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Jul. 31—We've reached the top 10 of my, let's say, rough draft of a preseason top 25 ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season. Like the previous three iterations, there's a Big Ten presence.
The full breakdown by conference, includes seven Big Ten and seven SEC teams. The ACC and Big 12 are next with four teams apiece, the Big East is represented by a pair (both in Thursday's breakdown of Nos. 11-15) and Gonzaga is the lone rep of the new-look Pac-12.
Today's closer look at Nos. 6-10 includes two from the Big Ten:
No. 10 Arizona
Koa Peat pulling out of the 2026 NBA Draft and returning to Tucson, Ariz., would have pushed Arizona into the top five. As is, Tommy Lloyd should still have one of the top teams in the country built around a pair of returning international standouts, an impressive freshman and a backcourt bolstered by a two key transfers.
Expectations are high for five-star freshman Caleb Holt in what will likely be his lone season in the desert, and they're not misplaced given his profile as a prep prospect. But the return of senior center Motiejus Krivas and sophomore wing Ivan Kharchenkov will likely anchor Arizona early in the season along with transfer guards Derek Dixon (North Carolina) and JJ Mandaquit (Washington).
No. 9 Louisville
Pat Kelsey had to start from scratch with his first Louisville roster. A necessity in 2024-25 after inheriting a once-proud program now in freefall. Then he did it again in 2025-26 and once more this offseason with Adrian Wooley the only returning rotation player. The simple reality of loading up on eligibility-limited older transfers.
Kelsey's efforts this offseason should keep Louisville in contention near the top of the ACC. The Cardinals landed arguably the best defensive big man available in Flory Bidunga (Kansas) and a point guard to run the show in Jackson Shelstad (Oregon) among its portal haul. Adding five-star freshman 7-footer Obinna Ekezie Jr. after he chose to reclassify was simply the cherry on top.
No. 8 Michigan
Dusty May leaving Michigan in June to coach the Dallas Mavericks was a touch unexpected if only for the timing. It also wasn't great news for the Wolverines. May turned a semi-dysfunctional program under Juwan Howard into a national champion in just two seasons. The good news, though, is new coach Mike Boynton was able to keep the roster together save for LJ Cason, who's coming off ACL surgery and might not play in 2026-27 (now for Miami).
May's magic was in turning good, but not great frontcourt players into stars. Three of which wound up lottery picks in this year's draft. Boynton will try to do the same with transfers J.P. Estrella (Tennessee) and Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati) while leaning heavily on a backcourt of Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney and five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr.
No. 7 Houston
Landing Kelvin Sampson's highest-ranked recruiting class ahead of the 2025-26 season had most of the desired effect. Houston won 30 games and reached the Sweet 16 before being beat at home (basically) by Illinois. The downside of bringing in five-star freshmen? They often only spend a single season in college, and now the Cougars have to replace one-and-done first-round picks Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr.
Houston did land a pair of high-profile freshmen from the Class of 2026 in 7-footer Arafan Diane and combo guard Ikenna Alozie, but retention and portal efforts were equally important. Another season of 6-8 forward JoJo Tugler should anchor the Cougars' defense, LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr. will get the keys to the offense and returning guards Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller will be expected to contribute in bigger roles.
No. 6 Michigan State
Bringing back the likely preseason Big Ten Player of the Year is a good place to start for the Spartans. Jeremy Fears Jr. impressed during his pre-draft workouts but opted for another season at Michigan State where he'll be joined by a familiar cast of role players with four other returning rotation players plus a healthy Kaleb Glenn.
What the Spartans need, however, is one of those players (or maybe freshman guard Jasiah Jervis) to turn into a secondary star next to Fears. The best returning point guard in the Big Ten will put up big numbers as a scorer and playmaker, but he needs a real running mate. Could Carr finally hit that level in year four or is 6-foot-8 sophomore wing Jordan Scott a potential breakout candidate?
Continue reading...
The full breakdown by conference, includes seven Big Ten and seven SEC teams. The ACC and Big 12 are next with four teams apiece, the Big East is represented by a pair (both in Thursday's breakdown of Nos. 11-15) and Gonzaga is the lone rep of the new-look Pac-12.
Today's closer look at Nos. 6-10 includes two from the Big Ten:
No. 10 Arizona
Koa Peat pulling out of the 2026 NBA Draft and returning to Tucson, Ariz., would have pushed Arizona into the top five. As is, Tommy Lloyd should still have one of the top teams in the country built around a pair of returning international standouts, an impressive freshman and a backcourt bolstered by a two key transfers.
Expectations are high for five-star freshman Caleb Holt in what will likely be his lone season in the desert, and they're not misplaced given his profile as a prep prospect. But the return of senior center Motiejus Krivas and sophomore wing Ivan Kharchenkov will likely anchor Arizona early in the season along with transfer guards Derek Dixon (North Carolina) and JJ Mandaquit (Washington).
No. 9 Louisville
Pat Kelsey had to start from scratch with his first Louisville roster. A necessity in 2024-25 after inheriting a once-proud program now in freefall. Then he did it again in 2025-26 and once more this offseason with Adrian Wooley the only returning rotation player. The simple reality of loading up on eligibility-limited older transfers.
Kelsey's efforts this offseason should keep Louisville in contention near the top of the ACC. The Cardinals landed arguably the best defensive big man available in Flory Bidunga (Kansas) and a point guard to run the show in Jackson Shelstad (Oregon) among its portal haul. Adding five-star freshman 7-footer Obinna Ekezie Jr. after he chose to reclassify was simply the cherry on top.
No. 8 Michigan
Dusty May leaving Michigan in June to coach the Dallas Mavericks was a touch unexpected if only for the timing. It also wasn't great news for the Wolverines. May turned a semi-dysfunctional program under Juwan Howard into a national champion in just two seasons. The good news, though, is new coach Mike Boynton was able to keep the roster together save for LJ Cason, who's coming off ACL surgery and might not play in 2026-27 (now for Miami).
May's magic was in turning good, but not great frontcourt players into stars. Three of which wound up lottery picks in this year's draft. Boynton will try to do the same with transfers J.P. Estrella (Tennessee) and Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati) while leaning heavily on a backcourt of Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney and five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr.
No. 7 Houston
Landing Kelvin Sampson's highest-ranked recruiting class ahead of the 2025-26 season had most of the desired effect. Houston won 30 games and reached the Sweet 16 before being beat at home (basically) by Illinois. The downside of bringing in five-star freshmen? They often only spend a single season in college, and now the Cougars have to replace one-and-done first-round picks Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr.
Houston did land a pair of high-profile freshmen from the Class of 2026 in 7-footer Arafan Diane and combo guard Ikenna Alozie, but retention and portal efforts were equally important. Another season of 6-8 forward JoJo Tugler should anchor the Cougars' defense, LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr. will get the keys to the offense and returning guards Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller will be expected to contribute in bigger roles.
No. 6 Michigan State
Bringing back the likely preseason Big Ten Player of the Year is a good place to start for the Spartans. Jeremy Fears Jr. impressed during his pre-draft workouts but opted for another season at Michigan State where he'll be joined by a familiar cast of role players with four other returning rotation players plus a healthy Kaleb Glenn.
What the Spartans need, however, is one of those players (or maybe freshman guard Jasiah Jervis) to turn into a secondary star next to Fears. The best returning point guard in the Big Ten will put up big numbers as a scorer and playmaker, but he needs a real running mate. Could Carr finally hit that level in year four or is 6-foot-8 sophomore wing Jordan Scott a potential breakout candidate?
Continue reading...
