It’s one of the most beautiful times of the year because college basketball is back in action. Early November means the start of another season that will no doubt give us incredible players, memorable moments, and sensational upsets. In actuality, we’ve already seen all three of those just seven days into this new season.
Between a game in Rome, the 24 hour CBB marathon, and a few other stunners, the sport has delivered right out of the gate. With that being said, the focus still tends to be on the best of the best in college basketball and that’s no different here.
We’re giving our first in-season update on the Top 25 rankings for this season, though it’s fair to remember that these teams have only been on the court once or twice to this point. It’s impossible to have a firm grasp on where some of these teams compare to one another, but this is our best effort at these rankings after a few games and an intriguing first week of basketball action.
25. Nebraska (2-0)
Last season Nebraska made history by reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history. Of course, it was the first two NCAA Tournament wins the Cornhuskers have ever had and Fred Hoiberg knows it’s time to build on that success. Nebraska isn’t exactly being picked by many to be a top contender in the Big Ten, but Pryce Sandfort and company are looking to surprise folks once again this year.
The Cornhuskers got things started right with a 106-64 opening night victory against Le Moyne. Sandfort led with 20 points and was one of five scorers in double figures. Nebraska faced a more significant challenge over the weekend in Connecticut and took care of Providence, winning 67-58 against the Big East school. Sandfort led again with 25 points and was one of just 5 Cornhuskers to score on a day when the 3-pointers weren’t falling but the defense did enough.
You didn’t find Nebraska in the preseason national rankings, though KenPom and other metrics actually love this Cornhuskers team. We’re casting a spotlight on them early for multiple reasons, especially with how Sandfort has come out of the gate. We’ll see how the rest of the team comes together as the year progresses, and we’ll only see them once next week as they head back home to host Lindenwood.
24. Michigan (1-1)
Everything went according to plan last season as the Wolverines won their second national championship in program history. The offseason didn’t exactly follow the same script, with Dusty May departing for the Dallas Mavericks while leaving Mike Boynton at the helm. Michigan also lost significant talent like Yaxel Lendeborg from that championship team, though some newcomers in the frontcourt should keep this team very competitive.
These Wolverines handled their business on opening night as they celebrated that title, getting an 84-68 win against Oakland in the process. Both Roddy Gayle Jr. and Trey McKenney had 17 points apiece and look great in their returns in Ann Arbor. Unfortunately the weekend was less fruitful, with Michigan losing a national title game rematch 85-77 to UConn out in Boston. McKenney had 22 points and newcomer J.P. Estrella added 19 points and 9 rebounds in the tough loss.
One could easily argue that Michigan isn’t as talented as UConn this season, though everyone in Ann Arbor is thankful the roles were reversed in April. The Wolverines lose a tough game and haven’t looked the best in the opening week but we’re far from out on this team. We’ll get a firmer grasp at where this new-look squad stands with some of these upcoming games, including a home date with Marquette just a few days from now.
23. BYU (2-0)
Last season BYU depended heavily on their Big 3 of AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Rob Wright III. With the first two off to the NBA, things will look very different in the Cougars’ rotations, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Wright is back and should be a massive influence on a lineup that also includes highly-touted recruit Bruce Branch III and a few other new faces from the offseason.
BYU got a major opportunity to prove themselves on opening night and took advantage, nabbing a 94-83 win over Ohio State in Las Vegas. Wright showcased just the type of star he can be this year with a 35-point effort against the Buckeyes. In the home opener later in the week, the Cougars slammed the door shut with a 108-67 win over Omaha. All five starters were in double figures for the second time, getting 19 from Wright and 18 points apiece from Tyler Betsey and Collin Chandler.
There’s no question that Wright is the leader of this squad and will have those kinds of outrageous efforts, but there’s more balance this year too. BYU shot the ball really well in each of those first two contests and should get contributions from all five starters throughout the season. After a tough matchup in the opener, they’ll be staying at home for a bit, hosting Queens and Montana State next week with a 4-0 start looking quite likely.
22. Miami (1-1)
In his first season as a collegiate head coach, Jai Lucas surprised a lot of people with how the Hurricanes performed last year. A senior-laden team built on transfers won a ton of games and even advanced in the NCAA Tournament. Lucas has been a fantastic recruiter and kept that momentum into this offseason, building a team that looks on paper like it could be even better than last year’s crew.
