Early top-25 rankings for the 2023-24 college basketball season
Though UConn’s national championship is just a week old, it’s never too soon to look ahead to next year’s college basketball season.
With most recruits signed to their new destinations, and the ever-growing transfer portal in full swing, we take a look at our top 25 teams entering the offseason.
1. UConn
It’s only right to begin ranking next season’s teams with the dominant squad that won the NCAA Tournament by defeating each opponent by double digits. In UConn’s case, its main losses will be wings Jordan Hawkins and probably Andre Jackson. Star big man Adama Sanogo may also depart, but 7-foot-2 beast Donovan Clingan is more than ready to take his spot if needed. Promising sophomore Alex Karaban, along with three 4-star recruits, fill out a second straight formidable roster for the Huskies.
2. Michigan State
Michigan State is poised to bring the perfect blend of old and new to the 2023-24 campaign. Should Malik Hall return for his fifth season, the Spartans will bring back eight of their 10 leading scorers from a Sweet 16 season, along with one of the nation’s best recruiting classes led by five-star big man Xavier Booker and guard Jeremy Fears. With Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo leading the way, Michigan State could be the class of the Big Ten next year.
3. Marquette
While wing Olivier-Maxence Prosper may jet for the NBA, Marquette is slated to bring back every other important piece from its Big East-winning squad last season. The duo of conference Player of the Year Tyler Kolek and big man Oso Ighodaro may be the best one-two punch in the country, and sharpshooter Kam Jones has breakout written all over him. It is worth being cautious about the ceiling of teams that “run it back,” but those squads rarely return the majority of a top-10 unit like Marquette will.
4. Kentucky
The last time Kentucky brought in four top-15 recruits, the team went 32-6 and earned a trip to the Elite Eight in 2017. John Calipari and the Wildcats bring in a similarly excellent group this go-around, including three of the four best prospects in the nation, per ESPN. That is a massive haul, even if some would consider the upcoming class to be relatively weak. The cherry on top would be if 2022 National Player of Year Oscar Tshiebwe pulls out of the NBA draft for his fifth season, which seems like a realistic possibility.
5. Houston
Houston is set to lose multiple key rotation players from its No. 1 seed squad, but coach Kelvin Sampson’s identity will still be all over this roster. Complimentary guard Jamal Shead will be thrusted into a main role, and sophomores Terrance Arceneaux and Emanuel Sharp, along with transfers LJ Cryer and Damian Dunn, are skilled and athletic. The biggest surprise of this group may be big man Ja’Vier Francis, who was fifth nationally in Player Efficiency Rating last season through limited minutes.
6. Duke
Duke is bringing three 5-stars into the fold for the second straight season, with Jon Scheyer picking up right where Coach K left off on the recruiting trail. The incoming class, led by forward Mackenzie Mgbako, will be accompanied by veteran guard Jeremy Roach and a pair of talented freshmen from this past season – Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell. There isn’t much else returning for Duke, which does put some pressure on a very young group.
7. Arizona
Regardless of who is placed around them, Arizona will be just fine so long as big men Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo are on its side. The international tandem combined to average 34 points and 17.7 rebounds per game last season. Kerr Kriisa’s transfer fills a need at guard that will be partially filled by rising sophomore Kylan Boswell, who was the youngest player in college basketball last season. Adding another backcourt member in the portal would be the finishing touch on another title-contending Wildcats squad.
8. Purdue
The most important decision still to come in regards to next season is whether reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey returns to Purdue or heads to the NBA. Our ranking is assuming he bolts to the league, but the Boilermakers would jump into the top five if he does come back to school. Most of Purdue’s core outside of Edey is returning, with sophomore guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer set to pick up the scoring load if the team is short its monstrous big man.
9. Tennessee
If Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James return for their fifth seasons in Knoxville, Tennessee will be deep, experienced, and defensive-minded once again. The Volunteers have multiple breakout candidates in Jahmai Mashack, Jonas Aidoo, and Tobe Awaka, along with three 4-star recruits. With spark plug Zakai Zeigler coming back from his ACL injury, Rick Barnes will coach some of the best defensive personnel he’s had throughout his tenure.
10. Creighton
Starting point guard Ryan Nembhard’s departure to the transfer portal is huge, and prevents an elite four-man junior class that will look to improve on its Elite Eight appearance. With the additional possibility of Arthur Kaluma heading to the NBA, remaining stalwarts Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner are going to need a little help if the Bluejays want to compete with UConn and Marquette at the top of the Big East. But this is still a talented group regardless.
11. UCLA
Much like this past season, UCLA may have some issues with depth, but so long as Tyger Campbell is running the show at point guard and Mick Cronin is roaming the sidelines, the Bruins will remain competitive. Sophomore Amari Bailey seems primed to be the team’s leading scorer after a strong completion to his first season, and big man Adem Bona could be the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. If one of the team’s three 4-stars breaks out, the sky is the limit for this squad.
12. USC
USC is primed to earn its fifth-straight 22+ win season thanks to the return of veteran scoring guard Boogie Ellis and a handful of young players ready to make an impact. No. 3 overall recruit Isaiah Collier is the highlight as a physical, downhill guard with soft touch. But sophomores Tre White, Vince Iwuchukwu, and Kijani Wright may be the biggest keys to the team’s success if all can improve on up-and-down rookie campaigns in Los Angeles.
