No. 1 Florida
There is a very obvious reason why Florida is a lot of people’s choice to earn a No. 1 seed for a third consecutive season and a national title for the second time in three tries.
Put simply, college basketball has rarely seen a frontcourt as strong as the one the Gators are going to put on the floor throughout this winter. Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu are all potential All-Americans who give Florida an absurd combination of scoring, size, rebounding, facilitating and interior defense. Haugh returns as a preseason First Team All-American after averaging 17.1 points per game and flirting with the NBA. Condon was a preseason First Team All-American last season, while Chinyelu is likely the best defensive big man in the country.
What Todd Golden has that he didn’t have last season is experience and continuity in the backboard. Point guard Boogie Fland really came on in the second half of last season, and is back to run the show again in Gainesville. He’ll be aided by Denzel Aberdeen, a key reserve on the 2024-25 national championship squad who spent last season at Kentucky, and sharp-shooting reserve Urban Klavzar.
As long as this group stays healthy (and Aberdeen stays eligible), there just aren’t many weaknesses here for opponents to exploit. — Mike Rutherford
No. 2 Duke
Duke loses Cameron Boozer, but might still be better, because Jon Scheyer has ridiculous depth and versatility at every position. Some analysts think Pat Ngongba might be the best player in the country; some think he might be second best on this team behind JoJo Boumtje Boumtje.
Duke has perhaps the deepest guard rotation in the country with Caleb Foster, John Blackwell, Cayden Boozer, and Deron Rippey.
There’s depth at the wings, too, with Dame Sarr, Bryson Howard, and exhibition season breakout star Sebastian Wilkins.
All things considered, this might be the deepest team in college since the 2014-15 Kentucky Wildcats. Duke is primed for a major run this year. — JD King, Duke Basketball Report
No. 3 Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini are expected to be one of the best teams in the country again this season following their historic Final Four run last year. The Illini lose three key pieces in Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell and Ben Humrichous but will return the other five rotation players from a season ago. David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Andrej Stojakovic and Jake Davis are all back, giving Illinois the third-most returning minutes in the Big Ten behind only Minnesota and Michigan State, according to Bart Torvik.
Illinois also added one of the best guards in the transfer portal in former Providence guard Stefan Vaaks, along with five-star freshman Quentin Coleman. Both players should help the Illini form a prolific backcourt to complement their already established frontcourt. While Illinois lost No. 5 overall NBA Draft pick Keaton Wagler, its veteran returners should provide a high floor, while its six-man freshman class, headlined by Coleman and Ethan Brown, should give the team the depth it lacked last season. Health remains the biggest question mark for the Illini, as preseason All-American David Mirkovic was spotted back in a boot ahead of Illinois’ exhibition game against Baylor. His absence would significantly lower the team’s ceiling. — Robby Nardini, The Champaign Room, @RobbyNardini
No. 4 UConn
UConn’s national championship game loss marked the end of a historic run for Tarris Reed Jr. and the end to Alex Karaban’s legendary collegiate career. Fortunately for the Huskies, being a top program in the age of NIL and the transfer portal allowed Dan Hurley to reload instead of rebuild. UConn has seven transfers and three freshmen on the roster this season, indicating that a new era is underway in Storrs.
Duke transfer Nik Khamenia will have big shoes to fill to try to replicate Karaban’s production, and Seton Hall transfer Na’jai Hines will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Reed, Donovan Clingan and Adama Sanogo and become the next great UConn big man.
Braylon Mullins, who hit one of the most iconic shots in tournament history to lift UConn over Duke and send the Huskies to the Final Four, elected to return to UConn to cement himself as a lottery pick. Silas Demary Jr. also returns and figures to be one of the best point guards in the country.
Jayden Ross will reprise his role as an excellent 3-and-D guy. Solo Ball, a starter all of last year, was set to miss this year due to a wrist injury but now will return at some point this season. Freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County already look comfortable and will be key pieces in the rotation.
