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The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
College basketball too-early top 25 rankings for 2025-26 season
Unsurprisingly, the list is mostly filled with teams from the Big 12, Big Ten and SEC but the top half of the rankings have a balanced spread across the five major conferences, portending a wide-open race for who will be crowned national champion in Indianapolis at the end of the season. For reference, the previous rankings are in parenthesis. 1. Houston (1) The defending national runner-up loses stalwarts L.J. Cryer and J'Wan Roberts but is poised to make another run to the title game behind one of the top recruiting classes in the country, led by five-star forward Chris Cenac Jr. and guard Isiah Harwell. Returning contributors include guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp and frontcourt defensive standout Joseph Tugler. Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach are off to the NBA along with Tyrese Proctor, but Jon Scheyer put together another top recruiting class. Next year's group will be led by wingers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twin sons of former Blue Devils star Carlos Boozer. Also arriving are guards Dame Sarr and Sebastian Wilkins. They'll join several veterans who opted to return, including Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster. 3. Connecticut (3) Three in a row wasn't in the cards, but a third title in four years isn't out of the question for UConn. Liam McNeeley is gone after just one year in Storrs, but reinforcements are coming for Danny Hurley, whose top-five recruiting class features a pair of McDonald's All-Americans and an international prospect from Down Under. Post man Eric Reibe and guard Braylon Mullins comprise the domestic talent, and Australian wingman Jacob Furphy will arrive in the States this summer. Georgia transfer Silas Demary will provide even more backcourt depth. In addition, veteran forward Alex Karaban and rising junior Solo Ball return. 4. Purdue (11) The news that rising seniors Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn would be back along with sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer vaulted the Boilermakers into the top spot in the Big Ten projections for 2025-26. The veteran-laden team with league title and Final Four potential also returns C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris, and big man Oscar Cluff (South Dakota State) arrives via the portal to provide the low-post presence that was lacking in 2024-25. 5. Florida (8) All-America guard and Final Four MVP Walter Clayton will be hard to replace. Backcourt mate Elijah Martin and Will Richard are also gone, but the Gators will defend their title with most of their inside players returning. Thomas Haugh, Micah Handlogten, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu are all back. Denzel Aberdeen was a key reserve who should pick up more minutes, and the arrival of transfers Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) means there should be little to no drop-off in perimeter production. 6. Michigan (9) Despite losing its top three players, things could get even better in year two for coach Dusty May in Ann Arbor thanks to a huge haul in the transfer portal. Yaxel Lendeborg (Alabama-Birmingham) elected to forgo the NBA for another year and should thrive in the Wolverines' system. The newcomers also include point guard Elliott Cadeau (North Carolina) and frontcourt players Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA). Michigan also brings in an impact freshman in combo guard Trey McKenney and another top-100 recruit in Winters Grady. 7. Brigham Young (5) After making the Sweet 16 for the second time since 1981, BYU is poised for a big year with the arrival of hyped freshman AJ Dybantsa. He'll join a rotation that lost point guard Egor Demin to the NBA but brings back Dawson Baker and forwards Richie Saunders and Mihailo Boskovic. If Dybantsa is as good as expected, the Cougars could be a serious threat for the Final Four. 8. Alabama (6) The Crimson Tide should again be among the SEC favorites. Losing catalyst Mark Sears puts pressure on the backcourt to replicate his scoring production and leadership, but the return of guard Lebaron Philon for a sophomore season will help. Aden Holloway should take up much of that slack as well, along with Miami (Fla.) transfer Jalil Bethea. Inside additions Noah Williamson (Bucknell) and Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) should take on big roles. 9. St. John's (13) Now that Rick Pitino has instilled the work ethic needed to bring the Red Storm program back to prominence, he hopes the shooters he's brought in via the portal will improve the team's accuracy. Bryce Hopkins (Providence) should provide an immediate boost in that regard if he can stay healthy, with Joson Sanon (Arizona State) and Ian Jackson (North Carolina) adding back-court depth. Big East player of the year R.J. Luis is gone and Simeon Wilcher transferred out, but Zuby Ejiofor is back to anchor the interior. 10. UCLA (4) Mick Cronin has put together a transfer class that should make the Bruins one of the best teams in the Big Ten. The biggest addition is point guard Donovan Dent from New Mexico, who led the Mountain West with 20.4 points per game this season and may have been the best overall player in the portal. Another three incoming transfers join a roster headlined by returning starters forwards Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau. 11. Louisville (10) While several key pieces behind last year's rebound under coach Pat Kelsey have been lost to graduation, Louisville was a sought-after destination for a strong transfer class. The impact newcomers include Isaac McKneely from Virginia, Ryan Conwell from Xavier and Adrian Wooley from Kennesaw State. The Cardinals will add another perimeter threat in freshman Mikel Brown and will get a boost from the return of big man Aly Khalifa, who redshirted last season after knee surgery. 12. Texas Tech (7) Texas Tech's roster has taken shape after reigning Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin and guard Christian Anderson opted to return to Lubbock. This pair will set the pace for another run at the Final Four after coming up one win shy this March. The Red Raiders' transfer haul includes sharpshooting guards Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) and Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara) along with forward LeJuan Watts (Washington State) and center Luke Bamgboye (Virginia Commonwealth). 