1. Koa Peat is a MAJOR problem
There were a number of standout performances on opening day, but none more impressive than what freshman Koa Peat did for the Arizona Wildcats. Peat tallied 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists as he carried his Arizona team past Florida.
This was supposed to be a loaded freshmen class in college basketball this season, but Peat was incredibly overlooked by man. Not only did he play extremely well, but his size and physicality is going to be a huge issues for opponents moving forward.
2. Florida is still going to be a threat to win a national title
The Florida Gators were not able to get a win in the season opener, but they are still a team that can win the final game of the season. Florida has a ton of size, and Thomas Haugh proved that he is going to be a contender to win the SEC Player of the Year.
Haugh led Florida with 27 points, four rebounds, and two assists, and he did all he could to get the Gators back into that game. Arizona might have won the season opener, but don't be surprised to see Florida get revenge in March.
3. Auburn is going to miss Bruce Pearl
The Auburn Tigers were a Final Four team a season ago, and they bring back a loaded roster again this season. Bruce Pearl is no longer on the sidelines for Auburn though, and that could prove to be an issue. Steven Pearl's squad was able to get the win on Monday night, but it didn't come without some big issues.
4. Purdue will have some competition in the Big Ten Conference
The Purdue Boilermakers are the clear favorites to win the Big Ten Conference, but they aren't going to run through the league. A number of Big Ten Conference teams played well on Monday, most notably, the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Illinois was missing four key contributors in the season opener, but they still made a huge statement against Jackson State. UCLA and Michigan are two other teams that will challenge the Boilermakers.
5. Freshmen are going to impact the season
Koa Peat wasn't the only freshman that put up huge numbers on Monday night, and that's going to be a trend this season. AJ Dybantsa had 21 points in a big win over Villanova, and Darryn Peterson played well for the Kansas Jayhawks. Depth and experience tends to win games in March, but there are so many talented freshmen that will have a huge season.
6. Boise State suffers major upset
Boise State is known as being a football school, but the basketball program has had plenty of success in recent seasons. While there is still time for Boise State to get things figured out, they suffered the most embarrassing loss on Monday night. Hawaii Pacific stunned Boise State, a school that is famously located in an old strip mall.
7. Neutral site games are ruining the sport
The matchup between Florida and Arizona in Las Vegas, Nevada was a big hit, but it would have also been awesome for that game to be played on a campus. There were games taking place all throughout the day on Monday at neutral sites, and it was hard to follow the action.
There is a time and place for neutral site games, but some of those games were played in front of a few hundred people. Let the schools host games and get the students involved.
8. Houston just keeps on winning
It feels like the Houston Cougars are getting a bit overlooked heading into the 2025-26 season, and that could make them dangerous. Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson just picked up win number 800 on Monday night as the Cougars rolled to a win over Lehigh. Don't forget about Houston.
9. The transfer portal problem isn't going away
It's going to take a few weeks before it's easy to recognize all of the old faces in new places this season. Roster turnover in college basketball is at an all-time high, and it's only going to get worse moving forward. It can be extremely frustrating to understand the current state of college basketball, but complaining about it won't change anything. Do what you can to know each roster, and just know things will change again next season.
10. Another crazy year is on the way
College basketball is the absolute best, and it seems to deliver on a nightly basis. The Florida-Arizona game was a great way to kickoff the season, and this entire first week is filled with classic matchups. Buckle up, and enjoy the ride.