Originally, the expectation was that it would take time for this team to get its bearings, but after impressive exhibition wins at Michigan State and against Purdue, the Huskies seem to be well ahead of schedule. Momentum seems to be building for a real shot at a fourth Final Four in the last five seasons for Hurley and the Huskies. — Dan Madigan, The UConn Blog
No. 5 Arizona
Fresh off their first Final Four appearance in 25 years, Arizona brings back two key starters from that 36-win team in center Motiejus Krivas and wing Ivan Kharchenkov. Both passed up opportunities to enter the NBA Draft and were rewarded, both financially and by getting named to the Big 12 preseason all-conference team, where Krivas was tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year. Krivas is also a preseason AP All-American.
The Wildcats added a pair of top-tier guards from the high school ranks, led by projected lottery pick Caleb Holt. They also signed two transfer guards with major upside in Derek Dixon (North Carolina) and JJ Mandaquit (Washington). Two European forwards and a pair of transfer frontcourt players round out the additions.
There’s also guard Bryce James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, who redshirted in 2025-26 but is expected to have a specific role for the Wildcats this season. James started all three preseason games as Arizona went with a 3-guard lineup.
The big question mark is at the power forward position, where the UA was expected to have Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey. The 6-foot-8 Godfrey has been seeking a fifth year of eligibility but has run into numerous legal hurdles, only briefly gaining eligibility through a lawsuit in Georgia before the NCAA appealed and had that temporary restraining order stayed. If he can’t go the Wildcats will either move Kharchenkov to the 4 and go small or turn to someone like freshman Maksim Brnovic.
With or without Godfrey, Arizona will contend for another Big 12 title and should be considered among the top contenders for another trip to the Final Four and possibly the program’s first national title since 1997. — Brian Pedersen, AZ Desert Swarm
No. 6 Michigan State
Michigan State fans were certainly drinking the Green Kool-Aid this offseason, especially after PG Jeremy Fears Jr. announced he was withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to East Lansing. With the player who garnered the most votes for the preseason All-American team, the Spartans have, arguably, the nation’s top point guard running the show. In addition to Fears, the Spartans also feature the most electric player in the game, and that is not up for debate. Coen Carr is a human highlight reel who jumps higher than should be physically possible and provides jaw-dropping dunks in every game. Here is a sample from last year: Coen Carr Top Dunks Compilation, Michigan State Spartans Basketball Highlights | The Only Colors.
However, those offseason vibes quickly turned into preseason jitters when MSU lost a pair of exhibition games to UConn and Marquette. Suddenly, the glass is only about 70% full and there are questions about what MSU’s starting lineup is going to look like. Will Coach Tom Izzo go with a small-ball lineup with Coen Carr playing the 4? And who would start at center in that scenario? There are three possibilities at this point, which is to say that none of the options have been good enough to claim that role. Or MSU could go with a traditional lineup where Carr is the small forward, his natural position, but that only creates more questions for the frontcourt.
This year’s team’s strength is its backcourt and wings. In addition to Fears, MSU brings back Jordan Scott and Kur Teng, both of whom are great outside shooters. Scott especially should be a big part of this year’s lineup as he goes into his sophomore year. He was a starter by the end of his freshman season, is a great defender with a long wingspan, and has an incredible motor in getting to loose balls and long rebounds. In addition to those two, MSU has one of the nation’s top incoming classes this year, and the jewel in that class is SG Jasiah Jervis. Jervis earned a spot in the starting lineup in the Spartans’ final exhibition game and was the high scorer that day with 19. Whether he continues to be a starter in the regular season or one of the first guys off the bench, he is certain to provide a lot of points for this team.
While there is some concern right now among State fans, one thing we can find comfort in is that MSU teams usually tend to get better as the season goes on. So while MSU will probably lose some early games as they once again face one of the country’s hardest non-conference schedules (Duke, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Gonzaga all appear on the November/December slate), we can expect Tom Izzo to figure out the rotation by the time we are in Big Ten play and for him to have this team peaking come March. The Final Four is at Ford Field in Detroit this year, just 88 miles from the Spartans home court. Last time the Final Four was in this venue, 2009, MSU made it to the championship game where they lost to North Carolina. There is certainly a world where MSU gets back to that game this year, and maybe even gets that final win to give Tom Izzo his 2nd natty. — O Basse, The Only Colors
No. 7 Texas
After a surprise run to the Sweet 16 last season that ended in a last-second loss to Purdue, Texas faces heightened expectations in Sean Miller’s second season on the Forty Acres. The Longhorns will tip off ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP Top 25 thanks to Miller and his staff retaining center Matas Vokietaitis and landing the nation’s top incoming class. Colorado transfer guard Isaiah Johnson and TCU transfer forward David Punch headline the five transfers.
