Top Insights for the 2025-26 Men’s College Basketball Season

As the 2025-2026 college basketball season creeps closer, fans are buzzing. Everyone’s waiting for the wild games and fresh storylines that always seem to pop up.

With returning stars, hyped-up freshmen, and some major coaching shake-ups, this season feels like it could get weird—in the best way. Let’s jump into some of the big narratives and players on the radar as college hoops gears up again.

The Quest for Back-to-Back Championships

Since John Wooden’s UCLA days, only three programs—Duke, UConn, and Florida—have managed to repeat as national champions. Florida’s aiming to be the first school ever to pull off back-to-back titles twice.

They’ve got a strong frontcourt, with center Alex Condon and forward Thomas Haugh leading the way. The real test? Replacing three starting guards, including Final Four hero Walter Clayton Jr. That’s no small thing.

Florida’s New Guard Lineup

To fill those guard spots, Florida snagged transfer Boogie Fland from Arkansas and brought in Xaivian Lee from Princeton. Fland put up 13.5 points and 5.1 assists last year, so he’ll have to shoulder a lot of the load left by Clayton.

If Fland and Lee can step up, Florida might just make another deep tournament run. Still, there’s a lot to prove.

The SEC’s Rising Dominance

Last season, the SEC made history—14 out of 16 teams reached the NCAA Tournament, and half the Final Four came from the conference. That’s wild, honestly.

This run turned the SEC into a real powerhouse. Can they do it again? Probably not to the same degree, but they’re not going anywhere.

Historical Context and Future Prospects

Before last year, the SEC hadn’t been called the best hoops conference in America since 2003. That’s a long drought to snap.

The Big 12 and Big Ten are lurking too, with a bunch of teams in the preseason Top 25. The fight for conference supremacy should be fierce, and honestly, who knows how it’ll shake out?

The Freshman Class of 2025

This year’s freshmen are getting a ton of hype. Some folks are calling it the most talented group in recent memory.

Names like AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson are everywhere. There’s a good chance they’ll put on a show.

Meet the Top Freshmen

• AJ Dybantsa (BYU) – A 6-foot-9 wing who draws comparisons to Jayson Tatum and Tracy McGrady. That’s high praise.
• Cameron Boozer (Duke) – At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Boozer’s got size, handles, and vision. He can do a bit of everything.
• Darryn Peterson (Kansas) – A 6-foot-6 lead guard who Kansas coach Bill Self called the “most talented incoming freshman” he’s ever coached. That’s saying something.

Returning Stars and NIL Impact

Some top players from last season decided to stick around, and a lot of that’s thanks to NIL deals. Money talks, and it’s keeping fringe NBA prospects in the college game longer.

Notable Returning Players

• Braden Smith (Purdue) – All-American point guard who’s back for more.
• JT Toppin (Texas Tech) – Tested the NBA waters, then returned.
• PJ Haggerty (Kansas State) – Guard who made the jump from Memphis.

International Influence

International players are making more noise than ever. Purdue’s got Israeli guard Omer Mayer, and Arizona added German forward Ivan Kharchenkov.

These guys bring a different flavor to the game, and it’s fun to watch.

Key International Players

• Omer Mayer (Purdue) – Israeli guard with a shot to play big minutes.
• Dame Sarr (Duke) – Italian/Senegalese wing who’s got people talking.
• Sananda Fru (Louisville) – German forward joining a team with real title hopes.

Coaching Changes and Hot Seats

The offseason brought a wave of coaching changes. Some big names moved, and it’s bound to shake up a few programs.

New Hires

• Kevin Willard (Villanova) – Swapped Maryland for the Main Line.
• Ryan Odom (Virginia) – Comes from VCU, but folks still remember that UMBC miracle over Virginia.
• Darian DeVries (Indiana) – Hired away from West Virginia.

Meanwhile, some coaches are sweating it out. Hubert Davis at North Carolina and Adrian Autry at Syracuse need strong seasons to keep their gigs.

Potential NCAA Tournament Expansion

This summer, talk of expanding the 68-team NCAA Tournament field picked up steam. Public backlash slowed things down, but the conversation’s not over yet.

Expansion Models

The two ideas getting the most attention? Expanding to 72 or even 76 teams. NCAA president Charlie Baker seems to like the idea, so don’t be surprised if something changes by 2027.