3 men's college basketball teams that can become Big Ten champions in 2024-25 season

The new men's college basketball season is just over a month away and teams across the country are gearing up to make their mark. For the first time, the Big Ten conference will comprise 18 teams as four programs, USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, will make their conference debut.

While usual suspects like Purdue, Indiana and last season's Big Ten tournament winners, Illinois, will be in the mix, these newly added schools could shake up the conference order in the 2024-25 season. Here are the teams that can emerge as Big Ten champions:

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3 best men's college basketball teams in Big Ten

#3. UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins led by coach Mick Cronin waved goodbye to the Pac-12 conference and will be competing in the Big Ten from the upcoming season. Cronin brought in six new players from the transfer portal and added two freshmen to compensate the departures of seven players from last season.

UCLA is ranked 24th in ESPN's early season rankings for men's college basketball. Coach Mick, who led the Bruins to Pac-12 regular season championship glory, will be aiming for similar success in Big Ten this new campaign

Projected starting lineup:

• Dylan Andrews (12.9 PPG)
• Sebastian Mack (12.1 PPG)
• Kobe Johnson (10.9 PPG at USC)
• Lazar Stefanovic (11.5 PPG)
• Tyler Bilodeau (14.3 PPG at Oregon State)

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#2. Indiana Hoosiers

Last season was not for the Indiana Hoosiers as Mike Woodson's men struggled to a 10-10 record in Big Ten and failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time during his tenure.

For the upcoming men's college basketball season, coach Woodson recruited five talented players from transfer, including Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo, Kanaan Carlyle, Luke Goode and Langdon Hatton.

Projected starting lineup:

• Myles Rice (14.8 PPG at Washington State)
• Kanaan Carlyle (11.5 PPG at Stanford)
• Mackenzie Mgbako (12.2 PPG)
• Malik Reneau (15.4 PPG)
• Oumar Ballo (14.2 PPG at Arizona)

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#1. Purdue Boilermakers

With only five defeats in 39 games last season of men's college basketball, Purdue clinched the Big Ten regular season trophy and was runner up in the NCAA tournament.

Coach Matt Painter, who will enter his 20th year in West Lafayette this coming season, seems to heavily rely on freshmen. Five high school recruits — Daniel Jacobsen, Gicarri Harris, Raleigh Burgess, CJ Cox and Jack Benter — have joined the Boilermakers.

Meanwhile, Zach Edey, Purdue's star player from last season, left the team for the NBA.

Projected starting lineup:

• Braden Smith (12.2 PPG)
• Fletcher Loyer (10.6 PPG)
• Camden Heide (3.4 PPG)
• Trey Kaufman-Renn (6.4 PPG)
• Daniel Jacobsen (four-star)