25. Wisconsin Badgers- Last Season Ranking: 42
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: John Blackwell
It was an out-of-body experience watching the Badgers play last year. They looked like a completely different program than the one coach Greg Gard typically runs out there, and not in a bad way. The 80 points per game average is the most Wisconsin has scored in a season since 1971. This year, the Badgers are still going to be excellent but will win in a more traditional coach Gard way.
24. Creighton Bluejays- Last Season Ranking: 12
Conference: Big East
Player to know: Josh Dix
Greg McDermott has built a powerhouse in Omaha, and with the new NIL rules, the Bluejays should only get better as the years roll on. This offseason was a perfect example of NIL dollars being put to good use. After Creighton lost two of its best players in program history, it went out and replaced them with elite shooters, just as coach McDermott wants. Creighton is going to shoot a ton of threes and play questionable defense—just like every year. Let it fly, Jays.
23. North Carolina Tar Heels- Last Season Ranking: 6
Conference: ACC
Everyone had big feelings about the Tar Heels making the NCAA Tournament last year. It did save coach Hubert Davis' job as he has now made the NCAA Tournament in three of the 4 years he has been the coach in Chapel Hill. North Carolina enters the year ranked in the top 25, but most are not very confident about it. The Tar Heels have a roster full of quality freshmen, and the front court is much improved, but will Coach Davis get them back to the tournament?
22. Illinois Fighting Illini- Last Season Ranking: 27
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: Tomislav Ivisic
Illinois was an interesting team last year. They had one of the best offenses in the country and took a mountain of threes. Illinois didn't make many threes, but it made up for it by being the best rebounding team in the country. Illinois is going to be one of the best rebounding teams in the country again and should dominate inside the paint.
21. Gonzaga Bulldogs- Last Season Ranking: 9
Conference: West Coast
Player to know: Graham Ike
The time has come for Gonzaga to leave the WCC. This will be the Bulldogs' last year in the WCC as they head to the new Pac-12 next year. Gonzaga enters the season as the favorite to win the WCC, will likely obtain a protected 16 seed, and will lead the country in offense, tempo, and field goal percentage. The Bulldogs are not ranked as high as usual, but don't sleep on the Zags.
20. Tennessee Volunteers- Last Season Ranking: 13
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Nate Ament
Head coach Rick Barnes will always have a roster that wins a lot because he preaches defense. His teams will always play elite defense, and the Volunteers have found a way to win games with it, even when the offense isn't great. This year may be another one of those years when the defense has to carry the offense. Tennessee has a lot of high-quality freshmen surrounded by three-point shooters, but will they be able to score when the threes don't fall?
19. Michigan State Spartans- Last Season Ranking: 26
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: Coen Carr
It was vintage Spartans last year as they used their defense and rebounding to get out in transition and score quickly. They were not a good shooting team, but were unbelievably athletic and used that to roll to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Tom Izzo lost a lot of talent to graduation and the portal, but Michigan State was able to reload.
18. Auburn Tigers- Last Season Ranking: 15
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Tahaad Pettiford
The season is going to be an interesting one for the Tigers. The 2024-2025 season was the best in Auburn program history, and it ended in heartbreak against Florida in the Final Four. Even though the team lost star Johni Broome, there were still expectations for this year. I may temper those given that the now-former head coach, Bruce Pearl, has allegedly retired to pursue a career in politics. His son, Steven Pearl, is the new coach and expects some growing pains.
17. Arizona Wildcats- Last Season Ranking: 11
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Jaden Bradley
Arizona started slow and lost some non-conference games that it usually wouldn't. Head coach Tommy Lloyd righted the ship, and the Wildcats looked normal in the back half of the season, culminating in a Sweet 16 appearance. Arizona is another program that attracts young talent, and it has done so again with two McDonald's All-Americans who will likely start from day 1. The Wildcats are a top team in the Big 12 again.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks- Last Season Ranking: 18
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Darius Acuff Jr.
To no one's surprise, year 1 under head coach John Calipari was a success. Arkansas had one of the best freshmen in the country and used that to make a run to the Sweet 16. This year, the roster features a brand-new crop of 5-star freshmen hoping to go further than last year. The Razorbacks have an extremely high ceiling and are a sleeper Final Four team, just like every other Calipari-coached team.
15. Kansas Jayhawks- Last Season Ranking: 1
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Darryn Peterson
Bill Self had a rough season last year, and the Jayhawks didn't get along. The lack of chemistry led to Kansas having one of its worst regular seasons under coach Self, and many players transferred out of the program in the offseason. The Jayhawks reset the roster and have one of the nation's best freshmen who may be the first pick in the draft. Kansas will look more like what we expect this year.
14. Alabama Crimson Tide- Last Season Ranking: 2
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Labaron Philon Jr.
There is running up and down the floor, and then there are Alabama games coached by Nate Oats. The Crimson Tide consistently has the highest-scoring offense in the SEC and one of the highest-scoring offenses in the nation. The offense focuses on speed, ball movement, taking open shots, driving to the lane, and getting fouled. That recipe should win games, but Alabama refuses to play defense. That has led to some earlier-than-expected exits from the tournament.
13. UCLA Bruins- Last Season Ranking: 22
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: Donovan Dent
UCLA was back to playing Mick Cronin basketball last year. The Bruins play an aggressive style that forces a ton of turnovers. The turnovers and the subsequent transition baskets were the only baskets that UCLA could get consistently last year. The mission for coach Cronin was to improve offensively without giving up anything on defense. He succeeded, and the offense will be better. UCLA is a favorite in the Big Ten this year.
