The long offseason is nearly behind us, and another thrilling NCAA basketball season is about to begin. After more than 2,600 players entered the transfer portal following the 2024-25 season and several major coaching changes took place, rosters across the country look drastically different.
When the season gets underway, we hit the ground running and do not look back. There are a bunch of big games early in the season, and all through the nonconference slate. Here are the 2025-26 NCAA Basketball Preseason Top 25 Power Rankings as the season tips off on Monday, November 3.
Just missing the cut: North Carolina, San Diego State, Texas, Michigan State, and Boise State.
25. Oregon Ducks
Dana Altman’s Ducks return after a 25-win campaign, tied for seventh in the Big Ten. Big man Nite Bittle anchors the paint while Jackson Shelstad is expected to bounce back from a broken hand before Thanksgiving. Oregon opens Big Ten play against USC and UCLA in December and looks ready to compete again.
Bittle led the Ducks in scoring a season ago with 14.2 points per game. He was also the top rebounder for Coach Altman's team with 7.6 per game. Shelstad also played all 35 games for the Ducks a season ago, leading the team with 32.9 minutes per game on the floor. He scored 13.7 points per game, as the Ducks saw four guys average double digits. Shelstad dished out 2.7 assists per game, which was second to TJ Bamba.
The Ducks have not been to the NCAA Final Four since the 2017 season. Oregon reached the Elite 8 in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017, but fell short each time. Oregon has reached the NCAA Tournament in 10 out of the 15 seasons Altman has been in Eugene. The Ducks have won 20+ games every year Altman has been at the helm as well. This comes after four seasons at Kansas State and 16 at Creighton. The head coach starts the 2025-26 season with 780 career wins under his belt, which ranks 41st in all of college basketball
- Head Coach: Dana Altman (16th season)
- Home Arena: Matthew Knights Arena, Eugene Oregon
- 2024-25 Record: 25-10
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 12-8
- 2024-25 Advancement: NCAA Tournament Round of 32 loss to Arizona 87-83
- Leading scorer: Nate Bittle, 14.2 points per game
- Leading rebounder: Nate Bittle 7.6 per game
- First Game: Tuesday, November 4 vs. Hawaii
24. Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers made a run in the Big Ten Tournament a season ago after struggling down the stretch. Wisconsin lost three out of their last five games, including a home game to Penn State, to finish the regular season.
When the Big Ten Tournament started, the Badgers turned up the heat. Wisconsin beat Northwestern by seven to start play in Indianapolis. The quarterfinals saw a game against the UCLA Bruins, in which Wisconsin won by 16 points. That set up a game against the top-seeded Michigan State Spartans. Tonje went for 32 points and the Badgers won 77-74. The next day, the Badgers fell to No. 22-ranked Michigan Spartans, but were able to pick up a three seed in the NCAA Tournament.
- Head Coach: Greg Gard (11th season)
- Home Arena: Kohl Center, Madison, WI.
- 2024-25 Record: 27-10
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 13-7
- 2024-25 Advancement: NCAA Tournament Round of 32 loss to Brigham Young University 91-81
- Leading scorer: John Tonje, 19.6 points per game
- Leading rebounder: Nolan Winter 5.8 per game
- First Game: Tuesday, November 3 w/ Campbell
23. North Carolina State Wolf Pack
Will Wade takes over in Raleigh, bringing a wave of transfers, including Quadir Copeland from McNeese and Tre Holloman from Michigan State. With Matt Able projected as a one-and-done star, NC State could immediately contend in the ACC under its new, aggressive identity. This will be a new look team for sure, but after the season Wolf Pack fans had to go through in 2024-25, they are ready to learn new faces and names this season.
This was a team that was absolutely dreadful in the final season with Kevin Keats at the helm. The Wolf Pack won just 12 games all season, and did not play in any postseason play. The only two teams in the ACC that justthey finished ahead of were the Boston College Eagles and Miami Hurricanes. This marked the end of an eight-year run for Keats at NC State, jut a season removed from reaching the NCAA Tournament Final Four the previous season.
Wade will bring the same energy he brought to his teams at Chattanooga, VCU, LSU, and McNeese before taking over for the Wolf Pack. Wade has won every stop he has made. He went 40-25 at Chattanooga, before going 51-20 at VCU. His time in Baton Rouge saw him go 105-51 before he was let go due to ongoing recruiting violations. At McNeese, he led the Cowboys to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and won 36 out of 38 games in the Southland Conference.