13. Iowa State (14) A very deep roster took a hit with Eastern Washington transfer Mason Williams needing hip surgery that is likely keeps him out for the season.. But Iowa State has the bodies to replace that projected production and make a March Madness run. Newcomers such as forwards Blake Buchanan (Virginia) and forward Eric Mulder (Purdue-Fort Wayne) and a highly rated recruiting class will join holdovers in Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic to make the Cyclones a national player. 14. Kentucky (16) Getting leading scorer Otega Oweh back in the fold for another year will keep the Wildcats in the mix for the SEC crown under second-year coach Mark Pope. One huge factor that could determine where Kentucky lands is the health of sophomore transfer Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), one of the top prospects in the nation and a potential difference-maker on the defensive end. Quaintance injured his knee last season but is expected to be ready in the fall. Kentucky also upgraded its backcourt by adding Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida). 15. Tennessee (19) Tennessee is looking at a roster overhaul with just one returning starter in center Felix Okpara. The Volunteers need to land production in increased action from forwards Cade Phillips and J.D. Estrella while blending in point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Maryland), guard Amaree Abram (Louisiana Tech) and forward Jaylen Carey (Vanderbilt). Tennessee will also lean on a really strong traditional recruiting class starring five-star forward Nate Ament. 16. Wisconsin (19) Wisconsin will build around guard John Blackwell, who took his name out of the draft in favor of another year in Madison. He'll team with former Florida Atlantic and San Diego State guard Nick Boyd will form one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten. The Badgers also brought in a deep threat in wing Andrew Rohde (Virginia) and a very promising young big man in sophomore Austin Rapp (Portland), the reigning West Coast Conference rookie of the year. 17. Arizona (23) Guard Jaden Bradley will be one of the best players in the Big 12. Returning role players in forward Tobe Awaka and guard Anthony Dell'Orso add experience and production after last year's Sweet 16 berth. But the Wildcats are going to be young, with six freshmen among the seven new additions to the roster. Included in this group are prized recruits Dwayne Aristode and Koa Peat. 18. Gonzaga (20) Even though Mark Few is losing his strong backcourt of Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle, the frontcourt is made up of a group of stars. Graham Ike is back and is a conference player of the year contender. He'll be paired with Braden Huff, but the real key is the addition of Grand Canyon transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, a 25-year-old perennial scorer that could be the playmaker for the Zags. Former Big Sky player of the year Steele Venters will finally suit up after missing back-to-back seasons with injuries, putting the Bulldogs in great position for their final year in the West Coast Conference. 19. Arkansas (12) The momentum from the Sweet 16 run should continue for John Calipari as he was able to bring back some last year's core. D.J. Wagner and Karter Knox stayed but the Razorbacks took a hit when Adou Thiero decided to go to the NBA. Still, Calipari brings in another talented recruiting class, headlined by guard Darius Acuff Jr., who has SEC freshman of the year potential. Other incoming freshman Meleek Thomas could provide solid production off the bench. 20. Creighton (21) Greg McDermott knew replacing Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth was the top priority, and he brought in transfers that should keep the Bluejays among Big East contenders. Iowa transfers Josh Dix and Owen Freeman will assume the leadership, while guard Nik Graves (Charlotte) and forward Blake Harper (Howard) will be X-factors after they each led their previous schools in scoring last season. Plus, you can't forget the potential from Serbian 7-foot freshman Aleksa Dimitrijevic. 21. Kansas (17) There were plenty of swings and misses by Bill Self in the transfer portal as he was unable to add a big-time playmaker. He was able to salvage it by bringing Tre White from Illinois and Jayden Dawson of Loyola-Chicago. Still, the Jayhawks await the arrival of top recruit Darryn Peterson. He has top NBA draft pick potential and he will join sophomore forward Flory Bidunga, who saved the offseason by choosing to stay in Kansas. The Jayhawks still feel like a bit of a mystery of whether it'll be a boom or bust season. 22. Michigan State (15) The Spartans will have to replace their top production as Jase Richardson's jump to the NBA means last season's top three scorers are gone. Michigan State played a deep rotation, so experience isn't a big issue. Jeremy Fears Jr. will have to assume a bigger role and Carson Cooper will have to be a force down low. They'll get help in Coen Carr and Jaxon Kohler. The transfer and recruiting haul is promising, but perimeter shooting still appears to be an issue. 23. Illinois (NR) Illinois jumps into the rankings thanks to the international flair coming to Champaign; Mihailo Petrovic leads the Balkan squad now playing for Brad Underwood. Petrovic is a 22-years-old guard among the best players in the European ABA League. Also joining is Andrej Stojakovic, who had a great freshman season at California, and former Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivisic, who joins brother Tomislav Ivisic to form a terrifying 7-foot duo. Also in the mix is guard Kylan Boswell after he showed maturity in the move to Illinois after leaving Arizona. 24. Oregon (NR) Another new addition to the rankings, Oregon is looking to maintain success after an up-and-down season. Back are the top two scorers in Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, who are consistent scorer. But they can't be the only ones producing, and the Ducks have to replace TJ Bamba. That appears to be answered in the transfer portal. TK Simpkins led Elon in scoring last season and improved his 3-point shooting. Sean Stewart (Ohio State) also could be a breakout player as he finds a more elevated role. 25. Auburn (24) Experienced stars led Auburn last season, but the entire starting unit is gone following the tough loss of Chad Baker-Mazara to Southern California. Bruce Pearl knew he had to replenish the roster, and he did so with significant recruiting and transfer classes. Keyshawn Hall (Central Florida) and Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) arrive after strong season, and there's intrigue with the Tigers brining in the top junior college transfer, Abdul Bashir. A new crop of players will join Tahaad Pettiford, the one key returnee that had a big role in the Final Four squad. Dropped out: Baylor, North Carolina. Just missed: Texas, North Carolina State and Oklahoma.
