As the leaves turn and autumn arrives, the anticipation for another thrilling NCAA men’s basketball season reaches a fever pitch. While the road to the Final Four is long and filled with unexpected twists, it’s never too early to dive into Bracketology and explore the burning questions that will define the 2024-25 campaign.
The Battle for No. 1 Seeds
According to ESPN’s resident Bracketologist Joe Lunardi, three teams have separated themselves as early favorites to secure No. 1 seeds come Selection Sunday: Kansas, Alabama, and Duke. But the race for that elusive fourth top seed remains wide open.
Gonzaga, fresh off a stunning opening-night rout of Baylor, currently holds the fourth No. 1 spot. But Lunardi envisions several other contenders emerging, including:
- The Big East champion (UConn or Creighton)
- The Big Ten champion (Purdue is the early favorite)
- A second Big 12 team (Houston or Arizona)
Conference Supremacy
With the “Power 4” conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) now comprising 68 teams – exactly the number that makes the NCAA Tournament field – the race to claim the most bids is more intense than ever. The SEC, with its remarkable depth, is Lunardi’s early pick to break the Big East’s record of 11 bids set back in 2011.
The 2011 Big East record of 11 bids is going to fall very soon, perhaps this year, with the SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten all deep enough to get there.
– Joe Lunardi
Ending Championship Droughts
For the Big Ten, the pressure to end its now 25-year national title drought continues to mount. Despite consistently receiving the most tournament bids, Big Ten teams have struggled mightily to advance deep into March. In the NET era, a paltry 11.4% of Big Ten teams have reached the Sweet 16.
In contrast, over half (51.7%) of ACC teams have made the second weekend in that same span. With the Big Ten once again poised to receive a plethora of bids, will this finally be the year the conference gets over the hump?
Cinderella Stories in the Making?
Identifying potential Cinderellas this early is always tricky, but a few mid-major programs have caught Lunardi’s eye:
- Grand Canyon won 30 games last season and ousted 5-seed Saint Mary’s. With star Tyon Grant-Foster back, the Lopes could be primed for a Sweet 16 run.
- Princeton from the Ivy League, Bradley from the Missouri Valley, McNeese from the Southland, and deep sleeper High Point from the Big South are all teams to monitor.
While March Madness is still months away, the excitement and intrigue surrounding the 2024-25 season is already palpable. As the games begin and the storylines develop, these questions and more will shape what promises to be another unforgettable journey through the college basketball landscape.
