The 2025-2026 season is shaping up to be dominated by established veterans who opted to stay for their senior years and a handful of powerhouse programs that have expertly navigated the transfer portal to fortify their rosters. The Final Four race is as wide open as ever.
The Elite Tier Contenders (Preseason Top 5)
| Rank (AP/Coaches) | Team | Key Storyline | Primary Strength |
| #1 Purdue Boilermakers | 1 / 1 | The return of a National Player of the Year candidate solidifies their top spot. Their focus is clear: win the national title that has eluded them. | Veteran Continuity: Led by point guard Braden Smith and forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (an All-American candidate). |
| #2 Houston Cougars | 2 / 2 | Kelvin Sampson’s team continues to be a national defensive juggernaut and now benefits from a strong recruiting class and key returners. | Elite Defense: Anchored by returners Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp, and adding five-star freshman Chris Cenac. |
| #3 Florida Gators | 3 / 3 | Coming off a National Championship, the Gators had to reload, losing their top four guards. They successfully replaced them with high-profile transfers. | Transfer Excellence: Brought in impact transfers Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) to completely revamp their backcourt. |
| #4 UConn Huskies | 4 / 4 | Back-to-back National Champions are in a true reload year but are still viewed as a top-five team due to excellent recruiting and coaching. | Culture and Coaching: Forward Alex Karaban is the leader, surrounded by breakout candidate Solomon Ball and talented freshman Braylon Mullins. |
| #5 St. John’s Red Storm | 5 / 6 | Coach Rick Pitino has leveraged the portal to build a deep, high-floor team that has title expectations in the Big East. | Depth and Experience: Roster is stacked with proven high-major transfers like Ian Jackson (UNC) and Bryce Hopkins (Providence). |
Player of the Year Frontrunners & Impact Freshmen
The National Player of the Year race is tight between several elite upperclassmen and a few freshmen with generational potential.
The Star Veterans
- Braden Smith (Purdue): The engine of the Boilermakers, known for his elite passing and clutch play. The consensus preseason favorite.
- Donovan Dent (UCLA): Transfer from New Mexico who quickly became one of the nation’s best point guards last season. His arrival immediately elevates the Bruins.
- JT Toppin (Texas Tech): A dominant big man who transferred from New Mexico and is a double-double threat with elite defensive impact (19 double-doubles last season).
- Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue): Stepped up as a star in his own right alongside Smith, providing a versatile scoring threat in the paint and on the perimeter.
The Freshman Class
The 2025-2026 freshman class is considered one of the deepest in recent memory, with several players expected to contend for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
- AJ Dybantsa (BYU): The projected No. 1 pick. His addition is the single biggest reason BYU is an immediate Top-10 contender, bringing elite athleticism and scoring ability to the forward spot.
- Darryn Peterson (Kansas): A five-star guard who is tasked with leading a reload for the Jayhawks. He will be expected to produce All-American numbers immediately.
- Cameron Boozer (Duke): The son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer. A powerful and highly skilled forward who will step in as a primary scorer for the Blue Devils.
Major Storylines Defining the Season
1. The New Regime at Kentucky
The biggest coaching story of the offseason was the hiring of Mark Pope at Kentucky. He faced the immense challenge of rebuilding the roster from scratch. Using the transfer portal extensively, Pope has assembled an experienced squad of transfers, but the chemistry and level of talent are still major question marks heading into the brutal SEC schedule.
2. The Transfer Portal All-Stars
Several teams have used the portal to completely reshape their identity, moving the needle nationally:
- St. John’s used it to acquire elite talent and depth for Coach Pitino.
- Michigan brought in veteran transfer big man Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB) and UNC point guard Elliot Cadeau to immediately compete for the Big Ten title under new coach Dusty May.
- Louisville has also seen a major influx of talent under new coach Pat Kelsey, including top transfer guard Mikel Brown Jr.
3. The Unpredictable SEC
The conference race will be a gauntlet. Defending champions Florida lead the way, but they are closely followed by Kentucky (with its new roster), Alabama, and Tennessee (who added five-star forward Nate Ament). The depth of the league could lead to a highly volatile season and a much different landscape by March.
This season promises compelling rivalries, high-stakes tournament games, and a tight race for both conference and national supremacy, fueled by an unprecedented blend of veteran talent and freshman phenoms.
Do you have any specific conferences or teams you’d like a more in-depth look at for the 2025-2026 season?
