This season is gonna be Superior, with a capital A!
Faculty hoops followers, prepare — your favourite time of yr is again! I am speaking about buzzer-beaters, Diaper Dandies and Prime Time Gamers (PTPers) lighting up the courtroom from coast to coast. And guess what? Yours actually is again, too, and I am unable to wait to tip off the season calling the Dick Vitale Invitational on Nov. 4: Duke vs. Texas in Charlotte, North Carolina, child!
That is proper, we’re coming to the Queen Metropolis to start out the get together with some fireworks (8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN).
However earlier than we get there, let me provide you with 12 the reason why I am fired up for the 2025-26 faculty basketball season!
1. Florida is GUNNING for historical past
Are you able to say back-to-back nationwide champs, child? Florida’s roster is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean, with Alex Condon returning after pulling out of the NBA draft. He is a shot blocker, rebounder and low-post beast. Add in Rueben Chinyelu’s rim safety and Thomas Haugh’s stretch-four abilities, and you have got a paint presence that may punish opponents.
However here is the kicker: Todd Golden added two electrical guards in Boogie Fland, a five-star dynamo who can gentle it up from deep, and Xaivian Lee, a combo guard from Princeton who’s as slick as they arrive. This staff’s bought expertise, measurement, expertise and a coach who is aware of easy methods to push the suitable buttons. The Gators are chasing a uncommon repeat — and so they’ve bought the juice to do it!
2. Cameron Boozer takes the torch at DUUUUKE!
It is the Boozer Brothers period in Durham. Cameron Boozer is probably the most full freshman within the nation, a double-double machine with NBA polish. And he is bringing his twin, Cayden, alongside for the journey. Cameron is taken into account one of many high contenders to go No. 1 within the 2026 NBA draft, alongside Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. Additionally in Jon Scheyer’s No. 1 recruiting class in America are Dame Sarr, Nikolas Khamenia and Sebastian Wilkins. Duke additionally brings again Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II, three rising stars able to take the subsequent leap. The expertise’s there, the depth is frightening and Cameron Indoor Stadium is gonna be rockin’ each evening. Be careful, ACC. Duke’s comin’, child!
3. Houston has liftoff!
You thought Houston was finished after shedding LJ Cryer and J’Wan Roberts? Suppose once more. This squad is stacked like flapjacks at a Sunday brunch. The Cougars return Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan, Joseph Tugler and Mercy Miller — all key contributors from final yr’s title recreation run. After which, growth! They added Chris Cenac Jr. and Isiah Harwell, two five-star standouts, each possible first-round NBA draft picks. Kelvin Sampson’s tradition of toughness, self-discipline and protection is a confirmed formulation, and this roster is as full as any in America.
4. Cal’s new blueprint at Arkansas is a WHOLE NEW HOG
It is John Calipari such as you’ve by no means seen him. Gone is the all-freshmen formulation; now, it is expertise plus elite youth. Yr 2 in Fayetteville seems on fireplace with Karter Knox returning to steer a gaggle that features D.J. Wagner, Billy Richmond III and Trevon Brazile — that man’s a pogo keep on with a leap shot. Cal additionally introduced in five-star backcourt monsters Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, plus huge males Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle to bang down low. This staff is extra bodily, extra mature and extra harmful than final yr’s Candy 16 squad. Do not be shocked if the Hogs make their first Remaining 4 since they had been Rollin’ with Nolan.
5. Braden Smith, help king in ready
Purdue’s Smith is the ground normal of the nation. He averaged 15.8 factors and eight.7 assists final yr, and he is bought his eyes set on Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA help report. The reigning Huge Ten Participant of the Yr and Bob Cousy Award winner is sensible, regular and runs the offense like a maestro with a baton. He is flanked by Trey Kaufman-Renn, a 20-point scorer who took over final yr for Zach Edey like a boss. With a veteran core, sturdy supporting solid and nationwide title expectations, Purdue enters the season as a official favourite to chop down the nets in April and eventually deliver that elusive nationwide title again to the Huge Ten. It is go time in West Lafayette.
6. The Little Apple’s huge chew: Kansas State’s P.J. energy!
P.J. Haggerty, the American Participant of the Yr, dropped 21.7 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.7 assists an evening at Memphis, and now he is Jerome Tang’s major man in Manhattan, Kansas. He is bought that slashing type, can draw fouls, create for others and rating in any respect three ranges. His 3-point shot improved and he is a really environment friendly scorer whose velocity permits him to attain with ease in transition. He performs sturdy on-ball protection and isn’t afraid to make use of his physique close to the rim and end powerful photographs. Kansas State has missed the event the previous two years, however this man modifications all the things. With Akron’s Nate Johnson and Serbian sensation Andrej Kostic becoming a member of him within the backcourt, the Wildcats might be dancing in March — and performing some injury as soon as they get there.
