75. Utah Utes- Last Season Ranking: 71
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Terrence Brown
Surprisingly, Craig Smith didn't win at Utah, given his run of success as a head coach before he arrived. The Utes hired Alex Jensen, who most recently coached with the Dallas Mavericks. Jensen has assembled an interesting roster headlined by two prolific scorers from the mid-major ranks. The Utes should be far more competitive in the Big 12 in due time.
74. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets- Last Season Ranking: 78
Conference: ACC
Player to know: Baye Ndongo
It has been a while since Georgia Tech has been a legitimate threat in the ACC, and while they still have a long way to go, head coach Damon Stoudamire is building the program. The Yellow Jackets love players who can shoot and handle the ball. If you can make threes and don't turn the ball over, Georgia Tech is the place for you. The talent is much better, but in the ACC, it is only good enough for .500 or better.
73. Butler Bulldogs- Last Season Ranking: 82
Conference: Big East
Player to know: Jalen Jackson
Depth was a significant issue for the Bulldogs last season; the defense was terrible as well. Those two things are never going to win much in the Big East. Even with all of that, Butler still finished in the middle of the Big East. Head coach Thad Matta wants more, though; he wants NCAA Tournament appearances. Butler upgraded its roster in a big way through the transfer portal, and it will be much improved this year.
72. Minnesota Golden Gophers- Last Season Ranking: 60
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: BJ Omot
Minnesota fans are relieved that the Ben Johnson era of Gopher basketball is finally over. Minnesota never lived up to the expectations that their rosters often had. The Gophers hired Niko Medved, who was a home run and will bring the program back to prominence, but it will be a while. The Big Ten is deep this year, and Minnesota is going to be pesky, but they don't have enough to win most nights in that league.
71. Miami Hurricanes- Last Season Ranking: 52
Conference: ACC
Player to know: Tre Donaldson
It was likely that Miami would take a step back last year, but no one expected what actually happened. Miami was one of the worst power-conference schools in the country, went through two coaches, and had one of the worst defenses. The Hurricanes are now coached by Jai Lucas, who has completely flipped the roster and brought in a lot of big-time talent that will compete in the ACC this year.
70. Notre Dame Fighting Irish- Last Season Ranking: 68
Conference: ACC
Player to know: Markus Burton
Year three is usually the year when head coaches figure it out and start showing progress in the rebuild. Head coach Micah Shrewsberry has already made some progress last year, but the Irish have a roster ready to compete and make some waves in the ACC. Notre Dame has a lot of talent and looks every bit like a bubble team.
69. Xavier Musketeers- Last Season Ranking: 47
Conference: Big East
Player to know: All Wright
The Musketeers made the NCAA Tournament last year and won a First Four game before losing to Illinois. Sean Miller left to take the Texas job, and Xavier hired Richard Pitino. Pitino returns to the power conference level after a successful stint at New Mexico. Xavier has a lot of new pieces and some talent, but not enough to make the tournament or finish near the top of the Big East again.
68. UCF Knights- Last Season Ranking: 67
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Riley Kugel
The Knights played for the College Basketball Crown Championship last year before losing to Nebraska. It is impressive how well the team played, given that its entire roster was in the transfer portal. Head coach Johnny Dawkins had to build a roster through the transfer portal, which he did, but it lacks star power—a quality that is never a good thing in the Big 12.
67. LSU Tigers- Last Season Ranking: 69
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Marquel Sutton
The Tigers were one of the two SEC teams not to make the tournament last year, which is unfortunate, as that was the most talented roster head coach Matt McMahon has ever had. LSU was far too reliant on freshmen the previous season, so this year, coach McMahon made sure his best players were upperclassmen. Can LSU finally make a postseason tournament?
66. Marquette Golden Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 19
Conference: Big East
Player to know: Chase Ross
Marquette was pegged as one of the best teams in the country last year, given the way they play and their talent. That never materialized, and even though the Golden Eagles made the NCAA Tournament, they were beaten in the first round. Marquette lost a lot of talent to graduation and did nothing in the portal. The Golden Eagles may not make the tournament this year.
65. VCU Rams- Last Season Ranking: 48
Conference: Atlantic 10
Player to know: Barry Evans
Ryan Odom took the job at Virginia, and VCU went and hired Phil Martelli Jr. from Bryant. Martelli Jr. is one of the better up-and-coming coaches in the country, and here is what you can expect out of VCU. They are going to play extremely fast and shoot at a very high percentage from the floor, especially from inside the arc. The Rams will be just as good under their new coach.
64. Northwestern Wildcats- Last Season Ranking: 55
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: Nick Martinelli
Northwestern had high expectations heading into last year and hoped to make it back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Things were looking good midway through the season, and then the injuries started. The Wildcats were crushed by injuries last year and still managed to win 17 games. This season, the Wildcats have a ton of freshmen but some big-time returners. They will be a bubble team.
63. Saint Louis Billikens- Last Season Ranking: 107
Conference: Atlantic 10
Player to know: Robbie Avila
It was only a matter of time until head coach Josh Schertz got the Billikens program moving in the right direction. Last year, they won 19 games and finished 5th in the Atlantic 10. This year, coach Schertz loaded up on talent in the transfer portal, and they are very dangerous. Saint Louis is a big-time sleeper team to get hot and make the NCAA Tournament.