- Head Coach: Will Wade (1st season)
- Home Arena: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
- 2024-25 Record: 12-19
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 5-15
- 2024-25 Advancement: Did not qualify for ACC Tournament, finishing 16th in regular season
- Leading scorer: Marcus Hill, 11.5 per game
- Leading rebounder: Dontrez Styles, 5.0 per game
- First Game: Monday November 3 vs. North Carolina Central
22. Auburn Tigers
With Stephen Pearl replacing his father Bruce, Auburn enters a new era. The defense should remain strong, led by returner Tahaad Pettiford and newcomers Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) and Keyshawn Hall (Central Florida). Hall’s 19 points per game last year give this roster an offensive spark.
Gone is Johni Broome, who will go down as one of the best Auburn Tigers basketball players in school history. He played more than minutes per game, and led the team in scoring with 18.6 points per game. He also was the top rebounder with 10.8 per game. Also gone is Chad Baker-Mazara, a guard who played in all 38 games for the Tigers. He was the second of five scorers averaging double digits per game with 12.
Following a two-game losing streak to end the regular season and a quick exit in the SEC Tournament, which saw them start as the top seed, the Tigers rolled off four straight NCAA Tournament wins. The 70-65 loss to Tennessee in Nashville led to motivation with big dance wins over Alabama State, Creighton, Michigan and Michigan State. The Tigers were competitive in San Antonio, but fell by six to the Florida Gators despite 18 from Baker-Mazara.
- Head Coach: Stephen Pearl (1st season)
- Home Arena: Neville Arena, Auburn, AL
- 2024-25 Record: 32-6
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 15-3
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Final Four. Lost to Florida 79-73 at Alamodome in San Antonio
- Leading scorer: Johni Broome, 18.6 per game
- Leading rebounder: Johni Broome, 10.8 per game
- First Game: Monday November 3 vs. Bethune-Cookman
21. Creighton Blue Jays
Creighton must move forward without Ryan Kalkbrenner, but transfers like Blake Harper from Howard (19.5 ppg) and Iowa’s Josh Dix and Owen Freeman should fill the void. Coach Greg McDermott’s group remains built to compete in the Big East.
The Blue Jays reached the Big East final and played in front of 19,812 fans at Madison Square Garden. Kalkbrenner scored 15, but they were blown out by a red-hot Red Storm team from St. John's. That led them to a 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In the big dance, the Blue Jays blew by Louisville 89-75. In the second round, the Blue Jays could not slow down Auburn, and their season ended at 25-11.
Ever since McDermott took over at Creighton, the Blue Jays have been a powerhouse out of the Big East. They are still seeking their first-ever trip to the Final Four with McDermott at the helm, but they have reached the dance five straight seasons, including three trips to the Sweet 16. As far as Big East play, the Blue Jays have now finished inside the Top four in nine straight seasons. The last time they did not was during the 2014-15 season, when they went 4-14 and finished in a tie for 9th.
- Head Coach: Doug McDermott (16th season)
- Home Arena: CHI Health Center Omaha, Omaha, NE
- 2024-25 Record: 25-11
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 15-5
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Second Round. After beating Louisville 89-75, the Blue Jays lost to Auburn 82-70 in Lexington.
- Leading scorer: Ryan Kalkbrenner, 19.2 per game
- Leading rebounder: Ryan Kalkbrenner, 8.7 per game
- First Game: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 vs. South Dakota
20. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Tyon Grant-Foster (Grand Canyon) headlines a new-look roster alongside returning forwards Braden Huff and Graham Ike. Mark Few’s Bulldogs face a tough non-conference schedule, as always, to prove they remain elite.
Mark Few enters his 27th season in Spokane with 742 career wins. He will move into the Top 250 all-time in wins this season, and there is a good chance he will move into the top 45. Last season, the Bulldogs lost four non-conference games, but that not deter them from a tough 2025-2026 schedule. In those four losses, the Bulldogs lost by an average of 4.5 points per game, giving them an early-season look at how to win close games.
The Bulldogs went into the West Coast Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed behind St. Mary's. After beating San Francisco by 21, the Bulldogs won a slug fest over the Gaels by seven in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs then scored 89 in the NCAA Tournament opening round, which set up an instant classic against Kelvin Sampson and his Houston Cougars. Gonzaga brought the Cougars to the brink, but Houston escaped Wichita with an 81-76 win.
- Head Coach: Mark Few (27th season)
- Home Arena: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
- 2024-25 Record: 26-9
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 14-4
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Second Round. In the first round, Gonzaga beat Georgia 89-68. The Bulldogs then lost to Houston 81-76 in the second round.
- Leading scorer: Graham Ike, 17.3 per game
- Leading rebounder: Graham Ike, 7.3 rebounds per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Texas Southern
19. Illinois Fighting Illini
Brad Underwood’s squad features a global mix of talent with Kylan Boswell and Tomislav Ivisic leading the way. Serbian forward Mohailo Petrovic joins from Mega Superbet, and Stojakovic arrives after averaging 17.9 points for Cal. Chemistry will be key early in Champaign.
