NCAA Basketball Report News

College basketball is coming off an offseason unlike any other. 

Between the ongoing saga of the high school class of 2022 playing out in courtrooms across the country and the continued lobbying in Congress for the passage of the Protect College Sports Act — it’s really the give-power-back-to-the-NCAA and take-it-away-from-players bill — it was a mess all summer and into the fall. 

In June, the NCAA passed a new eligibility model that allowed for five seasons of competition over a five-year period. It declined to grandfather in that extra year of eligibility to the high school class of 2022 (seniors last season), while for some reason giving an extra year to athletes who were juniors, sophomores and freshmen in 2025-26. A strong contingent of those players sued for an extra year of eligibility, and committed to schools in August. Some are eligible, others aren’t, and this issue remains unresolved. 

Fortunately, the season is here, although the off-the-court drama has no end in sight. A number of elite players returned to school rather than going the pro route and the migration of top international talent only increased. It promises to be a fascinating year. 

The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks it all down in his preseason Top 25. 

1. Duke 

Impactful returners (center Patrick Ngongba II, guards Cayden Boozer and Caleb Foster, and wing Dame Sarr)? Check. Dynamic transfer (Wisconsin shooting guard John Blackwell)? Check. Uber-talented freshmen (forwards Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje and Cameron Williams, and guard Deron Rippey Jr.)? Check. Duke has all the pieces to win its first title since 2015 after agonizing collapses in the Final Four and Elite Eight the previous two years. Coach Jon Scheyer’s team is so deep, his second unit would be ranked in our Top 25. 

2. Florida 

The Gators kept almost their entire roster together — most notably the robust frontcourt of Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu. Good luck scoring in the paint against these dudes. Bronx native Boogie Fland returns to Gainesville for his junior year, and Denzel Aberdeen is back after a year away at Kentucky to form an experienced backcourt. The opposition is going to dare Florida to shoot from the perimeter. 

3. Arizona 

After snapping a 25-year Final Four drought, the Wildcats are legitimate contenders to return. Coach Tommy Lloyd kept 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas and two-way wing Ivan Kharchenkov, giving him two returning stars to build around. Caleb Holt, one of the nation’s premier incoming freshmen, has one-and-done, top 10 potential. Two major questions: How much of a drop-off will North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon be from Jaden Bradley at point guard, and will Clemson fifth-year transfer RJ Godfrey be eligible? Godfrey, the Wildcats’ projected starting power forward, is in limbo after he withdrew his name from a case in Georgia suing the NCAA. 

4. Connecticut 

The Huskies have reached the final Monday of the season in three of the past four years, and they can get back there again this April. The returning backcourt of Big East preseason player of the year Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins is elite, and UConn added high-ceiling transfers in center Na’jai Hines (Seton Hall) and floor-pacing forward Nik Khamenia (Duke) to replace departed stars Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban. Top 30 freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County impressed in the preseason, and veteran sharpshooter Solo Ball (wrist) could return at some point in the middle of the year to provide even more shotmaking firepower. 

5. Michigan State 

Tom Izzo mostly does it the old-fashioned way: high school recruiting and internal development. He might be a dinosaur, but his philosophy of roster building still works. It helps when you have one of the premier guards in the country in Jeremy Fears Jr., and quality pieces around him such as jumping jack wing Coen Carr, sharpshooter Kur Teng, and forwards Cam Ward and Jordan Scott ready for their opportunity to shine. Keep an eye on four-star freshman guard Jasiah Jervis, a local kid out of Archbishop Stepinac. He could carve out a significant role off the bench. 

6. Illinois 

Three-point bombing Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks feels like a perfect fit at Illinois, joining a crew of gifted returnees from the Illini’s first Final Four team in 21 years. As long as do-it-all forward David Mirkovic’s left foot isn’t a long-term issue — he is a national player of the year contender if healthy — Illinois has the pieces to return to the final weekend. 

