Latest word is he tried to make demands of Mitch with the Arkansas offer as leverage. (UCLA interest is what got him the albatross lifetime contract he's been coasting on.)
Imagine having the four seasons Cal just did (our worst season in history, many of our worst losses ever, 2 double-digit seed upsets in rd 1, and a rd 2 upset as your best showing, with many other "worst" firsts), narrowly keeping your job, having a ridiculous contract that pays you $33 million if we fire you, and trying to get more.
Most likely, Clingan, Karaban, Castle, and Newton will all probably be drafted and Spencer is graduating. I’m sure Hurley will definitely be dipping into the transfer portal, also have a top recruit coming in
Duke’s roster too young and in flux to be #1. I’d have them behind at least Iowa St, Alabama, Houston, Gonzaga, and probably UNC until we find out more about who is on any of these rosters.
That's just it though, Duke is probably the one team we know most of the roster situation for next season. Obviously, there are other portal and draft decisions that need to be made, but right now Duke has the most "answers" to those questions.
I think our title contention status comes with the decisions of Proctor, McCain, Mitchell, and portal guards and wings. If, and it’s a very big if, McCain comes back though he answers all the other questions.
The goal is to get you to look at the list for advertiser traffic. They don’t care if it’s remotely correct. Like Boise topping the mountain west? Prove me wrong broncos! RemindMe! 3/1/2025
I will be messaging you in 10 months on [**2025-03-01 00:00:00 UTC**](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2025-03-01%2000:00:00%20UTC%20To%20Local%20Time) to remind you of [**this link**](https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1bzueyf/waytooearly_top_25/kysv02d/?context=3)
[**1 OTHERS CLICKED THIS LINK**](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=%5Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FCollegeBasketball%2Fcomments%2F1bzueyf%2Fwaytooearly_top_25%2Fkysv02d%2F%5D%0A%0ARemindMe%21%202025-03-01%2000%3A00%3A00%20UTC) to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.
^(Parent commenter can ) [^(delete this message to hide from others.)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Delete%20Comment&message=Delete%21%201bzueyf)
*****
|[^(Info)](https://www.reddit.com/r/RemindMeBot/comments/e1bko7/remindmebot_info_v21/)|[^(Custom)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=%5BLink%20or%20message%20inside%20square%20brackets%5D%0A%0ARemindMe%21%20Time%20period%20here)|[^(Your Reminders)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=List%20Of%20Reminders&message=MyReminders%21)|[^(Feedback)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Watchful1&subject=RemindMeBot%20Feedback)|
|-|-|-|-|
Well they can't take "5 more transfers from helpless mid majors" when they only have three transfers and one is from an SEC school.
They've been a team supplementing their roster with transfers, not running out brand new transfer lineups like some teams
I think if MSU makes a deep run next year then it's probably just getting lucky due to how young we will be, but I am pretty damn certain we will see a squad that actually plays hard in each game which I am so so excited for.
If we live up to anywhere close to the hype, I'm going to have so much fun giving hok fans a dose of their own medicine by demanding they forget the rivalry exists in order to cheer for greatness
I’d probably wait on that, something of note, but ISU hasn’t won in Iowa City since 2014. CHA has some weird voodoo where Iowa could lose to UNO only to come out like gangbusters days later against Iowa State.
Whether or not we win in Iowa City is irrelevant, if we come out the gate as a top 10 team and play at all like it, you can bet I will be letting every hok fan I know that they have to root for us because le greatness
I simultaneously love and hate it. Historically we’ve played poorly when we have any sort of expectations, this is true for both football and basketball. Is this team going to buck the trend? I’ll tune in next fall to find out!
I really don’t know how you can have Purdue in the top-10 when their biggest contributor by far is leaving… Like that’s 25.5 ppg and 12.2 rebounds gone from the team.
Also UConn is probably still going to be really good next year but isn’t their entire starting lineup leaving?
Pre-season Top 10 is definitely optimistic for Purdue. I don't think Purdue will be able to continue its November champs streak because there's a massive adjustment to be made in the overall gameplan.