Kasparas Jakucionis is now in the NBA. He had a great season with the Illini, which allowed him to be a first round pick in the draft. He led the team with 15 points nd 4.7 assists per game. That leaves Ivisic as the top scorer and rebounder returning for the Orange and Blue. The big man scored 13 points and recorded 7.7 rebounds per game for the llini.
Underwood is starting his ninth season with the Illini. After missing the postseason in his first two seasons and then the COVID-19 season of 2019-2020, the Illini have reached the NCAA Tournament for five straight seasons. The 2023-24 team advanced to the Elite 8 before running into a buzz saw known as the UConn Huskies.
- Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season)
- Home Arena: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
- 2024-25 Record: 22-13
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 12-8
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Second Round. In the first round, Illinois smacked Xavier 86-73. The Illini then fell 84-75 to Kentucky in Milwaukee to complete their season.
- Leading scorer: Kasparas Jakucionis, 17.3 per game
- Leading rebounder: Tomislav Ivisic, 7.7 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Jackson State
18. Kansas Jayhawks
After a disappointing early tournament exit, Kansas reloads with star freshman Darryn Peterson and key transfers Melvin Council Jr. (St. Bonaventure) and Tre White (Illinois). With Hunter Dickinson gone, Flory Bidunga steps into a larger role inside.
Hunter Dickinson, Zeke Mayo, KJ Adams Jr., Dajuan Harris, Rylan Griffin and AJ Storr are all gone from the Jayhawks of a season ago. Those were the top scorers for the Jayhawks. Kansas beat Arizona in the regular season finale at home, but then fell in two out of their final three games; in the Big 12 quarterfinals to Arizona and then in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Arkansas.
For Self, it was the first time his Jayhawks did not win their first round game since the 2005-06 season. Now it has been three seasons since the Jayhawks won the national title, and they have just two wins in three seasons. Kansas also finished sixth in the Big 12 for the first time in school history, winning just 11 of 20 conference games. The frustrating season has not deterred Self and his staff from scheduling one of the most competitive non-conference schedules in the country.
- Head Coach: Bill Self (23rd season)
- Home Arena: Phog Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS.
- 2024-25 Record: 21-13
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 11-9
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament - but lost in the first round to John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks 79-72.
- Leading scorer: Hunter Dickinson, 17.4 per game
- Leading rebounder: Hunter Dickinson, 10 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Green Bay
17. Tennessee Volunteers
Rick Barnes faces a rebuild after losing most of his core. Maryland’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Louisiana Tech’s Amaree Abram, and freshman Nate Ament lead the new wave. Despite turnover, Tennessee remains dangerous under Barnes’ system.
The Volunteers reached the SEC title game, but fell to Florida 86-77. That made their final two losses of the season to the two teams that played for a national title in Florida and Houston. All in all, the Volunteers won 30 games, including 7 out of their last 9 heading into the big dance.
Chaz Lanier is no longer with the program and there is no doubt they will miss he and Zakai Zeigler's presence out of the backcourt. Leave it to Rick Barnes though to figure it out and make his squad a contender once again. Barnes starts the season with 836 wins, which is tied with Bill Self for 18th most in all of college basketball Those two are the two active head coaches with the most wins heading into Barnes 38th year at the helm.
- Head Coach: Rick Barnes (11th season)
- Home Arena: Thompson-Boling Arena; Knoxville, TN
- 2024-25 Record: 30-8
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 12-6
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. After wins over Wofford, UCLA and Kentucky, the Volunteers saw their season end in Indianapolis. Houston beat them 69-50.
- Leading scorer: Chaz Lanier, 18.0 per game
- Leading rebounder: Igor Milicic Jr., 6.7 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Mercer
16. Alabama Crimson Tide
Injury setbacks hit early, but Nate Oats’ backcourt duo of Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway gives Alabama elite scoring potential. Taylor Bowen (Florida State) and Latrell Wrightsell return to strengthen a deep, athletic rotation.
The Crimson Tide were the top scoring teams in all of college basketball, with 90.7 poitns per game. Defensively, Alabama could use some work, as they allowed 81.3 per game. The CrimsoN Tide shared the basketball, as they were 18th with 17.2 assists per game, and were great on the glass, with 42.4 per game. Oats demands those things out of his teams, which should be a calling card of the 2025-26 team.
The Crimson Tide fell to Florida in the SEC Semifinals by 22 points, but turned around and won three straight nCAA Tournament games. The highlight was scoring 113 points against a Brigham Young team that was a six seed out of the East Region. Mark Sears led the way in that game with 34 points. It was a great run that ended in front of nearly 19,000 fans in Newark, as they could not slow down Duke.
