Bracket Watch

Top Overall Seed

Duke

First Team Out

Virginia

Last Team In

San Francisco

Barely a week has elapsed since UConn's dominant NCAA tournament performance led to a repeat national championship, but the unfettered movement of players from one school to another had already begun. And it will continue well past the May 1 deadline to enter this year's transfer portal, making a moving target of any serious attempt at Bracketology. Yet we begin our off-season projections with a familiar name at the top. Duke, led by generational recruit Cooper Flagg, starts our 2024-25 bracket cycle as the No. 1 overall seed. The Blue Devils' high-end returnees -- led by guards Jeremy Roach and Tyrese Proctor -- combine with Flagg and three other ESPN Top 100 freshmen to make Duke a fairly clear choice at this point. Also worth noting are a few updates to our off-season methodology. First, this projection includes all portal activity through close of business on April 15. Second, it excludes all players that are consensus NBA first- or early second-round picks as well as other underclassmen who have renounced their college eligibility. Finally, it assumes the return of the last class of COVID-year players unless announced otherwise. Remember this is a very early snapshot and we are a long, long way from November.