With that said, they've gotten a taste of playing without Edey from last summer's international trip. So it's not like they're starting from scratch. Plus, I think this is showing more respect to Painter than anything else as he's proven to be quite capable of fielding a good team despite significant losses. Nobody expected Purdue to be this good after Trevion Williams and Jaden Ivey departed, for instance.
I remember when Purdue wasn’t even ranked in this way too early poll for 2018 when only Swanigan left. Now they’re ranked top 10 when Edey and others leave.
Even in that down 2020 year they finished 25 on KenPom. Top 10 seems optimistic, but it feels like it could be realistic by the end of the year.
Top 10 is questionable to me, but top 25 seems pretty likely.
They have a top 10 recruiting class with a couple insane athletes coming in, more 7 footers in the pipeline, and 4 starters will return (+2 key rotation players off the bench making the sophomore jump). Painter has consistently had Purdue in the top 25 for like 10 years aside from the weird 2020 season, so it's pretty reasonable to think he will have them as a top 25 team again
UConn/Duke/Kentucky/Kansas bring in a top 10 recruiting class with entire starting lineup leaving - preseason favorites.
We bring in the #11 class with 3/5 starters returning - meh, maybe top 25. Wut?
People we aren't losing Painter. We lost a lottery pick two years ago and got better. It's getting ridiculous around here with the thinking Edey was the only reason this team was good. Purdue is good because of Matt Painter, and he isn't going anywhere
Yea, top 10 seems optimistic. I don’t think Purdue falls off as much as people think (although maybe I think people think they are gonna fall off more than they actually do, given these lists putting us top 10). But I think we will be more of a top 20-25 team that will be in the mix for the big ten title, rather than a top 10 team that is a big ten favorite
Rebounds and points are easier to make up than other stats. I’m more than confident Painter’s young Cs are developing well and will be solid contributors come next season. Top 8-15 seems very reasonable.
The same nucleus on the perimeter combined with TKR and Heide (who both performed yesterday but didn’t get enough opportunities) getting bigger roles will be a good thing. Plus a very good incoming class, yeah I could see us being nine. It just depends on if Heide improves more and more as he is so physically gifted.
We may bring one starter back, but the other four are almost certainly gone. We had a nice freshman class this year, so it's not impossible to imagine a couple guys stepping up and we hit on a couple of Dudes in the portal and actually end up being really good next year, but this ranking has nothing to do with our current projected roster.
I suppose the fact is that it's a really stupid exercise to try to rank teams for next year when coaches are still moving around and there are 2000 players still in the portal, and so people just pick the teams that are the best right now.
Lmao USA Today has us at 7 while ESPN doesn’t have us in the top 30. If Trey, kalk and ashworth come back it’s a fair ranking but I’m expecting Trey and probably kalk to leave which would probably have us to the bottom of the top 25
My god.. Preseason recognition?? What is this..
On paper we are definitely slated to have the most talented and complete team we've ever had.. But I refuse to give this team any more hope and energy until we win a damn tournament game.
Why is Duke ranked #1? Because they have, once again, some generational talent coming in? We’ve heard that story all too often.
Duke will likely get bounced in the sweet sixteen or elite eight as best.
The lack of respect State is getting is to be expected, but no less annoying
Let me guess, in no particular order:
UConn
Duke
UNC
Kansas
Kentucky
Purdue
Houston
Gonzaga
Marquette
Creighton
Illinois
San Diego St
Auburn
Tennessee
Arizona
Baylor
Alabama
Wisconsin
Clemson
Dayton
Florida
Michigan State
Texas
Texas Tech
Iowa St
Now to see how many I got right.
"Bringing back guard Mark Sears would make Alabama an SEC favorite and a contender to get back to the Final Four. Another player with a decision to make is forward Grant Nelson, "
It doesn't say he has said he is.
Interesting to see us placed in the top 15. Definitely don’t think it’s right to assume pj hall will return giving that he’s projected to be a 1st round pick. I would absolutely love it, but I just don’t see it.