7. Louisville 

Few coaches will have more pressure to win big this winter than Pat Kelsey. In six trips to the NCAA Tournament, he’s won one game, and he put together a loaded roster this offseason — highlighted by high-level newcomers Flory Bidunga of Kansas, Jackson Shelstad of Oregon, Seth Trimble of North Carolina and Karter Knox of Arkansas. In two years at Louisville, he’s won 51 games, but has yet to beat Duke and is 5-11 against ranked opponents. A monster season awaits for the high-priced Cardinals. 

8. Houston 

The Cougars are coming off a 30-win campaign and Sweet 16 appearance, and it was a slightly down year. That’s how high the standard now is in Houston. There will be heavy lifting early for Kelvin Sampson after returning only one of his top five scorers in defensive ace Joseph Tugler, and bringing in “up” transfers Corey Hadnot II (Purdue Fort Wayne), Braden East (Lamar) and Delrecco Gillespie (Kent State) to play major roles. Former LSU point guard Dedan Thomas Jr., though, is the most significant newcomer. His one drawback: iffy health in recent years. 

9. Kansas 

The courtroom has been kind to the Jayhawks. Court orders have given an extra year of eligibility to returnees Tre White and Melvin Council Jr., in addition to former Purdue star Trey Kaufman-Renn. Add in No. 1 overall high school recruit Tyran Stokes, and Bill Self has a Final Four-caliber roster — as long as those court cases hold. 

10. Gonzaga 

Calling Gonzaga’s offseason a roller coaster would be an unstatement. They kept top forward Braden Huff, beat out St. John’s for one of the premier transfers in the country, Arizona State 7-footer Massamba Diop, saw top guards Mario Saint-Supery and Jack Kayil opt for the professional ranks, and added three fifth-year players (Florida’s Xaivian Lee, Dayton’s Javon Bennett and Florida State’s Chauncey Wiggins) who are part of the high school class of 2022 suing for a fifth season. If everyone is eligible, the Zags are national championship good. 

11. St. John’s 

Few teams will be able to match the Johnnies’ perimeter attack of EuroLeague point guard Quinn Ellis, returning shooting guard Ian Jackson and high-scoring Baylor wing Tounde Yessoufou. Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall could blossom in Rick Pitino’s up-tempo system. The big question: Is junior Ruben Prey — one of two key holdovers, along with Jackson — ready to play major minutes at the five? Freshman big man Theo Edema could be a pivotal bench piece. He impressed in an exhibition victory against Texas’ massive front line. 

12. Virginia 

The Cavaliers return three of their top six scorers from last year’s 30-win team, and that includes ACC preseason player of the year Thijs De Ridder. Retention is invaluable in this era of free agency, and Virginia has plenty of it. A Final Four sleeper. 

13. Vanderbilt 

Coach Mark Byington prioritized size in the transfer portal after the Commodores were too often pushed around in the paint a year ago. Colorado center Bangot Dak and Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel were quality additions to remedy that weakness. Still, Vanderbilt’s strength remains on the perimeter and in putting the ball in the capable hands of Tyler Tanner, one of the premier lead guards in the country. 

14. Miami 

Hurricanes coach Jai Lucas followed up a strong 26-win campaign with a quality offseason, further raising his profile as a star on the rise. Some key pieces are back, such as leading scorer Malik Reneau (currently eligible for a fifth season on the strength of a court order) and productive forward Shelton Henderson. Lucas landed two coveted transfers in Villanova point guard Acaden Lewis and Georgia rim protector Somto Cyril, along with prized freshman forward Caleb Gaskins. 

15. Arkansas 

John Calipari continues to zig while a majority of the sport zags. His Razorbacks are very young, led by five-star freshmen Abdou Toure, Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews and Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen. There is some experience. Athletic freak Billy Richmond is back for his junior season, and Calipari brought in explosive Georgia transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson. It’s a gifted group that could take time to develop cohesion. 

16. Texas 

The Longhorns didn’t look regular season-ready in their exhibition loss to St. John’s last Sunday. But that’s OK — Texas doesn’t face a true test until meeting Baylor on Nov. 15. By then, this almost entirely new group should be further along. There’s a lot to like with Sean Miller’s roster, especially as top 25 freshmen Marcus Spears Jr. and Austin Goosby get more comfortable playing alongside standout center Matas Vokietaitis, TCU forward David Punch and Colorado point guard Isaiah Johnson. 