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
College basketball too-early Top 25 rankings after transfer portal, NBA draft
The transfer portal has closed, the NBA draft is complete and the pieces are mostly in place for the coming men's college basketball season. We previously did our too-early Top 25 preseason rankings after Florida finished as national champions in April. Now three months later, we revisit whether the Gators and others have moved up or down in our projections. Unsurprisingly, the list is mostly filled with teams from the Big 12, Big Ten and SEC but the top half of the rankings have a balanced spread across the five major conferences, portending a wide-open race for who will be crowned national champion in Indianapolis at the end of the season. For reference, the previous rankings are in parenthesis. 1. Houston (1) The defending national runner-up loses stalwarts L.J. Cryer and J'Wan Roberts but is poised to make another run to the title game behind one of the top recruiting classes in the country, led by five-star forward Chris Cenac Jr. and guard Isiah Harwell. Returning contributors include guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp and frontcourt defensive standout Joseph Tugler. 2. Duke (2) Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach are off to the NBA along with Tyrese Proctor, but Jon Scheyer put together another top recruiting class. Next year's group will be led by wingers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twin sons of former Blue Devils star Carlos Boozer. Also arriving are guards Dame Sarr and Sebastian Wilkins. They'll join several veterans who opted to return, including Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster. 3. Connecticut (3) Three in a row wasn't in the cards, but a third title in four years isn't out of the question for UConn. Liam McNeeley is gone after just one year in Storrs, but reinforcements are coming for Danny Hurley, whose top-five recruiting class features a pair of McDonald's All-Americans and an international prospect from Down Under. Post man Eric Reibe and guard Braylon Mullins comprise the domestic talent, and Australian wingman Jacob Furphy will arrive in the States this summer. Georgia transfer Silas Demary will provide even more backcourt depth. In addition, veteran forward Alex Karaban and rising junior Solo Ball return. 4. Purdue (11) The news that rising seniors Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn would be back along with sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer vaulted the Boilermakers into the top spot in the Big Ten projections for 2025-26. The veteran-laden team with league title and Final Four potential also returns C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris, and big man Oscar Cluff (South Dakota State) arrives via the portal to provide the low-post presence that was lacking in 2024-25. 5. Florida (8) All-America guard and Final Four MVP Walter Clayton will be hard to replace. Backcourt mate Elijah Martin and Will Richard are also gone, but the Gators will defend their title with most of their inside players returning. Thomas Haugh, Micah Handlogten, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu are all back. The arrival of transfers Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) means there should be little to no drop-off in perimeter production. 6. Michigan (9) Despite losing its top three players, things could get even better in year two for coach Dusty May in Ann Arbor thanks to a huge haul in the transfer portal. Yaxel Lendeborg (Alabama-Birmingham) elected to forgo the NBA for another year and should thrive in the Wolverines' system. The newcomers also include point guard Elliott Cadeau (North Carolina) and frontcourt players Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA). Michigan also brings in an impact freshman in combo guard Trey McKenney and another top-100 recruit in Winters Grady. 7. Brigham Young (5) After making the Sweet 16 for the second time since 1981, BYU is poised for a big year with the arrival of hyped freshman AJ Dybantsa. He'll join a rotation that lost point guard Egor Demin to the NBA but brings back Dawson Baker and forwards Richie Saunders and Mihailo Boskovic. If Dybantsa is as good as expected, the Cougars could be a serious threat for the Final Four. 8. Alabama (6) The Crimson Tide should again be among the SEC favorites. Losing catalyst Mark Sears puts pressure on the backcourt to replicate his scoring production and leadership, but the return of guard Lebaron Philon for a sophomore season will help. Aden Holloway should take up much of that slack as well, along with Miami (Fla.) transfer Jalil Bethea. Inside additions Noah Williamson (Bucknell) and Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) should take on big roles. 9. St. John's (13) Now that Rick Pitino has instilled the work ethic needed to bring the Red Storm program back to prominence, he hopes the shooters he's brought in via the portal will improve the team's accuracy. Bryce Hopkins (Providence) should provide an immediate boost in that regard if he can stay healthy, with Joson Sanon (Arizona State) and Ian Jackson (North Carolina) adding back-court depth. Big East player of the year R.J. Luis is gone and Simeon Wilcher transferred out, but Zuby Ejiofor is back to anchor the interior. 10. UCLA (4) Mick Cronin has put together a transfer class that should make the Bruins one of the best teams in the Big Ten. The biggest addition is point guard Donovan Dent from New Mexico, who led the Mountain West with 20.4 points per game this season and may have been the best overall player in the portal. Another three incoming transfers join a roster headlined by returning starters forwards Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau. 11. Louisville (10) While several key pieces behind last year's rebound under coach Pat Kelsey have been lost to graduation, Louisville was a sought-after destination for a strong transfer class. The impact newcomers include Isaac McKneely from Virginia, Ryan Conwell from Xavier and Adrian Wooley from Kennesaw State. The Cardinals will add another perimeter threat in freshman Mikel Brown and will get a boost from the return of big man Aly Khalifa, who redshirted last season after knee surgery. 