Unfortunately, a major challenge waited on opening night and the Hurricanes fell 77-67 to top-ranked Florida. Acaden Lewis had 24 points in his Miami debut but the offense struggled and opened the season in an early hole. This Miami team unsurprisingly bounced back later in the week, winning 83-57 over Wagner in their home opener. Shelton Henderson had 19 points and 5 assists to lead the charge over the Seahawks.
As a team, the Hurricanes shot just 25% from outside the arc in the opening week and have some understandable concerns on offense. Still, it’s too early in the season to sound the alarms, especially with several new faces and moving pieces in Lucas’s lineups. Each of the next four games are home dates over mid-majors, giving the Hurricanes a chance to stockpile November wins beginning with North Florida on Monday.
21. Kentucky (2-0)
Say what you want about Mark Pope and what he’s done since taking over at his alma mater, but his staff did land perhaps the top name in the transfer portal in Milan Momcilovic. The Wildcats missed out on a number of their offseason targets but have still built a roster that many believe can make significant noise in an SEC packed with talent and soon enough they’ll try proving that to all.
They settled for a nice easy start to the season, getting an 85-57 win over Manhattan on Tuesday. Momcilovic unsurprisingly starred with 24 points, including 6 of 9 from outside the arc. It wasn’t quite smooth sailing on Friday, but Kentucky used a strong second half to win 89-80 over James Madison. Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins had 16 points apiece to give the Wildcats enough to handle the Dukes.
Allowing 80 points to James Madison raises some early questions about Kentucky’s defense, and it’s fair to wonder about a lineup that could’ve been so much better had they landed a few more transfers in the offseason. Regardless, two wins is exactly what they needed and they’re looking forward, though the horizon gets bumpier. The Wildcats head to Chicago for the Champions Classic and will need to play a great game against Kansas.
20. Vanderbilt (2-0)
A big part of last season’s story for Vanderbilt was the development and rise of Tyler Tanner, who transformed into a star before our eyes. The big story this time around is his return for his junior season and just what that means for a Commodores team looking for a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and perhaps an even longer stay in that event, especially with new veteran talent around Tanner.
Vanderbilt started hot, getting a 93-47 blowout win over Bellarmine to kick start the regular season. Tanner led the way with 20 points and 6 assists while also five starters played solid in the victory. The Commodores arguably played even better on Thursday, getting a 74-51 win against Wake Forest. Tanner had 17 points and 10 rebounds while Ace Glass added 16 points to help key a 2-0 start for the program.
When you take a step back and look at these performances, Vanderbilt’s defense played extremely well. Drubbing Bellarmine is one thing, but allowing just 51 points to an ACC foe is a great start to the season for a Commodores team trying to prove something in a packed SEC. Tanner and company welcome another strong opponent to town in Memphis this upcoming Tuesday.
19. Iowa State (1-1)
Coming off a third Sweet Sixteen run in five years, Iowa State is looking for even more magic. TJ Otzelberger has done an incredible job of building strong lineups built on great defense and intensity, and getting Tamin Lipsey back for a bonus season certainly helps his cause this season. The roster does look a bit different and the Cyclones will be leaning strong on a trio of impressive looking sophomores.
The season opener in South Dakota didn’t exactly transpire in the way the Cyclones expected, falling 80-76 to Memphis. Ryan Prather Jr. actually led the way with 19 points off the bench on a night where the starters really struggled shooting the basketball. Fortunately things went a bit smoother on their homec court in an 83-57 win against Southern Miss. Tre Singleton, one of those impressive sophomores, led the charge with 28 points and 9 rebounds.
The Cyclones quickly regroup from a rocky opening night, a big difference from last year’s 16-0 start to the season. With the offseason changes, the level of talent is different but Otzelberger still believes this crew can take care of business and make national noise once again. Even after blowing that shot against Memphis they’ll have other opportunities, though this week only provides a home date with Southern.
18. St. John’s (1-0)
Even though they watched a conference rival play for the national title last year, St. John’s powered their way to regular season and tournament titles in the Big East before running into a buzz saw in Duke. Rick Pitino and company are back again in a major way and with new experienced talent, but what exactly will be the story on this version of the Red Storm?
It’s hard to know where St. John’s stands right out the bat, especially when they played just one game in the opening week. They did take care of business, securing a 78-63 win over Monmouth in the home opener back on Monday. Keyshawn Hall impressed with 26 points and 9 rebounds but a few other players had shooting struggles despite the victory.
