Sports Illustrated’s Complete 2025–26 Men’s College Basketball Rankings From No. 365 To No. 1

The assemblage hoops play is here, and pinch it comes an yearly Sports Illustrated tradition: nan thankless task of attempting to rank each squad successful nan sport. It was difficult earlier nan nonstop roster turnover that has reshaped nan measurement rosters are built. Now? It’s moreover much challenging. It’s nary longer capable conscionable to cognize astir Division I players and apical precocious schoolhouse recruits; covering assemblage hoops successful 2025 besides requires immoderate world expertise (players from leagues crossed Europe and astir nan globe are enrolling) and knowledge of little levels for illustration Division II and NAIA, positive intel connected really each those pieces fresh together. 

Despite nan challenges, it’s an inexact subject worthy taking on. The creation of ranking each squad helps you amended understand nan prevailing winds of subordinate movement, which leagues look amended aliases worse than normal and which teams from smaller leagues mightiness look arsenic imaginable Cinderellas. Last year’s rankings had their misses (top-10 Baylor and North Carolina squads that limped to nan tournament) and hits (early shoutouts for Drake and UCSD arsenic imaginable sleepers and bullish rankings compared to consensus) connected emerging powers for illustration Florida and Texas Tech. If thing else, there’s existent worth successful a broad ranking created by hand, alternatively than nan preseason analytical models for illustration KenPom and T-Rank (which are incredibly valuable devices successful nan monthslong process of building these rankings). 

Who should beryllium dreaming large astir a travel to Indianapolis adjacent April? And which instrumentality bases mightiness want to displacement their sights to adjacent twelvemonth already? Use these rankings arsenic your early guideline for nan 4½-month travel to Selection Sunday.

365. Mississippi Valley State (No. 12 successful SWAC)
364. New Haven (No. 10 successful NEC)
363. Coppin State (No. 8 successful MEAC)
362. Maryland Eastern Shore (No. 7 successful MEAC)
361. Saint Francis (No. 9 successful NEC)
360. Arkansas Pine Bluff (No. 11 successful SWAC)
359. Fairleigh Dickinson (No. 8 successful NEC)
358. West Georgia (No. 12 successful Atlantic Sun)
357. Louisiana Monroe (No. 14 successful Sun Belt)
356. New Hampshire (No. 9 successful America East)
355. Wagner (No. 7 successful NEC)
354. East Texas A&M (No. 12 successful Southland)
353. Mercyhurst (No. 6 successful NEC)
352. Stetson (No. 11 successful Atlantic Sun)
351. Canisius (No. 13 successful MAAC)

Louisiana Monroe (No. 357) is 1 of nan toughest gigs successful nan country, importantly outresourced compared to its Sun Belt rivals. ULM features an all-name squad feline successful defender Wiggy Ball, a freshman from Mississippi. Saint Francis (No. 361) made its first NCAA tourney successful 34 years past season, conscionable to denote an impending move to Division III later that month. Head coach Rob Krimmel retired soon aft nan move was announced. 

Bringing up nan rear is Mississippi Valley State (No. 365). Based connected KenPom’s adjusted ratio margin, location was arsenic wide of a spread betwixt MVSU and past season’s second-worst squad (Arkansas Pine Bluff) arsenic location was betwixt Pine Bluff and No. 281 Idaho. MVSU is simply a sadistic gig, and it’s difficult to ideate nan Delta Devils digging acold retired of nan cellar this season.

350. Delaware State (No. 6 successful MEAC)
349. Central Arkansas (No. 10 successful Atlantic Sun)
348. Tennessee Tech (No. 11 successful Ohio Valley)
347. Florida A&M (No. 10 successful SWAC)
346. Stonehill (No. 5 successful NEC)
345. Alabama A&M (No. 9 successful SWAC)
344. North Carolina A&T (No. 13 successful CAA)
343. Alcorn State (No. 8 successful SWAC)
342. North Florida (No. 9 successful Atlantic Sun)
341. The Citadel (No. 10 successful SoCon)
340. Houston Christian (No. 11 successful Southland)
339. Cal State Fullerton (No. 11 successful Big West)
338. Morgan State (No. 5 successful MEAC)
337. Tennessee State (No. 10 successful Ohio Valley)
336. Le Moyne (No. 4 successful NEC)
335. Eastern Illinois (No. 9 successful Ohio Valley)
334. North Dakota (No. 9 successful Summit League)
333. Chicago State (No. 3 successful NEC)
332. Northern Illinois (No. 13 successful MAC)
331. Alabama State (No. 7 successful SWAC)
330. Northwestern State (No. 10 successful Southland)
329. USC Upstate (No. 9 successful Big South)
328. Western Illinois (No. 8 successful Ohio Valley)
327. Prairie View A&M (No. 6 successful SWAC)
326. Army (No. 10 successful Patriot League)

Even Army (No. 326) isn’t immune to portal losses, seeing prima helping Josh Scovens depart for Davidson. The Black Knights managed to support emerging defender Ryan Curry, though. Another retention triumph tin beryllium recovered astatine USC Upstate (No. 329), which kept a brace of young double-figure scorers successful Karmani Gregory and Carmelo Adkins. Talent has flowed done nan Northern Illinois (No. 332) programme successful caller years, but wins haven’t followed. Swiss defender Dylan Ducommun has a chance to beryllium its adjacent prima aft 1 erstwhile Swiss Husky Yanic Konan Niederhauser yet blossomed into a first-round pick. 

Tennessee State (No. 337) hired a recognizable sanction successful Nolan Smith, nan erstwhile Duke defender who has spent clip connected nan staffs astatine Duke, Louisville and Memphis. He managed to support nan roster together aft caput coach Brian Collins near for an NBA adjunct job. Florida A&M (No. 347) besides made thing of a personage prosecute successful erstwhile Heisman Trophy victor Charlie Ward (who went connected to play master basketball) retired of nan precocious schoolhouse ranks. Adding to nan shot spirit of this squad? Buffalo transportation Anquan Boldin Jr., boy of nan prima wide receiver, who averaged 7.8 ppg past season. And if you’re searching for impervious that hiring a precocious schoolhouse coach tin work, Delaware State (No. 350) has been connected an upward trajectory since hiring Stan Waterman disconnected nan HS sidelines successful 2021. 

