Between the moment Florida cut down the nets in San Antonio and now, as fall practices loom, college basketball has been anything but quiet. The offseason has reshaped rosters, rewritten narratives, and redrawn the balance of power across the country. With the summer shuffle coming to an end, it’s time to take stock of who came out ahead, who stumbled, and which programs are poised to make the biggest noise when the ball tips again.
Florida Reloads, Not Rebuilds
The Gators might have lost pieces from their magical national title run, but Todd Golden didn’t waste a second retooling. Florida locked down the No. 6 transfer class in the nation while also pulling in two highly-rated four-star recruits. Boogie Fland from Arkansas, Xaivian Lee from Princeton, and AJ Brown from Ohio headline a group that will keep Florida’s backcourt dangerous. Add in returning contributors like Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, and suddenly, the Gators don’t look like a team that just climbed the mountaintop—they look like one ready to defend it.
Vegas still tempers expectations (+1700 odds to repeat), but let’s be honest: Florida has every tool needed to stake its claim as the new beast of the SEC.
Rick Pitino Reloads at St. John’s
Pitino’s dream return season ended abruptly in the NCAA Tournament, exposing the cracks in the Red Storm’s armor. But if you thought he was going to stay down, think again. With the No. 1-ranked transfer class, Pitino is back with a vengeance. He’s bringing in elite talent—former five-stars Ian Jackson, Joson Sanon, and Dillon Mitchell—to overhaul his roster. Combine that with the return of Zuby Ejiofor and addition of Bryce Hopkins, and suddenly St. John’s looks like a 30-win threat. Pitino even poked fun at last year’s offensive woes on Twitter, promising that this squad will “shoot the lights out.” Translation: St. John’s will not be bullied this time around.
Memphis Chaos Continues
Meanwhile, down in Memphis, Penny Hardaway’s offseason reads like a bad soap opera. Academic fraud penalties, a rejected Big 12 bid, and even an arrest involving a transfer headlined a summer of turmoil. Add that to Penny’s history of NCAA run-ins, suspensions, and player controversies, and the Tigers are once again fighting distractions before the season even starts. Stability is what they desperately need—chaos is what they continue to get.
Kentucky & Louisville: Bluegrass Back on Top
Last year, Kentucky basketball was full of questions, and Louisville was in full rebuild mode. Fast forward to now? Both programs are thriving.
Kentucky, under Mark Pope, returns a deep roster plus a top-10 incoming class, giving Big Blue Nation real hope of climbing higher than last year’s Sweet 16 run. But the bigger surprise may be in Louisville. Pat Kelsey has pulled off nothing short of a miracle: from 8–24 two years ago to 27–8 last season, and now likely entering the top 10 thanks to phenom Mikel Brown Jr. Suddenly, the “reviVille” doesn’t sound like a slogan—it looks like reality.
NCAA Tournament Expansion: Dead (For Now)
On the broader stage, the push to expand the NCAA Tournament fizzled. For at least another season, the 68-team field remains sacred. Expansion to 72 or 76 still lingers in the background, but for now, March Madness is untouched. Tradition lives another year.
Kevin Willard’s Rocky Transition
Maryland fans won’t forget Kevin Willard’s messy departure anytime soon. Leaving the Terps for Villanova, Willard burned bridges and enters his new job with expectations tempered. Only two Maryland players followed him, and neither were stars. Recruiting hasn’t been stellar either (ranked No. 48). If Willard can drag Nova into the upper half of the Big East, it may count as one of his best coaching jobs yet.
Big Ten Power Surge
If you’re looking for the deepest league in America, look no further than the Big Ten. Preseason projections put four Big Ten teams inside the top 10 and nine inside the top 30. Purdue, led by Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, is once again a favorite. Michigan reloaded through the transfer portal with names like Elliot Cadeau and Aday Mara. Illinois grabbed international talent and now sits at No. 7 in the preseason rankings.
The Big Ten hasn’t won a national title since Michigan State in 2000—a 25-year drought—but this season may finally end the wait.
Houston Owns the Big 12
Yes, Kansas landed Darryn Peterson. Yes, BYU got AJ Dybantsa. Yes, Arizona, Iowa State, and Texas Tech are all rising. But let’s be clear: the Big 12 still runs through Houston. Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars return stars like JoJo Tugler and Emanuel Sharp, plus five-star Chris Cenac Jr., the highest-rated recruit in school history. Two years in the league, two runaway conference titles—don’t expect year three to be different.
Duke Stretches Its Lead in the ACC
And finally, we come to the Triangle. Duke isn’t just ahead—it’s pulling away. With the No. 1 recruiting class led by Cam and Cayden Boozer, plus five-star Dame Sarr, the Blue Devils are preseason No. 1 material. Meanwhile, UNC is scrambling under Hubert Davis, who enters the season under immense pressure, and NC State is starting over under Will Wade.
The gap in the ACC is wide. And Duke? Duke looks ready to make it even wider.
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