Former 2027 No. 1 prospect Marcus Spears Jr. was a late high school addition when he reclassified in July, joining five-star guard Austin Goosby. The Longhorns have substantially more talent this season and higher defensive upside. If simply making the NCAA Tournament was enough to call the 2025-26 season successful, making the Sweet 16 again is now the standard for a team with Final Four potential. — Wescott Eberts, Burnt Orange Nation
No. 8 Tennessee
Expectations are high on Rocky Top once again, as Rick Barnes has attacked the transfer portal and completely remade his roster for this season. Led by Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris, former VCU standout Terrence Hill Jr. and Cal transfer Dai Dai Ames, Barnes might just have his most capable offensive team that we’ve seen in Knoxville. However, a couple a shaky exhibition games in October against Duke and Xavier have raised some early concerns. Barnes famously demands a lot from his team defensively, and the buy-in from an entirely group doesn’t seem to be there just yet. Tennessee will need to get things together quickly, but the talent is certainly there. Rick Barnes will be looking for his fourth straight Elite Eight appearance this year, and of course, the Volunteers will be trying to make that always-elusive Final Four. — Terry Lambert, Rocky Top Talk
No. 9 Virginia
Ryan Odom enters his second season as the head coach of the Cavaliers. Virginia returns a decent group of players from last year and star Thijs De Ridder, who was named the ACC preseason Player of the Year. De Ridder started in all 36 games last season, led Virginia in scoring and rebounding and became the first Cavalier to make the All-ACC first team since Sam Hauser in 2021. The media voted him ACC Preseason Player of the Year with 30 of 48 votes, and he was the only unanimous pick for the preseason All-ACC first team, according to Streaking the Lawn. Chance Mallory, who was named Second Team Preseason All-ACC, has potential for a major breakout season.
No. 10 Houston
Until Kelvin Sampson gives the basketball world a reason to doubt his ability to reload and continue to produce squads that win 30 games and finish in the top two of the Big 12, we should all probably just assume it’s going to continue to happen.
Joseph Tugler is back after establishing himself as one of the Big 12’s best defensive players, while Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty return as experienced rotation pieces poised to take a step up in production. LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr. gives Houston another creator capable of taking on a larger offensive role.
Houston has made seven consecutive Sweet 16s, the longest active streak in the sport and tied for the fourth-longest streak in the history of the expanded tournament. Until Sampson produces a season that is a clear step in the wrong direction for the program, the safe bet is on the Cougars once again being a second weekend squad. — Mike Rutherford
No. 11 Louisville
Pat Kelsey has once again made a push for the title of “portal king” after landing a loaded class highlighted by Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon), Karter Knox (Arkansas), Alvoro Folgueiras (Iowa), and De’Shayne Montgomery (Dayton). The return of guard Adrian Wooley, who came on late last season when star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. was sidelined with a back injury, hasn’t received as much national attention but could prove to be just as crucial when it comes to Louisville’s chances of making its first NCAA Tournament second weekend since 2015.
The Cardinals will also hope to rely on the services of North Carolina transfer Seth Trimble, who earned a fifth year of eligibility through the courts system. If Trimble is declared ineligible at any point, it’ll put immense pressure on Shelstad to carry the load at the point guard position, in addition to taking on the assignment of the other team’s best scoring guard defensively.
Also worth keeping an eye on is five-star freshman big man Obinna Ekezie, who had a coming out party of sorts in Louisville’s exhibition win at Kansas last month. The 7’2 center has the potential to be an NBA lottery pick. — Mike Rutherford, Card Chronicle
No. 12 Arkansas
John Calipari reloaded the Arkansas roster with length, explosiveness, and lottery-bound NBA talent once again, and it makes the Hogs a legitimate threat in the SEC if they can find answers to their biggest concern. Jordan Smith is Cal’s next future top-five pick. He’s a 6’2 guard who plays like he’s 6’9, wrecking the game with elite defensive playmaking and rebounding from the guard position while attacking the basket with straight line drives and acrobatic finishes offensively.