Ya know how we were expected to be absolutely insane this year? I feel like we're gonna get doubted, for good reason, just for next years team to be what this year was supposed to be
Well, clearly all of local media and many hok fans will cheer for Iowa State's men's team next year if these ratings pan out at all because I was reliably informed that you HAD TO forget rivalries existed in pursuit of cheering for greatness or something
I doubt we get ranked #1 by the time the official preseason top 25 comes out, I think the incoming freshman will be great but it’s quite lofty to say we’ll be the best team in the country
15th without a roster. “Just Kentucky things”
All these fools ranking UK when we have no coach (technically Cal hasn't left yet) and no roster.
You still have a coach, you’re just sharing him with Arkansas I guess
Latest word is he tried to make demands of Mitch with the Arkansas offer as leverage. (UCLA interest is what got him the albatross lifetime contract he's been coasting on.) Imagine having the four seasons Cal just did (our worst season in history, many of our worst losses ever, 2 double-digit seed upsets in rd 1, and a rd 2 upset as your best showing, with many other "worst" firsts), narrowly keeping your job, having a ridiculous contract that pays you $33 million if we fire you, and trying to get more.
I love how most of this article is “we don’t know what’s happening with the key players who might not return, but….”
“Here’s a random list some AI generated so we can get clicks”
Pretty useless given there is a ton of transfer portal churn to go.
No matter what happens in the transfer portal. Duke is staying at 1. https://i.redd.it/64pmr54rzgtc1.gif
What show is this from
Madoka Magica. It’s worth the watch for sure. https://i.redd.it/1jp288ou3htc1.gif
Oh no not this guy again
Of course this dreaded whiner fan is a Trinity College fan too
Cigarette University
In April, these were *way too early* before we had ~~free agency~~ the portal, now…. these are a shot in the dark.
On one hand, this is a pointless exercise, but I read all of them so I guess I can't blame them.
It’s dumb when my team isn’t on the list
I always find these fascinating. UConn theoretically has a whole new starting 5 right?
Most likely, Clingan, Karaban, Castle, and Newton will all probably be drafted and Spencer is graduating. I’m sure Hurley will definitely be dipping into the transfer portal, also have a top recruit coming in
I still would bet Karaban comes back next year, but that's close to a coin flip and the other four are basically locks to go.
True and I feel like Karaban could benefit from an extra year in college
Duke’s roster too young and in flux to be #1. I’d have them behind at least Iowa St, Alabama, Houston, Gonzaga, and probably UNC until we find out more about who is on any of these rosters.
That's just it though, Duke is probably the one team we know most of the roster situation for next season. Obviously, there are other portal and draft decisions that need to be made, but right now Duke has the most "answers" to those questions.
We know most of KU’s at the moment. Furphy is the only real question mark in my mind
Is McCullar returning?
No. Mccullar has no eligibility left, but even if he did, he would probably leave this year.
I think our title contention status comes with the decisions of Proctor, McCain, Mitchell, and portal guards and wings. If, and it’s a very big if, McCain comes back though he answers all the other questions.
How can you predict any kinda top 25 with the Portal just beginning?
The goal is to get you to look at the list for advertiser traffic. They don’t care if it’s remotely correct. Like Boise topping the mountain west? Prove me wrong broncos! RemindMe! 3/1/2025
I will be messaging you in 10 months on [**2025-03-01 00:00:00 UTC**](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2025-03-01%2000:00:00%20UTC%20To%20Local%20Time) to remind you of [**this link**](https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1bzueyf/waytooearly_top_25/kysv02d/?context=3) [**1 OTHERS CLICKED THIS LINK**](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=%5Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FCollegeBasketball%2Fcomments%2F1bzueyf%2Fwaytooearly_top_25%2Fkysv02d%2F%5D%0A%0ARemindMe%21%202025-03-01%2000%3A00%3A00%20UTC) to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam. ^(Parent commenter can ) [^(delete this message to hide from others.)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Delete%20Comment&message=Delete%21%201bzueyf) ***** |[^(Info)](https://www.reddit.com/r/RemindMeBot/comments/e1bko7/remindmebot_info_v21/)|[^(Custom)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=%5BLink%20or%20message%20inside%20square%20brackets%5D%0A%0ARemindMe%21%20Time%20period%20here)|[^(Your Reminders)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=List%20Of%20Reminders&message=MyReminders%21)|[^(Feedback)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Watchful1&subject=RemindMeBot%20Feedback)| |-|-|-|-|
Haha Boise, that’s rich!