Oats has put together one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country with consecutive games against St. John’s, Purdue, Illinois, Gonzaga, UNLV and Clemson. They also will take on the Arizona Wildcats before Christmas.
- Head Coach: Nate Oats (7th season)
- Home Arena: Coleman Coliseum; Tuscaloosa, AL.
- 2024-25 Record: 28-9
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 13-5
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The Crimson Tide beat Robert Morris by 9, Saint Mary’s by 14 and Brigham Young by 25. At the Prudential Center, Duke downed the Crimson Tide 85-65.
- Leading scorer: Mark Sears, 18.6 per game
- Leading rebounder: Grant Nelson, 7.6 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. North Dakota
15. Arkansas Razorbacks
John Calipari’s second season in Fayetteville begins with one of the most talented starting fives in the SEC. Freshman Darius Acuff Jr., top-10 recruit nationally, joins D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, and Trevon Brazile for another Sweet 16 contender.
Calipari and the Razorbacks are excited to get back to Bud Walton Arena and show the home fans they are ready to make the next step. A season ago was a good start for the first season under new leadership. Arkansas went to the SEC second round, where they fell by three to Ole Miss in Nashville. Once they got to the NCAA Tournament, they pulled off a first-round upset over Kansas, and then pulled a bigger upset over the No. 2 seed in the West, St. John’s. The season came to an end against Texas Tech in overtime in San Francisco.
The Razorbacks were led in scoring by Adou Thiero, with Boogie Fland second. Fland missed a bunch of the season, playing in just 21 games. Thiero is now with the Los Angeles Lakers, after getting picked 36th overall in the draft.
Arkansas will start the season on November 3rd against Southern, but then quickly after take on the Michigan State Spartans in a big early-season matchup. The Razorbacks also have Duke and Louisville on their slate, along with Texas Tech and Houston.
- Head Coach: John Calipari (2nd season)
- Home Arena: Bud Walton Arena; Fayetteville, AR
- 2024-25 Record: 22-14
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 8-10
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. After wins over the Kansas Jayhawks and St. John’s Red Storm, the Razorbacks fell in San Francisco to the Texas Tech Red Raiders 85-83 in overtime.
- Leading scorer: Adou Thiero, 15.1 per game
- Leading rebounder: Adou Thiero, 5.8 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Southern
14. Iowa State Cyclones
Tamin Lipsey’s early injury may slow them down, but Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson return to give the Cyclones balance and scoring. Once healthy, this is a team built for another March Madness run.
Hilton Coliseum is going to be another exciting place when the season starts, as the Cyclones have another fun team to watch. At the end of last season, the Cyclones could not find consistency, going 5-5 over their last 10 games. The Cyclones lost in the Big 12 quarterfinals to BYU before bowing out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Otzelberger is a former player at Wisconsin-Whitewater who has been a head coach since he took the job at South Dakota in 2016. Making $4M per season, the head coach went 70-33 at South Dakota State, 29-30 at UNLV, and has won 95 out of his first 140 games while in Ames.
Iowa State’s schedule leaves a little to be desired, but they do get St. John’s and Creighton when they go play in Vegas over Thanksgiving. The Cyclones do not play a true road game until they go to West Lafayette to take on the Boilermakers of Purdue on December 6.
- Head Coach: T.J. Otzelberger (5th season)
- Home Arena: Hilton Coliseum; Ames, IA
- 2024-25 Record: 25-10
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 13-7
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament second round. After beating Lipscomb in the first round, the Cyclones lost to Ole Miss in the second round by 13.
- Leading scorer: Curtis Jones, 17.4 per game
- Leading rebounder: Joshua Jefferson, 7.4 points per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. FDU
13. Texas Tech Red Raiders
J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson form one of college basketball’s best duos. With new faces like Tyeree Bryan and LeJuan Watts adding energy, the Red Raiders’ defense-first identity makes them a Big 12 threat again.
Toppin is going to start the season as one of the elite players in all of college basketball. He scored 18.2 points per game and was just shy of 9.5 rebounds per game last season. In the NCAA Tournament, Toppin was not the leading scorer, but he had three games of double-digit rebounding while playing in the four games.
Grant McCasland is turning himself into one of the best young coaches in all of college basketball. After a strong run at North Texas, the Red Raiders have won 51 out of 71 games with him as the head coach. In the two seasons with Texas Tech, they have finished third and second in the Big 12 and have three NCAA Tournament wins.
