1
Houston
This ranking is based on Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars returning eight of the top 10 scorers – everybody besides Jamal Shead and Damian Dunn – from a team that won the Big 12 by two games and earned a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A backcourt of LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan should make the Cougars the favorite in the Big 12 based off of current roster projections even if the loss of Shead is undeniably important.
2
32-5
2
N. Carolina
This ranking is based on Hubert Davis’ Tar Heels returning three of the top five scorers – specifically RJ Davis, Harrison Ingram and Elliot Cadeau – from a team that won the ACC and secured a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. UNC is also adding a top-10 recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell that should give the program a chance to make a 22nd appearance in the Final Four.
1
29-8
3
Duke
This ranking is based on Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils returning three of the top six scorers — specifically, Jeremy Roach, Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor — from a team that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Duke also has the sport’s top-ranked recruiting class headlined by Cooper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 prospect in the Class of…..