13. Texas A&M
If Buzz Williams and Texas A&M are able to bring back fifth-year senior Tyrece Radford in the backcourt with burgeoning star Wade Taylor, the Aggies may have one of the best pairs of guards in the nation. The duo combined to average 29.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game last year, and helped lead their squad to the second-best record in the SEC, the program’s best finish since 2016.
14. Arkansas
Arkansas has done an excellent job of using the transfer portal in recent years, and the early returns this offseason indicate more of the same. Houston’s Tramon Mark and Washington’s Keyon Menifield bring a great blend of production and potential to the Razorbacks. With a pair of highly regarded freshmen and a slew of returners led by veteran guard Devo Davis, depth will be a strength for this squad.
15. Texas
With Texas’ three leading scorers graduating, the Longhorns’ identity next season will be focused on defense. They definitely have the personnel to pull it off – Tyrese Hunter is one of the best perimeter defenders in the country, and No. 5 recruit Ron Holland is a top defensive player in the freshman class. This team seems primed to add a key transfer or two to the mix, and its ceiling will be raised even further if efficient big man Dylan Disu comes back for his fifth year.
16. Gonzaga
For the first time in what feels like forever, Gonzaga won’t have Drew Timme manning the post. The Bulldogs also don’t have any potential one-and-done prospects coming in to boost their ceiling. The transfer portal will have to be coach Mark Few’s friend this offseason, but considering the program has won at least 28 games in an eye-popping 11 straight seasons, the odds are they’ll figure it out come November.
17. Kansas
Though he’s one of the best coaches in the country, Kansas’ Bill Self will have his work cut out for him next season. The Jayhawks’ three leading scorers are likely off to the NBA, and former top prospect MJ Rice, who was expected to take the reigns on the wing as a sophomore, opted to transfer. The team also has no 5-star prospects joining the fold. Returning starters Dajuan Harris and KJ Adams may have to blossom into superstars for something close to a repetition of last year’s No. 1 seed.
18. Ohio State
It was a surprising down year for Chris Holtmann and Ohio State last season, but momentum from a Big Ten tournament run should carry over. Rising sophomores Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle, along with big man Zed Key, should be the team’s go-to guys, a really solid recruiting class will serve as important depth, and Minnesota transfer Jamison Battle will provide veteran leadership.
19. Alabama
Seven of Alabama’s 10 minutes leaders last season are projected to depart the program, which leaves lots of room for internal and external improvement. Former Ohio transfer Mark Sears is in position to lead the team in scoring, and big man Charles Bediako could blossom in his third campaign. While the Crimson Tide’s freshman class has no star like Brandon Miller, a well-rounded group with four 4-stars could make an impact from day one.
20. Florida Atlantic
There are two ways to approach Florida Atlantic’s ranking for next season. One could argue the Owls are a top-five group because they are likely to return nearly their entire rotation from a Final Four squad. On the other hand, it could be said that this core has already reached its ceiling, and got a little fortunate this March by winning their Round of 64 matchup on a controversial call and drawing 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the second round. Our prognosis tends to fall more in the latter category.
21. San Diego State
While leading scorer Matt Bradley and two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Mensah depart the national runner-up, San Diego State brings back the other five of its seven minutes leaders from last season. Lamont Butler looks like a breakout star after his clutch March shotmaking, and the frontcourt duo of Keshad Johnson and Jaedon LeDee are as athletic a pairing as you’ll find in mid-major hoops. Plus, these Aztecs will always be playing dominant defense under Brian Dutcher.
22. Saint Mary’s
Saint Mary’s guard Aidan Mahaney showed signs of superstardom as a freshman, and could be one of the best players on the West Coast in 2023. Big man Mitchell Saxen is the team’s other returning double-digit scorer, a massive yet nimble post player who could average a double-double as a senior. That duo, combined with coach Randy Bennett’s stifling defensive scheme, should be enough to compete with Gonzaga at the top of the WCC again.
23. Miami
With All-ACC member Jordan Miller graduating and conference Player of the Year Isaiah Wong likely leaving for the NBA, Miami will have two giant holes on its roster next season. Luckily, the Hurricanes still have two key starters in Nijel Pack and Norchard Omier in the fold, and will hope for improvement from guards Wooga Poplar and Bensley Joseph. Plus, Miami’s large NIL pockets could land another big name in the transfer portal.
24. Maryland
Jahmir Young, Donta Scott, and Julian Reese are a super solid and experienced core for coach Kevin Willard to build around in his second year at Maryland. The Terrapins also have the benefit of bringing in three 4-star prospects that are primed to make an impact early in their careers. This team lacks a bit of dynamism on the wing, but that could quickly get fixed by a couple of transfers as the offseason moves along.
25. Colorado
Colorado enters next season as a wild card after missing the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years, but the team is set to improve across the board. Key returners KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva both made an All-Pac 12 team in 2022-23, and will be joined by TCU transfer Eddie Lampkin, a mammoth around the rim and on the glass. However, the biggest addition for the Buffaloes may be Cody Williams, a rapidly rising freshman now up to No. 6 in ESPN’s rankings, who’s brother is Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Jalen Williams.