325. Bellarmine (No. 8 successful Atlantic Sun)
324. Saint Peter’s (No. 12 successful MAAC)
323. Binghamton (No. 8 successful America East)
322. Kansas City (No. 8 successful Summit League)
321. Tennessee Martin (No. 7 successful Ohio Valley)
320. Gardner Webb (No. 8 successful Big South)
319. NJIT (No. 7 successful America East)
318. Elon (No. 12 successful CAA)
317. Lehigh (No. 9 successful Patriot League)
316. Lafayette (No. 8 successful Patriot League)
315. Texas Southern (No. 5 successful SWAC)
314. Southern Indiana (No. 6 successful Ohio Valley)
313. Northern Arizona (No. 9 successful Big Sky)
312. Southern Utah (No. 7 successful WAC)
311. North Carolina Central (No. 4 successful MEAC)
310. Charleston Southern (No. 7 successful Big South)
309. Detroit Mercy (No. 11 successful Horizon League)
308. Long Beach State (No. 10 successful Big West)
307. Niagara (No. 11 successful MAAC)
306. South Dakota (No. 7 successful Summit League)
305. Coastal Carolina (No. 13 successful Sun Belt)
304. Green Bay (No. 10 successful Horizon League)
303. Sacramento State (No. 9 successful Big Sky)
302. Southeastern Louisiana (No. 9 successful Southland)
301. Lindenwood (No. 5 successful Ohio Valley)

It has been reliable sledding truthful acold successful Division I for Lindenwood (No. 301), but it should return steps guardant successful its first twelvemonth eligible for nan NCAA tournament. The Lions retained promising wings Jadis Jones and Anias Futrell and added talented guards Mekhi Cooper and Dontrez Williams via nan portal. Sacramento State’s (No. 303) talent acold exceeds a 300-plus-ranked squad aft adding UNLV large Bear Cherry and erstwhile apical enlistee Mikey Williams this spring, but caller caput coach Mike Bibby is rather inexperienced. We saw past play nan pitfalls of these personage hires astatine mid-majors pinch Green Bay (No. 304) and Doug Gottlieb, though Gottlieb has a much-improved roster successful Year 2 that should return steps forward. 

Former Michigan State adjunct Mark Montgomery has prioritized recruiting locally astatine Detroit Mercy (No. 309). That mightiness person helped support a brace of promising freshmen successful TJ Nadeau and Nate Johnson for a 2nd twelvemonth successful nan program. Southern Indiana (No. 314) had a miserable 2025, but added immoderate proven backcourt talent for illustration Trey Thomas (16 ppg astatine Bethune-Cookman) to thief bounce back. On nan other broadside of that is Elon (No. 318), which mislaid players to Indiana, Oregon and Seton Hall this outpouring and looks to beryllium successful rebuilding mode aft taking steps guardant a twelvemonth ago. And while Bellarmine (No. 325) loses its legendary caput coach Scott Davenport to retirement, his boy Doug seems much than tin of taking over. Purdue transportation Brian Waddell should boost this group aft a five-win play successful ’25. 

300. Stony Brook (No. 11 successful CAA)
299. South Carolina State (No. 3 successful MEAC)
298. UC Riverside (No. 9 successful Big West)
297. Air Force (No. 12 successful Mountain West)
296. Loyola Maryland (No. 7 successful Patriot League)
295. IU Indianapolis (No. 9 successful Horizon League)
294. Western Carolina (No. 9 successful SoCon)
293. Grambling State (No. 4 successful SWAC)
292. Nicholls (No. 8 successful Southland)
291. Holy Cross (No. 6 successful Patriot League)
290. Bryant (No. 6 successful America East)
289. Presbyterian (No. 6 successful Big South)
288. Buffalo (No. 12 successful MAC)
287. Fairfield (No. 10 successful MAAC)
286. Central Michigan (No. 11 successful MAC)
285. LIU (No. 2 successful NEC)
284. Pepperdine (No. 12 successful WCC)
283. Central Connecticut (No. 1 successful NEC)
282. VMI (No. 8 successful SoCon)
281. Georgia State (No. 12 successful Sun Belt)
280. Rider (No. 9 successful MAAC)
279. UMass Lowell (No. 5 successful America East)
278. Howard (No. 2 successful MEAC)
277. Weber State (No. 8 successful Big Sky)
276. Drexel (No. 10 successful CAA)

We wrote successful March astir Howard’s (No. 278) all-out push to support prima freshman Blake Harper. Harper ended up transferring to Creighton, but Howard’s productivity helped it support MEAC first-teamer Bryce Harris and reload astir him. VMI (No. 282) was 1 of nan sport’s biggest underachievers past season, winning 11 much games than nan erstwhile year. Keeping prima defender Rickey Bradley Jr. gives them a chance to support climbing nan SoCon hierarchy. The NEC title title should beryllium interesting: Central Connecticut (No. 283) was caput and shoulders supra nan convention analytically past play acknowledgment to its elite defense but loses a lot, while LIU (No. 285) has nan astir talented group pinch outstanding returners Malachi Davis and Jamal Fuller.

It’s difficult to judge we’re conscionable six years removed from Buffalo (No. 288) finishing arsenic a Top 25 squad per KenPom nether Nate Oats. The Bulls are coming disconnected back-to-back bottom-30 finishes nationally nether George Halcovage, though they could bounce backmost this play aft keeping defender Ryan Sabol and adding a brace of effect non-Division I transfers Ezra McKenna and Mikhail Pocknett. Holy Cross (No. 291) is besides banking connected a brace of transfers from nan D-II ranks successful John St. Germain (Augusta) and Will Aljancic (Findlay). And IU Indianapolis (No. 295) hired 1 of nan apical D-II coaches successful nan state successful Ben Howlett from powerhouse West Liberty. He brings 4 players pinch him, headlined by talented sophomore Kameron Tinsley. That has go an expanding inclination successful nan sport, 1 besides followed by UC Riverside (No. 298), whose caller coach Gus Argenal joins them aft a beardown tally astatine Cal State San Bernardino.

275. Albany (No. 4 successful America East)
274. Northeastern (No. 9 successful CAA)
273. Mercer (No. 7 successful SoCon)
272. Eastern Michigan (No. 10 successful MAC)
271. Utah Tech (No. 6 successful WAC)
270. Georgia Southern (No. 11 successful Sun Belt)
269. Wright State (No. 8 successful Horizon League)
268. Montana State (No. 7 successful Big Sky)
267. American (No. 5 successful Patriot League)
266. Jackson State (No. 3 successful SWAC)
265. Portland (No. 11 successful WCC)
264. Purdue Fort Wayne (No. 7 successful Horizon League)
263. UMBC (No. 3 successful America East)
262. Morehead State (No. 4 successful Ohio Valley)
261. Monmouth (No. 8 successful CAA)
260. Bucknell (No. 4 successful Patriot League)
259. Idaho State (No. 6 successful Big Sky)
258. Mount St. Mary’s (No. 8 successful MAAC)
257. FIU (No. 12 successful Conference USA)
256. Marist (No. 7 successful MAAC)
255. Cal State Bakersfield (No. 8 successful Big West)
254. Marshall (No. 10 successful Sun Belt)
253. Boston University (No. 3 successful Patriot League)
252. Old Dominion (No. 9 successful Sun Belt)
251. Hampton (No. 7 successful CAA)

If you’re looking for an under-the-radar mid-major star, cheque retired Boston University (No. 253) guard Kyrone Alexander. He had a beardown sophomore year, past followed it up averaging 24 points per crippled pinch nan Barbados nationalist squad this summer. Marshall (No. 254) struck golden pinch a Canadian assemblage transportation successful Dezayne Mingo. It hopes for akin luck this play pinch Western University defender Noah Otshudi. Marist (No. 256) was nan lowest-rated squad connected KenPom to triumph 20-plus games past season, and returns a brace of talented guards successful Jadin Collins-Roberts and Elijah Lewis to push for a 2nd consecutive 20-win campaign. 

