College Basketball Preview 2025-26: Top 25

Braden Smith, Purdue

1. Purdue Boilermakers -- The ever-steady Purdue Boilermakers are about as consistent as you can find in today's world of college basketball but they have their sights set on even loftier goals in 2025-26: a National Title. The stars all seem to be aligning, with the roster full of veterans who have all played with each other for several years, plus a Big Ten that is wide open beyond the projected top two. Braden Smith is back as the floor general and should be in the hunt for National Player of the Year honors, while shooting guard Fletcher Loyer and big man Trey Kaufman-Renn provide plenty of scoring punch alongside him. Matt Painter and staff further bolstered the roster through the portal by bringing one of the most well-rounded big men on the market in South Dakota State's Oscar Cluff. Cluff is so much more than the traditional back-to-the-basket post we've become accustomed to under Painter, with a well-rounded and versatile offensive game. If he can acclimate quickly with Smith and company, Purdue should have more than enough firepower for what should be a special season in West Lafayette. 

2. Duke Blue Devils -- The Blue Devils lost a pair of Top 5 NBA Draft selections over the offseason, including the reigning National Player of the Year. They then watched their top transfer portal target, Washington State's Cedric Coward, stay in the Draft after a strong Combine. Despite all that, Duke seems to be one of the best bets to hoist the National Title in 2026 after coming up short last year. Such is the luxury of being arguably the sport's premier brand. Cameron Boozer is expected to take over Cooper Flagg's role as the freshman phenom on the roster, as the 6'9" forward from Miami has all the offensive attributes to immediately be one of the best players in the country in Year One. He's flanked by several other highly touted true freshman, including his twin, Cayden, and wing Nikolas Khamenia. However, beyond just the newcomers, it's the holdovers that may make all the difference on this Duke team. Isaiah Evans is ready for his breakout moment after showing real flashes off the bench last season, while Caleb Foster is hoping for a resurgence after seeing his role diminished a year ago. And down low, Maliq Brown has proven his worth as a top-notch defender and force on the glass whose importance goes far beyond the stat sheet. The blend of experience and star power provides Jon Scheyer the clear ACC fronrtunner, and all the ingredients to bring home the first National Title to Durham in a decade, and his first as head man.

3. Florida Gators -- Todd Golden and company brought a National Title back to Gainesville for the first

time Florida's back-to-back run in the mid-2000s, but something tells me he's not done yet. The Gators will need to find a replacement for star guard Walter Clayton Jr., but there's no shortage of talent still around. The duo of forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, two players who both could have gone pro this past offseason before passing on the NBA, will carry the load early on as the newcomers come up to speed. That newcomer list includes Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland, who averaged 13.5 PPG in his first season of college ball, and Princeton's Xaivian Lee, a skilled combo guard who could be among the nation's most underrated players. Golden is a proven offensive coach, and he should be able to harness all this offensive talent into quite a formidable force. As difficult as it is to repeat in the chaotic world of college ball, this team has all the talent to do just that, even with Clayton now hitting his clutch shots in the pros. 

4. St. John's Red Storm -- The last time St. John's basketball entered a season ranked this high was all the way back in 1984-85, when they were the nation's No. 7 team in the preseason. That same year, the Red Storm fought their way to the Final Four in the spring of '85, to this day the last time the program reached that stage. Needless to say, St. John's is coming into this winter with lofty expectations. Rick Pitino has built a well-rounded, disciplined group in The Big Apple, and the roster has the pieces to be even better than last year's group. Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor is the leader, a reigning All-Big East forward who averaged 14.7 PPG last season on 58% shooting from the field. But, it's the work Pitino and staff did in the portal that has really elevated the potential of this team. Bryce Hopkins, who spent the last three seasons at Providence, appears to be fully healthy and ready to pick up right where he left off as one of the premier scorers in the league. Meanwhile, New York City native Ian Jackson is hoping this could be the breakout after an impressive freshman campaign at North Carolina. This should be far and away the best starting lineup in the Big East, and Pitino always gets the most from his teams. The preseason hype is most definitely warranted for the Red Storm.

