6. Auburn Tigers
A new era begins on The Plains with Stephen Pearl taking over for his father, Bruce. Auburn still boasts plenty of talent, led by Tahaad Pettiford and transfers Kevin Overton and Keyshawn Hall. Replacing Johni Broome’s production will be tough, but this remains a dangerous team.
7. Missouri Tigers
Missouri surprised everyone last year, jumping from a 13th-place projection to a 6-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Mark Mitchell and Anthony Robinson II headline another talented squad capable of outperforming expectations again.
8. Texas A&M Aggies
Despite low preseason projections, Texas A&M could be a sleeper. Bucky McMillan inherits a talented roster featuring Rylan Griffen (Kansas), Pop Isaacs (Creighton), and Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana). This team could easily climb higher if the chemistry clicks.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
Malik Dia headlines an Ole Miss team with the potential to surprise. They’ll look to start strong against Southeastern Louisiana on November 3 and prove they belong in the top half of the league.