We’ll move towards the individual players who dictate their team’s makeup and performance. While this is denoted as the players’ article, we’ll be referring back and cross-referencing teams to build off previous knowledge

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Breaking the proverbial ice with a simple sorting, we’ll view the players that made the highest percentage of their team’s threes.1

What might drive this statistic? An intentional team build? Necessity? This is the question we’ll come back to throughout this exercise.

The number of players who made at least one three on average in 2026 per team was 10.72. With a median of 11, this highlights just how much weight the shooters above are pulling. Utilizing the “shooters” formula, we can test any correlation between the highest volume shooting players and the teams with the fewest number of shooters. This will provide a rudimentary test to see if high %t3PM is based on necessity.

The average number of shooters on a team with a player who contributed at least 40% of their team’s threes, which will be referred to as an Ultra-Volume Shooter (UVS) is 9.7, slightly below the shooters average. This provides a good start.

To expand upon this, we can look to visualize teams with an UVS alongside efficiency and volume. We’ll pull all teams with a player that made at least 40% of their threes for this exercise.

The four quadrants above are based on the national average for their respective statistic. With teams decidedly grouped, the low three point rate for 13 of the 15 teams, and below average shooting for 10 of the 15 highlight a pattern. UVSs aren’t shooting out of choice as much as out of necessity.

Taking this a step forward, we can look to see the distribution for a team’s leading three point maker for teams that are in the bottom 25 when considering efficiency and rank: teams that’d fit in the bottom left of the previous graph.

Many of the players in the bottom left of the previous figure appear here are classified as being on poor three point shooting teams, furthering the idea of the inevitability of their role.

The median and mean of percentage of threes made relative to a team’s total threes, 29.9% and 30.9% respectively, are above the average %t3PM of 27.5%. If we reverse this, looking at the highest three point shooters on the top shooting teams, will we see a value below the %t3pm average?

Yes! The average %t3pm for players on top 25 teams was 25.7%, which is just about 2% below the average, in line with the 3% above the average we saw for players on bad shooting teams.

We might expect this necessary overtaxing of UVSs on poor shooting teams to negatively impact their efficiency. We can view the correlation between %t3PM and efficiency on a national basis to see if this is the case.

There is a slight positive correlation between percentage of three pointers made and the percentage of a team’s three pointers made, meaning more efficient shooters are taxed on a higher basis, contrary to prior thought. This is circular logic in a sense, as the more threes are made, the higher a contribution will be.

Despite this, a popular belief may be that a player is only a high efficiency shooter because they are able to take easier, lower pressure shots. If we compare a team’s top two shooters, is this the case?

On average, primary shooters made about 7% more of their team’s threes than secondary shooters. Primary shooters also shot at about a 1.6% better efficiency than secondary shooters. The best shooters on a team seem to be the ones who make the most shots, not ones who get the most open opportunities. Could there be noise of players taking a high volume of shots, opening up more looks for players to make shots that wouldn’t exist otherwise? Some missed-shot gravity?2

About 13% of the teams in the country have a different player who made the majority of their team’s threes than who shot the most threes. Missed-shot gravity is worth considering, but this might not be a strategy worth encouraging for head coaches.

From this analysis, we’ve gotten a clearer idea on player utilization from a three point volume standpoint. Pertaining to concentration: a single player contributing 40% of their team’s threes isn’t a team building choice. These players are on poor three point shooting teams. UVSs are often based on necessity, intentionality.

This isn’t to say their role is based on hero ball. We’d expect the volume of a player’s threes and their efficiency to be negatively correlated. The difference between a team’s top two three point shooters sees the better shooter having higher efficiency. Even on bad teams, nearly 90% of the time, good shooters are getting fed more. There is still some opportunity to reshuffle perimeter volume, but a single shot doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

This is the soft launch of a statistic (%t3PM) I’ll be referencing throughout my conference previews, coming in six weeks. This analysis has provided some perspective, despite undoubtedly relying upon circular reasoning.

Are we in the dawn of the death of the three point shot? Surely not. With 365 teams in D1, there will always be teams prioritizing “fads” that have elapsed in popularity, but not effectiveness. The perimeter game will always hold value, but the concentration may vary if a lower emphasis on perimeter volume. Three point shooting holds value, but how does the makeup of three point shooting look in 2026? Will teams look to prioritize five capable shooters who can play together, a couple of higher volume shooters, shooting just at specific positions, or something else?

In this exercise, we’ll look to get away from labelling teams as talented shooting units just based on raw three point efficiency. Instead, we’ll dig into a breakdown of three point concentration, to look to see if we can get more specific than banal buzzwords used during a pregame show on ESPN 2.

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An introduction to our first statistic of note will require volunteers of three teams labelled insouciantly as “flame-throwers from outside”. The top three teams based on raw three point efficiency in 2026 were Belmont, Saint Louis and Yale. Of these three teams, our initial focus is on which players are shooting the highest percentage of their made shots.

The highlighted column below1, percentage of a team’s three pointers made (%t 3PM) is just that. Leveraging this column reveals the most efficient perimeter team in the country relied quite heavily upon an individual shooter.

Tyler Lundblade was arguably the second best shooter in the country this past season2. Based on both his volume and his efficiency, he propelled the best shooting team in the country, completing a third of their shots from the perimeter. Belmont’s further reliance is highlighted in the fact that Lundblade made nearly 20% more of his team’s threes than anyone else on his roster.

The Bruins and Billikens had a very comparable three point rate (t3PR), far higher than Yale’s. This highlights the unique distinction in the player’s made three concentration. Yale has a much tighter distribution, with only 8% between their players who have made the most threes for them. Saint Louis’ distribution gap seems wider, at 12% between their highest and lowest qualified three point shooters, but they had five shooters who made at least 30 threes3. This is where volume becomes tantamount to efficiency. While the Billikens might not have a player making threes to the same volume as Lundblade, they have an additional volume shooter.

Expanding this made shot concentration to the top 10 teams, two teams fall out of this expected volume shooters (30 or more three pointer made) of four or five.

Texas Tech and Colorado State stand at opposite ends of the spectrum for the number of players who made 30 threes last season. An easy explanation for fewer qualified shooters might be a team shooting fewer threes, meaning their top 10 efficiency is subdued. Despite contrasting in volume shooters, three point volume does not favor Colorado State. Not only does three point rate speak to this, but their pace of play as well.

Colorado State ended up making 51 fewer threes on the season than Texas Tech, despite having twice the volume shooters as the Red Raiders. Any familiarity with either of the teams this season would point towards the depth of their respective rotations.

Expanding on the “taxing” of a volume shooter, we’ll divide the number of threes made per game by the volume shooters on a roster. The resulting number (VS’3G) highlights teams with the greatest balance of number of qualified shooters with the number of threes made.

The below is a unique hodgepodge of teams with real varying shooter makeup. Of these 10, two stand out. Santa Clara, high volume in shooters and shooting and LIU Brooklyn, low volume in shooters and shooting.

LIU’s highest volume shooter hit just 1.57 threes per game. This is a unique statistic, incredible given that the requirement to be considered a volume shooter is about 1.0 per game. The Sharks had a lower three point rate, meaning they didn’t need as many three point shooters.

Santa Clara lacks a single shooter making more than a fifth of their total threes. What they do possess is great depth, as they made nearly triple the threes that LIU did last season, behind their three additional volume shooters.

Let’s work to simplify this, by seeing the forest for her trees. As a whole, this is just looking towards the amount of work the qualified shooters have to do, and the number of qualified shooters that exist on a team. To fall on either end of the VS’3G spectrum, a team either needs:

1. Many threes by many players

2. Many threes by few players

3. Few threes by many players

4. Few threes by few players

So far, we can classify the following:

Will the teams with the most taxed shooters all fall into the bottom right quadrant?

To an extent, to answer the question above. All of the teams above are subpar three point shooting teams, and only only one team attempts threes at least at an average rate. Is this a single shooter being taxed? Or is it a number of shooters being unable to reach the volume shooter threshold? Hampton has hypothetically the most overtaxed shooters and provides a quality case study.

Five players made at least 20 threes on the season, hinting towards the fact that 30 might be an unreachable metric for some teams with a lower three point rate. We’ll need to adjust this metric on a team-by-team basis to get the full picture.

We’ll start this individual analysis by computing the number of players that made at least 10% of their team’s total perimeter shots (adj VS Vol).

The data below shows a better rate adjusted statistic, leading to lower volume teams being rewarded. The two teams that are the most balanced per this metric would have their average adjusted qualified shooter make less than a three a game to make at least a 10th of their made threes on the season.

Previously visited Hampton and North Carolina A&T make sizeable leaps when adjusting. NCA&T is granted four additional shooters who made less than 30 threes, but still made a 10th of the team’s threes.

Gleaning some takeaways from this lower adjVS Vol metric, we see a number of players who are somewhere between the 30 three pointer made and 10% of a team’s three pointer made added into the mix. This margin between the two variables is larger for teams who attempt fewer threes, and poor shooting teams, which almost all of the ten teams in the previous figure are.

The teams on the other end of the spectrum are some that don’t come as too much of a surprise. These are teams with a higher three point rate. If you made at least 10% of your a high volume team’s threes, then you would have made at least 30 of your team’s threes, and would fit both the adjusted and non-adjusted volume shooter category.

South Florida remains unable to find balance in their three point makers, and that is well evident from the gap between the player who has made the second and third most threes.

Determining whether or not a team is a strong shooting team is far more complex than just their shooting percentage. Would a team with individual perimeter talents as in South Florida or a more balanced team like Colorado State be more preferable?

We will look to continue adding to the chart below4 in coming articles. I am adding this statistic to my coming ranking of every single college basketball team for the upcoming season, this should act as a primer.

Part two will dig into individual talents, seeing who is carrying the load the most for their respective teams, and what their specific team-dependent volume of shooting means for their individual statistic profile

To better understand what that looks like, here are the top five selections, along with several notable coaches who were not picked in the first round.

One obvious theme is the preference for younger coaches, leaving several coaches at major programs still available. It is difficult to imagine someone like Tom Izzo coaching anywhere other than Michigan State, but an exercise like this levels the playing field. Many younger coaches could have decades ahead of them, while Izzo could retire at any point without surprising anyone.

Round two will proceed from the top of the board before highlighting a few undrafted free agents: the final coaches left unselected, as well as other notable names for various reasons.

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Tier One

R(ound)2, P(ick)1 - Speedy Claxton
Age: 48

In his five seasons, Speedy Claxton has underachieved his KenPom expectations just once at Hofstra. During that span, he has produced four 20-win seasons, two top-90 finishes, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Pride hung with Alabama in a game that was closer than the final score suggested.

That success was driven by a backcourt featuring a former Rick Pitino player and a freshman; as despite significant roster turnover each year, Claxton has consistently found creative ways to replace talent lost through the transfer portal. Hofstra is a solid job in the CAA, but it is clearly a step below Charleston. Claxton’s ability to coach effectively on both ends of the floor, rather than benefiting from a conference trended toward offense or defense, is why he ranks among the best coaches in the country under 50.

R2, P2 - Mike Magpayo
Age: 46

Prior to arriving at UC Riverside, the program had just two top-200 KenPom finishes since moving to Division I in 2001. Mike Magpayo produced four in five seasons. He then took over at Fordham, another job that has rarely been competitive. His first season started slowly, but he eventually turned things around, finishing 23 spots above the team’s preseason KenPom projection. Fordham has more in common with a Patriot League program than a typical A-10 school, making Magpayo an ideal fit. While sustained NCAA Tournament success is unlikely at jobs of this caliber, he has already raised the ceiling well beyond what many thought possible. If he can make Fordham consistently respectable, it will be a significant accomplishment.

R2, P3 - Joe Gallo
Age: 46

Joe Gallo has built a winner across two conferences since moving to Division I. Despite spending a decade with the program, he is relatively young. The one notable blemish on his résumé is the lack of an NCAA Tournament appearance despite consistently fielding competitive teams.

That can largely be explained by the program’s transition period, when some of its best teams were ineligible for postseason play and unable to compete in the conference tournament. Since joining the MAAC, the program has posted back-to-back top-200 seasons, showing that a higher level of competition has raised the ceiling rather than exposed weaknesses. Can a team whose offense consistently trails its defense make noise in March?

R2, P4 - Jeremy Shulman
Age: 46

You will not find many coaches on this list who have yet to produce a top-200 KenPom season, but at UT Martin, a program ranked 325th nationally, that should not come as a surprise. The Skyhawks have just two top-200 finishes in the KenPom era and operate with some of the fewest resources in the OVC. This past season, they matched their highest win total of the KenPom era with 22 victories, powered by an international-heavy roster. The formula was straightforward: a strong defense on one end and a high-volume three-point attack on the other, despite poor shooting efficiency. The Skyhawks finished outside the top 300 offensively, but even modest improvement from three-point range would dramatically change the outlook of the offense. Giving Jeremy Shulman a more level playing field could unlock that potential, which is why he makes this list despite having only two seasons as a head coach.

R2, P5 - Sundance Wicks
Age: 45

Three for three in outperforming preseason KenPom expectations, Sundance Wicks has done so despite inheriting difficult circumstances. He was hired late in the coaching carousel before arriving at Wyoming, leaving him well behind in the transfer portal race.

After beating preseason KenPom projections by 120 spots at Green Bay following one of the worst stretches in program history, he earned the Wyoming job. In his second season, he led the Cowboys to a top-100 KenPom finish. With conference realignment reshaping the Mountain West, the path to moving up the standings looks more attainable. A coach who has yet to win 20 games may not stand out at first glance, but a closer look reveals a highly promising résumé.

Tier Two

R2, P6 - Alan Huss
Age: 47

The recent rise of High Point began under Alan Huss, who left after two seasons to become Creighton’s coach-in-waiting. Following a year of preparation, he will now take over a Big East program. Huss reached the NCAA Tournament in his second season at High Point, though the run ended in the first round. He was successful in both years with the program, but unlike his successor, Flynn Clayman, he did not win a tournament game. Huss is also a decade older than Clayman and has spent his head coaching career at a well-funded program. A season at a good, but not elite, high-major job will provide a valuable test and give a clearer picture of his long-term trajectory.

R2, P7 - Brad Underwood
Age: 62

Brad Underwood got his Division I head coaching start a little more than a decade ago, making him older than many might expect for someone who feels like a relatively recent arrival. His Final Four appearance this past season remains impressive, even with the increased financial resources now available to Illinois, this was a program that had gone 20 years without reaching that stage. In some ways, that breakthrough may have been overdue. Illinois has posted five top-20 KenPom finishes in the past six seasons, yet this was only the second time Underwood advanced beyond the Round of 32.

Poor NCAA Tournament draws have played a major role. UConn, in particular, has been a recurring obstacle, ending Illinois’ two most recent deep tournament runs. Regardless, Underwood is building in a distinctive way during the modern era. While retirement speculation has been quieter than it has been for many coaches in their early 60s, the presence of his son on the staff, and as a potential successor, could lead to an earlier retirement than expected.

R2, P8 - Tevon Saddler
Age: 31

Tevon Saddler is the youngest coach considered, with only three seasons at Nicholls. He likely would have ranked even higher after the 2025 season, but last year was his weakest campaign. In his second year, he produced the best season in program history. While the previous two Nicholls coaches moved on to larger jobs, that does not necessarily mean the program is particularly well positioned within the Southland. Saddler’s best season ranks among the strongest in school history and highlights his ability to elevate the program beyond its natural baseline.

R2, P9 - Matt Braeuer
Age: 40

One of two first-year Southland coaches who impressed this past season, Matt Braeuer led his team to 28 wins in year one. He did so at a program ranked second in the conference by Jeff Goodman, though those preseason rankings ended up looking suspiciously similar to the final standings, suggesting lazy polling. The biggest warning sign heading into next season is that his team finished among the 12 best three-point defenses in the country. If shooting luck swings the other way, regression could follow. The challenge now is proving that this year’s success was sustainable rather than situational.

R2, P10 - Kyle Smith
Age: 56

Widely regarded as one of the best player developers in college basketball, Kyle Smith has spent his career turning struggling programs into respectable ones. While Stanford is one of the world’s most prestigious universities, it has not carried the same reputation in basketball circles, particularly since joining the ACC. Smith’s work at Washington State deserves far more recognition.

Leading the Cougars to 25 wins, an NCAA Tournament appearance, and a tournament victory is the equivalent of a Final Four run at some higher-profile programs. If Smith had spent the last decade at a more visible job, he would likely be viewed much differently on the national stage. Few coaches have consistently done more with less over the past 15 years.

R2, P11 - Sean Miller
Age: 57

Since returning to college basketball, Sean Miller has enjoyed more postseason success than regular-season success. His ability to outperform his seed line has almost become a sore subject for Arizona fans, though they appear quite happy with the coach who replaced him. Miller’s final two seasons at Xavier were somewhat disappointing. Injuries played a major role in 2024, while in 2025 the Musketeers benefited from a down year in the Big East. In a stronger conference, a 13-win league record likely would not have happened. Leaving a team with that many high major conference wins out of the NCAA Tournament is difficult, and Miller found himself in that position in consecutive seasons. Even so, he has continued to demonstrate a strong floor. By leaving Xavier for Texas, he showed he is still pursuing bigger opportunities, suggesting he plans to remain in coaching for quite some time after the involuntary pause in his career.

R2, P12 - Tony Skinn
Age: 43

After two seasons at George Mason, Kim English earned a move to the Big East despite underperforming relative to the program’s historical profile in both years. Tony Skinn, meanwhile, is entering his fourth season after outperforming that benchmark in each of his first three. This past season had the potential to be special. George Mason remained in the at-large conversation and climbed into the top 70 of KenPom before injuries contributed to a late collapse. That downturn likely cost the Patriots among their best chances to return to the NCAA Tournament since Jim Larrañaga’s final season. George Mason operates well below the top spenders in the A-10, and the roster reflects that reality. Frequent rebuilding and a defense-first approach have become necessities. Given those constraints, Skinn’s performance has been highly impressive.

R2, P13 - Niko Medved
Age: 52

Minnesota was the focus of an earlier article this year after improving three spots in KenPom during a seven-game losing streak. That unusual rise reflected how competitive the Gophers remained despite the losses.

They eventually snapped the streak with a win over Michigan State, offering a glimpse of their potential. First-year coach Niko Medved inherited a roster with more resources than the previous staff enjoyed, but injuries significantly limited the team’s ceiling. During that seven-game skid, Minnesota even built a 20-point lead against Wisconsin while missing arguably its three best players. If Medved can field a healthy roster with talent comparable to the rest of the Big Ten, there is every reason to expect significant improvement. Having already succeeded at three previous stops before landing the Minnesota job, his track record suggests this is a coach worth betting on.

Tier Three

R2, P14 - Buzz Williams
Age: 53

It is easy to forget just how good Texas A&M was in Buzz Williams’ final season. Given how disappointing his first year at Maryland was, the case for Williams is not immediately obvious. It starts with the fact that he has won everywhere he has coached. The challenge has never been success, but retention. Williams rarely stays longer than six or seven years at any one school. Even so, he has repeatedly demonstrated a remarkably high floor once his programs are established. It is fair to wonder what Texas A&M could have become had he remained long term. While he may prefer to reset the coaching clock, that is not the focus here. Despite already coaching at five schools, Williams is still only in his early 50s.

R2, P15 - Griff Aldrich
Age: 51

Moving on from the Big South is probably the right move for Griff Aldrich. While High Point’s recent dominance may not last forever, the Big South has a clear ceiling. Aldrich now heads to the WCC, a conference that likewise has been defined by a powerhouse. With Gonzaga no longer looming over the league and Randy Bennett off to the Big 12, the path to an automatic bid at Pepperdine looks more attainable. Aldrich led Longwood to the first two NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, including a bid stolen from High Point in a season when Longwood went just 6-10 in conference play. Known for his eccentric personality and approach, Aldrich remains one of the more intriguing coaches in the sport. The question now is whether he can sustain success at another under-resourced program.

R2, P16 - Chris Collins
Age: 52

It happened nearly a decade ago, but Chris Collins leading Northwestern to its first NCAA Tournament appearance was a major achievement. At the time, he was viewed as a rising star and proof that the Mike Krzyzewski coaching tree could produce high-level head coaches.

While that breakthrough never led to a bigger job, Northwestern offers the combination of a prestigious university and a world-class city, making it an appealing place to stay. The Wildcats remain one of the least attractive jobs of the high majors, yet Collins has consistently kept them competitive and occasionally much better than that. Identifying and developing players like Boo Buie, Nick Martinelli, and Brooks Barnhizer is not something typically associated with Northwestern basketball. The fact that Collins has sustained success in such a difficult environment speaks to his coaching ability and raises questions about what he could accomplish with greater resources.

R2, P17 - Phil Martelli Jr.
Age: 44

Comparing Jared Grasso to Chris Beard is unfair to both, but there is a parallel. Both were forced to leave from programs that continued winning under successors who inherited much of their roster. Unlike Rodney Terry at Texas, however, Phil Martelli Jr. proved he was more than a one-year story. After leading Bryant in year two to the best season in program history, some still pointed to the carryover talent from Grasso’s tenure. Martelli quickly silenced those arguments. After moving to the A-10, he led his new program to the NCAA Tournament as a bid thief that had a legitimate at-large case and then won a first-round tournament game. That is a lot of evidence stacked against any claims of nepotism. Martelli (jr.) increasingly looks like the real deal.

R2, P18 - Chris Holtman
Age: 54

Chris Holtmann has now underperformed preseason KenPom expectations for six consecutive seasons. The first four ultimately cost him his job at Ohio State, while the last two have been relatively successful at DePaul. This past season’s 8-12 conference record represented the program’s most league wins in nearly two decades. The question is how high DePaul’s ceiling really is. Becoming a perennial NCAA Tournament team may be unrealistic, even for elite coaches. A fan base that has not seen a tournament appearance since 2004 would likely be thrilled with a bid every three or four years. If Holtmann gets DePaul rolling, does he seek a higher-profile job, or does he settle into a long-term role in Chicago? His track record includes success at Gardner-Webb, an impressive run at Butler in the Big East, and several strong seasons early in his Ohio State tenure. That résumé, combined with his reputation across the sport, earns him a spot on this list.

R2, P19 - Bill Armstrong
Age: 48

Three straight seasons in the KenPom top 70 and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances have kept McNeese thriving under Bill Armstrong following Will Wade’s departure. While McNeese remains the best-funded program in the Southland, the development side of the equation deserves attention as well.

The team’s best player this past season was a freshman, a strong indicator of Armstrong’s ability to develop talent. His background includes a wide range of assistant coaching stops, including Link Academy after Wade’s exit from LSU. There, he worked with players such as Cameron Carr. Armstrong later joined Baylor’s staff before taking the McNeese head coaching job, and Carr flourished there this past season, emerging as a projected first-round NBA Draft pick. If Armstrong continues to establish himself as a premier developer, McNeese may struggle to keep him for long.

Tier Four

R2, P20 - Clint Sargent
Age: 37

Wright State has long been one of the Horizon League’s better jobs, and each of the program’s last four coaches has found success there, including current Clemson head coach Brad Brownell. Clint Sargent, a longtime assistant who spent a decade on staff before taking over, rebounded from a sub-.500 first season to guide the Raiders to the NCAA Tournament this past year. Wright State outperformed preseason KenPom expectations by roughly 60 spots through a combination of player retention, development, and savvy transfer portal additions. Solomon Callaghan and Michael Imariagbe were not marquee names entering the season, but both became key contributors. The challenge moving forward is sustainability. The Horizon League was heavily offense-oriented this season, and Wright State fit that mold. Whether that style can continue producing results at a high level remains an open question.

R2, P21 - Brian Earl
Age: 49

Since revamping his offense during the Ivy League’s COVID hiatus, Brian Earl has built one of the more effective systems in college basketball. Widely regarded as one of the sport’s top tactical coaches, Earl has steadily increased tempo while maintaining elite interior efficiency. Over the past five years, his teams have consistently ranked among the nation’s best in two-point percentage. Defensively, they force opponents into long possessions. Offensively, they push in transition and capitalize on early scoring opportunities. The result has been consistently strong offensive production. This past season, his William & Mary team became more balanced than the perimeter-heavy offenses he previously ran at Cornell. The record looked similar to his first season in the CAA, but the underlying metrics told a different story. Despite a 10-8 conference record, William & Mary graded out as one of the league’s strongest teams thanks to quality wins against top competition, including a season sweep of UNC Wilmington. If Earl can translate strong metrics into elite results, he will continue climbing this list.

R2, P22 - Brian Wardle
Age: 46

Brian Wardle has been a head coach for the better part of 15 years and has spent enough time at Bradley that it feels like he has been there forever. Despite that, he is still only 46. Since COVID, Bradley has consistently been one of the MVC’s top programs, but Wardle has often found a stronger opponent standing between the Braves and an NCAA Tournament bid.

He won consecutive conference tournaments, including the 2020 title that never yielded a tournament appearance because of the pandemic. Bradley has also posted double-digit conference wins in each of the past five seasons and finished in the KenPom top 100 four times during that stretch. Given the program’s middle-of-the-pack resources within the MVC, that level of consistency is impressive. Jim Les had his share of success, but Wardle has provided exactly what Bradley needed and remains one of the sport’s most underrated coaches.

R2, P23 - Kelvin Sampson
Age: 70

Kelvin Sampson’s situation is complicated by the fact that his son appears to be the heir apparent at Houston. Sampson is already in his 70s and has made multiple Final Fours, making retirement a realistic topic even if there is no clear timetable. He still receives significant credit for what Houston was when he arrived. While the program now enjoys stronger resources and Big 12 membership, much of that growth stems directly from his success. His ability to transform a struggling program into a national power remains one of the most impressive rebuilding jobs in recent college basketball history. Projecting retirement is always risky, but starting over at a new program rather than continuing with one he has already built could require a level of patience that may not appeal to a coach at this stage of his career.

Tier Five

R2, P24 - Luke Loucks
Age: 36

In mid-January, Florida State sat at 7-11 overall and 0-5 in ACC play. The Seminoles responded by becoming one of the hottest teams in the country, narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament while pushing Duke to the brink in the conference tournament. Luke Loucks, a first-time head coach with no previous college coaching experience, understandably needed time to settle into the role. He also inherited a roster that was not particularly well-funded by ACC standards. Loucks implemented a high-tempo, perimeter-oriented offense paired with aggressive on-ball pressure, and the system gained traction as the season progressed. While much of the ACC’s middle tier faded late in the year, Florida State surged. A road win at Miami after the 0-5 conference start reflected strong player buy-in. A larger sample of success would strengthen Loucks’ case, but the finish was highly encouraging.

R2, P25 - Evan Bradds
Age: 32

The only coach on this list without prior head coaching experience at any level, Brian Bradds returns to Belmont, where he starred as a player roughly a decade ago. Unlike some former-star hires, Bradds took the long route into coaching. He began as a video coordinator, worked his way through the ranks, spent time with the Boston Celtics organization, and later joined Will Hardy’s staff with the Utah Jazz.

While assistant and head coaching roles require different skill sets, Belmont’s decision to hand him the program suggests significant confidence in his potential. Given the program’s stability and reputation, it is difficult to imagine the athletic department making this move without strong conviction.