5. Houston Cougars -- Houston has had no issues with the jump from the American to Big 12 ball. On the contrary, it feels like Kelvin Sampson has taken the program to new heights in recent years, coming up just short of a National Title last spring. This Houston team should be firmly in the hunt once again, with three starters and seven key contributors from last year back. Guards Milos Uzan and Emmanuel Sharp Jr. are the type of hard-nosed veteran guards that have long defined Sampson-coached teams, but Uzan gives this Cougar offense more scoring punch than they've had in the past. After shooting 43% from deep last year, Uzan flirted with the NBA Draft, but his return provides Houston the elite scorer they need to contend for a National Title. Up front, Joseph Tugler is an important glue guy that gives this team the presence they need in the paint, and there is still hope former blue chip recruit Jacob McFarland could still return this season at center. McFarland missed his first two seasons at Houston with a myriad of injuries, and had surgery earlier this fall on the same leg that cost him all of last season. Getting an elite shot-blocker like him to control the rim may provide the missing piece this team would need to get over the top this time around.

6. Louisville Cardinals -- Pat Kelsey has Louisville on the trajectory to become players on the national stage once again after several lean seasons for the Cardinals. Louisville went 27-8 last season and played for an ACC Tournament Title before losing to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Despite significant turnover, this Cardinals team should be much better, with the ceiling to compete for an ACC Title. Kelsey landed several key newcomers, the most important being Xavier transfer guard Ryan Conwell and true freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. Conwell is on his fourth team in as many years, but has been a go-to scorer at every stop, while Brown is one of the highest-rated recruits in recent Louisville history. The lightning quick freshman may need time to adjust, but he's a perfect fit in what should be a high-flying, relentless Cardinals offense. With those two in the fold and steady veteran J'Vonne Hadley back in town after an impressive 2024-25, I don't think it's crazy at all to consider the Cards genuine Final Four contenders this year.

7. Michigan Wolverines -- Purdue may be the team to beat in the Big Ten, but Dusty May has the Michigan Wolverines right on their tail entering 2025-26. Remember, it was the Wolverines who hoisted the Big Ten Tournament Title last spring, and they've got plenty to like heading into this season. Roddy Gayle Jr. and Nimari Burnett are the familiar faces who should play a key role, but this is another team who raised their ceiling with the work they did in the portal. UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg has the physical gifts to become the next great Big Ten big man, and he was quickly shooting up NBA Draft boards before a somewhat surprising decision to stay in college and play at Michigan. Lendeborg provides May the back-to-the-basket bruiser his offense covets, while UNC transfer Elliot Cadeau provides him the floor general. Cadeau is already one of the best distributors anywhere in college basketball and if he can become an even better scorer, this Michigan offense becomes downright terrifying. They won't sneak up on others like they did last season, but that doesn't mean the Wolverines aren't a team to watch heading into 2025-26.

8. UConn Huskies -- There was an understandable step back for UConn last season. That happens when you win two consecutive National Titles. And even so, this Huskies team still went on to win 24 games and play their way into the second round, where they lost to eventual National Champion Florida. This season should be a more normal one for Dan Hurley and the Huskies, who have a lot of veteran talent up and down the roster. Forward Alex Karaban played a key role on both National Title-winning teams and should once again be a top contributor this winter. He has plenty of help, as Malachi Smith comes over from Dayton to run this UConn offense, while Solo Ball is hoping for even greater things after a breakout sophomore season. There's also more depth than there was a year ago, which should mean all the difference in a Big East that will be as unforgiving as ever.

