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 five 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 five-day-out mark, let’s take a look at five more of the biggest storylines entering the 2024-2025 season. We have now released five headlines every five days ultimately reaching a total of 25 as we near the beginning of the season 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.
Opening Day Games to Watch
There 199 Division I college basketball games taking place on opening day. From the 11:00 a.m. tip-off between IU-Indianapolis and IU-Columbus to the 11:30 p.m. tip-off between Gonzaga and Baylor it will certainly provide plenty of stimulus for college basketball junkies everywhere. However, admittedly, there aren’t always the most riveting matchups on the first day of the season. Per the KenPom ratings, there are five games that feature teams that are both ranked in the preseason Top 100. Let’s highlight those most watchable matchups.
- #13 Texas A&M @ UCF (7:00 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus) – Expectations are high once again for Coach Buzz Williams and the Aggies. Despite a five-game February losing streak, Texas A&M rebounded with three wins to end the regular season and two in Nashville at the SEC Tournament to sneak into The Big Dance with a #9 seed. They ended up winning a game and came up just short of knocking off Houston in overtime 100-95. With potential All-American Wade Taylor IV back this group should go dancing for a third straight season.
- Vermont @ UAB (7:30 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus) – Two of the best mid-major programs in the country will meet on opening night. Coach John Becker has made three straight NCAA Tournaments at Vermont. Meanwhile, Coach Andy Kennedy is 101-37 in four years at UAB. The Blazers should contend with Memphis to win the American Athletic Conference this season. If you love mid-major hoops you’ll have to watch this game.
- Missouri @ Memphis (8:00 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus) – There have been no shortage of off-season storylines surrounding Coach Penny Hardaway’s team. Tyrese Hunter will lead an athletic, defensively oriented team with Moussa Cisse as the interior anchor. Missouri, on paper, is a much improved team. However, coming off of a winless SEC season, that isn’t exactly saying much. Transfers Mark Mitchell and Tony Perkins should significantly raise their floor.
- Ohio State vs. #18 Texas (10:00 p.m. EST, TNT) – This game will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Texas enters the season with high expectations after the additions of Tramon Mark (Houston), Arthur Kuluma (Kansas State), and Tre Johnson (5-star freshman). As for Ohio State, this will be the official beginning of the Coach Jake Diebler era. The Buckeyes feature an exciting backcourt duo of Bruce Thornton and Meechie Johnson.
- #8 Baylor @ #6 Gonzaga (11:30 p.m. EST, ESPN2) – The final game of the day will be undoubtedly the best game of the day. Getting a Top 10 matchup isn’t something we always get on the first night. Baylor will feature yet another potential one-and-done lottery pick freshman guard in VJ Edgecomb along with big-time transfers Norchad Omier (Miami FL) and Jeremy Roach (Duke). Meanwhile, Gonzaga returns an exciting core of Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Graham Ike, Ben Gregg, and Braden Huff. The Bulldogs also added Patriot League Player of the Year Braeden Smith from Colgate.
Hot Seat Watch
- Leonard Hamilton (Florida State) – Coach Hamilton isn’t going to get fired at Florida State. He has done far too much for that program over what will now be 23 seasons. However, it is time for a change and, at 76 years old, Coach Hamilton can split amicably with the Seminoles. Florida State hasn’t won more than 17 games in any of the last three seasons. Things don’t look much brighter this year either.
- Penny Hardaway (Memphis) – It is easy to poke fun at some of the off the court turmoil at Memphis. Coach Penny Hardaway has ran through assistant coaches and had players leave the program. However, there also hasn’t been a ton of on-court success. The Tigers have won 20 or more games each season under Coach Hardaway, but have just one win in two NCAA Tournament appearances. If Memphis falls short once again, year seven could be it.
- Kyle Neptune (Villanova) – After reaching the Final Four in 2022, Hall of Fame head coach Jay Wright decided to hang it up at Villanova. The Wildcats turned to Coach Kyle Neptune, who spent one year as the head coach at Fordham, and things have not gone well. Villanova has gone 17-17 and 18-16 in his two seasons at the helm. Another year hovering around .500, and missing the NCAA Tournament, will likely signal the end of his tenure.
- Wayne Tinkle (Oregon State) – The random run to the Elite Eight in 2021 is getting further and further in the rearview mirror. Since then, Coach Tinkle is just 27-68 overall and 11-49 in the Pac 12. Oregon State moves to the WCC this season, but is projected in the middle of the pack. A sub .500 season would likely, finally, bring an end to Coach Tinkle’s time in Corvallis.