R2, P26 - Bucky McMillan
Age: 42

Bucky McMillan can point to NCAA Tournament appearances in two of the past three seasons as proof of concept. Still, Texas A&M’s lopsided Round of 32 loss to Houston last season raised questions about the ceiling of the style that brought him success at Samford and ultimately earned him the Aggies job. McMillan continued using his trademark system, but an influx of resources and talent could force some adaptation. His approach resembles lower-level basketball in some ways, relying on full-court pressure, relentless pace, and deep rotations that limit individual minutes. The arrival of a player like PJ Haggerty will provide a fascinating test. Whether McMillan adjusts his system to fit elite talent or continues leaning into his established identity will be one of the season’s more interesting storylines.

R2, P27 - Kevin Young
Age: 44

BYU has remained strong since Mark Pope left for Kentucky, earning two six seeds and reaching a Sweet 16 in the two seasons that followed. Still, last year was somewhat disappointing. Even before Richie Saunders’ injury, the roster had noticeable flaws. Depth was lacking, and the team relied heavily on star power, drawing comparisons to Rutgers in 2025. Offensively, the approach also changed. Asking AJ Dybantsa to carry such a large burden proved less efficient than the more balanced attack seen the year before. Kevin Young needed several months to get things fully clicking in his first season. In year two, his second-best player went down just as the team appeared poised for a similar surge. BYU remains one of the country’s better-resourced programs. Had this list been compiled after Young’s first season, he likely would have ranked much higher.

R2, P28 - Bob Richey
Age: 43

It was a down year across the SoCon, but Furman still emerged on top. Sometimes having one of the league’s best coaches is enough to separate a team in a conference tournament setting. Bob Richey has done strong work at Furman and remains one of the younger coaches in the profession, but there are some concerns. His teams have underperformed preseason KenPom expectations in three of the past four seasons. At the same time, Furman entered 2023 as a preseason top-70 KenPom team and ultimately produced the best season in program history. The issue is not that expectations have been low, recent teams simply have not exceeded them. It is also worth noting that several recent SoCon coaches who jumped to high-major jobs, including Lamont Paris, Mike Young, and Steve Forbes, have delivered mixed results. Richey is still worth betting on, but there are enough warning signs to warrant caution.

Tier Six

R2, P29 - Randy Bennett
Age: 64

While Randy Bennett sits on the older end of the coaching spectrum, his recent move to Arizona State suggests he believes he still has several productive years ahead. His success at Saint Mary’s is remarkable given the school’s enrollment of fewer than 2,000 undergraduates. Bennett lacks the deep NCAA Tournament résumé of some other veteran coaches, but context matters. For much of the past decade, he has had to compete directly against Gonzaga in conference play while operating with fewer resources. A season at Arizona State may provide a clearer picture of how his methods translate to the high-major level. If he can consistently compete in the Big 12 and make another run to the second weekend, his legacy will only grow stronger.

R2, P30 - Travis Steele
Age: 44

Travis Steele is one of the tougher coaches to place on this list. He recently engineered one of the sport’s best turnarounds, making Miami (Ohio) a national story. The RedHawks are already one of the MAC’s better-resourced programs, and that support will likely grow after last season’s success and attention.

Steele previously had his shot at the high-major level with Xavier, where he fell short of expectations in every season. His first two years at Miami were also disappointing, giving him six straight underwhelming seasons as a head coach. Still, that should not overshadow what happened this past year. Building a program takes time, especially outside the resource-rich high-major world. Steele has now rebuilt his reputation at the mid-major level and reentered the conversation for larger jobs. With much of last season’s core either graduated or transferred, this upcoming year could reveal just how sustainable the breakthrough really was.

Best Remaining + Notable Coaches

Tom Izzo, Aged 71
Of the 70+ club not named Kelvin Sampson, Tom Izzo is the most appealing because he has sustained elite success without relying as heavily on transfer portal spending.

Robert Jones, Aged 46
Too well-resourced relative to the rest of the MEAC.

Matt Langel, Aged 48
Would his style translate to a higher level, and is there a reason bigger jobs have never come calling?

Gerry McNamara, Aged 42
Siena has the most financial backing in the MAAC, so one NCAA Tournament game should not dramatically change the evaluation.

Jamie Dixon, Aged 60
A sneaky pick, though age keeps him from climbing higher.

Rick Pitino, Aged 73
It is difficult to invest heavily in a coach in his mid-70s who appears to be finishing his career at a destination job.

Mick Cronin, Aged 54
The past three seasons have been underwhelming, and it is possible his first recruiting class in Westwood remains his best.

Mark Pope, Aged 53
His teams may actually perform better when forced to operate with limited resources rather than an abundance of them.

Bill Self, Aged 63
Health concerns, combined with a few disappointing seasons relative to the program’s resources, create some hesitation.

Chris Jans, Aged 57
One of the better coaches at maximizing limited resources, and Mississippi State may have been more balanced this season without Josh Hubbard despite his individual brilliance.

Mike DeGeorge, Aged 56
One of the best more with less coaches in the sport, and if he were not 56 and still at his first Division I job, he might warrant first-round consideration.

Jon Perry, Aged 47
The nation’s best minutes continuity and a senior-heavy roster reduced the burden of roster construction and player development, making a larger sample size necessary before fully buying in.

John Calipari, Aged 67
He has spent most of his career at well-resourced programs, though he deserves credit for consistently helping secure those resources.

Rick Barnes, Aged 71
With Tennessee’s level of investment this season, this may effectively be his swan song.

Bryce Drew, Aged 51
Even before conference realignment, they remained one of the Mountain West’s better-funded programs and were operating on an entirely different level than the rest of the WAC.

Mike White, Aged 49
About as reliable a floor-raising coach as you will find, though that approach ultimately did not scale well enough at Florida.

To answer the question in the subtitle, all but one HOF head coach was left out. The only included head coach was Mark Few. Pitino, Calipari, Self and Izzo are all in the honorable mentions section. Sampson should be a HOFer and was subsequently drafted.

For this exercise, we’ll be drafting coaches to identical programs, each with the same roster, budget, and conference affiliation. Coaches may retain their current assistant staffs, but potential departures to the NBA will not be factored in. This exercise will be judged from 2026 onward, with assuming a relatively similar retirement age for the coaches.

If a coach retires, they are replaced by a replacement-level coach. This prevents Hall of Fame coaches from being drafted early simply because one can plan to reload through the coaching carousel and remain competitive. As a result, there is a fascinating tradeoff between selecting a coach like Rick Pitino for a few elite seasons or betting on a younger coach who could sustain success for decades.

This week, we’ll cover the first round before moving on to Round 2 next week, where we’ll highlight deeper cuts and give some deserved recognition to coaches nearing the end of their careers.

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Tier Six: First Round Flyer

R(ound) 1, P(ick) 30 - Flynn Clayman
Age: 37

Clayman is winning at an impressive rate for a Big South program, though High Point’s NIL resources significantly exceed those of its conference rivals. Before the NCAA Tournament, skeptics pointed to a résumé that lacked a single top-100 opponent despite a dominant conference run. Then High Point stunned Wisconsin in one of the tournament’s most memorable upsets.

That victory demonstrated Clayman’s ability to compete above his weight class. As a first-year head coach who inherited the league’s strongest program, there are still questions about how he would perform under less favorable circumstances. A more challenging schedule this season should provide additional answers. Even so, any Big South program capable of defeating a Big Ten opponent will attract attention, and Clayman has already left a strong impression.

R1, P29 - Mark Few
Age: 63

Despite being one of the older coaches considered, Mark Few remains one of the sport’s great program builders. Gonzaga was a good program before his arrival, but it was nowhere near the national power it became under his leadership.

This season will offer valuable insight into the program’s future ceiling. Moving into a stronger Pac-12 raises an interesting question: will increased competition lower Gonzaga’s floor as a perennial tournament team, or raise its ceiling by preparing it for March? More data would help determine how highly to rank a coach who may only have another decade on the sideline. What separates Few from many other veteran coaches is that he built the machine rather than simply maintaining it.

R1, P28 - Pat Kelsey
Age: 51

The Louisville coach has reached five NCAA Tournaments in the past six seasons across three different conferences. Winthrop was one of the better-funded programs in the Big South, where he won consistently for nearly a decade before moving to Charleston and eventually Louisville. His first season at Louisville exceeded expectations given the injury issues the team faced. Year two was more disappointing. Entering the season with Final Four expectations, Louisville lost double-digit games and never truly dominated conference play. There are legitimate questions about the program’s ceiling despite significant NIL investment in consecutive years. Still, Kelsey’s ability to win at three different schools strengthens his case, even if Charleston and Winthrop were among the better-supported programs in their leagues.

R1, P27 - Shaheen Holloway
Age: 49

Coach Holloway has led some of the least-funded programs in both conferences he has coached in, spending four seasons at Saint Peter’s and four at Seton Hall. He has made just one NCAA Tournament during that span, but it was certainly memorable. Even before that historic run, Saint Peter’s was a strong MAAC program in the two seasons leading up to its automatic bid campaign.

At Seton Hall, three of his four teams have outperformed the program rank. This is one of the most difficult eras to coach an underfunded program, yet Holloway still managed to guide a team that was almost universally projected to finish last in the Big East to 20 wins and a clear fourth-place standing in the conference. While the Pirates never became a serious NCAA Tournament contender, the overachievement was undeniable. Competing against 10 conference rivals with significantly greater resources creates a difficult ceiling. If Holloway operated on a more level financial playing field, it is reasonable to believe he would enjoy far greater success in the Big East.

R1, P26 - Will Wade
Age: 43

Few coaches have worked at five schools before turning 45, but Will Wade has managed it. He has won at every level, reaching the Sweet 16 at LSU and likely fielding an even better team in 2022 had he not been dismissed amid NCAA violations. His 2025 run with McNeese may be his most impressive coaching achievement. While McNeese was positioned well within the Southland, winning a NCAA Tournament game, knocking off an ACC opponent, is an entirely different challenge. Ethics aside, this exercise assumes coaches remain in place until retirement, removing concerns about future departures or off-court issues. Purely as a coach, Wade’s résumé is difficult to ignore.

Tier Five: Lower Ceiling Guys

R1, P25 - Ryan Odom
Age: 51

In his fourth program since 2021, Odom has steadily climbed the ladder while reaching the NCAA Tournament in the America East, Mountain West, A-10, and ACC. His first season at Virginia was strong from start to finish, even if the Cavaliers never looked truly elite.

What separates Odom is the variety of his success. He has won at multiple schools, in multiple conferences, and under very different circumstances. While his last three stops have all enjoyed strong institutional support, having resources and consistently winning with them are two different things.

R1, P24 - Scott Cross
Age: 51

Cross recently turned 50 but has nearly two decades of coaching experience. He produced the best season in UT Arlington’s KenPom history, won 20 games the following year, and was still fired. Troy quickly hired him, and he transformed the program into a consistent winner. Troy is far from a premier Sun Belt job, making consecutive automatic NCAA Tournament bids in a 14-team league even more impressive. Cross appears to be an excellent fit at Georgia Tech, where maximizing limited resources will be critical. If all coaches operated on equal footing, he would likely rank even higher than how he is viewed nationally.

R1, P23 - Fred Hoiberg
Age: 53

Hoiberg finally broke through this past season, leading Nebraska to the Sweet 16 and the first NCAA Tournament victories in program history. It took time to regain momentum after his NBA stint and successful run at Iowa State, but this was the best season of his coaching career.

Some of Nebraska’s success was driven by outstanding three-point defense, an area where variance can play a role, but the overall achievement remains impressive given the program’s history. The main difference between Hoiberg and someone like Ben McCollum, at another Big Ten program that ranks near the bottom of the conference in financial support is age.

R1, P22 - Shaka Smart
Age: 49

Shaka, still not yet 50, would have ranked higher a year ago. His decision to avoid transfer portal utilization worked in 2025 but backfired this past season. Now blending portal additions with retention and player development, he enters a pivotal year. Since his Final Four run at VCU, he has not replicated that level of tournament success, though bad luck has often played a role. Coaching at a program willing to be patient gives him room to adapt, and if he continues proving he can win in the modern era, he would be one of the most attractive coaching candidates in the country.

R1, P21 - Jordan Fee
Age: 38

Jordan Fee authored the greatest single-season turnaround in NCAA history, regardless of division or gender, taking Gannon from 3-23 before his arrival to 32-3. He spent the previous season as an assistant at FAU, and the system he implemented at Gannon, along with several players he developed, helped fuel a national championship run the following year. Fee has already proven himself as a head coach.

The Ben McCollum comparison is an obvious one, though Fee is nearly a decade younger and has a shorter track record. Lamar is also a more difficult place to win than Drake, which could make his rise slower. Even so, taking over a struggling program and immediately leading it to 32 wins suggests he can succeed almost anywhere.

R1, P20 - Eric Olen
Age: 45

A coach firmly on the rise, Olen came close to reaching his second NCAA Tournament in as many seasons. He took over a young UC San Diego program, helping it transition to Division I and built it into a 30-win team by 2025. He then followed that with a successful first season at New Mexico, coming within reach of an NCAA Tournament berth despite returning none of the previous year’s minutes. Building a contender from the ground up at a newly transitioned Division I program is a substantial challenge regardless of conference affiliation, and Olen handled it exceptionally well. Despite spending more than a decade at UC San Diego, he is still only in his mid-40s, making him one of the more intriguing rising coaches in the sport.

Tier Four: Fringe Lottery Talent

R1, P19 - Chris Beard
Age: 53

Beard’s stock took a hit after a disappointing 2026 season at Ole Miss, but his résumé extends well beyond his SEC tenure. His experiences at Texas and Ole Miss represent very different challenges, yet he has succeeded almost everywhere he has coached. Had he not assaulted his fiancée while at Texas, there is a reasonable chance the 2022 team would have contended for a national championship.

If Rodney Terry could guide Beard’s roster to the Elite Eight, it is fair to wonder whether Beard himself might have reached a second national title game in four seasons. In many ways, Beard laid the foundation for Texas Tech’s rise before Grant McCasland took it to another level. Prior to Beard’s arrival, Texas Tech was rarely a major factor in the Big 12. His five-year run in Lubbock may represent one of the better stretches in coaching history.

R1, P18 - Jerrod Calhoun
Age: 44

Calhoun has risen quickly through the coaching ranks and enters his third season at Utah State. While Logan is often viewed as a place where winning comes easier than expected, the same cannot be said for Youngstown State. Calhoun won 24 and 22 games at his last two seasons in the Horizon before making a seamless transition to Utah State. Now he will try to sustain that success in the Big 12. Utah State’s reputation is built largely on consistently hiring quality coaches, as Ryan Odom recently demonstrated by leveraging his success there into a move to the ACC. With a track record that includes seven seasons at Youngstown State, Calhoun’s success is far more than a short-term surge. Despite nearly a decade of head coaching experience, he is still only in his mid-40s, leaving plenty of room for further growth.

R1, P17 - Kahil Fennell
Age: 43

One of the most impressive hires of the past offseason was Western Michigan’s addition of former UTRGV coach Kahil Fennell. UTRGV entered last season with a program ranking of 326 and finished 117th in KenPom, the best mark in school history.

Western Michigan has not finished inside the top 200 since 2018, making this a significant swing. Fennell has only a two-year head coaching track record after arriving from Mark Pope’s BYU staff, but winning at one of the more challenging jobs in the country deserves attention. While his résumé remains limited, success at the lower end of Division I makes him a worthwhile bet. His progress in the MAC will be worth monitoring.

R1, P16 - Josh Schertz
Age: 50

It will likely take more than a mediocre power-conference job to lure Josh Schertz away from Saint Louis, especially with the program reportedly operating on an eight-figure NIL budget that rivals many high-major schools. Before fading late in the season, Saint Louis looked like a legitimate Final Four contender. Schertz has only one season as a head coach without Robbie Avila, but unlike his first year at Saint Louis, this team’s success was driven as much by the supporting cast as by Avila himself.

Without an established presence at center, it remains to be seen whether Schertz’s offense will look the same this season. That question ties into a larger one: how much of Schertz’s success can be separated from Avila’s impact? More data is needed. If Saint Louis earns another at-large bid this season, the program’s conference affiliation will no longer be a valid excuse for a lack of deep tournament success given its level of investment. Schertz is clearly one of the sport’s elite coaches. Whether he is also an elite program builder might be a question answered this season.

R1, P15 - Scott Drew
Age: 55

Since winning the national championship in 2021, Scott Drew’s results have gradually declined. Baylor failed to advance past the Round of 32 and then missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Prior to Drew’s arrival, Baylor was one of the league’s weaker programs, and it still lacks the advantages enjoyed by some of the conference’s traditional powers. Defense has become a significant concern, though the return of Jerome Tang offers hope on that end of the floor. Despite spending more than two decades in Waco, Drew is still only in his mid-50s. Whether he remains motivated to stay long term after reaching the sport’s highest peak remains an open question.

R1, P14 - Takayo Siddle
Age: 40

Following a forgettable 2021 season, Siddle has produced five consecutive impressive years, winning at least 20 games each season. His work was finally rewarded with an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025 after several previous teams were strong enough to dance but fell short in the CAA Tournament. What makes his success especially noteworthy is the program’s history. Outside of a brief Kevin Keatts era, UNCW largely underachieved for much of the previous two decades. From 2007 through 2021, the Seahawks recorded just three 20-win seasons. Siddle, who turned 40 in May, already has five. It is somewhat surprising that he has not moved on to a larger job, but he has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to maximize what UNCW can be.

Tier Three: Some More to Prove

R1, P13 - Mark Byington
Age: 50

Byington took an unconventional path up the coaching ladder and is older than many coaches with a similar résumé. He spent seven seasons at Georgia Southern and traded a lower-tier Sun Belt job for a higher before finally breaking through. It took more than a decade as a head coach to reach his first NCAA Tournament, but he has since made three consecutive appearances and came within a bounce or two of reaching the Sweet 16.

Vanderbilt remains one of the SEC’s more challenging jobs despite retaining Tyler Tanner. Byington has built offenses with consistently high floors, and if he can continue improving the team’s size and physicality on defense, he has the potential to field balanced, high-ceiling teams on a yearly basis. Given the right breaks, he could realistically contend for a national championship.

R1, P12 - Grant McCasland
Age: 49

Before last season, McCasland had outperformed his preseason KenPom projection every year as a head coach. That streak ended largely because an already thin roster lost All-American JT Toppin to injury. Texas Tech’s substantial financial backing makes it highly competitive in the NIL era, but McCasland’s coaching philosophy remains notable. He has not ranked inside the top 200 nationally in bench utilization since 2019, suggesting a preference for building around a trusted core rather than deep rotations. He won consistently at North Texas, including a top-35 team in his final season, and has now succeeded at three different programs. He likely should have reached the Final Four in 2025 and has a history of outperforming tournament expectations, most notably leading 13-seed North Texas to an upset of Purdue in 2021.

R1, P11 - Matt Painter
Age: 55

Painter may have missed his best opportunity to win a national championship despite coaching both the NCAA’s all-time assists leader and Zach Edey, but he remains one of the sport’s top coaches and is younger than many realize. Purdue is not funded at the same level as some of its Big Ten rivals, and Painter’s roster construction reflects that reality. Rather than chasing large transfer classes or relying heavily on elite freshmen, he typically adds one or two transfers each season to complement a core of retained and developed players. The model is built on continuity, development, and system fit, making his success more portable than approaches that depend on significant financial investment.

R1, P10 - Bryan Hodgson
Age: 39

Hodgson is heading to his third school in as many years despite entering this season with only three years of head coaching experience.

His path has been remarkably linear, progressing from assistant coach to the Sun Belt, then the American, and now the Big East. It did not appear he would be one-and-done at USF until the team’s late-season surge. Sitting at 11-7 in mid-January, the Bulls looked solid but unspectacular, and they failed to capitalize on several nonconference opportunities to establish themselves as an at-large contender. Everything changed during an 11-game winning streak leading into the NCAA Tournament, fueled by an up-tempo offense and strong interior defense. That run earned USF a first-round matchup with Louisville. Both USF and Arkansas State are well-resourced programs relative to their leagues, which deserves consideration. Even so, whether driven by resources or coaching, Hodgson has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to improve programs quickly, suggesting he is the real deal.

Tier Two: Elite but With a Catch

R1, P9 - Tommy Lloyd
Age: 51

Since arriving from Gonzaga’s staff, Lloyd has been one of the winningest coaches in the country. He finally broke through in the NCAA Tournament this past season with a Final Four appearance, regardless of the powerhouse that ultimately ended Arizona’s run.

Arizona is one of the better-resourced programs in the Big 12, and it seems unlikely Lloyd will leave anytime soon after declining to interview for the North Carolina opening, meaning we lack perspective to see where he may perform outside of Arizona.

R1, P8 - T.J. Otzelberger
Age: 48

Otz’s tenure at UNLV was solid rather than spectacular, but Iowa State was coming off a two-win season when he arrived. Reaching the Sweet 16 in year one immediately demonstrated how dramatically he exceeded expectations. The biggest criticism is that he has yet to advance beyond the Sweet 16. Injuries have played a role over the past two seasons, and he has fielded teams capable of making the Final Four, but the breakthrough has not come. Iowa State is not one of the Big 12’s premier jobs, and much of its success has been driven by player development and transfers from smaller programs rather than blue-chip recruiting. Given equal resources across the board, his consistently high floor would likely be viewed even more favorably.

R1, P7 - Nate Oats
Age: 51

Oats has established both a high floor and a clear ceiling, reaching the second weekend in five of the past six seasons. He has made the NCAA Tournament in all but two years as a head coach, including three appearances at Buffalo. Buffalo has struggled to maintain that level since his departure, while Alabama was far from a basketball power before he arrived.

Oats’ success has helped elevate the program’s resources, but Alabama still does not operate as one of the SEC’s financial heavyweights. Defensive shortcomings may have limited some recent teams, yet few coaches can match the offensive consistency he delivers year after year. At a school where top-four seeds should not be the expectation, Oats has made them feel routine.

R1, P6 - Jai Lucas
Age: 37

Miami is a good, not great, job in the ACC. Even with two recent deep NCAA Tournament runs, this was only the program’s second top-30 KenPom finish of the past decade. All of that came in Jai Lucas’ first season. The Hurricanes benefited from a favorable ACC schedule, avoiding Duke entirely and facing North Carolina for only part of Caleb Wilson’s lone appearance, but this was also a team that started the season strong. Evaluating a first-year head coach is always difficult, yet Miami’s balanced profile stands out. This was not a team dependent on shooting variance or unsustainable results, which should provide a solid foundation for Lucas moving forward.

R1, P5 - Dan Hurley
Age: 53

Dan Hurley is the most accomplished coach of the 2020s, having reached three title games in the past four seasons and winning two of them. Before UConn returned to the Big East, Hurley fielded some forgettable teams in Storrs, but his ability to win NCAA Tournament games in consecutive seasons at Rhode Island demonstrated that his success could scale with opportunity.

No coach in college basketball combines his level of accomplishment and relative youth. The résumé he has built in just this decade alone would be enough to define the careers of many coaches who spend decades in the profession.

Tier One: The Elite of the Elite

R1, P4 - Jon Scheyer
Age: 38

Jon has coached the national player of the year in each of the past two seasons and has led Duke to consecutive Elite Eights. Despite that success, every season since Coach K’s retirement has ended with a sense of disappointment. Much of that stems from the expectations attached to the Duke brand, but it remains notable that the program has now gone more than a decade without winning a national championship. Duke is one of the best-resourced programs in the country, and its advantages extend beyond finances.

The program’s history, alumni network, and track record of producing NBA talent create a foundation few schools can match. How many coaches could replace Scheyer and maintain this level of success? Given that he is only the second Duke coach since the 1970s, we may never know unless he eventually leaves for the NBA.

R1, P3 - Dusty May
Age: 49

The national championship-winning coach accomplished the feat in just his second season at the high-major level. This also was not his first Final Four, and the fact that he reached one at FAU, a program that was not overwhelmingly dominant within its league, suggests his rapid rise is not simply a product of circumstance. He may be slightly older than some rising stars in the profession, but that is a worthwhile tradeoff given his proven ability to compete and win at multiple levels and in multiple ways.

R1, P2 - Ben McCollum
Age: 45

McCollum has won at every level he has coached, and that success carried into his first season at the high-major level. Relative to the rest of the Big Ten, Iowa is not considered one of the conference’s premier jobs. The regular season was solid rather than spectacular, but this roster was built largely from non-DI and non-high-major talent. Guiding that group to the NCAA Tournament, and then winning there, speaks volumes about McCollum’s coaching ability. We have yet to see him at the Division I level without Bennett Stirtz, but Stirtz was not a Trevor Hudgins-level player. McCollum’s track record suggests he is a point guard whisperer who can continue producing results regardless of level or circumstance.

R1, P1 - Todd Golden
Age: 40

Golden won an NCAA championship in his 30s, and while he did not make it to the second weekend this past season, earning consecutive No. 1 seeds is impressive. Before arriving at Florida, Golden spent three seasons at San Francisco, leading the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance of the 21st century and its best season of the KenPom era.

In fact, his final season at San Francisco finished higher in KenPom than either of his first two seasons in the SEC. Success came within three years at both stops, and while year four at Florida was remarkable, it is difficult to ignore the advantages that come with one of the nation’s best-funded programs. Both San Francisco and Florida rank in the upper tier of their respective leagues in projected support, and retaining Thomas Haugh on a reportedly near eight-figure NIL deal underscores that reality.

Peter Singer

To understand philosophers’ opinions, we must first understand their axioms. An overview of each philosopher will be provided before examining the statements and writings most relevant to the discussion.

Singer, born in 1946, bases his philosophy on reducing suffering for both humans and animals. He believes those who are capable should devote as much of their wealth and resources as possible to alleviating suffering. In his view, discretionary income that is not used to help others is ethically questionable.

One example Singer has used is that of a drowning child. If someone sees a child drowning, they would do everything in their power to save them, regardless of personal inconvenience or sacrifice. Singer argues that if we have the ability to save dying children or relieve suffering elsewhere in the world, we should feel the same moral obligation to act. Using discretionary income for less important purposes therefore becomes ethically difficult to justify.

Singer would likely take issue with the increased resource consumption required to coordinate additional games, transport teams and fans, and manage expanded tournament sites. He would also criticize the profit-driven motives behind such an expansion.

Human beings have the power to continue to oppress other species forever, or until we make this planet unsuitable for living beings. Will our tyranny continue, proving that we really are the selfish tyrants that the most cynical of poets and philosophers have always said we are?

-Peter Singer, Animal Liberation

Taken to its extreme, this philosophy raises practical concerns. If everyone reduced themselves to poverty in an effort to help those suffering more than they are, there would eventually be limits on how much aid they could continue to provide. At the same time, if an expansion generated substantial wealth that was meaningfully redistributed to those in need, Singer might view it more positively. Unfortunately, most of the money generated would likely remain within the same economic systems, leading to greater resource consumption with little reduction in suffering.

If the change genuinely led to redistribution rather than simple expansion and profit growth, Singer might support it. Otherwise, he would likely oppose it on the grounds that it does little to reduce suffering.

Hypatia of Alexandria

Hypatia was born around 350 AD in Egypt and was one of the first well-documented female mathematicians. She believed that truth is best understood through reason, mathematics, and philosophical inquiry rather than superstition. She valued intellectual discipline, self-mastery, rational thought, and virtue. Education, especially in mathematics, held central importance in her worldview.

Given that she lived over 1,600 years ago, many modern systems such as globalization, capitalism, and organized sports were not part of her world. Sports in her time were generally more violent and spectacle-driven, including gladiatorial combat, though athletic training and contests from earlier Greek traditions still existed. She would likely view physical competition as secondary to intellectual development, and she would be skeptical of fandom and superstition surrounding it.

