As we enter Week 1 of the 2024-2025 men’s college basketball season, Andy Katz breaks down the top six stories to watch out for.

MORE KATZ: Alabama leads Andy Katz’s preseason power rankings

1. UConn three-peat? The Huskies are trying to pull off the first three-peat since UCLA won seven straight from 1967-1973. The Huskies lack the rim protection and multiple lottery picks without Donovan Clingan, but they have depth, scoring ability and the drive to capture a third straight championship. Alex Karaban, Samson Johnson, Liam McNeeley, Solo Ball, Hassan Diarra, Jayden Ross and Aidan Mahaney should be the leaders of this team.

2. Are the top three freshmen competing for the top three picks in the NBA Draft? Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper could go 1-2-3 in the June NBA Draft. While Duke is a legit title contender with Flagg and a loaded roster, the Scarlet Knights will have a televised appointment. Two freshmen have elevated Rutgers to an offensive powerhouse; This is something that has been sorely lacking in Piscataway lately.

3. Will Alabama return to the Final Four? The Tide make their first Final Four appearance in 2024, and Bama is a favorite to not only return but have the potential to win. Alabama brought back 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 toughest opponent in the country.

4. Multiple Big 12 Final Four teams? The Big 12 has always been one of the deepest leagues and will be the hardest to win this season. Arguments could be made for Kansas, Iowa State, Houston or Baylor to win the league and compete for the national championship. But expect Cincinnati, Texas Tech and Kansas State to also enter the NCAA tournament as good seeds. The bubble will be filled with the rest of the league.

5. SEC with the highest bid? Alabama is the favorite to win the national title, but the league is the deepest it’s 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 makes 10 teams, consisting of South Carolina and Georgia’s legal bubble teams.

6. The race for the national player of the year continues! There is no favorite for the first time since 2017, when Kansas’ Frank Mason III won the award. Will a freshman like Flagg, Bailey or Harper win? Will Sears, Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson or North Carolina’s RJ Davis win? The race is wide open.