah Surrounding, Sprinkle heads west for his, and Washington’s, first season within the Bulky Ten. He has loved a notable profession to week, profitable mentor of the 12 months in each the Mountain West and the Bulky Sky within the generation 3 years. His rebuild procedure used to be anchored by way of celebrity Great Osobor, whom he’s coached at each Utah Surrounding and Montana Surrounding. — Medcalf

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Learners to look at

Cooper Flagg, Duke: The hype circumstance Flagg is most effective getting extra intense next his performances with the US Make a choice Crew in opposition to the celebrities of Crew USA. He’s been on the height of the entire lists since he reclassified extreme summer season, and is anticipated to strike the field working in Durham.

Airious “Ace” Bailey and Dylan Harper, Rutgers: It’s a brandnew life for Steve Pikiell and Rutgers basketball. Each Bailey and Harper are projected top-five selections within the 2025 NBA draft. Harper could have the ball in his arms from time one, generation Bailey is considered one of Pikiell’s easiest offensive guns at the wing.

V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor: On a crew that welcomes big-name transfers Jeremy Roach and Norchad Omier and returns two double-figure scorers, Edgecombe has essentially the most buzz for the Bears. He’s an explosive ahead who can fill a lot of roles at the offensive finish and will likely be one of the most easiest transition gamers within the nation.

Liam McNeeley, UConn: If the Huskies push for a 3rd immediately nationwide identify, McNeeley could have a component to play games. He used to be one of the most easiest shot-makers within the 2024 magnificence, and is a high-level perimeter shooter who too can create pictures off the jump, advance with out the ball and end moving to the rim.

Jalil Bethea, Miami: Jim Larrañaga has traditionally given his guards self-rule to position up colossal numbers in Coral Gables, and Bethea might be after in layout. He’s a really elite offensive participant who can create pictures from at the back of the arc, beat his defenders off the jump and draw touch for simple issues on the free-throw layout. He will have to have some plenty offensive video games. — Borzello

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First-time convention matchups

UCLA at Indiana: However the Bruins are essentially the most smart of the brandnew quartet becoming a member of the Bulky Ten this season, with six transfers getting into the crease and Mick Cronin on the lookout for a bounceback season next 2023-24’s struggles. Indiana, in the meantime, has essentially the most gifted roster within the league — with 3 key transfers (Oumar Ballo, Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle) all coming from the Percent-12.

Purdue at Oregon: The Geese surged to the end extreme season, profitable the Percent-12 match and scary South Carolina within the first around of the NCAA match prior to falling in double extra time to Creighton. Their first Bulky Ten matchup in opposition to Purdue is especially smart given the fight on the level secure spot. Jackson Shelstad (the Geese) and Braden Smith (the Boilermakers) are two of the most efficient on the place.

Houston at Arizona: Tommy Lloyd’s crew is the most efficient of the Percent-12 systems shifting to the Bulky 12. This one is sure to poised the level in the most efficient convention within the nation, given the Wildcats’ offensive firepower and Houston’s staunch protection.

Arizona at Kansas: There’s celebrity energy around the board on this one, with All-American secure Caleb Love going in opposition to a loaded perimeter team from Lawrence. Lloyd will counter Hunter Dickinson with a mix of possible first-round select Motiejus Krivas and Tennessee switch Tobe Awaka ailing low.

Texas at Texas A&M: The Longhorns’ paintings within the switch portal has them within the preseason height 25. And now they’ve a prospect to reignite their competition with Texas A&M — some other crew that has situated itself within the height 25 to go into the season — of their first season within the SEC. UT will likely be doing it with transfers, generation A&M will likely be led by way of seven returners from a crew that took 1-seed Houston to extra time in extreme season’s NCAA match. — Borzello

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Transfers to look at

AJ Storr, Kansas Jayhawks: The 6-7 secure entered the offseason as one of the crucial coveted gamers within the portal. He averaged 16.8 PPG extreme season at Wisconsin, however this season must proportion the workload on a stacked Kansas roster that incorporates Hunter Dickinson and South Dakota Surrounding switch Zeke Mayo. He might be one of the most offensive catalysts that propels this squad to some other Ultimate 4 run beneath Invoice Self.