62. Pittsburgh Panthers- Last Season Ranking: 41
Conference: ACC
Player to know: Cameron Corhen
It looked like Jeff Capel had turned the Pitt program around with back-to-back 20-win seasons and an NCAA Tournament appearance, but last year the Panthers struggled in the ACC and didn't make the postseason. The 2025-2026 season is one with more depth for Pitt, but they lack a true star. Middle of the ACC finish again for Pitt.
61. Saint Mary’s Gaels- Last Season Ranking: 35
Conference: West Coast
Player to know: Paulius Murauskas
The Gaels have turned themselves into a premier program in the WCC and the most consistent program in the state of California. Saint Mary's does it in a very unorthodox way, especially in this era of basketball. The defense is elite, no matter the personnel, and the Gaels never turn the ball over. The offense isn't always great because it doesn't have to be. The Gaels can win a game in the low 60s.
60. TCU Horned Frogs- Last Season Ranking: 59
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Xavier Edmonds
After three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Horned Frogs took a huge step back. Head coach Jamie Dixon had a depth problem last year, and that is what happens when you have a young, inexperienced team like TCU was. The Horned Frogs worked on their depth and overall talent in the offseason. The Horned Frogs have a chance to make the tournament again.
59. Providence Friars- Last Season Ranking: 62
Conference: Big East
Player to know: Jason Edwards
Kim English has struggled to find his footing as Providence's head coach. Last season was marred by regression in almost every way. The Friars only won 12 games and were a mess the entire season. The depth was horrible, and there were no stars. This year, the Friars head into the season with much improved depth and added star power. Providence looks like a bubble team this year.
58. Oklahoma State Cowboys- Last Season Ranking: 98
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Anthony Roy
It was only a matter of time until head coach Steve Lutz turned the Cowboys into a Big 12 powerhouse again. This year, Oklahoma State may be heading in that direction quicker than even Lutz thought. The transfer portal enabled coach Lutz to reload the roster with excellent talent after losing many seniors from last year. The Cowboys will score at an elite level, but will they play enough defense?
57. Indiana Hoosiers- Last Season Ranking: 20
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: Tucker DeVries
The Mike Woodson era has come to an end, and the Darien DeVries era has started. That means Indiana fans are rejoicing everywhere. In all seriousness, it's hard to know what to expect from the Hoosiers. The entire roster is new, and teams like that typically don't win much at the Power Five level. People are talking, though, because Indiana does have a lot of talent, and if it gels quickly, it could be a magical season.
56. Virginia Cavaliers- Last Season Ranking: 63
Conference: ACC
Player to know: Malik Thomas
Tony Bennett is gone, no problem. Virginia has found a coach Bennett clone in Ryan Odom to lead the program. The Cavaliers won't look any different. They are going to shoot a ton of threes and make it almost impossible to score on the defensive end. Life comes full circle, considering that coach Odom was the coach at UMBC when they upset Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.
55. Memphis Tigers- Last Season Ranking: 36
Conference: American Athletic
Player to know: Dug McDaniel
Memphis was one of the best teams in the country from December on, but then they got upset in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway lost their entire roster from last season and had to replace most of it in the transfer portal. The Tigers were not nearly as victorious in the transfer portal this year. This may be an interesting year for Memphis.
54. Oklahoma Sooners- Last Season Ranking: 43
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Nijel Pack
The verdict is still out on whether the move to the SEC was a good idea for Oklahoma; however, the early returns look promising. Head coach Porter Moser guided the Sooners to the NCAA Tournament last season, even though they went 6-12 in the league. The 13-0 start didn't hurt. The 2025-2026 season will be another year in which Oklahoma is on the bubble.
53. West Virginia Mountaineers- Last Season Ranking: 86
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Treysen Eaglestaff
The Mountaineers hired Ross Hodge from North Texas after their former coach left for Indiana. West Virginia fans should expect a team that plays slow, smothering, aggressive defense, but runs an efficient offense. The transfer portal was kind to West Virginia, and the roster has two of the most prolific scorers in college basketball. I wonder about the overall depth.
52. Syracuse Orange- Last Season Ranking: 51
Conference: ACC
Player to know: JJ Starling
It is never easy to replace a legend, and current head coach Adrian Autry is learning that the hard way. Syracuse had a losing season last year for just the second time in the previous 57 years. That is how dominant that program has been. As coach Autry enters his fourth season at Syracuse, he has his deepest roster yet, with some sleeper potential.
51. Villanova Wildcats- Last Season Ranking: 30
Conference: Big East
Player to know: Bryce Lindsay
Kevin Willard takes over for Kyle Neptune, and the Wildcats have an interesting roster. The roster was assembled quickly after the College Basketball Crown tournament, when coach Willard officially took over, and somehow Villanova built a roster with everything Coach Willard needed to win—a deadly shooter and ball handler in the backcourt and a ton of height. The problem is that the talent level is not what Villanova is used to.