Breaking News: College Basketball Catch-Up: Terence’s too-early top five…
| Jane Fonda challenges USC students to combat climate issues
| Trojan transfers: live USC football transfer portal tracker
| 15 celebrities to keep your eyes out for at The LA Times Festival of Books
| 2024 Valedictorian won’t speak at commencement because of “ongoing conflict in the Middle East”
| Annenberg Media News App
| Heartfelt reflections on Ramadan
| Jane Fonda challenges USC students to combat climate issues
| Trojan transfers: live USC football transfer portal tracker
| 15 celebrities to keep your eyes out for at The LA Times Festival of Books
| 2024 Valedictorian won’t speak at commencement because of “ongoing conflict in the Middle East”
| Annenberg Media News App
| Heartfelt reflections on Ramadan
Column
College Basketball Catch-Up: Terence’s too-early top five
Previewing the 2024-25 season of men’s college basketball.
Expand
[A photo of two Duke men’s basketball players guarding a Syracuse player.]
Duke’s defense has held 24 of 27 opponents under their average scoring margin. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Yes, the college basketball season ended just one week ago, but a too-early ranking is just the thing to power you through until next season. Be wary, though: in the new era of the transfer portal, these lists can change drastically from now to November.
1. Duke
The Blue Devils are, per usual, at the top of the recruiting class rankings, sitting at No. 1 in the 247 ranking for the class of 2024. With four five-star recruits, including No.1 Cooper Flagg and No. 3 Khaman Maluach, Duke has easily the most loaded incoming freshman class in the country.
Duke just made its first deep tournament run under head coach Jon Scheyer, going all the way to the Elite Eight before bowing out to 11-seed NC State. While last year’s Blue Devil squad was incredibly talented, next year’s may be even better. That’s why, for the second year in a row, they are my too-early No.1 team.
2. Kansaa
Kansas never has two down years in a row. Head coach Bill Self will return with two of his leaders in juniors Dajuan Harris and K.J. Adams, as well as a stellar recruiting class and solid transfers. It will be hard to doubt the Jayhawks again.
The Jayhawks’ recruiting is fantastic, but Self is more the reason Kansas lands at No. 2. The Jayhawks dealt with a horrible string of injuries down the stretch of the season and are the main reason Gonzaga was able to blow Kansas out in the second round.
