As the 2024-25 college basketball season approaches, several teams are looking to either build on past successes or bounce back from disappointing performances. Loyola aims to secure an NCAA Tournament bid after a strong but ultimately unfruitful previous season, with key games against Princeton and San Francisco. Notre Dame, under second-year coach Micah Shrewsberry, seeks improvement with 10 returnees and seven new players, highlighted by a challenging non-conference schedule including games against Georgetown and participation in the Players Era Festival. NC State looks to build on their ACC Tournament title and Final Four appearance, opening their season against USC Upstate with notable matchups against Purdue and Kansas. Georgia Tech, aiming to end a three-year NCAA Tournament drought, will face tough non-conference opponents like Georgia and Cincinnati. Vanderbilt, under new coach Mark Byington, hopes to rebound from a 9-23 season with a rebuilt roster featuring 13 new players, starting their campaign in the Charleston Classic against Nevada.