5 most experienced teams in 2024-2025 college basketball season ft. Kansas
College basketball has certainly changed. A few years ago, it was all one-and-dones with the occasional sprinkled veteran. Some teams still operate that way, but plenty of college hoops's top teams are veteran squads. Don't believe it? Consider these outstanding five college basketball teams, some of the nation's best, but also some of the most experienced.
5 most experienced teams in 2024-2025 college basketball season
#1. Iowa State
The Cyclones finished the season as a top 10 team, and yet returned their top four scorers for next year. Curtis Jones (11.0 ppg) will be a graduate student and Keshon Gilbert (13.7 ppg) will be a senior. Junior Tamin Lipsey (12.4 ppg) and sophomore Milan Momcilovic (10.9 ppg) are also back. Those four made up 63% of Iowa State's scoring for last season.
Add in transfer center Dishon Jackson, who will be in his third school, but who has seen substantial minutes at Washington State and Charlotte. The Cyclones returned a ton of stars and added more veteran college basketball leadership.
#2. Gonzaga
The Bulldogs did lose Anton Watson, who was their second-leading scorer. But other than him, Gonzaga's only other losses were a pair of reserves deep in their bench. They return four starters and eight of their top nine players. Even when Gonzaga brought in a new face, transfer Michael Ajayi, he's an experienced hand.
Ajayi played two years in junior college and then averaged 17.2 ppg last year with Pepperdine. He'll drop right into a Gonzaga team that lost almost no one.
#3. Kansas
The Jayhawks return three full-time starters and another part-time starter to bolster their squad for next season. The return of big men Hunter Dickinson (17.9 ppg, 10.9 rebounds per game) and KJ Adams (12.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) was an impressive development for the Jayhawks. They did lose outstanding freshman Johnny Furphy but kept plenty of talent.
Kansas also added plenty of veteran help in the portal, like Wisconsin transfer AJ Storr. The Jayhawks are living in college basketball's new era, blending veteran returnees with veteran incoming talent. Makes for a heck of a team in this case.
#4. Houston
The Cougars lose talented guard Jamal Shead, but return four starters, including leading scorer LJ Cryer (15.5 ppg) and leading rebounds J'Wan Roberts (9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Seven of the 10 Houston players who averaged double-figure minutes per game last year are returning to the Cougar team.
Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan is another veteran addition and he's expected to take Shead's starting spot. Kelvin Sampson returns a very veteran college basketball squad for next year at Houston.
#5. Texas A&M
Buzz Williams's Aggies had a tough 2023-24 season, but they've done a great job keeping their veteran talent on board. Fifth-year Wade Taylor is the star (19.1 ppg), but he has plenty of company. In fact, seven of A&M's top eight scorers from last season have returned.
A&M also adds a pair of veteran transfers, Zhuric Phelps (14.8 ppg at SMU) and Pharrel Payne (10.0 ppg at Minnesota). The Aggies are usually a tough and tenacious group. Add in that they're one of the nation's most experienced teams, and that can't help but improve their chances.
Which highly experienced college basketball teams are you looking to see shine in 2024-25? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.