Nobody is flashing warning signs after a 15-point win over Monmouth, but we’re still just starting to understand how things are going to play out for the Red Storm this season. The weeks ahead will give us a bigger picture at how players like Ian Jackson and Tounde Yessoufou are going to perform, though these next few games will largely be at home. St. John’s hosts four straight games over the next two weeks, beginning with Iona on Sunday.
17. Texas Tech (2-0)
It’s pretty difficult for Texas Tech to find a ton to complain about in recent years under Grant McCasland. The results have been exceptional, including that recent Elite Eight run, though the Red Raiders do have one little issue. Star big man JT Toppin is still rehabbing his torn ACL and we won’t see him quite yet, though a talented Red Raiders lineup is trying to pick up the slack in their star’s absence.
They did that job successfully on opening night, winning 76-42 over Jackson State with relative ease. Damarion Dennis came up big off the bench with 22 points while Cruz Davis added 15 points in his Texas Tech debut. The Red Raiders did what they needed on Thursday as well, getting a 76-58 victory against Bethne-Cookman. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn shined with 25 points while Davis added another 15 in the win.
Texas Tech will be leaning heavily on other players, especially those guards to help offset Toppin’s loss around the rim. The early returns have been solid, even if the Red Raiders didn’t exactly blow the covers off Bethune-Cookman this past week. However, they are really going to be tested early with ah highly-anticipated home date against Illinois on this upcoming Tuesday.
16. Gonzaga (2-0)
The Bulldogs have built quite the reputation over the years, but things are a little different this time around. Gonzaga remains a national power under Mark Few and has added some great talent into the fold, but this program now joins the new Pac-12 after years of dominating the WCC. Will the Bulldogs be on the same level in this new league?
It’s so far so good in a major way, especially with a 78-72 win over Purdue in Las Vegas to start the season. Davis Fogle put up 22 points and newcomer Xaivian Lee added 18 points to take care of the Boilermakers. In Saturday’s home opener, the Bulldogs used a strong second half to take care of New Mexico State, winning 109-68. Both Fogle and Isiah Harwell put up 22 points and Braden Huff added 20 points in what was a fantastic night for the offense as a whole.
Getting a really solid win over Purdue was a great start to the season. There’s no Graham Ike in Spokane any more, but we’re going to see how Huff develops into that next great forward while players like Fogle and Massamba Diop are expected to play big roles as sophomores. Next weekend brings another power conference opportunity as the Bulldogs welcome LSU to town.
15. Alabama (2-0)
Even while the SEC has become a total monster as a conference Alabama has found a way to be a major part of that yearly conversation. Nate Oats has taken the Crimson Tide on several deep postseason runs and truly believes he has a team that can do that once again this year. There’s no more Labaron Philon but more than a few pieces worth getting excited about in Tuscaloosa.
The season opener on Tuesday went successfully for the Crimson Tide, pulling out a 96-74 win over Sam Houston. Drew Fielder and London Jemison led the way with 15 points apiece off the bench against the Bearkats. Three days later, Alabama told a similar story in a 101-86 win against Arkansas State. Five players were in double figures, led by 17 points from Qayden Samuels and double-doubles from both Amari Allen and Brandon Garrison.
We named five key pieces who all showed their promise for the Crimson Tide in a week where they handled two decently solid mid-major programs. Obviously, Alabama will be significantly tested later in the year, though giving up 86 to the Red Wolves in a high-tempo game is still something notable. Regardless, Alabama will look to keep this early start rolling as they welcome Oakland and Seton Hall in next week.
14. UCLA (2-0)
Few expected Mick Cronin to get the UCLA job way back in 2019 but he’s actually done a pretty solid job with a Bruins program. Last year was another season where you hoped for a bit more from the Bruins, but they’re still new members in the Big Ten and adjusting to life hitting the road. Regardless, there’s a plethora of talent at UCLA this season and that’s become pretty clear right from the jump.
The Bruins got the marquee win on opening night, securing an 84-75 win over Arizona in Las Vegas. Trent Perry led the charge with 21 points on what became a very great start for the UCLA defense in the win. There was significantly less drama in their home opener on Friday, knocking out North Florida in a 114-63 blowout. Nikola Kusturica showed some of his potential with 29 points while Jaylen Petty added 22 against the Ospreys.
An early win over a Top 5 program clearly puts some national spotlight on UCLA right away. The offense has played well enough, surviving against that strong Arizona front before getting their first shot in front of their home crowd. Time will tell just what the ceiling is for the Bruins, though it’s going to be a few more weeks before then, seeing as how their next four games are home dates with mid-majors, starting Wednesday with Arkansas Pine Bluff.
