NCAA Basketball Report News

Everyone has a team they follow religiously. You were born into it, or you went to school there, or you moved to a new city and adopted them as your own. Most people, especially college basketball fans, also root for other teams or players on the side. It's not cheating! You don't cheer for them if they play your team, but if they're on, you'll tune in.

There are so many to choose from: 365 teams and over 5,000 players! It's impossible not to keep track of that random team in the Midwest, or that one player you saw go off against your team. This is the premise of the "My Guys" list. Who are we watching for the love of the game?

We had the staff give their answers with the guidelines below:

• Your favorite P5 team of 2025-26 (can't be your own)
• Your favorite mid-major team of 2025-26 (can't be your own)
• Your first-team My Guys for 2025-26 (the five players you think you like more than anyone else)

Who makes your My Guys list this year?

Joe Jackson

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska was the talk of college basketball last season after starting 20-0 and making the Sweet Sixteen while winning their first NCAA Tournament game ever.

There's production that needs to be replaced, but Nebraska returning Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager give the Cornhuskers a solid duo. Fred Hoiberg has shown he knows how to recruit to his system, and I think this season could attain some of last year's magic.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: Idaho Vandals

I believe that head coach Alex Pribble is someone who's going to move up the ranks sooner rather than later. In just three seasons of coaching, Pribble got Idaho to their first NCAA Tournament since 1990.

The roster may not be quite as talented on paper, but there are still some quality players who can make Idaho surprise some people again.

My Guys of 2026-2027:

• Owen Foxwell (Wisconsin): Wisconsin churns out elite scoring perimeter players, and Owen Foxwell seems next in line. The Aussie guard has the playmaking and scoring skills to have a big year with Wisconsin.
• Kayden Mingo (Baylor): Kayden Mingo had a quality statistical season last year on a bad Penn State team. Now he heads to Baylor, which has developed a plethora of talented guards over the last half-decade.
• KJ Evans (Villanova): If Oregon wasn't a disaster last season, more people would've talked about KJ Evans' breakout year. Now, he heads to Villanova under Kevin Willard, where Evans should be able to maximize his talents.
• Amari Allen (Alabama): I'm admittedly a sucker for bigger wings who can do a bit of everything, and Allen checks the boxes. He's able to be a facilitator and initiator for the offense while still having efficiency off the ball. On top of that, he's a good rebounder and defender.
• Tate Sage (Iowa): Tate Sage flashed some of the ceiling-level talent last season, and now he is going to be relied upon more. The 6'7 forward showed off the ability to score at the rim and from three last season, and he should be in an expanded role this year.

Trilly Donovan

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Miami Hurricanes

Jai Lucas had a ton of success in his first year as a head coach with the bully ball model, and he's doubled down on it in year two. This team could probably line up on a football field and hold their own. Shelton Henderson is a star and freshman Caleb Gaskins has one-and-done potential. Pair them with a proven table-setting point guard in Acaden Lewis, a force inside in Somto Cyril and a reincarnated Malik Reneau and you've got yourself a legitimate national title contender in Coral Gables.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: Belmont Bruins

Some might call this a biased pick because of our recently announced content partnership with the school. Well, yes, but also this team could be really good! I really liked what I saw from the Bruins squad in their exhibition against Duke. They move the ball well on offense, force turnovers on defense and everyone on the floor can shoot. Evan Bradds has a bright future ahead of him as a head coach and should find success early on in the Missouri Valley.

My Guys of 2026-2027:

• Luke Ertel (Purdue): Damian Lillard handpicked this kid to attend his camp twice. He committed to Purdue two years ago and already looks like the next great Boilermaker point guard. I am banking on him being ineligible for a Sixth Man of the Year award because he'll be starting by January.