In fact men will fight for a superstition quite as quickly as for a living truth - often more so, since a superstition is so intangible you cannot get at it to refute it, but truth is a point of view, and so is changeable.

-Hypatia

Hypatia would likely value mathematical approaches to sports analysis, such as Will Warren exploring tournament structure through models like WAB-based reseeding. The outcome on the court would matter less to her than the reasoning and structure behind how results are evaluated. While she may not directly oppose the NCAA as an institution, she would probably question whether it meaningfully advances education or intellectual development. She might acknowledge that expanded tournaments increase institutional payouts, but remain indifferent unless they clearly supported learning in mathematics or logic. Overall, she would likely be lukewarm toward NCAA Tournament expansion, seeing limited intellectual significance in it.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti was born in Andhra Pradesh, on the southeastern coast of India, in 1895. Considered one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century, though often overlooked in Western education, he believed psychological suffering stems from fear, attachment, ego, and the human desire to find security in beliefs, institutions, and authority. Having spent much of his life in British India, he saw firsthand the ways systems and structures shape human thought and behavior. Krishnamurti argued that true freedom and understanding can only come through direct self-awareness rather than religion, ideology, tradition, or obedience to authority figures. His philosophy centered on observing one’s thoughts and emotions without judgment so the mind could free itself from conditioning and inner conflict.

Unlike Singer, who may not oppose sports directly, Krishnamurti’s skepticism toward institutions, tribalism, and unnecessary competition could lead him to reject college basketball entirely, even before considering the issue of NCAA Tournament expansion.

Krishnamurti believed self-understanding mattered far more than achievement. Critics of tournament expansion, including Gary Parrish, have argued that enlarging the NCAA Tournament waters down what it means to qualify. While reaching the tournament would still be an accomplishment, Krishnamurti might argue that people risk tying their self-worth to achievements that become increasingly easier to attain. In that sense, personal value becomes attached to external recognition rather than genuine self-understanding.

Ambition is a form of power, the desire for power over oneself and others, the power to do something better than anybody else. In ambition is a sense of comparison, and so the ambitious man is not a creative man, is never a happy man; in himself he is discontented.

-Jiddu Krishnamurti, Talk 10, Bombay, 11 March 1953

Ego was another frequent target of Krishnamurti’s philosophy, and a more accessible tournament could further inflate ego by placing greater importance on symbolic accomplishments. Rather than encouraging introspection, expansion may reinforce the idea that validation comes through status, recognition, and victory.

A head-to-head tournament built entirely around competition and superiority reflects many of the forms of conflict Krishnamurti criticized throughout his life. Because of this, he would likely view the NCAA Tournament skeptically and oppose an expanded version even more strongly.

Rumi

A Persian poet, scholar, and mystic, Rumi was born in the early 13th century. His philosophy centered around love, both interpersonal and spiritual. Spiritual, cultural, and personal growth held great importance to Rumi. Suffering and heartbreak were also important in his mind, both as means to find love and to discover oneself and one’s relationship with God.

The commonly known whirling dervishes were introduced by Rumi, as he believed strongly in the importance of art: poetry, music, and dance in strengthening one’s relationship with God. What is understood to be an out-of-body experience leads a whirler to turn toward the truth, abandon their ego, and emerge as a purer self. As he greatly valued self-expression, Rumi would likely find value in sport, as it allows for the experience of unity and discipline, escaping the self to pursue a greater good. Through seeking improvement as a team, self-purification might be viewed as a commonly held goal.

While, as a whole, sport fostering competition would likely be smiled upon and promoted by his teachings, the same cannot necessarily be said for the expansion of the NCAA Tournament. Rumi warned of the perils of ego and of losing compassion in the pursuit of winning. This concern would likely be strengthened by questions surrounding the intention behind expanding the tournament. Is it to further a spirit of competition and self-improvement, or is it driven by greed and an endless appetite for money?

I am the servant of the Qur’an as long as I have life.
I am the dust on the path of Muhammad, the Chosen one.
If anyone quotes anything except this from my sayings,
I am quit of him and outraged by these words.

-Rumi, Rumi’s Quatrain

Rumi cannot be divorced from the teachings of the Qur’an. While not an apologist, he viewed himself as a deliverer of Islam. Thus, many of his thoughts may be tied to his holy book. The teachings of the Qur’an applicable to this discussion are largely in line with Rumi’s promotion of self-discovery. Again warning against the ego, a concern may be the building of one’s ego at the sacrifice of education. A sacred emphasis is placed on education, independent of gender1, and in the pursuit of a spot in the expanded tournament, such education may become secondary.

Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.

-Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Mujadila, 58:11

While Rumi and the Qur’an support self-improvement, the question of why one seeks to improve is of paramount importance in this discussion.

Patricia Hill Collins

Born in 1948 in Philadelphia, Collins is a pioneer of Black feminist thought and intersectionality. Despite growing up in a major college basketball city, she attended Brandeis University and later Harvard University. I reference Collins’ work when structuring my SWAC preview introduction for the 2026 season, as she strongly critiques what she calls the “matrix of domination,” more broadly understood as structural oppression. Collins would likely object to systems of inequality in sports, especially the way power is concentrated in major conferences at the expense of smaller leagues.

This concern would likely intensify with NCAA Tournament expansion. Threats from power conferences to break away and form their own competitions would highlight the inequality Collins critiques so often.

Challenging power structures from the inside, working the cracks within the system, however, requires learning to speak multiple languages of power convincingly.

-Patricia Hill Collins, On Intellectual Activism

Most affected would be Black athletes in lower-resourced programs, who are often undercompensated and depend financially on games against major conference opponents. While inequality has narrowed in some areas between men’s and women’s college basketball, disparities between the two remain well documented. Expanding the NCAA Tournament would also raise questions about funding, particularly in women’s basketball, where additional games could increase financial strain and deepen reliance on the men’s game and on high-major programs more broadly.

This reflects a system in which access is unevenly distributed, shaped by race, gender, and class. The introduction of NIL also complicates labor dynamics, as athletes in smaller conferences often have fewer opportunities to benefit from it. Marginalized groups therefore face structural barriers to economic empowerment within the system.

Overall, expanded tournament units would likely reinforce existing financial and competitive gaps between the top and bottom of college basketball. Rather than reducing inequality, such changes risk entrenching it further, a pattern Collins’ framework would be highly critical of.

The hardest part of being a writer is not producing the work, but knowing people will read it. This season, more people read my work than I ever expected. It is a strange feeling to wake up to notifications on Twitter or Substack tied to my posts. I was more comfortable writing for a small group than for a larger audience.

A passion project should push you out of your comfort zone. I may have preferred when I could count my subscribers on one hand, but connecting with readers, even when it feels intimidating, is part of the process.

Thank you to Linnie and Jack. I like my friends the way I like my subscribers, small in number but intimate.

-BM

Tier Thirty

365. Western Illinois 5-26 (1-19)
Preseason #355 (#11 in the OVC)
A grueling rebuilding year bottomed out for the Leathernecks as they finished last in the league in defensive efficiency and struggled with a turnover gap that ranked near the bottom of Division I.

364. Mississippi Valley St. 3-30 (2-16)
Preseason #365 (#12 in the SWAC)
By finishing at the absolute floor of the national rankings, the Delta Devils endured a grueling test of endurance as Michael James provided a Herculean effort on the perimeter to earn all-conference honors.

363. Delaware St. 8-23 (2-12)
Preseason #302 (#6 in the MEAC)
Ponce James emerged as an offensive engine for a Hornets squad that blended top-tier defensive consistency with a young roster still searching for interior scoring efficiency.

362. Gardner Webb 4-29 (1-15)
Preseason #326 (#8 in the Big South)
A defensive rating and turnover rate that both sat at the very bottom of the conference defined a grueling season for Gardner-Webb and coach Jeremy Luther.

361. UMKC 4-27 (1-15)
Preseason #294 (#6 in the Summit League)
A frenetic pace that ranked second in the league failed to translate into success for the Roos as an abysmal offensive rating anchored them to the bottom of the conference standings.

360. VMI 6-26 (1-17)
Preseason #220 (#7 in the SoCon)
Extreme perimeter volume served as the primary identity for the Keydets, who struggled with defensive rebounding and shooting accuracy during a difficult rebuilding year.

359. Coppin St. 7-24 (5-9)
Preseason #364 (#8 in the MEAC)
Scrappy, opportunistic play defined the Eagles as a high-level offensive rebounding group that showed flashes of shooting brilliance from Khali Horton before their season concluded.

358. Binghamton 8-23 (4-12)
Preseason #312 (#7 in the America East)
Low ball security resulted in a turnover gap for Binghamton that was worse than its conference peers and doomed a season that began with a 312th preseason ranking.

357. Maryland Eastern Shore 9-23 (5-9)
Preseason #318 (#7 in the MEAC)
Notable wins over the top of the league demonstrated the highest upside the Hawks have shown in years despite finishing with the worst three-point shooting efficiency in the nation.

356. Rider 4-25 (3-17)
Preseason #319 (#11 in the MAAC)
The Broncs plummeted to the basement of the league as a catastrophic offensive rating and an allergic reaction to the three point line resulted in the worst shooting efficiency in the conference.

Tier Twenty Nine

355. Bryant 9-22 (5-11)
Preseason #163 (#2 in the America East)
Despite firing from deep with a volume that was better than most conference rivals, Bryant lacked the efficiency to meet its 163rd preseason expectation.

354. North Carolina Central 14-18 (8-6)
Preseason #297 (#4 in the MEAC)
By weaponizing a disciplined offense that led the conference in ball security, the Eagles clinched a top-three seed but were ultimately haunted by a defensive rebounding gap that ranked near the bottom of the country.

353. South Carolina St. 10-22 (7-7)
Preseason #272 (#3 in the MEAC)
Noah Treadwell claimed Rookie of the Year honors for a Bulldogs squad that prioritized drawing contact to overcome a poor effective shooting percentage and capture a signature postseason upset over Norfolk State.

352. Saint Francis (PA) 7-24 46096
Preseason #358 (#9 in the NEC)
A depleted roster struggled through its final Division I campaign as the Red Flash operated with a defensive unit that ranked as the second worst in the country.

351. Maine 8-24 (6-10)
Preseason #261 (#4 in the America East)
Relying on a three point defense that was the best in the conference, Maine offset an offensive rating that was worse than its peers after starting with a 261st preseason rank.

350. Morgan St. 14-16 (10-4)
Preseason #302 (#5 in the MEAC)
Alfred Worrell Jr. provided a necessary tactical evolution with prolific perimeter scoring for a Bears team that could outrun almost anyone but was undone by defensive struggles and a negative turnover gap.

349. UL Monroe 4-28 (1-17)
Preseason #363 (#14 in the Sun Belt)
Individual scoring flashes from Krystian Lewis provided a rare highlight for the Warhawks during a grueling campaign defined by a defense that ranked among the bottom ten in the country.

348. New Hampshire 9-21 (5-11)
Preseason #341 (#8 in the America East)
New Hampshire rose above its 341st preseason projection by winning multiple overtime thrillers despite a true shooting percentage that was less efficient than any other conference rival.

347. Southern Indiana 7-23 (4-16)
Preseason #320 (#6 in the OVC)
Ismail Habib provided necessary scoring for a Screaming Eagles roster that struggled to find a reliable rhythm after losing its top three players to the transfer portal.

Tier Twenty Eight

346. Canisius 10-21 (5-15)
Preseason #342 (#12 in the MAAC)
Sophomore Kahlil Singleton provided a dangerous perimeter presence for a Canisius squad that ultimately finished at the bottom of the standings due to a turnover gap that ranked among the worst in the nation.

345. Northern Illinois 9-21 (4-14)
Preseason #331 (#12 in the MAC)
A winter of high volume and low efficiency plagued the Huskies as a modern offensive philosophy was betrayed by a turnover rate that sat near the absolute bottom of the country.

344. Air Force 3-29 (0-20)
Preseason #305 (#12 in the Mountain West)
Life after Ethan Taylor proved to be a grueling exercise for the Falcons as they struggled with a lack of scoring touch and a defensive rating that plummeted near the absolute bottom of the nation.

343. Niagara 8-22 (5-15)
Preseason #343 (#13 in the MAAC)
The Purple Eagles concluded a grueling campaign by struggling to secure stops as a defensive unit that surrendered points at an alarming rate sat at the very bottom of the conference.

342. Army 11-21 (5-13)
Preseason #358 (#10 in the Patriot League)
Significant growing pains and defensive inconsistency anchored a youthful roster that leaned heavily on the perimeter but struggled to contain opponents shooting nearly forty percent from deep.

341. Chicago St. 7-25 (5-13)
Preseason #347 (#7 in the NEC)
Landon Bussie’s first year was defined by a hard-fought reclamation project that saw the Cougars surpass basement-level expectations and find stability by valuing the basketball.

340. North Alabama 9-21 (4-14)
Preseason #186 (#2 in the ASun)
Failing to meet its initial expectations, North Alabama struggled to overcome a defensive rating that was among the worst in the country.

339. Stonehill 12-21 (8-10)
Preseason #333 (#4 in the NEC)
By leading the Northeast Conference in defensive rating and limiting opponents to a poor effective field goal percentage, the Skyhawks remained competitive despite an offense that finished nearly dead last in the country for ball security.

338. UTSA 5-25 (1-17)
Preseason #148 (#10 in the American)
A defensive rebounding gap and three point shooting percentage that were both worse than every other team in the American caused the UTSA season to dissolve.

Tier Twenty Seven

337. Holy Cross 11-22 (5-13)
Preseason #344 (#9 in the Patriot League)
By finding a new offensive rhythm behind the return of Tyler Boston, the Crusaders climbed above their initial national projections while continuing to search for the defensive consistency needed for a breakthrough.

336. North Florida 7-25 (5-13)
Preseason #336 (#10 in the ASun)
Replacing its entire starting rotation, North Florida utilized a perimeter pace that was faster than every conference rival to offset a league-worst defensive efficiency.

335. Norfolk St. 15-17 (8-6)
Preseason #218 (#1 in the MEAC)
Veteran backcourt brilliance from Anthony McComb III fueled a Spartans unit that remained a step above most of the conference while navigating a demanding non-conference schedule against elite national competition.

334. Manhattan 12-20 (8-12)
Preseason #211 (#4 in the MAAC)
Promising continuity failed to translate into competitive consistency for a Manhattan roster that suffered a defensive collapse and finished at the absolute bottom of the national rankings in rebounding.

333. Fairleigh Dickinson 11-21 (8-10)
Preseason #355 (#10 in the NEC)
Relentless glass-crashing that ranked thirty-fourth nationally allowed the Knights to establish a physical identity and climb from their initial standing while leading the league in three-point attempt rate.

332. Alabama St. 10-22 (7-11)
Preseason #322 (#7 in the SWAC)
Sharpshooting from beyond the arc allowed the Hornets to become one of the most dangerous perimeter threats in the league even as a non-existent interior game hindered their overall balance.

331. Stetson 12-21 (7-11)
Preseason #330 (#9 in the ASun)
Collin Kuhl provided an elite true shooting percentage for Stetson, yet the Hatters saw their postseason run cut short by a defense that ranked near the bottom of the nation.

330. Tennessee Tech 13-18 (8-12)
Preseason #338 (#9 in the OVC)
By weaponizing a perimeter attack that ranked among the top twenty nationally in accuracy, the Golden Eagles surpassed basement-level expectations despite defensive struggles that allowed opponents to shoot a high percentage from deep.

329. New Haven 14-17 (9-9)
Preseason #350 (#8 in the NEC)
The Chargers manufactured a gritty identity in their inaugural Division I season by slowing the game to a crawl and utilizing a defense that ranked third in the conference for efficiency.

328. Cal St. Bakersfield 8-24 (2-18)
Preseason #247 (#8 in the Big West)
A total systemic collapse defined the year for the Roadrunners, as the team struggled with the worst defensive rating in the Big West and a season-ending thirteen-game losing streak.

Tier Twenty Six

327. Chattanooga 13-19 (7-11)
Preseason #150 (#3 in the SoCon)
Jordan Frison spearheaded a perimeter attack that ranked among the most accurate in the nation, yet the Mocs were frequently undermined by a defense that surrendered over one hundred points per possession.

326. Albany 11-21 (7-9)
Preseason #292 (#6 in the America East)
Amir Lindsey earned all conference honors for Albany through high volume scoring while the team struggled with a defensive rating that was among the worst in its league.

325. Alcorn St. 9-23 (7-11)
Preseason #329 (#8 in the SWAC)
Jake Morton began his tenure with a difficult uphill climb as the Braves plummeted in the rankings while struggling to find structural solutions for their issues with zone defenses and ball security.

324. Little Rock 12-20 (9-11)
Preseason #165 (#1 in the OVC)
The loss of a primary defensive anchor led the Trojans to a sobering fall in the national standings as the unit struggled to secure the glass or maintain efficiency.

323. UMass Lowell 15-18 (9-7)
Preseason #240 (#3 in the America East)
Starting a rebuild from a 240th preseason rank, UMass Lowell leaned on three all conference selections to navigate a defense that was less stable than its offensive counterpart.

322. Bucknell 10-23 (6-12)
Preseason #310 (#6 in the Patriot League)
The emergence of high-major talent Amon Dörries provided a lone bright spot for the Bison during a turbulent transition marked by a lack of collective consistency and a high turnover rate.

321. The Citadel 11-22 (7-11)
Preseason #348 (#10 in the SoCon)
Braxton Williams provided the scoring punch for a Bulldogs squad that struggled with efficiency but manufactured a legendary tournament upset behind an improbable game-winning triple.

320. Grambling St. 14-19 (7-11)
Preseason #235 (#4 in the SWAC)
Patrick Crarey navigated a turbulent transition by maintaining a solid defensive identity while a lack of offensive rebounding remained a persistent anchor for the Tigers.

319. Eastern Illinois 13-20 (8-12)
Preseason #326 (#8 in the OVC)
A defensive unit that ranked in the top half of the country allowed the Panthers to climb out of the conference cellar even as a high turnover rate hindered the team’s offensive momentum.

318. Lafayette 11-21 (8-10)
Preseason #304 (#5 in the Patriot League)
To navigate a season defined by defensive regression and a lack of bench depth, the Leopards leaned heavily on the standout scoring of All-Conference freshman Caleb Williams.

317. IU Indy 7-25 (3-17)
Preseason #361 (#11 in the Horizon League)
Ben Howlett led a Jaguar squad that embraced a breakneck pace and climbed significantly in the computer rankings despite struggling with a defensive rating that sat near the bottom of the league.

316. Jackson St. 12-21 (10-8)
Preseason #198 (#3 in the SWAC)
Individual brilliance from SWAC Player of the Year Daeshun Ruffin provided a prolific scoring spark for a roster that was ultimately grounded by systemic defensive lapses and a lack of interior presence.

315. Northern Arizona 10-22 (4-14)
Preseason #230 (#3 in the Big Sky)
An inability to protect the arc proved fatal for the Lumberjacks, as a perimeter defense that was among the worst in the country allowed conference rivals to shoot a blistering percentage from deep.

314. Georgia St. 10-22 (7-11)
Preseason #287 (#12 in the Sun Belt)
Systemic issues with ball handling and pressure hindered the Panthers throughout a descent from their initial projections that ended with a basement finish in the conference.

Tier Twenty Five

313. Cleveland St. 11-22 (6-14)
Preseason #259 (#7 in the Horizon League)
Cleveland State functioned as a high-stakes experiment by pairing a lethal perimeter attack that ranked near the top of the nation in efficiency with a defensive unit that sat in the national basement.

312. Le Moyne 15-17 (10-8)
Preseason #337 (#5 in the NEC)
Methodical offensive efficiency that ranked second in the league helped the Dolphins defy their initial projections and secure a top-five conference finish despite a national turnover gap that ranked near the bottom.

311. Northeastern 7-24 (2-16)
Preseason #219 (#8 in the CAA)
High-volume perimeter ambition defined the Huskies as they ranked near the top of the nation in three-point attempts, yet the team was ultimately weighed down by a defensive unit that ranked among the most porous in the country.

310. Evansville 7-25 (3-17)
Preseason #256 (#10 in the MVC)
The Purple Aces plummeted in the national standings due to an anemic offensive output and a frustrating inability to protect the ball following a void in the paint left by injuries.

309. Loyola MD 12-20 (8-10)
Preseason #323 (#8 in the Patriot League)
An often utilized transition game and the growth of sophomore Braeden Speed were not enough to bridge the gap with the conference elite as the Greyhounds struggled with a porous defense.

308. Wagner 14-17 (8-10)
Preseason #321 (#3 in the NEC)
Nick Jones delivered ice-cold finishes in high-leverage moments to lead a resilient Seahawks squad that overcame coaching upheaval to rank forty-third nationally in three-point accuracy.

307. North Carolina A&T 11-19 (4-14)
Preseason #333 (#13 in the CAA)
By weaponizing a whistle-drawing offense that led the conference in free-throw rate, the Aggies defied their low initial projections behind the meteoric scoring of freshman Lewis Walker.

306. Alabama A&M 18-15 (10-8)
Preseason #305 (#6 in the SWAC)
Aggressive play and an elite ability to reach the charity stripe defined a volatile debut season for the Bulldogs under Donte’ Jackson.

305. Jacksonville 12-20 (7-11)
Preseason #261 (#7 in the ASun)
Maintaining a defensive efficiency that ranked in the top half of the Atlantic Sun allowed Jacksonville to stay competitive throughout the winter.

304. Texas Southern 12-18 (10-8)
Preseason #282 (#5 in the SWAC)
Formidable interior strength from Troy Hupstead provided the veteran size to dominate the paint while the Tigers were simultaneously stunted by chronic instability in the backcourt.

303. Hampton 13-19 (7-11)
Preseason #241 (#9 in the CAA)
Hampton defined its year through a stark paradox where a top-tier defensive efficiency was consistently neutralized by a perimeter attack that ranked among the worst in the country for accuracy.

302. Oral Roberts 10-23 (4-12)
Preseason #326 (#7 in the Summit League)
Kory Barnett introduced an aggressive perimeter philosophy that saw the Golden Eagles launch triples at the fourth-highest rate in the country despite a total lack of returning experience.

Tier Twenty Four

301. Central Connecticut 18-12 (12-6)
Preseason #284 (#1 in the NEC)
Gutty non-conference victories over Rutgers and Boston College highlighted a season where the Blue Devils led the league in offensive rating but struggled to maintain their historic defensive consistency.

300. USC Upstate 13-19 (5-11)
Preseason #350 (#9 in the Big South)
Utilizing a top-tier defensive rating allowed the Spartans to overcome a high-velocity offense that often lacked precision and climb significantly from their initial projections.

299. Bellarmine 13-19 (7-11)
Preseason #325 (#8 in the ASun)
Doug Davenport led a Bellarmine unit that weaponized one of the most efficient scoring attacks in the conference to compensate for a defense that allowed more points per possession than any other rival.

298. Arkansas Pine Bluff 13-19 (10-8)
Preseason #362 (#11 in the SWAC)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff authored a dramatic turnaround by defying a last-place projection to become a nightmare in transition behind the high-octane offensive production of Quion Williams.

297. Southeastern Louisiana 9-22 (6-16)
Preseason #275 (#7 in the Southland)
Flashes of high level interior physicality and a strong free throw rate were ultimately undermined by a three point shooting percentage that ranked as one of the worst in the country.

296. East Texas A&M 11-21 (6-16)
Preseason #357 (#12 in the Southland)
Leaning into a high octane strategy that featured a top fifty national rank in three point attempts, the Lions shattered their initial standing to climb toward the middle of the conference.

295. Eastern Kentucky 11-21 (7-11)
Preseason #197 (#3 in the ASun)
Exceeding a 126th preseason expectation, Florida Atlantic relied on an efficient offense that shot the three more frequently than any other team in the American.

294. Florida A&M 15-16 (11-7)
Preseason #344 (#9 in the SWAC)
Charlie Ward orchestrated a cultural shift by building a top-tier defensive force that held conference opponents to a stifling shooting percentage from deep.

293. Sacred Heart 14-19 (9-11)
Preseason #236 (#7 in the MAAC)
The Pioneers brandished a lethal perimeter attack that ranked tenth in the entire country for volume but their reliance on the long ball proved fatal in a postseason loss to Merrimack.

292. NJIT 16-17 (10-6)
Preseason #353 (#9 in the America East)
NJIT defied its 353rd preseason ranking to secure a top three conference finish fueled by the conference’s best newcomer in David Bolden.

291. Brown 9-18 (3-11)
Preseason #229 (#6 in the Ivy League)
The Bears struggled to find a consistent offensive identity in the post-Kino Lilly era as a stagnant perimeter attack overshadowed a defensive unit that ranked among the top third of the country.

290. UNC Greensboro 15-19 (9-9)
Preseason #208 (#5 in the SoCon)
The Spartans led the conference and ranked eighth nationally in three-point accuracy, but their offensive brilliance was ultimately neutralized by a defensive unit that ranked near the absolute bottom of the country.

289. Mercyhurst 17-17 (10-8)
Preseason #339 (#6 in the NEC)
Gary Manchel orchestrated a masterclass in disciplined basketball by guiding the Lakers to a second-place finish behind a stifling defense and a free-throw rate that ranked thirty-sixth in the country.

288. Western Michigan 10-21 (4-14)
Preseason #264 (#9 in the MAC)
Western Michigan struggled to find a consistent rhythm due to a passive defensive philosophy that allowed conference opponents to fire from the perimeter with impunity.

287. Presbyterian 15-18 (7-9)
Preseason #299 (#6 in the Big South)
By leveraging a deliberately slow tempo and the interior dominance of Jonah Pierce, the Blue Hose produced a disciplined brand of basketball that frustrated more explosive conference rivals.

286. Prairie View A&M 19-18 (9-9)
Preseason #346 (#10 in the SWAC)
Prairie View A&M orchestrated a historic postseason surge from the eighth seed by transforming into a defensive juggernaut and relying on the veteran poise of Tournament MVP Dontae Horne.

285. Old Dominion 12-21 (7-11)
Preseason #158 (#4 in the Sun Belt)
Ketron Shaw led a talented trio of scorers for the Monarchs, but their backcourt could not overcome a defensive unit that struggled to stop opponents without fouling.

284. Delaware 10-21 (6-14)
Preseason #216 (#10 in the C-USA)
Christian Bliss earned Rookie of the Year honors for a Delaware team that launched triples at an elite rate but was ultimately anchored by a defensive unit in the league basement.

283. Lamar 12-19 (7-15)
Preseason #242 (#4 in the Southland)
Rob Lee Jr. spearheaded an offensive effort for a Cardinals squad that flashed top tier defensive potential but was ultimately hindered by an inability to defend without fouling.

282. Florida Gulf Coast 16-18 (8-10)
Preseason #181 (#1 in the ASun)
Pat Chambers steered Florida Gulf Coast through a postseason push that far outpaced its middle-of-the-pack statistical profile by leaning on the conference’s premier defender in Isaiah Malone.

281. Sacramento St. 10-21 (6-12)
Preseason #288 (#7 in the Big Sky)
By embracing a breakneck offensive pace led by the high-scoring backcourt of Prophet Johnson and Mikey Williams, Sacramento State successfully defied its basement-level projections.

280. Lindenwood 18-15 (11-9)
Preseason #324 (#7 in the OVC)
Significant growth and a top-five conference finish defined a season built on a defensive discipline that ranked thirty-first in the nation and an elite ability to avoid committing fouls.

