Yes, it is still football season. Fall weather is officially upon us. However, basketball is right around the corner. In fact, the college basketball season officially tips off in just 10 days. Kentucky fans have already been treated to Big Blue Madness, the Blue-White Event, and a thrilling 71-point exhibition blowout against Kentucky Wesleyan. There will continue to be more charity exhibition games, scrimmages, and much more across the college basketball landscape.
Then, on Monday, November 4th the real games begin.
In honor of hitting the 10-day-out mark, let’s take a look at five more of the biggest storylines entering the 2024-2025 season. Every five days we will release five more headlines and ultimately reach a total of 25 when the season begins on the 4th of November. As Kentucky Sports Radio’s resident college basketball junkie, I will have plenty of other preview content, including my annual College Basketball Manifesto, over the next few weeks. It is almost here, folks!
As Jon Rothstein would say: And Here. We. Go.
Can the Mountain West Replicate Last Season’s Success?
College Basketball fans heard a lot about the Mountain West Conference last season. It was lauded as being competitive with high-major conferences in the preseason. Then, it lived up to the hype by placing a record six teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Mountain West has now been a multi-bid league six straight seasons and has produced at least four NCAA Tournament teams the last three years. However, at least on paper, it looks like the league might take a step back this season.
Only Boise State (#45) and San Diego State (#48) are ranked in the Top 50 of the KenPom preseason projections. Over at EvanMiya, there are no teams in the preseason Top 50. New Mexico, who won last year’s Mountain West Tournament, has the most top end talent featuring returners Donovan Dent, Nelly Junior Joseph, and Tru Washington. Teams aren’t likely to rack up as many Quad 1 opportunities against one-another this season. It seems unlikely that the Mountain West will continue their streak of placing four or more teams in the NCAA Tournament.
Coaches Ready to Take a Leap
Sticking with our mid-major theme, who are the coaches that are ready to take the next step? Much is made about the hot seat, but what about the more fun side of that equation? This past cycle we saw coaches like Pat Kelsey (Louisville) and Dusty May (Michigan) take the leap to high-major programs. In fact, both of those coaches were highlighted as “obvious choices” in this segment last season. Here are five names to watch heading into the 2024-2025 college basketball season.
- John Becker (Vermont). The time is now if anyone is, finally, going to give Coach Becker a shot at the high-major level. All he has done is build arguably the most consistently successful mid-major in the country. The Catamounts have gone to three straight NCAA Tournaments losing a combined four American East games in that span. Coach Becker is 308-120 in 13 seasons. He will be 57 by the time someone hires him, but that still leaves a potential 8-10 year run.
- Bryce Drew (Grand Canyon). Coach Drew has had a shot at the high-major level, but maybe a three-year run at Vanderbilt wasn’t really a fair shot? He has been to three NCAA Tournaments in four seasons at Grand Canyon which included winning a First Round game last season over 5-seed Saint Mary’s. Led by Tyon Grant-Foster, don’t be surprised if the Antelopes win a game again this postseason and Coach Drew gets another shot to move up.
- Alan Huss (High Point). It could prove to be a quick rise for Coach Huss. In year one at High Point, he went 27-9 and won the Big South regular season title before getting upset in overtime by Longwood in the tournament. This team should be even better and could potentially flirt with an at-large bid. If they make the NCAA Tournament expect to see the former Creighton and New Mexico assistant head to a higher level.
- Leon Rice (Boise State). The recipe to move up to the high-major ranks often involves pulling a first round upset in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Rice has led Boise State to three straight tournaments, but they have yet to win a game. If they can make it four in a row, and win a game, someone will likely take a shot. Coach Rice is 290-166 in 14 years at Boise State. His age, turning 61 in the spring, would be the only limiting factor.
- Takayo Siddle (UNC Wilmington). A recurring name on this list, Coach Siddle had a bit of a disappointing season with the Skyhawks in 2023-2024. They finished tied for third in the regular season and were bounced in the first round of the CAA Tournament. Still, they won 21 games and had their best KenPom finish of his tenure. If UNC Wilmington can get back to the top of the conference don’t be surprised to see Coach Siddle head for greener pastures.