Luke Ertel – Purdue's Next Freshman PG

• Delrecco Gillespie (Houston): You couldn't create a more perfect Houston player in a lab. Gillespie spent the last four seasons at Kent State gradually increasing his role, turning himself into a walking double-double by his senior year. He finished 8th in defensive rebounding percentage and tied for the most double-doubles in the country last season. The guy just plays hard and eats rebounds – what more can you want from a Kelvin Sampson center?
• Mason Falslev (Utah State): Falslev is a unicorn in today's transfer portal world. He's not only a true four-year guy, but he's also stuck around with three different head coaches. He even committed to Utah State after the coach recruiting him left! On top of that, the kid legitimately rocks. He's a high-volume three-point shooter and could very well be the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

How Mason Falslev became Utah State's "mayor" and a potential name for the rafters

• Shelton Henderson (Miami): Henderson is getting the recognition he deserves as preseason First-Team All-ACC, but he still feels criminally underrated in the national conversation. This guy is a bully. He is built like a linebacker and gets to the rim at will. He's probably going to lead his team to a deep tournament run this season and could play himself into a first round draft pick.

"Be better, be different," Inside Shelton Henderson's rapid rise

• Kyan Evans (Minnesota): Last year I bought low on Cade Tyson, who spent a season at North Carolina in a system that didn't work for him. Tyson ended up returning to form and having a great year at Minnesota. This year I am running it back with Kyan Evans, who spent a season at North Carolina in a system that didn't work for him and will return to form under his old head coach Niko Medved. Expect Evans to climb back over 40% shooting from three this season.

Lukas Harkins

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Villanova Wildcats

Tyler Perkins might have headlined the "My Guy" section for me, if not for also being simply higher on Villanova in general than the consensus. Perkins took a huge leap last season and is a tremendous do-everything player for the Wildcats. He is a steady two-way contributor whose averages jumped significantly in the latter half of last season. The group around him is new, but Elijah Crawford is a table-setter, and Kwame Evans Jr. and Devin Royal are buckets. Darryl Simmons and Jake Fiegen will be key floor spacers around them. When and how Matt Hodge returns will be critical, as he was essential to Villanova last season; per Hoop-Explorer, the Wildcats were 8.6 adjusted points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor than without him.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: Illinois State Redbirds

Both Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger saw their scoring averages dip as juniors last year, but Illinois State took another step forward under head coach Ryan Pedon. The Redbirds have improved their KenPom finish from the year prior in each of Pedon's four years, and bringing back Walker and Kinziger for their fourth year together offers hope for another leap. The new group around them includes two other familiar faces to the MVC in Bradley transfer Demarion Burch and Missouri State transfer Zaxton King, as well as Malik Messina-Moore and Noah Cleveland. Illinois State made massive strides defensively last season; if its offense can rediscover itself, with a sophomore breakout from Mason Klabo helping, the Redbirds can be dangerous.

My Guys of 2026-2027:

• Leon Bond III (Iowa State):If there is a chance to hype a Wisconsin native, I will almost always take it. Bond blossomed over two seasons at Northern Iowa after starting his career at Virginia, especially as he expanded his game this past season. An elite athlete, Bond earned MVC All-Defense honors last season while also shooting 36.2% from the 3-point line on 127 attempts. He should fit seamlessly into Iowa State's system and be a big-time impact player. Bond attempted nearly half of his shots in the paint last year and converted on 59.3%; UNI shot 8.8% better on 2s with him on the floor versus without.
• RJ Johnson (Mississippi State):Kennesaw State played four Quadrant 1+2 games last season, and Johnson reached double figures in all of them: 11 vs. South Florida, 16 vs. Alabama (in 19 minutes), 32 at Sam Houston, and 15 vs. Gonzaga. Additionally, he finished the year on a tear. From Jan. 17 on, Johnson averaged 18.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 41.1% from three on over five attempts per game. He could be exactly what Mississippi State needs next to Josh Hubbard.
• Cooper Koch (Iowa):Koch's on-off splits down the stretch last season speak for themselves: Iowa was 32.4 adjusted points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor than without over its last 19 games. An elite shooter and impact player, it will be interesting to see how his role expands in the post-Bennett Stirtz era for the Hawkeyes. He averaged 11.4 points over Iowa's last nine games last year.
• Jasen Green (Creighton):A four-year Bluejay, Jasen Green has improved with each college season. In addition to averaging 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 60.7% true shooting, Green was one of only 10 forwards to rank in the 90th percentile or better in personal foul efficiency (steals+blocks per PF), assist rate, and assist-to-turnover ratio last season. He does a little bit of everything for the Bluejays, and it showed not just in the box score but in his impact stats; last year, the team was 8.7 adjusted points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor versus without. He likely won't lead Creighton headlines, but does the little things night in and night out.
• Jalen Jackson (Butler):Okay, they said we couldn't use our own teams for the first two prompts, but not for "My Guys," and I do cover Butler, so here comes the homer! Joking aside, Butler losing Jackson to season-ending surgery was a massive blow last season. Per Hoop-Explorer, the Bulldogs played at the level of the No. 24-ranked team with him on the court over six games last season, compared with only the No. 85-ranked team without him — and that was while he was playing through injury. Butler is projected to finish last in the Big East, but Jackson ending his career on a high note would be heartwarming after he had last season taken away. He is a dynamic downhill attacker and will lead the team in Ronald Nored's first year.