It will beryllium reliable for Bucknell (No. 260) to repetition arsenic Patriot League champs aft losing prima large Noah Williamson to Alabama. German import Amon Dörries has nan upside to beryllium a Williamson-like subordinate successful clip though. Portland (No. 265) already deed large connected 1 Australian successful Austin Rapp (now astatine Wisconsin) and hopes to person done it again pinch Joel Foxwell, a crafty PG from Melbourne. There are only a fistful of Alaskans playing Division I hoops, and Patrick McMahon astatine Montana State (No. 268) might beryllium nan best. He’s nan starring returning scorer for nan Bobcats having averaged 9.9 ppg successful 2025. Utah Tech (No. 271) has built thing of a French pipeline acknowledgment to adjunct coach Elliott De Wit, who attended precocious schoolhouse successful France and sewage his coaching commencement there. Guards Madiba Owona and Noah Bolanga could thief nan programme climb successful nan WAC. And astatine Mercer (No. 273) well-traveled Canadian defender Baraka Okojie looks to bounce backmost aft a unsmooth twelvemonth astatine Memphis. He had a beardown freshman twelvemonth astatine George Mason though and could beryllium a prima successful nan SoCon.

250. UC Davis (No. 7 successful Big West)
249. Lamar (No. 7 successful Southland)
248. Oral Roberts (No. 6 successful Summit League)
247. Eastern Washington (No. 5 successful Big Sky)
246. Southern (No. 2 successful SWAC)
245. New Orleans (No. 6 successful Southland)
244. Brown (No. 8 successful Ivy League)
243. Jacksonville (No. 7 successful Atlantic Sun)
242. Maine (No. 2 successful America East)
241. Denver (No. 5 successful Summit League)
240. Dartmouth (No. 7 successful Ivy League)
239. Queens (No. 6 successful Atlantic Sun)
238. Wofford (No. 6 successful SoCon)
237. Bethune-Cookman (No. 1 successful SWAC)
236. Cleveland State (No. 6 successful Horizon League)
235. SIUE (No. 3 successful Ohio Valley)
234. Bowling Green (No. 9 successful MAC)
233. Longwood (No. 5 successful Big South)
232. Northern Colorado (No. 4 successful Big Sky)
231. Penn (No. 6 successful Ivy League)
230. Austin Peay (No. 5 successful Atlantic Sun)
229. Merrimack (No. 6 successful MAAC)
228. Southeast Missouri (No. 2 successful Ohio Valley)
227. Navy (No. 2 successful Patriot League)
226. Fresno State (No. 11 successful Mountain West)

Fran McCaffery has taken 4 schools to nan NCAA tourney successful his career. Can he make it a 5th astatine his alma mater, Penn (No. 231)? Virginia transportation TJ Power could beryllium a bargain for nan Quakers. McCaffery is doubly nan property of 33-year-old caller Longwood (No. 233) coach Ronnie Thomas, a baby-faced coach who looks young capable to still suit up successful assemblage hoops. Instead of a jersey, you’ll spot Thomas connected nan sideline rocking his patented front tie. Top Bowling Green (No. 234) adjunct Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. is still successful playing shape, suiting up for nan Bahamian nationalist squad arsenic precocious arsenic past twelvemonth earlier being named nan country’s caput coach. The erstwhile Michigan State PG has a agleam coaching future. 

Bethune-Cookman (No. 237) is without a uncertainty talented, successful portion owed to taking risks connected players pinch checkered pasts. Doctor Bradley averaged complete 19 points per crippled astatine Pine Bluff past play but erstwhile was astatine nan halfway of nan New Mexico State hazing scandal, while Arterio Morris has had stops astatine Kansas (where he was accused of rape; charges were yet dropped) and Texas (where he pleaded blameworthy to misdemeanor battle for assaulting an ex-girlfriend). 

One of nan teams SI is highest connected compared to analytical projections for illustration KenPom is Denver (No. 241). New HC Tim Bergstraser did a awesome occupation astatine Minnesota State Moorhead and brings pinch him a imaginable prima successful defender Carson Johnson. Maine (No. 242) has been a accordant overachiever nether Chris Markwood. We’ll spot if Cooper Flagg’s copy brother, Ace, tin make an early effect there. Another imaginable overachiever comparative to preseason consensus: New Orleans (No. 245). The Privateers person tons of size (seven players are 6' 8" aliases taller, including a brace of 7-footers) and a talented lead defender Jakevion Buckley. 

225. Missouri State (No. 11 successful Conference USA)
224. Southern Miss (No. 8 successful Sun Belt)
223. Evansville (No. 11 successful Missouri Valley)
222. Milwaukee (No. 5 successful Horizon League)
221. Incarnate Word (No. 5 successful Southland)
220. UT Arlington (No. 5 successful WAC)
219. Iona (No. 5 successful MAAC)
218. Northern Kentucky (No. 4 successful Horizon League)
217. Ball State (No. 8 successful MAC)
216. Valparaiso (No. 10 successful Missouri Valley)
215. Manhattan (No. 4 successful MAAC)
214. UNC Greensboro (No. 5 successful SoCon)
213. Campbell (No. 6 successful CAA)
212. North Dakota State (No. 4 successful Summit League)
211. Western Michigan (No. 7 successful MAC)
210. Colgate (No. 1 successful Patriot League)
209. Sacred Heart (No. 3 successful MAAC)
208. Pacific (No. 10 successful WCC)
207. Robert Morris (No. 3 successful Horizon League)
206. Sam Houston State (No. 10 successful Conference USA)
205. Portland State (No. 3 successful Big Sky)
204. Columbia (No. 5 successful Ivy League)
203. Rice (No. 13 successful American)
202. Delaware (No. 9 successful Conference USA)
201. Oakland (No. 2 successful Horizon League)

Could Greg Kampe get Oakland (No. 201) back to different NCAA tournament? Big man Tuburu Naivalurua is simply a load down low, arsenic is Jacksonville State transportation Michael Houge. Columbia (No. 204) hired Florida adjunct and violative coordinator Kevin Hovde to return complete their struggling programme and has nan talent to climb nan Ivy League ladder quickly, returning six of its apical 7 scorers from a twelvemonth ago. I appreciated Pacific (No. 208) athletic head Adam Tschuor putting Georgia Tech connected blast for tampering pinch PG Lamar Washington, who near for Atlanta this spring. Even pinch his departure, Pacific’s roster looks improved for second-year HC Dave Smart. 

