Jay Bilas releases first top 25 rankings for 2024-25 college basketball season

With college basketball on the horizon this week, Jay Bilas released his first ranking of the top 68 teams in the country on Thursday.

The “Bilas Index” includes several of them that are at the top of the AP Preseason Top-25, the Coaches Poll and the KenPom rankings. However, since the year only started a few days ago, these teams still have the entire season left to get into the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

In the top 25, Bilas had the most teams in the Southeastern Conference with a total of nine teams. However, in the Big 12, which had the second-most participants at six, five of those six made up half of the top 10. The Big Ten then had four, the Big East had three and the ACC had a pair as well as one from the West Coast Conference.

Here's how Bilas rated the top teams in college basketball as the season began in November:

Connecticut is the No. 1 team for Bilas and that is obviously the case in his opinion. As he put it in the article, “If you're making a prediction or a pick, how could any reasonable person choose a preseason favorite other than UConn?”

Dan Hurley and the Huskies have won each of the last two national titles, compiling an overall record of 68-11 (.861). Challenging for another goal, let alone a three-pointer, would take them further to the top of the sport as they strive for “undeniable dynasty territory” in his eyes.

Alabama, “arguably the most entertaining team to watch in America,” according to Bilas, was No. 2 in the top 25 for him. This came after the Crimson Tide also appeared in the Final Four in March Madness for the first time in school history.

Now Nate Oats returns several players from that roster while adding four top transfers and a top-three recruiting class of freshmen. That puts 'Bama just behind UConn, with back-to-back titles being the only difference between the two.

Bilas didn't question the talent or pedigree of the Kansas program. However, based on how last season went, he believes the Jayhawks have done a better job of addressing the depth of their overall roster.

Similar to Alabama, KU returned several key starters while adding a premier portal class and two four-star freshmen. That should be more than enough for Bill Self to get back into contention in both the Big 12 and the NCAA Tournament.

If nothing else, Bilas has respect for Houston because it “leads the nation in playing hard.” That's a big reason they're 265-79 (.770) and have made at least the Regional, if not further, in each of the last five postseasons under Kelvin Sampson.

The Cougars may not have as much star power as all the other top teams nationally. Still, the way they play is a “force multiplier” that consistently makes them one of the best teams in the country, including here at No. 4.

Duke, which Bilas says is “the most talented team in the country and arguably the team with the most talent diversity,” is ranked No. 5. Much of that comes from the No. 1 recruiting class, which comes to Durham with several lottery picks projected in 2025 NBA Draft, including the sport's top prospect in Cooper Flagg.

Still, Jon Scheyer, now 55-18 (.753) and entering his third season as head coach of the Blue Devils, has experience to add to them with a few transfers and two returning guards. As he said, “Expectations are high, but this crew can meet them” at Duke.

Iowa State is coming off one of its best seasons in school history at 29-8 in its third season under TJ Otzelberger. That earned them a No. 2 seed in March Madness, where they made it to the Sweet 16.

A majority of that team now returns to Ames for this season. That leaves the Cyclones “prepared” and “ready” to improve again, and he expects them to secure a tournament berth for the fourth straight year.

Based on the result from earlier this week between the next two teams on the list for Bilas, this may not look correct. However, since it was only released yesterday, Bilas still gave credit to Baylor at No. 6.

Bilas likes how the Bears' roster has been reassembled for this season with the mix of experience and young talent. Add to that the consistency of Scott Drew, who has averaged 24.1 wins over the last 17 seasons in building a “model program” in Waco, and he trusts they will continue that this year.

This also seems wrong after Gonzaga beat the Bears by 38 points in each season opener on Monday. Still, the context of how and when Bilas released the rankings is important despite this result.

However, the Zags, another one of those very consistent programs in college hoops, are back again under Mark Few, with several pieces returning to that team but also just added to the portal. That means the Bulldogs will be back in March Madness for the 26th straight year, in what could be another major accomplishment given their performances over the past two decades.

Arizona, ranked No. 9, is one of the first teams in this ranking that may have lost more than it inevitably added to this season last season.

Still, the Wildcats retained several key guards in their backcourt while adding new players up front. That gives Tommy Lloyd, now 89-20 (.817) entering his fourth year in Tucson, a team that Bilas expects will be “impressive at the end of the season.”

North Carolina closes out the top 10 for Bilas with a different roster than previous seasons.

Like Arizona, the Tar Heels will be fine up top in the backfield while they will have to replace a lot down in the frontcourt. Still, when it comes to UNC, he said, “Different isn’t a bad thing” when it comes to how they might play in Chapel Hill this year.

11. Arkansas Razorbacks
12. Auburn Tigers
13. Creighton Bluejays
14. Texas A&M Aggies
15. Kentucky Wildcats
16. Indiana Hoosiers
17. Tennessee Volunteers
18. Marquette Golden Eagles
19. Ole Miss Rebels
20. Cincinnati Bearcats
21. Purdue Boilermakers
22. Texas Longhorns
23. Florida Gators
24. UCLA Bruins
25. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

There is a lot of excitement in college basketball and the quality of teams in every conference across the country. There will now be five months until March during which all of these teams can compete for and participate in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.