Jim Root

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Alabama Crimson Tide

Nate Oats' maniacal scheduling ensures I'll get to watch plenty of big Tide games before SEC play starts, and his style always leads to outstanding games aesthetically. I'm particularly in on this version, though, because Alabama has two on-ball killers with differing styles (Amari Allen and Aden Holloway), three dazzling freshmen who are all perfect scheme fits (Qayden Samuels, Tarris Bouie, Jaxon Richardson) and excellent positional size. I'm also all the way in on Cole Cloer, an elite shooter who also has tremendous bounce.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: Liberty Flames

No coach has gotten more out of tiny guards than Ritchie McKay, and he has a couple more this year in Cooper and Cobi Campbell, who garnered plenty of attention at Troy last year. The Flames also expertly mined the Division II ranks for potential studs in Dillon Claussen and Osmar Garcia-Araujo, and Eli Sancomb might be the best freshman in CUSA. The Flames may play at the exact inverse pace from Alabama, but hey – variety is the spice of life!

My Guys of 2026-2027:

• Chance Mallory (Virginia): An analytics darling as a rookie, Mallory fits an archetype I have long loved: smallish point guard who plays bigger than his size. It helps that he has boundless confidence. He never turned it over despite being a freshman in a P5 league (3.0 A/TO ratio), and his ascendance as a sophomore could be what launches Virginia from "very good team" to "true national contender".
• Jack Smiley (Belmont):A couple of Smiley's standout performances last year (see: torching Murray State on the road) had me on board his hype train. He's a skilled lefty who can score or create, boasting a lethal jumper and a pristine 2.2 A/TO ratio as a freshman. But then he got the Joey Dwyer profile treatment, and I am now the hype train's conductor.
• Kellen Thames (Saint Louis):Thames is one of the most explosive players in the country, and in my opinion, he would also be one of the best if he could play 30 minutes per night. We'll find out this season, as his cramping issues – which mandated a minutes restriction – are reportedly a thing of the past. Thames could blossom into a superstar.
• David Punch (Texas): Whether it's his name or his stature or his demeanor, Punch is scary. He's a versatile piece on both ends, but especially on defense, where he crushes the glass, protects the paint and switches on the perimeter. At 6-7, 245 pounds, he is also a capable passer and driver, and he unlocks limitless lineup possibilities for Sean Miller's Longhorns.
• Najai Hines (UConn): I ranked Hines the 17th-best player in the country in our top 100 player rankings, so I have been on this corner for a while now. I even tweeted about him possibly being a one-and-done last year (not quite). But his fit at UConn as a mega-dominant rim protector and brutish, post-sealing finisher on offense is perfect. Just avoid foul trouble as much as possible.

