The much-anticipated 2024-25 men’s college basketball season tipped off Monday with a flurry of thrilling matchups, standout performances, and early surprises that set the stage for the drama-filled months ahead. From the arrival of generational talents to shocking upsets and court-storming celebrations, opening day delivered all the excitement fans have been craving.
Cooper Flagg Electrifies in Duke Debut
All eyes were on Durham as Duke’s highly-touted freshman class, headlined by potential No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg, made their collegiate debuts. The 6-foot-9 phenom started slow but soon showcased the all-around game that has scouts salivating.
Flagg filled the stat sheet with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the Blue Devils’ win over Maine. His gravity-defying dunks ignited the Cameron Crazies and offered a tantalizing preview of the season to come. Flagg was bolstered by strong outings from fellow freshmen Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, hinting at a bright future for first-year head coach Brian Davies.
Kansas Starts Strong, Questions Loom for Purdue
Reigning champions Kansas began their title defense with a solid win over Howard, but it was the Jayhawks’ lineup decisions that raised eyebrows. Highly-touted transfers Zeke Mayo and A.J. Storr came off the bench while Northern Illinois transfer David Coit got the starting nod. Mayo still impressed with 19 points, leaving head coach Bill Self with intriguing rotation choices going forward.
Meanwhile, No. 14 Purdue struggled early against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, leading by just three with under seven minutes to play before pulling away late. The Boilermakers are still adjusting to life without two-time national player of the year Zach Edey, but Braden Smith looked as sharp as ever with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 15 assists.
UCF Upsets Texas A&M in Season’s First Shocker
The biggest upset of opening day came in Orlando, where unranked UCF stunned No. 12 Texas A&M 64-61, setting off a court-storming celebration. The Aggies, with SEC player of the year candidate Wade Taylor IV, struggled from the field, shooting just 31% on threes and 40% on twos.
Under head coach Buzz Williams, Texas A&M has never shot above 50% on two-pointers for a season – a trend that, if it continues, could hamper the team’s aspirations of challenging for an SEC title and deep tournament run. The loss serves as an early wake-up call for a squad with high expectations.
Mid-Majors Make Noise on Day 1
Several mid-major squads scored statement wins to open the year. Summit League power South Dakota State toppled Will Wade’s McNeese Cowboys 80-73 behind a balanced attack led by redshirt freshman Joe Sayler’s 18 points. The loss stings for a McNeese team coming off a 30-win season and harboring at-large aspirations.
Elsewhere, Rick Pitino’s revamped St. John’s roster looked formidable in a 32-point drubbing of Fordham. Harvard may have unearthed another freshman gem in Robert Hinton, who poured in 27 points to lead the Crimson past Marist. And a Santa Clara squad with March Madness hopes held off Saint Louis for a neutral-site victory, though the win was dampened by a late ankle injury to Billikens’ star Robbie Avila.
New Eras Begin for Storied Programs
Monday also marked the start of new coaching regimes at some of college basketball’s most prestigious programs. Mark Pope’s tenure at Kentucky began with an offensive showcase, as the Wildcats hung 103 points on Wright State utilizing the new head man’s up-tempo, three-point heavy system.
At Louisville, Kenny Payne’s replacement Pat Kelsey notched a stress-free 48-point win over Morehead State – a refreshing feeling for Cardinals fans after suffering several early-season upsets during the tumultuous Payne era. A far greater test awaits Saturday as Tennessee visits the KFC Yum! Center.
The first day of the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season delivered memorable moments and performances that will be hard to top. But with several top freshmen still waiting to debut, blue bloods looking to round into form, and the ever-present threat of more stunning upsets, the coming months promise even more thrills for hoops fans. Buckle up – it’s going to be a wild ride.