13. Arkansas (1-0)
The very fabric of college basketball has changed in a major way in recent years with NIL, conference realignment, and even Tourney expansion, but John Calipari never seems to change. The legendary coach is fresh off another great season with the Razorbacks and has brought an incredible freshmen class to Arkansas, looking to make their mark in the SEC race.
The early returns have been largely positive, with the Razorbacks coasting to a 106-61 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff to begin the season. Jeremiah Wilkinson had 23 points, Jordan Smith Jr. added 20 points, and Arkansas shot 55% from the floor as a team in an easy season opener.
We’re not interested in making any general statements about Arkansas after just 40 minutes against a SWAC team, but the Razorbacks did what they needed in that debut. The freshmen and other new faces will continue to grow into their roles, though this needs to happen in a hurry with a busy month ahead. That difficulty begins with a highly anticipated clash with Virginia on Sunday.
12. Kansas (2-0)
It’s conceivable that we may be nearing the end of Bill Self’s illustrious coaching career, though he doesn’t intend to go down with a whimper. While the Jayhawks have been surpassed by teams like Arizona and Houston in the Big 12 in recent years, Kansas has quite the roster in Lawrence this season, with a combination of exciting freshmen and some true studs from the transfer portal.
Opening night went according to plan as the Jayhawks triumphed 95-65 over Fordham. Returning starter Tre White led the charge with 22 points while star freshman Tyran Stokes added 15 points in his first college game. Things were even sweeter on Friday night as Kansas won 89-45 in a romp against Middle Tennessee. This time around it was Trey Kaufman-Renn standing out with 17 points as the Jayhawks nailed their early start to the season.
Somehow Kaufman-Renn fell into Kansas’s lap, and judging by the early start at Purdue he’s missed in West Lafayette. The current climate in college basketball is just tumultuous, giving Self and company a weapon that can put them right there with the top teams in the Big 12 once again. We’ll see how much of a top team they can be at the Champions Classic, facing Kentucky in Chicago in just a few days.
11. Louisville (2-0)
These first few years for Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals have certainly been a step in the right direction thanks to a lot of new talent. Louisville wasn’t quite as explosive last season, but Kelsey believes that some of these new additions should really change the trajectory for the Cardinals. You’d hope that would be true after getting Flory Bidunga and others out of the portal, but let’s let the basketball decide for us.
While it may not have been a blowout, there were many good things in Monday’s season opening 84-70 win over Chattanooga. All five starters were in double figures led by Bidunga’s 16-point, 9-rebound effort. Saturday’s outing was far more explosive, with Louisville winning 107-57 against Morehead State. Obinna Ekezie Jr. had 20 points and 13 rebounds off the bench as one of seven players in double figures as the Cardinals ran away in the second half.
Adding players like Alvaro Folgueiras and Jackson Shelstad to the fold really helps strengthen this Cardinals team and you can bet both of those players will have their standout moments in the weeks and months to come. For now, Louisville is still figuring out those strengths and actually won’t see the court in the next seven days, though their first true road test awaits them next Sunday at Memphis.
10. Arizona (1-1)
Last season ended with the Wildcats in the Final Four for the first time in a quarter century, though this program doesn’t want that to be the high point. Arizona brings back some great talent from last season, highlighted by Ivan Kharchenkov, and has the pieces to win the Big 12 and be a national contender again. With that being said, we never said it was going to be smooth sailing through to March.
Their year actually began in disappointment, dropping an opening night thriller 84-75 to former Pac-12 rival UCLA in Las Vegas. Kharchenkov was otherworldly with 38 points and 10 rebounds, but there wasn’t much else beyond Derek Dixon’s 18-point effort. Thursday’s home opener went more smoothly, with the Wildcats prevailing 104-84 over Cal Poly. Kharchenkov had another double-double but this time Motiejus Krivas stood out with his 30 point performance.
Throw in stud freshman Caleb Holt and a few other faces and you can understand why this Arizona team has great expectations this season. They fell short against a really good Bruins team in Vegas but that doesn’t diminish what this team can accomplish in the months ahead. Instead of licking their wounds, they have a real chance to get back on track at Auburn next Friday night.