Brian Rauf

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Louisville Cardinals

I’m all-in on Louisville to reach its first Final Four since winning the 2013 national championship*. Pat Kelsey’s elite transfer class, led by Jackson Shelstad and Flory Bidunga, plus five-star Obi Ekezie’s breakout exhibition against Kansas, gives the Cards the talent and fit to win. Critics may cite Kelsey's NCAA Tournament record, but that doubt follows every coach until they break through. This team can get it done.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: Appalachian State Mountaineers

The Sun Belt race is wide open again, and App State has been the most consistent team in an unpredictable league. Newcomers will need to lead the backcourt, but they look like strong options: Ben Kopetzki averaged 21.1 points at Concordia St. Paul, while Stonehill's Hermann Koffi adds another 12-point scorer. If they can bring shooting and scoring punch to what could be the Sun Belt's best defense for the third time in four years, look out. Dustin Kerns has come close before, and this could be the year he returns to the Big Dance.

My Guys of 2026-2027:

• Ivan Kharchenkov (Arizona): Kharchenkov was the glue on a loaded Arizona team last season, guarding the opponent’s top perimeter player most nights. The Wildcats outscored opponents by about 24 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. With Burries, Peat, Bradley and Awaka gone, more touches open up. His ceiling depends on his jumper: if he raises his three-point percentage from 31.7 to the mid-30s, he could move from first-team All-Big 12 to the All-America conversation on a team capable of reaching the Final Four again.
• Dedan Thomas (Houston): I've been high on Dedan Thomas since he chose Houston, largely because of the fit. Kelvin Sampson's point guards — Rob Gray, Jamal Shead, Milos Uzan, LJ Cryer and Kingston Flemings — set a high bar, but Thomas has the ability to live up to it. The lefty reaches the paint at will and rarely leaves empty-handed, posting 104 assists and just 26 turnovers at LSU before a foot injury. LSU went 12-1 with him and faltered without him. Thomas could become a first-team All-Big 12 player with All-America potential if his foot holds up and he punishes teams for going under screens.
• Preston Edmead (NC State): Edmead won't be the first name people bring up from this portal class, but I think he's the engine of NC State's offense. He was CAA Rookie of the Year at Hofstra, and what sells me is his off-the-dribble shooting — 38.7 percent on more than seven threes a game means defenses can't go under screens, and everything else opens up from there. He's not a flashy passer, but he makes the right reads and plays under control. When I asked Justin Gainey whether Edmead could become one of the better guards in the ACC, he said "Absolutely" without hesitating.
• Money Williams (Boston College): Money Williams topped my list of the portal's offensive creators by KEMBA rating for good reason: at Montana, he led the Big Sky in usage, averaged 20.6 points and ranked among the country’s best isolation scorers, per Synergy. Unlike typical high-volume mid-major scorers, Williams also creates for others, with a top-50 assist rate. Turnovers and difficult shot selection could be problems in the ACC, so I’m betting Luke Murray can leverage Williams’ size, pull-up game and late-clock confidence without making him carry every possession. If Murray finds that balance, Williams gives the Eagles a go-to scorer they’ve lacked for years.
• Justyn Fernandez (UAB): Fernandez is at the top of Andy Kennedy's transfer haul this offseason, and he's expected to play a major role for an offense that heavily features guards. The Delaware transfer averaged 16.6 points and shot 40.3 percent from three-point range a year ago. Kennedy's best teams often have a high-usage guard it can rely on, and Fernandez appears to be that guy for the Blazers.

Sam Federman

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Marquette Golden Eagles

Marquette was playing really good basketball at the end of the season. Nigel James was becoming a superstar, and Adrien Stevens came into his own. Now, Shaka Smart finally went into the transfer portal to make a splash. Sananda Fru gives the Golden Eagles a level of frontcourt physicality and interior scoring that they have severely lacked. Nolan Minessale adds a slashing and playmaking Robin to James on the wing. I think the Golden Eagles will be a Top 25 team this year thanks to internal development and a few shrewd portal adds.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: UNCW Seahawks

If you like points, you will like UNCW. Patrick Wessler is the man in the middle, a rare 7-foot mid-major stud who decided to return to the mid-major level. But these guards are going to be so electric. Xavier Brown was a double-digit scorer at James Madison. Tahlan Pettway has CAA Player of the Year upside. CJ Luster is one of the best shooters in college basketball. Jahnathan Lamothe was a sniper as well last season, and has proven that he can be a big-time scorer in the CAA as well.