We conscionable mentioned nan designer of Florida’s offense, Hovde, getting a caput job. Its protect coordinator, John Andrzejek, is taking complete astatine Campbell (No. 213). Known arsenic a world recruiter, Andrzejek has players from Nigeria, Lithuania, Guyana and Australia connected his first team. The MAAC has been gutted by nan portal successful caller years, truthful it was encouraging (and a spot surprising) to spot Manhattan (No. 215) support uber-talented guardant Will Sydnor aft a immense freshman year. He could detonate arsenic a sophomore. Also worthy watching successful nan MAAC is Iona (No. 219) which had a speedy hook connected Tobin Anderson aft 2 years and is starting caller pinch erstwhile NBA adjunct Dan Geriot. Talent-wise, this is simply a group tin of winning nan convention contempt being picked 5th here. 

200. Florida Gulf Coast (No. 4 successful Atlantic Sun)
199. Norfolk State (No. 1 successful MEAC)
198. Abilene Christian (No. 4 successful WAC)
197. Louisiana (No. 7 successful Sun Belt)
196. La Salle (No. 14 successful Atlantic 10)
195. Idaho (No. 2 successful Big Sky)
194. UT Rio Grande Valley (No. 4 successful Southland)
193. Lipscomb (No. 3 successful Atlantic Sun)
192. California Baptist (No. 3 successful WAC)
191. Texas State (No. 6 successful Sun Belt)
190. Youngstown State (No. 1 successful Horizon League)
189. North Alabama (No. 2 successful Atlantic Sun)
188. Nebraska Omaha (No. 3 successful Summit League)
187. Troy (No. 5 successful Sun Belt)
186. Princeton (No. 4 successful Ivy League)
185. William & Mary (No. 5 successful CAA)
184. Eastern Kentucky (No. 1 successful Atlantic Sun)
183. Quinnipiac (No. 2 successful MAAC)
182. East Carolina (No. 12 successful American)
181. Western Kentucky (No. 8 successful Conference USA)
180. Utah Valley (No. 2 successful WAC)
179. Cornell (No. 3 successful Ivy League)
178. Cal Poly (No. 6 successful Big West)
177. Stephen F. Austin (No. 3 successful Southland)
176. Tarleton State (No. 1 successful WAC)

The WAC is very overmuch a toss-up this play successful what could beryllium nan last twelvemonth for nan league. Just 7 teams remain, and they’ll play a triple round-robin schedule. We’ve sewage Tarleton State (No. 176), Utah Valley (No. 180) and California Baptist (No. 192) with razor-thin margins betwixt them. Tarleton has nan highest ceiling if move scorers Dior Johnson and Cam McDowell cookware out, though a flameout for either wouldn’t beryllium surprising. UVU loses a batch disconnected a 25-win season, but coach Todd Phillips seems to person things rolling there, while California Baptist is looking to break done and has a prima defender backmost successful Dominique Daniels Jr. to thief do conscionable that. 

Princeton (No. 186) managed to support Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce retired of nan transportation portal past year, but couldn’t do it a 2nd consecutive year. Lee is disconnected to Florida, while Pierce is redshirting this play pinch plans to transportation for his postgraduate twelvemonth adjacent season. That evidently puts a large dent successful its Ivy hopes, though Mitch Henderson has proven to beryllium an elite talent evaluator. Ethan Faulkner has kept things rolling from Jerrod Calhoun astatine Youngstown State (No. 190) as nan Penguins person a awesome chance to make nan NCAA tourney for nan first clip ever this season. Another squad hunting its first-ever travel dancing is UT Rio Grande Valley (No. 194), a programme that seems to beryllium trending up nether Kahil Fennell. Serbian large Filip Brankovic will beryllium a load to woody pinch successful nan Southland, which is much wide unfastened pinch Will Wade retired of nan league. And will immoderate smart AD ever make Norfolk State (No. 199) coach Robert Jones an connection he can’t refuse? Their nonaccomplishment is Norfolk’s gain, arsenic he has built 1 of nan astir accordant mid-major programs successful nan athletics there. 

175. Montana (No. 1 successful Big Sky)
174. Louisiana Tech (No. 7 successful Conference USA)
173. Temple (No. 11 successful American)
172. Indiana State (No. 9 successful Missouri Valley)
171. Siena (No. 1 successful MAAC)
170. Middle Tennessee (No. 6 successful Conference USA)
169. Hofstra (No. 4 successful CAA)
168. Massachusetts (No. 6 successful MAC)
167. Little Rock (No. 1 successful Ohio Valley)
166. San Diego (No. 9 successful WCC)
165. Texas A&M Corpus Christi (No. 2 successful Southland)
164. Appalachian State (No. 4 successful Sun Belt)
163. CSUN (No. 5 successful Big West)
162. Harvard (No. 2 successful Ivy League)
161. Winthrop (No. 4 successful Big South)
160. Samford (No. 4 successful SoCon)
159. San Jose State (No. 10 successful Mountain West)
158. Charlotte (No. 10 successful American)
157. Toledo (No. 5 successful MAC)
156. UTEP (No. 5 successful Conference USA)
155. Wyoming (No. 9 successful Mountain West)
154. UNC Asheville (No. 3 successful Big South)
153. New Mexico State (No. 4 successful Conference USA)
152. Southern Illinois (No. 8 successful Missouri Valley)
151. Furman (No. 3 successful SoCon)

Bob Richey’s Furman (No. 151) teams ever occurrence distant from deep, ranking successful nan apical 5 nationally taking complete 51% of its section goals from 3 past season. Even bigs for illustration 6' 11" Charles Johnston for illustration to occurrence away. The midrange jump changeable is retired of style, but New Mexico State’s (No. 153) Jemel Jones is single-handedly trying to bring it back. He took 289 non-rim twos past play (and changeable an awesome 49% connected them), a full that matched aliases surpassed that of 50 D-I teams past play (including Furman). Conference rival UTEP (No. 156) aims to muddy nan game, ranking successful nan apical 10 nationally successful opposing turnover complaint successful back-to-back years. And connected nan taxable of unsocial styles, it will beryllium rather nan accommodation for Samford (No. 160) to spell from Bucky McMillan’s breakneck run-and-press style to Lennie Acuff’s methodical, hyper-efficient offense. 

Harvard (No. 162) has mislaid transfers to Arizona, Georgetown, Stanford and St. John’s successful nan past 3 years. That’s why keeping prima freshman Robert Hinton this outpouring was peculiarly notable. He could situation for Ivy POY honors. Little Rock (No. 167) has had nan wounded bug deed early, but a nucleus that features Johnathan Lawson and elite rim protecting large Tuongthach Gatkek is capable to beryllium nan early prime successful nan OVC. Two much convention favorites to watch successful this range: Siena (No. 171), which has immoderate breathtaking young talent for illustration sophomore Gavin Doty and freshman Christian Jones; and Montana (No. 175), which kept move shot surface defender Money Williams from an NCAA tourney squad a twelvemonth ago.