Tier Twenty Three

279. Houston Christian 12-20 (8-14)
Preseason #298 (#10 in the Southland)
By mastering the art of ball security with a turnover rate that ranked within the top forty nationally, the Huskies successfully dictated a slow tempo despite a struggling perimeter attack.

278. Mount St. Mary’s 15-17 (11-9)
Preseason #259 (#8 in the MAAC)
Donny Lind implemented an uncompromising defensive philosophy that baited opponents into outside shots but the Mountaineers were consistently undermined by a turnover rate that sat at the bottom of the league.

277. South Dakota St. 14-18 (7-9)
Preseason #177 (#3 in the Summit League)
Bryan Petersen navigated a transition year by leading the league in free-throw rate even as the loss of interior size caused a significant slide in the program’s defensive rebounding.

276. Loyola Chicago 9-24 (4-14)
Preseason #63 (#2 in the A10)
Starting from a lofty preseason expectation of #63, Loyola Chicago saw their potential collapse as they struggled with the worst perimeter defense in the conference and a league-low turnover rate.

275. Northwestern St. 10-22 (8-14)
Preseason #273 (#6 in the Southland)
Micah Thomas earned All Conference honors for a program that utilized a physical style to rank fifty fifth in the nation for free throw generation despite a plummeting defensive efficiency.

274. West Georgia 15-17 (8-10)
Preseason #363 (#12 in the ASun)
Relying on the elite offensive rebounding of Shelton Williams-Dryden, West Georgia secured a top-seven finish during its second Division I campaign.

273. UTEP 11-20 (7-13)
Preseason #166 (#7 in the C-USA)
A catastrophic national ranking in opponent free-throw rate undermined the defensive pressure of Joe Golding at UTEP as the Miners struggled to replace their foundational stoppers.

272. Longwood 16-16 (8-8)
Preseason #225 (#5 in the Big South)
Operating at a top twenty-five national pace despite struggling from the perimeter, the Lancers relied on a physical identity that prioritized the interior but was hindered by inconsistencies on the glass.

271. South Dakota 16-16 (8-8)
Preseason #293 (#5 in the Summit League)
By finishing eighth in the nation in free throw rate, the Coyotes maintained an aggressive offensive identity that fueled a rivalry sweep even as a lack of defensive resistance limited their overall ceiling.

270. Eastern Michigan 10-21 (4-14)
Preseason #273 (#10 in the MAC)
By showcasing high-major potential in a defensive masterclass against Cincinnati, the Eagles managed to climb from their initial standing despite being haunted by inconsistent communication in space.

269. Idaho St. 13-20 (5-13)
Preseason #308 (#9 in the Big Sky)
Rugged interior play and an elite rate of drawing fouls allowed Idaho State to significantly improve its standing despite a turnover gap that was among the worst in the conference.

268. Louisiana 11-22 (7-11)
Preseason #254 (#9 in the Sun Belt)
Quannas White began his tenure with a roster in flux that struggled to find a cohesive identity while operating at one of the slowest paces in the nation.

267. Incarnate Word 12-19 (7-15)
Preseason #215 (#2 in the Southland)
By leading the conference with an elite mark from beyond the arc, the Cardinals weaponized an offensive rating that ranked thirteenth in the entire country despite a defensive fragility that caused a slide in the standings.

266. Tennessee Martin 22-11 (13-7)
Preseason #348 (#10 in the OVC)
The Skyhawks engineered a remarkable ascent to fourth place by stretching opposing defenses with a high-volume shooting system that featured Freshman of the Year Matas Deniusas.

Tier Twenty Two

265. Purdue Fort Wayne 17-15 (11-9)
Preseason #221 (#5 in the Horizon League)
Jon Coffman led a Mastodon unit that secured a signature road victory over Notre Dame by living at the perimeter, though a lack of second-chance opportunities on the glass ultimately limited their postseason ceiling.

264. SIU Edwardsville 19-13 (12-8)
Preseason #214 (#3 in the OVC)
An almost impenetrable defensive wall that ranked among the top one hundred nationally allowed the Cougars to challenge for the top of the league behind the stifling presence of Arnas Sakenis.

263. Charleston Southern 15-17 (6-10)
Preseason #305 (#7 in the Big South)
The Buccaneers transformed into a lethal perimeter threat by shattering expectations with a three-point percentage that ranked among the best in the country.

262. Milwaukee 12-20 (8-12)
Preseason #204 (#4 in the Horizon League)
The Panthers suffered a frustrating slide as high expectations were undermined by a defensive unit that allowed opponents to shoot a lethal percentage from beyond the arc.

261. American 16-16 (9-9)
Preseason #278 (#4 in the Patriot League)
By vaulting nearly forty spots in the national standings, the Eagles validated their status as a powerhouse through a methodical offense and a defense that ranked second in the league.

260. Pepperdine 9-23 (4-14)
Preseason #256 (#12 in the WCC)
Resilient leadership from Aaron Clark and a late-season surge highlighted by a victory over Washington State provided hope for a program navigating a total reconstruction.

259. Western Carolina 15-16 (10-8)
Preseason #247 (#9 in the SoCon)
Cord Stansberry anchored a squad that surpassed its initial projections to secure the fourth seed before a late-game shooting collapse saw a sixteen-point lead evaporate in the semifinals.

258. Elon 14-18 (6-12)
Preseason #268 (#11 in the CAA)
By transforming into a disciplined offensive unit that led the league in ball security, Elon overcame a porous defense to climb significantly in the national computer rankings.

257. Abilene Christian 14-19 (5-13)
Preseason #149 (#2 in the WAC)
Elite defensive playmaking and the disruptive length of Rich Smith could not outrun an offense that struggled with perimeter shooting and an inconsistent scoring punch from the bench.

256. Colgate 18-15 (11-7)
Preseason #221 (#1 in the Patriot League)
The Raiders boasted the top offensive rating in the Patriot League behind the massive workload of Jalen Cox, yet a perimeter defense ranking among the bottom ten nationally hindered their title defense.

255. East Carolina 11-20 (6-12)
Preseason #201 (#13 in the American)
East Carolina acted as a giant slayer with upsets over league leaders despite finishing with a three point percentage that was the worst among its conference mates.

254. Central Michigan 10-21 (6-12)
Preseason #282 (#11 in the MAC)
The Chippewas defied their projection as the conference cellar dweller by climbing nearly forty spots in the national rankings behind the steady interior presence of Nathan Claerbaut.

253. UC Riverside 10-22 (5-15)
Preseason #284 (#9 in the Big West)
Andrew Henderson served as the undeniable engine for a UC Riverside squad that fought to exceed expectations through a frantic offensive pace during a year of total reconstruction.

Tier Twenty One

252. Morehead St. 20-13 (15-5)
Preseason #280 (#5 in the OVC)
Resilience and elite offensive efficiency fueled a championship share for the Eagles, who utilized a big time scoring duo and a top-fifty national ranking in free-throw generation.

251. UNC Asheville 15-17 (8-8)
Preseason #196 (#4 in the Big South)
Elite individual brilliance from Kameron Taylor and Toyaz Solomon anchored the Bulldogs, yet the team saw its ceiling lowered by a turnover rate that was among the worst in the nation.

250. Lehigh 18-17 (11-7)
Preseason #314 (#7 in the Patriot League)
In a cinematic transformation, the Mountain Hawks defied national metrics to go from a rebounding-deficient underdog to a conference champion led by the brilliance of Nasir Whitlock.

249. Columbia 16-12 (5-9)
Preseason #286 (#8 in the Ivy League)
Kevin Hovde orchestrated a renaissance at Columbia by implementing a disciplined offensive system that led the conference in ball security and propelled the Lions far past their initial standing.

248. Southeast Missouri St. 20-13 (14-6)
Preseason #175 (#2 in the OVC)
Brad Korn parlayed a sturdy defensive foundation and a top-tier interior efficiency into a second-place finish while the Redhawks led the league in turnover margin.

247. Vermont 22-12 (12-4)
Preseason #138 (#1 in the America East)
The Catamounts maintained a 138th preseason expectation by posting the second most efficient offense in the league but ultimately fell just short of the conference tournament crown.

246. Tarleton St. 14-18 (5-13)
Preseason #247 (#5 in the WAC)
Dior Johnson lived up to the hype by averaging twenty four points per game for a squad that paired explosive individual scoring with a defense that ranked among the top third nationally in efficiency.

245. Dartmouth 11-16 (5-9)
Preseason #270 (#7 in the Ivy League)
A radical tactical profile defined the Big Green as they mastered the defensive glass while launching nearly half of their shots from beyond the arc in a pursuit of pure tempo.

244. Ball St. 12-19 (7-11)
Preseason #204 (#8 in the MAC)
A resilient, blue-collar finish defined the Cardinals as an early-season scoring drought eventually gave way to an identity built on a top-tier offensive rebounding gap.

243. Long Beach St. 10-22 (6-14)
Preseason #300 (#10 in the Big West)
By shedding its cellar status under first-year head coach Chris Acker, Long Beach State established a competitive foundation behind the downhill driving of Freshman of the Year Gavin Sykes.

242. Samford 18-14 (11-7)
Preseason #206 (#4 in the SoCon)
By leading the conference with an elite free throw rate and top tier perimeter accuracy, the Bulldogs successfully transformed into an efficiency minded powerhouse despite a total roster overhaul.

241. Nicholls St. 14-19 (12-10)
Preseason #281 (#9 in the Southland)
A masterclass in ball security allowed the Colonels to climb significantly in the rankings by finishing eighth nationally in turnover margin while forcing a fresh roster into a disciplined identity.

240. Nebraska Omaha 16-17 (8-8)
Preseason #164 (#2 in the Summit League)
Collective experience and the All-Conference scoring of Paul Djobet landed the Mavericks in the middle of the league despite a steep drop from their initial computer rankings.

239. Southern Utah 10-22 (6-12)
Preseason #258 (#6 in the WAC)
Elijah Duval earned the mantle of Freshman of the Year by serving as the primary engine for a high-speed offense that ranked thirtieth in the nation for pace.

238. Wofford 19-13 (11-7)
Preseason #210 (#6 in the SoCon)
The Terriers exceeded expectations to secure a top four conference finish by weaponizing a floor spacing unit that ranked among the top ten nationally in three point volume.

237. Southern 17-17 (11-7)
Preseason #184 (#1 in the SWAC)
Disciplined paint touches and a high-level free throw rate allowed the Jaguars to punish aggressive defenses while solidifying their status as a conference powerhouse.

Tier Twenty

236. Denver 15-17 (8-8)
Preseason #340 (#9 in the Summit League)
Starting from a basement level projection, the Pioneers catapulted forward by constructing the twenty-sixth best offensive rating in the country behind the shooting of Carson Johnson.

235. Georgia Southern 21-16 (8-10)
Preseason #271 (#11 in the Sun Belt)
By relying on a backcourt trio of all tournament performers and the fourth best offensive rating in the conference, the Eagles fueled a historic five day postseason surge to the title game.

234. Radford 16-16 (9-7)
Preseason #145 (#2 in the Big South)
Modern offensive philosophy defined the Highlanders as they ranked in the top tier of the conference in three-point and free-throw attempts despite a defensive unit that struggled to get stops.

233. Iona 18-14 (10-10)
Preseason #186 (#3 in the MAAC)
The Gaels embraced a radical strategy by attempting triples at the fifth highest rate in the nation yet a lack of scoring precision and a poor rebounding gap led to a middle of the pack finish.

232. Coastal Carolina 19-13 (11-7)
Preseason #289 (#13 in the Sun Belt)
Steady scoring from Joshua Beadle helped the Chanticleers climb significantly in the rankings while utilizing a patient offensive system that favored perimeter efficiency.

231. Boston University 17-17 (10-8)
Preseason #276 (#3 in the Patriot League)
Joe Jones led the Terriers to a top-three conference finish by weaponizing a high-volume perimeter attack and the elite marksmanship of Michael McNair.

230. North Dakota 18-17 (10-6)
Preseason #332 (#8 in the Summit League)
Defensive Player of the Year Eli King led a disruptive unit that ranked twenty-fourth nationally in turnover rate to help the Fighting Hawks defy their grim initial forecasts.

229. Fairfield 21-13 (11-9)
Preseason #311 (#10 in the MAAC)
By climbing significantly from its initial standing, the Stags carved out a successful season behind an efficient offensive system and the revelation of standout freshman Brandon Benjamin.

228. Princeton 9-20 (5-9)
Preseason #203 (#4 in the Ivy League)
The Tigers suffered a frustrating slide as a rigid reliance on the perimeter resulted in one of the worst three-point percentages in the nation and a departure from their usual poise.

227. LIU 24-11 (15-3)
Preseason #291 (#2 in the NEC)
The Sharks reclaimed the conference throne by weaponizing a perimeter attack that ranked seventeenth in the nation for accuracy while maximizing their athleticism to lead the league in two-point field goals.

226. Lipscomb 19-13 (12-6)
Preseason #226 (#4 in the ASun)
The Bisons successfully navigated a transitional year by producing an effective field goal percentage that was better than most rivals.

225. Southern Miss 19-16 (9-9)
Preseason #263 (#10 in the Sun Belt)
Relentless physicality and an elite offensive rebounding gap allowed the Golden Eagles to transform into one of the most dangerous postseason threats in the league behind the dominance of Tylik Weeks.

224. Texas St. 19-13 (11-7)
Preseason #244 (#8 in the Sun Belt)
Rugged defensive play and the interior efficiency of Sun Belt Rookie of the Year DJ Hall allowed the Bobcats to fulfill their expectations by maintaining a top four unit in the conference.

Tier Nineteen

223. Stony Brook 17-15 (9-9)
Preseason #308 (#12 in the CAA)
The Seawolves orchestrated a significant climb by leaning into a perimeter attack led by the shot-making gravity of All-Conference selection Erik Pratt.

222. Bethune Cookman 17-15 (14-4)
Preseason #186 (#2 in the SWAC)
Reggie Theus orchestrated a balanced attack that paired the league’s most efficient defense with a transformative scoring effort from Jakobi Heady to claim the regular season title.

221. San Diego 12-21 (5-13)
Preseason #159 (#9 in the WCC)
By anchoring the offense with elite scoring while struggling to contain the perimeter, the Toreros experienced a mercurial ride that included a gritty postseason upset over Loyola Marymount.

220. Indiana St. 11-21 (4-16)
Preseason #180 (#9 in the MVC)
High speed and narrow margins characterized a Sycamore team that ranked among the top ten nationally in three-point volume but suffered from the tenth-worst free-throw rate in the country.

219. Cal Poly 14-19 (10-10)
Preseason #236 (#6 in the Big West)
Operating as the second fastest team in the nation, Cal Poly established a volatile identity by prioritizing a high-volume perimeter attack that led to a stunning road victory over Utah.

218. Tennessee St. 23-10 (15-5)
Preseason #251 (#4 in the OVC)
Nolan Smith authored a spectacular turnaround in his first year to capture both the regular-season and tournament titles by dominating the offensive glass and the charity stripe.

217. Buffalo 17-15 (7-11)
Preseason #354 (#13 in the MAC)
Buffalo transformed from a preseason afterthought into a high-octane threat as dynamic freshman Daniel Freitag led an offensive surge that obliterated the program’s previous national standing.

216. Quinnipiac 19-13 (12-8)
Preseason #168 (#1 in the MAAC)
Quinnipiac anchored its identity with a stifling defensive presence that ranked second in the league yet an anemic offense that finished last in the conference in free throw rate limited its postseason potential.

215. Drake 14-20 (6-14)
Preseason #130 (#5 in the MVC)
Jalen Quinn acted as the high-scoring engine for a Bulldogs program that made history at Arch Madness by becoming the first nine-seed to ever topple the top-seeded team in the conference tournament.

214. San Jose St. 9-24 (3-17)
Preseason #173 (#10 in the Mountain West)
Colby Garland emerged as a legitimate star for a Spartans program that possessed a top-hundred national ranking in three-point accuracy but lacked the defensive discipline to move out of the conference cellar.

213. Marist 19-12 (12-8)
Preseason #213 (#5 in the MAAC)
By constructing the most formidable defensive shell in the conference, the Red Foxes shattered expectations while suffocating opponents with a rating that ranked first in the league.

Tier Eighteen

212. Ohio 15-17 (9-9)
Preseason #127 (#3 in the MAC)
By boasting the best turnover gap in the league and elite interior efficiency behind the scoring of Jackson Paveletzke, the Bobcats battled inconsistency despite their high-level offensive firepower.

211. Rice 13-18 (7-11)
Preseason #185 (#12 in the American)
The Owls exceeded their 185th preseason projection behind a backcourt that shot the three more accurately than most rivals while struggling to secure defensive rebounds.

210. La Salle 9-23 (5-13)
Preseason #199 (#14 in the A10)
Darris Nichols faced a steep inaugural climb at La Salle where the Explorers suffered through the lowest three point percentage in the A10 despite a shocking home upset over Dayton.

209. James Madison 18-15 (9-9)
Preseason #143 (#2 in the Sun Belt)
The Dukes remained an offensive powerhouse with the third best efficiency in the league led by a lethal perimeter attack from the duo of Cliff Davis and Justin McBride.

208. Mercer 19-13 (11-7)
Preseason #228 (#8 in the SoCon)
Surging from a middle of the pack projection to a commanding third place finish, the Bears paired the league’s most accurate perimeter attack with a top one hundred national defense.

207. Weber St. 16-16 (10-8)
Preseason #300 (#8 in the Big Sky)
Surgical offensive precision and a turnover rate that ranked as the best in the Big Sky fueled a significant tactical resurgence for Weber State throughout the winter.

206. Saint Peter’s 17-12 (14-6)
Preseason #295 (#9 in the MAAC)
Saint Peter’s defied a dismal national projection by embracing a deliberate and bruising identity that forced opponents into a grueling half-court grind.

205. Cal St. Fullerton 18-16 (12-8)
Preseason #315 (#11 in the Big West)
By vaulting from a lowly initial projection to a much higher standing, Cal State Fullerton authored a defiant redemption story fueled by a relentless offensive tempo and an overhauled roster.

204. Marshall 19-13 (11-7)
Preseason #234 (#7 in the Sun Belt)
Modern basketball principles and a high octane identity allowed the Thundering Herd to outperform expectations by ranking eighth in the nation for three point volume.

203. Tulane 18-15 (8-10)
Preseason #91 (#3 in the American)
Failing to bridge the gap between high preseason expectations and a porous defense, Tulane finished dead last in the country in offensive rebounding gap.

202. Portland 15-19 (6-12)
Preseason #226 (#11 in the WCC)
Shocking the conference with an upset of Gonzaga, the Pilots answered a massive roster turnover by climbing the rankings and securing two victories in the tournament.

Tier Seventeen

201. Missouri St. 16-18 (8-12)
Preseason #223 (#12 in the C-USA)
Missouri State defied its dismal initial expectations by transforming into an offensive juggernaut that orchestrated a climactic postseason upset over Liberty in its new conference home.

200. New Orleans 15-18 (12-10)
Preseason #317 (#11 in the Southland)
Physical aggression and the third-highest free-throw rate in the nation fueled a dramatic redemption story for the Privateers as the program jumped over one hundred spots in the computer rankings.

199. Campbell 16-18 (8-10)
Preseason #191 (#5 in the CAA)
Sophisticated offensive play and surgical precision in the backcourt allowed Campbell to exceed expectations and establish a high-level identity under new leadership.

198. FIU 15-17 (8-12)
Preseason #217 (#11 in the C-USA)
By embracing a chaotic, high-possession style that ranked among the fastest in the nation, the Panthers transformed from a bottom-tier afterthought into a program defined by a relentless press on their signature wave court.

197. Queens 21-14 (13-5)
Preseason #251 (#5 in the ASun)
Queens transformed into a championship-caliber team by utilizing a three-point accuracy and offensive rebounding gap that overwhelmed the rest of the league.

196. UT Arlington 18-14 (9-9)
Preseason #231 (#4 in the WAC)
KT Turner integrated a host of newcomers to climb nearly fifty spots in the rankings by weaponizing a length-driven rebounding unit that ranked among the top one hundred nationally.

195. Furman 22-13 (10-8)
Preseason #144 (#1 in the SoCon)
Freshman sensation Alex Wilkins powered the Paladins to a regular season title and a tournament championship through an offense that ranked among the most efficient in the conference.

194. Youngstown St. 15-17 (8-12)
Preseason #189 (#2 in the Horizon League)
Youngstown State maintained a fearless commitment to the perimeter and secured a stunning upset over Grand Canyon, yet systemic cracks in ball security eventually led to a disappointing tournament exit.

193. Jacksonville St. 15-17 (10-10)
Preseason #142 (#4 in the C-USA)
Elite defensive architecture that ranked in the top fifty nationally for efficiency anchored the Gamecocks, though the season was ultimately undermined by an offensive flow that stagnated whenever Mostapha El Moutaouakkil was off the floor.

192. Utah Tech 19-15 (11-7)
Preseason #290 (#7 in the WAC)
Skyrocketing from a low initial standing, the Trailblazers forged a gritty identity behind Ethan Potter and a perimeter defense that ranked nineteenth in the country in opponent shooting accuracy.

191. Detroit Mercy 17-15 (12-8)
Preseason #333 (#10 in the Horizon League)
Detroit Mercy defied every preseason projection by eschewing the modern three-point trend in favor of a physical interior identity that propelled them into a championship showdown.

190. Towson 19-15 (9-9)
Preseason #123 (#2 in the CAA)
Towson utilized a bruising style and elite offensive rebounding to navigate a turbulent path that was ultimately highlighted by the postseason scoring brilliance of Tyler Tejada.

189. UMBC 24-9 (14-2)
Preseason #269 (#5 in the America East)
UMBC capitalized on its 269th preseason rank by producing an offensive rating and defensive efficiency that both led the conference on the way to a tournament title.

188. East Tennessee St. 23-11 (13-5)
Preseason #150 (#2 in the SoCon)
The Buccaneers validated their status as a favorite by leading the league in defensive efficiency and finishing as the only program to rank in the top two for both offense and defense.

Tier Sixteen

187. Green Bay 18-15 (12-8)
Preseason #313 (#9 in the Horizon League)
The Phoenix rose from the conference basement to secure a top-four finish under Doug Gottlieb by ranking twenty-third nationally in three-point attempt rate.

186. New Mexico St. 16-16 (8-12)
Preseason #120 (#2 in the C-USA)
Jemel Jones emerged as a premier scoring threat for an Aggie squad that navigated a volatile year of transition by relying on a defense that ranked third in the league for efficiency.

185. Appalachian St. 19-13 (11-7)
Preseason #209 (#6 in the Sun Belt)
By weaponizing the best defense in the league and the rim protection of Luke Wilson, the Mountaineers successfully secured a fourth place finish in the standings.

184. Drexel 17-16 (10-8)
Preseason #266 (#10 in the CAA)
Zach Spiker’s squad at Drexel defied its lowly conference billing by employing a glacial pace and a stifling perimeter defense to prove its rebuilding phase was ahead of schedule.

183. South Alabama 21-12 (11-7)
Preseason #178 (#5 in the Sun Belt)
Elite precision and the seventeenth best turnover rate in the country defined a campaign led by Sun Belt Player of the Year Chaze Harris.

182. St. Bonaventure 17-17 (4-14)
Preseason #89 (#7 in the A10)
Elite perimeter accuracy helped St. Bonaventure sprint past a preseason rank of #89 in non-conference play before a thin rotation led to the third worst defensive rating among their conference peers.

181. Texas A&M Corpus Chris 18-15 (13-9)
Preseason #245 (#5 in the Southland)
Jim Shaw utilized a bruising paint-focused philosophy and a suffocating perimeter defense to transform the Islanders into the second-best defensive unit in the conference.

180. Howard 24-11 (11-3)
Preseason #265 (#2 in the MEAC)
Bryce Harris swept postseason honors and led the Bison to their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory behind a top-twenty national defense and an elite perimeter attack.

179. William & Mary 20-12 (10-8)
Preseason #172 (#4 in the CAA)
By embracing a modern philosophy that prioritized the long ball, the Tribe secured a top-ten national offensive rating and decisively outperformed initial conference projections.

178. Richmond 15-17 (5-13)
Preseason #116 (#10 in the A10)
Richmond parlayed their top-tier ball security into early success after a #116 preseason projection but ultimately faltered due to an offensive rebounding gap that ranked last in the league.

177. Northern Kentucky 20-14 (10-10)
Preseason #267 (#8 in the Horizon League)
The Norse shattered their rebuilding label as Donovan Oday earned All-Conference honors for an explosive offensive system that reached its peak during a dominant postseason performance against Green Bay.

176. Louisiana Tech 20-14 (11-9)
Preseason #173 (#8 in the C-USA)
A stifling defensive identity that finished in the top seventy nationally allowed the Bulldogs to secure a competitive conference finish despite replacing the program’s top four scorers.

175. Massachusetts 17-16 (7-11)
Preseason #192 (#7 in the MAC)
High-major upsets over Florida State and Boston College highlighted a season where the Minutemen overcame a poor defensive foul rate to find postseason redemption against the conference’s top seed.

174. Montana 18-16 (10-8)
Preseason #176 (#1 in the Big Sky)
Money Williams asserted himself as a high-volume alpha for Montana by leading a top-tier offensive unit that maintained the high standard of excellence in Missoula.

173. Temple 16-16 (8-10)
Preseason #129 (#7 in the American)
Methodical execution and elite ball security allowed the Owls to produce the conference’s fourth most efficient offense while mirroring their 129th preseason billing.

172. Charleston 21-11 (14-4)
Preseason #125 (#3 in the CAA)
The Cougars countered an icy perimeter shooting slump by leading the entire nation in ball security and anchoring their identity with the conference’s premier defensive frontcourt.

171. Winthrop 23-11 (13-3)
Preseason #154 (#3 in the Big South)
Blistering transition play allowed the Eagles to solidify their reputation as the most entertaining program in the region while leading the Big South in offensive rating.

Tier Fifteen

170. UC Davis 19-14 (11-9)
Preseason #245 (#7 in the Big West)
UC Davis proved its system could thrive without a former superstar by utilizing a surgical approach that ranked as one of the best in the country at the charity stripe.

169. Georgia Tech 11-20 (2-16)
Preseason #102 (#17 in the ACC)
Starting from a preseason ranking of 102, the Yellow Jackets relied on the eleventh best three point percentage in the conference but ultimately bottomed out due to a lack of ball security that was worse than their peers.

168. Oakland 16-16 (12-8)
Preseason #250 (#6 in the Horizon League)
By utilizing a top-ten national free-throw rate, the Golden Grizzlies overcame a non-conference gauntlet and the loss of their top seven scorers to establish a highly efficient offensive identity.

167. Western Kentucky 18-14 (11-9)
Preseason #161 (#6 in the C-USA)
Operating as one of the fastest teams in the country, the Hilltoppers utilized a high-velocity style and the scoring of Teagan Moore to bypass their projected finish and claim the fifth spot in the league.
166. Charlotte 17-17 (9-9)
Preseason #167 (#11 in the American)
Operating at a glacial pace that was slower than every other conference rival, Charlotte saw its season defined by a defense that languished near the bottom of the league.

165. Cornell 15-13 (8-6)
Preseason #200 (#3 in the Ivy League)
Jon Jaques led a Cornell unit that evolved into a lethal offensive juggernaut, ranking among the top ten in the country for both efficiency and long-range accuracy while operating at a breathless pace.