Tyler Nelson is a fun story too. Former Navy wing who played from 2019-2023, and is using his COVID year to come back to college basketball after spending time on active duty. He'll be a contributor as well.

Takayo Siddle is one of mid-major basketball's best coaches, and the Seahawks should be near the top of the country in points per game.

My Guys of 2026-2027:

• Adlan Elamin (Cincinnati): I almost went with Cincinnati as my favorite P5 team, but decided to just stick with Elamin as one of my guys. Super athletic, runs the floor like a deer, excellent length, guards multiple positions, and most importantly, doesn't need to touch the ball for his presence to be felt.
• Anthony Felesi (Oklahoma State): Luke Ertel was already taken, but I still wanted to add a high-major freshman, so I went with Felesi. He'll have a big time two-way impact for the Cowboys with a chance to be a defensive stopper guard on the perimeter, but also a double-digit scorer in year one. Oklahoma State is counting on him to help them break through in year three under Steve Lutz.
• Dhani Miller (Kent State): Sure, it's not Kevin Boyle's Montverde, but being the best player on one of the best high school teams in the country counts for something. When I saw Miller in person last year, I was shocked to learn that he was not a high-major commit. He can score at all three levels, play on and off the ball, and playmake at a high level. Miller has a chance to be a MAC Player of the Year contender.
• Emmanuel Kanga (George Mason): I don't know if Emmanuel Kanga will put up massive scoring numbers, but I do know that he will have a massive impact for George Mason. He's a vacuum on the glass on both ends and plays incredibly hard. He'll be one of the best bigs in the A-10.
• Tavari Johnson (Charleston): Just the requisite 6-foot-nothing scoring guard. Nothing to see here. I just love watching Tavari Johnson hoop. Not much more to say there.

Matthew Winick

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Iowa Hawkeyes

Doubt Ben McCollum at your own peril, because all the guy does is win. While it's obviously true that Iowa lost superstar point guard Bennett Stirtz, it does bring back most of the other key pieces from a Sweet Sixteen run while adding absurd rebounder, and McCollum's first true 7-footer in Andrew McKeever. Sure, the offense will look different, but the defense should be improved with the Hawkeyes being one of the biggest teams in basketball. They could also be the best two-way rebounding team in the country.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: Stephen F. Austin

I'm all the way in on Matt Braeuer after he led Stephen F. Austin to a 28-6 campaign and 20-2 mark in the Southland, beating his KenPom projection by 143 spots. Some pieces change for the Lumberjacks, but sharpshooter Narit Chotikanavic returners, an electric guard duo of MJ Russell and Erik Makke was added, and this team seems to have endless frontcourt options for its disciplined drop defense.

My Guys of 2026-2027:

• Nikola Kusturica (UCLA): Kusturica gets far less love than fellow 17-year-old rookie Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, but may be just as impactful this season. Kusturica is absurdly long for a wing and contributes in every area of the box score.
• Blue Cain (Georgia): The scariest part of Cain's career-year as a junior that saw him post a Top 100 offensive rating nationally and become a revered defender is that he shot a career-low 30% from deep despite making 91% of his free throws. It's genuinely possible Cain shoots 40% from beyond the arc and makes an All-SEC team.
• Jake Ensminger (Santa Clara): Ensminger hasn't needed to score much in his career, but has always done everything else: defend, rebound, and pass. He'll certainly take a usage bump with a new-look Broncos starting lineup, and may become the best big man passer in the entire sport. Santa Clara simply wins when Ensminger is on the court.
• Jayden Reid (Memphis): I think Reid and Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway are a match made in heaven. Only Jeremy Fears, Braden Smith, Quadir Copeland, and Donovan Dent had higher assist rates in power conference basketball last year than Reid, and he'll lead a high-tempo attack filled with shooters and finishers. With enough minutes played, Reid could be a top-five passer in the sport.
• Olivier Rioux (UC Irvine): Sue me for rooting for a fellow Canadian, but I've been watching Rioux's minutes with UC Irvine this summer closely, and he's looked better than I could have imagined. Head coach Russell Turner's scheme allows Rioux to genuinely park himself in the paint on both ends, and the 7-foot-9 behemoth is going to capitalize around the rim. He'll give the Anteaters 20-25 minutes per game of can't-miss basketball this season.