7. The Bluegrass Rivalry within the NIL period
Two proud packages, two coaches of their second yr with their respective groups, and an entire lotta barking flying round. Kentucky’s Mark Pope went wild within the portal, pulling in Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Kam Williams (Tulane), Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama) and top-five NBA prospect Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State). The Wildcats are huge, quick and defense-first.
Over at Louisville, Pat Kelsey introduced in a five-star recruit and potential NBA Lottery decide in Mikel Brown Jr., who made a gold medal run with Workforce USA on the FIBA U19 World Cup. He is a lightning-quick level guard with one of many smoothest jumpers within the recreation. Add Germany’s Sananda Fru together with three 1,000-point scorers in Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely and J’Vonne Hadley, and this group of Cardinals can gentle it up. Each groups are Remaining 4 contenders, and if the bracket gods smile, they may meet once more in March Insanity.
8. The Huge East brawl
You need old-school toughness with new-school expertise? After profitable back-to-back nationwide championships in 2023 and 2024, Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies are again in title-hunting mode with a reloaded roster that includes elite shooters, top-tier freshmen and a deep bench.
Rick Pitino’s St. John’s is bringing New York Metropolis fireplace to each recreation. The Crimson Storm received their first Huge East regular-season crown since 1985 final yr. This yr’s mixture of vets and freshmen seems Remaining 4 prepared. Collectively, these packages have created a talent-rich high tier within the Huge East, drawing nationwide consideration and restoring the league’s fame as one of many premier basketball conferences within the nation. Their success not solely boosts the Huge East’s visibility, it intensifies competitors throughout faculty basketball, difficult the opposite energy conferences on the nationwide stage.
9. Worldwide infusion: It is a international recreation, child!
Over 70 worldwide gamers joined high-major rosters this yr. Wow! You have bought Dame Sarr (Italy) at Duke, Luka Bogavac (Montenegro) at North Carolina, Tounde Yessoufou (Benin) at Baylor, Oscar Cluff (Australia) at Purdue, simply to call a number of. Illinois alone has Croatian twins (Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic), a Serbian level guard (Mihailo Petrovic) and a Montenegrin ahead (David Mirkovic). That is an Olympic roster. These worldwide stars deliver ability, maturity and a professional mindset. They’re altering the best way groups are constructed, and the best way the sport is performed. I am excited to see the affect they’re bringing.
10. The race for No. 1 has Diaper Dandies dominating!
It is a freshman takeover. Darryn Peterson at Kansas is the highest recruit within the land. Even Peterson’s coach, Invoice Self, referred to as him the most effective participant he has ever recruited. AJ Dybantsa at BYU? A 6-foot-9 spotlight reel! Cameron Boozer at Duke is NBA prepared proper now. And do not sleep on Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville), Kiyan Anthony (Syracuse) or Nate Ament (Tennessee), one other Swiss Military knife. The Diaper Dandies checklist grows even deeper if you throw in Isiah Harwell and Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston, Tounde Yessoufou at Baylor, Koa Peat at Arizona and Caleb Wilson at North Carolina. This draft class may rival 2003’s, child. We’re talkin’ Carmelo, LeBron, Bosh and Wade vibes!
11. Feast Week frenzy!
We begin the faculty season with some heavyweight matchups, and I, for one, will not miss a minute. The Champions Basic hits Madison Sq. Backyard on Nov. 18 with Kentucky vs. Michigan State (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Duke vs. Kansas (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). NBA scouts have already circled their calendars. Then the motion shifts to Vegas: The Gamers Period Competition has 18 high males’s packages — together with Alabama, Houston, Gonzaga, Kansas, Tennessee, Baylor and St. John’s — battling for bragging rights and big-time NIL publicity. It is the largest non-March Insanity occasion ever. It is a three-day basketball bonanza!
12. #NewRules, smarter hoops!
Let’s discuss technique, child! This season brings coaches’ challenges, cleaner steady movement guidelines and clearer foul tips. Officers can now name only one shot clock off if there is a malfunction — no extra double stoppages. The modifications are geared toward rushing up the sport and giving groups extra management in key moments. It is gonna be smarter, sharper and smoother on the courtroom. I, for one, just like the modifications.
And now, the principle occasion, child. Get your popcorn prepared. Nov. 4 is the date, and Spectrum Middle in Charlotte is the place for the Dick Vitale Invitational that includes Duke vs. Texas. We have got tremendous freshmen, electrical power and two blue bloods battling beneath the intense lights. And I will be there on the decision to start out my season.
Let’s get this get together began, child! I am speaking PTPer after PTPer, big-time performances and March Insanity goals being constructed each evening. Faculty hoops is again, and I simply can’t wait!