Set for tip-off later this month, the 2023-24 NCAA basketball season is ready to go and there are some clear preseason favorites in the field that are ready to make a run at the men’s title. Of course, there is one team that stands out from when this article was first written back at the end of May, that being the Kansas Jayhawks. The reigning Big 12 champions, Kansas is set to welcome stellar incoming transfer Hunter Dickinson from Michigan along with a slew of excellent newcomers on their roster. Following the Jayhawks are the likes of blue blood favorites in Kentucky and Duke, but also Purdue which finished 29-6 last year, but were bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these contending teams, a predicted champion, and some more notes about college basketball wagering.
| NCAA Basketball Championship Futures (October) |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Kentucky | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Purdue | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Duke | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
As noted above, Kansas will have some big star power this season in the form of Dickinson from Michigan. The Jayhawks this last summer underwent higher-than-normal turnover with nine players leaving the team, including All-American Jalen Wilson and another NBA Draft selection, Gradey Dick. Nonetheless, players like guards Dajuan Harris Jr., Kevin McCullar Jr., and forward K.J. Adams Jr. are setting for starring roles this year with Kansas. Moreover, with only 11 more wins, head coach Bill Self would pass Phog Allen as the winningest coach in Kansas men’s basketball history.
The Wildcats are coming off a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament and are led by head coach John Calipari in his 15th season leading Kentucky. Similar to Kansas, the Wildcats had an exodus of players leave this offseason, but only one declared for the 2023 NBA Draft (Jacob Toppin). Regardless, the Wildcats will feature some sensational freshmen in their lineup this year from forward Dajuan Wagner Jr. to Justin Edwards. However, the one to watch this season might be senior guard Antonio Reeves who was the main offensive weapon for the Wildcats during their international game exhibition stint this summer.
Putting together a successful campaign in the Big Ten last season, Purdue was able to post an excellent 29-6 season in 2022-23. While they were able to clinch their first outright Big Ten regular season title, along with winning the conference tournament, the Boilermakers were bounced in stunning fashion in the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, Purdue will return All-American center Zach Edey who was able to throttle opponents last season and will be a contender for national player of the year if he can stay healthy.
Our last spotlight team, Duke won the 2023 ACC men’s basketball tournament and also advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Led by head coach Jon Scheyer in his second season, the Blue Devils are poised to make gains as their head coach is learning more about steering the program and managing it from the perspective of the man in charge. Incoming freshman Jared McCain will be one to watch as a five-star recruit with a recruiting grade of 92 from ESPN. Forward Sean Stewart is another five-star player who could also make an impact early for the Blue Devils.
Prediction: This column has not changed much when it comes to selecting the 2024 champion as Kansas is poised to put together a title-winning campaign.
After you are all squared away regarding the latest gaming news coming out for the 2023-24 NCAA men’s basketball season, make sure to check out all the great resources at SBS. Of course, for even more information on the topic at hand, our NCAAB betting sites rundown is an excellent page to bookmark. Here you can find the latest betting markets related to college basketball so you can stay on top of your game. Conversely, if you are perhaps uncertain about which payment options are the best for your lifestyle, then our payment methods guide has you covered with all kinds of options from crypto to traditional banking routes for deposits and withdrawals. Finally, for those looking to get the most out of your wagers, make sure to bookmark the best bonus betting sites breakdown so you can see the latest welcome bonus offers available.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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