College basketball rankings: Houston, Purdue headline way-too-early Top 25
College basketball has become a year-round sport, which means it's never too early to start talking about next season. The transfer portal is loaded with over 1,700 names, while the coaching carousel brought several fascinating moves between Sean Miller heading to Texas, Darian DeVries taking over at Indiana, Buzz Williams heading to Maryland, former Terps coach Kevin Willard went to Villanova, and so much more.
The only certainty with the offseason in college hoops is the uncertainty that still surrounds roster building, NIL money and the portal. That said, it gives us no shortage of things to talk about because, in this fluid atmosphere, a coach's ability to win the speed dating portion of the offseason is so key. There's not much time to allocate your money and bring portal players in, so the on-the-fly nature of this is really intriguing. And, just because you spend a lot on a roster does not mean that you're a lock to make the NCAA Tournament or a lock to make a run. Ask Kansas State and Indiana how things fared for them this past year or Bill Self and Kansas how the Jayhawks did the last two years after appearing to have crushed the portal.
With that in mind, here's our first snapshot of the 2025-26 season.
1. Houston
First off, how about the pedigree that the Cougars have built? They're the class of the Big 12, losing just one conference game, notching a pair of Final Four appearances in the last five years along with three Elite Eight appearances and five Sweet 16s. Roster continuity is a theme to their rich success, and they've got that in place with Emanuel Sharp and potentially Milos Uzan, not to mention JoJo Tugler and Terrance Arceneaux. But the Cougars are also bringing in a loaded recruiting class that ranks at No. 4 in the country and is headlined by Chris Cenac Jr. and Isiah Harwell.
2. Purdue
The Boilermakers made the Sweet 16 and gave Houston all it could handle in that game. They should have as much returning experience and perimeter firepower as anybody in the sport next season. Braden Smith could very well be the preseason national player of the year after being a finalist for the Naismith Award this season, while his backcourt sidekick, Fletcher Loyer, will also be back. Trey Kaufman-Renn headlines the frontcourt after his strong 2024-25 campaign, while the Boilers have made one of the biggest splashes in the portal with South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff (17.6 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 2.8 APG).
3. Louisville
The Cardinals are the champions of the transfer portal at the moment, having reeled in one of the best bucket-getting guards in America in Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell, while Isaac McKneely comes in from Virginia and Adrian Wooley comes from Kennesaw State. Five-star guard Mikel Crown Jr. is set to arrive next season and will team up with returnees J'Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor. There's a lot to like about Pat Kelsey's team as he heads into his second season. He's done a great job in a short period of time and has restored the Cardinals to the top of the headlines in college hoops for the right reasons.
4. Duke
While the Blue Devils took a loss that will stick with them for a long time, don't expect Duke to waver from their status as one of the nation's best. They have the No. 1 recruiting class for the third time in the last four years, headlined by Cameron and Cayden Boozer. Cameron is a 6-foot-9 forward who can do a little bit of everything and will be a handful for any defense to stop, while Cayden will be in a lead guard role and is a really skilled playmaker with upside. Fellow five-star prospects Shelton Henderson and Nikolas Khamenia are a pair of dynamic wings as well.
5. UConn
I expect a big bounce-back season from Connecticut, which gave Florida all it could handle in the second round of the NCAA Tournament before the Gators narrowly survived. Why do I have the Huskies in the top five? They bring back Solo Ball, big man Tarris Reed and wing Jaylin Stewart while notching one of the best transfer guards in America with former Georgia standout Silas Demary. The decision for Alex Karaban to go pro or return for his senior year is key, as is what else Dan Hurley does in the portal.
6. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders were a matchup nightmare for opponents this season with their versatility and athleticism. If this group can remain intact for 2025-26, they have a chance to be one of America's best. Rising junior JT Toppin could come back and be one of the best players in the country after averaging 18.2 PPG and 9.4 RPG this past season. Second-leading scorer Darrion Williams could also return along with Christian Anderson, who scored 22 points and was huge in the Sweet 16 comeback victory over Arkansas. While things are always fluid in the offseason, there's a lot of potential in Lubbock next year and Grant McCasland has the money to keep the majority of his pieces intact.
7. Alabama
Having a fully healthy Latrell Wrightsell is one of the Tide's top storylines heading into next season. The team's second-leading scorer ruptured his Achilles in November but will be working his way back and leads the returnees alongside Aden Holloway, who should make a big leap in his junior year. Look for sophomore Aiden Sherrell to take his game to another level next season as well. Nate Oats brings in a top-10 recruiting class and has gone into the portal with rising sophomore guard Jalil Bethea, rising junior big man Taylor Bol Bowen, and a 7-foot veteran in Noah Williamson. The job Oats and his staff have done cements Alabama into my top 10.