150. UTSA (No. 9 successful American)
149. Richmond (No. 13 successful Atlantic 10)
148. Illinois Chicago (No. 7 successful Missouri Valley)
147. East Tennessee State (No. 2 successful SoCon)
146. Boston College (No. 18 successful ACC)
145. South Dakota State (No. 2 successful Summit League)
144. Fordham (No. 12 successful Atlantic 10)
143. Jacksonville State (No. 3 successful Conference USA)
142. Kennesaw State (No. 2 successful Conference USA)
141. UC San Diego (No. 4 successful Big West)
140. Tulsa (No. 8 successful American)
139. McNeese State (No. 1 successful Southland)
138. Rhode Island (No. 11 successful Atlantic 10)
137. Vermont (No. 1 successful America East)
136. Arkansas State (No. 3 successful Sun Belt)
135. Radford (No. 2 successful Big South)
134. UNC Wilmington (No. 3 successful CAA)
133. South Alabama (No. 2 successful Sun Belt)
132. Duquesne (No. 10 successful Atlantic 10)
131. Wichita State (No. 7 successful American)
130. Washington State (No. 8 successful WCC)
129. Hawai’i (No. 3 successful Big West)
128. Chattanooga (No. 1 successful SoCon)
127. Seattle (No. 7 successful WCC)
126. Drake (No. 6 successful Missouri Valley)

Drake (No. 126) has done thing but triumph of late, including an NCAA tourney triumph past play complete Missouri. The roster turns complete again pinch caller caput coach Eric Henderson, but Henderson has consistently recovered hidden gems successful his profession astatine South Dakota State and should proceed to successful Des Moines. Veteran defender transfers Jalen Quinn and Jaehshon Thomas should thief a roster successful transition. Want an illustration of really difficult it is for beardown mid-majors to get value games connected nan schedule? Chattanooga (No. 128) is caller disconnected winning nan NIT and will play 2 games successful different states (Nov. 7 astatine Saint Mary’s, Nov. 8 astatine UNLV) less than 24 hours isolated since they were among nan fewer value opponents consenting to play. Further grounds of mid-major scheduling woes tin beryllium recovered astatine UNC Wilmington (No. 134), which won’t play a azygous high-major squad this season. Beating Kentucky successful a bargain crippled successful December 2023 can’t person helped matters. 

Radford (No. 135) made 1 of nan year’s astir outside-the-box hires pinch Zach Chu, a Richmond alum pinch an analytics inheritance moving successful nan NBA. He brought pinch him a awesome NIL rate infusion that has helped nan Highlanders build a value roster, headlined by Clemson transportation Del Jones. Will Wade is gone from McNeese State (No. 139) but his fingerprints are still each complete nan program. His apical adjunct astatine LSU, Bill Armstrong, is nan caller caput coach and prima defender Javohn Garcia stuck astir to lead nan way. Antoine Pettway astatine Kennesaw State (No. 142) has done a awesome occupation taking advantage of bigger schools’ attraction connected nan portal to onshore apical freshmen. Star Adrian Wooley near for Louisville successful nan spring, but chap youngsters Braedan Lue and Jamil Miller are backmost and a six-man freshman people pinch precocious upside enrolls for this season. 

The past high-major squad successful nan rankings is Boston College (No. 146), which would still correspond a 35-spot betterment connected its KenPom decorativeness from a play ago. Star defender Donald Hand is back, but nan Eagles’ talent aft him is constricted and nan resources to get said talent are lacking compared to their powerfulness convention peers. 

125. Tulane (No. 6 successful American)
124. St. Thomas (No. 1 successful Summit League)
123. Ohio (No. 4 successful MAC)
122. Belmont (No. 5 successful Missouri Valley)
121. Davidson (No. 9 successful Atlantic 10)
120. James Madison (No. 1 successful Sun Belt)
119. California (No. 17 successful ACC)
118. Florida Atlantic (No. 5 successful American)
117. UC Irvine (No. 2 successful Big West)
116. Towson (No. 2 successful CAA)
115. Kent State (No. 3 successful MAC)
114. Loyola Marymount (No. 6 successful WCC)
113. Saint Joseph’s (No. 8 successful Atlantic 10)
112. UC Santa Barbara (No. 1 successful Big West)
111. Rutgers (No. 18 successful Big Ten)
110. North Texas (No. 4 successful American)
109. Bradley (No. 4 successful Missouri Valley)
108. Oregon State (No. 5 successful WCC)
107. Stanford (No. 16 successful ACC)
106. UAB (No. 3 successful American)
105. Akron (No. 2 successful MAC)
104. Illinois State (No. 3 successful Missouri Valley)
103. Penn State (No. 17 successful Big Ten)
102. Georgia Tech (No. 15 successful ACC)
101. South Carolina (No. 16 successful SEC)

Illinois State (No. 104) is connected an upward trajectory aft its first 20-win play since 2017. Ryan Pedon’s unit managed to clasp 2 heavy tampered-with players successful large man Chase Walker and defender Johnny Kinziger. Stanford (No. 107) head coach Kyle Smith has outperformed preseason KenPom expectations successful 7 consecutive seasons. That’s why successful Pomeroy’s caller coaching rankings, Smith comes successful astatine No. 7 nationally, supra Mark Few, Matt Painter and Bill Self. Another accordant overachiever? Brian Wardle astatine Bradley (No. 109), who has met aliases exceeded expectations successful six consecutive years en way to building a accordant victor successful Peoria, Ill. 

The conflict betwixt UC Santa Barbara (No. 112) and UC Irvine (No. 117) in nan Big West should beryllium fun. Santa Barbara is nan much talented group, pinch a brace of high-upside portal guards successful Aidan Mahaney and Miro Little joining talented helping Jason Fontenet. Irvine is nan astir accordant programme successful nan convention for a logic though, and nan return of defender Derin Saran aft a pit extremity astatine Stanford gives it 1 of nan champion scorers successful nan league. Speaking of accordant mid-major programs, nary whitethorn person Belmont (No. 122) beat. The Bruins person won 20-plus crippled successful each but 1 play since nan George W. Bush management and should support that streak live acknowledgment to sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade. And a mid-major powerfulness whitethorn beryllium brewing astatine St. Thomas (No. 124), which is eligible for nan NCAA tourney for nan first clip this play arsenic it completes nan move up from Division III. The schoolhouse is well-resourced, conscionable opened a sparkling caller installation and has an outstanding shot coach astatine its helm successful Johnny Tauer. This is simply a programme that could emergence quickly. 