12. Texas Tech (7) Texas Tech's roster has taken shape after reigning Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin and guard Christian Anderson opted to return to Lubbock. This pair will set the pace for another run at the Final Four after coming up one win shy this March. The Red Raiders' transfer haul includes sharpshooting guards Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) and Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara) along with forward LeJuan Watts (Washington State) and center Luke Bamgboye (Virginia Commonwealth). 13. Iowa State (14) A very deep roster took a hit with Eastern Washington transfer Mason Williams needing hip surgery that is likely keeps him out for the season.. But Iowa State has the bodies to replace that projected production and make a March Madness run. Newcomers such as forwards Blake Buchanan (Virginia) and forward Eric Mulder (Purdue-Fort Wayne) and a highly rated recruiting class will join holdovers in Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic to make the Cyclones a national player. 14. Kentucky (16) Getting leading scorer Otega Oweh back in the fold for another year will keep the Wildcats in the mix for the SEC crown under second-year coach Mark Pope. One huge factor that could determine where Kentucky lands is the health of sophomore transfer Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), one of the top prospects in the nation and a potential difference-maker on the defensive end. Quaintance injured his knee last season but is expected to be ready in the fall. Kentucky also upgraded its backcourt by adding Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida). 15. Tennessee (19) Tennessee is looking at a roster overhaul with just one returning starter in center Felix Okpara. The Volunteers need to land production in increased action from forwards Cade Phillips and J.D. Estrella while blending in point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Maryland), guard Amaree Abram (Louisiana Tech) and forward Jaylen Carey (Vanderbilt). Tennessee will also lean on a really strong traditional recruiting class starring five-star forward Nate Ament. 16. Wisconsin (19) Wisconsin will build around guard John Blackwell, who took his name out of the draft in favor of another year in Madison. He'll team with former Florida Atlantic and San Diego State guard Nick Boyd will form one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten. The Badgers also brought in a deep threat in wing Andrew Rohde (Virginia) and a very promising young big man in sophomore Austin Rapp (Portland), the reigning West Coast Conference rookie of the year. 17. Arizona (23) Guard Jaden Bradley will be one of the best players in the Big 12. Returning role players in forward Tobe Awaka and guard Anthony Dell'Orso add experience and production after last year's Sweet 16 berth. But the Wildcats are going to be young, with six freshmen among the seven new additions to the roster. Included in this group are prized recruits Dwayne Aristode and Koa Peat. 18. Gonzaga (20) Even though Mark Few is losing his strong backcourt of Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle, the frontcourt is made up of a group of stars. Graham Ike is back and is a conference player of the year contender. He'll be paired with Braden Huff, but the real key is the addition of Grand Canyon transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, a 25-year-old perennial scorer that could be the playmaker for the Zags. Former Big Sky player of the year Steele Venters will finally suit up after missing back-to-back seasons with injuries, putting the Bulldogs in great position for their final year in the West Coast Conference. 19. Arkansas (12) The momentum from the Sweet 16 run should continue for John Calipari as he was able to bring back some last year's core. D.J. Wagner and Karter Knox stayed but the Razorbacks took a hit when Adou Thiero decided to go to the NBA. Still, Calipari brings in another talented recruiting class, headlined by guard Darius Acuff Jr., who has SEC freshman of the year potential. Other incoming freshman Meleek Thomas could provide solid production off the bench. 20. Creighton (21) Greg McDermott knew replacing Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth was the top priority, and he brought in transfers that should keep the Bluejays among Big East contenders. Iowa transfers Josh Dix and Owen Freeman will assume the leadership, while guard Nik Graves (Charlotte) and forward Blake Harper (Howard) will be X-factors after they each led their previous schools in scoring last season. Plus, you can't forget the potential from Serbian 7-foot freshman Aleksa Dimitrijevic. 21. Kansas (17) There were plenty of swings and misses by Bill Self in the transfer portal as he was unable to add a big-time playmaker. He was able to salvage it by bringing Tre White from Illinois and Jayden Dawson of Loyola-Chicago. Still, the Jayhawks await the arrival of top recruit Darryn Peterson. He has top NBA draft pick potential and he will join sophomore forward Flory Bidunga, who saved the offseason by choosing to stay in Kansas. The Jayhawks still feel like a bit of a mystery of whether it'll be a boom or bust season. 22. Michigan State (15) The Spartans will have to replace their top production as Jase Richardson's jump to the NBA means last season's top three scorers are gone. Michigan State played a deep rotation, so experience isn't a big issue. Jeremy Fears Jr. will have to assume a bigger role and Carson Cooper will have to be a force down low. They'll get help in Coen Carr and Jaxon Kohler. The transfer and recruiting haul is promising, but perimeter shooting still appears to be an issue. 23. Illinois (NR) Illinois jumps into the rankings thanks to the international flair coming to Champaign; Mihailo Petrovic leads the Balkan squad now playing for Brad Underwood. Petrovic is a 22-years-old guard among the best players in the European ABA League. Also joining is Andrej Stojakovic, who had a great freshman season at California, and former Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivišić, who joins brother Tomislav Ivišić to form a terrifying 7-foot duo. Also in the mix is guard Kylan Boswell after he showed maturity in the move to Illinois after leaving Arizona. 