The Red Raiders see a road trip to Illinois early in the season and a neutral court game against Wake Forest, but when push comes to shove, the non-conference slate sees several games they should handle with ease. Texas Tech does have a huge game on December 20 set against the Duke Blue Devils.
- Head Coach: Grant McCasland (3rd season)
- Home Arena: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX.
- 2024-25 Record: 28-9
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 15-5
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. After wins in the tournament over UNC Wilmington, Drake, and Arkansas, they had a meeting against the eventual national champion, Florida Gators. The Red Raiders fell by five in front of nearly 17,000 at the Chase Center.
- Leading scorer: JT Toppin, 18.2 per game
- Leading rebounder: JT Toppin, 9.4 per game
- First Game: Tuesday, November 4, 202,5 vs. Lindenwood
12. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona retools with elite recruits Brayden Burries and Koa Peat joining veteran guard Jaden Bradley. Center Tobe Awaka and promising big Motiejus Krivas give the Wildcats the size and depth needed for a deep run.
The Wildcats were one of the top scoring teams in all of college basketball last season. The Wildcats scored 82.5 points per game. They also were terrific on the glass, averaging nearly 40 rebounds per game.
Arizona will see what they can get out of 6’8 freshman Dwayne Aristode out of the Netherlands. He will join out with the senior Tobe Awaka, who led the team in rebounding a season ago. Arizona also features LeBron James' son Bryce. He is a 6’5 freshman out of Akron, OH.
The Wildcats are not going to waste any time getting started with some tough competition. Arizona takes on Florida in the first game of the season on November 3. That game will be played in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena. The Wildcats also see UCLA and UConn before Thanksgiving.
- Head Coach: Tommy Lloyd (5th season)
- Home Arena: McKale Center, Tucson, AZ.
- 2024-25 Record: 24-13
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 14-6
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Following wins over Akron and the Oregon Ducks, the Wildcats lost in Newark 100-93 to the Duke Blue Devils
- Leading scorer: Caleb Love, 17.2 per game
- Leading rebounder: Tobe Akawa, 7.8 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025, vs Florida
11. UCLA Bruins
Mick Cronin’s Bruins landed dynamic scorer Donovan Dent (20.4 ppg) and sharpshooter Steven Jamerson II. With fresh offensive talent, UCLA’s goal is to return to national relevance after a quiet 2024-25.
Tyler Bilodeau was the top scorer for the Bruins a season ago, and the 6’9 senior will return for Cronin. While he did not take over games, he was a consistent scorer who put the ball in the basket when the team needed it most. He scored 19 late in the season for UCLA to pick up a much-needed road win at Northwestern. He also led the team with 15 points and 7 rebounds when the Bruins lost at No. 20 Purdue.
Cronin is in his seventh season with the Bruins. In the final five seasons of the Pac-12, the Bruins finished in the Top five each season. UCLA came to the Big Ten and finished tied for fourth in its first season. Cronin is 138-64 overall at UCLA after winning 296 games at Cincinnati.
UCLA does not see a big test in its first three games of the season. But after that, the Bruins see Arizona, Gonzaga, and Arizona State before the end of the calendar year hits. That is not counting the rugged Big Ten slate they will see.
- Head Coach: Mick Cronin (7th season)
- Home Arena: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
- 2024-25 Record: 23-11
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 13-7
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Second Round. The Bruins beat Utah State in the opening round, but then fell to Tennessee at Rupp Arena.
- Leading scorer: Tyler Bilodeau, 13.5 per game
- Leading rebounder: Kobe Johnson, 5.9 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Eastern Washington
10. Michigan Wolverines
Dusty May’s second season in Ann Arbor looks promising. Transfers Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Elliott Cadeau join a 27-win squad ready to push for the Final Four. Michigan’s blend of youth and experience makes them dangerous.
May has shown he is the type of coach who can win nearly anywhere. After taking the Florida Atlantic Owls to the NCAA Final Four with 35 wins, he backed it up with 25 more wins the next season. After going 126-69, he was hired by the Michigan Wolverines.
The Wolverines struggled down the stretch of the regular season, losing games to Illinois, Maryland and Michigan State, but settling for the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines then got hot with an 18-point win over Purdue, a 1-point win against Maryland, and a six-point win in the finals over Wisconsin.
In the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines beat UC San Diego by three and Texas A&M by 12, before heading to Atlanta and losing to the Auburn Tigers by 13. The Wolverines see Oakland in their first game, but then will go right into power conference opponents, as they are taking on Wake Forest and TCU.
- Head Coach: Dusty May (2nd season)
- Home Arena: Crisler Center; Ann Arbor, MI
- 2024-25 Record: 27-10
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 14-6
- 2024-25 Advancement: Following their title in the Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines won two NCAA Tournament games. The Wolverines beat UC San Diego by three and Texas A&M by 12. In the Sweet 16, Michigan fell 78-65 to the Auburn Tigers.
