Following an exciting offseason after UConn defeated San Diego State in the 2022-2023 national championship game, it’s finally time for the 2023-2024 college basketball season! The NCAA has gone under a drastic change over the past few years due to the use of the transfer portal, making the field wide open for the 2024 season. One team who has taken advantage of the transfer portal is currently the betting favorite to win it all; Kansas. After losing Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick, Kansas needed to add a star to build around returning players Kevin McCullar and DaJuan Harris. They did add that star by acquiring Michigan’s former star big-man, Hunter Dickinson.
Another contender is Duke. This is now the second year Coach Jon Scheyer will handle the team after the legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski retired in 2022. Scheyer’s team is loaded, headlined by returning sophomore Kyle Filipowski. Supporting Filiposwki is senior guard Jeremey Roach, sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor, and one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. Starting the season ranked 2nd in the AP poll.
While there are definitely more contenders to win it all in March, the last two we will touch on reside in the Big ten conference. Purdue and Michigan State will start the season ranked third and fourth in the AP poll. Puride is returning the national player of the year, Zach Edey, who is a 7 ‘4 giant and impossible to stop around the rim. While Purdue is led by a historic player, Michigan State is led by their historic coach, Tom Izzo. Michigan State made a sweet sixteen run last year and they are looking to run it back with their experienced guard trio of A.J Hoggard, Jaden Aikins, and Tyson Walker, with the addition of 5-star big-man Xavier Booker, who should play more as the season goes on.