100. Miami (Ohio) (No. 1 successful MAC)
99. High Point (No. 1 successful Big South)
98. St. Bonaventure (No. 7 successful Atlantic 10)
97. Murray State (No. 2 successful Missouri Valley)
96. Northern Iowa (No. 1 successful Missouri Valley)
95. Colorado (No. 16 successful Big 12)
94. Nevada (No. 8 successful Mountain West)
93. UNLV (No. 7 successful Mountain West)
92. DePaul (No. 11 successful Big East)
91. George Mason (No. 6 successful Atlantic 10)
90. New Mexico (No. 6 successful Mountain West)
89. UCF (No. 15 successful Big 12)
88. Seton Hall (No. 10 successful Big East)
87. Florida State (No. 14 successful ACC)
86. Yale (No. 1 successful Ivy League)
85. Utah (No. 14 successful Big 12)
84. Santa Clara (No. 4 successful WCC)
83. Pittsburgh (No. 13 successful ACC)
82. Arizona State (No. 13 successful Big 12)
81. Charleston (No. 1 successful CAA)
80. Grand Canyon (No. 5 successful Mountain West)
79. Liberty (No. 1 successful Conference USA)
78. Xavier (No. 9 successful Big East)
77. George Washington (No. 5 successful Atlantic 10)
76. Notre Dame (No. 12 successful ACC)

George Washington (No. 77) has its sights group connected an A-10 breakthrough this twelvemonth aft spending large successful nan portal this spring. The Revolutionaries person awesome depth, kept prima large Rafael Castro and gets shooting guardant Garrett Johnson backmost from injury. The jump to nan Mountain West is simply a notable 1 for Grand Canyon (No. 80). The Lopes person nan talent to compete correct away, but nan value of title and atmospheres they’ll locomotion into are nighttime and time from nan WAC. Charleston (No. 81) has 1 of nan strongest one-bid convention rosters, pinch 4 guys who’ve averaged double figures successful D-I positive a brace of beardown D-II transfers and a feline who started his profession astatine Duke. And astatine Santa Clara (No. 84), it will beryllium fascinating to watch Thierry Darlan play. The talented African helping was ruled eligible by nan NCAA contempt spending 2 seasons playing successful nan G League. 

Utah (No. 85) and Florida State (No. 87) each hired alums from nan NBA adjunct ranks. Alex Jensen was a terrific subordinate for nan Utes and spent a decade arsenic an adjunct for nan Jazz, while Luke Loucks is simply a 35-year-old up-and-comer who erstwhile ran nan constituent for Leonard Hamilton successful Tallahassee. Seton Hall (No. 88) was nan lowest-rated high-major squad past play en way to a 7–25 campaign, but nan roster is improved and transportation constituent defender Budd Clark is simply a consummate winner. 

The 90s are loaded pinch intriguing mid-majors. Northern Iowa (No. 96) and Murray State (No. 97) are cervix and cervix successful nan MVC, pinch Northern Iowa relying connected roster continuity and Murray all-in connected caller faces aft hiring Creighton adjunct Ryan Miller this spring. Watch French helping Roman Domon for nan Racers. High Point (No. 99) may person a caller coach successful Flynn Clayman, but nan talent level present is elite. A 3rd consecutive 25-win play should beryllium successful nan cards. And Miami (Ohio) (No. 100) came painfully adjacent to nan Big Dance a twelvemonth ago, losing by 2 to Akron successful nan MAC title game. With 5 of its apical six scorers back, this could beryllium nan twelvemonth for Travis Steele’s team.

75. San Francisco (No. 3 successful WCC)
74. Colorado State (No. 4 successful Mountain West)
73. South Florida (No. 2 successful American)
72. Syracuse (No. 11 successful ACC)
71. LSU (No. 15 successful SEC)
70. Dayton (No. 4 successful Atlantic 10)
69. Butler (No. 8 successful Big East)
68. West Virginia (No. 12 successful Big 12)
67. VCU (No. 3 successful Atlantic 10)
66. Loyola Chicago (No. 2 successful Atlantic 10)
65. Georgia (No. 14 successful SEC)
64. Villanova (No. 7 successful Big East)
63. Oklahoma State (No. 11 successful Big 12)
62. Wake Forest (No. 10 successful ACC)
61. Northwestern (No. 16 successful Big Ten)
60. Memphis (No. 1 successful American)
59. Georgetown (No. 6 successful Big East)
58. Minnesota (No. 15 successful Big Ten)
57. TCU (No. 10 successful Big 12)
56. Virginia Tech (No. 9 successful ACC)
55. Kansas State (No. 9 successful Big 12)
54. Mississippi State (No. 13 successful SEC)
53. Nebraska (No. 14 successful Big Ten)
52. Clemson (No. 8 successful ACC)
51. Texas (No. 12 successful SEC)

Clemson (No. 52) has 1 of nan much intriguing roster builds retired there, pinch 4 6' 9" aliases taller transfers each expected to facet in. Nick Davidson (Nevada) and Carter Welling (Utah Valley) are high-level talents to watch coming east. The backcourt is simply a mobility people though. Mississippi State (No. 54) and Kansas State (No. 55) will spell arsenic acold arsenic high-usage guards Josh Hubbard and PJ Haggerty, respectively, return them. Both are All-American talents pinch questionable supporting casts.  

Memphis (No. 60) losing Haggerty and Dain Dainja this offseason intends Penny Hardaway is starting fresh. The Tigers are still SI’s prime successful nan American acknowledgment to PG Dug McDaniel, but South Florida (No. 73) could springiness them a existent push. At times, Georgia (No. 65) whitethorn trot retired lineups pinch Marcus “Smurf” Millender and Blue Cain sharing nan level together. That backcourt could springiness SEC foes nan blues. Butler (No. 69) is excited astir freshman Azavier “Stink” Robinson, nan program’s highest-rated enlistee ever and nan headliner of a top-30 precocious schoolhouse class. LSU (No. 71) and Syracuse (No. 72) each participate nan twelvemonth pinch caput coaches connected nan basking spot but improved rosters from disastrous 2025 seasons. Dedan Thomas Jr. (LSU) and Naithan George (Syracuse) are high-level portal PGs who could supply a important boost. And successful lawsuit you’re already emotion old, debar watching Colorado State (No. 74) games. Their caller coach is March Madness fable Ali Farokhmanesh, who takes complete nan programme astatine 37 years aged aft being Niko Medved’s apical lieutenant successful Fort Collins, Colo. 

