College Basketball: 2024-2025 Season (Men and Women)

[JohnBM01]

College basketball is full of madness. Chaos can happen. Schools large and small all compete to prove they are the best on the collegiate hardwood. Will your school make the tournament this season for a National Championship? Can your beloved school(s) prove to be ready to play basketball on the next level (should they go pro or even semi-pro)? The changing landscape of college basketball is only going to enhance the unpredictable nature of the sport.

To get you psyched for this upcoming season, let's look back on last season. Here are all or most of the champions of various collegiate basketball seasons from this past season:


--- 2023-2024 Season Champions - Retrospect ---
NCAA D1 Men: Connecticut
NCAA D1 Women: South Carolina (undefeated!)
NCAA D2 Men: Minnesota State-Mankato
NCAA D2 Women: Minnesota State-Mankato
NCAA D3 Men: Trine
NCAA D3 Women: New York
NIT Men: Seton Hall
NIT Women: Saint Louis
CBI: Seattle
CIT: Norfolk State
WBIT: Illinois <<< WBIT: Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament
NAIA Men: Freed-Hartman (TN)
NAIA Women: Dordt (IA)
NJCAA D1 Men: Barton (KS)
NJCAA D1 Women: Hutchinson (KS, undefeated!)
NJCAA D2 Men: National Park College
NJCAA D2 Women: Kirkwood
NJCAA D3 Men: Dallas-North Lake
NJCAA D3 Women: Minnesota West
UAAP Men: La Salle
UAAP Women: U. of Santo Tomas (UST)
NCAA Philippines: San Beda

While we mainly focus on NCAA Division 1 basketball, I welcome all of you college basketball fans to talk about ANY level of basketball that interests you. I'll have no problem allowing (for example) talk about an NCAA Division 2 school or some very good NAIA basketball. I even snuck in NCAA Philippines and UAAP college basketball out in the Philippines. That's why I title these threads as "College Basketball" and not just "NCAA Basketball" or anything. So if you're any kind of college hoops fan, this is your thread on GTPlanet. I'll be here to discuss news updates and more from time to time.

Ready to discuss college basketball for 2024-2025? Let's get it! GO!

 

[JohnBM01]

When I make threads like this, it is usually with the intent to discuss more than what is normally discussed. Having said that, let me share a little story.

In NCAA Philippines men's basketball, the Generals of EAC (Emilio Aguinaldo College) battled the defending champion San Beda Red Lions recently. EAC has been a part of NCAA Philippines 2009. In their time, they have NEVER defeated San Beda. They were 0-27 all-time heading into this recent match. On their 28th try in Season 100 of NCAA Philippines, they not only won but won convincingly by a score of 68-55. Two Generals were in double figures contributing to the win.

If you're awaiting college hoops to tip off here in the United States, wait about next month to about early November.

 

[JohnBM01]

Okay, GTPlaneteers... let's talk Preseason ranks. Here are the Top 25 Preseason ranks in NCAA Division 1 basketball for men and women:

--- NCAA 2024-2025 Division 1 Men's Preseason Ranks ---
01: Kansas
02: Alabama
03: Connecticut <<< defending NCAA D1 Men's Champions
04: Houston
05: Iowa State
06: Gonzaga
07: Duke
08: Baylor
09: North Carolina
10: Arizona
11: Auburn
12: Tennessee
13: Texas A&M
14: Purdue
15: Creighton
16: Arkansas
17: Indiana
18: Marquette
19: Texas
20: Cincinnati
21: Florida
22: UCLA
23: Kentucky
24: Ole Miss
25: Rutgers

--- NCAA 2024-2025 Division 1 Women's Preseason Ranks ---
01: South Carolina <<< defending NCAA D1 Women's Champions, and undefeated!
02: Iowa
03: Connecticut
04: North Carolina State
05: USCal
06: LSU
07: Texas
08: Oregon State
09: Stanford
10: UCLA
11: Notre Dame
12: Indiana
13: Baylor
14: Gonzaga
15: Colorado
16: Ohio State
17: Duke
18: Virginia Tech
19: Kansas State
20: Syracuse
21: Oklahoma
22: Utah
23: Creighton
24: West Virginia
25: Iowa State

And there you go. If you wish to discuss these Preseason rankings, feel free to do so.