- Mike Woodson (Indiana) – Tom Crean was fired after missing the tournament in 2017 despite making a Sweet 16 the season prior. Archie Miller was fired after missing the tournament for four straight seasons. Coach Mike Woodson got the Hoosiers to the postseason in 2022, won a game in 2023, but then failed to go dancing in 2024. The step backwards, paired with missing on two big in-state recruits, has the seat very hot in Bloomington. Expectations are high this season as well which could work against Coach Woodson.
Finding Value in the Futures Markets
Brandon’s Best Bets was a lucrative venture for many followers over on KSBoard last season. We will be back, beginning November 4th, with daily gambling advice. However, to get ahead of the game, let’s lay out some of our favorite futures before the college basketball season tips off. (All odds are provided by the FanDuel Sportsbook App).
- Alabama +1400 Championship Winner – I’m not the highest among “media members” on Alabama. However, with Mark Sears and everything surrounding him this is too good of a price to pass up. A team who could very realistically be ranked #1 has the fifth best odds? Sign me up.
- Alabama +220 SEC Winner – The Southeastern Conference is very good this season, but the Crimson Tide still have the best roster.
- Creighton +430 Big East Winner – UConn is getting a ton of credit in betting markets that their roster simply doesn’t deserve. Maybe Coach Hurley is just that good, but this is excellent value. I’d be interested in Xavier at +650 and Marquette at +750 as well. It is fair to think that the Huskies don’t win the league this season.
- Houston +1400 Championship Winner – Unfortunately, this is another one that has moved against us a little bit, but even down to +1000 I like both the Cougars and conference rival Kansas as well. Houston has been too good the last three seasons, finishing #2 in KenPom each time, to not get back to the Final Four. Then, at that point, anything can happen.
- Illinois +1000 Big Ten Winner – This one makes no sense to me. There is so much parity at the top of the Big Ten that I’d take the Illinois and UCLA at +1000 and feel pretty good. Excellent value.
- UAB +325 AAC Winner – Betting on the inevitable implosion at Memphis is probably pretty safe. UAB, under head coach Andy Kennedy, is one of the best mid-major programs in the country as well. Don’t be surprised if they are able to win the AAC this season.
- Wake Forest +10000 Championship Winner – This is obviously a long shot ticket. It may have already dropped to +7500, but if you got in at +10000 I think you have a great price. The Demon Deacons aren’t likely to win the title, but they are probably the third best team in the ACC and have a potential All-American guard. If you told me this group made the Elite Eight and set up a great hedging opportunity I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
Rest in Peace, Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
There are really no words to describe this tragedy. Rest in Peace in to Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim. One of the best young coaches in college basketball, Coach Abdur-Rahim passed away unexpectedly on October 24th. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his players, and the entire University of South Florida community.
Thoughts From Kentucky’s Second Exhibition Win
Big picture takeaways and overreactions are always a fool’s errand during exhibition season. However, that won’t keep us from sharing some thoughts and trying to glean a few things from Kentucky’s two preseason contests. On Tuesday night, the ‘Cats defeated the defending Division II national champion Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks 98-67.
- There is no denying the shooting ability of this Kentucky Basketball team. After shooting an unsustainable 21-42 from deep in their first exhibition, the Wildcats came back down to earth a bit going 13-37 on Tuesday night. Jaxson Robinson was 8-12 from three-point range. This team can get hot in a hurry and the three-point shot will be a big part of what they do all season long.
- Lamont Butler is the straw that stirs the drink. Jaxson Robinson is probably the favorite to lead the team in scoring. Andrew Carr will be a nightmare matchup night in and night out. Other players may have more NBA prospectus. However, there is no player more intricately involved in Kentucky’s success, at both ends of the floor, than Butler. The defensive menace had three steals on Tuesday night and several more high-level plays that disrupted Minnesota State’s offense. Then, he also dished out five assists against just one turnover. Regardless of what the box score says, Butler has been Kentucky’s MVP to this point.
- Kentucky’s defense in both exhibition games has been very encouraging. Yes, they are Division II opponents. It isn’t about how many points the ‘Cats have allowed or opponent field goal percentage thought. This team is playing defense in a way that makes you forget it is only October. Obviously, Lamont Butler is a defensive game-wrecker. Otega Oweh makes some great individual plays as well. However, the way this group moves in concert with one another defensively has been very impressive and encouraging. That will be something to monitor closer as the real season begins.
