2024-25 Big 12 Basketball Preview
Conference Overview
Join us for our 2024-25 Big 12 Basketball Preview, where we take a look at one of the best conferences in college basketball. Last season’s NCAA Tournament was disappointing for Big 12 teams, as not one team made it to the Elite 8 despite having strong rankings. Houston and Iowa State were both knocked out in the Sweet 16 despite being a #1 and #2 seed, respectively, while Kansas fell in the Round of 32 after battling injuries. This season, the Big 12 is loaded with talent and aims to turn its conference success into a strong playoff run.
Leading the conference is Houston, who looked unbeatable at times last season with a defense that ranked among the best in college basketball. The Cougars return four starters and add Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan as their new point guard. Despite the loss of Jamal Shead, Houston still boasts LJ Cryer, J’Wan Roberts, and Emanuel Sharp, forming one of the best starting groups in the country.
Kansas will challenge Houston as they return a Player of the Year candidate in Hunter Dickinson, who was electric last season. The Jayhawks also added two impact transfers in AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen. The third team in the debate for a top-five spot nationally is Iowa State, which also returns a potential Player of the Year candidate in Tamin Lipsey. Like Houston, Iowa State brings back four starters and adds one player via the transfer portal. The Cyclones took home the Big 12 Championship last year and hope for breakout seasons from Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic.
Baylor is close behind and brings in the favorite for Freshman of the Year in VJ Edgecombe, along with two proven impact transfers from Power 5 conferences: Miami’s Norchad Omier and Duke’s Jeremy Roach. The combination of Roach, Nunn, and Langston Love offers incredible shooting potential, with all above 40% from three-point range, highlighting the offensive strength of this team.
Arizona joins the Big 12 and immediately proves they can compete by returning Caleb Love and projecting three breakout candidates, including Jaden Bradley, for starting roles. The next tier of teams includes Texas Tech, which has a well-rounded projected starting lineup capable of sharing the spotlight efficiently, and they add Minnesota transfer Elijah Hawkins, one of the best passers in the country.
Cincinnati follows with a similar roster structure, including four returnees and Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell, who brings valuable experience. The Bearcats expect to compete near the national top 25, as they have the talent to achieve it. Kansas State took a different approach, projecting an entire starting five of transfers, including high-major transfers like Coleman Hawkins and Dug McDaniel, alongside mid-major standouts such as Samford’s Achor Achor. This team’s success will rely on the chemistry among these transfers, as they have the talent to compete with the league’s best.
BYU adds international freshman Egor Demin, who is expected to take on a significant role alongside four returning starters. TCU focused mainly on mid-major stars with high potential, adding Green Bay transfer Noah Reynolds and UNCW transfer Trazarien White, both of whom averaged around 20 points per game.
UCF could be a sleeper team in their second year in the Big 12, with Darius Johnson, Jordan Ivy-Curry, and Jaydin Sellers forming a formidable backcourt. West Virginia has a new coach in Darian DeVries, one of the best stories in mid-major college basketball, who brings his son Tucker, an early candidate for Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team due to his potential.
Arizona State and Utah join the conference from the Pac-12 and will face tougher competition due to the increased talent across the league. Both teams have potential but need to establish a cohesive rhythm. Oklahoma State struggled last season and may face challenges again this year as they hope for a group of Power 5 transfers to break out in expanded roles.
Finally, Colorado stands out as the weakest team among the newcomers from the Pac-12 and will rely on a projected starting lineup featuring a four-star freshman, a Division II standout, and Elijah Malone, a recent recipient of the Bevo Francis Award, given to the best small college player across Division II, III, NAIA, and JUCO.
The season promises to be exciting, as teams hope to bounce back from their disappointing March Madness showing. The 2024-25 Big 12 Basketball Preview highlights that talent is at an all-time high this season.
Big 12 Basketball Preview: Projected Standings
- Houston
- Kansas
- Iowa State
- Baylor
- Arizona
- Texas Tech
- Cincinnati
- Kansas State
- BYU
- TCU
- UCF
- West Virginia
- Arizona State
- Utah
- Oklahoma State
- Colorado
Big 12 Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners
Player of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Defensive Player of the Year: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Newcomer of the Year: Tucker DeVries, West Virginia
Freshman of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
Big 12 Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Caleb Love, Arizona
LJ Cryer, Houston
Tucker DeVries, West Virginia
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Arizona Wildcats
Projected Starters:
PG: Jaden Bradley (7.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg)
SG: Caleb Love (18.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg)
SF: KJ Lewis (6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 apg)
PF: Trey Townsend (17.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.1 apg @ Oakland)
C: Motiejus Krivas (5.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.3 apg)
6M: Anthony Dell’Orso (19.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 apg @ Campbell)
Arizona State Sun Devils
Projected Starters:
PG: Alston Mason (17.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.6 apg @ Missouri State)
SG: Adam Miller (12.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg)
SF: BJ Freeman (21.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.1 apg @ Milwaukee)
PF: Basheer Jihad (18.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 apg @ Ball State)
C: Jayden Quaintance (FR)
6M: Joson Sanon (FR)
Baylor Bears
Projected Starters:
PG: Jeremy Roach (14.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.3 apg @ Duke)
SG: Jayden Nunn (10.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.0 apg)
SF: VJ Edgecombe (FR)
PF: Langston Love (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 apg)
C: Norchad Omier (17.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.2 apg @ Miami)
6M: Josh Ojianwuna (4.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.3 apg)
BYU Cougars
Projected Starters:
PG: Dallin Hall (9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.1 apg)
SG: Trevin Knell (10.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.3 apg)
SF: Richie Saunders (9.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.1 apg)
PF: Egor Demin (FR)
C: Fousseyni Traore (10.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 apg)
6M: Keba Keita (8.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Utah)
Cincinnati Bearcats
Projected Starters:
PG: Jizzle James (8.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.1 apg)