9. Kansas Jayhawks -- It was an uncharacteristic season in Lawrence in 2024-25, as the Jayhawks went 21-13 overall and managed to just beat the .500 mark inside the Big 12. Dajuan Harris and Hunter Dickinson weren't quite the veteran difference-makers Kansas had hoped and the pieces around them never quite fit together, namely A.J. Storr and Zeke Mayo. The roster has now completely turned over heading into this winter, which feels like a very positive thing for Bill Self as he begins his 24th year in charge. Of course, it helps that the starting point is Darryn Peterson, none other than the nation's top recruit and a heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Peterson has the ideal build and offensive repertoire to take over games from Day One in Lawrence, and there's talent all over the place. Center Flory Bidunga is set to anchor the paint as the only regular contributor back from last year, and a host of transfers round out the projected rotation. This team should have a distinctively different feel than it did last season, but it does feel like they're being overlooked in my eyes. Self and Kansas are a college basketball institution and even with the Big 12 being as tough as ever, this program is far too good to expect another early March exit this season.

10. BYU Cougars -- Life is pretty good if you're a BYU sports fan. Not only is football currently undefeated, the basketball team is riding high after after making the Sweet 16 last spring and featuring one of the best players in the country in freshman A.J. Dybantsa. Dybantsa is a physical freak who should immediately command highlight reels, and BYU invested a lot of money in him to lead them to the promised land this year. His overall NIL package is reported to be one of the most lucrative in college basketball history, with an estimated value of over $4 million. But, this BYU team isn't just Dybantsa - the Cougars do also bring back senior guard Richie Saunders and add Baylor transfer Robert Wright III to bolster the backcourt. Considering what head coach Kyle Young was able to do in Year One with far less talent, it's no wonder BYU has their sights set on even loftier goals in 2025-26.

11. Arkansas Razorbacks -- There were some understandable growing pains for John Calipari in Year One at Arkansas, but no team in the SEC has more returning minutes entering the season. The Razorbacks return three starters, including D.J. Wagner and Trevon Brazile, plus a key reserve in wing Billy Richmond III. They also add in five-star guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, both of whom should battle for key minutes early on. Acuff is built in the mold of past Calipari-coached guards, with some De'Aaron Fox to his game. That blend of experience and impressive young talent should make the Razorbacks a bonafide SEC Title threat, particularly if Florida takes a slight step back.

12. Arizona Wildcats -- Tommy Lloyd has built a consistent winner in Tucson, as the Wildcats have yet to finish below third place in their conference in the four years he's been in town. This Wildcat team has a nice blend of returning talent, namely guard Jaden Bradley and forward Tobe Awaka, and adds in several high-profile newcomers, with true freshman Koa Peat the headliner. The non-conference schedule is brutal and the Big 12 may be the best league in America, but this Arizona team should have what it takes. They could be one of those teams that enters March a much better team than their record may indicate.

13. Gonzaga Bulldogs -- The ever-steady Gonzaga Bulldogs embark on their final run in the West Coast Conference before they move to the new-look Pac-12 next season. Unsurprisingly, the Bulldogs are the WCC favorite, and they received great news just this week when Tyrion Grant-Foster was ruled eligible, giving them an experienced, talented wing who will handle the scoring load. With Grant-Foster joining a frontcourt that already includes likely All-WCC players in Graham Ike and Braden Huff, Gonzaga should have more than enough for what looks to be another March run.

14. Kentucky Wildcats -- Mark Pope did an excellent job rebuilding Kentucky's roster prior to last season, and it resulted in a Sweet 16 appearance for the Wildcats. What does he do for an encore? Having one of the SEC's best guards in Otega Oweh is quite the starting point, and Kentucky further strengthened their backcourt by stealing Denzel Aberdeen away from the defending National Champion Florida Gators. Up front, the Wildcats break in several new transfers, but are most hopeful talented sophomore Jayden Quintance can put it completely together this year. Quintance is a former five-star with all the tools to be elite, but he is recovering from a knee injury that could cost him a major chunk of the campaign.