8. St. John's
Coming off a 31-win season, which included a sweep of the Big East regular season and tournament titles, Rick Pitino charges St. John's into his third year at the helm and has already made a pair of big splashes in the transfer portal. Bryce Hopkins, when healthy, is as tough of a wing as any in the conference, while shooting guard Jo Sanon looks to help solve the Johnnies' perimeter shooting problem. With All-Big East selection Zuby Ejiofor returning to headline one of the country's top frontcourts, the big question for Pitino and his staff to answer now is at point guard. But either way, with quality returning star power and a couple of really nice additions, the Johnnies belong in the top 10.
9. UCLA
Coming off a year that frustrated him at times and ultimately led to a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament, Mick Cronin went out and attacked the portal, bringing in New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent. The 6-2 guard, who averaged 20.3 points and 6.4 assists for the top team in the Mountain West this past season, is wired to score at a high level, something we did not see consistently from the Bruins this season. With rising senior Tyler Bilodeau back, the Bruins have one of the best forwards in the Big Ten, and he'll be teaming up with Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker. The former McDonald's All-American has come to LA looking for a change of scenery after averaging just 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11 minutes per game in his two years in East Lansing. But having Dent join Bilodeau and returning impact guard Skyy Clark gives this team strong upside.
10. Iowa State
T.J. Otzelberger has a strong returning core and has already notched a couple of intriguing portal adds to keep the Cyclones rolling into 2025-26. Tamin Lipsey is pegged to be back, while Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson will join him to provide long, versatile weapons for the Cyclones to count on. Jefferson will be a senior and has the potential to be a star next year after averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this past season. Then there's Momcilovic, a rising 6-8 wing who had eight games of 16-plus points in his sophomore season. Look for him to continue making strides and get more shots. Couple that with the nation's 21st-ranked recruiting class and transfer portal adds Blake Buchanan (Virginia), Eric Mulder (Purdue Fort Wayne) and Mason Williams (Eastern Washington), and you can feel the makeup of a dangerous team if Otzelberger, who's 54-18 in the last two seasons with a Sweet 16 appearance, can get to work in the lab and develop roles. He's become one of the best in the country at doing that.
11. Auburn
12. Kansas
13. Florida
14. Arizona
15. Michigan
16. Kentucky
17. Tennessee
18. Michigan State
19. Arkansas
20. Gonzaga
21. BYU
22. Creighton
23. North Carolina
24. Texas
25. Iowa
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta .
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
recommended
Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
20 minutes ago
- Fast Company
Basketball fans are pissed about the Finals' court design. But there's a reason it's so plain
The look of the NBA Finals basketball court is being reconsidered, and we could have the fans to thank. At Game 2 last Friday, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder played on the Thunder's home court. The 'Thunder Blue' court shows the team logo at half court and also features logos for Paycom Center, the arena. What it didn't have was any indication this was a championship game. No 'NBA Finals' logo, no Larry O'Brien Trophy. Unlike the in-season NBA Cup, which got 30 all-new, fully painted courts designed by artist Victor Solomon last fall, the Pacers and Thunder are playing the NBA Finals on their regular courts. It's a matter of logistics and the quick turnaround of the games, but fans say it robs the games of a special design detail. Friday's game was broadcast with virtual Finals logos shown on the court for fans watching at home, but viewers complained about technical glitches and compared the look of the virtual trophy decal to an emoji. One social media user likened the busy floor design packed with virtual decals for corporate sponsorships to a NASCAR hood. Mid-game, the broadcast swapped out the emoji-like virtual trophy logo for a script 'Finals' logo. The poorly received court had fans wishing for an elevated design for the Finals. One reason the NBA Finals doesn't have any physical on-court branding for the series is because the NBA doesn't use decals on its courts to maintain the integrity of the playing surface. That's not just in the Finals, but all season long, and it's been that way since 2014. Instead, team logos and other elements like sponsor logos are painted on, or virtual logos can be added. 'One of the reasons we moved away from the logos on the courts is—whether it was perception or reality—there was a sense that maybe the logos added some slipperiness to the court,' NBA commissioner Adam Silver said before Game 2. But painting takes time. Making a custom court involves building, sanding, painting, and drying, which would take too long for the NBA's quick-turn Finals schedule. There was less than a week between this year's semifinals and Game 1. Since 2021, the NBA has added virtual Finals logos on the court for viewers at home as a workaround, and it's found other ways to bring in NBA Finals branding into the game, including logos on uniform jerseys, warmups, basket stanchions, courtside signage, and game balls. Still, Silver said he understood the fans' disappointment. 'I think for a media-driven culture, whether it's people watching live or seeing those images on social media, it's nice when you're looking back on highlights and they stand out because you see that trophy logo or some other indication that it's a special event,' he said recently at an event. 'So, we'll look at it.' The time commitment involved in making basketball courts presents a challenge, but Silver suggested there still might be a solution. 'Maybe there's a way around it,' he said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Fever Head Coach Details Dream's Physicality as Reason for Loss