50. Miami (No. 7 successful ACC)
49. Utah State (No. 3 successful Mountain West)
48. Mississippi (No. 11 successful SEC)
47. Saint Louis (No. 1 successful Atlantic 10)
46. Providence (No. 5 successful Big East)
45. Boise State (No. 2 successful Mountain West)
44. SMU (No. 6 successful ACC)
43. Maryland (No. 13 successful Big Ten)
42. Vanderbilt (No. 10 successful SEC)
41. Saint Mary’s (No. 2 successful WCC)
40. Cincinnati (No. 8 successful Big 12)
39. USC (No. 12 successful Big Ten)
38. Indiana (No. 11 successful Big Ten)
37. Oklahoma (No. 9 successful SEC)
36. Marquette (No. 4 successful Big East)
35. Washington (No. 10 successful Big Ten)
34. Missouri (No. 8 successful SEC)
33. NC State (No. 5 successful ACC)
32. Texas A&M (No. 7 successful SEC)
31. Oregon (No. 9 successful Big Ten)
30. Baylor (No. 7 successful Big 12)
29. Iowa (No. 8 successful Big Ten)
28. Creighton (No. 3 successful Big East)
27. Alabama (No. 6 successful SEC)
26. San Diego State (No. 1 successful Mountain West)

San Diego State (No. 26) is our highest-rated squad from extracurricular nan powerfulness conferences different than Gonzaga. Keeping Magoon Gwath aft he tested nan portal and Miles Byrd aft he tested nan NBA draught was massive. Iowa (No. 29) is aggressively classed successful this ballot, but pinch an elite constituent defender successful Bennett Stirtz and a crisp tactical mind successful Ben McCollum it wouldn’t beryllium a daze if they overachieved. Baylor (No. 30) has struggled severely connected nan protect extremity since Jerome Tang near to beryllium nan caput coach astatine Kansas State. The Bears person made a concerted effort to amended there, hiring a defensive-minded adjunct successful Ron Sanchez and adding importantly much positional size than they’ve had successful caller years. 

It will beryllium fascinating to watch Texas A&M (No. 32) with Bucky McMillan taking over. Will his changeless full-court property activity astatine nan highest level of assemblage hoops? NC State (No. 33) has plentifulness of backcourt talent successful Will Wade’s first season, particularly if young guards Paul McNeil and Matt Able unrecorded up to nan lofty billing they’ve earned successful practice. Another caller coach to watch: Darian DeVries astatine Indiana (No. 38). This is very overmuch a modulation roster, but wings Tucker DeVries and Lamar Wilkerson should triumph nan Hoosiers games pinch their shooting ability. 

Few first-year coaches past play did a amended occupation than Mark Byington astatine Vanderbilt (No. 42). Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton are value returners to lead nan measurement successful 2025–26. SMU (No. 44) overachieved past season, but an 0–5 people successful Quad 1 games did it successful from an NCAA tourney standpoint. Jacksonville State transportation defender Jaron Pierre Jr. should thief push it complete nan apical successful high-level games. Providence (No. 46) had a miserable 2025 but should beryllium overmuch improved pinch Vandy transportation Jason Edwards and UCF import Jaylin Sellers starring nan way. And aft seeing nan accelerated year-over-year betterment Josh Schertz’s Indiana State’s teams had, it’s easy to stake connected Saint Louis (No. 47) for a large second-year jump. The talent level and extent person improved importantly from a twelvemonth ago.

25. Iowa State (No. 6 successful Big 12)

T.J. Otzelberger has earned nan use of nan uncertainty pinch his transportation portal evaluations aft immoderate awesome under-the-radar hits successful caller years, but this harvest of newcomers doesn’t look awesome connected paper. The 3 cardinal pieces Iowa State retained springiness them nan basal nucleus to compete for different protected seed successful nan NCAA tourney though, and if Dominick Nelson and Blake Buchanan hit, this ranking could look acold excessively debased successful retrospect. Read much connected nan Cyclones.

24. Gonzaga (No. 1 successful WCC)

This ranking would correspond a measurement backmost for Gonzaga aft a ridiculous 10 consecutive seasons successful nan apical 12 of KenPom, though nan Zags’ numbers are often juiced by their utter domination of WCC foes. That said, there’s excessively overmuch backcourt uncertainty to consciousness assured putting this squad among nan top-tier title contenders. We should study a batch early pinch matchups against Oklahoma, Creighton, Arizona State, Alabama and Maryland each earlier Thanksgiving Day. Read much connected nan Bulldogs.

23. Ohio State (No. 7 successful Big Ten)

From some a talent and continuity standpoint, this group looks for illustration an upper-third Big Ten team. The Buckeyes’ violative ceiling mightiness beryllium 1 of nan 5 aliases truthful champion units nationally. Concerns astir nan defense and a caput coach who’s successful conscionable his 2nd afloat play moving a programme are real, but this group’s ceiling is precocious if it each comes together. Read much connected nan Buckeyes.

22. Michigan State (No. 6 successful Big Ten)

The level is really precocious pinch this group fixed nan Hall of Fame coach connected nan sideline and nan elite protect personnel. The questions travel pinch nan ceiling, particularly fixed this group’s violative limitations. If thing else, this will not beryllium a nosy squad to play against and 1 that will apt grind their measurement to plentifulness of disfigured wins. Read much connected nan Spartans.

21. North Carolina (No. 4 successful ACC)

North Carolina’s roster building makes a batch much consciousness this twelvemonth than past season’s operation of ball-dominant guards and bad bigs. Henri Veesaar is simply a immense upgrade astatine center, and nan Heels tin situation a relentless rim beingness for illustration Seth Trimble pinch plentifulness of shooting. If Caleb Wilson makes nan effect immoderate successful Chapel Hill, N.C., expect him to, this group could beryllium successful for a awesome bounce back. Read much connected nan Tar Heels.

20. Virginia (No. 3 successful ACC)

Virginia nailed nan Ryan Odom hire, and Odom’s expertise to quickly put his stamp connected a spot pinch specified a salient predecessor is simply a really promising motion for nan future. The financial finance successful this roster should make nan barroom for a successful first twelvemonth much than conscionable sneaking into nan NCAA tournament, but nan operation of talent and acquisition present gives this roster a chance to earnestly push nan champion of nan ACC and perchance make a heavy tally this March. Read much connected nan Cavaliers.

19. UCLA (No. 5 successful Big Ten)

The Donovan Dent adhd massively increases nan Bruins’ ceiling from a twelvemonth ago, giving them nan elite talent and violative motor that could let them to return nan adjacent measurement and beryllium backmost successful Final Four contention. But it won’t beryllium easy successful a rough-and-tumble Big Ten, particularly pinch nan magnitude of recreation they’ll woody pinch successful January and February. Read much connected nan Bruins.

18. Wisconsin (No. 4 successful Big Ten)

The Badgers person been a comparatively safe stake nether Greg Gard to astatine slightest ace nan apical 20, landing arsenic a top-five seed successful 5 of nan past 7 years. This year’s portal class, erstwhile paired pinch John Blackwell and Nolan Winter, gives them capable talent to beryllium correct successful that aforesaid operation yet again. The adjacent measurement is simply a March breakthrough, pinch folks successful Madison, Wis., restless for a travel to nan 2nd play that hasn’t travel since 2017. Read much connected nan Badgers.

17. Tennessee (No. 5 successful SEC)

Tennessee has 1 of nan nation’s champion coaches, an elite constituent defender and a projected top-five NBA draught pick. That unsocial gives nan Vols a limb up connected astir of nan remainder of nan sport, particularly fixed you tin spot them to beryllium among nan champion defenses nationally. Things could get clunky offensively though astatine times, particularly if Amaree Abram aliases Ethan Burg doesn’t look arsenic a morganatic threat. Read much connected nan Vols.

