College basketball is awesome, baby! Buckle up, men's basketball fans, because we're just weeks away from the start of the 2024-25 season, and I know you feel it just like I do. The excitement is building as a new crop of diaper dandies prepare to take the court and show what they've got.
We've seen more player movement than ever before, and how about that surprise: John Calipari is at Arkansas! Can you believe it? The storylines this season are going to be out of this world, and I'm here to give you a sneak peek of what I'm looking forward to.
Dickie V.'s top-rated players.
Last season, there was never any doubt: Zach Edey was a man among boys, and he took home his second consecutive National Player of the Year award. Tennessee's Dalton Knecht gave him a run for his money, but no one could stop Edey. This season, the race is wide open! Brace yourselves, because these are the players I'm following:
Cooper Flagg, Duke Blue Devils
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Jayhawks
RJ Davis, North Carolina Tar Heels
Mark Sears, Alabama Crimson Tide
AJ Storr, Kansas Jayhawks
LJ Cryer, Houston Cougars
Dickie V's Floor Generals
Now, we all know that when it comes time for an NCAA tournament, you have to have players who can handle the ball under pressure. The teams with the best distributors are the ones that dance in March. Here are the guards to keep an eye on this season:
Mark Sears, Chris Youngblood and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Alabama Red Tide)
Dajuan Harris Jr., AJ Storr (Kansas Jayhawks)
RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson (North Carolina Tar Heels)
Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer (Purdue Boilermakers)
Ryan Nembhard, Khalif Battle and Nolan Hickman (Gonzaga Bulldogs)
LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan (Houston Cougars)
Dickie V. Low Post Executors
And let's not forget about the bigs who play down low. Dominating the zone is an art. To be successful, you need length in the zone. Check out these bigs who will be controlling the zone this year:
Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams Jr., Rylan Griffen (Kansas Jayhawks)
Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach and Maliq Brown (Duke Blue Devils)
Oumar Ballo, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau (Indiana Hoosiers)
Clifford Omoruyi and Grant Nelson (Alabama Red Tide)
Alex Karaban, Samson Johnson and Liam McNeeley (University of Connecticut Huskies)
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Mason Miller and Jamiya Neal (Creighton Blue Jays)
The Dickie V. Marco Polo Team
NIL's impact is game-changing. Teams are finding it increasingly difficult to retain their core players, but that means more impact transfers. Here are my top transfers that will have an immediate impact:
Johnell Davis, Arkansas Razorbacks (from Florida Atlantic Owls)
Clifford Omoruyi, Alabama Crimson Tide (of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights)
AJ Storr, Kansas Jayhawks (from Wisconsin Badgers)
Kadary Richmond, Red Storm of San Juan (from The Seton Hall Pirates)
Oumar Ballo, Indiana Hoosiers (from Arizona Wildcats)
Norchad Omier, Baylor Bears (from the Miami Hurricanes)
The Dickie V. Frank Lloyd Wright Team
Finally, let’s applaud the coaches! These masters of the pitch are doing double duty: they not only coach, but also manage their rosters in the labyrinth of the NIL. Here is my list of the architects of success who are looking for the golden ring in 2025:
Dan Hurley, University of Connecticut Huskies
Mark Few, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks
Nate Oatmeal, Alabama Crimson Tide
Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars
Matt Painter, Purdue Boilermakers
It's going to be a phenomenal season! I can't wait to see how it unfolds!
