The six key storylines for the 2024-25 men's basketball season

As the first week of the 2024-2025 men's college basketball season begins, Andy Katz names his top six storylines to watch out for.

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1. UConn three-peat? The Huskies are trying to make it their first three-peat since UCLA won seven straight from 1967 to 1973. The Huskies don't have the protection without Donovan Clingan and the many lottery picks, but they have the depth, the ability to score and the drive to win a third straight title. Alex Karaban, Samson Johnson, Liam McNeeley, Solo Ball, Hassan Diarra, Jayden Ross and Aidan Mahaney should end up being the leaders of this squad.

2. Are the top three rookies competing for the top three picks in the NBA Draft? Duke's Cooper Flagg and Rutgers' Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper could all go 1-2-3 in June's NBA Draft. Duke is a real title contender with Flagg and a loaded roster, while the Scarlet Knights will be on TV. The two freshmen have turned Rutgers into an offensive force – something that has been sorely lacking in Piscataway of late.

3. Will Alabama return to the Final Four? The Tide made their first Final Four appearance in 2024, and Bama is a favorite to not only make it back, but potentially win. Alabama returned Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Chris Youngblood and Jarin Stevenson. Add Cliff Omoruyi, Houston Mallette and Derrion Reid to make the Tide the deepest contender in the country.

4. Multiple Big 12 Final Four teams? The Big 12 has always been one of the deepest leagues and may be the hardest to win this season. There's an argument to be made for Kansas, Iowa State, Houston or Baylor to win the league and compete for the national title. But expect Cincinnati, Texas Tech and Kansas State to also enter the NCAA Tournament with strong seeds. The bubble will be filled with the rest of the league.

5. The SEC with the most bids? Alabama is a national title favorite, but the league is the deepest it has ever been. The SEC likely has NCAA tournament teams in Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. That's 10 teams, with South Carolina and Georgia also being true bubble teams.

6. The race for National Player of the Year is open! For the first time since 2017, when Kansas' Frank Mason III won the award, there is no favorite. Will a newcomer like Flagg, Bailey or Harper win? Will Sears, Hunter Dickinson of Kansas or RJ Davis of North Carolina win? The race is wide open.