SG: Dan Skillings, Jr. (12.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
SF: Simas Lukosius (11.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg)
PF: Dillon Mitchell (9.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.4 apg @ Texas)
C: Aziz Bandaogo (6.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.6 apg)
6M: Day Day Thomas (10.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Colorado Buffaloes
Projected Starters:
PG: Julian Hammond III (7.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg)
SG: Andrew Crawford (FR)
SF: Andrej Jakimovski (9.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.3 apg @ Washington State)
PF: Trevor Baskin (18.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.9 apg @ D2 Colorado Mesa)
C: Elijah Malone (17.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.9 apg @ NAIA Grace College)
6M: Javon Ruffin (2.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg)
Houston Cougars
Projected Starters:
PG: Milos Uzan (9.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.4 apg @ Oklahoma)
SG: L.J. Cryer (15.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.9 apg)
SF: Emanuel Sharp (12.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 apg)
PF: J’Wan Roberts (9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 apg)
C: Ja’Vier Francis (6.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.2 apg)
6M: Joseph Tugler (3.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.3 apg)
Iowa State Cyclones
Projected Starters:
PG: Tamin Lipsey (12.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.9 apg)
SG: Keshon Gilbert (13.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.2 apg)
SF: Curtis Jones (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
PF: Milan Momcilovic (10.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)
C: Dishon Jackson (11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.7 apg @ Charlotte)
6M: Joshua Jefferson (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 apg @ Saint Mary’s)
Kansas Jayhawks
Projected Starters:
PG: Dajuan Harris, Jr. (8.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 6.5 apg)
SG: Rylan Griffen (11.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg @ Alabama)
SF: AJ Storr (16.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Wisconsin)
PF: KJ Adams, Jr. (12.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg)
C: Hunter Dickinson (17.9 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 2.3 apg)
6M: Zeke Mayo (18.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.5 apg @ South Dakota State)
Kansas State Wildcats
Projected Starters:
PG: Dug McDaniel (16.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.7 apg @ Michigan)
SG: Brendan Hausen (6.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.5 apg @ Villanova)
SF: Max Jones (15.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.9 apg @ Cal State Fullerton)
PF: Achor Achor (16.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.5 apg @ Samford)
C: Coleman Hawkins (12.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.7 apg @ Illinois)
6M: David N’Guessan (7.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.9 apg)
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Projected Starters:
PG: Khalil Brantley (15.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.2 apg @ La Salle)
SG: Davonte Davis (5.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 apg @ Arkansas)
SF: Bryce Thompson (11.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.5 apg)
PF: Marchelus Avery (7.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.7 apg @ UCF)
C: Abou Ousmane (6.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg @ Xavier)
6M: Arturo Dean (13.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.0 apg @ FIU)
TCU Horned Frogs
Projected Starters:
PG: Frankie Collins (13.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg @ Arizona State)
SG: Noah Reynolds (20.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.5 apg @ Green Bay)
SF: Brendan Wenzel (11.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.5 apg @ Wyoming)
PF: Trazarien White (19.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 apg @ UNCW)
C: Ernest Udeh, Jr. (4.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.3 apg)
6M: Vasean Allette (17.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.1 apg @ Old Dominion)
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Projected Starters:
PG: Elijah Hawkins (9.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 7.5 apg @ Minnesota)
SG: Chance McMillian (10.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.2 apg)
SF: Darrion Williams (11.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)
PF: Devan Cambridge (10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 apg)
C: J.T. Toppin (12.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 0.6 apg @ New Mexico)
6M: Kerwin Walton (8.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.5 apg)
UCF Knights
Projected Starters:
PG: Darius Johnson (15.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 apg)
SG: Jordan Ivy-Curry (17.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.0 apg @ UTSA)
SF: Jaydin Sellers (15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.1 apg)
PF: Keyshawn Hall (16.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.4 apg @ George Mason)
C: Rokas Jocius (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.4 apg @ La Salle)
6M: Dallan Coleman (5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Georgia Tech)
Utah Utes
Projected Starters:
PG: Miro Little (1.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.7 apg @ Baylor)
SG: Mike Sharavjamts (7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg @ San Francisco)
SF: Gabe Madsen (13.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.5 apg)
PF: Ezra Ausar (11.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.0 apg @ East Carolina)
C: Lawson Lovering (6.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 apg)
6M: Mason Madsen (8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg @ Boston College)
West Virginia Mountaineers
Projected Starters:
PG: Javon Small (15.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.1 apg @ Oklahoma State)
SG: Sencire Harris (3.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Illinois)
SF: Tucker DeVries (21.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.7 apg @ Drake)
PF: Toby Okani (11.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 apg @ UIC)
C: Amani Hansberry (2.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Illinois)
6M: Jayden Stone (20.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.7 apg @ Detroit Mercy)
Coming Next
Thank you for reading the 2024-25 Big 12 Basketball Preview. To view the conference preview release schedule, keep up to date with us on X @collegehoopsrpt. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out one of our other conference previews linked below! Next up is the Big West Conference. Thank you for reading, and we appreciate all the support!
- America East Conference Preview
- American Athletic Conference Preview
- ACC Conference Preview
- ASUN Conference Preview
- A10 Conference Preview
- Big East Conference Preview
- Big Sky Conference Preview
- Big South Conference Preview
- Big Ten Conference Preview
Cover Image: Photo Credit: Big 12 Conference
