Way too early Top 25 for 2024-25

13. Florida Gators
Florida struck gold in the portal last spring and bringing in a few more reinforcements on the wing could be beneficial for the Gators again. But they should have an All-America candidate at the guard position in Walter Clayton Jr., one of the nation's top scorers, and Will Richard is a double-figure scorer. Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and a hopefully healthy Micah Handlogten form a terrific frontcourt group -- but another perimeter piece or two would be huge.

Projected starting lineup

Walter Clayton Jr. (17.6 PPG)
Will Richard (11.4 PPG)
Denzel Aberdeen (3.3 PPG)
Thomas Haugh (3.9 PPG)
Alex Condon (7.7 PPG)

 

1. Duke Blue Devils
2. Gonzaga Bulldogs
3. Kansas Jayhawks
4. UConn Huskies
5. Iowa State Cyclones
6. Purdue Boilermakers
7. Houston Cougars
8. Arizona Wildcats
9. Tennessee Volunteers
10. Baylor Bears
11. Marquette Golden Eagles
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
13. Florida Gators
14. BYU Cougars
15. North Carolina Tar Heels
16. Saint Mary's Gaels
17. Miami Hurricanes
18. Auburn Tigers
19. UCLA Bruins
20. Maryland Terrapins
21. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
22. Dayton Flyers
23. Kentucky Wildcats
24. Wisconsin Badgers
25. Cincinnati Bearcats

 

UConn is the favorite to win the 2025 national championship at ESPN BET and Caesars Sportsbook, opening with +900 and 10-1 odds, respectively. However, DraftKings (10-1) and FanDuel (11-1) have Duke favored to take home the top prize next season, with the Huskies coming in at second (14-1) and sixth (18-1) on those respective odds boards. BetMGM has Kansas and Duke tied at the top (11-1), with UConn right behind (12-1).

While there's a high degree of variance across the market, Houston (10-1), Alabama (13-1), Arizona (15-1), North Carolina (15-1) and Kentucky (18-1) are consensus top-10 teams on odds boards (odds shown via ESPN BET).

UConn, Duke installed as '25 NCAA title favorites

 

Hate to say this because of their great play this year, but with the right portal results I'd still prefer Condon & Haugh to keep coming off the bench.
They are both perfect players for a change of pace/energy, but the starters for SEC teams at the top will be too tough for their on-the-job training.
While the defense we get from both of them is pretty good....expecting any consistent scoring offensively from them probably won't be enough.

SG -Clayton, Aberdeen
PG - Pegues, Pope, Collins
SF - Richard, Haugh
PF - Alexis, Williams, Reed, Condon, Haugh
C - Omoruyi, Raynaud, Goldin, Wolf, Handlogten (if healthy), Condon

 

Added some other portal prizes at center I hope we have a chance with.

 

From the Athletic:

19. Florida
Projected starters: Walter Clayton Jr., Denzel Aberdeen, Will Richard, Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon

This is the epitome of betting on upside. The Gators have the core of an awesome team under Todd Golden, with a potential All-American in Clayton. He averaged 17.6 points and projects as one of the best scorers in all of college basketball next season. On top of that, they have a 6-foot-11 big in Condon who made the All-Freshman team in the SEC this season and is one of the most skilled returning bigs in the country. He can step out and shoot as well as score on the interior. We would bet on him as an All-SEC player next season. Richard is also a returning starter who averaged double-figures and can really shoot.

Having said that, their offseason will tell the story of where exactly they end up in the preseason. They project to have four or five scholarships to use on transfers at a school that has had real success with them. Zyon Pullin is a prime example this past season, as he became a first-team All-SEC guard in his lone year in Gainesville. Tyrese Samuel and Handlogten also had terrific years this past year. Handlogten remains on the roster, but it feels like a tough sell that he’ll be ready for the start of SEC play after his significant injury in the SEC tournament. Look for Florida to go get a terrific two-way guard to put next to Clayton in addition to some further frontcourt depth.

 

ESPN's new projected starting lineup

Walter Clayton Jr. (17.6 PPG)
Alijah Martin (13.1 PPG at Florida Atlantic)
Will Richard (11.4 PPG)
Alex Condon (7.7 PPG)
Reuben Chinyelu (4.7 PPG at Washington State)

 

15. Florida Gators
Previous ranking: 13

Florida struck gold in the portal last spring and has already reeled in three transfers this year. The Gators also have All-American candidate, and one of the nation's top scorers, Walter Clayton Jr. -- if he decides to withdraw from the NBA draft -- and Will Richard is a double-figure scorer. Former Florida Atlantic star Alijah Martin will slot in seamlessly. Todd Golden should have plenty of frontcourt options too: Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh are back, while Sam Alexis (Chattanooga) and Rueben Chinyelu (Washington State) have arrived.

Projected starting lineup

Walter Clayton Jr. (17.6 PPG)
Alijah Martin (13.1 PPG at Florida Atlantic)
Will Richard (11.4 PPG)
Alex Condon (7.7 PPG)
Reuben Chinyelu (4.7 PPG at Washington State)

 

New Way-Too-Early out today...we dropped 5 spots.
Alabama moved up to #2, Tennessee moved up to #13.
Dropped out: Texas Longhorns (No. 21)


20. Florida Gators
Previous ranking: 15

Florida struck gold in the portal last spring and reeled in three transfers this year. The Gators also have All-American candidate and one of the nation's top scorers in Walter Clayton Jr., and Will Richard is a double-figure scorer. Former Florida Atlantic star Alijah Martin will slot in seamlessly. Todd Golden should have plenty of frontcourt options too: Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh are back, while Sam Alexis (Chattanooga) and Rueben Chinyelu (Washington State) have arrived.

Projected starting lineup

Walter Clayton Jr. (17.6 PPG)
Alijah Martin (13.1 PPG at Florida Atlantic)
Will Richard (11.4 PPG)
Alex Condon (7.7 PPG)
Reuben Chinyelu (4.7 PPG at Washington State)

 

Alabama is #1 and Connecticut #7?
Not so sure about that.