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders -- Grant McCasland led the Red Raiders to an Elite Eight appearance last season, and there's reason to believe this team will be ready for another deep NCAA Tournament run. Forward J.T. Toppin is the frontrunner for Big 12 Player of the Year honors, and guard Christian Anderson should be able to keep things humming, even with Elijah Hawkins and Darrion Williams departed. There are several transfers that should strengthen this roster, namely Washington State's LeJuan Watts, and McCasland always gets the most from his teams. It has the chance to be the most complete Texas Tech team since Chris Beard was in Lubbock.

16. Michigan State Spartans -- You can always count on Tom Izzo to have Michigan State in the Big Ten Title hunt, and this year should be no different despite several key departures. Losing Tre Holloman to NC State hurts in the backcourt, but the Spartans are hopeful Jeremy Fears Jr. and Samford transfer Trey Fort can handle the load. Coen Carr is one of the most exciting players anywhere in the country, and Michigan State feels good about a rather unexciting, but solid, frontcourt that has Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper. You do have to wonder about Izzo and his motivation going forward - he's now 70 years of age, and still coaching in an era that has seen several brand name coaches leave in recent years. He's still as good as they come, but could we see an Izzo farewell tour sometime soon?

17. UCLA Bruins -- Life in the Big Ten was a bit of a wild ride for UCLA last winter, but the Bruins held their own, finishing fourth in one of the most competitive conferences in America. What does Mick Cronin have in store for an encore? Bringing in Donovan Dent from New Mexico was quite the coup, as Dent led the Mountain West in scoring last year and averaged 6.4 assists per game. Playing alongside Skyy Clark, now a veteran in this conference, this is going to be a very fun and high-scoring UCLA offense. With Tyler Bilodeau and Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker up front, this ranking could end up being far too low for the Bruins. With that being said, travel is a reality of life in this new Big Ten, and one all newcomers were adjusting to last winter. It's a storyline to monitor as they begin Year Two in this league.

18. San Diego State Aztecs -- Much like Gonzaga, San Diego State will be saying goodbye to their longtime home, with the hopes of going out with a grand finale. Brian Dutcher has another NCAA Tournament team on his hands here, thanks in large part to the return of wing Miles Byrd, who should be the best player in the Mountain West this year. He'll be joined by Reese Dixon-Waters and Magoon Gwath, who played key roles on last year's team. Gwath may be the best player you've never heard of, as the seven-footer is a shot-blocking machine who continues to grow his offensive game. He's still not going to be chucking up a high volume of threes each night, but did hit them at a 38% clip last season.

19. Iowa State Cyclones -- T.J. Otzelberger has done a superb job in Ames, going to the NCAA Tournament each of the four seasons he's been in charge and making the second weekend twice. Could 2025-26 be the season he takes the Cyclones to greater heights? They return a veteran core, that includes Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic, and Joshua Jefferson, all of whom have played a lot of basketball with each other. Lipsey is the X-factor - he's one of the country's premier floor generals when he does play, but injuries have been an unfortunate theme of his career. If he can end his Iowa State career on a high note, this becomes a very dangerous Cyclone team.

20. Missouri Tigers -- It's been an interesting ride for Dennis Gates at Missouri. The Tigers exceeded expectations in Year One, did not win a single conference game in 2023-24, then recovered to win 22 games total and make the NCAA Tournament last winter. The Tigers relied heavily on a high-scoring offense last season, then watched several key pieces depart over the offseason. Even so, the backcourt combination of Anthony Robinson II and Sebastian Mack should be more than enough to keep Missouri feisty in the SEC. Mark Mitchell has gotten better each and every season as the team's swingman, and there's more depth in this frontcourt. It's getting hard to guess what to expect from Gates and Missouri, but this team has plenty to be a real factor inside a very tough league.

