2023-24 NCAA Men’s Basketball Preview: Early Favorites

By: Jacob Cullum

Halloween is finally about to be upon us; and basketball fans know exactly what happens after Halloween. That’s right; college basketball is back and about to begin. With the 2023-24 season tipping off in early November, it is time to look at the initial AP Top 25 rankings. How will defending champions # 6 UConn fair in the rankings after losing star SG Jordan Hawkins? How will reigning CBS Sports National Player of the Year C Zack Edey follow up his magical season? Can #19 UNC get back to elite status with C Armando Bacot leading the way? These are all questions that will be answered as we journey through the season.

Looking at the AP Top 25, the usual suspects round out the top 4 followed by a #5 Marquette team that looks to be dangerous. #1 Kansas was the consensus top team, followed by #2 Duke, #3 Purdue, and #4 Michigan State. Reigning champions UConn fall just outside the top 5 sitting at #6.

When looking through the top 15 teams, there are not too many unusual rankings to be seen other than the slightly controversial ranking of Creighton at #8. Some think that C Ryan Kalkbrenner will have too much on his shoulders with Creighton most likely needing him for a majority of the interior defense. San Diego State, who lost in the National Championship game against UConn, is sitting at #17. Everybody’s favorite Cinderella team Saint Mary’s rounds out the top 25 sitting at #23.

Jacob Previews College Basketball

Looking ahead into the first block of games in the season, I see Kansas riding hot into the holidays and beating a now #6 ranked UConn team on Dec. 1^st. The battle for the Big 12 will be interesting with Purdue and Kansas both being elite. I also believe Duke will be extremely tough to beat with C Kyle Filipowski and G Tyrese Proctor providing the Blue Devils with an outstanding two-man offensive focus. They will have early tests against #12 Arizona on November 10^th and #4 Michigan State the following game on November 14^th.

Tip-off is set for November 6 as a plethora of the Top 25 will be in action. I know college hoops fanatics are anxiously awaiting their favorite teams to begin play; and I am right there with them!