2024-25 Top 144 Previews Men's Basketball

[ShockerFever]

I hear what you are saying, however, College Madness Top 144 is the preseason ranking. KenPom is the final ranking for the season.

I should have been clearer in my Headings.
Year is really 2018-19 Season:
Top 144 = 46
KenPom = 66
Variance = (-20)

That makes more sense. Thanks

[WuShock Reaper]

These types of pre-season rankings lost most of their value starting last year. With all the transfers these are mostly like playing darts blindfolded.

I think you might be on to something there, but that is only part of the issue.

Period	Top 144	KenPom	Variance
Pre Covid	27	24	3
Post Covid	81	105	-23

Pre Covid equals 2013-14 thru 2019-20. (7 Seasons)
Post Covid equals 2020-21 thru 2023-24. (4 seasons)


Here are my major driving forces for the variances:

Factors	Rank
Multi Coaches	1
Transfer Portal	2
Name, Image, & Likeness	3
Full Effect of Covid	4

[WstateU]

I think you might be on to something there, but that is only part of the issue.

Period	Top 144	KenPom	Variance
Pre Covid	27	24	3
Post Covid	81	105	-23

Pre Covid equals 2013-14 thru 2019-20. (7 Seasons)
Pre Covid equals 2020-21 thru 2023-24. (4 seasons)


Here are my major driving forces for the variances:

Factors	Rank
Multi Coaches	1
Transfer Portal	2
Name, Image, & Likeness	3
Full Effect of Covid	4

Losing HOF coach in an ugly way. Not defending him, but it was devastating to the program… the imperfect storm.

[WuShock Reaper]

#83 UAB Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23105

Conference Rank: #4 American

2023-24 Record: 23-12, 12-6
2023-24 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Andy Kennedy
Coach Record: 101-37 at UAB, 367-206 overall

Key Departed Players:
Eric Gaines, Guard, 12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.3 spg
Javian Davis, Forward, 9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.1 apg
Daniel Ortiz, Guard, 6.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg


Key Returning Players:
Yaxel Lendeborg, Senior, Forward, 13.8ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.1 bpg
Efrem Johnson, Junior, Guard, 11.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.7 apg
Alejandro Vasquez, Senior, Guard, 11.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.1 apg
Christian Coleman, Senior, Forward, 7.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Tony Toney, Senior, Guard, 4.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg

Key New Players:
Bradley Ezewiro, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Saint Louis
Greg Gordon, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Iona
Marquis Hargrove, Junior, Guard, Transfer from JC
Joey Kahn, Junior, Guard, Transfer from DII
Reginald Kennedy Jr., Freshman, Guard
Ja’Borri McGhee, Junior, Guard, Transfer from JC
Tyren Moore, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Georgia Southern
Makhi Myles, Freshman, Guard

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBC/CBI

[ShockerFever]

The UAB fans over on the AAC board think they’re destined for the NCAA’s after a fluky run. I think this projection is much more realistic.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

The UAB fans over on the AAC board think they’re destined for the NCAA’s after a fluky run. I think this projection is much more realistic.

I think the determining factor will be how the new roster pieces fit with the returning players. No question they have a talented roster, but if they take bad losses in the non-con (as they've been prone to do in recent years) they'll need to win the AACT to go dancing.

[WuShock Reaper]

#80 North Texas Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23116

North Texas Mean Green
Conference Rank: #3 American

2023-24 Record: 19-15, 10-8
2023-24 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Ross Hodge
Coach Record: 0-0 at North Texas, 0-0 overall

Key Departed Players:
Jason Edwards, Guard, 19.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
Rubin Jones, Guard, 12.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.5 spg
Aaron Scott, Forward, 11.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.3 bpg
CJ Noland, Guard, 10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg
Robert Allen, Forward, 7.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.2 apg
John Buggs III, Guard, 7.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Key Returning Players:
Rondel Walker, Senior, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
Moulaye Sissoko, Senior, Forward, 3.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Matthew Stone, Senior, Guard, 1.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg

Key New Players:
Jasper Floyd, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Fairfield
Ma’Syn Howell, Freshman, Guard
Latrell Jossell, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Stephen F. Austin
Brenen Lorient, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Florida Atlantic
Tyran Mason, Freshman, Guard
Johnathan Massie, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Longwood
Grant Newell, Junior, Forward, Transfer from California
Baron Smith Jr., Freshman, Forward
Brock Vice, Freshman, Center
Atin Wright, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Drake

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

[WuShock Reaper]

#78 Florida Atlantic Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23122

Florida Atlantic Owls
2024-2025 Overall Rank: #78
Conference Rank: #2 American

2023-24 Record: 25-9, 14-4
2023-24 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: John Jakus
Coach Record: 0-0 at Florida Atlantic, 0-0 overall

Key Departed Players:
Johnell Davis, Guard, 18.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.9 apg
Vladislav Goldin, Center, 15.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Alijah Martin, Guard, 13.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 spg
Nicholas Boyd, Guard, 9.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.8 apg
Brandon Weatherspoon, Guard, 7.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 apg
Bryan Greenlee, Guard, 6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.6 apg
Jalen Gaffney, Guard, 5.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg
Giancarlo Rosado, Forward, 4.8ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 apg
Brenen Lorient, Forward, 2.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg

Key Returning Players:
Tre Carroll, Junior, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Key New Players:
Amar Amkou, Freshman, Guard
Liam Dayco-Green, Freshman, Guard
Ken Evans Jr., Senior, Guard, Transfer from Jackson State
Kaleb Glenn, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Louisville
Mantas Kocanas, Freshman, Center
Baba Miller, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Florida State
Niccolo Moretti, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Illinois
Jakel Powell, Freshman, Guard
KyKy Tandy, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Jacksonville State
Devin Vanterpool, Freshman, Guard
Leland Walker, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Eastern Kentucky

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

[Kung Wu]

Projectection of 5th sounds about right..