24. Oregon (NR) Another new addition to the rankings, Oregon is looking to maintain success after an up-and-down season. Back are the top two scorers in Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, who are consistent scorer. But they can't be the only ones producing, and the Ducks have to replace TJ Bamba. That appears to be answered in the transfer portal. TK Simpkins led Elon in scoring last season and improved his 3-point shooting. Sean Stewart (Ohio State) also could be a breakout player as he finds a more elevated role. 25. Auburn (24) Experienced stars led Auburn last season, but the entire starting unit is gone following the tough loss of Chad Baker-Mazara to Southern California. Bruce Pearl knew he had to replenish the roster, and he did so with significant recruiting and transfer classes. Keyshawn Hall (Central Florida) and Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) arrive after strong season, and there's intrigue with the Tigers brining in the top junior college transfer, Abdul Bashir. A new crop of players will join Tahaad Pettiford, the one key returnee that had a big role in the Final Four squad. Dropped out: Baylor, North Carolina. Just missed: Texas, North Carolina State and Oklahoma.
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
College basketball too-early Top 25 rankings after transfer portal changes
The transfer portal has closed, the NBA draft is complete and the pieces are mostly in place for the coming men's college basketball season. We previously did our too-early Top 25 preseason rankings after Florida finished as national champions in April. Now three months later, we revisit whether the Gators and others have moved up or down in our projections. Unsurprisingly, the list is mostly filled with teams from the Big 12, Big Ten and SEC but the top half of the rankings have a balanced spread across the five major conferences, portending a wide-open race for who will be crowned national champion in Indianapolis at the end of the season. For reference, the previous rankings are in parenthesis. 1. Houston (1) The defending national runner-up loses stalwarts L.J. Cryer and J'Wan Roberts but is poised to make another run to the title game behind one of the top recruiting classes in the country, led by five-star forward Chris Cenac Jr. and guard Isiah Harwell. Returning contributors include guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp and frontcourt defensive standout Joseph Tugler. 2. Duke (2) Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach are off to the NBA along with Tyrese Proctor, but Jon Scheyer put together another top recruiting class. Next year's group will be led by wingers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twin sons of former Blue Devils star Carlos Boozer. Also arriving are guards Dame Sarr and Sebastian Wilkins. They'll join several veterans who opted to return, including Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster. 3. Connecticut (3) Three in a row wasn't in the cards, but a third title in four years isn't out of the question for UConn. Liam McNeeley is gone after just one year in Storrs, but reinforcements are coming for Danny Hurley, whose top-five recruiting class features a pair of McDonald's All-Americans and an international prospect from Down Under. Post man Eric Reibe and guard Braylon Mullins comprise the domestic talent, and Australian wingman Jacob Furphy will arrive in the States this summer. Georgia transfer Silas Demary will provide even more backcourt depth. In addition, veteran forward Alex Karaban and rising junior Solo Ball return. 4. Purdue (11) The news that rising seniors Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn would be back along with sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer vaulted the Boilermakers into the top spot in the Big Ten projections for 2025-26. The veteran-laden team with league title and Final Four potential also returns C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris, and big man Oscar Cluff (South Dakota State) arrives via the portal to provide the low-post presence that was lacking in 2024-25. 5. Florida (8) All-America guard and Final Four MVP Walter Clayton will be hard to replace. Backcourt mate Elijah Martin and Will Richard are also gone, but the Gators will defend their title with most of their inside players returning. Thomas Haugh, Micah Handlogten, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu are all back. Denzel Aberdeen was a key reserve who should pick up more minutes, and the arrival of transfers Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) means there should be little to no drop-off in perimeter production. 6. Michigan (9) Despite losing its top three players, things could get even better in year two for coach Dusty May in Ann Arbor thanks to a huge haul in the transfer portal. Yaxel Lendeborg (Alabama-Birmingham) elected to forgo the NBA for another year and should thrive in the Wolverines' system. The newcomers also include point guard Elliott Cadeau (North Carolina) and frontcourt players Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA). Michigan also brings in an impact freshman in combo guard Trey McKenney and another top-100 recruit in Winters Grady. 7. Brigham Young (5) After making the Sweet 16 for the second time since 1981, BYU is poised for a big year with the arrival of hyped freshman AJ Dybantsa. He'll join a rotation that lost point guard Egor Demin to the NBA but brings back Dawson Baker and forwards Richie Saunders and Mihailo Boskovic. If Dybantsa is as good as expected, the Cougars could be a serious threat for the Final Four. 8. Alabama (6) The Crimson Tide should again be among the SEC favorites. Losing catalyst Mark Sears puts pressure on the backcourt to replicate his scoring production and leadership, but the return of guard Lebaron Philon for a sophomore season will help. Aden Holloway should take up much of that slack as well, along with Miami (Fla.) transfer Jalil Bethea. Inside additions Noah Williamson (Bucknell) and Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) should take on big roles. 