164. Fordham 17-15 (8-10)
Preseason #134 (#11 in the A10)
The first year under Mike Magpayo saw Fordham forge the conference’s premier defensive identity while simultaneously languishing with the league’s least effective marks in both three point shooting and free throw rate.

163. Bowling Green 18-14 (9-9)
Preseason #179 (#5 in the MAC)
The Falcons established themselves as a premier defensive juggernaut through the play of Javontae Campbell and a landmark victory over Kansas State that marked a two-decade milestone for the program.

162. Monmouth 19-15 (11-7)
Preseason #194 (#7 in the CAA)
Monmouth established itself as a legitimate conference power by forging a top-five defensive rating and relying on the multi-dimensional play of star Jason Rivera-Torres.

161. Siena 23-12 (13-7)
Preseason #182 (#2 in the MAAC)
Early-season doubts were effectively silenced as the Saints climbed in the national rankings and authored a historic performance where they held the largest lead ever recorded by a sixteen seed over a number one seed.

160. Merrimack 23-11 (17-3)
Preseason #232 (#6 in the MAAC)
The Warriors reached their defensive zenith during Joe Gallo’s tenth season by leveraging a suffocating system that ranked among the top twenty nationally in adjusted efficiency.

159. Southern Illinois 16-16 (10-10)
Preseason #131 (#6 in the MVC)
By establishing a reputation as one of the most suffocating defensive units in the conference, the Salukis effectively turned every contest into a grueling, low-scoring battle.

158. Harvard 17-12 (10-4)
Preseason #182 (#2 in the Ivy League)
Tommy Amaker anchored the Crimson with a top-eighty national defense that stifled opponents in the half-court despite an offense that struggled to generate points at the charity stripe.

157. Idaho 21-15 (9-9)
Preseason #206 (#2 in the Big Sky)
Alex Pribble orchestrated a full-scale revolution at Idaho by weaponizing a perimeter attack that launched from deep more frequently than almost any other program in the country.

156. Toledo 19-15 (11-7)
Preseason #190 (#6 in the MAC)
A surgical offensive approach that ranked near the top of the nation in efficiency and free-throw discipline allowed the Rockets to overcome early-season struggles and reach the conference finals.

155. Kennesaw St. 21-14 (10-10)
Preseason #122 (#3 in the C-USA)
Significant mid-year turbulence was overcome behind the stardom of RJ Johnson and a physical identity that ranked in the top fifteen nationally in free-throw rate to secure a tournament title.

154. Austin Peay 22-9 (15-3)
Preseason #254 (#6 in the ASun)
By jumping from a low projection to a top-tier finish, Austin Peay utilized the most efficient young backcourt in the league to establish itself as a conference powerhouse.'

Tier Fourteen

153. Valparaiso 18-15 (11-9)
Preseason #296 (#11 in the MVC)
A remarkable ascent fueled by a fearless youth movement allowed the Beacons to surpass expectations and build a competitive new foundation under Roger Powell Jr.

152. UC Santa Barbara 18-14 (11-9)
Preseason #110 (#1 in the Big West)
Aidan Mahaney served as the catalyst for a UC Santa Barbara unit that led the conference in offensive rating but frequently struggled with fundamental defensive inconsistencies.

151. Loyola Marymount 15-17 (6-12)
Preseason #118 (#7 in the WCC)
A stingy defensive identity that ranked among the top one hundred nationally fueled a strong early start for the Lions, though a lack of consistent offensive firepower limited their conference ceiling.

150. Washington St. 12-20 (7-11)
Preseason #138 (#8 in the WCC)
Freshman sensation Ace Glass III authored a historic scoring masterclass for a squad that embraced a perimeter heavy identity while searching for defensive consistency in its new conference.

149. Kent St. 24-10 (14-4)
Preseason #140 (#4 in the MAC)
The Golden Flashes utilized a physically imposing style that ranked second in the country for free-throw rate while relying on the interior dominance of Delrecco Gillespie to navigate a tricky MAC schedule.

148. Eastern Washington 14-19 (11-7)
Preseason #279 (#6 in the Big Sky)
Masterful mid-season evolution saw Eastern Washington surge into the conference elite behind the dynamic playmaking and fearless shooting of Isaiah Moses.

147. San Francisco 17-16 (8-10)
Preseason #80 (#5 in the WCC)
Modern offensive philosophy and a top tier perimeter attack allowed the Dons to secure a notable win over Mississippi State while battling the elite programs of the league.

146. Middle Tennessee 17-15 (11-9)
Preseason #154 (#5 in the C-USA)
The Blue Raiders leaned into a modern offensive philosophy by launching triples at an elite rate while anchoring their success with a perimeter defense that led the conference.

145. Cal St. Northridge 20-14 (12-8)
Preseason #171 (#5 in the Big West)
Josiah Davis earned Player of the Year honors for a Cal State Northridge squad that prioritized a breakneck pace and offensive pressure over perimeter defense.

144. Navy 26-8 (17-1)
Preseason #232 (#2 in the Patriot League)
Under new leadership, the Midshipmen orchestrated a masterful campaign by forging a suffocating defensive identity that ranked eighteenth in the entire country.

143. Arkansas St. 20-12 (11-7)
Preseason #137 (#1 in the Sun Belt)
A blistering tempo and the third most efficient offense in the conference allowed the Red Wolves to capture the top spot in the standings and dismantle opponents.

142. Oregon St. 17-16 (9-9)
Preseason #74 (#4 in the WCC)
Josiah Lake II transformed from a walk on into the heartbeat of a roster that leaned on a top twenty national free throw rate during a grueling year of transition.

Tier Thirteen

141. Northern Colorado 20-12 (10-8)
Preseason #253 (#5 in the Big Sky)
Northern Colorado carved out the top offensive efficiency in the Big Sky by utilizing a relentless scoring system that vaulted the program up the national rankings.

140. Robert Morris 22-11 (13-7)
Preseason #195 (#3 in the Horizon League)
DeSean Goode claimed Player of the Year honors as a freshman for a Robert Morris squad that vaulted into a second-place standing behind an elite long-range shooting attack.

139. Troy 22-12 (12-6)
Preseason #153 (#3 in the Sun Belt)
By parlaying a top ten national rank in defensive discipline and an elite offensive rebounding engine into a tournament championship, the Trojans proved their mettle as a premier contender.

138. Rhode Island 16-16 (7-11)
Preseason #145 (#12 in the A10)
Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Cochran led a Rhode Island unit that ranked in the top five of the conference for defensive efficiency despite an offense that coughed up the most turnovers in the A10.

137. Penn 18-12 (9-5)
Preseason #223 (#5 in the Ivy League)
Fran McCaffery injected Big Ten grit into a Pennsylvania program that surged to a championship appearance behind the legendary postseason scoring of high-major transfer TJ Power.

136. Portland St. 20-11 (13-5)
Preseason #316 (#10 in the Big Sky)
Defensive grit and a conference-leading defensive rating allowed Portland State to transform from an afterthought into a top-tier contender.

135. Central Arkansas 22-12 (15-3)
Preseason #359 (#11 in the ASun)
John Shulman orchestrated a breathtaking turnaround for Central Arkansas by leading the program to the most efficient offensive rating and a definitive first-place finish.

134. Murray St. 20-13 (12-8)
Preseason #131 (#7 in the MVC)
The Racers transformed into the fastest and most prolific scoring offense in the league but suffered from a defensive inefficiency that ranked among the worst in the country.

133. Penn St. 12-20 (3-17)
Preseason #128 (#18 in the Big Ten)
Navigating a radical youth movement produced flashes of brilliance from a talented freshman core, but the Nittany Lions were ultimately anchored by a defensive rating that sat at the bottom of the Big Ten.

132. Boston College 11-20 (4-14)
Preseason #108 (#18 in the ACC)
Grappling with a 108th preseason projection, the Eagles struggled with a talent gap and finished near the basement after recording the worst three point shooting percentage among their conference rivals.

131. Bradley 21-13 (13-7)
Preseason #93 (#1 in the MVC)
By pairing backcourt tenacity with surgical outside shooting, the Braves successfully transitioned into a competitive unit that ranked among the top one hundred programs nationally.

130. North Texas 19-14 (9-9)
Preseason #95 (#4 in the American)
The Mean Green maintained a defensive efficiency that was better than most rivals but ultimately struggled with an offensive stagnation caused by a conference-worst three point shooting percentage.

129. Montana St. 18-14 (12-6)
Preseason #236 (#4 in the Big Sky)
Matt Logie steered a Montana State squad that skyrocketed to the top of the league by prioritizing ball security and a high-volume perimeter attack.

Tier Twelve

128. Memphis 13-19 (8-10)
Preseason #47 (#2 in the American)
A lack of discipline for Memphis resulted in a turnover rate that was among the worst in the nation and prevented the program from justifying its 47th preseason ranking.

127. Fresno St. 13-19 (7-13)
Preseason #243 (#11 in the Mountain West)
Jake Heidbreder acted as the undisputed engine for a Bulldogs defense that reinvented itself to rank fifth in the conference and defy those who predicted a basement-dwelling finish.

126. UC San Diego 23-11 (12-8)
Preseason #156 (#4 in the Big West)
By replacing lost star power with a stifling defensive identity and elite ball security, UC San Diego turned a supposed rebuilding year into a top-tier conference performance.

125. Florida Atlantic 18-15 (9-9)
Preseason #126 (#6 in the American)
Exceeding a 126th preseason expectation, Florida Atlantic relied on a high octane offense that shot the three more frequently than any other team in the American.

124. Wright St. 23-12 (15-5)
Preseason #169 (#1 in the Horizon League)
Clint Sargent’s Raiders validated their status as the favorite by sweeping the conference titles behind a dominant offensive engine and the multi-dimensional play of Tournament MVP TJ Burch.

123. Hawaii 24-9 (14-6)
Preseason #135 (#3 in the Big West)
Eran Ganot orchestrated a masterful rebuilding job at Hawai’i by forging a defensive powerhouse that held opponents to a meager long-range percentage on the way to a tournament title.

122. UAB 20-12 (11-7)
Preseason #112 (#5 in the American)
UAB stabilized its season by leaning into a physical style that produced a defensive rebounding rate far better than its conference peers despite a lack of perimeter accuracy.

121. Duquesne 18-15 (9-9)
Preseason #115 (#9 in the A10)
Exceeding their preseason projection of 11th in the conference, Duquesne relied on a high-possession attack and a historic 30 point comeback against Richmond to fuel their postseason journey.

120. George Mason 23-10 (11-7)
Preseason #85 (#6 in the A10)
George Mason controlled the flow of games with the slowest tempo in the league and a conference-best ability to avoid fouling after starting the year with an #85 preseason rank.

119. Rutgers 14-20 (6-14)
Preseason #73 (#15 in the Big Ten)
A defensive rebounding gap and a true shooting percentage that both ranked near the bottom of the nation ensured that the Scarlet Knights struggled to find their footing throughout the winter.

118. Wyoming 18-15 (9-11)
Preseason #136 (#9 in the Mountain West)
Sundance Wicks orchestrated a significant climb by weaponizing the whistle to rank third in the nation in free-throw rate while guiding the Cowboys into the top one hundred computer rankings.

117. UT Rio Grande Valley 19-14 (14-8)
Preseason #276 (#8 in the Southland)
Kahil Fennell orchestrated a stunning leap of over one hundred and fifty spots in the national rankings by leaning into a high-risk strategy that ranked eighth in the country for three-point volume.

116. Sam Houston St. 22-12 (13-7)
Preseason #201 (#9 in the C-USA)
Ignoring rebuilding skepticism, the Bearkats became an offensive juggernaut that led the league in efficiency and secured a regular season title behind the versatile play of Kashie Natt.

115. UC Irvine 23-12 (15-5)
Preseason #117 (#2 in the Big West)
The Anteaters maintained their cultural consistency by forcing opponents into the worst shooting efficiency in the nation despite a season defined by erratic offensive stagnation.

114. Illinois Chicago 19-16 (12-8)
Preseason #156 (#8 in the MVC)
The Flames transformed from a roster of new faces into a cohesive and physical group that led the conference in offensive rebounding while climbing significantly in the rankings.

113. Seattle 21-14 8-10
Preseason #114 (#6 in the WCC)
Anchored by Defensive Player of the Year Will Heimbrodt, the Redhawks boasted the thirteenth best defensive rating in the nation to secure a top four finish in their new conference home.

112. St. Thomas 24-10 (12-4)
Preseason #150 (#1 in the Summit League)
Surgical offensive precision and a top-ten national true shooting percentage allowed the Tommies to validate their hype by finishing atop the conference with a terrifyingly talented young core.

111. Utah 10-22 (2-16)
Preseason #84 (#16 in the Big 12)
Despite a school-record start at home, Utah struggled with a defensive rating that was the worst in the league during a grueling transition into a new conference landscape.

Tier Eleven

110. Maryland 12-21 (4-16)
Preseason #46 (#12 in the Big Ten)
Struggling through a defensive identity crisis and persistent turnovers, Maryland often saw its elite ability to generate second chances on the glass neutralized by a turnover rate that ranked among the worst in the country.

109. North Dakota St. 27-8 (14-2)
Preseason #212 (#4 in the Summit League)
Damari Wheeler-Thomas spearheaded a remarkable ascent for the Bison, who shattered their initial rankings by leading the league in defensive efficiency and securing the tournament title.

108. Liberty 26-8 (17-3)
Preseason #105 (#1 in the C-USA)
A masterclass in precision saw the Flames finish fourth in the country in three-point percentage, though a heavy reliance on the long ball led to a chilling conclusion in the postseason.

107. Xavier 15-18 (6-14)
Preseason #64 (#6 in the Big East)
Operating at a breakneck speed that was faster than most rivals, Xavier struggled to overcome a defensive rebounding gap and free throw rate that were both the worst in the Big East.

106. Pacific 18-15 (8-10)
Preseason #170 (#10 in the WCC)
Defying low expectations with a fifth place finish, the Tigers reestablished their competitive footing behind an offense that ranked among the top eighty nationally in shooting accuracy.

105. Illinois St. 23-13 12-8
Preseason #109 (#2 in the MVC)
Roster retention served as a lethal advantage for the Redbirds as they validated their billing by becoming one of the most resilient defensive units in the league.

104. Notre Dame 13-18 (4-14)
Preseason #96 (#16 in the ACC)
Even though they started the winter ranked 96th and secured a stunning sweep of high major opponents, the Irish were hindered by a defense that proved to be the least efficient in the league.

103. Providence 15-18 (7-13)
Preseason #100 (#11 in the Big East)
Jaylen Sellers led a Providence offense that was more efficient than most conference peers to help the program move past its rebuilding phase despite lacking elite rim protection.

102. Hofstra 24-11 (12-6)
Preseason #192 (#6 in the CAA)
By weaponizing the eighth most efficient offense in the country, the Pride dismantled all skeptical projections to finish as the undisputed kings of the CAA after climbing significantly from their initial standing.

101. LSU 15-17 (3-15)
Preseason #101 (#16 in the SEC)
Despite lingering depth issues, the Tigers proved they were no longer an easy out for the giants of the SEC by ranking fourth in the nation in free-throw rate.

100. Kansas St. 12-20 (3-15)
Preseason #51 (#10 in the Big 12)
Jerome Tang led a Kansas State squad that leaned on the elite scoring of P.J. Haggerty but ultimately faltered due to a defensive rebounding rate that was among the worst in the conference.

99. Cal Baptist 25-9 (13-5)
Preseason #162 (#3 in the WAC)
Dominique Daniels Jr. buried three monumental triples during a legendary conference title performance to secure the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history.

Tier Ten

98. UNLV 18-17 11-9
Preseason #92 (#7 in the Mountain West)
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scorched opponents for over twenty points per game during an explosive debut season for Josh Pastner that saw the Rebels embrace a breakneck pace but struggle with interior defensive stops.

97. South Carolina 13-19 (4-14)
Preseason #99 (#15 in the SEC)
By embracing a high-risk perimeter identity that ranked third in the conference for attempts, the Gamecocks started strong but eventually struggled to overcome the void left by their departed lottery pick.

96. UNC Wilmington 27-7 (15-3)
Preseason #120 (#1 in the CAA)
UNC Wilmington orchestrated a breathtaking twenty-four point comeback against Stony Brook and utilized a top-tier offensive rating to establish themselves as a juggernaut in the conference.

95. Mississippi St. 13-19 (5-13)
Preseason #35 (#11 in the SEC)
Individual brilliance from Josh Hubbard provided a scoring spark for a program that usually prides itself on grit but saw its defensive foundation completely disintegrate within the league.

94. DePaul 16-16 (8-12)
Preseason #94 (#9 in the Big East)
Successfully evolving into a dangerous spoiler, DePaul utilized a high-passing modernized offense to secure a sweep of Creighton and shed its reputation as a conference cellar dweller.

93. Yale 24-7 (11-3)
Preseason #123 (#1 in the Ivy League)
By weaponizing the sixth most efficient offense in the country, the Bulldogs validated their status as the conference frontrunner while climbing significantly in the national rankings behind the elite play of Nick Townsend.

92. Utah Valley 25-9 (14-4)
Preseason #147 (#1 in the WAC)
Todd Phillips orchestrated a masterclass in roster rebuilding by pairing a top-ten national offense with a suffocating defense that landed fifteenth in the country.

91. Syracuse 15-17 (6-12)
Preseason #78 (#13 in the ACC)
Despite an early upset of Tennessee that looked to validate their 78th preseason rank, the Orange faltered late because they were less effective at rebounding their own misses than any of their rivals.

90. Oregon 12-20 (5-15)
Preseason #41 (#10 in the Big Ten)
A promising start for Oregon unraveled after a key injury to Nate Bittle exposed a lack of depth and a defensive rebounding gap that sat near the bottom of the conference.

89. Colorado St. 21-13 (11-9)
Preseason #87 (#6 in the Mountain West)
By finishing with a top-ten national three-point accuracy and leading the conference in true shooting percentage, the Rams cemented their status as a perimeter juggernaut despite a defensive ceiling that limited their climb in a deep league.

88. George Washington 19-16 8-10
Preseason #59 (#1 in the A10)
High volume scoring from Rafael Castro pushed George Washington toward a top offensive rank in the league before his injury triggered a defensive slide that saw them surrender a massive 21 point lead in the tournament.

87. Pittsburgh 13-20 (5-13)
Preseason #88 (#15 in the ACC)
Replacing lost backcourt talent while starting from a preseason projection of 88, the Panthers leaned on the emergence of Roman Siulepa but were ultimately anchored by the conference’s worst defensive efficiency.

Tier Nine

86. High Point 31-5 (15-1)
Preseason #111 (#1 in the Big South)
Flynn Clayman orchestrated a masterclass in roster reconstruction by weaponizing a bruising offensive identity and a free-throw rate that ranked among the best in the country.

85. Stephen F. Austin 28-6 (20-2)
Preseason #236 (#3 in the Southland)
A suffocating defensive identity and the relentless interior slashing of Keon Thompson allowed the Lumberjacks to surge into the top one hundred nationally and set the standard for winning in East Texas.

84. Davidson 20-14 (10-8)
Preseason #160 (#13 in the A10)
Shattering a #160 preseason expectation, Davidson utilized the second best defensive efficiency in the conference and a lethal outside shooting presence to successfully rebuild their entire rotation.

83. Northern Iowa 23-13 (11-9)
Preseason #113 (#3 in the MVC)
The Panthers seized both the regular season and tournament titles by leaning into a masterclass of defensive discipline that ranked nineteenth in the country for opponent efficiency.

82. Miami OH 32-2 (18-0)
Preseason #106 (#2 in the MAC)
One of the most enthralling chapters in league history saw the RedHawks navigate an unbeaten regular season gauntlet behind a sharpshooting attack that ranked among the top ten nationally.

81. Creighton 16-18 (9-11)
Preseason #37 (#3 in the Big East)
Perimeter brilliance defined the season for the Bluejays, though they struggled to find consistency due to a free throw rate that was the worst in the Big East.

80. Belmont 26-6 (16-4)
Preseason #119 (#4 in the MVC)
A prolific perimeter assault that led the entire nation in three-point accuracy allowed the Bruins to claim the regular-season title before a historic postseason collapse.

79. Nevada 24-13 (12-8)
Preseason #79 (#4 in the Mountain West)
Physicality and ball security defined a Wolf Pack squad that finished second in the country in free-throw rate while relying on the interior grit of Elijah Price to remain competitive during a rebuilding year.

78. Saint Joseph’s 24-12 13-5
Preseason #107 (#8 in the A10)
Saint Joseph’s validated the promotion of Steve Donahue by pairing the league’s best individual defender, Justice Ajogbor, with a top 20 national turnover rate to rise from a 107th preseason projection.

77. Oklahoma St. 20-15 (6-12)
Preseason #60 (#12 in the Big 12)
Flashes of postseason potential and marquee non-conference wins defined Oklahoma State, though the team was often undone by a defensive unit that struggled to guard the perimeter relative to its conference rivals.

76. Colorado 17-16 (7-11)
Preseason #81 (#15 in the Big 12)
Reinventing itself as one of the most disciplined offensive units in the country, Colorado climbed the standings despite a defensive identity that was among the worst in the nation.

75. Georgetown 16-18 (6-14)
Preseason #71 (#7 in the Big East)
Aggressive downhill guard play and elite transition speed anchored the Hoyas, even as a lack of perimeter balance resulted in a three point percentage that sat near the bottom of the league.

Tier Eight

74. Marquette 12-20 (7-13)
Preseason #53 (#5 in the Big East)
Shaka Smart led a youthful Marquette squad that remained a defensive nightmare by ranking among the top twenty teams in the nation in steal rate despite offensive execution hurdles.

73. Akron 29-6 (17-1)
Preseason #104 (#1 in the MAC)
The Zips ascended to the top of the league by pairing a masterclass in offensive efficiency with the cold-blooded execution of Shammah Scott to secure a rare two-bid postseason for the conference.

72. Wake Forest 18-17 46214
Preseason #56 (#7 in the ACC)
While the Demon Deacons showcased a scoring sensation in Juke Harris to support their 56th preseason rank, their progress was stunted by a defensive rebounding gap that ranked last in the conference.

71. Butler 16-16 (7-13)
Preseason #48 (#4 in the Big East)
Thad Matta orchestrated a high-wire offensive attack at Butler that ranked second nationally in free throw rate but was frequently undermined by a defensive ranking near the bottom of the country.

70. Northwestern 15-19 (5-15)
Preseason #83 (#17 in the Big Ten)
Northwestern transformed into a disciplined unit by utilizing a glacial tempo and the sixth best turnover rate in the nation to significantly outpace initial expectations.

69. McNeese St. 28-6 (19-3)
Preseason #97 (#1 in the Southland)
Bill Armstrong successfully maintained a winning culture in Lake Charles by parlaying an elite bench and a top-seventy national ranking into a dominant conference title.

68. California 22-12 46274
Preseason #82 (#14 in the ACC)
Rising above an 82nd preseason placement, the Golden Bears authored a signature wire to wire win over North Carolina while maintaining a three point shooting percentage that was among the conference elite.

67. USC 18-14 (7-13)
Preseason #29 (#7 in the Big Ten)
Operating at one of the fastest paces in the country under Eric Musselman, USC was ultimately hindered by a three point percentage that ranked among the lowest in the league.

66. Dayton 25-12 (12-6)
Preseason #68 (#3 in the A10)
Dayton utilized the 29th best three point shooting percentage in the country and a high free throw rate to reach the conference championship game despite a rebounding margin that lagged behind its peers.

65. Tulsa 30-8 (13-5)
Preseason #140 (#9 in the American)
Exploding from a 140th preseason rank to a top tier finish, Tulsa weaponized a perimeter attack that was more accurate than almost any other program in the country.

64. Mississippi 15-20 (4-14)
Preseason #19 (#5 in the SEC)
A volatile experiment under Chris Beard reached a fever pitch in the postseason as the Rebels recaptured their missing spark to upset the second seed in the conference tournament.

Tier Seven

63. Wichita St. 24-12 13-5
Preseason #133 (#8 in the American)
Kenyon Giles led Wichita State to a third place finish that annihilated its 133rd preseason projection by fueling an offense that ranked among the best in the conference.

62. Stanford 20-13 (9-9)
Preseason #70 (#11 in the ACC)
Defying a preseason rank of 70 through the meteoric rise of Ebuka Okorie, the Cardinal weaponized the fifth highest three point attempt rate in the league to upset the conference heavyweights.

61. Seton Hall 21-12 (10-10)
Preseason #90 (#8 in the Big East)
Shaheen Holloway worked his magic at Seton Hall by transforming the roster into a defensive juggernaut that ranked among the best in the nation in efficiency.

60. Baylor 17-17 (6-12)
Preseason #23 (#7 in the Big 12)
Total programmatic reset defined the year for Baylor, where an attack led by Cameron Carr could not compensate for a defensive efficiency that dropped to the bottom of the league.

59. Virginia Tech 19-13 (8-10)
Preseason #61 (#9 in the ACC)
Navigating the fallout of roster changes from a 61st preseason starting point, the Hokies secured a marathon triple overtime victory behind an offensive passing hub that was among the best in the Atlantic Coast.

58. Boise St. 20-12 (12-8)
Preseason #57 (#3 in the Mountain West)
Leon Rice led a unit that blossomed into one of the most efficient offenses in the nation but struggled with defensive consistency after a shocking opening-night loss to a non-Division I opponent.

57. New Mexico 26-11 (13-7)
Preseason #103 (#8 in the Mountain West)
Jake Hall delivered the greatest freshman scoring campaign in league history to lead the Lobos into a top-sixty national standing behind a breakneck offensive tempo.

56. Arizona St. 17-16 (7-11)
Preseason #67 (#14 in the Big 12)
Playing the role of a mercurial spoiler, Arizona State secured an upset over Kansas but remained hindered by a three-point percentage and defensive efficiency that ranked near the bottom of the conference.

55. Washington 16-17 (7-13)
Preseason #21 (#4 in the Big Ten)
Washington tumbled from its high expectations as a perimeter offense that sat near the bottom of the country for accuracy struggled to find a reliable shooting threat beyond its frontcourt.

54. Grand Canyon 20-12 (13-7)
Preseason #86 (#5 in the Mountain West)
Defensive resilience and interior muscle propelled the Lopes into the top fifty of the national efficiency rankings as they successfully transitioned into a premier basketball conference.

Tier Six

53. South Florida 25-9 (15-3)
Preseason #34 (#1 in the American)
The Bulls claimed the conference throne behind a relentless interior presence that provided better offensive rebounding than its rivals after starting with a 34th preseason ranking.

52. Auburn 22-16 (7-11)
Preseason #24 (#6 in the SEC)
Keyshawn Hall led an attack that ranked ninth in the country at drawing contact, yet the Tigers were ultimately anchored by a defensive identity that regressed to the bottom of the SEC.

51. SMU 20-14 (8-10)
Preseason #58 (#8 in the ACC)
Entering their inaugural conference run with a 58th preseason rank, the Mustangs established a physical identity by outperforming every other league rival on the offensive glass.

50. West Virginia 21-14 (9-9)
Preseason #44 (#9 in the Big 12)
Ross Hodge established a blue-collar culture at West Virginia by weaponizing a deliberate tempo and a defensive unit that ranked in the top tier of national efficiency metrics.

49. VCU 28-8 (15-3)
Preseason #72 (#4 in the A10)
VCU cemented its status as an elite powerhouse by climbing from a preseason rank of 72nd to the second spot in the conference behind the heroics of Rookie of the Year Nyk Lewis.