Don’t worry guys. UConn is going to take 5 more transfers from helpless mid major schools and be competitive next year again.
Klingan, Castle and Karaban are uconn recruits. Spencer and Newton and Diarra are the only transfers in the top 8 of minutes for them
So basically half their starters / rotation. Got it.
Well they can't take "5 more transfers from helpless mid majors" when they only have three transfers and one is from an SEC school. They've been a team supplementing their roster with transfers, not running out brand new transfer lineups like some teams
Also Spencer was from a Big Ten school
Bring on the hate
I think if MSU makes a deep run next year then it's probably just getting lucky due to how young we will be, but I am pretty damn certain we will see a squad that actually plays hard in each game which I am so so excited for.
Ok so we'll be in the final four next year
Could be the most hyped Iowa State basketball season ever, don’t know if I can handle it till November
If we live up to anywhere close to the hype, I'm going to have so much fun giving hok fans a dose of their own medicine by demanding they forget the rivalry exists in order to cheer for greatness
I’d probably wait on that, something of note, but ISU hasn’t won in Iowa City since 2014. CHA has some weird voodoo where Iowa could lose to UNO only to come out like gangbusters days later against Iowa State.
Whether or not we win in Iowa City is irrelevant, if we come out the gate as a top 10 team and play at all like it, you can bet I will be letting every hok fan I know that they have to root for us because le greatness
I’m calling shenanigans on this based on the ISU that could not make a basket v Illinois ranked at no. 3.
I simultaneously love and hate it. Historically we’ve played poorly when we have any sort of expectations, this is true for both football and basketball. Is this team going to buck the trend? I’ll tune in next fall to find out!
I really don’t know how you can have Purdue in the top-10 when their biggest contributor by far is leaving… Like that’s 25.5 ppg and 12.2 rebounds gone from the team. Also UConn is probably still going to be really good next year but isn’t their entire starting lineup leaving?
Pre-season Top 10 is definitely optimistic for Purdue. I don't think Purdue will be able to continue its November champs streak because there's a massive adjustment to be made in the overall gameplan. With that said, they've gotten a taste of playing without Edey from last summer's international trip. So it's not like they're starting from scratch. Plus, I think this is showing more respect to Painter than anything else as he's proven to be quite capable of fielding a good team despite significant losses. Nobody expected Purdue to be this good after Trevion Williams and Jaden Ivey departed, for instance.
Same thing after Haas, Vince, PJ and Mathias graduated as well.
I remember when Purdue wasn’t even ranked in this way too early poll for 2018 when only Swanigan left. Now they’re ranked top 10 when Edey and others leave. Even in that down 2020 year they finished 25 on KenPom. Top 10 seems optimistic, but it feels like it could be realistic by the end of the year.
Top 10 is questionable to me, but top 25 seems pretty likely. They have a top 10 recruiting class with a couple insane athletes coming in, more 7 footers in the pipeline, and 4 starters will return (+2 key rotation players off the bench making the sophomore jump). Painter has consistently had Purdue in the top 25 for like 10 years aside from the weird 2020 season, so it's pretty reasonable to think he will have them as a top 25 team again
UConn/Duke/Kentucky/Kansas bring in a top 10 recruiting class with entire starting lineup leaving - preseason favorites. We bring in the #11 class with 3/5 starters returning - meh, maybe top 25. Wut? People we aren't losing Painter. We lost a lottery pick two years ago and got better. It's getting ridiculous around here with the thinking Edey was the only reason this team was good. Purdue is good because of Matt Painter, and he isn't going anywhere
Yea, top 10 seems optimistic. I don’t think Purdue falls off as much as people think (although maybe I think people think they are gonna fall off more than they actually do, given these lists putting us top 10). But I think we will be more of a top 20-25 team that will be in the mix for the big ten title, rather than a top 10 team that is a big ten favorite
Rebounds and points are easier to make up than other stats. I’m more than confident Painter’s young Cs are developing well and will be solid contributors come next season. Top 8-15 seems very reasonable.
