One month from Friday, the road to the Final Four will begin as another college basketball season is on the horizon.
How does Houston respond after its heartbreaking runner-up finish? Will Auburn’s success continue despite head coach Bruce Pearl’s sudden retirement?
From blue bloods to bracket-busters, these are the six squads to monitor.
Why to watch: The Boozer brothers
When is Duke ever not a talking point in college basketball? One year after Cooper Flagg’s historic campaign, the Blue Devils are primed for another dominant run.
Head coach Jon Scheyer brings in Cameron and Cayden Boozer, sons of former Duke icon and NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. The two five-star recruits possess elite talent, and they excelled at the high school level. The brothers helped secure four straight state titles, along with a national championship at the 2025 Chipotle Nationals.
Why to watch: National championship favorites
Last season, Houston made an impressive run to the national title game before suffering a gut-wrenching loss to Florida. However, the Cougars could find themselves in the same position this year.
Houston returns senior guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp. Uzan earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024, while Sharp was named the Big 12 Tournament MVP. The two can wreak havoc on defense and will lead a trio of talented newcomers.
Kingston Flemings, Isiah Harwell and Chris Cenac Jr. were all top-20 recruits, and the latter of the two are expected to be in the starting lineup.
Why to watch: A new Pearl takes over
Former head coach Bruce Pearl shocked the basketball world last week when he announced his retirement. His son, Steve, now takes the reins.
Sophomore Tahaad Pettiford is the only returning starter from last year, but the Tigers added big transfers in Mississippi State’s KeShawn Murphy and UCF’s Keyshawn Hall.
Steve has been on the staff since Bruce took over in 2014 and was one of the minds behind Auburn’s tenacious defenses. But as head coach, can he sustain his father’s success in the daunting SEC?
Why to watch: Nation’s top recruit
Second-year head coach Kevin Young has quickly turned BYU’s basketball program into a legitimate title contender. After a successful trip to the Sweet 16, the Cougars made a splash in the offseason.
BYU brings in freshman AJ Dybantsa, who was widely considered to be the No. 1 recruit in the country. The 6-foot-9 forward has great size and can create shots all over the floor, making Dybantsa must-watch television.
Why to watch: Frontrunner in MWC
Outside the Power Four, the Mountain West is the most competitive conference heading into the season. It produced four bids to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and the addition of Grand Canyon bolsters the league’s talent.
San Diego State will be the team to beat in the MWC this year as it returns a heap of production, including prolific guards Miles Byrd and Reese Dixon-Waters. The Aztecs also added Louisiana Tech’s Sean Newman Jr. from the transfer portal. Newman was a third-team All-C-USA selection.
Why to watch: Likely Cinderella
Every March, a mid-major school few people have heard of pulls off one or two stunning upsets. This year, it may very well be George Washington.
The Revolutionaries return four players who started 15 or more games in 2024, and they added four transfers who averaged double figures. The most notable is Tre Dinkins III, who led Duquesne in scoring and posted 17 consecutive games with 10 or more points.
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