The NCAAB Division I men's basketball season came to an end for another season earlier this month as Connecticut went all the way to claim the title, beating San Diego State in the national championship game.
The 2023-24 season begins in November as the teams will battle it out to be one of the 68 who qualify for the tournament in Glendale, Arizona, and we’ve taken a look at the early favorites to be crowned champions.
Uconn are rated as the frontrunners in the NCAAB Championship after their incredible success last season, taking the title as 4-seeds, but they are losing a few of their key men ahead of the new campaign.
Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Tristen Newton have all declared for the NBA Draft and may be playing professionally next season.
Sanogo was named as the tournament MOP after Uconn’s victory and both he and Hawkins have renounced their college availability, but there is still a chance Jackson and Newton, who has not hired an agent, could return.
Connecticut are rated at +1200 to win the NCAAB Championship outright.
Duke impressed in Jon Scheyer’s first season in charge after he replaced the legendary Mike Krzyzewski as head coach and they made it through to the second round of the tourney before being dumped out by Tennessee.
Scheyer’s team should have benefitted from that experience last season as a relatively young side, and Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski are all expected to return next season – although Jeremy Roach has declared for the Draft but has also maintained his college eligibility.
Eight-time champions Kentucky are next in the betting at +1400 as they seek a first title since 2012.
Kentucky have a vastly experienced coach in John Calipari, who has coached in the NBA and led the team to their last title – as well as reaching the national semifinals on three other occasions.
They reached the second round last season before being dumped out by Kansas State. They are losing a key man, however, as senior Jacob Toppin has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft after 86 appearances (37 starts) for the team.
Marquette enjoyed an excellent season last time out as they finished as the regular season champions in an incredibly competitive Big East and then won the conference tournament, beating national champions Uconn in the semifinals, before falling short in the dance with a second round exit at the hands of Michigan State.
Marquette are +1600 to win it all and they should be a serious threat in 2023-24 as coach Shaka Smart prepares for a third season in charge.
They are likely to keep their team largely intact aside from Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who has announced his intention to declare for the draft but may keep his college eligibility.
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Purdue were on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in tournament history as they became the second 1-seed to lose in the first round.
That loss will no doubt provide motivation for the season ahead, but much will depend on whether or not Zach Edey returns for another season.
The National Player of the Year has declared for the draft but has maintained his college eligibility and he has until the end of May to withdraw from the draft if he wants another season with Purdue, who are rated at +1800 to win the NCAAB Championship outright.
Alabama were among the favorites for overall glory in 2023 after winning the regular season title and the conference tournament in a tough SEC.
Coach Nate Oates has two SEC tournament titles in four seasons in charge and he guided the team to the last 16 for the second time last year, matching his best season in charge.
They are likely to lose a number of players, however, as Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney, Charles Bediako and Jahvon Quinerly have all declared for the draft. It is possible all could return to the team for another season, although in the case of Miller and Clowney that appears unlikely, and Alabama are +1800 to win the championship in 2024.
Last season’s runners-up SDSU are priced at +8000, while losing national semifinalists Miami and Florida Atlantic can be backed at +3000 and +3500 respectively.
Gonzaga are on offer at +2500 as they begin life without Drew Timme, UCLA are +2500 and Michigan State are priced at +2000.
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