Smith is joined by fellow top-20 overall freshman JJ Andrews and Abdou Toure, who should help make this team an absolute terror in the open floor. Calipari also brought back a key returner in Swiss Army Knife Billy Richmond III, and added a high-volume shooter in the transfer portal in Jeremiah Wilkinson. The big question for Arkansas are the big men. It feels like the best teams in college basketball all have great bigs, and Arkansas does not. Still, this team has tons of firepower and should be thrilling to watch all season. — Ricky O’Donnell
No. 13 St. John’s
There’s no question that the St. John’s brand is back. Rick Pitino has led the program to back-to-back Big East titles and most recently took the Red Storm to their first Sweet Sixteen since 1999. What’s left to wonder is if the Red Storm can reach another gear or two under their Hall of Fame head coach, especially after program icon and team captain Zuby Ejiofor graduated.
No team will be more impacted by eligibility drama than St. John’s. While the Red Storm got good news when the NCAA cleared composed floor general Quinn Ellis, who should become one of the country’s top point guards, they still await word on fifth-year Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall and ex-G-Leaguer Babacar Sane. Each forward brings an exciting scoring touch, physicality, and rebounding presence.
They will have two returning players expected to start every night. Former McDonald’s All-American Ian Jackson is poised for a post-hype breakout as he returns to his natural shooting guard position, and fan favorite Ruben Prey hopes to show he can fill Ejiofor’s gargantuan shoes in the post.
If the Red Storm get their full complement of players, they are serious contenders to win their third consecutive Big East crown and more than just dark horses to reach their first Final Four in 42 years. — Thomas Cavanagh, Rumble in the Garden
No. 14 Miami
The Miami Hurricanes enter the 2026-27 season with a lot of optimism, as they look to see how big the next step is that they can take after a massive leap last season. The 2025-26 team had a 19-win improvement (which tied the NCAA record) from the previous season in Jai Lucas’ first year, going 26-9 and making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Some of the most important pieces of the 2025-26 team that pleasantly surprised return. Star forward Malik Reneau was able to gain a final year of eligibility this offseason through the legal process, and he is back to spearhead a talented roster. Reneau earned 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to go with 72 assists last year, earning first-team All-ACC honors. He was a do-it-all player in the frontcourt, and the importance of his return cannot be overstated. Guard Shelton Henderson (13.7 ppg) is another big piece back. Transfers Acaden Lewis (Villanova), Somto Cyril (Georgia), DeSean Goode (Robert Morris) and Brent Bland (St. Peters) are new faces who will all play varying but important roles this year. True freshman forward Caleb Gaskins is another player to watch. Lewis and Cyril led the Hurricanes in scoring with 24 and 13 points, respectively, in Miami’s season-opening 77-67 loss to No. 1 Florida on Monday night.
Make no mistake though: Miami has the makeup of a Final Four team this season. They were fourth in the ACC preseason rankings behind Duke, Virginia, and Louisville, and that might be too low. With what he did last season, you have to give Lucas the benefit of the doubt that he’ll mold this group into a true contender by March. — Craig Smith, State of the U
No. 15 Gonzaga
No college basketball program during this anarchic offseason had to deal with more dragging lawsuits against the NCAA than the Gonzaga Bulldogs. They’re, in fact, still trying to gain 5-in-5 eligibility for Florida State Seminoles transfer/forward Chauncey Wiggins.
On top of all that nonsense, the Zags were in search of a new starting point guard throughout the summer after Mario Saint-Supery abruptly returned to his home country of Spain to play with Valencia Basket in the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Luckily, fifth-year Florida Gators transfer Xaivian Lee, fifth-year Dayton Flyers transfer Javon Bennett, as well as French lead guard Nathan De Sousa were able to find their way to the Pacific Northwest. That’s a major lift to the backcourt, something that was desperately needed.
Now, can these additions help in the different three-point shooting categories? Last season, Gonzaga finished No. 218 in the nation at 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. That simply won’t cut it.