21. Tennessee Volunteers -- It's been two consecutive Elite Eight appearances for Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Volunteers as they continue their quest for the program's first ever Final Four. Despite notable losses, this 2025-26 could be the one to do it, especially if a pair of newcomers are as good as advertised. Those newcomers are Maryland transfer Ja'Kobi Gillespie and superstar freshman Nate Ament, the nation's No. 4 overall recruit in the composite rankings. Gillespie will run on an offense that loses longtime guard Zakai Zeigler, while Ament's scoring prowess should boost an offense that struggled at times last season. Add in Felix Okpara down low as the team's rim protector, this Tennessee team is yet another SEC team that has reason for high expectations heading into the winter.

22. Illinois Fighting Illini -- Perhaps no team in college basketball has embraced the international market quite like Illinois, and this team will have real European flair heading into this season. Serbian guard Mihailo Petrovic was brought on to replace Kasparas Jakucionis as the Illini's point guard, joining the likes of big man Tomislav Ivisic and transfer portal addition Andrej Stojakovic from Cal. Stojakovic is one of my favorite players in college basketball, a multidimensional scorer who was the real deal with the Golden Bears - he should thrive in a Brad Underwood offense. Add in the return of a familiar face, combo guard Kylan Boswell, Illinois looks the part of a Big Ten contender once more. It's an interesting roster composition, but one that may be just what this team needs to battle with the heavyweights in this league.

23. North Carolina Tar Heels -- Hubert Davis enters this season under significant pressure, out to prove he can lead a resurgence in Chapel Hill after a frustrating 2024-25. The Tar Heels will lean heavily on several notable portal additions, and the arrival of five-star freshman Caleb Wilson to join returning guard Seth Trimble. Trimble, a veteran lead guard, needed help in the backcourt, so the Heels went out and landed Colorado State's Kyan Evans, providing an effective shooter who can handle the ball. In the frontcourt, UNC added Arizona big Henri Veesaar, a talented two-way big who has proven himself in power conference ball, and Jarin Stevenson, a glue guy from Alabama. The additions weren't as flashy as you might expect from a school with the resources of UNC, but they solidified areas that were clear weaknesses last season. With the ACC feeling pretty wide open beyond Duke and Louisville, North Carolina has a real chance for a much improved 2025-26.

24. Utah State Aggies -- The most important victory of the offseason for Utah State was ensuring head coach Jerod Calhoun was staying put, as the program has become a gold mine for power conference programs looking for new head coaches. Calhoun won 26 games with this group last season, and has plenty returning for 2025-26. Leading the way for the Aggies will be junior guard Mason Falslev, one of the best shooters anywhere in college basketball. He'll be the alpha in this offense which surrounded him with some quality additions through the portal. M.J. Collins comes over from Vanderbilt, while the Aggies stole away center Zach Keller from inside the state at Utah. With Calhoun at the helm and a favorable schedule, Utah State should be a Mountain West Title contender once again, and a real threat in the NCAA Tournament.

25. Auburn Tigers -- Bruce Pearl's surprising retirement during a strange time in the college basketball calendar creates some level of doubt for Auburn as they look towards 2025-26, but this team should still be a threat under new head man Steven Pearl. Tahaad Pettiford has a chance to become a superstar this year after impressing down the stretch last season. Although there were other Tigers with more accolades, it did feel like Pettiford was the best pure scorer on this roster a year ago, and he'll get a chance to truly show out this season. The rest of the roster has questions, but Keshawn Hall was a fine portal addition from UCF, and Elyjah Freeman is a player to watch after transferring up from Division II Lincoln Memorial. It goes without saying Freeman is making a massive jump from Division II ball to the SEC, but NBA folks seem to believe he could be one of the more impactful additions in the portal this year if things go right.

Just Missed the Cut: Alabama Crimson Tide, Wisconsin Badgers, NC State Wolfpack, Virginia Cavaliers, Baylor Bears, Saint Mary's Gaels, Ohio State Buckeyes