9. St. John's (13) Now that Rick Pitino has instilled the work ethic needed to bring the Red Storm program back to prominence, he hopes the shooters he's brought in via the portal will improve the team's accuracy. Bryce Hopkins (Providence) should provide an immediate boost in that regard if he can stay healthy, with Joson Sanon (Arizona State) and Ian Jackson (North Carolina) adding back-court depth. Big East player of the year R.J. Luis is gone and Simeon Wilcher transferred out, but Zuby Ejiofor is back to anchor the interior. 10. UCLA (4) Mick Cronin has put together a transfer class that should make the Bruins one of the best teams in the Big Ten. The biggest addition is point guard Donovan Dent from New Mexico, who led the Mountain West with 20.4 points per game this season and may have been the best overall player in the portal. Another three incoming transfers join a roster headlined by returning starters forwards Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau. 11. Louisville (10) While several key pieces behind last year's rebound under coach Pat Kelsey have been lost to graduation, Louisville was a sought-after destination for a strong transfer class. The impact newcomers include Isaac McKneely from Virginia, Ryan Conwell from Xavier and Adrian Wooley from Kennesaw State. The Cardinals will add another perimeter threat in freshman Mikel Brown and will get a boost from the return of big man Aly Khalifa, who redshirted last season after knee surgery. 12. Texas Tech (7) Texas Tech's roster has taken shape after reigning Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin and guard Christian Anderson opted to return to Lubbock. This pair will set the pace for another run at the Final Four after coming up one win shy this March. The Red Raiders' transfer haul includes sharpshooting guards Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) and Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara) along with forward LeJuan Watts (Washington State) and center Luke Bamgboye (Virginia Commonwealth). 13. Iowa State (14) A very deep roster took a hit with Eastern Washington transfer Mason Williams needing hip surgery that is likely keeps him out for the season.. But Iowa State has the bodies to replace that projected production and make a March Madness run. Newcomers such as forwards Blake Buchanan (Virginia) and forward Eric Mulder (Purdue-Fort Wayne) and a highly rated recruiting class will join holdovers in Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic to make the Cyclones a national player. 14. Kentucky (16) Getting leading scorer Otega Oweh back in the fold for another year will keep the Wildcats in the mix for the SEC crown under second-year coach Mark Pope. One huge factor that could determine where Kentucky lands is the health of sophomore transfer Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), one of the top prospects in the nation and a potential difference-maker on the defensive end. Quaintance injured his knee last season but is expected to be ready in the fall. Kentucky also upgraded its backcourt by adding Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida). 15. Tennessee (19) Tennessee is looking at a roster overhaul with just one returning starter in center Felix Okpara. The Volunteers need to land production in increased action from forwards Cade Phillips and J.D. Estrella while blending in point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Maryland), guard Amaree Abram (Louisiana Tech) and forward Jaylen Carey (Vanderbilt). Tennessee will also lean on a really strong traditional recruiting class starring five-star forward Nate Ament. 16. Wisconsin (19) Wisconsin will build around guard John Blackwell, who took his name out of the draft in favor of another year in Madison. He'll team with former Florida Atlantic and San Diego State guard Nick Boyd will form one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten. The Badgers also brought in a deep threat in wing Andrew Rohde (Virginia) and a very promising young big man in sophomore Austin Rapp (Portland), the reigning West Coast Conference rookie of the year. 17. Arizona (23) Guard Jaden Bradley will be one of the best players in the Big 12. Returning role players in forward Tobe Awaka and guard Anthony Dell'Orso add experience and production after last year's Sweet 16 berth. But the Wildcats are going to be young, with six freshmen among the seven new additions to the roster. Included in this group are prized recruits Dwayne Aristode and Koa Peat. 18. Gonzaga (20) Even though Mark Few is losing his strong backcourt of Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle, the frontcourt is made up of a group of stars. Graham Ike is back and is a conference player of the year contender. He'll be paired with Braden Huff, but the real key is the addition of Grand Canyon transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, a 25-year-old perennial scorer that could be the playmaker for the Zags. Former Big Sky player of the year Steele Venters will finally suit up after missing back-to-back seasons with injuries, putting the Bulldogs in great position for their final year in the West Coast Conference. 19. Arkansas (12) The momentum from the Sweet 16 run should continue for John Calipari as he was able to bring back some last year's core. D.J. Wagner and Karter Knox stayed but the Razorbacks took a hit when Adou Thiero decided to go to the NBA. Still, Calipari brings in another talented recruiting class, headlined by guard Darius Acuff Jr., who has SEC freshman of the year potential. Other incoming freshman Meleek Thomas could provide solid production off the bench. 20. Creighton (21) Greg McDermott knew replacing Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth was the top priority, and he brought in transfers that should keep the Bluejays among Big East contenders. Iowa transfers Josh Dix and Owen Freeman will assume the leadership, while guard Nik Graves (Charlotte) and forward Blake Harper (Howard) will be X-factors after they each led their previous schools in scoring last season. Plus, you can't forget the potential from Serbian 7-foot freshman Aleksa Dimitrijevic. 