The UConn Huskies were crowned 2024 NCAA men's tournament champions on Monday night with their victory over the Purdue Boilermakers, so naturally by Thursday morning it's time to turn the page and start talking about the 2024-25 season.

A lot will change in the weeks and months ahead, from NBA draft decisions to a wave of inevitable transfer portal shuffling that will reshape the college basketball landscape.

In other words, the title of this article is "Way-Too-Early Top 25" for a reason, but it's nonetheless a fun exercise to get the discussion rolling on next year's college basketball slate.

Ahead you'll find our initial rankings for next season, with teams ranked based on expected returning talent, incoming recruiting class and history of success securing top-tier talent by way of the transfer portal.

Let the debate begin!

Nos. 25-21

25. Arkansas Razorbacks (16-17, no postseason play)

A year after winning 22 games and upsetting No. 1 seed Kansas in the NCAA tournament, the Razorbacks finished with a losing record. There are literally zero scholarship players on the Arkansas roster at the time of writing this article, which means new head coach John Calipari has a clean slate and a reported $5 million in NIL funds available. Money talks and Coach Cal is one of the best recruiters of all time, so it will be interesting to see what sort of roster he can assemble.

24. Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-14, No. 8 seed in NCAA tournament)

Some players are capable of elevating the profile of an entire team, and Josh Hubbard has the potential to be that type of player for Mississippi State. The 5'10" guard averaged 24.2 points and knocked down 38 three-pointers over the final nine games of his freshman season, and he has All-American upside heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

23. Kentucky Wildcats (23-10, No. 3 seed in NCAA tournament)

First and foremost, the Wildcats need to hire a coach, with Baylor coach Scott Drew a popular name on the rumor mill. Then that coach needs to do what he can to salvage a recruiting class that currently ranks No. 2 in the country but could see more players follow Karter Knox (5-star, No. 19 recruit) in decommitting. There are a lot of moving parts here, but it still feels like Kentucky is going to come out the other side just fine.

22. Seton Hall Pirates (25-12, NIT champions)

The Pirates were one of several Big East bubble teams on the outside looking in on Selection Sunday, and they made a statement by winning the NIT with a title game victory over Indiana State. Assuming leading scorer and Big East Player of the Year candidate Kadary Richmond (15.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.1 APG) returns for a fifth year, this team should be in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022.

21. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-17, no postseason play)

The Scarlet Knights have a program-altering recruiting class headed to campus next season, with a five-player class that currently ranks No. 4 in the recruiting cycle that is headlined by Ace Bailey (5-star, No. 2 recruit) and Dylan Harper (5-star, No. 3 recruit). They also added Tyson Acuff (21.7 PPG at Eastern Michigan) and Zach Martini (8.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG at Pepperdine) in the transfer portal, so it will be all about how quickly the new-look roster can come together.

Nos. 20-16

20. Texas A&M Aggies (21-15, No. 9 seed in NCAA tournament)

A lack of efficiency likely means Wade Taylor IV (19.1 PPG, 4.0 APG) is headed back to campus for another year to show he can improve on 36.6 percent from the floor and 32.5 percent from distance, but he has All-American upside. The X-factor on this roster will be Manny Obaseki, who averaged 11.0 minutes and 4.1 points coming off the bench over the team's first 27 games. He upped that to 16.7 points per game after moving into the starting lineup for the team's final eight contests.

19. Miami Hurricanes (15-17, no postseason play)

With Norchad Omier, Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar all returning from the 2023 Final Four team alongside Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland, the Hurricanes started last season at No. 13 in the AP poll. They ended it by losing 10 in a row and finishing below .500, but there is still reason for optimism. Cleveland (13.7 PPG), Pack (13.3 PPG) and Poplar (13.1 PPG) should all be back, while Virginia Tech transfer Lynn Kidd (13.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG) and freshman Jalil Bethea (5-star, No. 7 recruit) round out a formidable starting lineup.

18. Saint Mary's Gaels (26-8, No. 5 seed in NCAA tournament)

The Gales are expected to return WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis (12.4 PPG, 5.3 APG), WCC Defensive Player of the Year Mitchell Saxen (11.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.3 BPG) and a really productive shooting guard in Aidan Mahaney (13.9 PPG, 83 threes). They have some work to do filling out the roster around them, but that's as good a starting point as any to being nationally relevant once again.