Even with all these obstacles thrown their way, Hall of Fame coach Mark Few and his staff were still able to put together a talented 2026-27 roster, especially in the loaded frontcourt. The trio of sophomore wing Davis Fogle, redshirt senior power forward Braden Huff, and Arizona State Sun Devils transfer/sophomore center Massamba Diop have brought back Final Four aspirations to the Spokane, Washington area as they prepare for their first season in the Pac-12 Conference.
Another name to remember? Spanish forward/center Izan Almansa, coming in from Real Madrid of the Liga ACB and EuroLeague. The 6-10 talent has all the tools to be the most impactful bench piece in the game. Now, can these additions help in the different three-point shooting categories? Last season, Gonzaga finished No. 218 in the nation at 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. That simply won’t cut it. Houston Cougars transfer/shooting guard Isiah Harwell should bump that number up. — Arden Cravalho, The Slipper Still Fits
No. 16 Michigan
You always worry about championship hangovers in college sports, and with Dusty May out and Mike Boynton Jr. in, I’d say the expectations for Michigan have lessened a bit. They will not have three lottery picks in the front court this year, but they have a really good back court in experienced pick-and-roll maestro Elliot Cadeau and breakout candidate Trey McKenney. Roddy Gayle Jr. returning for a fifth year (pending his eligibility case) helps Michigan on the wing, Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam is a rim protector with an intriguing offensive skillset, and Tennessee transfer JP Estrella was a top-10 offensive rebounder in the country last season.
The biggest question for this team will be its depth; as intriguing as Ricky Liburd and Quinn Costello are off the bench, they are both inexperienced. Michigan probably won’t be a historically great team like last year, but Boynton has a stellar defensive scheme and the team has enough talent at the top of the roster to finish in the top-four of the Big Ten and make another run in the NCAA Tournament with a favorable draw. — Kellen Voss, Maize N Brew
No. 17 Kansas
There is a lot up in the air coming into this season for Kansas basketball. Perhaps the biggest unknown is whether Bill Self, who publicly acknowledged that he considered retirement last spring, is coaching his final season. But beyond that, two expected returning starters in Melvin Council, Jr and Tre White are only eligible due to injunctions, and we haven’t actually seen newcomer Trey Kaufman-Renn, who was a massive pickup from Purdue, in a Kansas uniform yet. Add in that the Kaufman-Renn eligibility case is a bit different from the other two, and nothing feels set in stone at the moment.
With that said, we know that freshman Tyran Stokes has a real shot at being next year’s 1st pick in the NBA draft, and through two exhibitions, you can see why he has that kind of hype. 5 star freshman point guard Taylen Kinney has shown flashes, but seems like he’ll need time to settle in and play the position at this level. Utah transfer Keanu Dawes was a huge acquisition and will be a great, versatile big man even if Kaufman-Renn weren’t able to suit up, and the Jayhawks have a pair of 7 footers they can use for rim protection. If Toledo transfer Leroy Blyden provides the shooting he showed last year, it could round out a very competitive roster, along with pure scorer Dennis Parker.
Self has struggled to generate effective offense in recent years, but this year’s pieces seem to fit a bit better than what he’s worked with recently, and the defense is pretty much always there under his watch. If things click with all the new pieces in place, this team can win a title. We’ll probably have a better idea of how likely that is by the end of the non-conference slate. — David Potter, Rock Chalk Talk
No. 18 Iowa State
No. 18 Iowa State heads into the 2026-27 mens college basketball season with a mix of challenges and opportunities.
The team faces roster turnover and injury recovery after a 29-8 season that ended in the Sweet 16. Head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who has a 124-53 record entering this year, began the season on Nov. 2 against Memphis in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The Cyclones must replace their two scorers from last season: forwards Milan Momcilovic, who averaged 16.9 points per game and Joshua Jefferson, who scored 16.4 points per game. There is a bright spot in the return of senior guard Tamin Lipsey. Lipsey, a native of Ames is staying for a year of eligibility. He finished his career with 1,507 points, 602 assists and a school-record 314 steals.
