Way-too-early rankings for next season following Florida Gators' national championship
The Florida Gators are the 2025 men's basketball national champions, thanks to a razor-thin 65-63 win over the Houston Cougars in the NCAA Tournament Finals. Men's March Madness did not disappoint this season with two of the top-seeded teams putting on a show for the national audience.
And just like that, the sports media has already started looking ahead to next season, including ESPN's Jeff Borzello, who published his way-too-early rankings for the 2025-26 campaign shortly after the final horn sounded. Fans of the Orange and Blue will be very disappointed with his assessment, as he placed UF at No. 19 to start things off.
"How will the Gators follow an incredible season? It could depend on how Todd Golden rebuilds the perimeter. Walter Clayton Jr. is obviously the major departure, but Will Richard and Alijah Martin are also out the door," Borzello points out.
"And what about Alex Condon? He's a borderline first-round draft pick and could test the waters. Thomas Haugh is a breakout candidate next season, and Rueben Chinyelu is also back down low. Expect a much different projected lineup in the next update of these rankings."
Projected Starting Lineup
Denzel Aberdeen (7.9 PPG)Urban Klavzar (3.2 PPG)Cornelius Ingram Jr. (No. 26 in ESPN 100)Thomas Haugh (9.8 PPG)Rueben Chinyelu (6.1 PPG)
ESPN way-too-early men's college basketball rankings
Houston Cougars Purdue Boilermakers Louisville Cardinals UConn Huskies Michigan Wolverines Kentucky Wildcats Arkansas Razorbacks Duke Blue Devils St. John's Red Storm UCLA Bruins Alabama Crimson Tide Auburn Tigers Iowa State Cyclones Wisconsin Badgers Kansas Jayhawks BYU Cougars Arizona Wildcats Michigan State Spartans Florida Gators Gonzaga Bulldogs Tennessee Volunteers Texas Tech Red Raiders Ohio State Buckeyes Texas Longhorns North Carolina Tar Heels
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