Kadary Richmond, St. John’s Red Storm: Then important Seton Corridor to the NIT championship (21 issues, 13 rebounds) in an exciting 79-77 victory over Indiana Surrounding in April, the 6-6 secure entered the portal and instantly had an huge of suitors prior to choosing Rick Pitino. Richmond’s former head mentor Shaheen Holloway mentioned he can also be the most efficient participant at the ground, irrespective of the contest, when he desires to be. The all-Bulky East first crew variety extreme season may just blossom right into a family call beneath Pitino.

Johnell Davis, Arkansas Razorbacks: The co-American Athletic Convention participant of the 12 months extreme season will at all times be a legend at Florida Atlantic next important the Owls to a glorious Ultimate 4 run in 2023, later returning and getting again to some other NCAA match. He thought to be a advance to the NBA however selected to be the veteran standout and chief in John Calipari’s first season at Fayetteville.

Oumar Ballo, Indiana Hoosiers: With Ballo at the court docket extreme season, Arizona registered an adjusted offensive potency of 120.2 issues consistent with 100 possessions and an adjusted defensive potency of 88.4 issues consistent with 100 possessions. The seven-footer made 66% of his garden objective makes an attempt. In Bloomington, he’ll have a prospect to once more dominate the paint, with a crew that includes a couple of perimeter scorers.

Jeremy Roach, Baylor Bears: Impacted by way of accidents at key stretches extreme season, Roach used to be nonetheless a go-to participant for the Blue Devils, regardless of receiving much less buzz than NBA potentialities Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain: 14.0 PPG, 43% from the 3-point layout. Now, he’ll reprise that function beneath Scott Drew, who received a countrywide identify in 2021 with veteran guards who’d transferred to his program. — Medcalf

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Gamers with breakout possible

KJ Lewis, Arizona: This is a straightforward select. Lewis used to be a key contributor off the bench for the Wildcats extreme season, making performs at each ends of the ground. His physicality and body create him an element defensively and he scored in double figures 5 instances in Percent-12 play games, together with 18 in opposition to UCLA at the street. Must be extra of a ultimatum from the fringe — he made 42.9% of his 3s in Percent-12 play games however tried simply 21 of them in 20 video games.

Aaron Bradshaw, Ohio State: Don’t surrender for your Bradshaw shares simply but, regardless of him slightly enjoying ailing the stretch of Kentucky’s season. A former McDonald’s All American and the Refuse. 6 probability within the 2023 magnificence, Bradshaw used to be hampered by way of a base trauma extreme offseason and not on time his debut till December. He did display flashes of his monumental possible: 17 issues and 11 forums in opposition to Penn, 12 issues in opposition to North Carolina.

Jaylin Stewart, UConn: With 4 gamers from extreme season’s crew long gone to the NBA, Dan Hurley knew he needed to reload. However he didn’t wish to do a complete roster overhaul as a result of his agree with in extreme season’s function gamers — with Stewart (and Samson Johnson) tall on that listing. Stewart most effective grew to become 19 years worn in February and is already producing NBA draft buzz for after spring.

Camden Heide and Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue: With Zach Edey long gone, Matt Painter will want a few of extreme 12 months’s ancillary items to shoot main strides. Heide most effective averaged 3.3 issues extreme season, however he shot 45% from past the arc and has a 41-inch vertical bounce. There are worse bodily profiles on which to shoot a prospect. Kaufman-Renn in the meantime used to be extremely fruitful when given prolonged mins. He performed greater than 20 mins six instances extreme season, and strike double-figures in 5 of the ones — together with 18 issues and 8 forums in opposition to Utah Surrounding within the NCAA match and 23 issues in opposition to Illinois.

Jaland Lowe, Pittsburgh: Lowe already had one thing of a breakout all the way through the second one part of 2023-24: In 19 video games as Pitt’s starter extreme season, he averaged 13.1 issues, 3.7 rebounds and four.1 assists, capturing higher than 40% from 3-point dimension. With Bub Carrington off to the NBA, Jeff Capel will wish to exchange his scoring and playmaking within the backcourt — and Lowe’s function will have to most effective build up, making him a valid all-conference performer. — Borzello