- Leading scorer: Chaz Lanier, 18.0 per game
- Leading rebounder: Igor Milicic Jr., 6.7 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Oakland
9. Louisville Cardinals
After a first-round tournament exit, Louisville retools with Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Ryan Conwell (Xavier). Freshman Mikel Brown Jr. could be a breakout star for coach Pat Kelsey’s reenergized program.
Kelsey felt the program deserved better following 18 wins in the ACC. But, the tournament did not prove that theory, as they had a tough time slowing down the dynamic Creighton Blue Jays offense in the first game of the tournament.
It was a strong first season for Kelsey, and with the Cardinals back inside the Top 10 to start the season, the basketball-rich blood of Louisville seems to be on the way back. The Cardinals welcome J’Vonne Hadley back after scoring 12.2 points per game. Sanada Fru could be a wildcard for this team, as he brings his international flavor to the squad.
The Cardinals will get started with their 2025-26 season on November 3rd as they host South Carolina State.
- Head Coach: Pat Kelsey (2nd season)
- Home Arena: KFC Yum! Center; Louisville, KY
- 2024-25 Record: 27-8
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 18-2
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals after falling to Duke in the ACC title game picked up an 8 seed and fell to No. 9 Creighton 89-75 in the first round.
- Leading scorer: Terrence Edwards Jr., 16.7 per game
- Leading rebounder: J’Vonne Hadley, 7.3 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. South Carolina State
8. BYU Cougars
Coach Kevin Young’s NBA-style rebuild is ahead of schedule. Top recruit A.J. Dybantsa headlines alongside transfers Robert Wright III and Kennard Davis Jr. With elite shooting from Richie Saunders, BYU is ready to contend in the Big 12.
Many consider Young’s first season a success, but the pressure is on for continued greatness from an emerging giant in college basketball. Young has said he wants his program to turn into a small NBA factory, which feeds into the league even after one season.
That’s what the team looked like in the NCAA Tournament loss, very athletic, but not alot ability to stop the opposition. Young will certainly look to improve on his team’s defensive effort this season.
The Cougars start the season with a power program in the Villanova Wildcats, who are part of the 2025 Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas. BYU also gets UConn, Wisconsin, Miami, and Clemson in the nonconference portion of the 2025-26 season.
- Head Coach: Kevin Young (2nd season)
- Home Arena: Marriott Center; Provo, UT.
- 2024-25 Record: 26-10
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 14-6
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Following wins over VCU and Wisconsin, the Cougars allowed 113 in a 25 point loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, which finished their season in Newark.
- Leading scorer: Richie Saunders, 16.5 per game
- Leading rebounder: Keba Kieta, 7.9 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Villanova (Vegas)
7. Kentucky Wildcats
Mark Pope’s deep Kentucky roster is loaded. Otega Oweh leads the attack, with Jaland Lowe and Denzel Aberdeen forming a capable backcourt. Despite Jayden Quaintance’s injury, the Wildcats have Final Four-level talent.
Lowe came from Pittsburgh following a big season, where he scored nearly 17 points per game for the Panthers. Aberdeen did not score a ton of points at Florida, but certainly has the firepower to be a big time scorer. Mouhamend Dioubate comes from Alabama, where he scored 7.2 per game.
Pope’s first season in Lexington showed all sorts of promise. The Wildcats won their final two regular season games to garner the 6th seed in the SEC Tournament. After a win over Oklahoma, the Wildcats then lost in Nashville to Alabama by 29 points. In the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats beat up on Troy, and eliminated Illinois. They went to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and fell 78-65.
Kentucky will kick off the season with two non-conference soft landings. They take on Nicholls and Valparaiso. The big test early in the season comes on November 11 when the Wildcats are on the road at rival Louisville Cardinals. Kentucky also sees Michigan State, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Indiana and St. John’s in nonconference action.
- Head Coach: Mark Pope (2nd season)
- Home Arena: Rupp Arena; Lexington, KY.
- 2024-25 Record: 24-12
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 10-8
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Following wins over Troy and Illinois, the Wildcats fell in Milwaukee to the Tennessee Volunteers 78-65.
- Leading scorer: Otega Oweh, 16.2 per game
- Leading rebounder: Amari Williams, 8.5 per game
- First Game: Tuesday November 4th, 2025 vs. Nicholls
6. St. John’s Red Storm
Rick Pitino’s Big East champions reload with four key transfers, including Ian Jackson (UNC) and Bryce Hopkins (Providence). After an early tournament exit, the Red Storm are poised for a deeper postseason run.
