Kansas led the way in the first Top 25 poll from the Associated Press ahead of the 2024-25 men's basketball season.

The Jayhawks received 30 first-place votes to claim the top spot ahead of Alabama. UConn, Houston and Iowa State rounded out the top five.

Preseason AP Top 25

1. Kansas

2. Alabama

3. UConn

4. Houston

5. Iowa State

6. Gonzaga

7. Duke

8. Baylor

9. 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

For the holdovers from last season, a second-round blowout at the hands of Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament provides plenty in the way of motivation. Among the players coming back is Hunter Dickinson, who was second on the team in points (17.9) and first in rebounds (10.9) and blocks (1.4).

Head coach Bill Self also landed Wisconsin's AJ Storr, Alabama's Rylan Griffen and South Dakota State's Zeke Mayo out of the transfer portal.

Injuries caught up to the Jayhawks a year ago. Assuming they avoid similar misfortune, they have as much talent and depth as any other team in the country.

Alabama will have something to say about that with three of its top five scorers coming back. Mark Sears, who averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists, is the standout from the group and one of seven players who are either a senior or graduate student.

Experience and continuity will be two strengths for Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats.

UConn won't have the same luxury as it attempts to win a third straight national title.

Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer all moved on to the NBA, though the Huskies got a boost when Alex Karaban withdrew his name from the 2024 draft pool.

Head coach Dan Hurley bolstered his ranks by adding Aidan Mahaney, who averaged 13.9 points with Saint Mary's, and Liam McNeeley, the No. 17 overall recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings.

UConn's position in the AP poll points to how a three-peat is more than plausible.

No team will perhaps be as intriguing as Duke.

Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain headed for the NBA, while others headed for the exit through the transfer portal. Jeremy Roach, Mark Mitchell and Sean Stewart were the notable players from that group.

The Blue Devils did clean up in terms of recruiting, though. Head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff had the No. 1 class in men's basketball. Cooper Flagg is the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft and he's one of four 5-star signees along with Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel. Incoming transfers Cameron Sheffield, Sion James, Mason Gillis and Maliq Brown help to make up for the experience gap.

Duke has an abundance of talent, but the lack of continuity could be difficult to overcome.

Speaking of having little continuity, Arkansas head coach John Calipari wasn't kidding when he quipped to reporters in April that "there is no team" when addressing the roster he inherited.

D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivišić and Kareem Watkins all followed Calipari to the Razorbacks from Kentucky. Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond rescinded their commitments to the Wildcats and signed with Arkansas following Coach Cal's move as well.

His biggest additions were Florida Atlantic's Johnell Davis and Tennessee's Jonas Aidoo, who both averaged double figures in scoring last season.

Between having a rejuvenated Calipari and dramatically different roster, Arkansas could make a big turnaround after going 16-17 and missing the Big Dance.