College Basketball Teams Making Some Waves This ’24-’25 Season

It seems like college football is just getting started, but it’s almost time for the tip-off of the basketball season, and we’re here for it. Every season brings hope, optimism and unique goals to fans across the country. Every college hoops fans is dreaming of their team cutting down the nets at the Final Four. Some of attention teams get in the preseason is for obvious reasons: UConn and it’s burgeoning dynasty under Coach Hurley, the Iowa women’s team finding their groove after their GOAT (Caitlin Clark) moved on to the WNBA, Duke and their talented freshman superstar, Cooper Flagg, plus of course the chance to continue being disliked by fans of pretty much every single other team around the country (we joke, mostly). Those stories most fans are tracking, but every season a few teams pop up on our top-selling lists that we have to look into “why are THEY extra excited this year.” 

Here are those off the radar teams with some excitement brewing this season:

• UCLA 

New Conference, new hopes? The Bruins are one of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball. After a rough finale in their last season in the Pac, UCLA fans are ready to take on new foes in the B1G.  But we also think some of the excitement is from visiting teams who might be using a road game at Pauley Pavilion as an excuse to get out of the Midwest over the winter!  The Bruins big game this year will be vs Gonzaga at the new Intuit Dome in L.A.

• Seton Hall

Winning the NIT has Pirate fans ready to go for 2024. Has there been an offseason with this kind of hope since they came agonizingly close to a title in 1989? A solid Big East schedule should draw fans into the Prudential Center all season long. Expect to see a huge crowd when UConn plays at the Prudential Center on February 15th.

• Texas

We know that on the gridiron “Texas is back” is a thing – but after making the tournament 4 years in a row without a Final Four, Longhorn hoops fans are looking for that next step, particularly with a superstar new freshman on the roster. A new slate of opponents in the SEC also helps drum up the excitement around the upcoming season. Expect a big home crowd in Austin for the Tennessee Volunteers game and Rick Barnes’ return to Austin.

• Tennessee Lady Vols 

People are talking about about the Lady Vols. Maybe it’s because they have a brand new first year coach (Coach Kim Caldwell), or maybe it’s their amazing ’24-’25 schedule. It could be because they think this Lady Vols team has a great chance to knock South Carolina down a peg after their ascendance the past few seasons. We do know that chatter is because Lady Vols have some of the best fans in Women’s college basketball and will be decked out in Summitt blue all season. Everyone in Rocky Top is excited for the 2024 season to get underway! The Lady Vols have some huge games this season including Iowa in NYC, but home games against UConn & South Carolina will be the biggest draws this year.


Those are just a few of the programs that may draw a bit more excitement this season. Like every fan base in America, we’re all just excited for the upcoming college basketball season and looking forward to seeing which team is cutting down the nets.