Despite the early loss, fans have got to enjoy what they have seen out of the first two seasons with legendary head coach Rick Pitino at the helm. 31 wins and a Big East regular season and tournament title is far more than the program achieved over the last couple decades. That’s not enough for Pitino and his staff, as the goal remains bringing a Final Four and National Title back to New York City.
Zuby Ejiofor looks to the lone starter returning for the Storm. He scored 14.7 points and recorded 8.1 rebounds per game. Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon both come over after scoring just shy of 12 per game. Oziyah Sellers was at 13.7 at Stanford, and Bryce Hopkins scored 15.5 per game at Providence in 2023-24. This team should be able to really score the basketball.
The Storm start their season on November 3rd as they take on Quinnipiac. The Storm then get started with their tests as they battle Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide on November 11. The Storm also have Iowa State, Baylor, Ole Miss and Kentucky in the non-conference slate as well.
- Head Coach: Rick Pitino (3rd season)
- Home Arena: Carnesecca Arena; New York, NY
- 2024-25 Record: 31-5
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 18-2
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Second Round. Following a Big East Tournament Championship, where they won all three games by double digits, the Storm beat Omaha by 30 in the first round. In the second round, John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks upset them 75-66.
- Leading scorer: RJ Luis Jr., 18.2 per game
- Leading rebounder: Zuby Ejuofor, 8.1 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Quinnipiac
5. UConn Huskies
Dan Hurley’s group remains among the elite. Alex Karaban leads returning production while transfers Silas Demary Jr. and Malachi Smith add scoring depth. Freshman Braylon Mullins could be a breakout star in Storrs.
Hurley will see Karaban and Solo Ball lead the attack. They both scored just over 14 points per game a season ago. Those two will look to get the offensive attack going right away. Demary Jr. had a strong season at Georgia, with 13.5 per game.
A season ago, the Huskies won their final four games in the regular season to finish as the third seed in the Big East Tournament. They beat up on Villanova, before falling to Creighton by nine points. In the NCAA Tournament, the Huskies used 14 from Ball to beat Oklahoma 67-59. In the second round, Liam McNeely had 22 points and the Huskies did all they could, but ultimately fell to the national champion Florida Gators by two.
The 2025-26 version of the Huskies will open on November 3rd against New Haven. The Huskies see a trio of cupcakes to open the season, but then the schedule is grueling. UConn will face Brigham Young, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Florida and Texas all within a month.
- Head Coach: Dan Hurley (8th season)
- Home Arena: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion; Storrs, CT.
- 2024-25 Record: 24-11
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 14-6
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Second Round. After losing in the Big East Semifinal to Creighton, the Huskies beat Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In the second round, they went head to head with Florida, and fell 77-75, ending their season in Raleigh.
- Leading scorer: Liam McNeeley, 14.5 per game
- Leading rebounder: Tarris Reed Jr., 7.3 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. New Haven
4. Duke Blue Devils
Cameron Boozer headlines the top recruiting class in America. With Nikolas Khamenia and Dame Sarr bringing elite athleticism, Duke is once again the ACC favorite. Caleb Foster’s development could define their ceiling.
Boozer comes in as the No. 3 recruit in the country. Khamenia is No. 15. The other three projected starters appear to be Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, and Patrick Ngongba II. Those three scored 5.1, 6.8, and 3.9 points per game, respectively. That is not a ton of points returning for Coach Scheyer’s squad.
Gone is Cooper Flagg. He went to the NBA draft and was the top pick. Gone is Kon Knueppel, who is now a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Gone is Tyrese Proctor, and he is a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sion James is also with the Charlotte Hornet,s and Khaman Maluach is with the Phoenix Suns.
There is no doubt that fans are going to have to get familiar with a new cast of characters. The good news is - the new characters are also talented. Duke gets started right away as they take on the Texas Longhorns on Tuesday, November 4. Duke also sees Kansas, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan State, and Texas Tech early in the season.
- Head Coach: Jon Scheyer (4th season)
- Home Arena: Cameron Indoor Stadium; Durham, NC.
- 2024-25 Record: 35-4
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 19-1
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Final Four. The Blue Devils won the ACC Tournament title over Louisville before four NCAA Tournament wins. Those came over Mount St. Mary’s, Baylor, Arizona and Alabama. In the Final Four, the Blue Devils fell 70-67 to the Houston Cougars.
- Leading scorer: Cooper Flagg, 19.2 per game
- Leading rebounder: Cooper Flagg, 7.5 per game
- First Game: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 vs. Texas
3. Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue remains one of the nation’s most efficient offenses. New addition Oscar Cluff joins Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer to keep the Boilermakers near the top. Matt Painter’s challenge is keeping this group healthy for a late March run.