Fever Head Coach Details Dream's Physicality as Reason for Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Atlanta Dream had one of their games of the 2025 WNBA season on Tuesday against the Indiana Fever. The Dream had a 77-58 game, their first win in the Commissioner's Cup. Thanks to the heroics of All-Star guard Allisha Gray, who had 23 points to lead Atlanta. Advertisement Additionally, the Fever missed Caitlin Clark for the fifth straight game due to a quad injury. Clark has been out of the lineup for more than two weeks. Before the contest, head coach Stephanie White told the media that the star guard is on the "ramp-up stage." Without their star player, the Fever are exploring options to add more wins to their record. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White reacts to a foul call during the game against the Atlanta Zanine-Imagn Images Following the game, White talked to reporters about what went wrong with the Fever. According to her, it was the Dream's physicality that did a lot of damage to her squad. "I think they hit us in the mouth," White said. "Their physicality on the defensive end really affected us. It took us out of what we wanted to do, and forced us to rush offensively." Advertisement "Our ability to match that physicality on the defensive end, our positioning, our connectedness, I thought wasn't there. And they took advantage of it." In the third quarter, the Fever was outworked by the Dream, 23-9. In the same period, Atlanta controlled the boards with 13 rebounds, while Indiana only had seven. Brionna Jones was unstoppable inside with her five rebounds after halftime. Jones finished the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The next time (which will also be the final time), the two teams will face each other on July 11, and the Dream will try to end their regular season series on top. They hold a commanding 2-1 lead. Related: 2x All-Star Gets Recognized by WNBA After Win Over Fever This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Thunder at Pacers Game 3 picks, odds, how to watch: NBA Finals shift to Indianapolis
After both teams won a game in Oklahoma City, the NBA Finals are off in earnest. The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and impossibly-clutch Indiana Pacers are tied up at 1-1, with Game 3 going down Wednesday night. OKC is a favorite on the road, but Indy is a tough out, especially in its own gym. All systems go for these fast-paced Finals. Advertisement This game will also be available on ESPN+. Series odds: Thunder -600, Pacers +425 Through two games, the Thunder are decisively winning the factors they prioritize. Their turnover rate is half of the Pacers' (19 to 39). It's hard to lose a series with an advantage like that. Oklahoma City also has the superior free throw rate and a far better defensive rating. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is getting to the rim comfortably, while funneling down the Pacers' passing lanes. It has only been two games, but the regular-season MVP is averaging an absurd 36 points, 5.5 assists, 5 rebounds and 3.5 steals. Sunday's crowd showed the requisite love. To win away from home, Mark Daigneault's team will need more from Jalen Williams on the offensive end. He went 2-for-9 from behind the arc in Games 1 and 2. Lu Dort should continue seeing clean jump shot looks, and he'll be the primary defender on Tyrese Haliburton come Wednesday night. The Thunder played straight-up defense for most of 2025, but they have adapted to a 'talk it, touch it, switch it' scheme that can neutralize Indiana's elite spacing and off-ball movement. Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace need to set the perimeter wall early, because Haliburton and his backcourt can microwave offense at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Accordingly, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein should see fewer minutes, unless things go off the rails. Indiana has seldom been on the rails this postseason. What a thoroughly unbelievable run. First, the icy closeout of division rival Milwaukee. Then a breezy upset of 64-win Cleveland before a center-stage dispatching of New York. Haliburton's heroic effort in Game 1 was just the latest. All this is to remind folks that Indy cannot be counted out until the very last buzzer. Advertisement Rick Carlisle and his crew can hold their own against OKC's suffocating defense. The Pacers were just above 40 percent 3-point shooting in the first two games. Indiana has to get a more efficient showing from Pascal Siakam in Game 3, but the free-throw rate is strong and he's dominating offensive rebounds (eight so far, with Hartenstein second at five). We cannot sleep on fiery Indy, especially in Naptown, but Oklahoma City looked wire-to-wire dominant in Game 2. Music matchup: The Sooner State has produced all-time country sensations like Woody Guthrie, Reba McEntire, Gene Autry and a carousel of others. Indiana has a great heartland rocker of its own in John Mellencamp, but the state is strongest in rhythm, blues, soul and dance — Michael and Janet Jackson were born in Gary, and Babyface hails from Indianapolis. It's a matter of preference here. 1993 — Bulls 111, Suns 108. For the first time ever, opposing players each dropped 40-pieces in a Finals game. Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley both scored 42 points in a brisk Game 2. From the New York Times archive: Clifton Brown: 'This was the Jordan-Barkley showdown that the league envisioned when the series began. When the third quarter ended, Barkley already had 35 points and Jordan had 30. Both players were carrying their teams. Barkley was making power moves, forcing the Bulls to swarm around him and leaving other Suns wide open. Jordan was making midair moves, long-range jumpers and savvy defensive plays.' Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Chet Holmgren: Kyle Terada / Getty Images)