9. Tennessee (1-0)
Disappointment may be the wrong word to use, but it was fair to say Rick Barnes and these Volunteers were disappointed last season, falling short again in the Elite Eight. Tennessee has appeared in three consecutive Elite Eight’s but hasn’t gotten over the hump to the Final Four. Barnes is hoping that an influx of transfer talent puts this roster in that position, though time will tell just where these Volunteers will land.
There seemed to be some real question marks in their season opener on Tuesday, but Tennessee turned a 3-point halftime lead into a comfortable 90-59 victory over Wofford. DeWayne Brown II and Terrence Hill Jr. had 17 points apiece and the Volunteers survived despite the slow start.
A program long known for its defense did more than enough in the second half against the Terriers, but what exactly did that close first half mean? Tennessee has a significant amount of talent on this roster and there’s no question that the ceiling is high for this crew. We’ll see just what the Volunteers make of that, though they’re sticking at home for a while, with Radford and Tennessee State coming to town next week.
8. Virginia (2-0)
After some brief uncertainty, Ryan Odom has done a fantastic job bringing this program back to prominence after Tony Bennett’s surprising retirement. In his first season in Charlottesville, Odom took the Cavaliers to 30 wins and the second round of the NCAA Tournament, though he’s looking for even more with a talented team bringing back significant pieces from that effort.
Night one of this new season was a great first step, with Virginia getting an 89-60 win over Drexel on Tuesday night. Thijs De Ridder started what should be another great season with a 24-point effort while Sam Lewis added 20 points. A similar result came Friday as the Cavaliers hung around for a 97-72 win against Northeastern. This time it was both Lewis and Chance Mallory leading the charge with 20 points each.
It’s far too early in the year to nitpick at these kinds of games but the early work has been satisfactory from the Cavaliers. It’s fair to wonder how this defense develops as the season goes on, but we’re far from answering any real questions about a team that hopes to make a run at the ACC title. In the immediate future, that first significant test comes against Arkansas on Sunday, though many eyes will be on their matchup at Maryland on Friday as well.
7. Texas (2-0)
It’s now year two for Sean Miller in Austin and he’s looking to make a real statement this time around. Texas disappointed at times in the regular season before coming on for a Sweet Sixteen run as an 11-seed last year. With how talented this Texas roster looks, it’s hard to imagine the Longhorns being in that same position, though we’ll just have to see how the basketball plays out.
There wasn’t much drama on opening night, with the Longhorns really delivering in a 109-59 blowout win against Chicago State. Matas Vokietaitis got his season started on the right foot with 22 points, including 9 of 9 from the field. There really wasn’t any drama Thursday either, with Texas winning 98-50 over Gardner-Webb. Seven different Longhorns scored in double figures, with Vokietaitis’ 16-point, 7-rebound effort leading the charge again.
Texas has a ton of talent, but making quick work of these two opponents obviously doesn’t say too much. The Longhorns have quite the soft start to their season, though it does allow Miller to figure out just what kind of depth he has in this roster. There’s an intriguing matchup coming soon against Baylor, though their only matchup in the next seven days is another easy game against Grambling on Monday.
6. Houston (1-0)
Basketball at Houston has just been a completely different animal compared to where this program was even a decade ago. Kelvin Sampson’s impact can be felt nationwide, especially with the Cougars on another postseason run last year. They couldn’t quite match 2025’s trip to the national title game, but Sampson knows that he might have another really special team again this year.
The early returns are certainly solid, with these Cougars taking care of business with a 94-55 win over La Salle on opening night. Newcomer Dedan Thomas Jr. fit right into a key role with 16 points while Corey Hadnot II added 14 points off the bench.
That one paragraph and one game barely scratch the surface on what makes Houston special, especially since we didn’t even touch on defensive mastermind Joseph Tugler, back for his senior year. The Cougars will get plenty of chances to prove they belong among the top teams in the nation again, including a matchup with California on Sunday.
5. Michigan State (2-0)
While they may have spent last season in rival Michigan’s shadow, the Spartans are looking to make another big statement this season. Tom Izzo’s crew returns a number of significant pieces, with none more important than Jeremy Fears Jr., one of the best guards in the nation. Michigan State got to ease into the regular season though these easy games won’t last for long.
The season began with a 96-59 win over Quinnipiac on opening night. Six different Spartans scored in double-figures led by Fears with a resilient 13-point, 11-assist effort. Game two saw another win on Thursday night, with Michigan State topping Toledo 91-61. This time it was Jasiah Jervis leading the way with 16 points while Fears was just short of another early double-double.