12. Iowa State Cyclones- Last Season Ranking: 7
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Tamin Lipsey
Iowa State entered February as one of the best teams in the country, and even after taking some losses, the Cyclones were a trendy pick to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament despite several key injuries. Head coach TJ Otzelberger lost a ton of talent in his backcourt but was able to replace it in the transfer portal. The Cyclones are a favorite in the Big 12 again.
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders- Last Season Ranking: 44
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: JT Toppin
The Red Raiders made the Elite Eight last year, had one of the best offenses in the country, and played unbelievable defense all year. It is hard to believe that head coach Grant McCasland may have a better team this year than he did last year. Toppin is an All-American and has an outside chance of winning the National Player of the Year. Texas Tech is going to make a ton of threes and is better than you most nights.
10. Kentucky Wildcats- Last Season Ranking: 17
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Otega Oweh
Mark Pope guided Kentucky to the Sweet 16 in his first season in Lexington, and he did it with a high-powered offense that shot a ton of threes. Defense was optional for the Wildcats last year, but all that will change this year. The 2025-2026 roster is loaded with shooters and guys who can run the floor. The wrinkle that this team has that last year's didn't have is elite defense and rim protection in the post.
9. Michigan Wolverines- Last Season Ranking: 39
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: Yaxel Lendeborg
The Wolverines and head coach Dusty May were so hard to prepare for because they utilized twin towers in the paint last season. Put all of that with physical athletic guards, and you have a sweet 16 team. Coach May is at it again with his 2025-2026 roster. They have twin towers, and one of them is one of the best players in the country. Another athletic point guard and unreal depth. They are a top 10 team and a favorite in the Big Ten.
8. Louisville Cardinals- Last Season Ranking: 65
Conference: ACC
Player to know: Adrian Wooley
Well, sometimes you swing and miss on a preseason ranking, and that is what happened with Louisville last year. They were pegged as a bubble team in the rankings —and anything but. The Cardinals are coached by Pat Kelsey, who was not given enough credit for just how good a coach he is heading into last season. That mistake will never be made again. Louisville heads into the 2025-2026 season as a top 10 team.
7. BYU Cougars- Last Season Ranking: 28
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: AJ Dybantsa
A bit of projection, but Kevin Young is going to take BYU basketball to heights the program has never seen. Last year, the Cougars had some program-defining wins against Kansas, Arizona, and Iowa State. Heading into this year, the Cougars have the likely number 1 pick in the NBA draft and have brought in other highly talented players to lead BYU.
6. St. John’s Red Storm- Last Season Ranking: 21
Conference: Big East
Player to know: Ian Jackson
Year two of the Rick Pitino era was one for the books in Jamaica, NY. The Red Storm won 31 games and were the regular-season and tournament champions in the Big East. Had the Big East Player of the Year and earned a 2 seed. If you thought that was good, get ready for year 3 of the coach Pitino era because there are few teams as talented as St. John's is, especially in the backcourt. The Red Storm are title contenders.
5. UConn Huskies- Last Season Ranking: 5
Conference: Big East
Player to know: Alex Karaban
The Huskies struggled a bit last year, even though they had a season most teams would love to have. That is what happens when your team wins two straight National Championships. Like it or not, head coach Dan Hurley has built another team that will compete near the top of the Big East and is a favorite for the National Title again.
4. Florida Gators- Last Season Ranking: 25
Conference: SEC
Player to know: Xaivian Lee
I had the Gators ranked in the top 25 to start last year, but they were at 25. The Gators won the National Championship and were one of the most dominant teams in the country all season. This year, Florida has a lot of talent, a ton of expectations, and is a favorite to win another National Championship. I won't make the same mistake again regarding Florida.
3. Duke Blue Devils- Last Season Ranking: 4
Conference: ACC
Player to know: Cameron Boozer
Duke dominated last year, and we all knew early on that they would be a National Championship contender. The Blue Devils had one of the best college players ever in Cooper Flagg, who is now off to the NBA. Never fear, though, Duke fans, head coach Jon Scheyer reloads every season with a new crop of freshmen who will be lottery picks. Duke could start five freshmen this year and win the ACC going away. The Blue Devils are loaded again.
2. Purdue Boilermakers- Last Season Ranking: 14
Conference: Big Ten
Player to know: Braden Smith
Anytime a team loses a player as dominant as Zach Edey was, they are going to take a step back the following year. That is relative to Purdue, considering they still made the Sweet 16 and dominated the Big Ten for most of the year. Heading into this season, though, the Boilermakers bring back four starters from last year, have the front-runner for player of the year, and ridiculous depth. They are again among the favorites for the National Title.
1. Houston Cougars- Last Season Ranking: 3
Conference: Big 12
Player to know: Chris Cenac Jr.
It was a tough offseason for the Cougars, who were about 30 seconds away from winning the school's first National Championship. Heartbreaking losses often bring teams together, and on top of that, Houston had one of the best recruiting classes in the country, led by future lottery picks who will make an immediate impact for the Cougars. Houston enters the year extremely motivated; they are still going to shoot, make it impossible to score, and are coached by the best coach in the sport. Trust the Cougars.
I can’t wait for the season to start. I hope you all enjoyed this guide and preview into the 2025-2026 season. Only five more months until the Final Four begins.