25 men’s college hoops teams to watch in 2025-26

It can be argued that Alabama’s basketball program is closer to winning a national championship than the vaunted football team. The Crimson Tide has reached the Elite Eight, Final Four, and Sweet 16 in each of the last three years. Mark Sears and Grant Nelson are gone, but Aden Holloway (11.4 ppg, 41.2-percent 3-point shooting) and Labaron Philon Jr. (10.6 ppg, 3.8 apg), who has the potential for a breakout season, are prime-time, returning performers. Keeping guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (11.5 ppg, 42.2-percent 3-point shooting) healthy and on the court this season will be imperative.

The Wildcats have reached the Sweet 16 three of the last four seasons, and could have the makeup for another such run — or deeper. Senior Jaden Bradley (12.1 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.4 rpg) is the heart and soul of an Arizona squad that has the talent to contend for a title in the quite deep Big 12. Touted freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries should be fun to watch for Wildcat fans.

The Razorbacks return key pieces in D.J. Wagner (11.2 ppg, 3.6 apg) and Karter Knox (8.3 ppg) from last season’s squad that upset No. 2 seed St. John’s to reach the Sweet 16. Add prized recruit Darius Acuff Jr., and there is reason to like the 2025-26 version of John Calipari’s team. That said, Arkansas was predicted to finish fifth in the preseason SEC rankings, so it will be a grind in a deep league.

Plenty of eyes will be on the Tigers, as one Pearl (Bruce) hands the reins of the program to another (son, Steven). The Tigers have reached the Final Four twice since 2019, and will open the season in The Associated Press Top 25, but there is uncertainty. High-energy guard Tahaad Pettiford (11.6 ppg, 3.0 apg) returns with high expectations for his sophomore season, but Auburn will rely on a host of transfer portal additions to maintain its spot among the national elite.

The Broncos’ run of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances ended in 2025, but they still won 26 games. Andrew Meadow (12.6 ppg) and Javan Buchanan (9.6 ppg) return from that team, but the transfer additions of 6-foot-11 Drew Fielder (Georgetown) and Dylan Andrews (UCLA) have Boise State excited and poised to contend for the Mountain West Conference title and a return to the Big Dance.

There is plenty of hype surrounding AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s top freshman and potential overall No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, in Provo. And, he didn’t disappoint with 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting, and seven rebounds with three assists during a recent exhibition matchup against Nebraska. But, the eighth-ranked Cougars are far from a one-man show with Richie Saunders (16.5 ppg, 50.7-percent career shooter) and Keba Keita (7.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg. 1.2 bpg) back from last season’s Sweet 16 participant.

UConn lost 11 games in 2024-25 — matching its total from the previous two seasons, where it won back-to-back national championships under Dan Hurley. However, a lengthy injury to star freshman Liam McNeeley played a major part in the Huskies’ post-New Year inconsistency. Connecticut, ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll, could be ready to reset with Solo Ball (14.4 ppg), veteran Alex Karaban (14.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Tarris Reed Jr. (9.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg) back, and Braylon Mullins  poised to be one of the top freshmen in the country.

Duke failed to win the 2025 national championship with superstar Cooper Flagg leading the way. Can they do it with another highly-touted prospect with Blue Devil genes? Six-foot-9 Cameron Boozer, son of Duke All-American Carlos Boozer, is a national player of the year candidate out of the gate and will try to lead the program to its first title since 2015. The Blue Devils enter the season ranked sixth by The Associated Press, and with limited scoring returns, they put plenty of pressure on Boozer.

The reigning national champs lost their top three scorers, but boast one of the country’s best overall frontcourts with 6-11 Alex Condon (10.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg), 6-9 NCAA Tournament star Thomas Hough (9.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), and 6-10 paint power Rueben Chinyelu (6.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg). The X-factor, however, will be once-prized prospect Boogie Fland (13.5 ppg, 5.1 apg), who comes over from Arkansas and is slated to run the point. The Gators, with their No. 3 preseason AP ranking, might not be title-ready at the moment, but the talent and potential are surely there for a serious repeat attempt.

Death, taxes, and an NCAA Tournament appearance for Gonzaga are true certainties in life. The Zags might not be of national-title caliber, at the moment, but they usually hit their stride at the right time. Graham Ike (17.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Braden Huff  (11.0 ppg) provide the most extensive returning offensive experience, but, as is usually the case, Gonzaga will rely on transfers to shine. The Bulldogs’ non-conference slate remains daunting with games against Creighton, Alabama, Kentucky, and UCLA.

Have the Cougars recovered from falling short of a national championship once again? Their title-game loss to Florida in 2025 was heartbreaking, but returners Emanuel Sharp   (12.7 ppg), Milos Uzan (11.4 ppg, 4.3 apg), and enforcer Joseph Tugler (5.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg) are well-tested and will be supported by a talented freshman group. Houston, No. 2 in the preseason AP poll, was the nation’s top defensive team last season, allowing an average of 58.7 points and 38.3 percent shooting, and that again should be the calling card of this Kelvin Sampson squad.

Illinois has quietly been one of the country’s most consistent teams in recent years, winning at least 20 games in six straight seasons. Kylan Boswell   (12.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg) returns to lead the Illini, who continue to boast some international flavor with brothers Tomislav (13.0 ppg) and Arkansas transfer Zvonimir Ivisic. The addition of former Cal star Andrej Stojakovic (17.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) could be huge for an Illinois squad expected to be in the mix for the Big Ten title.

