Preview, prediction and odds for 2024-25

Three players to watch

F Jordan Ivy Curry: Ivy-Curry was at UTSA last year and had a great season for the Roadrunners, averaging 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He should be an instant offensive boost for a team that needs him.

G Jaylin Sellers and Darius Johnson: The Knights don't have much to report from last year, but thank goodness they have Sellers and Johnson. Sellers averaged 15.9 points, leading the Knights, and grabbed 3.6 rebounds. Johnson averaged 15.2 points and led the team with 3.7 assists. They will be the foundation of the Knights' success.

G Keyshawn Hall: The transfer comes from a quality mid-major program at George Mason, where he averaged 16.6 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Patriots last season. He probably won't have those rebounding numbers, but he fits in on a team that has plenty of offense and can hit 36% of its threes.

Greatest strength

Guard game. That's pretty obvious. With Sellers, Johnson, Ivy-Curry and Hall, the Knights have four guards who can score in double figures on a night. But they aren't the only guards who could contribute. Mikey Williams joins the program after putting his legal troubles behind him. Deebo Coleman is a transfer from Georgia Tech. Taylor Hendricks is also back from last year's team. Dawkins has assembled a roster of shooters and ballplayers who can do whatever he needs on offense.

Biggest weakness

forecourt. It will be a largely new group at the top, and it will take some time to figure out what rotation works best with these guards. There are no significant holdovers from last year's front court, so the Knights could turn to Syracuse transfer Benny Williams, who was released from that program in February. He was productive, but never had a double-digit scorer. The Knights also have Bethune Cookman transfer Elijah Hulsewe and 7-2 freshman Moustapha Thiam reclassified. It will take Dawkins a while to sift through the seemingly limited range of options.

Season forecast

This may be one of the most interesting teams in the Big 12 this season. On paper, the Knights have a roster of guards that can compete with any other team in the conference. Four different veteran players have averaged double figures, and there are at least two other guards with little experience who could do the same. The big problem is how this team will compete with other teams inside with such limited options up front. Dawkins could try to play without a true center, and sometimes he has to. The Knights look to be a 16-18 winning team heading into the Big 12 Tournament in March.

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.