16. Auburn (No. 4 successful SEC)

There’s plentifulness of uncertainty present pinch nan precocious coaching alteration and a new-look roster. Tahaad Pettiford is simply a superstar though, and Auburn has put capable talent astir him to beryllium very competitory successful nan SEC. If Keyshawn Hall channels his talents amended successful a winning business aliases Elyjah Freeman blossoms into a star, this group could easy beryllium backmost astatine nan apical of nan league. Read much connected nan Tigers.

15. Illinois (No. 3 successful Big Ten)

This year’s Illini squad doesn’t person arsenic overmuch NBA talent arsenic past year’s, but they’re older and much proven crossed nan board. If Andrej Stojakovic is arsenic advertised on pinch a jump from Tomislav Ivisic, this Illinois squad will beryllium incredibly difficult to guard. It’s going to beryllium reliable for anyone to drawback Purdue, but Illinois is built to people pinch conscionable astir anyone. Read much connected nan Illini.

14. Arkansas (No. 3 successful SEC)

This is nan astir continuity a John Calipari squad has had since nan 2015 Kentucky squad that went 38–1. No 1 should beryllium expecting that from Arkansas this year, but it’s not unrealistic to expect nan Razorbacks to earnestly contend astatine nan apical of nan SEC. At his best, possibly Calipari’s apical property was his expertise to get players who each believed they were nan champion subordinate to bargain into a squad concept. If he tin do that pinch this ball-dominant backcourt, nan Hogs should beryllium backmost successful nan 2nd play … and could possibly spell moreover further than that this March. Read much connected nan Razorbacks.

13. Arizona (No. 5 successful Big 12)

Tommy Lloyd is simply a proven winner, and it’s difficult not to emotion this group’s size, physicality and depth. This could beryllium nan champion squad successful nan state connected nan solid and 1 of nan champion successful transition. With a daunting early play schedule matching up against nan likes of Florida, UCLA, UConn and Auburn successful nan first period and change, don’t beryllium amazed if they return immoderate early losses arsenic this young group arsenic they find their footing offensively. But arsenic Lloyd finds nan champion lineup combinations to rotation out, this group could beryllium connected a rotation by March. Read much connected nan Wildcats.

12. Michigan (No. 2 successful Big Ten)

Dusty May did a batch pinch a modulation twelvemonth roster successful 2024–25 and now has nan type of talent to earnestly compete for Final Fours and nationalist championships. Yaxel Lendeborg is simply a apt first-rounder, and some Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. could play their measurement into that speech earlier nan twelvemonth is up. If Michigan’s large stake connected Elliot Cadeau pays off, this mightiness beryllium nan Big Ten squad astir equipped to situation Purdue for nan convention title. Read much connected nan Wolverines.

11. Kansas (No. 4 successful Big 12)

This is simply a captious twelvemonth astatine Kansas to beryllium that nan past 2 years aren’t a inclination and to maximize their clip pinch a perchance generational imaginable successful Darryn Peterson. If Peterson is arsenic bully arsenic I expect him to be, he’ll screen a batch of nan flaws pinch this roster. But there’s small separator for correction here, and nan roadworthy won’t beryllium easy pinch a reliable nonconference schedule successful summation to nan loaded Big 12 slate. Read much connected nan Jayhawks.

10. Kentucky (No. 2 successful SEC)

This is simply a deeper, much talented and much diversion Kentucky squad than nan 1 we saw past year, 1 pinch nan imaginable to beryllium overmuch improved defensively. If Mark Pope tin find imaginative ways to run efficiently connected nan violative extremity (and location are plentifulness of reasons to judge he will), this could beryllium 1 of nan champion two-way squads successful nan country. With a patient Jayden Quaintance, this is simply a squad that tin compete for a nationalist championship. Read much connected nan Wildcats.

9. BYU (No. 3 successful Big 12)

This BYU roster is built very overmuch for illustration an NBA team, pinch 3 ultra-high usage players successful Robert Wright III, Richie Saunders and AJ Dybantsa and highly specialized domiciled players surrounding them. That’s a potent trio tin of starring a squad to nan highest of heights successful nan assemblage game. The questions are existent defensively pinch this roster construction, though, particularly if immoderate of nan floor-spacing adds triumph retired successful nan conflict for minutes. With early tests against Villanova, UConn, Wisconsin and Miami successful nan season’s first month, we should study quickly conscionable really bully this BYU group is. Read much connected nan Cougars.

8. Louisville (No. 2 successful ACC)

If you’re making a database of assemblage basketball’s League Pass teams (i.e., nan squads you’d salary other to watch each night), Louisville would beryllium connected it. Pat Kelsey’s style of play paired pinch this magnitude of shooting and playmaking could make nan champion type of this squad an absolute joyousness to watch. Whether a squad this reliant connected nan 3 that mightiness not beryllium awesome connected nan protect extremity tin earnestly contend for a nationalist title remains to beryllium seen, but it feels foolish to stake against Kelsey aft his Year 1 magic. Read much connected nan Cardinals.

7. Texas Tech (No. 2 successful Big 12)

This is arsenic fierce a ranking arsenic you’ll find for a Tech squad that is extracurricular nan apical 20 of analytics-based preseason ranks for illustration T-Rank and EvanMiya. That said, this looks for illustration a roster that fits perfectly together. I’m bullish connected nan transportation portal additions and their fresh pinch 2 stars successful JT Toppin and Christian Anderson. The Big 12 is loaded, but nan Red Raiders should beryllium a facet astatine nan top. Read much connected nan Red Raiders.

6. St. John’s (No. 2 successful Big East)

Rick Pitino’s elite protect strategy pinch this magnitude of size and athleticism fundamentally ensures this group will beryllium 1 of nan astir imposing teams connected that extremity of nan level this season. That mixed pinch nan added three-point shooting raises nan ceiling of this group higher than past season’s team, though shaky constituent defender play could beryllium what holds Pitino’s squad backmost from a existent breakthrough successful March. Read much connected nan Red Storm.

5. Purdue (No. 1 successful Big Ten)

Purdue has 1 of nan champion coaches successful nan state (Matt Painter), nan champion constituent defender successful nan state (Braden Smith), and 1 of nan champion forwards successful nan state (Trey Kaufman-Renn). That gives Purdue 1 of nan highest floors successful nan country. If nan defense takes a measurement aliases 1 of nan young guards explodes into different top-tier option, this mightiness beryllium nan champion squad successful nan country. Read much connected nan Boilermakers.

The apical 4 teams will beryllium revealed this week: No. 4 connected Tuesday, Oct. 28, No. 3 connected Wednesday, Oct. 29, No. 2 connected Thursday, Oct. 30 and No. 1 connected Friday, Oct. 31. Find afloat profiles of each squad connected SI.com and cheque backmost present for nan updated rankings each day.

More College Basketball connected Sports Illustrated

Listen to SI’s caller assemblage sports podcast, Others Receiving Votes, beneath aliases connected Apple and Spotify. Watch nan show connected SI’s YouTube channel.