The health of star guard Tamin Lipsey (knee) remains the early focal point for the Cyclones. It’s possible Lipsey, who has played 103 games over three seasons at Iowa State, will be ready to go for the opener. However, this is still a veteran team with Joshua Jefferson (13.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.1 spg) and Milan Momcilovic (11.5 ppg) back in the mix. Meanwhile, French freshman Killyan Toure is worth checking out.

The Jayhawks are looking to rebound from that 21-13 disappointment last season, where they lost nine of the final 16 games. With reports speculating Kansas coach Bill Self is eying retirement and the program looking to avoid a third straight double-digit loss season, there is plenty of intrigue in Lawrence. If there’s reason for excitement, however, it’s prized freshman guard Darryn Peterson, another candidate to be the overall No. 1 NBA Draft pick in 2026. 

It’s been more than a decade since Kentucky reached the Final Four, but there is some excitement — on that level — in Lexington with a top-10 preseason ranking for 2025-26. Game-changing guard Otega Oweh (16.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) is the preseason SEC Player of the Year, and Pittsburgh transfer Jaland Lowe (16.8 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.2 rpg) has star quality. Though the latter was injured during the team’s recent public scrimmage. The SEC is again loaded, and the Wildcats’ consistency should tell the tale of their season.

After totaling 12 wins the previous two seasons, Louisville returned to respectability by going 27-8 under coach Pat Kelsey in 2024-25. Despite a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals certainly have something to build upon. However, it will come with plenty of new faces via the portal. The most notable is Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell (16.5 ppg). Touted freshman Mikel Brown Jr. joins Conwell on the preseason All-ACC team.

If there’s one player in the Big Ten worth keeping an eye on this season that might not be a household name, it’s Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg. The 6-9 UAB transfer shot 51.8 percent while averaging 15.8 points in two seasons for the Blazers. He’s already turned heads in Ann Arbor and is poised to lead a squad that lost its top three scorers from a 28-win group. Lendeborg will have help on the preseason top-10 Wolverines with veterans Roddy Gayle Jr. and North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau.

The Tar Heels barely cracked the AP’s preseason Top 25, and there’s actually little fanfare regarding the program heading into the season. Then again, there’s always pressure to win at North Carolina, and Hubert Davis still has no room for serious error. Though it wouldn’t be a stretch to consider UNC an under-the-radar team to watch. Veteran Seth Trimble (11.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and touted 6-10 freshman Caleb Wilson provide a nice 1-2 punch. However, success will depend on how well that duo meshes with some intriguing transfers. 

The Boilermakers enter the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, and it’s easy to see why. They’re top-four scorers — Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Braden Smith   (15.8 ppg, 8.7 apg, 4.5 rpg), Fletcher Loyer (13.8 ppg, 197 career 3-pointers), C.J. Cox   (6.0 ppg) — are all back from the 24-win squad that reached the Sweet 16. Smith is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, and transfer Oscar Cluff averaged 17.6 points for South Dakota State last season. However, if the Boilermakers are to make a serious run in March, they must improve at the defensive end, where they ranked 256th in opponents’ field-goal percentage (45.2).

San Diego State has won at least 21 games in eight straight seasons and is three years removed from playing for a national championship. Miles Byrd (12.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.7 apg) is a bona fide NBA talent, and 7-foot teammate Magoon Gwath (8.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg) is close behind in that nature, but both are dealing with injuries that could hinder the Aztecs’ start. However, don’t sleep on SDSU when February rolls around.

One of the more intriguing teams in the country. The Red Storm went 31-5 last season, but were upset by Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This season, the roster looks different, but the expectations are just as high (as its preseason No. 5 ranking proves). Zuby Ejiofor   (14.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg) is the most potent returning performer from last season, but transfers Oziyah Sellers   (Stanford), and Bryce Hopkins (Kentucky, Providence) have proven big-game capabilities for Rick Pitino’s team. 

Another program that’s enjoyed consistent success, but is still looking to reach the Final Four after making it to the Elite Eight each of the last two seasons. The Volunteers went 30-8 last season, but lost their top four scorers. However, they do boast one of the nation’s top prospects in 6-10 Nate Ament, who, according to many scouts and hoops analysts, is the best freshman in the game. 

The Red Raiders program has blossomed into a perennial Final Four contender, and that should be the case in 2025-26. Coming in its third trip to the regional finals, Texas Tech is a preseason top-10 squad led by star JT Toppin (18.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and talented sophomore Christian Anderson (10.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.2 apg) — both entering the campaign on the all-Big 12 team. Keep an eye on Washington State transfer LeJuan Watts  (13.7 ppg).

It appears Mick Cronin has the Bruins back on track following that disappointing 16-17 2023-24 with 23 wins last season. Tyler Bilodeau (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Eric Daily Jr. (11.4 ppg), and Skyy Clark (8.5 ppg, 2.7 apg) return from that group, so that experience should be vital. How well potent New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent (20.4 ppg, 6.4 apg) fits in and contributes could be the key to a deep run for the Bruins.

As we’ve seen, the Big Ten is stacked with viable title contenders, and the Badgers could be in the mix. Wisconsin has not advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2017, but there’s a reason that could change for the better this season. John Blackwell (15.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg) is among the best players in the Big Ten, and the offense should be livened up by transfers Nick Boyd (13.4 ppg, 3.9 apg at San Diego State) and 6-10 Austin Rapp (13.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg at Portland). Meanwhile, 7-foot returner Nolan Winter (9.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) could be ready to break out for the 24th-ranked Badgers.