These first two games aren’t exactly strong indicators on what the Spartans can be this season, though we’re excited to see their star in Fears and how the lineup develops around him. Expect big things from Coen Carr and Jordan Scott this season, though they may need to show up very soon. Michigan State has a major test coming up at the Champions Classic against Duke next week.
4. Connecticut (2-0)
Three of the last four national championship games have featured Dan Hurley and these Huskies, though UConn fell short against Michigan this past April after those previous two titles. A few major losses came with the offseason, including Solo Ball’s injury, but Hurley and staff have more than enough talent to be a major player once again.
We saw them operating on a high level Monday night, opening the season with an 86-46 win over Gardner-Webb. Braylon Mullins had 20 points while Na’jai Hines put up a double-double in an impressive start to the season. On Saturday, the Huskies enacted some revenge in Boston, winning 85-77 in a championship game rematch with the Wolverines. Mullins again led the way with 23 points while Silas Demary Jr. had 21 points to topple Michigan.
It’s hard to find a sweeter start to a season than avenging that loss from last April. It’s a very different Michigan squad than the one that beat them, but UConn absolutely looked for real in that performance and it’ll be interesting to see how Mullins and company continue to develop. Another Big Ten team comes knocking next week, with the Huskies hosting Ohio State on Friday.
3. Illinois (2-0)
Many eyes have been on the Fighting Illini thanks to a successful offseason that saw them retain significant talent from a Final Four team. Throw in a few notable additions and we get an Illinois squad that many think can win the Big Ten outright this season. There are always challenges along the way, including the current injury to preseason All-American David Mirkovic, though week one wasn’t exactly a threat.
The Illini made history on opening night, securing a 120-45 win over Fairleigh Dickinson that became the largest margin of victory in program history. Andrej Stojakovic and newcomer Stefan Vaaks both had 20 points in the dominant performance. The score was closer but the story was the same on Thursday, with Illinois topping Penn 112-70 in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament. Stojakovic led the way once more, this time with 25 points in the win.
From a sheer offensive standpoint, this might be the best scoring team in the nation, as evident when you average 116 in your first two outings. Blowing out FDU was one thing but this Penn team has expectations and the Illini quickly dismissed them in Champaign. They do face their first significant test next week at Texas Tech and we’ll get a real feel for this team’s early potential with or without Mirkovic suiting up.
2. Duke (2-0)
It’s another year in Durham and seemingly another brilliant recruiting class brought to town by Jon Scheyer and his coaching staff. While Cam Boozer and a few others are gone, Duke actually returned a few important pieces from last year and threw in a few high profile transfers as well, building what some consider the lineup with the most significant raw talent in the country.
That talent was on display often this week, beginning with an 84-50 win over Army on Monday night. Dame Sarr led the scoring with 16 points while freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje dropped 15 points in his college debut. Thursday was even more impressive in a 113-52 blowout against Coastal Carolina. Patrick Ngongba II had a brilliant performance with 28 points and 9 rebounds while Cayden Boozer added a double-double with his 12 assists.
Duke didn’t shoot the ball well from outside the arc in game one but it was bombs away against the Chanticleers. There’s just immense talent dripping from this roster and their phenomenal defensive showing only proves that. However, this was just work against two mid-major foes and they’ll get their real chance for proof Tuesday in Chicago against Michigan State at the Champions Classic.
1. Florida (2-0)
It’s been nineteen months since Florida cut down the nets as national champions in 2025, but this team is in a unique position in this era of college hoops. The Gators run out a starting five that includes four players from that championship team. It’s a lineup dripping with experience and includes what’s probably the best frontcourt in the entire nation and they got the season started right.
Florida secured an early ranked win on opening night, winning 77-67 over in-state rival Miami over in Tampa. Thomas Haugh had 19 points and 10 rebounds while Rueben Chinyelu grabbed 14 boards as the Gators made a great opening statement. Things went well on Thursday with the Gators prevailing 88-57 over Jacksonville in their first home game, this time getting 21 points and 8 rebounds from Chinyelu and a double-double from Alex Condon.
All three of those returning studs in the frontcourt were major factors in Florida’s first week success and that’s just an early indication of how this season should go for the Gators. The guards didn’t exactly stand out, though Denzel Aberdeen shot well on Thursday night, but these forwards are going to be the moneymakers on a quest for supremacy. They’ll continue their early in-state barrage with a trip to rival Florida State on Tuesday.
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