48. Florida St. 18-15 (10-8)
Preseason #75 (#12 in the ACC)
Outperforming its 75th preseason placement, Florida State relied on the scoring gravity of Chauncey Wiggins and a transition pace that outran every conference rival.

47. Missouri 20-13 (10-8)
Preseason #32 (#10 in the SEC)
Dennis Gates unleashed an offense that secured the program’s first-ever victory in Rupp Arena while battling a defensive fragility that struggled to contest the perimeter.

46. Indiana 18-14 (9-11)
Preseason #43 (#11 in the Big Ten)
By embracing a modern transition-heavy identity led by the scoring of Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana signaled a legitimate cultural shift that transformed the program into the conference’s sixth best offense.

45. San Diego St. 22-11 (14-6)
Preseason #42 (#1 in the Mountain West)
Miles Byrd claimed Defensive Player of the Year honors for an Aztec unit that held opponents to a low effective shooting percentage despite uncharacteristic struggles on the defensive glass.

44. Georgia 22-11 (10-8)
Preseason #54 (#14 in the SEC)
Mike White orchestrated a staggering transformation by leading the Bulldogs to the second most efficient offense in the country while climbing significantly in the computer rankings.

43. N.C. State 20-14 (10-8)
Preseason #26 (#4 in the ACC)
Relying on a three point assault that was more efficient than nearly every opponent, North Carolina State solidified its standing under the physical interior presence of Ven Allen Lubin after entering the winter with a 26th preseason projection.

42. Oklahoma 21-16 (7-11)
Preseason #38 (#12 in the SEC)
Nijel Pack anchored a high-powered scoring machine that surged into the top twenty nationally for offensive efficiency while the Sooners battled defensive inconsistency throughout the winter.

41. Minnesota 15-18 (8-12)
Preseason #76 (#16 in the Big Ten)
Surging past its last-place projection, Minnesota authored a resilient chapter behind the lethal perimeter shooting of Cade Tyson and the interior grit of Jaylen Crocker-Johnson.

Tier Five

40. Saint Louis 29-6 (15-3)
Preseason #77 (#5 in the A10)
Saint Louis ascended from a 77th preseason ranking to become the conference champion behind Robbie Avila’s Player of the Year campaign and an offensive rating that led all league rivals.

39. Villanova 24-9 (15-5)
Preseason #98 (#10 in the Big East)
Recalibrating around high-volume shooting, Villanova weaponized a perimeter-heavy identity that ranked fourteenth nationally in offensive efficiency to significantly outpace initial expectations.

38. Ohio St. 21-13 (12-8)
Preseason #49 (#13 in the Big Ten)
Ohio State wielded the fifth most efficient offense in the country to move from the conference basement back into the national spotlight under Jake Diebler.

37. Santa Clara 26-9 (15-3)
Preseason #69 (#3 in the WCC)
Allen Graves swept the freshman awards and led the Broncos to a top tier national ranking during a season that saw them push a blue blood program to the brink in the tournament.

36. Cincinnati 18-15 (9-9)
Preseason #52 (#11 in the Big 12)
Cincinnati emerged as a defensive juggernaut that dismantled Kansas on the road despite an offensive efficiency and free throw percentage that were both worse than its conference peers.

35. Kentucky 22-14 (10-8)
Preseason #4 (#2 in the SEC)
Eight victories over top-fifteen opponents highlighted a volatile campaign for the Wildcats that paired a record-tying offense with a defensive stop rate in the bottom three of the league.

34. Saint Mary’s 27-6 (16-2)
Preseason #45 (#2 in the WCC)
Physical dominance on the glass allowed the Gaels to lead the nation in defensive rebounding gap while maintaining their status as the premier defensive bastion of the conference.

33. BYU 23-12 (9-9)
Preseason #6 (#2 in the Big 12)
Failing to bridge the gap between an elite offensive attack led by AJ Dybantsa and a perimeter defense that was the worst in the conference, BYU struggled to find consistency after a season-ending injury to Richie Saunders.

32. UCF 21-12 (9-9)
Preseason #66 (#13 in the Big 12)
Johnny Dawkins led a high-speed program at UCF that secured an at-large tournament bid despite a defensive rating and foul rate that were significantly worse than its conference rivals.

Tier Four

31. Texas 21-15 (9-9)
Preseason #27 (#7 in the SEC)
Sean Miller unleashed an aggressive attack that ranked seventeenth in the country to help the Longhorns transform from a seventh-place conference finisher into a Sweet Sixteen Cinderella.

30. North Carolina 24-9 (12-6)
Preseason #36 (#5 in the ACC)
An undefeated home season helped North Carolina justify its 36th preseason rank before a lack of defensive rebounding relative to the rest of the league led to a historic tournament collapse.

29. TCU 23-12 (11-7)
Preseason #39 (#8 in the Big 12)
By leaning into a disruptive defense that nabbed steals at one of the best rates in the conference, TCU overcame a three point shooting percentage that remained at the bottom of the league.

28. Utah St. 29-7 (15-5)
Preseason #55 (#2 in the Mountain West)
Jerrod Calhoun orchestrated a dominant championship run by weaponizing a top-twenty national offense that featured Player of the Year Mason Falslev and a relentless perimeter attack.

27. Texas A&M 22-12 (11-7)
Preseason #50 (#13 in the SEC)
Relentless full-court pressure and a top-tier defensive efficiency allowed the Aggies to defy their initial projections and secure a victory in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

26. Wisconsin 24-11 (14-6)
Preseason #33 (#9 in the Big Ten)
Trading its traditional grind for a modern perimeter experiment allowed Wisconsin to produce a record-breaking winning streak before a lack of defensive consistency led to a first-round exit.

25. Louisville 24-11 (11-7)
Preseason #8 (#2 in the ACC)
By generating the most efficient offensive rating in the conference, Louisville successfully validated its top ten preseason status under its first year head coach.

24. UCLA 24-12 (13-7)
Preseason #20 (#3 in the Big Ten)
Immense potential in a new conference home defined the year for UCLA, though the Bruins frequently struggled with late-game execution and a lack of depth during high-stakes moments.

23. Clemson 24-11 (12-6)
Preseason #40 (#6 in the ACC)
Stingy interior defense anchored by Nick Davidson allowed Clemson to overcome a turnover gap that was worse than its peers after being picked 40th in the preseason.

22. Kansas 24-11 (12-6)
Preseason #11 (#4 in the Big 12)
Flory Bidunga anchored a Kansas unit that maintained its standard of excellence by holding conference opponents to the lowest long-range shooting percentage in the league.

21. Purdue 30-9 (13-7)
Preseason #2 (#1 in the Big Ten)
By shattering the national career assist record, Braden Smith led a Purdue unit that maintained a top-tier offensive efficiency to remain a perennial national powerhouse despite uncharacteristic defensive lapses.

20. Miami FL 26-9 (13-5)
Preseason #62 (#10 in the ACC)
Defying its 62nd preseason rank, Miami produced a defensive stop rate that was better than most rivals while setting a new record for first year coaching wins.

Tier Three

19. Iowa 24-13 (10-10)
Preseason #17 (#2 in the Big Ten)
Ben McCollum orchestrated a methodical Iowa attack that weaponized the shot clock and elite ball security to author a signature postseason upset over top-seeded Florida.

18. Arkansas 28-9 (13-5)
Preseason #28 (#8 in the SEC)
By leading the conference with a record-breaking offensive rating, the Razorbacks traded defensive consistency for an explosive scoring ceiling that culminated in a freshman’s historic forty-nine point performance.

17. Nebraska 28-7 (15-5)
Preseason #65 (#14 in the Big Ten)
Shattering its low initial projections, Nebraska relied on a top-twenty defense and the high-volume scoring of Pryce Sandfort to secure the first NCAA tournament victory in program history.

16. St. John’s 30-7 (18-2)
Preseason #7 (#1 in the Big East)
Zuby Ejiofor dominated the paint as the Big East Player of the Year for St. John’s during a campaign that saw the program reclaim the national spotlight by ending the UConn winning streak.

15. Alabama 25-10 (13-5)
Preseason #9 (#3 in the SEC)
A lethal offensive rating and the fifth-fastest pace in the league allowed the Crimson Tide to solidify their status as a second-weekend threat despite navigating significant frontcourt injuries.

14. Virginia 30-6 (15-3)
Preseason #18 (#3 in the ACC)
The highest ranked team with a first year head coach, Ryan Odom and a deep, perimeter-centric unit were the decidedly second best team in the ACC.

13. Gonzaga 31-4 (16-2)
Preseason #13 (#1 in the WCC)
Closing their tenure with the league’s most efficient offense, Gonzaga relied on Player of the Year Graham Ike to lead the way despite a fouling rate that was more frequent than any of their rivals.

12. Texas Tech 23-11 (12-6)
Preseason #10 (#3 in the Big 12)
Utilizing the best perimeter shooting in the conference, Texas Tech secured a top-four finish despite the loss of its star interior presence to a season-ending injury.

11. Tennessee 25-12 (11-7)
Preseason #12 (#4 in the SEC)
Relentless physical dominance on the glass helped the Volunteers secure a top-three conference finish even as a late-season scoring drought prevented an elusive trip to the Final Four.

10. Vanderbilt 27-9 (11-7)
Preseason #30 (#9 in the SEC)
Mark Byington orchestrated a high-octane transformation for the Commodores by weaponizing a top-tier turnover margin and an offense that famously avoided trailing at halftime for months.

9. Michigan St. 27-8 (15-5)
Preseason #31 (#8 in the Big Ten)
Jeremy Fears Jr. anchored a gritty Michigan State identity that utilized an improved offensive rating to nearly topple the defending champions during a resilient postseason run.

Tier Two

8. Iowa St. 29-8 (12-6)
Preseason #15 (#5 in the Big 12)
Relentless defensive pressure and a ball-denial scheme allowed Iowa State to post a defensive rating that was better than every other rival during a run to a top-ten national standing.

7. Houston 30-7 (14-4)
Preseason #1 (#1 in the Big 12)
The absolute defensive standard of Kelvin Sampson was on display at Houston as the team led the Big 12 in defensive efficiency and interior rim protection.

6. Illinois 28-9 (15-5)
Preseason #25 (#6 in the Big Ten)
Defying all rebuilding expectations, Illinois utilized a national-best offensive rating and a legendary scoring performance from Keaton Wagler to dismantle conference and national rivals.

5. Connecticut 34-6 (17-3)
Preseason #14 (#2 in the Big East)
The Huskies remained the gold standard of the Big East by pairing an elite offensive rating with the interior dominance of Tarris Reed Jr. to secure the regular season crown and third Final Four in four seasons.

4. Florida 27-8 (16-2)
Preseason #3 (#1 in the SEC)
A monstrous frontcourt featuring the conference’s premier defender powered the Gators to a regular-season title before a heartbreaking collapse in the opening rounds of the postseason.

Tier One

3. Duke 35-3 (17-1)
Preseason #5 (#1 in the ACC)
The historic brilliance of Cameron Boozer allowed Duke to secure the top seed in the conference and justify its 5th preseason rank.

2. Arizona 36-3 (16-2)
Preseason #16 (#6 in the Big 12)
A masterclass in modern efficiency defined the year for Arizona, which led the conference in offensive rating and effective field goal percentage on the way to a dominant league title and Final Four appearance.

1. Michigan 37-3 (19-1)
Preseason #22 (#5 in the Big Ten)
Yaxel Lendeborg earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors by leading a Michigan frontcourt that rewrote the rules of high-efficiency play to secure their first National Championship since 1989.

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Iowa even held its own on the boards against the Gators, whose rebounding and frontcourt strength were challenged by a team that did not come close to matching their size. Despite that, Florida still put together an impressive season.

Strong performances from teams outside the top tier also made this a highly entertaining, offense driven year in the nation’s best offensive conference.

Tier Six

LSU
#16 in the SEC
Preseason #101
Record: 15-17 (3-15)
The Tigers were in the basement of the SEC for the majority of the Matt McMahon era, as this is the third time in four seasons his team finished the three or fewer wins in his four years in Baton Rouge. Tigers ranked top 50 nationally in free throw rate, but lacked the perimeter shooting to round out their offense. LSU was bottom five in the SEC in both two and three point shooting.

When considering their offense outplayed their defense, this was a concern. A bottom three defense in the SEC, there isn’t a whole lot Matt McMahon’s defense did particularly well. An injury to Dedan Thomas Jr. hurt the team, but they posted one good win with him during a poor non-conference schedule, and lost all three SEC games with him in the lineup. The difference he was likely to make was marginal.

South Carolina
#15 in the SEC
Preseason #99
Record: 13-19 (4-14)
Meechie Johnson’s return to Columbia wasn’t as impressive as his first stint, as this was another season near the bottom of the conference for the Gamecocks. Expectations aren’t particularly high for men’s college basketball in Columbia, and the funding isn’t there to compete with other teams in the conference. Thus, Paris having a single tournament appearance in four years is much more acceptable than it’d be at other schools. Frank Martin only made one tournament in his decade, though, his run was a bit more memorable. Lamont Paris’ squad embraced a high-risk perimeter identity, firing from deep at the third-highest rate in the SEC. This was his highest three point volume team since he took the helm. This was also his worst three point shooting team since arriving, not the most convincing of combinations. Recurring rebounding issues ultimately anchored the program to the bottom of the conference standings, a disappointing conclusion, though not surprising.

Mississippi St.
#14 in the SEC
Preseason #35
Record: 13-19 (5-13)
The steady hand of Chris Jans finally slipped this year as Mississippi State tumbled from a promising preseason rank of 35 to a dismal 5-13 finish in league play. Josh Hubbard was often the only hope on the offensive end, but, his individual brilliance could not mask a defensive identity that completely disintegrated. A program usually defined by grit saw its defensive rating crater to bottom of the conference, a jarring departure for a team expected to be an SEC anchor.

The Bulldogs usually relied on their defense to make up for an inefficient offense, but they were poor on both ends of the floor this season. After posting a top 100 forced turnover rate in each of Jans’ first three seasons, this was a bottom 10 unit in that category nationally. Lacking disruption often saw Hubbard as the only hope for the program, in a season they’ll hope to soon forget.

Mississippi
#13 in the SEC
Preseason #19
Record: 15-20 (4-14)
After posting wins against Missouri and Georgia, two NCAA Tournament teams, Mississippi was picked to be a team that would turn their season around after a rough showing in the non-con. Their 11th victory would be their penultimate of the regular season, going 1-12 down the stretch, before a strong showing in the SEC Tournament. While they did fall eventually in the SEC finals, they once again topped three NCAA Tournament teams on their way to an OT loss against Arkansas.

The Rebels struggled with consistency for much of the winter, bottom three in the league in two and three point shooting. Pairing this with a bad two way rebounding team saw a ton of one and done possessions, leading to their aforementioned winless stress. Players like Ilias Kamardine provided defensive flashes and freshman Patton Pinkins delivered a clutch game winner against Georgia, though these moments were fleeting. It was a season of significant regular season frustration punctuated by a postseason reminder of exactly how dangerous this roster could be when the pieces finally clicked.

Tier Five

Auburn
#12 in the SEC
Preseason #24
Record: 22-16 (7-11)
Auburn entered a new era with a roster teeming with offensive potential but ultimately found themselves anchored by a defensive identity that regressed to the bottom of the SEC. The Tigers were a preseason top 25 team, dinked after Bruce Pearl’s late offseason retirement. For much of the season this was a top 25 team, or in that range. From February onward, though, the Tigers struggled greatly, and the losses piled up. Finishing the regular season with a 16-15 record, there were far too many losses for this team to make the NCAA Tournament sans a deep SEC Tournament run.

Much like they did the majority of the season, Auburn fell to a team that was better than them. The teams that were better than them were teams in the NCAA Tournament, and the teams that were worse than them, that they often handled, were not NCAA Tournament teams. Such a compendium of their season would explain why this was the first team out of the NCAA Tournament. Fittingly, the best team to not make the NCAA Tournament won the NIT, beating teams that were presumably worse than then.

Tier Four

Missouri
#11 in the SEC
Preseason #32
Record: 20-13 (10-8)
The Tigers successfully snuck into the NCAA Tournament in a season that was otherwise pretty forgettable in the history of Mizzou basketball. Dennis Gates had another roster that was top 30 nationally in free throw rate. This was a much worse shooting team than last season’s, though, as they went from top 40 from the perimeter to outside the top 100.

In addition to this, getting to the free throw line with ease held less value given this was a bottom three team in the SEC in free throw percentage. Mark Mitchell had another strong season, turning into a point forward, initiating much of the team’s offense. This was punctuated by a pull up three to down Oklahoma in an overtime thriller that saw the Tigers hit two separate buzzer beaters. The season’s crown jewel, however, was a historic 14-2 closing run at Kentucky that secured the program’s first ever victory in Rupp Arena. Some big time wins were mixed into a season with mediocrity otherwise, enough to get the Tigers into the NCAA Tournament, and promptly lose to Miami in the Round of 64.

Georgia
#10 in the SEC
Preseason #54
Record: 22-11 (10-8)
Mike White is doing again what he did at Florida for seven seasons, making the NCAA Tournament, though not getting too much deeper than the first weekends. We have seen this in back to back NCAA Tournament appearances, and back to back first rounds shellackings.

While fans of Georgia basketball might’ve preferred to see
Georgia look a bit more up to the challenge in these games, this is a team with a program rank of 63 in the KenPom era, meaning making the NCAA Tournament, even as an eight or nine seed is a big time accomplishment. The Bulldogs were a high tempo team this season, riding that to the most efficient offense seen in Athens since Jim Harrick’s team in 2003. Combining efficient interior scoring with strong rebounding while limiting turnovers will do that for you, even if this was a team that really struggled from the outside prior to SEC play. The backcourt tandem of Jeremiah Wilkinson and Blue Cain proved lethal, with UTSA transfer Smurf Millender providing the season’s most electric moments through his cold-blooded game winners. Georgia didn’t make much noise with another poor non-conference schedule, and quite simply did enough to hold their own in league play, which is good enough to make the NCAA Tournament.

Oklahoma
#9 in the SEC
Preseason #38
Record: 21-16 (7-11)
Oklahoma reversed course this season, playing poorly to start the season, beginning 6-3, where in the past two seasons, they had been at least 10-0 to start the year. The Sooners went on their annual swoon through conference play, this season a bit stronger than season’s past, 1-9 in the SEC in early February. Instead of putting up a bit of a fight near the end of the season to attempt to get on the good side of the selection committee, Oklahoma ended their season as the hottest team in the league, winning eight of their final eleven games, winning six straight games to make the SEC quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, from a cynic’s perspective, teams that play themselves into or near the bubble late in the season have little chance compared with peers who struggle down the stretch.

This comes down to two reasons:

a. The Selection Committee spends Friday through Sunday in bureaucratic wrangling, schmoozing, and sipping mint juleps over a bracket they finalized Thursday night.

b. Joe Lunardi would have us believe that bubble teams in conference tournaments are playing games that directly determine their NCAA Tournament fate. It makes for good TV, but:

• It is one game in a 31 plus game schedule. There is no true play in game between two bubble teams in a conference tournament. Games in November matter just as much as those in March, even if more people are watching and the stakes feel higher.

• The Selection Committee is smoking cigars, drinking mint juleps, politicking, and lint rolling their trousers in a hotel convention center backroom. A game may be on in the background, but it is muted in favor of Downton Abbey on the projector, which has more of their attention.

Thus, Oklahoma would have needed to win out rather than rely on a late season push in the SEC tournament to secure another middling seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky
#8 in the SEC
Preseason #4
Record: 22-14 (10-8)
The most discussed part of Kentucky’s season was not their ability to come back, their strong play from an unassuming Collin Chandler, nor even injuries to their rotation, but the floated $22 million spent on their poorly constructed roster. How different would this season have been if that number not been associated with the program? While this would’ve always been a disappointing season, would that disappointment have been placed more on the shoulders of the injuries of the players which led to their preseason billing of top five nationally?

Instead, because this was the alleged highest dollar roster in the nation, the perspective of the Wildcats went from an unlucky, disappointing but injury-riddled team to an appalling expensive, poorly constructed roster by a poor coach and game manager. Kentucky fans would’ve been disillusioned either way, but nobody is crazier than fans of their own school, and the national perspective was largely against Pope, making the wins feel overdue and the losses feel like nails into his coffin. Though they survived a Round of 64 thriller against Santa Clara thanks to a desperation buzzer beater from Otega Oweh and overtime heroics by Brandon Garrison, the journey met a frustrating end in the Round of 32. Recurring turnover issues proved to be their final undoing against Iowa State, as this was a team that, quite truthfully, played up to their potential as a team teetering on the top 30.

Texas
#7 in the SEC
Preseason #27
Record: 21-15 (9-9)
Texas transformed from a preseason disappointment into a what we’re learning to define as a new age Cinderella, overcoming a 9-9 SEC record to crash the Sweet 16 as an eleven seed. While their defensive rating languished, bottom five in the SEC, Sean Miller posted a top 20 offense, on the back of a strong backcourt and impressive play from Xavier transfer Dailyn Swain.

The only person happier than Sean Miller this shot went through the bottom of the net? Will Wade.

The postseason journey began with a nerve wracking First Four survival against NC State where Tramon Mark hit a game winning jumper with one second remaining. Among the least surprising “upsets” of the tournament was Texas over an injured BYU in the Round of 64. This momentum snowballed into a Round of 32 upset over Gonzaga where clutch perimeter shooting secured their third win in a five day span. Swain anchored the effort throughout the month, nearly forcing overtime against two seeded Purdue with a massive and one conversion before a late putback ended the dream. A successful season for Sean Miller, his second Sweet 16 in four seasons.

Texas A&M
#6 in the SEC
Preseason #50
Record: 22-12 (11-7)
The Aggies played a season based around high pace and forcing opponents into mistake, attempting to win the shot volume battle. In addition to crashing the offensive boards and pressing half court against their opponents, this was a top 40 free throw rate team in the country. Texas A&M posted a top five proximate average two point distance to boot, hinting at their ability to push pace and get to the rim in transition. Questions were raised about how Bucky McMillan’s system would translate in a high major system, and with a 17-4 (7-1) start to the season, these questions were answered.

The only conference loss in their first 21 games was a double OT loss at Tennessee, where The Volunteers got a jarring 49% of their missed rebounds, +14 on the offensive boards and +11 on the defensive boards. Despite this, the Aggies remained in the fight. Utilizing a deep rotation, which saw twelve different players earn consistent minutes, was powered by the perimeter brilliance of Rylan Griffen and the deadeye shooting of Ruben Dominguez, who emerged as one of the most dangerous marksmen in the country. As a 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, A&M showcased its grit by forcing Saint Mary’s into uncharacteristic turnovers to secure a Round of 64 victory, a 30% forced TO rate against an experienced head coach. However, the journey halted in the Round of 32 against Houston, where a painful six minute scoring drought proved insurmountable in a beatdown against the Cougars.

Tier Three

Arkansas
#5 in the SEC
Preseason #28
Record: 28-9 (13-5)
Arkansas entered the second act of the John Calipari era with a star studded freshman class, a strong departure from where a good portion of the country begins with their roster building. The Razorbacks transformed into a national offensive juggernaut, leading the conference and ranking eighth in the country with a blistering 124.0 offensive rating.

This was the best offense that Arkansas has posted in the history of KenPom, and Cal’s third top 10 offense in the last five years. This scoring prowess was personified by Darius Acuff Jr., the freshman sensation from Detroit who etched his name into program history with a 49 point masterclass against Alabama. The team’s defensive lapses were glaring, as would be expected for such a young unit. This was a bruising loss to Florida, and similar losses to opponents near the top of the sport. Meleek Thomas earned All-Freshman honors by terrorizing opponents in transition, helping the Hogs navigate a double digit win over Hawai’i and a gritty Round of 32 survival fueled by another clutch Acuff triple against 12-seed High Point. The journey ultimately ended in the Sweet 16 against a superior Arizona squad, as expected, the team lacked the defense, the rebounding and experience to consistently punch above their weight.

Alabama
#4 in the SEC
Preseason #9
Record: 25-10 (13-5)
The Crimson Tide posted another season with a top five tempo and offense, their second in as many seasons. Despite early injury setbacks to Miami transfer Jalil Bethea and the eligibility saga of Charles Bediako, the Crimson Tide used their country-leading three point attempt rate to topple Illinois and Kentucky within the first two months of the season. As expected, sophomore Labaron Philon Jr. emerged as a cornerstone, earning All-Conference honors with a versatile scoring arsenal and a cold-blooded road game winner at Tennessee. Alongside him, Aden Holloway proved himself an elite downhill creator, helping Alabama lead the conference in true shooting. The defensive efficiency occasionally lagged in the bottom half of the conference, continuing Oats’ pattern of good/bad defenses.

After beating Hofstra to open the tournament, the Tide toppled Texas Tech by twenty-six points in the first half of their Round of 32 clash. The run ultimately met a quiet end in the Sweet 16 against Michigan, where a double digit second half deficit proved too great to overcome.

Tier Two

Tennessee
#3 in the SEC
Preseason #12
Record: 25-12 (11-7)
Tennessee’s journey to a third consecutive Elite Eight was defined by a relentless physical identity and the emergence of elite individual talents, ultimately indicating that this might be the glory days of Volunteer basketball. All-Conference guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie proved indispensable by averaging 18 points as the primary shot creator, while highly touted freshman Nate Ament showcased his immense ceiling with a 29 point performance against Kentucky.

The Volunteers weaponized their length to dominate the glass, posting a conference leading 20.17 offensive rebounding gap1, a historically strong offensive rebounding unit. Posting the second worst turnover rate in the country put a ceiling on the Vols, and reared its ugly head in the tournament, leading to a near collapse against Virginia in the Round of 32. After beating the three seeded Wahoos, a staggering 21-0 scoring run by Michigan turned a narrow lead into a season ending deficit in the Sweet 16. This once again left the Volunteers just short of the elusive Final Four.

Vanderbilt
#2 in the SEC
Preseason #30
Record: 27-9 (11-7)
Surging from a preseason projection of ninth in the SEC to a commanding second place finish in the SEC, Vanderbilt redefined itself as a high octane powerhouse under second year coach Mark Byington. Byington had a top 40 offense last season, playing at a quicker pace, which was enough to make the NCAA Tournament. This season, improvements were made across the board, a top 10 offense, limiting turnovers and rounding out with a more balanced defense. This led to a 16-0 start behind Tyler Tanner, the engine behind this transformation. He earned All-Conference and All-Defensive honors while leading a defensive unit that specialized in disruption and a top tier turnover margin. The team was the final program in Division I to not trail at halftime, a streak that only broke against Texas in their first loss of the season.

A brutal close to the season. It would’ve been better if he had gotten nowhere near the rim.

In the NCAA Tournament, the Commodores toppled upset-minded McNeese, facing fellow feel-good-story in Nebraska in the Round of 32. Providing some painful context, after a desperate 21 point second half rally against Missouri fell just short when Tanner’s buzzer beater rimmed out, history repeated itself in the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores’ season ended in the Round of 32 against Nebraska when another Tanner heave from midcourt danced on the iron and fell away, punctuating a brilliant 2nd ranked SEC campaign with a heart wrenching two point exit.