Many are projecting this is the season for the boys from West Lafayette. With four starters back and the big man from South Dakota State coming over, along with a deep bench of athletes, the Boiler fans are ready to see the team take the court.
Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 20.1 points per game a season ago, with Braden Smith leading the offense and scoring nearly 16 points per game. Loyer will bring nearly 14 points per game to the squad.
A season ago, the Boilermakers struggled a bit down the stretch of the regular season, losing four out of their final six games. The Boilermakers played a little better in the big dance as they had Houston on the ropes, but fell by two to the national runner-up.
Painter and the Boilermakers open their season on November 4 against the Evansville Aces. The first big test for the Boilermakers comes on November 13 as they take on Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Boilers also have Memphis, Marquette, and Auburn on their non-conference slate.
- Head Coach: Matt Painter (21st season)
- Home Arena: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN.
- 2024-25 Record: 24-12
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 13-7
- 2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Following a loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament, the Boilermakers went to Providence and beat High Point and McNeese. In the Sweet 16, Purdue lost 62-60 to Houston at Lucas Oil Stadium.
- Leading scorer: Trey Kaufman-Renn, 20.1 per game
- Leading rebounder: Trey Kauman-Renn, 6.5 per game
- First Game: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 vs. Evansville
2. Houston Cougars
Kelvin Sampson’s team returns key starters Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan, and Joseph Tugler. With elite recruits Isiah Harwell and Chris Cenac Jr., the Cougars are set for another top seed and a revenge-driven run after last year’s title heartbreak.
Sharp leads the returnees with 12.7 per game, while Uzan added 11.4. Tugler was not an elite scorer, with just 5.5 per game, but was a big part of the roster. Harwell is the 14th-ranked recruit in the country, while Cenac Jr. is a fringe top-five recruit, landing at No. 6.
The Cougars will miss the production from L.J. Cryer. The heartbeat of the offense played all 40 minutes, and averaged nearly 33 minutes per game on the court. Cryer scored 15.7 points per game for the Cougars.
Houston knows they were just a possession away from winning the title, and will have that on their mind all through the 2025-26 season.
The Cougars have three pretty soft opponents to start the season. Houston starts at home on November 3 against Lehigh, and follows that up with Towson and Oakland. The first test of the season comes on November 16 as Houston and Auburn get together. The Cougars will see Syracuse, Tennessee, Florida State, and Arkansas before Big 12 play begins.
- Head Coach: Kelvin Sampson (12th season)
- Home Arena: Feritta Center; Houston, TX.
- 2024-25 Record: 35-5
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 19-1
2024-25 Advancement: Reached NCAA Tournament National Title Game. The Cougars won the Big 12 tournament over Arizona, and then won five NCAA Tournament games. Those came over SIU Edwardsville, Gonzaga, Purdue, Tennessee and Duke. In the title game, the Florida Gators downed them 65-63. - Leading scorer: L.J. Cryer, 15.7 per game
- Leading rebounder: J’Wan Roberts, 6.5 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Lehigh
1. Florida Gators
The defending champions are reloaded for a repeat bid. Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) join returning frontcourt duo Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon. Florida may take time to gel, but will remain as one of the teams to beat by March.
Golden and the Gators are certainly going to miss their playmaker, Walter Clayton Jr. He led the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game. Alijah Martin is another piece of the puzzle that the Gators will miss. But strong work in the portal and on the recruiting trail will keep pieces together for another title run.
A season ago, the Gators won their final 12 games. The last time they lost was on the road at the Georgia Bulldogs on February 25. Following wins over Texas A&M, Alabama, and Ole Miss, the Gators remained hot with six of their final nine wins over teams ranked in the Top 25.
Following three seasons with the San Francisco Dons, Golden has won 76 out of 109 games in his three seasons with Florida. This is coming following a 16-17 start to his career in Gainesville.
The fun will get started right away for the Gators. The first game out of the shoot is on Monday, November 3, in Vegas against the Arizona Wildcats. The Gators also have Florida State, Miami, TCU, Duke, and UConn on their non-conference slate.
- Head Coach: Todd Golden (4th season)
- Home Arena: O’Connell Center; Gainesville, FL
- 2024-25 Record: 36-4
- 2024-25 Conference Record: 14-4
- 2024-25 Advancement: Won the NCAA Tournament title over Houston 65-63. Also won tournament games over Norfolk State, UConn, Maryland, Texas Tech and Auburn. Also won the SEC Tournament over Tennessee.
- Leading scorer: Walter Clayton Jr., 18.3 per game
- Leading rebounder: Alex Condon, 7.5 per game
- First Game: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 vs. Arizona