In a thrilling climax to the college basketball season, Alijah Martin seized a missed free throw, executing a stunning dunk that extended Florida's lead over UConn in a high-stakes game that captured the attention of fans. With such exhilarating moments fresh in everyone's minds, the basketball community is now taking a collective breath, looking back to assess the recently concluded 2024-25 men's college basketball season.

In the coming weeks, we will be releasing a series of detailed report cards, evaluating teams from the top conferences across the nation. Each Wednesday, we will focus on a different conference, starting with the Big East in this edition, and continuing with the ACC on May 7, the Big Ten on May 14, the Big 12 on May 21, and finally the SEC on May 28. This systematic approach will allow us to grade each team's performance, taking into account their expectations at the season's start and how they ultimately fared.

The grading process is fairly straightforward: teams that performed well in line with their potential will receive high marks, while those that struggled, particularly those with championship aspirations, will be scrutinized more closely. This analysis recognizes that various circumstances impact a team's performance, including injuries and other unforeseen events during the season.

This edition also includes notable teams such as Gonzaga, Memphis, and Saint Mary's, which, despite not being in the Big East, have made significant impacts in their respective conferences. Lets dive into the evaluations.

A Grades

Grade: A

Creighton, under the leadership of head coach Greg McDermott, showcased an impressive season, especially considering the season-ending injury to star transfer Pop Isaacs from Texas Tech early in December. Despite this setback, the Bluejays managed to secure 25 victories, finishing second in the highly competitive Big East, just behind a formidable St. John's squad. Their strong showing was underscored by top-50 rankings in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. By the time they faced Auburn in the NCAA tournament's second round, Creighton had already solidified its status as a top contender.

Grade: A

Penny Hardaway's tenure at Memphis has seen its share of turbulence, but the 2024-25 season marked a turning point. Hardaway orchestrated his finest coaching effort yet, leading the Tigers to both the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships. The team, anchored by all-AAC first team selection Tyrese Hunter and second team Associated Press All-American PJ Haggerty, achieved a remarkable 29 wins, the most in Hardaways era. Although Hunters foot injury before the NCAA tournament was a significant blow, the Tigers still demonstrated resilience and remarkable growth throughout the season.

Grade: A

Despite losing key player Aiden Mahaney to the transfer portal, Randy Bennett guided Saint Mary's to an astounding regular-season victory in the West Coast Conference, outpacing rivals like Gonzaga. Bennetts talent development skills were on full display as players like Mitchell Saxen and Augustas Marciulionis stepped up, contributing significantly to their successes. The Gaels even triumphed over Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament, capping off a season that saw them claim their sixth WCC championship.

Grade: A

St. John's emerged as one of the most captivating stories of the season, propelled by one of the nations top defensive units. They clinched both the regular-season and tournament championships, with RJ Luis Jr. earning the prestigious title of Big East Player of the Year. Their remarkable journey included a notable feature on "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon," underscoring their popularity. However, their championship hopes were dashed with a second-round loss to Arkansas, despite entering the tournament with high expectations after being projected to finish fifth in the preseason.

Grade: A

Xavier made headlines as they tied with Marquette for a commendable fourth-place finish in the Big East, driven by the impactful return of Zach Freemantle. After battling injuries, Freemantle averaged a solid 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds, guiding the Musketeers through a strong finish that included an 8-1 record in their last conference games. Xavier earned an 11-seed in the NCAA tournament and enjoyed a notable victory over Texas in the First Four before being ousted by Illinois.

B Grades

Grade: B

In his inaugural season, Chris Holtmann transformed DePaul from a team that recorded merely three wins and no conference victories in the previous season into a squad that achieved 14 wins with four conference victories in the 2024-25 season. The Blue Demons showed resilience, even pushing teams like Marquette and Creighton to overtime, effectively defying preseason predictions that had placed them at the bottom of the Big East standings.

Grade: B

Georgetown had a promising start to the season, boasting a 15-10 record before freshman Thomas Sorber suffered a season-ending injury. They faced challenges, including another injury to key player Jayden Epps. Although they stumbled toward the end of the season, finishing with 18 wins, the improvement from the previous year is noteworthy, with the team aiming to build on this foundation as they continue to develop under Coach Ed Cooley.

C Grades

Grade: C

Gonzaga entered the season with high expectations, showcasing the talents of all-West Coast Conference first-team players Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard. However, the Bulldogs managed only a second-place finish in the WCC, a disappointing outcome for a program historically dominant in the conference. Their struggles against top teams and unexpected losses highlighted a season that fell short of championship aspirations.

Grade: C

The Marquette Golden Eagles had high hopes after a stellar start, leading to increased expectations. However, a mid-season slump resulted in a lackluster finish, underscored by a first-round exit in the NCAA tournament. Shaka Smart's squad faced similar challenges in each of the last four seasons, raising questions about their ability to capitalize on early momentum.

Grade: C

UConn aspired to make history by winning three consecutive national championships, a feat last achieved by UCLA under John Wooden. Unfortunately, the team faced setbacks early in the season, including a poor performance in the Maui Invitational. By the time they entered the NCAA tournament as an 8-seed, it was clear they were not the powerhouse team of previous years, prompting discussions on what went wrong.

Grade: C

Villanova's struggles continued as they missed their third consecutive NCAA tournament, raising concerns about the program's direction. Despite an impressive performance in offensive efficiency and notable wins, the Wildcats failed to meet expectations, particularly given the presence of leading scorer Eric Dixon.

D Grades

Grade: D

Butler's season was marked by early promise but ultimately fell short, as they lost 17 of their next 23 games after a strong start. Coach Thad Matta faced significant challenges in his third season, raising questions about the teams trajectory moving forward.

Grade: D

Providence experienced a disappointing season after the injury of key player Bryce Hopkins, who had shown great promise prior to being sidelined. The Friars finished with a record well below expectations, highlighting the need for a strategic reassessment as they move forward.

Grade: D

Seton Hall's season was marred by disarray following a successful previous year that saw them win the NIT. With a roster heavily impacted by player departures, the team struggled to find its footing, resulting in a disappointing 2-18 conference record this season.