Will Warren

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Purdue

I'm in utter disbelief and disgust that I have to be the person most in on a team coached by MATT PAINTER on this entire staff, but here we are.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: New Mexico

I think this counts. The Mountain West is now firmly outside the P5 after recent realignment, and most conference rankings have the MWC behind the new Pac-12 and even the A-10. They're back in the territory they were in around the late 2010s, when the MWC was a true mid-major and no one had to complain about their status.

My Guys of 2026-27:

• Dillon Claussen (Liberty)
• Joshua Dent (Saint Mary's)
• Miles Byrd (Providence)
• Jamier Jones (Missouri)
• Braden Huff (Gonzaga)

Tuck Clarry

My Favorite P5 Team of 2026-27: Texas

Sean Miller was ahead of schedule last season, turning a quick portal cycle into a makeshift team that kind of, sort of, looked like the Sean Miller teams we've seen at Xavier and Arizona. But with a full year in Austin, Miller aggressively got the guys that fit his system and maximize his style of play. Isaiah Johnson has the fluidity and smooth shooting form of a coach's son and has the tools that Miller was trying to draw in the aggregate last season with Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark. The versatility of David Punch, Matas Vokietaitis and phenom 17-year-old Marcus Spears Jr. will be interesting to see take shape throughout their season. Plus too many people are sleeping on Elyjah Freeman in a winning context.

My Favorite Mid-Major Team of 2026-27: Oregon State

Justin Joyner agreed to take over the Beavers’ head coaching position before Michigan’s tournament run ended with confetti. Since then Oregon State has hit the ground running, pinpointing talent that fits exactly what Joyner wants to do on defense. He comes back west as the architect of defensive schemes that have caused Pac-12 favorite Gonzaga problems every time they've matched up. This roster is long. The Beavers loaded up on size and rim protection in the portal, which should let Joyner take away threes and push teams into tough twos. But don't underestimate their offense as well, Joyner surrounded returner Josiah Lake with a group of guards and wings that can space out opponents and get downhill.

My Guys of 2026-27:

• Quinn Ellis (St. John's): When the Johnnies needed to rebuild their roster, the first question was who would replace the scoring production. But make no mistake, the addition of Ellis might be the most impactful change in Queens. The British point guard provides a steadiness and dependability that has been lacking in the backcourt the last two seasons. His statlines may not be gaudy, but he makes the roster's scorers' production easier to come by.
• Billy Richmond (Arkansas): I don't know how you can watch Billy Richmond play basketball and not say "that's my favorite player" in the sport. The wing earned draft buzz thanks in large part to being an All-SEC Defensive Team member and the second highest field goal percentage in league play. Richmond plays with a spirit and exuberance that let's you know that old time religion of college basketball hasn't completely faded away in pay-for-play.
• Nyk Lewis (VCU): How quickly do we forget the March Lewis was shaping up to have before getting sidelined in the opening of VCU's Round of 32 game against Illinois? The electric, 6-foot-1 freshman seemed to have put it all together in the A10 championship and Round of 64 games, averaging 16.5 point and 9 rebounds. The A10 Freshman of the Year returns to the Rams and will look to lead them back to another March run.
• Eric Dailey (UCLA):I've been a Dailey Defender for the better part of three seasons now. The forward has such a rounded out game and has shown flashes as a stretch big with a competent interior game. The Bruin seemed to be one of the only guys that didn't make Mick Cronin beside himself last season and seems like the consumate guy for his system. Dailey may finally get the attention he warrants should his usage go up and his shooting from deep returns to the 37% we saw two seasons ago.
• Izan Almansa (Gonzaga): I get that he's not 17, but it's frankly bizarre to me that as we celebrate the Euro Youth Invasion happening at UCLA and Duke we're not noting perhaps the most decorated international youth basketball player we've ever seen. The MVP of U-17, U-18 and U-19 FIBA tournaments comes to the States with 3 years of eligibility and one of the more polished, do-everything big skillsets in the sport.