To rebuild the rotation Iowa State added five Division I transfers. The incoming players include guard Jaquan “Bully” Johnson, the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year from Bradley. They also brought in forward Tre Singleton from Northwestern and guard Leon Bond III from Northern Iowa.
Senior Blake Buchanan returns as a key interior starter. The team will be without sophomore guard Killyan Toure until January after he underwent shoulder surgery in August. Freshman guard Christian Wiggins will miss the season after tearing his Achilles tendon over the summer.
Statistically, Iowa State’s identity under Otzelberger continues to focus on defense and forcing turnovers. Season the Cyclones ranked fifth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and fourth, in forced turnover rate at 22.6%. Coach Otzelberger says playing time will be based on production as the team adjusts to the Big 12 schedule. — Jared Larson, Wide Right Natty Lite
No. 19 Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are fielding a team with multiple players who should be out of eligibility, but look to get back on the floor because of court rulings. Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell both graduated high school in 2022, with Atwell playing NBA Summer League with the Chicago Bulls, but they returned to college because the money is better and no one stopped them. Williams’ all-around scoring and creation and Atwell’s knockdown shooting should make this team very good when combined with head coach Grant McCasland’s other pieces. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is another experienced player who can score in bunches out of the backcourt, while Hofstra transfer Cruz Davis can rip shots from three and run some offense as the lead guard. The center position is an open question mark, but if anyone steps up, Texas Tech will be loaded with this much veteran talent. — Ricky O’Donnell
No. 20 Alabama
Alabama enters the 2026–27 season with the ingredients to make another deep NCAA Tournament run. The Tide has an established backcourt in Amari Allen and Aden Holloway, a veteran sharp-shooting big in Drew Fielder, and substantially more frontcourt size than in previous seasons. Add in a freshman class that appears to be sorely underrated and a potential game-changing marksman in Cole Cloer, and the ceiling is quite high.
On paper, this looks like a team capable of competing for a SEC title and making a deep run in March. Alabama is a projected top 12 squad according to both KenPom and Evan Miya.
But, as always, you never know how a team with this amount of turnover will come together until it happens. With 10 teams projected in the KenPom top 30, the SEC is projected to be as brutal as ever this season. — Joshua Chatham, Roll Bama Roll
No. 21 USC
USC missed the NCAA tournament in the first two seasons of the Eric Musselman era, and the head coach acted with a level of desperation over the offseason to make sure that streak doesn’t extend to a third year. USC should be highly competitive in the Big Ten with the firepower to out-score most of the league. Rodney Rice returns for his senior year, and should be one of the better scoring guards in the country. Forward Jacob Cofie is also back after testing the NBA Draft process, and he gives Musselman a long and athletic 6’10 forward who consistently makes a positive impact on both ends of the floor. Alijah Arenas feels like the wildcard who can take this team to the next level with his microwave scoring ability. UConn transfer Eric Reibe is currently recovering from foot surgery, and his return looms large to make the Trojans a formidable defense. USC at least has the depth to whether his absence with a star-studded freshman class led by five-stars Christian Collins, Adonis Ratliff, and Darius Ratliff. The Big Ten is loaded again, but USC should be able to play with anyone. — Ricky O’Donnell
No. 22 UCLA
The UCLA Bruins enter the 2026–27 season with a combination of optimism and still feeling like they have something to prove. After finishing 24-12 last season and reaching the NCAA Tournament’s second round, the Bruins seem capable of taking another step forward and challenging to be the best of the best in the Big 10.
The Bruins will be led by returning standouts Trent Perry and Eric Dailey Jr., who provide scoring, experience, and leadership. Perry averaged 12.6 points per game last season and will be counted on to take another step forward as the team’s primary backcourt leader. Dailey averaged 11.6 points and brings valuable versatility.
Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty adds perimeter shooting, while Auburn transfer Filip Jovic brings physicality and some rebounding inside. Freshman Nikola Kusturica, a 17-year-old from Serbia, is likely the top NBA prospect on the team and one of the more intriguing and exciting players on the West Coast.