We are being underestimated. I can feel it in my bones!

[WuDrWu]

That’s a lot of love and respect for FAU considering they lost their coach and best 8 players. They do return 1 guy that averaged 4 points a game.

[Dan]

That’s a lot of love and respect for FAU considering they lost their coach and best 8 players. They do return 1 guy that averaged 4 points a game.

the media always over values teams based on last years success. In this day and age, there's no real way to predict how well teams will work with their constant rotation of free agents.

[WstateU]

the media always over values teams based on last years success. In this day and age, there's no real way to predict how well teams will work with their constant rotation of free agents.

[WuShock Reaper]

#59 Saint Louis Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23175

Conference Rank: #3 Atlantic 10

2023-24 Record: 13-20, 5-13
2023-24 Postseason: None
Coach: Josh Schertz
Coach Record: 0-0 at Saint Louis, 403-109 overall

Key Departed Players:
Sincere Parker, Guard, 15.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Terrence Hargrove Jr., Forward, 13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Bradley Ezewiro, Forward, 12.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.1 apg
Tim Dalger, Fowrard, 9.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Michael Meadows Jr., Guard, 5.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.2 apg
Cian Medley, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.9 apg

Key Returning Players:
Gibson Jimerson, Senior, Guard, 15.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.1 apg
Larry Hughes II, Junior, Guard, 7.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 apg
Kellen Thames, Junior, Guard, 6.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg

Key New Players:
Kalu Anya, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Brown
Robbie Avila, Junior, Center, Transfer from Indiana State
Kilian Brockhoff, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from UC Santa Barbara
AJ Casey, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Miami (FL)
Josiah Dotzler, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Creighton
Kobe Johnson, Senior, Guard, Transfer from West Virginia
Amari McCottry, Freshman, Guard
Nick Patton, Freshman, Guard
Max Pikaar, Freshman, Forward
Jaden Schertz, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Indiana State
Isaiah Swope, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Indiana State
Dylan Warlick, Freshman, Forward

Projected Postseason Tournament:
NIT

[WuShock Reaper]

#49 Memphis Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23203

Conference Rank: #1 American

2023-24 Record: 22-10, 11-7
2023-24 Postseason: None
Coach: Penny Hardaway
Coach Record: 133-62 at Memphis, 133-62 overall

Key Departed Players:
David Jones, Forward, 21.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.2 spg
Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Forward, 14.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Jahvon Quinerly, Guard, 13.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.9 apg
Jaykwon Walton, Guard, 8.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.9 apg
Malcolm Dandridge, Forward, 8.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Caleb Mills, Guard, 7.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 apg
Jayden Hardaway, Guard, 3.1 pgp, 1.0 rpg
Ashton Hardaway, Forward, 2.3 ppg
Jayhlon Young, Guard, 2.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg

Key Returning Players:
Nicholas Jourdain, Senior, Forward, 6.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.2 apg

Key New Players:
PJ Carter, Senior, Guard, Transfer from UTSA
Moussa Cisse, Senior, Center, Transfer from Mississippi
Dain Dainja, Senior, Center, Transfer from Illinois
PJ Haggerty, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Tulsa
Jared Harris, Freshman, Guard
Tyrese Hunter, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Texas
Baraka Okojie, Sophomore, guard, Transfer from George Mason
Colby Rogers, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Wichita State
Tyreek Smith, Senior, Forward, Transfer from SMU

Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA

[WuShock Reaper]

#41 Wake Forest Men's Basketball 2024-2025 Preview

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23227

2024-2025 Overall Rank: #41
Conference Rank: #4 ACC

2023-24 Record: 21-14, 11-9
2023-24 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Steve Forbes
Coach Record: 71-54 at Wake Forest, 201-97 overall

Key Departed Players:
Kevin Miller, Guard, 15.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.5 apg
Andrew Carr, Forward, 13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.5 apg
Matthew Marsh, Center, 1.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Zach Keller, Forward, 1.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Key Returning Players:
Hunter Sallis, Senior, Guard, 18.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
Cameron Hildreth, Senior, Guard, 13.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.4 apg
Efton Reid III, Senior, Center, 9.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.3 bpg
Parker Friedrichsen, Sophomore, Guard, 5.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg
Marqus Marion, Sophomore, Forward, 1.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Key New Players:
Churchill Abass, Sophomore, Center, Transfer from DePaul
Omaha Biliew, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Iowa State
Mason Hagedorn, Freshman, Forward
Juke Harris, Freshman, Guard
Ty-Laur Johnson, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Louisville
Tre’Von Spillers, Senior, Forward, Transfer from Appalachian State

Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA - 11th-Seed