Tier One

Florida
#1 in the SEC
Preseason #3
Record: 27-8 (16-2)
Florida entered the year burdened by the heavy crown of a defending champion, and after a 5-4 start, this was every much so the program we saw last season. Finishing with a clear first place finish in the SEC, the Gators were a physical juggernaut defined by a monstrous frontcourt featuring Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu and All-Conference anchors Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh. Their dominance was most evident in a historic 34 point thrashing of Arkansas, the largest margin against a ranked opponent in school history.

The team posted fueled by an offensive rebounding unit that ranked second nationally, and with the best frontcourt in the country, this came as no surprise. The backcourt transition to Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee saw flashes of brilliance, including Urban Klavzar earning Sixth Man of the Year honors. Despite this, there was very little shooting, on the roster, a team outside the top 300 in perimeter accuracy, meaning offensive rebounding was even more vital. The quest for a repeat ended in a stunning Round of 32 collapse against nine seeded Iowa where the Gators erased a 12 point deficit only to see their season evaporate on a missed free throw and a buzzer beating shot from Fland that left his hand just a fraction of a second too late.

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How many wins in non NCAA Tournament events equal one NCAA Tournament win? Three? A Round of 64 victory followed by a loss two days later is rarely memorable unless it comes from a 13 to 16 seed. One of the most exciting Round of 64 wins was Kentucky’s over Santa Clara, but how meaningful was it in the bigger picture? Kentucky was blown out by Iowa State two games later, and expectations for Mark Pope likely would not have been met without at least an Elite Eight appearance.

If you are West Virginia this season, would you rather win the Crown or beat Maryland, only to get blown out by Alabama in the Round of 32? The former at least gives you more time to enjoy your team on the court.

Tier Six

Utah
#16 in the Big 12
Preseason #84
Record: 10-22 (2-16)
Utah entered a brutal Big 12 gauntlet with a ton of distance to make up between them and the competitive part of the conference. This was a gap that couldn’t be surmounted, and a two win Big 12 season was just about how the season was expected to go, if not worse. Under first year coach Alex Jensen, FDU transfer Terrence Brown emerged as a high volume force, punishing opponents for nearly 20 points per game despite the team posting a bottom three offense in the league.

The team’s biggest issue was their high turnover percentage, a poor offensive rebound rate mixed with a team that wasn’t particularly efficient inside. While this was an efficient perimeter team, they were a lower volume three point shooting team, and couldn’t create extra possessions relative to their confrencemeates. The defensive rating of 116.60 ranked at the bottom of the league, as this was a team with the worst turnover gap in the Big 12. Losing to Cincinnati didn’t come as too big of a surprise, with the Utes going 2-18 from mid December onward.

Kansas St.
#15 in the Big 12
Preseason #51
Record: 12-20 (3-15)
Despite a roster brimming with high-cost portal talent, Jerome Tang’s Kansas State squad found itself navigating a turbulent campaign that he didn’t finish as the head coach. The narrative of the season was dominated by former All-American P.J. Haggerty, who shouldered a massive offensive burden to average over 23 points per game, utilizing his elite ability to draw contact and crash the glass from the guard position.

A lack of frontcourt depth became a glaring Achilles’ heel once Big 12 play intensified. A defensive rebounding rate that ranked near the bottom of the conference allowed opponents second-chance opportunities that proved fatal in close contests, such as the heartbreaking one-point losses to Oklahoma State and TCU. This was a concern in the preseason, and Tang, with poor spending habits aside from his first year, constructing another ill-fitting roster, leading to an awkward exit from Manhattan.

Tier Five

Oklahoma St.
#14 in the Big 12
Preseason #60
Record: 20-15 (6-12)
The Cowboys vaulted into the national conversation with an assertive early-season victory over Northwestern at the United Center and a marquee home win against BYU, momentarily positioning themselves as a legitimate tournament threat by early February. This was ahead of a five game losing streak throughout the month of February, which saw the Cowboys fade out of the picture nationally.

This was a fine team by season’s end, with flashes of great ability, but they’re still a season or two away. An injury to Parsa Fallah marked that the season was basically over, with a lack of frontcourt depth pushing freshman Benjamin Ahmed into a bigger role than expected. Despite the struggles, a top 10 tempo who excelled with getting to the free throw line should be a tournament team next season.

Colorado
#13 in the Big 12
Preseason #81
Record: 17-16 (7-11)
Tad Boyle’s sixteenth season at the helm was an improvement on his last. It was expected that joining the Big 12 from the Pac 12, especially with fewer resources than a good number of their conference mates would lead to great difficulties, and Boyle would have to make do. Year one was a learning year, and hopefully year two will prove to be a year to build off of, so long as Boyle wants to coach.

The hallmark of this campaign was a dramatic offensive transformation; once plagued by carelessness, Colorado reinvented itself into one of the nation’s most disciplined units, finishing 39th in turnover rate. Star freshman Isaiah Johnson acted as the primary catalyst, torching nets with 16.9 points per game and a reliable 37.8% clip from deep. Johnson has unfortunately already committed to Texas, though the hope is the Buffs can find more stars to build their team around, and hopefully retain moving forward. One of these such players might come from the ilk of UC Riverside transfer Barrington Hargress, who proved his game translated seamlessly to the high-major level by posting a surgical 61 percent effective field goal rate. Offense improved, but perimeter defense will need to improve for Colorado to move up in the ranks moving forward.

Baylor
#12 in the Big 12
Preseason #23
Record: 17-17 (6-12)
Baylor entered the year amidst a total programmatic reset, attempting to blend a five star freshman and a wave of transfers into a cohesive unit after losing every single contributor from the previous season. While this has been a formula for success in previous seasons, this was a down year for the Bears. The offense found its rhythm behind the explosive emergence of sophomore Cameron Carr, who parlayed his elite wingspan and athleticism into an All-Conference selection. The defense, on the other hand was a real issue.

This was the second defense outside of the top 10 nationally in the last four seasons for Scott Drew. In the other season was retched defense, the Bears had a top six offense to fill the gap. This season saw the offense rank 30 nationally, good, but not good enough to make up the needed ground. Most notably was a 291st ranked opponent three point percentage. The most notable story of the season might’ve been James Nnaji’s forgettable 18 games, not the 17-17 record from the Bears.

Arizona St.
#11 in the Big 12
Preseason #67
Record: 17-16 (7-11)
Bobby Hurley’s Sun Devils entered the Big 12 looking like a program out of its depth, but with strong flashes of play against the top of the conference, the Sun Devils outperformed their record. This was led by point guard Moe Odum, who flashed elite scoring with 16.4 points per game while simultaneously struggling with a turnover rate that often stalled the offense. This was a bottom five turnover rate in the league, but most of Odom’s turnovers came from the fact that he was the only productive part of the team’s offense from possession to possession.

Anthony “Pig” Johnson provided the heart of the roster with his downhill speed and hustle, though his ill-advised 360 dunk attempt in a tight game against Texas Tech perfectly captured the team’s erratic nature. After a season highlighted by an upset of Kansas and a Maui victory over Texas, Arizona State was closer to the bubble than was predicted in the preseason, though going 3-3 down the stretch, instead of surging kept them from sneaking into the tournament.

West Virginia
#10 in the Big 12
Preseason #44
Record: 21-14 (9-9)
In Ross Hodge’s debut season at the helm, West Virginia embraced a suffocating and deliberate identity that turned every matchup into a grueling half court battle. Operating at one of the slowest tempos in the country with a 64.1 possession average that ranked 353rd nationally, the Mountaineers weaponized a rugged interior defense to frustrate the Big 12 elite. This was a strong defensive rebounding team, as West Virginia wasn’t anxious to get out and running in transition, so they had plenty of opportunity to sit back and ensure the possession was secured.

This gritty approach yielded massive dividends in Morgantown, most notably during a statement win over Kansas and a defensive masterclass against Cincinnati. The individual brilliance of Honor Huff provided a consistent spark, as he hunted his shot to lead the team with nearly sixteen points per game. Huff was largely the only perimeter piece, as the Mountaineers shot just 32.77 percent from beyond the arc and were plagued by a bottom tier turnover rate, issues that resurfaced in an overtime heartbreak against Oklahoma State and a flat postseason exit against Brigham Young.

Tier Four

Cincinnati
#9 in the Big 12
Preseason #52
Record: 18-15 (9-9)
Wes Miller entered his fifth year under a cloud of roster volatility, yet Cincinnati emerged as one of the most formidable defensive juggernauts in the country. The offense was an issue for the majority of the season, ranking 279th nationally in efficiency, the Bearcats clawed their way to a 16th ranked defensive rating that kept them competitive in the Big 12. This has been the hope for the Bearcats for the majority of the Wes Miller era. This was debatably the best of his five seasons, but still, it wasn’t enough to make the NCAA Tournament.

All-Conference selection Baba Miller acted as the primary defensive anchor, using his length to stifle opponents, while freshman Moustapha Thiam provided a much-needed interior presence with his ability to finish through contact. The backcourt saw a mid-season reshuffle that brought Day Day Thomas back into a primary role, and while his 95.77 TS+1 reflected the team’s general struggle with efficiency, his playmaking was vital for survival. Cincy ended the season strong, winning six of seven, though they couldn’t make up enough ground from earlier losses to Xavier and Eastern Michigan to get into the tournament.

BYU
#8 in the Big 12
Preseason #6
Record: 23-12 (9-9)
BYU began the season 16-1 before issues with depth caught up with them. Early on, their record was a bit of a facade, struggling for most of the game against Delaware before pulling away, needing a big time comeback to make the game against UConn look close, and coming back from 22 down against Clemson. This wasn’t the most sustainable manner of winning, as the Cougars often came on in the second half of games after getting off to a slow start. The early months were defined by an unapologetic scoring barrage led by AJ Dybantsa, a presumptive top two NBA draft pick who terrorized the midrange to the tune of 25.3 points per game.

This was fine early on when he had players to share the load with him, including Rob Wright III,who acted as the primary engine. The narrative shifted from optimistic to agonizing on Valentine’s Day when All-Conference threat Richie Saunders suffered a season ending ACL tear against Colorado, effectively stripping the roster of its 18 point per game floor spacer. This was a team that struggled with lacking depth with Saunders, going on a four game losing streak before he was healthy, but the injury acted as the death knell, for a season that ended in the Round of 64.

UCF
#7 in the Big 12
Preseason #66
Record: 21-12 (9-9)
UCF’s third season in the Big 12 was their best, as Johnny Dawkins was on the hot seat entering the season, and surely will play out all of his new contract, especially with among the lowest NIL budgets in P4. The program fully committed to a blistering pace of 70.3 possessions per game, which allowed playmakers like All-Conference guard Themus Fulks to thrive. Fulks, a seasoned floor general, anchored an offense that sat inside the top 50 nationally in adjusted efficiency, quite impressive considering the “price” of the team. Senior Riley Kugel provided much-needed perimeter gravity by shooting nearly 40% from beyond the arc, a strong bounce back shooting season for the Wing.

The Knights had a momentous upset of Kansas at home and a three-game winning streak that featured a dominant victory over Texas Tech, though the team’s true floor felt lower than some of their conference-mates. UCF ranked 273rd in the country in defensive true shooting, but it was their defensive rebounding, which was passable in the season what got them in trouble in the NCAA Tournament.

TCU
#6 in the Big 12
Preseason #39
Record: 23-12 (11-7)
Jamie Dixon’s Horned Frogs transformed an early season identity crisis into a gritty postseason run, finishing the year against a tough opponent in the Round of 32. A head-scratching opening loss to New Orleans set the tone for the season that was very up and down. After this loss, a narrow miss against Michigan, wherein TCU led by eight showed the other end of the spectrum, just how good this team could be.

TCU beat another eventual one seed, in Florida, a strong comeback effort where they trailed by 10 in the second half. They made life miserable for opponents by nabbing steals at the third best rate in the conference, a disruptive style that masked a persistent struggle with three point shooting that lingered near the bottom of the country at 33.18%, though this was nothing new for Jamie Dixon. Their toughness was never more apparent than in the Round of 64 against Ohio State, where Jayden Pierre’s late triples and an Edmonds post bucket with four seconds left capped a comeback victory. The journey hit a wall in a Round of 32 blowout against Duke, though they did make the game ugly, their only path to victory.

Kansas
#5 in the Big 12
Preseason #11
Record: 24-11 (12-6)
Kansas navigated a year of transition by leaning on one of the most dominant defensive anchors in the country, Flory Bidunga. He secured Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors, though Bidunga wasn’t the focus coming into the year, nor the focus during the year for that matter.

I might as well use this clip that I used in the Big East preview.

The Jayhawks captured a historic signature moment by toppling number one Arizona at Allen Fieldhouse without their leading scorer, Darryn Peterson, who eventually finished the year as an All-Conference freshman phenom averaging 19.8 points, though in just 24 games. The team’s flair for the dramatic was epitomized by Melvin Council Jr., who exploded exploding for nine triples against NC State to etch his name into program history. A treacherous, up and down season saw the Jayhawks in the Round of 64 against Cal Baptist, successfully sprinting out to a strong start them managed to hold onto. The Round of 32 against St. John’s ended on a heartbreaking buzzer-beating drive. The season ended as expected: dramatically.

Tier Three

Texas Tech
#4 in the Big 12
Preseason #10
Record: 23-11 (12-6)
Texas Tech entered the year with the weight of massive expectations, and for much of the winter, Grant McCasland’s group looked every bit like a national title contender. The Red Raiders defined their season through elite perimeter execution, finishing the year ranked 6th in the country with a lethal 39.25% mark from deep.

This sharpshooting, combined with the dominant interior presence of All-American candidate JT Toppin, allowed the Raiders to celebrate many big time wins, including an overtime thriller against top-ranked Arizona and a gritty home victory over Houston. Toppin was the undisputed heartbeat of the program, averaging a double-double with 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, but the campaign’s momentum was tragically severed when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury against Arizona State. The conference’s Most Improved Player Christian Anderson and sharpshooter Donovan Atwell kept the team competitive, but their ceiling was exposed in the Round of 32 loss to Alabama, falling behind by 26 points in a definitive exit.

Tier Two

Iowa St.
#3 in the Big 12
Preseason #15
Record: 29-8 (12-6)
Just like Texas Tech, a late season injury to their star completely disrupted this team’s Final Four expectations. This injury, though, came in the NCAA Tournament, instead of the regular season, as Joshua Jefferson sustained a lower body injury in a blowout win against Tennessee State. Second in KenPom’s NPOY, there should be some solace in the fact that whoever won between Tennessee and Iowa State in the Sweet 16 was going to lose in blowout fashion to Michigan.

Joining Jefferson in the rotation was the veteran poise of Tamin Lipsey and the sharpshooting of Milan Momcilovic, who earned All-Conference honors with a robust 17.1 points per game. Lipsey remained among the sport’s most steady lead guards, with a breakout shooting performance, putting up a career high of 26 in his last ever win with the program2.

Houston
#2 in the Big 12
Preseason #1
Record: 30-7 (14-4)
Entering the season as the nation’s top ranked program, Houston spent the year proving that while faces change, the defensive standard in Kelvin Sampson’s program is absolute. The fourth rated defensive unit in the country turned into a style of isolation ball on the offensive end, with Flemings the only real producer for large stretches of the season.

Flemings emerged as a legitimate superstar, highlighted by a record breaking 42 point outburst against Texas Tech. The defense was again led by Jojo Tugler, who anchored the unit, while improving his free throw shooting on the offensive end, limiting the potential for hack-a-Tugler. As always, silly fouls remain an issue for the big man, including a foul against Illinois in the Sweet 16 where he shoved David Mirkovic while trying to chase a screen. Offensive vulnerability surfaced during a rare three game losing streak in February and reappeared in their Sweet 16 loss. After a thunderous 21-2 run to bury Texas A&M in the previous round, the Cougars suffered a catastrophic 17-0 second half drought against the Fighting Illini that extinguished their championship hopes.

Tier One

Arizona
#1 in the Big 12
Preseason #16
Record: 36-3 (16-2)
Arizona’s campaign shouldn’t be remembered by their blowout loss in the Final Four to Michigan, but it will leave a bad taste in their mouths. Debated as the top team in the country for the majority of the season, their defense was a juggernaut, leading the conference in true shooting defense, pairing that with elite two way rebounding to win the shot volume battle.

After a record-breaking 23-0 start, the Wildcats navigated the gauntlet of the Big 12 with a veteran backcourt led by Jaden Bradley, whose season was immortalized by a cold-blooded buzzer-beating fadeaway to sink Iowa State in the conference tournament. Aussie Anthony Dell’Orso’s sharpshooting and the relentless offensive rebounding of Tobe Awaka, the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, provided the necessary muscle to navigate a high-stakes Elite Eight clash against Purdue. By pulling away for a double-digit victory over the Boilermakers, Arizona finally shattered the ceiling that had previously eluded them. This was Arizona’s first Final Four since 2001, and they finished the season as one of the two best teams in the sport, finally validating the Tommy Lloyd era, which had only been missing a Final Four.

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• Winning its first national championship in 25 years

• Illinois reaching its first Final Four since 2005

• Nebraska winning its first NCAA Tournament game in program history

• Iowa advancing to the second weekend for the first time since 1999

• Mick Cronin apologizing

Thankfully, these tropes can be put to bed, and we can have new conversations beyond the tired retreads.

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Tier Five

Penn St.
#18 in the Big Ten
Preseason #128
Record: 12-20 (3-17)
Penn State played a season defined by a youth movement, handing the keys of the offense to a pair of productive freshman wings in Melih Tunca and Kayden Mingo. There were obvious growing pains to go along with displays of a higher seasons to build upon if this core can be retained. The primary culprit was a sieve-like defense that surrendered 118.9 points per 100 possessions, a mark that ranked 358th in the country and dead last in the Big Ten. Freddie Dilione V shouldered a heavy scoring load as a junior, improving his shooting from the perimeter.

The team’s reliance on eight freshmen often led to the honorable fights mentioned in the preseason coming to fruition without the payoff of a victory. Perhaps the most agonizing moment of the campaign occurred at home against Michigan, where Penn State stood one possession away from a season-defining upset before a late bad shot saw the opportunity evaporate.

Rutgers
#17 in the Big Ten
Preseason #73
Record: 14-20 (6-14)
The return to Steve Pikiell’s blueprint of gritty transfers and a methodical pace provided a stark contrast to the previous year’s high-profile experiments, yet the results remained frustratingly stagnant in Piscataway. While others in the conference found ways to climb, Rutgers languished, bogged down by a defensive rating of 112.77 that plummeted to 303rd nationally.

This porousness was fueled by a young frontcourt that surrendered second-chance opportunities with alarming frequency, leaving the team ranked 334th in defensive rebounding gap. Offensively, the squad functioned almost exclusively through assisted looks; they lacked any isolation threat capable of generating quick buckets when the shot clock dwindled. Tariq Francis shouldered the scoring load as the team’s primary engine, though he wasn’t the most efficient given the burden he bore. The collective inability to space the floor or protect the glass ensured that this campaign would be remembered more for its defensive lapses than its competitive fire.

Maryland
#16 in the Big Ten
Preseason #46
Record: 12-21 (4-16)
The first season under Buzz Williams was an indication that this was a ship that may take a few seasons to turn around. The Terrapins grappled with a defensive identity crisis and persistent turnover woes. This was a departure from last season where Williams ran a system whose defense was strong enough to lead to hopes of a top-ten defensive return this year, but this was the opposite of the truth, with the Terps ranked 334th nationally in defensive true shooting.

The offense often became a one-man show headlined by David Coit’s historic 40-point masterpiece against Mount Saint Mary’s, yet the collective group struggled to find rhythm from the perimeter. After beating Marquette to open the year, the hope was this could be a tournament team, but there was simply not enough on both ends for this to be the case.

Oregon
#15 in the Big Ten
Preseason #41
Record: 12-20 (5-15)
The Ducks were mentioned early in the season as a paper tiger, with a 4-0 record ahead of the Player’s Invitational, wherein they struggled greatly. After starting the winter with a promising number 41 national ranking, Oregon’s depth was an issue, with Nate Bittle suffering a late November ankle injury that sidelined the team’s primary interior force. Bittle still managed to lead the squad with 16.8 points per game upon his return, but his absence exposed a concerning lack of depth and a rebounding core that ranked 276th in the country in defensive rebounding gap. Junior guard Jackson Shelstad was the only other hope for this program, and he didn’t play a game in 2026, injured in late December to not return again.

With one player not at 100% and the other only playing a third of the team’s games, scraping together a 4-0 start was truly the highlight of their season.

Northwestern
#14 in the Big Ten
Preseason #83
Record: 15-19 (5-15)
Nick Martinelli once again redefined what it meant to be a volume scorer, as he continued to torch defenses even as he shouldered a massive scoring burden for the Wildcats. Under Chris Collins, the program maintained a glacial tempo that ranked 345th in the country, a strategy that maximized their elite ball security as they finished 6th nationally in turnover rate.

Limiting mistakes when your roster isn’t as talented as your peers is key, as this was a poor rebounding team. Maintaining possession whenever possible when you’re only likely to get one shot was more important in this season than ever, with Northwestern’s worst defensive rebounding team in Collins’ history. Coming as a surprise was Northwestern’s two victories in the Big Ten tournament, on the shoulder of Martinelli, who scored 20+ points in each of his final eight games, getting Northwestern past Indiana before they fell to Purdue.

Tier Four

USC
#13 in the Big Ten
Preseason #29
Record: 18-14 (7-13)
Expectations were high for a program that had a strong incoming transfer class and a coach who is strong with making different pieces work together. Unfortunately, despite a team that had fine depth to start the season was pushed to the edge. Rodney Rice, the team’s biggest offseason addition was injured after six games, ending his season. Chad Baker-Mazara ended his tenure with the program in a bizarre showing.

Alijah Arenas was injured in a car accident to start the season, and had to shake off the rust upon his return. Kam Woods was added to attempt to address these depth concerns in late December, not giving him much time to gel with his teammates. This all led to an end of season eight game losing streak, where the Trojans did manage to win the Maui invitational.

Washington
#12 in the Big Ten
Preseason #21
Record: 16-17 (7-13)
This wasn’t the season expected for the Huskies, whose hodge podge of quality transfer adds weren’t enough. The campaign was not without its heroics, most notably a streak snapping road victory over USC that provided a rare peak in a winter of narrow misses, USC just off of winning Maui.

Hannes Steinbach emerged as among the best freshmen in the country, posting a masterful 11/12 shooting performance against UCLA, but the lack of a reliable shooting threat beyond him, combined with an injured Desmond Claude working back into form, wasn’t enough. The season ultimately ended their run in the conference tournament against Wisconsin, the season served as a stark reminder that talent alone cannot bridge the gap in a league where every possession is a grind.

Indiana
#11 in the Big Ten
Preseason #43
Record: 18-14 (9-11)
Indiana entered the Darian DeVries era under the shadow of a dated offensive past, yet they quickly pivoted toward a modern, transition-heavy identity. Led by the scoring prowess of Lamar Wilkerson, who averaged 20.9 points per game and showcased elite off-the-dribble playmaking, the Hoosiers climbed into bubble range, before a rough last month of the season. The roster lacked a traditional interior anchor, leading to a 141st-ranked offensive rebounding gap.

Freshman Trent Sisley etched his name into Bloomington lore with a walk-off free throw to stun UCLA in double overtime, a game kept alive by national champion transfer Sam Alexis. The season was defined by these razor-thin margins, from Connor Enright’s crucial drawn charge against Wisconsin to the cathartic home victory over Purdue that solidified their place in the conference. Losing six of their final seven games, including two losses to Northwestern was enough to mark this as a season that peaked after the Wisconsin win.

Minnesota
#10 in the Big Ten
Preseason #76
Record: 15-18 (8-12)
Minnesota authored a resilient first chapter under head coach Niko Medved, fueled largely by an offensive rating of 111.5 that flourished whenever their perimeter shooters found space. Cade Tyson was the primary catalyst, shedding an underwhelming stint at North Carolina to become one of the conference’s most lethal scorers, averaging 19.6 points while hitting 41% of his shots from beyond the arc.

A shallow bench and struggles to close out late possessions occasionally hampered their progress, but a cathartic victory against Michigan State proved this team could win close games. Fans stormed the court following massive upsets over Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan State, which has to be a record for a team that finished under .500.

Tier Three

Ohio St.
#9 in the Big Ten
Preseason #49
Record: 21-13 (12-8)
Ohio State finally delivered on strong computer numbers but a poor resume to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Diebler. The Buckeyes wielded a top 20 offense nationally in efficiency, centered around the long-awaited of Bruce Thornton in the tournament.

Thornton passed the all time scoring record for the Buckeyes, and getting to the tournament was a validation of his career. Dramatic comebacks became their calling card, highlighted by a gritty double-overtime win against West Virginia and a signature home victory over Purdue. This flair for the dramatic followed them into the NCAA Tournament against TCU, where the Buckeyes absorbed a 10-0 killshot only to respond with a furious 15-1 second-half run that momentarily seized the lead. Though the season ended on a painful two point defeat when a final look went unanswered, there was some validation for this campaign after being in the conversation for some time.

Wisconsin
#8 in the Big Ten
Preseason #33
Record: 24-11 (14-6)
Wisconsin’s season was a daring experiment in identity, with this being the first time the Badgers posted a top 100 tempo in the history of KenPom. This evolution, led a surprisingly effective backcourt of All-Tournament selections Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, outperformed expectations.

The Badgers, with their newly minted pace, clawed their way to a program record eleven game winning streak over Minnesota, punctuated by a breathtaking twenty point comeback, in a season where neither win against the Gophers was easy. Greg Gard’s squad found magic in Champaign, securing the program’s first ever overtime win at Illinois behind the clutch shooting of freshman Austin Rapp. This was also only one of two three teams to beat Michigan in the year where they won the National Championship, Wisconsin flexing the muscles of their perimeter production in Ann Arbor. After a fifteen point lead evaporated in a rematch against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament, the same script haunted them in the Big Dance. Despite a hot 10-0 start against High Point in the Round of 64, the Badgers defense crumbled late, and a missed opportunity in the final seconds solidified a heartbreaking first-round exit for the second time in three seasons over a 12 seed that has purple jerseys.

UCLA
#7 in the Big Ten
Preseason #20
Record: 24-12 (13-7)
UCLA’s second season in the Big Ten was a series of narrow margins and missed opportunities, epitomized by a heartbreaking double-overtime home loss to Indiana. In that contest, sophomore Trent Perry forced overtime with a clutch triple, only for the Bruins to eventually fall on a late defensive foul.

The roster was built around high-level transfers like Donovan Dent, who proved lethal in transition but faced hurdles in a slower halfcourt system, especially when sidelined by injury during a key stretch. Skyy Clark provided scoring punch with five triples against Washington, though his reliance on long mid-range jumpers mirrored a team-wide struggle to find consistent efficiency outside of Tyler Bilodeau’s interior presence. When Bilodeau was sidelined for the Round of 32 clash against UConn, the Bruins simply ran out of gas after 35 minutes of competitive play, a familiar end for a squad that possessed the talent of a top-20 preseason team but couldn’t quite master the closing kick required for the elite level.

Tier Two

Purdue
#6 in the Big Ten
Preseason #2
Record: 30-9 (13-7)
Purdue entered the season with the heavy weight of a preseason number one conference ranking and the lofty expectations that accompany a returning core led by the relentless playmaking of Braden Smith. The Boilermakers maintained an elite offensive identity by finishing the year with a third-ranked 125.84 offensive rating, but this wasn’t a storybook finish to Smith’s career. Despite Smith shattering the school career assist record and Oscar Cluff anchoring the glass with a defensive rebounding gap that ranked fourth in the country, the team often struggled with perimeter rotations and uncharacteristic lapses in high-pressure moments.

