The 2024-25 college basketball season is over.
However, that does not mean the articles stop there. In this edition of Sam’s Section, the first top 15 teams are revealed for the 2025-26 season. This will undoubtedly be different by the time fall comes around, but here are the best teams as of right now.
- Duke
Losing National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg hurts, along with Khaman Maluach and Kon Kneuppel. However, the Blue Devils are primed to be one of the favorites to cut down the nets in Indianapolis, a place where they have won three of their five national titles. Enter Cameron Boozer, one of the top incoming freshmen in the country. Like Flagg, he won the Gatorade Player of the Year honor during his final year in high school. Will he live up to the same level as Flagg? Probably not, but he will still stand out. The real question becomes whether lead guard Tyrese Proctor will stay or not.
- Houston
Houston is coming off its best season since back-to-back national championship game appearances in 1983 and 1984 with Phi Slama Jama. The Cougars will miss LJ Cryer, who capped off a decorated career at both Baylor and Houston. The torch will be passed from Cryer and J’Wan Roberts to Joseph Tugler and Milos Uzan. Kelvin Sampson is not done with coaching just yet.
- Arkansas
There are a lot of reasons to be excited about head coach John Calipari’s second year in Fayetteville. Even though they will miss Boogie Fland, the Razorbacks replace him with Darius Acuff: a McDonald’s All-American. They must hit the transfer portal, but their depth is prominent. With potential returnees that include D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Adou Thiero and Trevon Brazile, Arkansas fans should be excited right now.
- Florida
Florida will lose Walter Clayton Jr., who has gotten comparisons to NBA legend Stephen Curry during his incredible run in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Like Arkansas, the Gators will have to hit the transfer portal in search of veterans in the backcourt. However, their frontcourt will be lethal as Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Hanglogten are all eligible to return. Add in the fact that they will bring back 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux next year, and you have the most loaded frontcourt in the country.
- Purdue
The Boilermakers are primed to be the best team in the Big Ten again. Their starting lineup will mostly be retained, including stars Trey Kaufmann-Renn and Braden Smith. South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff was a massive get for head coach Matt Painter’s squad, who looks to avenge the 2023-24 team that lost in the national championship game. Purdue’s 2025-26 roster is all about experience, which will help them get through a strong Big Ten Conference next season.
- Michigan State
If head coach Tom Izzo brings back Jace Richardson, who will test the NBA Draft waters, Michigan State brings an argument for the best backcourt in college basketball, as Jeremy Fears is expected to return to East Lansing, Mich. for the 2025-26 season. The talent on the team does not blow away anybody, but they have key pieces on a roster that knows what it takes to win in the Big Ten.
- Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s frontcourt was one of the best in college basketball. And guess what? They are expected to run it back for another year. After seeing their Final Four hopes slip away in the West Regional Final, the Red Raiders have a lot of returnees, as well as experience, to compete for more than just a Big 12 title.
- BYU
Like Texas Tech, BYU’s frontcourt is dangerous, headlined by No. 1 recruit A.J. Dybantsa. The only flaw may be their backcourt, which becomes a massive hole if guard Richie Saunders departs. Assuming he stays, BYU may have its most talented roster ever.
- Kentucky
It would not surprise me if Kentucky were one of the top teams in the country, especially if you consider their rising star Otega Oweh. The Wildcats lost Kerr Kriisa in the transfer portal but added Jaland Lowe from Pittsburgh and Kam Williams from Tulane. Their overall incoming class ranks third in the country, including two five-star recruits and one four-star recruit.
- UConn
Whether Alex Karaban stays or goes is up to him, but if he stays, UConn will have one of the best teams in the country. They have a loaded recruiting class including sharpshooter Braylon Mullins. In the transfer portal, head coach Dan Hurley may have gotten himself the next Tristen Newton in former Georgia Bulldog Silas Demary Jr. With Solo Ball, Jaylin Stewart and Tarris Reed Jr. all returning, watch out for the Huskies.
- Arizona
- St. John’s
- Oregon
- Louisville
- UCLA