If the pieces can gel and find a rhythm, Mick Cronin’s team has the potential to be a second weekend (and perhaps beyond) team come NCAA Tournament time. — Mike Rutherford
No. 23 Kentucky
Kentucky Basketball probably had the most turbulent offseason in terms of recruiting. Between their early high school and portal misses, landing Milan Momcolivic, and having Mark Mitchell commit before backing out, Kentucky did manage to build what could be Mark Pope’s best roster since being hired in 2024.
Now, whether that’s a team capable of Final Four contention or one that’s destined to go down in the first weekend remains to be seen, but having someone with superstar potential like Momcilovic should at least keep this team afloat in the regular season.
And just like last year, point guard is a question mark. While Zoom Diallo was signed to be the guy, he struggled in exhibition play, while freshman Mason Williams consistently looked like the better option to run the offense. While the real games have yet to be played, Williams looks like someone ready to make a major impact for this team, despite not being a top-100 recruit in the class of 2026.
Then there’s Malachi Moreno, one of the more promising young centers last season, who should be poised for a major leap in Year 2. But outside of Moreno, the frontcourt is a big question mark. The 4 spot will be a heated battle between James Madison transfer Justin McBride and international recruit Ousmane N’Diaye. Both offer unique skill sets, but the 6-foot-11 N’Diaye clearly has the higher ceiling with his 7-foot-3 wingspan and ability to knock down 3s. He may very well become one of the better international big men this season and could be a sneaky candidate to hear his name called in the 2027 NBA Draft.
The biggest x-factor for this team is sophomore shooting guard Alex Wilkins, one of the top mid-major players last year who had a fantastic showing in Furman’s Round of 64 loss to national runner-up UConn. If Wilkins can become that player on a consistent basis, then this team could really take off come March.
Kentucky won’t start the year ranked highly, and they’ll likely take some early-season bumps with a loaded non-conference schedule. But when it comes time for the postseason, this could become a dangerous team that’s capable of making a second-weekend run, potentially even advancing to the program’s first Elite Eight since 2019. — Jason Marcum, A Sea of Blue
No. 24 Vanderbilt
Only three players return from the 27-9 team that lost to Nebraska in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but one of the three is Tyler Tanner, who withdrew his name from the NBA Draft at the last possible minute and returned to Vanderbilt. Tanner, who averaged 19.5 ppg as a sophomore, begins the season on the short list for National Player of the Year. Surrounding him will be a solid if unspectacular group of transfer portal additions, including Ace Glass (Washington State), Berke Buyuktuncel (Nebraska), and Bangot Dak (Colorado.) Mark Byington also signed a promising freshman class.
The biggest question mark for the Commodores is whether the talent around Tanner this season is what it was last season. The departures of Tyler Nickel, Duke Miles, AK Okereke, Devin McGlockton, and Jalen Washington are significant ones — and not ones that Vanderbilt fans just assume will be replaced by the incoming talent. The newcomers will help, but another place to look is one of the other returnees: Chandler Bing (yes, that’s his real name), who only averaged 3.6 ppg a year ago but saw his minutes pick up from late January until the end of the season. The 6’6″ wing could give Byington the positional flexibility to make his system work.
Like Byington’s first two seasons, Vanderbilt has a pretty light non-conference schedule — a November 24 trip to Ohio State is Vanderbilt’s only projected loss before SEC play per KenPom, and the Commodores have a 45% chance of winning that one. A top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a trip to the second weekend, neither of which have happened in almost 20 years, are realistic goals, but Vanderbilt fans have spent an offseason dreaming beyond that. — Thomas Stephenson, Anchor of Gold
No. 25 BYU
Spacing and shooting. Those are the two words you should know about this BYU team. BYU might have the best shooting team in college basketball. With Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler eligible, BYU has four players who shot 39%+ from three at the Power Conference level last year. The fifth, Bruce Branch, is a 5-star freshman and projected top 10 pick in next year’s NBA Draft. With Rob Wright returning to run the show and Jaxon Kohler giving BYU a legit inside presence, this team is much more well-rounded than last year’s with AJ Dybantsa. The question is defense and rebounding — can BYU defend and rebound at a competent enough level to warrant a second weekend trip in the NCAA Tournament? If BYU can be decent in those areas, they will be among the top teams in the Big 12. — Robby McCombs, Vanquish the Foe