This upcoming 2024-25 NCAA College Basketball season will be a very interesting, jam-packed season. The new transfer portal is one of the main reasons why this season will be a must-see. Along with that, the freshman class coming into this year give several programs a chance to do great things. There are a handful of teams that have a really good chance at a national championship this year. Nevertheless, there are three teams in mind that I think will make a lot of noise and have a great chance at a title come tournament time in March.
The first team I see making a deep run this year is the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama made it all the way to the Final four last season, coming up short against the UConn Huskies. They still have major pieces from last year in Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
Mark Sears was electric last year, averaging 21.5 points per game and 24.2 points in the NCAA tournament. The 6’1 Guard chose to return to Alabama and was named to the AP Preseason All-American team. Forward Grant Nelson averaged 11.9 points a game last season and played in 37 games. He led the teams in rebounds as well. Nelson returning for the Crimson Tide is crucial, giving the Tide good size at the Forward spot and a good solid player on both sides of the ball. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. returns as a Graduate Guard as he averaged nine points a season ago. Wrightsell gives the Tide good three point shooting, as he shot 44.7 percent from the three last season and led the team in three point percentage.
Aden Holloway, a sophomore pick-up from Auburn in the transfer portal, adds huge offensive potential for Alabama, being next to Mark Sears who is one of the best scoring guards in the nation. This backcourt can arguably be one of the best backcourts in the 2024-25 season. Freshman Forwards Naas Cunningham and Derrion Reid also can add production to the team as they fit the play style of the Crimson Tide. It’s hard to see how this team cannot make another deep NCAA tournament run.
Another team I see making a tournament run is the Duke Blue Devils. They have one of the best recruiting classes in 2024, with Cooper Flagg being the top five-star recruit and already being projected to be the number one overall draft pick on multiple 2025 draft boards. Isaiah Evans and Kon Kneuppel also come in with this freshman class and they will be players to watch out for this season. Evans can be a great threat with his scoring ability and Kneuppel’s aggressive approach and three-point shooting will be crucial for the Blue Devils. Though they are freshmen, they have a great third year head coach in Jon Scheyer. He has been under Mike Krzyzewski as an assistant coach and plans to carry the tradition Duke has been known for.
Sophomore Guard Caleb Foster is a returning player for Duke. Foster plays with great pace and poise and has gotten better over this past off-season. He complemented Current Baylor Bear and Former Duke Blue Devil Jeremy Roach well in the backcourt at times last year at Duke. He will be a key player for Duke this season. Tyrese Proctor is also a returning piece for the Blue Devils. His experience with the Blue Devils will be vital for the team this year, as he has been with the Blue Devils since 2022. Going into his Junior year, he has a chance to show the freshman class the ropes of how Duke basketball is supposed to be played. If Proctor and Foster display good leadership and confidence throughout this season, a lot of teams will be in trouble. Not to mention notable transfers Sion James, a 6’ 6 Graduate Guard from Tulane and Mason Gillis, a 6’ 6 Forward from Purdue. They also add experience and playmaking to this Duke team, which makes the Blue Devils dangerous for the upcoming year given the majority of the rotating players can stay healthy this season.
The third team that I think has a big shot at an NCAA title this upcoming season is the UConn Huskies. The Huskies have won the national title two years in a row and Dan Hurley’s coaching system is a big reason for their success. The Huskies were dominant during their 2023 and 2024 NCAA tournament runs to the championship. They don’t plan to slow down as they have made moves to keep their winning culture alive.
Hassan Diarra is returning to play for the Huskies for his fifth year. He has been on both national championship teams under Dan Hurley so he understands the system and culture at UConn. Diarra returning to UConn is huge, as he was named the 2024 Big East Sixth Man of the Year. His presence and experience with the program will be huge, especially for the transfers and freshmen coming in. Along with Diarra, Junior Forward Alex Karaban returns to UConn. He averaged 13.3 points per game for UConn a year ago. Karaban also has been with the Huskies on their back-to-back championship runs. He provides great shooting behind the arc, as he shot 39 percent from three during his two years with the Huskies.
Dan Hurley brings in Junior Guard transfer Aidan Mahaney from Saint Mary’s. Mahaney was a vital part of the Gael’s offense in his two years there, averaging 13.9 points in both seasons. Mahaney’s poise and IQ as a point guard is exactly why UConn went and got him and Hurley trusts that he can play within the system. Tarris Reed Jr. from Michigan also joins the Huskies. He will be a great addition to the team. He can put up points and get crucial rebounds that can help the Huskies tremendously.
Freshman Forward Liam McNeeley, who was a key piece for the Montverde Academy Eagles aside Cooper Flagg, will be a player to watch for the Huskies. At 6’ 7, he can shoot the deep ball fairly well, and is another player who can be highly effective in the UConn offense. Solo Ball and Jaylin Stewart are returning to UConn for their sophomore seasons and have an understanding of how the Huskies run things. I would not be surprised at all if the UConn Huskies pull off a three-peat.
Photo creds: https://whnt.com/sports/mark-sears-returning-to-alabama-basketball-for-final-season/
Photo creds: https://images.app.goo.gl/a4DwN2m3pgfASHqM7
Sources: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/roster/_/id/150
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/roster/_/id/41
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/alabama/men/2025.html
https://rolltide.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
https://goduke.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
