Latest news with #Borzello
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN: Wisconsin basketball among top 25 teams for 2025-26 season
Wisconsin is ranked #20 in ESPN's Inaugural CBB power rankings 👀 Wisconsin basketball landed at No. 20 in ESPN's latest list of college basketball's top 25 teams for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday. The list, which focuses on one non-conference game to watch for each program included in the hierarchy, sandwiched the Badgers between the Gonzaga Bulldogs (No. 19) and the Kansas Jayhawks (No. 21). ESPN's Jeff Borzello circled UW's No. 21 bout against the BYU Cougars as the organization's most significant non-conference bout. Here's what Borzello highlighted ahead of the matchup: "Wisconsin's improvement, and change in style, on the offensive end was one of the more positive Big Ten storylines of last season. Without John Tonje, though, what will the Badgers look like at that end? There's no better test of firepower than going away from home to face what should be one of the most explosive offenses in the country." While Tonje, starting center Steven Crowl and starting guard Max Klesmit will no longer suit up for the Badgers, UW addressed voids in its starting unit via the transfer portal this offseason. San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, Virginia guard Andrew Rhode and Portland forward Austin Rapp project to lace up alongside returners John Blackwell and Nolan Winter this fall to create one of the more potent offenses in the Big Ten. In a rematch of UW's 2025 NCAA Tournament Round of 32 loss to the Cougars, Wisconsin's new trio will look to make a national introduction in Salt Lake City. BYU now rosters A.J. Dybantsa, a projected 2026 NBA draft lottery pick with superstar upside. Wisconsin's newcomers combined for nearly 40 points per game a season ago. As fantastic as the Badgers' offense performed during the 2024-25 campaign, UW fans could see an even more versatile half-court attack this fall. The Badgers will begin the journey in an exhibition vs. the Oklahoma Sooners on Oct. 24. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinio
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Basketball in the Top 5 of ESPN's Transfer Portal Rankings
Florida Basketball in the Top 5 of ESPN's Transfer Portal Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Florida Gators basketball head coach Todd Golden is gearing up to defend a title in the 2025-26 season. In order to do this, Golden needed to assemble a talented group of transfers and recruits to reload. Advertisement That is something ESPN believes Golden has achieved on paper. Jeff Borzello has ranked the teams that he believes have done the best work in the transfer portal. He had Florida at No. 5, the second-best work from SEC teams, with Kentucky being at No. 2. The reigning National Champions brought in three transfers for the new season. Xaivian Lee from Princeton, AJ Brown from Ohio, and one from SEC rival Arkansas in Boogie Fland. Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden after winning the national Deutsch-Imagn Images Borzello touched on the addition of Fland, with the signing being a big reason why they are so high in the rankings. "Fland's decision vaulted Florida into these class rankings -- near the top of the Fland's decision vaulted Florida into these class rankings -- and near the top of the Way-Too-Early top 25. He's a former five-star prospect and was one of the best freshmen in the country before suffering an injury in January.." Borzello wrote, "He's a former five-star prospect and was one of the best freshmen in the country before suffering an injury in January." Advertisement The Florida Gators did not only win the National Championship but also the SEC Tournament. They also added two four-star players from the 2025 recruiting class, CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd. Both are Florida natives and top 50 players in the 247Sports rankings. Borzello ranked the Gators at No. 2 in his Way-Too-Early top 25 behind the Purdue Boilermakers. They have lost several players who helped them achieve greatness last season, including Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, Alijah Martin, and Denzel Aberdeen. However, the players they brought in alongside Alex Condon, who withdrew his name from the NBA Draft to return to Gainesville, give them a great chance to go back-to-back next season. Related: Florida Gators Land Blue-Chip WR This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN expert predicts Auburn's Final Four bout with Florida
ESPN expert predicts Auburn's Final Four bout with Florida ESPN analysts Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi, and Myron Medcalf forecast Auburn's fate in its second-ever Final Four game. Anticipation continues to grow as Auburn's Final Four date with Florida draws closer. The Tigers will meet the Gators on Saturday evening at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. With an Auburn win, the Tigers will advance to the NCAA Tournament championship game for the first time in program history. Are the odds stacked in their favor? ESPN analyst Jeff Borzello recently shared his key to Auburn's success in the Final Four and a score prediction. Borzello's eyes, as well as the eyes of college basketball fans everywhere, will be on Johni Broome this Saturday. "(Johni) Broome took an awkward fall midway through the second half of Sunday's Elite Eight win over Michigan State and immediately went to the locker room, offering words of encouragement to Chaney Johnson and giving his parents an update on the way. It looked like his night -- and perhaps more -- was over. But Broome came out of the locker room after only five minutes of game action and checked back in then quickly buried a 3-pointer to give Auburn a boost. He seemed healthy enough to perform at a high level this Saturday, but he will need to be at 100 percent to compete with Florida's deep and talented frontcourt." After dropping his pick for Auburn's key factor, Borzello revealed his score prediction. Borzello predicts Florida to take down Auburn by a single possession, 82-79. Fellow experts Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf also expect Florida to emerge victorious. Lunardi gives Florida a five-point advantage, 85-80, while Medcalf projects the Gators to win, 88-84. As of Wednesday, ESPN's matchup predictor has Auburn winning Saturday's game at 57.9%. The mixed predictions pave the way for Saturday's Final Four game to be a classic. The Tigers and Gators square off on Saturday at 5:09 p.m. CT.