17. Florida Gators (24-12, No. 7 seed in NCAA tournament)

The trio of Walter Clayton Jr. (17.6 PPG), Will Richard (11.4 PPG) and Alex Condon (7.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG) give the Gators tremendous upside, especially if Condon takes the step forward many are expecting in his second season. They struck gold with Zyon Pullin in the transfer portal last year, and now they need to find someone to replace him. If Clayton puts together an All-American season, the Gators could make some serious noise.

16. BYU Cougars (23-11, No. 6 seed in NCAA tournament)

The Cougars had eight players average at least 18 minutes last season and six of them are expected to return, including point guard Dallin Hall (9.0 PPG, 5.1 APG), sharpshooter Trevin Knell (10.6 PPG, 38.5 3PT%) and pass-first center Aly Khalifa (5.7 PPG, 4.0 APG). The X-factor will be Collin Chandler, who was a 4-star recruit and the No. 37 player in the 2022 class. The highest-rated recruit in school history is finally ready to suit up after his two-year mission, and he should help ease the loss of Jaxson Robinson, who is expected to go pro.

Nos. 15-11

15. Marquette Golden Eagles (27-10, No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament)

The bad news: The Golden Eagles are almost certainly going to lose Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro to the NBA draft. The good news: Leading scorer Kam Jones (17.2 PPG) is expected back, along with fellow starters David Joplin (10.8 PPG, 72 threes) and Stevie Mitchell (8.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG). Look for Jones to serve as the de facto point guard in Kolek's absence, and his ability to facilitate might be the key to the team's success and to boosting his pro stock.

14. Baylor Bears (24-11, No. 3 seed in NCAA tournament)

Even with Ja'Kobe Walter, Yves Missi and Jalen Bridges all expected to be selected in the upcoming NBA draft, the Bears still have some quality talent returning alongside a stacked recruiting class. Langston Love (11.0 PPG) and Jayden Nunn (10.6 PPG) give them experience in the backcourt, while VJ Edgecombe (5-star, No. 4 recruit) could make as big of an impact as any freshman in the country.

If the Scott Drew-to-Kentucky rumblings are legit, this could all change.

13. Creighton Bluejays (25-10, No. 3 seed in NCAA tournament)

This ranking is based on three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.1 BPG) returning for his fifth year of eligibility. He would be arguably the best center in the country with Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan moving on to the NBA, and this would be a very different-looking Creighton team without him. There is work to do in the transfer portal restocking the roster around Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth (11.1 PPG, 4.2 APG), but Greg McDermott has a terrific track record.

12. Auburn Tigers (27-8, No. 4 seed in NCAA tournament)

Forward Johni Broome (16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG) is projected to go No. 58 overall in the latest B/R mock draft, and his pro decision will have a significant impact on Auburn's outlook for next season. This ranking is assuming he returns, but even if he doesn't, the Tigers could still be a Top 25 team with Chad Baker-Mazara (10.0 PPG) and Denver Jones (9.1 PPG) returning on the perimeter along with McDonald's All-American Tahaad Pettiford (5-star, No. 25 recruit).

11. Tennessee Volunteers (27-9, No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament)

It won't be easy to replace Dalton Knecht, but the Volunteers do bring back one of the nation's top point guards in Zakai Zeigler (11.8 PPG, 6.1 APG, 1.7 SPG) and a solid post player in Jonas Aidoo (11.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG). Cameron Carr (4.3 MPG) and J.P. Estrella (5.0 MPG) played sparingly as freshmen, but they came to campus as top-75 recruits in the 2023 class and could make an impact in expanded roles.

Nos. 10-6

10. Arizona Wildcats (27-9, No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament)

With Oumar Ballo (12.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG) and Kylan Boswell (9.6 PPG) in the transfer portal and both Caleb Love (18.0 PPG) and Pelle Larsson (12.8 PPG) expected to go pro, the Wildcats will have a very different-looking roster. Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis and Motiejus Krivas are three in-house players who could take a significant step forward, while Carter Bryant (5-star, No. 21 recruit) headlines the nation's No. 3 recruiting class.

9. Purdue Boilermakers (34-5, No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament)

The departure of Zach Edey likely means a more perimeter-oriented attack for the Boilermakers, with Braden Smith (12.0 PPG, 7.5 APG) and Fletcher Loyer (10.3 PPG) both returning for a team that shot 40.4 percent from three-point range. Trey Kaufman-Renn will step into a bigger role inside, while rising sophomore Will Berg (7'2") and freshman Daniel Jacobsen (7'3") could be the next towering presence inside.

