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Dickie V's early Sweet 16, baby!
It's early, but Dickie V has locked in his favorite teams to make the Sweet 16 in March 2025.
Here's an early preseason look at my Sweet 16 teams heading into the 2024-25 men's college basketball season. After busy weeks of movement in the transfer portal and with rosters finally settling down, it's time to dive into which teams are going to be contenders next season.
The era of free agency has hit all collegiate sports, and it has been interesting to see how coaches, who used to sell a program and university lifestyle, have now become general managers, putting together teams based on market value. Those who find the best values will be the ones who succeed.
With that in mind, let's take a preliminary look at the top teams heading into the season -- and some of their key players.
1. Kansas Jayhawks
After four second-round exits in five NCAA tournaments, it looks like Bill Self has assembled a lineup that can make a deep run again. The addition of perimeter shooting should help in an area that was lacking last season.
• Returns: Three of the top six scorers in Hunter Dickinson, K.J. Adams Jr. and Dajuan Harris Jr.
• Transfer additions: AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Rylan Griffen (Alabama), Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) and Noah Shelby (Rice)
• Freshmen: Two top-50 prospects in center Flory Bidunga (No. 17 in the ESPN 100) and guard Rakease Passmore (No. 32 in ESPN 100)
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
The return of Mark Sears makes Alabama an immediate contender to return to the Final Four. Nate Oats brought in some interior depth to aid fifth-year senior Grant Nelson with the addition of All-Big Ten big man Clifford Omoruyi from Rutgers.
• Returns: Three of top five scorers in Sears, Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
• Transfer additions: Omoruyi and Aden Holloway (Auburn)
• Freshmen: Three top-30 recruits in Derrion Reid (No. 11 in ESPN 100), Aiden Sherrell (No. 21 in ESPN 100) and Labaron Philon (No. 30 in ESPN 100)
3. UConn Huskies
Dare I mention "three-peat"? Dan Hurley certainly has the semblance of a team that can make another run with St. Mary's transfer Aidan Mahaney joining Hassan Diarra in the backcourt. Alex Karaban headlines the frontcourt and is the early front-runner for Big East player of the year.
• Returns: Five of top nine scorers in Karaban, Diarra, Samson Johnson, Solomon Ball and Jaylin Stewart
• Transfer additions: Mahaney and Tarris Reed Jr. (Michigan)
• Freshmen: Five-star Liam McNeeley (No. 9 in ESPN 100) along with Ahmad Nowell (No. 34 in ESPN 100) and Isaiah Abraham (No. 58 in ESPN 100)
4. Houston Cougars
Kelvin Sampson and Houston made a big impact in their first season in the Big 12, and there's no letup in year two as shotmaker L.J. Cryer returns along with Emanuel Sharp for one of the premier backcourts in the nation.
• Returns: Eight of top 10 scorers with Cryer and Sharp in the backcourt. Ja'Vier Francis and J'Wan Roberts anchor the frontcourt.
• Transfer additions: Milos Uzan (Oklahoma)
• Freshmen: Mercy Miller (No. 68 in ESPN 100) and Chase McCarty
5. Iowa State Cyclones
With a veteran lineup, the Cyclones look to move past the Sweet 16, a spot they reached in two of the past three seasons. Returner Tamin Lipsey is the guts of T.J. Otzelberger's offense, and Milan Momcilovic is primed for a breakout sophomore season.
• Returns: Top four scorers in Lipsey, Momcilovic, Keshon Gilbert and Curtis Jones
• Transfer additions: Nate Heise (Northern Iowa), Dishon Jackson (Charlotte), Brandton Chatfield (Seattle) and Joshua Jefferson (St. Mary's)
• Freshmen: Four-star additions Nojus Indrusaitis (No. 67 in ESPN 100) and Dwayne Pierce