21. Kansas (17) There were plenty of swings and misses by Bill Self in the transfer portal as he was unable to add a big-time playmaker. He was able to salvage it by bringing Tre White from Illinois and Jayden Dawson of Loyola-Chicago. Still, the Jayhawks await the arrival of top recruit Darryn Peterson. He has top NBA draft pick potential and he will join sophomore forward Flory Bidunga, who saved the offseason by choosing to stay in Kansas. The Jayhawks still feel like a bit of a mystery of whether it'll be a boom or bust season. 22. Michigan State (15) The Spartans will have to replace their top production as Jase Richardson's jump to the NBA means last season's top three scorers are gone. Michigan State played a deep rotation, so experience isn't a big issue. Jeremy Fears Jr. will have to assume a bigger role and Carson Cooper will have to be a force down low. They'll get help in Coen Carr and Jaxon Kohler. The transfer and recruiting haul is promising, but perimeter shooting still appears to be an issue. 23. Illinois (NR) Illinois jumps into the rankings thanks to the international flair coming to Champaign; Mihailo Petrovic leads the Balkan squad now playing for Brad Underwood. Petrovic is a 22-years-old guard among the best players in the European ABA League. Also joining is Andrej Stojakovic, who had a great freshman season at California, and former Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivišić, who joins brother Tomislav Ivišić to form a terrifying 7-foot duo. Also in the mix is guard Kylan Boswell after he showed maturity in the move to Illinois after leaving Arizona. 24. Oregon (NR) Another new addition to the rankings, Oregon is looking to maintain success after an up-and-down season. Back are the top two scorers in Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, who are consistent scorer. But they can't be the only ones producing, and the Ducks have to replace TJ Bamba. That appears to be answered in the transfer portal. TK Simpkins led Elon in scoring last season and improved his 3-point shooting. Sean Stewart (Ohio State) also could be a breakout player as he finds a more elevated role. 25. Auburn (24) Experienced stars led Auburn last season, but the entire starting unit is gone following the tough loss of Chad Baker-Mazara to Southern California. Bruce Pearl knew he had to replenish the roster, and he did so with significant recruiting and transfer classes. Keyshawn Hall (Central Florida) and Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) arrive after strong season, and there's intrigue with the Tigers brining in the top junior college transfer, Abdul Bashir. A new crop of players will join Tahaad Pettiford, the one key returnee that had a big role in the Final Four squad. Dropped out: Baylor, North Carolina. Just missed: Texas, North Carolina State and Oklahoma.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Houston, Florida play for title and put a different spin on the underdog role to wrap March Madness
Houston, Florida play for title and put a different spin on the underdog role to wrap March Madness Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. drives around Auburn guard Miles Kelly during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida head coach Todd Golden and Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson talk during a CBS Sports interview ahead of a NCAA college Final Four championship basketball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson speaks during a news conference at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) and Mylik Wilson (8) celebrate against Duke during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) reacts during the first half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) reacts during the first half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. drives around Auburn guard Miles Kelly during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Florida head coach Todd Golden and Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson talk during a CBS Sports interview ahead of a NCAA college Final Four championship basketball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson speaks during a news conference at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) and Mylik Wilson (8) celebrate against Duke during the second half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) reacts during the first half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Whoever said there were no great underdog stories left in March Madness, or that the title would go to whichever team spends the most money — or amasses the gaudiest collection of big names from the transfer portal — probably never checked out Houston. And anyone who thought college hoops was leaving behind teams with no NBA-ready stars coached by tart-as-lemon lifers who care more about the size of a player's wingspan and heart than his 3-point percentage — well, that's these Cougars, too. Advertisement Coach Kelvin Sampson's squad of defenders and deniers face Florida for the national title Monday night. They wrap up a front-runner's Final Four that featured all No. 1 seeds but ends with the two top ones — Auburn and Duke — sitting at home. 'We've kind of done it our way,' said Sampson who, at 69, would surpass Jim Calhoun to become the oldest coach to win the title if his Cougars prevail. 