Best Mid-Major Players to Watch
We just highlighted some of the coaches who could take a leap following this season. Now, here is a look at the players you’ll want to keep an eye on at the mid-major level.
- Tyson Degenhart (Boise State). The leading returning scorer in the Mountain West, Degenhart averaged 16.7 points per game last season for a NCAA Tournament team. Now, the 6’8″ senior forward will look to advance in the post season for the first time in his career.
- Tyon Grant-Foster (Grand Canyon). He is probably the best mid-major player in the country. The 6’7″ 210 pound wing returned to school after testing the NBA Draft waters and will likely lead Grand Canyon back to the NCAA Tournament. Grant-Foster averaged 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season.
- Xaivian Lee (Princeton). Another mid-major player that garnered serious NBA Draft buzz last season, Lee put up 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as a sophomore. The 6’3″ guard will lead a Princeton team that has at least a puncher’s chance at running the table in the regular season.
- Caden Pierce (Princeton). Since we wrote about Lee, we essentially had to include Pierce since he actually won the Ivy League Player of the Year award last season. Yes, two of the best mid-major players in the country are both at Princeton. The 6’7″ forward posted 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
- Erik Reynolds II (Saint Joseph’s). Reynolds II put up 28 points at Rupp Arena last season as the Hawks took Kentucky to overtime in November. He went on to average 17.3 points per game to earn First Team All-A-10 honors. The dynamic 6’2″ guard has already scored 1,616 points in his three-year career.
Players Climbing the All-Time Scoring List
It is hard to know what to make of statistical records in 2024. Players getting a fifth, or sometimes sixth, season of college basketball has completely reshaped the record books. It is worth remembering that the all-time leading scorer, Pete Maravich, scored his 3,667 points in three seasons without a three-point line. However, we have officially jumped the shark so we might as well embrace those who are climbing the all-time scoring ladder. There are six players who enter this season having already eclipsed the 2,000 career point milestone.
- Marques Warrick (Missouri). This 6’2″ guard is the active leading scorer in college basketball having put up 2,246 points in his four seasons at Northern Kentucky. He will now play a fifth year at Missouri.
- Hunter Dickinson (Kansas). It may seem as if Dickinson has been in college forever, but that is just because he burst onto the scene as a First Team All-American as a freshman. Now a two-time First Team All-American, the 7’1″ center has scored 2,208 career points.
- Mark Sears (Alabama). After beginning his career at Ohio, Sears had no issue transitioning to the SEC were he scored a career high 21.5 points per game and earned First Team All-American honors. Sears has scored 2,149 career points.
- Caleb Love (Arizona). Love has scored 2,124 career points between North Carolina and Arizona.
- RJ Davis (North Carolina). Back for his fifth season at North Carolina, and the only player on this list to not have transferred, Davis sits at 2,088 career points.
- Johni Broome (Auburn). After two dominant seasons at Morehead State, Broome transferred to Auburn where he became a First Team All-American last season. The lefty big man has 2,029 career points.
Buying the Wake Forest Hype?
Last season, Wake Forest was the second highest rated team, per KenPom, to not make the NCAA Tournament finishing at #28. Only St. John’s at #21 was higher. The Demon Deacons return All-ACC guard Hunter Sallis along with other key returners such as Cameron Hildreth, Efton Reid, and Parker Friedrichsen. Tre’Von Spillers (Appalachian State), Ty-Laur Johnson (Louisville), and Omaha Biliew (Iowa State) will be leaned upon from the transfer portal.
Coach Steve Forbes’ team has been a trendy top three pick in the ACC and has found themselves ranked highly in preseason polls by various media members. Duke and North Carolina catch many of the press clippings, but can the Demon Deacons compete on that level? Returning a guard like Sallis is certainly a good starting point.
