2024-25 College Basketball Opening Night: Gonzaga Stuns Baylor in Its Biggest Win Over a Top-10 Team in 17 Years

College basketball is back, and fans witnessed a series of intriguing changes on opening night. From new team names, fresh coaching faces, to young players with immense potential, the 2024-25 season has begun with a mix of excitement and unexpected results.

The first game kicked off early at 11 a.m. in Indianapolis, as IU Indianapolis – formerly IUPUI – started the season with a new head coach, Paul Corsaro, and 16 new players, marking one of the most extensive team overhauls in history. IU Indianapolis quickly defeated IU Columbus with a decisive 100-44, setting a promising tone for the season.

Top Teams Assert Their Dominance

On opening night, powerhouse teams reaffirmed their standing. No. 1 Kansas maintained its home opener win streak, claiming their 52nd consecutive home win since 1973 with a 30-point victory over Howard. No. 2 Alabama showcased their scoring strength with a 63% shooting accuracy, securing an impressive win over UNC Asheville with 56 points, while No. 4 Houston dominated on defense, crushing Jackson State 97-40.

Unexpected Standout Performances

Aside from the big teams, several other squads delivered remarkable performances. UCF, ranked 11th in the Big 12, stunned everyone by defeating 13th-ranked Texas A&M 64-61, marking the season’s first major upset. North Florida made headlines by outlasting South Carolina 74-71, securing their first-ever win over an SEC member.

In another impressive comeback, Princeton rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat Iona 81-80. Maryland also showed strength, defeating Manhattan 79-49, with freshman Derik Queen achieving 22 points and 20 rebounds, marking the first 20-20 debut in 17 years.

Gonzaga’s Unexpected Transformation

The opening night also marked one of the season’s most significant shifts as No. 6 Gonzaga stunned No. 8 Baylor with a decisive 101-63 win. This was Gonzaga’s largest margin of victory over a top-10 opponent, and it handed Baylor its worst loss in 17 years. Baylor’s head coach, Scott Drew, admitted this defeat would be a big lesson for his team this season.

Kansas, too, demonstrated new depth with the arrival of Zeke Mayo, who scored 19 points in his first game after transferring from South Dakota State. This fresh lineup helped Kansas score a notable 50 points contributed by new players.

Promising Newcomers

Duke emerged as a team to watch, with an impressive 96-62 win over Maine. Freshman Cooper Flagg – only 17 years old – scored 18 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and provided five assists. Alongside Flagg, Kon Knueppel shone with 22 points, boosting Duke’s strong start to the season.

DePaul also garnered attention by winning for the first time in 310 days, breaking a 20-game losing streak with an 80-78 overtime victory against Southern Indiana. Jacob Meyer, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, nailed a decisive three-pointer and added two last-second free throws to seal the win.

Purdue and the Shift After Zach Edey’s Departure

One of the biggest changes this season is the absence of Zach Edey, a national player of the year and Purdue’s backbone over the past four seasons. For Purdue, Edey’s departure is a significant challenge as they strive to maintain their strength without him on the court. In the season opener against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Purdue maintained its dominant style with the addition of two towering freshmen, Daniel Jacobsen (7’4″) and Will Berg (7’2″).

However, Purdue’s head coach, Matt Painter, noted that the team has plenty to improve on to reach their best performance, especially in defense and scoring ability. For Purdue, adapting to their new lineup and rediscovering effective gameplay will be a challenging journey.

A Promising Season of Surprises

The 2024 college basketball season opener not only highlighted the return of big names but also introduced opportunities for new faces and notable transformations. With fresh lineups, diverse strategies, and promising young players, the 2024-25 season is set to be an intense race where teams and players must continuously push themselves to reach the top.