17. Michigan 

The defending national champions have the pieces to return to the Final Four after guards Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle Jr. returned, and top transfer big men Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati) and J.P. Estrella (Tennessee) joined the Wolverines in the spring. But is new coach Mike Boynton up to the job after Dusty May bolted for the NBA? Boynton never won more than 21 games in his prior head coaching stop at Oklahoma State across seven seasons, and that included one year with Cade Cunningham. 

18. Alabama 

With four straight seasons of at least 25 victories and a berth in the Sweet 16, Nate Oats has turned Alabama into a national brand. It’s unlikely that this run ends this winter. The Crimson Tide will again boast a high-octane offense — it has been ranked in the top four in efficiency each of the previous three years — featuring NBA prospect Amari Allen, speedy shotmaker Aden Holloway and five-star wing Qayden Samuels. 

19. Texas Tech 

The Red Raiders are facing several unanswered questions. How much of an impact will superstar forward JT Toppin make when he returns from a torn ACL he suffered last February? Will fifth-year players Donovan Atwell, Darrion Williams and Jamichael Stillwell be eligible? Atwell and Williams are currently cleared through injunctions, while Stillwell is not. And how much does CAA Player of the Year and Hofstra transfer Cruz Davis’ game translate at the Big 12 level? 

20. Tennessee 

Offense shouldn’t be an issue for the Volunteers after bringing in three big-time scorers in Wake Forest’s Juke Harris, VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr. and California’s Dai Dai Ames. Defense and physicality, Tennessee’s calling card under Rick Barnes, could take a while based on a shaky preseason. Sophomore forward DeWayne Brown II needs to lead the way up front, especially if Vanderbilt big man Jalen Washington, a fifth-year player currently ineligible, doesn’t win his case against the NCAA. 

21. USC 

After reaching the Sweet 16 four times from 2018-23, Eric Musselman is 51-49 the past three years at Arkansas and USC. I’m predicting he gets back on the horse this season. There is continuity — key contributors Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie stayed put — and quality additions in the form of gritty Georgetown guard KJ Lewis, high-scoring South Dakota guard Isaac Bruns and potential lottery pick Christian Collins. 

22. UCLA 

The best pro prospect in the entire sport might be playing for Mick Cronin. Nikola Kusturica, a 17-year-old, 6-foot-9 Serbian wing, was the youngest player to ever suit up for FC Barcelona, back in 2025. The often critical and demanding Cronin has already raved about Kusturica’s maturity and potential. “He can dominate the game in a lot of ways,” the UCLA coach said. You’re going to lose sleep staying up late to watch this kid, and it will be worth it. 

23. Kentucky 

Kentucky has become just another program over the past 15 years. The Wildcats last reached the Final Four in 2015 and haven’t won it all since 2012. A favorite son, Mark Pope, is hoping to restore glory, and he’ll be facing plenty of pressure to do so following an underwhelming 22-win campaign marred by injuries. Kentucky should look more like Pope’s first team than his second this winter after the additions of lights-out shotmaker Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State), and playmaking guards Zoom Diallo (Washington) and Alex Wilkins (Furman). Center Malachi Moreno’s decision to pass on the NBA draft was a key moment in the Kentucky offseason. 

24. Iowa State 

It wasn’t a splashy offseason for the Cyclones, but this program has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to roster building. Star forwards Joshua Jefferson and Momcilovic will be almost impossible to replace, and key guard Killyan Toure is out until January due to a shoulder injury. However, star point guard Tamin Lipsey is back for a fifth year, and Iowa State brought in an intriguing transfer class of unheralded two-way guys that fit the team’s gritty ethos. 

25. Baylor 

I believe in Baylor and Scott Drew to rebound from the program’s worst season in two decades. He solved last year’s point guard woes with Penn State transfer and Long Island native Kayden Mingo, who torched Florida and Illinois in a pair of surprising exhibition wins. His brother Dylan, a five-star high school recruit, and a veteran frontcourt led by versatile Yale transfer Isaac Celiscar comprise a strong nucleus.