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Gonzaga, Louisville, and Texas rise in updated WTE top-25 college basketball power ranking for 2026-27 season

Mar 21, 2026; Buffalo, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey looks on during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Mar 21, 2026; Buffalo, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey looks on during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
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1. Duke Blue Devils

Likely departures

  • Cameron Boozer (22.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.1 apg)
  • Maliq Brown (4.9 ppg and 5.2 rpg)
  • Isaiah Evans (15 ppg and 3.2 rpg)
  • Nikolas Khamenia (5.7 ppg and 3.3 rpg)

Likely returnees

  • Cayden Boozer (7.7 ppg and 3.0 apg)
  • Dame Sarr (6.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg)
  • Patrick Ngongba (10.1 ppg and 5.8 rpg)
  • Caleb Foster (8.3 ppg and 2.8 apg)

Roster additions

  • John Blackwell (19.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg at Wisconsin)
  • Jacob Theodosiou (13.1 ppg and 2.7 apg at Loyola MD)
  • Drew Scharnowski (10.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg at Belmont)
  • Deron Rippey Jr. (5-star guard prospect)
  • Bryson Howard (5-star wing prospect)
  • Cameron Williams (5-star forward prospect)

As expected, the Blue Devils will be without one Boozer, with Cameron off to the NBA. Sharpshooter Evans is also gone, but the team brings back multiple starters, including Ngongba. Williams is another top-5 incoming freshman forward to take over a year from now, while Sarr’s return will fly under the radar but is massive for the team's defense to remain elite.

Along with Foster and Cayden Boozer’s return is the pickup of Blackwell, one of the best guards in the country. He gives Duke the kind of scoring lead guard that they didn’t have last season, along with another five-star ball-handler in Rippey to have as much depth as any team in the country. 

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