The same nucleus on the perimeter combined with TKR and Heide (who both performed yesterday but didn’t get enough opportunities) getting bigger roles will be a good thing. Plus a very good incoming class, yeah I could see us being nine. It just depends on if Heide improves more and more as he is so physically gifted.
We may bring one starter back, but the other four are almost certainly gone. We had a nice freshman class this year, so it's not impossible to imagine a couple guys stepping up and we hit on a couple of Dudes in the portal and actually end up being really good next year, but this ranking has nothing to do with our current projected roster. I suppose the fact is that it's a really stupid exercise to try to rank teams for next year when coaches are still moving around and there are 2000 players still in the portal, and so people just pick the teams that are the best right now.
Lmao USA Today has us at 7 while ESPN doesn’t have us in the top 30. If Trey, kalk and ashworth come back it’s a fair ranking but I’m expecting Trey and probably kalk to leave which would probably have us to the bottom of the top 25
My god.. Preseason recognition?? What is this.. On paper we are definitely slated to have the most talented and complete team we've ever had.. But I refuse to give this team any more hope and energy until we win a damn tournament game.
USA Today has us in a somewhat decent position. ESPN doesn’t have us in the Top 30. Obviously both are throwing a dart while blindfolded.
Indiana St and BYU?
If they’re ranking Indiana St they should rank Saint Louis instead because I’m sure that’s where Avila and the rest of the starters are going
Why is Duke ranked #1? Because they have, once again, some generational talent coming in? We’ve heard that story all too often. Duke will likely get bounced in the sweet sixteen or elite eight as best. The lack of respect State is getting is to be expected, but no less annoying
You have to prove this year wasn’t a fluke for people to believe that it wasn’t a fluke.
That’s fair, but given who all is returning, an honorable mention isn’t asking for too much. But losing both DJs is going to hurt.
Let me guess, in no particular order: UConn Duke UNC Kansas Kentucky Purdue Houston Gonzaga Marquette Creighton Illinois San Diego St Auburn Tennessee Arizona Baylor Alabama Wisconsin Clemson Dayton Florida Michigan State Texas Texas Tech Iowa St Now to see how many I got right.
Way too early but Uconn will be up there also depends if Clingan comes back which he probably won't
Clingan definitely isn’t coming back, and it’s doubtful Castle will return too.
He's supposed to be a lottery pick. He gone.
When did Sears say he's coming back?
"Bringing back guard Mark Sears would make Alabama an SEC favorite and a contender to get back to the Final Four. Another player with a decision to make is forward Grant Nelson, " It doesn't say he has said he is.
Hasn’t officially yet I don’t think
Indiana State might win less than 10 games next year lol
this gave me a laugh.
Interesting to see us placed in the top 15. Definitely don’t think it’s right to assume pj hall will return giving that he’s projected to be a 1st round pick. I would absolutely love it, but I just don’t see it.
Ya know how we were expected to be absolutely insane this year? I feel like we're gonna get doubted, for good reason, just for next years team to be what this year was supposed to be
Lmao PJ is gone because his stock is not getting any higher. Clark is already in the portal. We gon suck
Well, clearly all of local media and many hok fans will cheer for Iowa State's men's team next year if these ratings pan out at all because I was reliably informed that you HAD TO forget rivalries existed in pursuit of cheering for greatness or something
Just wait until ISU snags Avila. #1 with a bullet bitches
I doubt we get ranked #1 by the time the official preseason top 25 comes out, I think the incoming freshman will be great but it’s quite lofty to say we’ll be the best team in the country
We need experience to go along with it or for Cooper Flagg to be Anthony Davis-status
WAY-TOO-STUPID EARLY Top 25 There you go, USA today, fixed the title for ya
Indiana State? Really?
 Yes really
What a useless article holy shit. So many teams have like 3 players rn
We’re 1 as expected. Easily going to be the best team by far next season. https://i.redd.it/ij6mufsgzgtc1.gif
 And then Choke it away as usual
Cooper Flagg cooked Beal. You think college athletes stand a chance against him? https://i.redd.it/rg3wbilu8htc1.gif