'It's worked out pretty good.' The Gators have been overlooked in their own way, too Florida, a 1 1/2-point pick in this game per BetMGM Sportsbook, has played underdog in its own way this year. The Gators (35-4) were picked to finish sixth in their (very good Southeastern) conference and are led by a player, Walter Clayton Jr., whose first sport was football. Advertisement Their roster is filled with late bloomers from mid-majors (Clayton, Will Richard, Alijah Martin) and a few more out of high school who were 3-star recruits at best (Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh). Even so, it would be hard to put Florida, with a rich athletic department, rich history and playing in a rich conference, in the same category as Houston — a commuter school in America's fourth-largest city that gets the side eye from some locals who call it 'Cougar High.' Houston's transition to Big 12 created new narratives When Houston (35-4) left the American Athletic Conference in 2023 to join the Big 12, it immediately became the school with the smallest athletic budget among the five (now four) major conferences. Advertisement But things are changing. It will complete a $150 million expansion to its football facility this summer. Athletic director Eddie Nunez said the Cougars are fully committed to revenue sharing under the new rules expected to take over college sports next school year, and that Sampson is evolving as well as anyone. 'Everyone says he's old-school, but the reality is, he gets it and he surrounds himself with people who can help him with NIL, revenue share, anything that's laid out,' Nunez said. 'Bottom line, he'll do what he does best. He builds a culture and gets the right kids with the right work ethic.' Houston's presence in the Big 12 played into the predominant story line of March Madness this year: From the Sweet 16 on, there were no teams from small conferences and, so, no glass slippers left in a tournament that was losing its soul. Advertisement Houston has tradition — everyone remembers Phi Slama Jama — and is building a budget. Still, calling Sampson's program a college basketball monster is missing the point. His biggest portal piece is LJ Cryer, the guard who won a title with Baylor in 2021 before transferring and become the Cougars' leading scorer. If Houston is going to place a player in the NBA next season, Cryer probably is the one. 'I don't think necessarily that applies to my program,' Sampson said when asked if the portal has changed the nature of his job. Houston's long-armed defenders make life hard on opponents The rest of the roster spends time making life hard on players who certainly will be in the NBA soon. See the last 10 minutes of Houston's 70-67 win over Duke on Saturday. Advertisement They are players like J'Wan Roberts, a 23-year-old senior who has played 148 games in five seasons, all at Houston — a career that was extended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Or Emanuel Sharp, now in his third year with Sampson and averaging about three 3-pointers a game. Houston's calling card is scrapping out games that turn ugly. It has the nation's top defense in field goal percentage (.382) and points allowed (58.5). 'I think they'll pressure the ball screen, try to get the ball out of Walt's hands. But they rotate, they're long, they play so hard, so tough," Gators coach Todd Golden said. In an era when players like Duke's Cooper Flagg — a 6-foot-9 force of nature who can dunk, spin and shoot the 3 — get air time, there's not as much room for, say, Houston's Jojo Tugler, a 6-8 sophomore out of Monroe, Louisiana, who has more rebounds than points this season and whose four blocks against Duke gave him 77 in 35 games. Advertisement 'One of the first things we do when we bring a kid on campus is we measure their wingspan because of how we play pick-and-roll defense,' Sampson said. 'There's a lot of 7-foot kids that are very lumbering. They have a hard time moving. Those kids would not function well in the way we play defense." CBS might not be rushing to make highlight reels of those kind of things. Sampson goes after the kind of players who don't care about that. 'That's what you want to be part of,' Roberts said. 'You want to be with someone who's going to develop you, going to love you and not let you have bad days.' Advertisement ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida and Houston advance to Monday's title game
Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) celebrates after Houston beat Duke in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) celebrates after Houston beat Duke in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Houston's J'Wan Roberts (13) celebrates after Houston beat Duke in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 points and Florida beat Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four on Saturday night, sending the Gators to the national championship game for the first time since their titles in 2006 and 2007. The All-America guard for the Gators (35-4) had a driving layup with 2:24 left, on the possession right after Australian big man Alex Condon drew a charge against Johni Broome, the other All-America player in this national semifinal — and who was dealing with an injured right elbow. Advertisement After a record 14 SEC teams made this NCAA Tournament, seven got to the Sweet 16 before the league made up half the Elite Eight and then this Final Four filled with No. 1 seeds. The Gators will have the chance Monday night to win the SEC's first title since Kentucky in 2012, the only one since they won in back-to-back seasons. Florida takes an 11-game winning streak into the title championship game in the Alamodome against either Duke or Houston. Auburn (32-6), in its second Final Four with coach Bruce Pearl, was the top overall seed. Clayton became the first player with consecutive 30-point games in the Elite Eight and semifinals since Larry Bird for Indiana State in 1979, according to ESPN Stats. Clayton got over 30 with his three-point play with 1:33 left, scoring on a layup while being fouled and adding the free throw. Advertisement HOUSTON 70, DUKE 67 Houston's suffocating defense wiped away a 14-point deficit over the final eight minutes and erased Cooper Flagg and Duke's title hopes in a stunner over the Blue Devils at the Final Four. Duke made a grand total of one field goal over the last 10 1/2 minutes of this game. The second-to-last attempt was a step-back jumper in the lane by Flagg that J'Wan Roberts disrupted. The last was a desperation heave by Tyrese Proctor that caught nothing at the buzzer. It was Roberts' two free throws with 19.6 seconds left that gave the Cougars their first lead since 6-5. LJ Cryer, who led Houston with 26 points, made two more to push the lead to three. It was Houston' biggest lead of the night.