 

[Joey D]

Wait, what?

Bennett, who led Virginia to 2019 title, to retire

Tony Bennett, 55, posted a 364-136 record at Virginia, guiding the program to a national title in 2019 and two ACC tournament titles.

www.espn.com

 

[JohnBM01]

It's been a surprising story, Joey D. I am not sure if it's a loss of passion, health concerns, unhappiness with current school, or simply retiring for the heck of it. This is a huge departure for the University of Virginia's men's basketball team.

 

[JohnBM01]

Former Virginia men's basketball coach, Tony Bennett, says he is an unfit coach for today's college sports environment. It is an interesting take for him to say that. This seems like changing of the guard and adapting to a new realm. You know, the classic stuff and classic train of thought won't cut it in a new realm of college sports (let alone college basketball). That is what this all sounds like to me in regards to Tony Bennett stepping down. What would be troubling would be if more classic, old school coaches start following Tony Bennett's lead trying to adapt to this new landscape of college sports.

It's something to watch and ponder about; but not really with any intense concern, at least not yet. Just follow the narrative, so to speak.

 

[Omnis]

Was watching highlights and saw Cooper Flagg in blue and white and was like hey alright @Jordan and then I realized it was Duke. Whoops!

 

[Jordan]

Wait, what?

Bennett, who led Virginia to 2019 title, to retire

Tony Bennett, 55, posted a 364-136 record at Virginia, guiding the program to a national title in 2019 and two ACC tournament titles.

www.espn.com

Former Virginia men's basketball coach, Tony Bennett, says he is an unfit coach for today's college sports environment. It is an interesting take for him to say that. This seems like changing of the guard and adapting to a new realm. You know, the classic stuff and classic train of thought won't cut it in a new realm of college sports (let alone college basketball). That is what this all sounds like to me in regards to Tony Bennett stepping down. What would be troubling would be if more classic, old school coaches start following Tony Bennett's lead trying to adapt to this new landscape of college sports.

It's something to watch and ponder about; but not really with any intense concern, at least not yet. Just follow the narrative, so to speak.

I think the NIL fallout is changing what it's like to coach college sports.

Although they never come out and say it explicitly, I've seen it cited as motivations that other coaching legends like Coach K and Nick Saban decided it was time to move on. That's not what they signed up for.

I really hope it's a problem the powers-that-be can solve because — although I fully support players being able to earn money from their own names and likenesses — it feels like it has completely changed the dynamics of the sport for the worse.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well in the past, Jordan, I feared that something like this would make student-athletes go to school more for money rather than get a quality education. We know that some of the best in sports adapt to changing landscapes and still prove to be winners. That is no different for coaches. What I ponder is, will the whole NIL thing throw around college sports in a wild way to where college basketball (in this case) isn't as entertaining anymore?

I should probably discuss this topic in my College Sports in General thread, but this is surely a hot topic for all college sports, let alone basketball.

 

[JohnBM01]

It is late news, but I want to offer my condolences to Amir Abdur-Rahim. He was the coach for the University of South Florida's men's basketball team. He died from complications during undergoing a medical procedure. He was 43 years old. Ben Fletcher was named the interim head coach for the USF Bulls.

The Men's South Florida Bulls won the AAC regular season conference Championship posting a 25-8 record overall and a 16-2 record in the AAC. They didn't make the NCAA Tournament, but they did make the NIT. South Florida fell in the 2nd Round of the NIT to the Virginia Commonwealth Rams.

It's going to be tough for South Florida this season, having to play with heavy hearts. It's sad when you have a player on your team who dies. It must feel worse when your coach or some other personnel dies. The character of a team can completely change when a coach leaves or dies. Again- spare some thoughts for men's basketball at the University of South Florida.


On a lighter note... this Monday, FOX Sports 1 will have themselves a night of Big East basketball being aired. This is a good sign as it will soon be time to hit the collegiate hardwood and ball 'till you fall.