8. North Carolina Tar Heels (29-8, No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament)

The Tar Heels await pro decisions from RJ Davis (21.2 PPG) and Harrison Ingram (12.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG), and this spot in the rankings assumes at least one of those key pieces returns. Rising sophomore Elliot Cadeau (7.3 PPG, 4.1 APG) will be back at point guard, and Hubert Davis has a high-profile recruiting class coming in led by Ian Jackson (5-star, No. 9 recruit) and Drake Powell (5-star, No. 11 recruit). After hitting on Brady Manek, Pete Nance, Cormac Ryan and Ingram the last three years, the transfer portal is the X-factor.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (25-12, No. 4 seed in NCAA tournament)

Will star guard Mark Sears (21.5 PPG, 4.0 APG) be back in Tuscaloosa? Grant Nelson and Nick Pringle also have another year of eligibility remaining, so there are a lot of moving parts on this roster. Rylan Griffen (11.2 PPG), Jarin Stevenson (5.3 PPG, 19 points in Elite Eight) and Pepperdine transfer Houston Mallette (14.7 PPG, 41.5 3PT%) are key pieces of the puzzle, while Derrion Reid (5-star, No. 13 recruit) and Aiden Sherrell (5-star No. 22 recruit) are the top incoming freshmen.

6. Houston Cougars (32-5, No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament)

Even with All-American point guard Jamal Shead off to the NBA, the Cougars still have lots of returning talent, including Emanuel Sharp (12.6 PPG), J'Wan Roberts (9.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG) and L.J. Cryer (15.5 PPG, 112 threes). Coach Kelvin Sampson has a tremendous track record of success in the transfer portal and he will need to find a viable replacement for Shead at point guard, but the returning pieces and an elite defensive scheme should once again make them Big 12 title contenders.

Nos. 5-1

5. Kansas Jayhawks (23-11, No. 4 seed in NCAA tournament)

If Dajuan Harris Jr. (8.5 PPG, 6.5 APG) and Hunter Dickinson (17.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG) opt to return for their fifth year of eligibility alongside KJ Adams Jr. (12.6 PPG) and transfer portal pickups Zeke Mayo (18.8 PPG, 92 threes at South Dakota State) and Riley Kugel (9.2 PPG at Florida), the Jayhawks will be squarely in the conversation for the No. 1 spot. Even if Dickinson leaves, incoming freshman Flory Bidunga (5-star, No. 10 recruit) could make a splash inside.

4. Gonzaga Bulldogs (27-8, No. 5 seed in NCAA tournament)

The trio of Graham Ike (16.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG), Ryan Nembhard (12.6 PPG, 6.9 APG) and Nolan Hickman (14.0 PPG, 41.3 3PT%) is as good a returning group as any in college basketball, and the Bulldogs will be playing with a chip on their shoulder after a down year. Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi (17.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG) is the team's latest high-profile portal pickup.

3. Iowa State Cyclones (29-8, No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament)

Guards Tamin Lipsey (12.4 PPG, 2.7 SPG), Keshon Gilbert (13.7 PPG, 2.0 SPG) and Curtis Jones (11.0 PPG, 1.4 SPG) return as the leaders of a Cyclones defense that was one of the best in the country, while freshman standout Milan Momcilovic (10.9 PPG) is a creative scorer who could emerge as a go-to option offensively. Charlotte transfer Dishon Jackson (11.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG) should also boost their interior offense. There's simply no reason to think this team will take a step back with so much returning talent.

2. Duke Blue Devils (27-9, No. 4 seed in NCAA tournament)

The Blue Devils have the nation's No. 1 recruiting class, with Cooper Flagg (5-star, No. 1 recruit), Khaman Maluach (5-star, No. 5 recruit), Isaiah Evans (5-star, No. 14 recruit), Kon Knueppel (5-star, No. 17 recruit) and Patrick Ngongba II (5-star No. 23 recruit) ranked among the nation's top incoming freshmen. Guards Jeremy Roach and Tyrese Proctor could also return to provide the young roster with some experience. How quickly will they jell?

1. UConn Huskies (37-3, No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament)

Last offseason, the Huskies lost their top two scorers (Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins) and another key piece (Andre Jackson) and didn't miss a beat, with Donovan Clingan and Tristen Newton stepping into large roles, Cam Spencer making an impact out of the transfer portal and 5-star freshman Stephon Castle bursting onto the scene.

Now all four of those players are departing and Dan Hurley has to restock the roster once again, but it seems unwise to bet against him at this point.

Alex Karaban (13.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG) could still return and Hassan Diarra (6.1 PPG) has another year of eligibility, while Samson Johnson and rising sophomores Jaylin Stewart and Solomon Ball could be the guys who step forward this time around.