A mid-season three-game skid and a painful home loss to Michigan State threatened to derail their momentum, yet Matt Painter’s squad found their second wind in the postseason. After Smith earned Tournament MVP honors, beating Michigan in the conference championship game. The team survived a grueling Sweet 16 battle against Texas behind a dramatic, sub-second putback by Trey Kaufman-Renn. Although the campaign ultimately ended in an Elite Eight exit where a halftime lead against Arizona evaporated into a double-digit loss, this was an acceptable finish to a season with high expectations. Essentially any coach would deep down accept an Elite Eight appearance when the other top preseason team, Houston, didn’t even make it that far.

Iowa
#5 in the Big Ten
Preseason #17
Record: 24-13 (10-10)
Ben McCollum arrived in Iowa City with the daunting task of translating a mid-major magic to the Big Ten, bringing along a disciplined core that prioritized efficiency over explosiveness. While the Hawkeyes ultimately finished eighth in the conference, far below their preseason projection of second, McCollum’s postseason acumen was what mattered in the end. Playing at a glacial pace that ranked 364th nationally in possessions, Iowa weaponized the shot clock, leaning on the incredible stamina of Bennett Stirtz and a turnover rate of 11.15 percent that was among the elite.

After a steady opening win against Clemson, Iowa authored the signature moment of the tournament by toppling top seeded Florida in the Round of 32, a game decided by a cold-blooded corner three from Alvaro Folgueiras with only four seconds remaining. This momentum carried them through a Sweet 16 revenge match against Nebraska, where a late 9-0 run erased an early deficit. Though their journey ended in the Elite Eight against the overwhelming size of Illinois, the season stood as a testament to McCollum’s system and the poise of a roster that refused to be hurried.

Nebraska
#4 in the Big Ten
Preseason #65
Record: 28-7 (15-5)
Nebraska completely shattered the basement-level expectations that saw them ranked 15th in the Big Ten during the preseason, instead soaring to a 20-0 record to start the season. The Cornhuskers relied on a surprisingly elite defense that finished 25th in the nation and the high-volume scoring of Pryce Sandfort, who paced the team with nearly 18 points per game.

The veteran presence of a healthy Rienk Mast and the grit of Sam Hoiberg helped navigate the rigors of the conference schedule. The program finally cleared its longest-standing hurdle by securing its first-ever NCAA tournament victory against Troy before Braden Frager, the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, sent them to the Sweet 16 with a dramatic last-second bucket against Vanderbilt in transition. Their magical journey ended in a winnable, back-and-forth clash against Iowa, where a fatigue-induced mental lapse left only four defenders on the court during a pivotal late sequence. While the exit was heartbreaking, in a season of record breaking, it was good to be a Husker.

Michigan St.
#3 in the Big Ten
Preseason #31
Record: 27-8 (15-5)
Michigan State entered Tom Izzo’s 31st year facing plenty of skepticism after losing their top three scorers, but the Spartans proved once again that they are never to be dismissed. The Spartans forged a gritty identity anchored by an offensive rating of 118.24. Jeremy Fears Jr. stepped into the leadership void with veteran toughness, while Kur Teng evolved from a quiet freshman into a cold blooded marksman whose clutch shooting was vital in an overtime thriller against Illinois.

The definitive peak of the regular season arrived with a narrow two point victory at Purdue, marking their first win in West Lafayette in 12 years and signaling their readiness for March. The Spartans marched through the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament with clinical double digit victories over North Dakota State and Louisville. Their season reached a fever pitch in a Sweet 16 clash against UConn where they erased a daunting 19 point second half deficit to briefly snatch the lead. This was as close at they’d get to victory, as Michigan State broke a potential all-Big Ten Final Four with their loss in the Second Weekend.

Illinois
#2 in the Big Ten
Preseason #25
Record: 28-9 (15-5)
Illinois defied the concerns about how they would reload after losing back to back first round NBA picks, surging from a preseason rank of 25 to a dominant second place finish in the Big Ten.The engine behind this ascent was a national best offensive rating of 126.58 and the meteoric rise of Keaton Wagler, whose legendary 46 point performance in a rare victory at Mackey Arena signaled that the Illini were more than just a rebuilding project. The adversity of Kylan Boswell missing a month with a broken hand, was met with other players stepping up.

This included David Mirkovic, who anchored the postseason with a massive 25 and 15 double double in the opening round against Penn. The team showcased its terrifying ceiling in the Sweet 16, using a 17-0 second half run to dismantle Houston (in Houston) and advance. While they had to fight through their largest tournament deficit to eventually dispatch Iowa in the Elite Eight. Illinois reached their first Final Four in two decades, but came up just short, falling to UConn in a game that never felt as close as the score may hint. While the Huskies might have the Illini’s number, Brad Underwood getting to the Final Four is a win in and of itself for the Champaign-Urbana faithful,

Tier One

Michigan
#1 in the Big Ten
Preseason #22
Record: 37-3 (19-1)
Michigan proved that a dominant frontcourt and a high efficiency offense can effectively suffocate the nation’s best, winning the Big Ten’s first National Championship since the turn of the century. The Wolverines secured a wire-to-wire top spot in the Big Ten behind a statistical profile that featured an offensive rating of 121.93 and a frontcourt that rewrote the rules of conference play. Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg was the catalyst, leading the program across nearly every major category and showcasing coast to coast ability that few teams could match.

Alongside him, Aday Mara provided a terrifying defensive presence that earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors and solidified Michigan as a premier rebounding unit. Their regular season talent translated seamlessly to the NCAA tournament, where the Wolverines dismantled Howard and Saint Louis before fending off Alabama in the Sweet 16. The Wolverines continued their beatdowns in the Elite Eight against Tennessee, where Michigan unleashed a staggering twenty-one to zero run that essentially locked up the game by halftime. This was shockingly seen again against Arizona in the Final Four, before handling UConn despite a late onslaught in the National Championship game, far surpassing preseason expectations, winning their first national Championship since 1989.

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• Duke was a 1 seed and fell short of expectations, losing in the Elite Eight.

• Virginia, a 3 seed, also underperformed and exited in the Round of 32.

• Miami was a 7 seed and played to its level.

• North Carolina, a 6 seed, lost in the Round of 64 and fell short of expectations.

• Clemson, an 8 seed, also exited in the Round of 64.

• Louisville, a 6 seed, met expectations, though its metrics were stronger than its resume.

• NC State, an 11 seed, lost in Dayton after a turbulent season that included the coach stepping down late.

• SMU, also an 11 seed, lost in Dayton to a MAC opponent.

Across eight tournament teams, the ACC produced zero upsets and just six total wins, half of them from Duke. Even then, Duke fell short of its top seed by losing to a 2 seed. No other team won more than one game.

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It was a poor showing for the conference, and potential tournament expansion would only create more room for this level of mediocrity.

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Tier Seven

Georgia Tech
#18 in the ACC
Preseason #102
Record: 11-20 (2-16)
The year in College Park lacked the second wind that we have seen in seasons past. We have seen jarring losses form the Yellow Jackets in years past, but this is usually followed by wins against opponents they should be far outmatched by. This was true again in 2026. Falling to a bad Drake team in the non-conference marked a head scratching loss, as they allowed Drake to score 1.29 points per possession.

This season’s surprising victory was also their final, as Georgia Tech beat NC State by four points in a big time road victory. This was a game in mid-January, and the Yellow Jackets went on to lose their final 12 games. Despite Kowacie Reeves Jr. leading the scoring charge and the team ranking a respectable 11th in the ACC in three-point percentage, Georgia Tech’s inability to value the basketball led to a 323rd national rank in turnover gap. This porous ball security and a bottom-tier Shot Volume Index ultimately prevented Damon Stoudamire’s group from turning competitive halves into wins, resulting in an 18th-place finish in a conference that left them little room for error.

Boston College
#17 in the ACC
Preseason #108
Record: 11-20 (4-14)
Someone has to finish 17th in a conference. 17 isn’t the last place team in the ACC, but it is an ugly, rigid prime number that laughs in the face of the face of the fact that there are 17 teams in a given conference. This was, unsurprisingly Boston College. They did lose to Georgia Tech in their only matchup with them, but they do have Georgia Tech to thank for keeping them out of the basement of the league.

GT went on a 12 game losing streak, which outlasted the Eagle’s eight game losing streak. Donald Hand Jr. remained the focal point of the offense, but his season was marred by a leg injury in late February and a shooting regression that saw the team rank last in the conference with a dismal 29.44% mark from beyond the arc. The offense often became a stagnant display of attacking the rim out of necessity, as the Eagles struggled to find secondary scoring consistency despite the high-usage efforts of Fred Payne. Chase Forte provided some defensive grit, though he largely fell out of the rotation in the middle of the year, only to return to playing his early-season role down the stretch of the season. The 20 win season in 2024 and top 75 finish feels like a decade ago at this point in time.

Tier Six

Notre Dame
#16 in the ACC
Preseason #96
Record: 13-18 (4-14)
The year in South Bend was a tale of missed opportunities, with Micah Shrewsberry’s team never able to live up to the promise a 9-3 start might’ve flashed. Notre Dame posted consecutive wins against Missouri and TCU, two teams which would go on to make the NCAA Tournament. Despite this, and sticking with California on the road to open conference play, their loss to Purdue Fort Wayne should’ve been an early warning sign on how miserable this team would perform in league play. Only getting 10 games out of Markus Burton didn’t help, but the Fighting Irish did beat TCU and Stanford without him.

The emergence of Cole Certa provided the season’s most electric highlights. Certa, a lethal catch and shoot threat, delivered a career-defining 34-point masterpiece against Missouri and a clutch game-winner that suggested a bright future for the program’s perimeter identity. In conference play, the Irish were burned by a missed foul against California and a double-overtime collapse against Virginia after failing to defend a final three-pointer. These narrow margins, combined with a defense that ranked last in the ACC in efficiency, overshadowed the glass-cleaning efforts of Carson Towt and the late-season heroics of Jalen Haralson.

Syracuse
#15 in the ACC
Preseason #78
Record: 15-17 (6-12)
The definitive highlight of the Adrian Autry era arrived early with a gritty home upset over Tennessee, a performance fueled by defensive intensity that briefly masked the team’s ongoing struggles to force consistent mistakes. Sophomore Donnie Freeman lived up to his billing as a game-changer when healthy, spearheading the interior attack with 16.5 points per game, though a shallow bench often forced the starters into iron-man minutes. The team’s bench utilization ranked in the bottom third nationally, quite concerning when this was a unit that could’ve used their bench more, as by year’s end, they weren’t contending for much.

Oregon State transfer Nate Kingz provided necessary perimeter gravity with 65 triples, but the team’s overall efficiency was hampered by defensive lapses and ball-watching, particularly from the backcourt. Kiyan Anthony was a microwave scorer from the bench, but based on who his dad is, his utilization was placed under a microscope. The struggled underscored a season where Syracuse struggled to win the margins, ranking 314th nationally in offensive rebounding gap, concerning for a high major program.

Pittsburgh
#14 in the ACC
Preseason #88
Record: 13-20 (5-13)
With wins in four of their final seven games, including beating Stanford in the ACC Tournament and Cal on the road, Pitt snuck just barely back into the top 100 at KenPom. This makes the end of season results compared to preseason projections a bit more bearable, though this was a team that was 2-11 at a point in time in the ACC.

The strong stretch to close the season might’ve saved Jeff Capel’s job, but it was still a disappointing year. Neither Jaland Lowe or the Panthers particularly won the breakup, as Pitt was worse without him and Lowe played just about as many games as Pitt won in conference play. The low point arrived early with a staggering home loss to Quinnipiac, a result that foreshadowed a season where the defense often bent and broke against high-major competition, finishing 17th in the conference in defensive efficiency. Senior transfer Damarco Minor and freshman Omari Witherspoon both took turns carrying the backcourt, with Witherspoon etching his name into Pitt lore by sinking a gritty game-winner against Wake Forest. There simply wasn’t enough defense to keep this team relevant, despite some strong plays scattered across the back half of the season.

Tier Five

Wake Forest
#13 in the ACC
Preseason #56
Record: 18-16 (7-11)
This was another disappointing season in Winston-Salem that got off to a promising start. The emergence of sophomore Juke Harris provided the season’s most electric narrative, as the wing exploded for 38 points against Boston College, the highest scoring output for a Deacon in nearly two decades.

Harris led a high-volume perimeter attack that ranked in the national top 100 for three-point attempt rate, yet the team’s ceiling was often lowered by a defense that struggled to keep opponents away from the charity stripe, ranking 237th in opponent free throw rate. In addition to this, the Deacons allowed teams to shoot a bevvy of threes against them, which could be the outcome in many close losses. Early missed opportunities, like a heart-wrenching overtime collapse against Michigan and a late-game scoring drought against Texas Tech, proved costly as the team struggled to find a consistent secondary identity beyond the isolation scoring of Myles Colvin and the backcourt playmaking of Nate Calmese. Wake Forest was eventually ground down by Clemson in the ACC Tournament a game that highlighted their 296th-ranked defensive rebounding gap, leaving them just short of the postseason breakthrough the program has been chasing for a decade.

California
#12 in the ACC
Preseason #82
Record: 22-11 (9-9)
Mark Madsen’s third year in Berkeley was an all around improvement. Winning 20+ games for the first time since 2017, Cal was comfortably on the NCAA Tournament bubble prior to losing three of their final four games. The season was headlined by an electric backcourt tandem in Dai Dai Ames and John Camden, both of whom found their stride as high-volume scoring threats. Ames, an All-Conference selection, authored one of the season’s most dramatic highlights with a four point play to sink Notre Dame, in a controversial ending. Camden emerged as a premier stretch option, helping Cal rank 30th nationally in three point percentage. The Bears showed they could punch upward, leading wire to wire in a statement victory over North Carolina and navigating a surreal, blackout-plagued double overtime thriller against Syracuse where Milos Ilic played the hero with a crucial putback. Despite end of season hurdles, the program’s upward trajectory is undeniable.

Stanford
#11 in the ACC
Preseason #70
Record: 20-12 (9-9)
Kyle Smith’s season at Stanford started off quite well, with a win against North Carolina, hinting that this was a team that might compete for the NCAA Tournament. Directly following this win, the Cardinal went on to lose five consecutive games. Stanford would’ve needed to win out to get back into the NCAA Tournament picture, and while they went 6-2 the rest of the regular season, this wasn’t enough to overcome an underwhelming non-conference.

The narrative centered on the meteoric rise of freshman Ebuka Okorie, an All-Conference talent whose 22.8 points per game transformed the Cardinal into a legitimate threat against the ACC elite. Okorie’s shot-making was the catalyst for Stanford’s win against North Carolina he 36 points. Their run was halted by a one-point heartbreak against Pittsburgh in the conference tournament, the foundation laid by this overachieving group suggests that Stanford is no longer a team content with just flirting with the middle of the pack.

Virginia Tech
#10 in the ACC
Preseason #61
Record: 19-13 (8-10)
The winter in Blacksburg was had a unique bookends to the season. Through the first 14 games of the year, Virginia Tech played in four overtime game. They won all of these games. The team’s season ended with a loss against Wake Forest, in overtime, in the team’s first overtime loss this season. Mike Young’s squad lessened their three point attempt rate, but became more selective and efficient from outside.

They were led by the sharpshooting of Jaden Schutt, hitting them at a 38.5% clip. The campaign’s emotional climax came in an overtime game, a triple-overtime home conquest of Virginia, a gritty display of endurance that, alongside a statement road win at Clemson, kept the Hokies squarely in the postseason conversation deep into March. The arrival of Greek sensation Neoklis Avdalas lived up to the hype; his elite vision and playmaking often served as the oil in an offensive machine that looked strong when everything came together. Outside of their wins against Virginia and Clemson, there was simply not enough done to make the NCAA Tournament, leaving the Hokies on the outside looking in.

Tier Four

SMU
#9 in the ACC
Preseason #58
Record: 20-14 (8-10)
The Mustangs’ second season in the ACC ended in the NCAA Tournament, and while stronger play down the stretch would’ve kept them out of Dayton, this was an outperformance of preseason expectations. The sheer scoring willpower of Boopie Miller and Jaron Pierre Jr. were key in thisas Miller remained a clutch maestro who added another chapter to his highlight reel with a half-court buzzer-beater to stun Virginia Tech, though he was left searching for space in a heartbreaking narrow loss to NC State.

The Mustangs dominated the offensive glass behind Samet Yigitoglu’s bruising interior presence, ranking 10th in the country in offensive rebounding gap. Even in a game where they got 34% of their offensive rebounds, a poor perimeter defense was exposed, ending their season in the First Four against Miami of Ohio. The shooting performance put on by the RedHawks was the highest in volume we’ve seen in Dayton, and SMU was on the losing side of the effort.

Florida St.
#8 in the ACC
Preseason #75
Record: 18-15 (10-8)
The Seminoles finished 9-2 in ACC play after a tough 1-6 start to Luke Loucks’ first run through conference play. Florida State reclaimed its identity as a disruptive force on the perimeter, utilizing high-level athleticism to trap opponents and fuel a transition game that ranked 21st nationally in pace.

A rough start was broken by a win against Miami on the road, a team they’d beat twice, an impressive showing against their conference rival. Clemson transfer Chauncey Wiggins blossomed into a premier scoring threat, providing the isolation gravity and perimeter shooting that a roster launching over 50% of its shots from deep desperately required. Despite a gut-wrenching one-point exit in the conference tournament against Duke, this was a team that moved up several tiers as the season progressed.

North Carolina St.
#7 in the ACC
Preseason #26
Record: 20-14 (10-8)
The Wolfpack’s journey through Raleigh this winter will have a cloud over it based on how the offseason has progressed, and Will Wade potentially having a foot out the door with his team still competing in ACC play. Entering the year with the ambitious shadow of a Final Four return, NC State solidified this through 24 games, getting out to a 9-2 mark in league play. The Wolfpack ended the season 2-8, including a loss in Dayton.

Darrion Williams proved to be the quintessential engine for this unit, for better or worse. Elite sharpshooting kept the Wolfpack offense humming through a scorching 6-0 start to conference play on the road. NC State did the fundamentals well, with a top 10 turnover rate nationally, but they were a poor perimeter defense, and allowing a high number of threes proved to be an issue as the season. This was a team with real potential that quite simply didn’t have the buy in to reach it.

Tier Three

North Carolina
#6 in the ACC
Preseason #36
Record: 24-9 (12-6)
UNC’s season was essentially over once Caleb Wilson was injured and announced out for the season. Hubert Davis put up a fine season with a star freshman who was among the top five in a historically strong class. The Tar Heels achieved the first 18-0 home record in program history, a feat anchored by a transformed perimeter attack that shot at a significantly higher clip than in previous years.

This was a modernized offense, attempting threes at the highest rate in Davis’ tenure. Seth Trimble emerged as a resilient leader, returning from an early practice injury to deliver a falling-down game-winning pass against Kentucky and a buzzer-beating three to stun Duke, Duke’s only loss on the season. The star was Caleb Wilson, with consistent 20-point outings and a relentless motor on the interior. However, Wilson’s fractured hand in the final month left the Tar Heels vulnerable, forcing Henri Veesaar and Jarin Stevenson into larger roles on the offensive end. This injury culminated in an agonizing first-round exit where the Heels surrendered a 19-point lead to VCU, the largest blown lead in first round history. The season ended in heartbreak as Veesaar missed crucial late free throws in overtime, leaving a season overshadowed by an abrupt and historic postseason collapse.

Louisville
#5 in the ACC
Preseason #8
Record: 24-11 (11-7)
The Pat Kelsey era in Louisville continued with a high dollar roster that Kelsey hoped remained healthier than last year’s. The Cardinals remained top 30 on both ends of the ball, second in the conference in offensive rating with a blistering 120.4 mark. The season’s early momentum was punctuated by a statement home victory over Kentucky, fueled by Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell, who proved to be a premier marksman after landing on the All-Conference team.

The arrival of top-10 recruit Mikel Brown Jr. provided the shiftiness the backcourt needed, and though a back injury kept him out from many games and not 100% for many that he played. His ability to manipulate defenses alongside the elite passing of big man Aly Khalifa created an embarrassment of riches on the offensive end. While Louisville handled South Florida with poise in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, they ultimately met their match in the Round of 32 against Michigan State. Without Brown at full strength to contend with the Spartans’ physical interior, the Cardinals’ perimeter-reliant attack went cold, ending a 26-win season that hinted towards a team with strong computer numbers, but didn’t post big time wins as you might expect.

Clemson
#4 in the ACC
Preseason #40
Record: 24-11 (12-6)
This was a strong performance relative to preseason expectations, given had they not gone on a four game losing streak deep into the season after a 10-1 start, the Tigers would’ve matched their seed from last year. Clemson crafted a physical identity that prioritized an elite interior defense, ranking 51st in the country in defensive efficiency while holding conference foes to meager shooting numbers. Nevada transfer Nick Davidson was the focal point of this grit, emerging as a high-volume free throw producer and a glass-cleaning force who anchored the frontcourt alongside the verticality of Carter Welling. The offense occasionally stagnated due to the lack of a traditional lead guard with freshman Zac Foster’s injury not helping. Clemson played Iowa in the Round of 64, where, Brad Brownell’s squad demonstrated remarkable depth, getting significant contributions from RJ Godfrey and sharpshooter Jestin Porter. Despite this, Iowa rebounded nearly half of their misses on the offensive end, and the Tigers couldn’t contend with Iowa’s dicated pace.

Tier Two

Miami
#3 in the ACC
Preseason #62
Record: 26-9 (13-5)
In a season of profound reinvention, Miami was among the best overperformers in the country. This validated Jai Lucas as the right architect for the program’s new era, posting more wins that any Miami head coach has in their first year. Lucas dismantled the defensive malaise of the previous regime, leading the Hurricanes to a top-fifty national stop rate and setting a program record for wins by a first-year head coach. The winter was defined by a ten-game winning streak, getting out to a 4-0 start in conference play and proving that this was a team that was NCAA tournament caliber. Michigan transfer Tre Donaldson singlehandedly outscored Virginia Tech single-handedly in game in February, part of a back to back stretch where the Hurricanes won games by one point a piece. Miami led for a big portion of their eventual season ending loss to Purdue, winning the rebound battle, but they didn’t have the half court offense to contend with Purdue’s strong shot making.

Virginia
#2 in the ACC
Preseason #18
Record: 30-6 (15-3)
Ryan Odom’s debut in Charlottesville was one of the best for a first year head coach in the country. The Cavaliers reinvented themselves through a high-octane offensive attack that ranked 25th in the country in efficiency, a stark departure from the program’s traditional identity.

Thijs De Ridder emerged as the breakout star of the conference, earning All-Conference honors with a 30-point explosion that etched his name alongside school legends. Freshman Chance Mallory proved himself as a perimeter terror with his relentless defensive pressure. The team’s offense flexed its muscles in a 19-point comeback victory over Notre Dame on a night where Virginia broke a nearly two-decade-long drought of scoring 100 points in an ACC game. After fending off Wright State in the Round of 64 with a late 15-3 surge, the Cavaliers were in a back and forth affair against Tennessee before cold shooting ended their season, despite leading much of the way.

Tier One

Duke
#1 in the ACC
Preseason #5
Record: 35-3 (17-1)
Duke began the offseason tasked with replacing an entire NBA bound starting five, yet Jon Scheyer’s squad managed to secure the top seed in the ACC and a top three team by leaning on the historic brilliance of Cameron Boozer. The freshman phenomenon dominated expectations, with an offensive rating of 124.46 that ranked fifth in the country while claiming virtually every individual accolade from Wooden Award frontrunner to Conference Player of the Year.

I’ve already got this clip from the Big East review, I might as well use it.

Alongside him, defensive specialist Maliq Brown provided the necessary grit to transform the Blue Devils into a high pressure on ball unit, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors for his efforts. After surviving an unprecedented scare against sixteen seeded Siena where they trailed by eleven points, and outlasting St. John’s in a Sweet Sixteen dogfight, Duke appeared destined for glory in an Elite Eight clash against UConn. They sprinted to a nineteen point halftime lead, but the advantage evaporated in a frantic second half. In a devastating conclusion that saw a two point lead vanish amidst a late turnover, Braylon Mullins silenced the Blue Devil faithful with a logo distance prayer with only fractions of a second remaining, abruptly ending a campaign that was mere moments away from the Final Four.

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That fifth tier explains why the conference struggled and sent only three teams to the tournament. More precisely, the issue is how large that tier is and how small the top four tiers are.

It was not a strong year for the conference’s depth. While DePaul is improving, Xavier had a first year head coach. Georgetown and Providence have not met expectations, while Marquette, Creighton and Butler all went through transitional seasons. It is unfortunate that so many down years happened at once.

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Tier Five

Xavier
#11 in the Big East
Preseason #64
Record: 15-18 (6-14)
Richard Pitino’s inaugural campaign at Xavier wasn’t expected to be one that bore immediate fruit. While the Musketeers are the lowest rated team in the Big East, they weren’t outside of a tier with the majority of the pack. Xavier ranked second in the conference in possessions, but this high tempo often exposed a defensive unit that sat near the bottom of the league with a 113.4 rating.

While the preseason loss of Gabriel Pozzato loomed large, Tre Carroll blossomed into a cornerstone, earning All-Conference honors by averaging 17.8 points and showcasing a versatile offensive game that nearly willed Xavier to a near overtime upset against Villanova. The team’s inability to protect the glass, ranking dead last in the conference in defensive rebounding gap, led to late-game collapses against St. John’s and Providence. Even with the emergence of sophomore Jovan Milicevic and the steady play of Filip Borovicanin, a catastrophic free throw rate that was the worst in the Big East made it nearly impossible to sustain momentum. Despite a surprising conference tournament win over Marquette, the season concluded with a humbling exit against UConn, with hopes that this is the least talented roster in the Pitino era.

Providence
#10 in the Big East
Preseason #100
Record: 15-18 (7-13)
Providence wasn’t projected to be much in the preseason, despite a high dollar roster and some big name transfers. After barely missing the NCAA Tournament in his first season, the Kim English Era in Providence hasn’t gone right, with the last two season posting double digit conference losses. While it was a strong close to the season after a horrid 2-9 start in league play, the team’s defense usually held their offense back.

The Friars had an offense that ranked near the top of the league in adjusted efficiency, fueled by the arrival of UCF transfer Jaylen Sellers, whose 18.3 points per game and lethal perimeter stroke earned him All-Conference honors. He was flanked by a pair of electric freshmen in Jamier Jones and Stefan Vaaks, both of whom secured All-Freshman nods for their ability to stretch defenses and finish above the rim. While the team struggled with a defensive rating that sat at the bottom of the conference and frequently fell victim to a lack of elite rim protection, they remained a nightmare to guard, specifically during a heartbreaking overtime thriller against UConn where Corey Floyd Jr. narrowly missed a regulation game-winner. Even with the Friars scoring among the best in the conference, a lack of ball pressure and hot perimeter shooting from their opponents limited this team’s ceiling.


DePaul
#9 in the Big East
Preseason #94
Record: 16-16 (8-12)
Chris Holtman’s second year at DePaul was defined by a gritty competitive evolution, as the Blue Demons successfully shed their reputation as a Big East cellar dweller, winning eight games in the conference, their highest total since 2007. The Blue Demons became a genuine spoiler in many games. The team showcased a modernized offense that ranked top 40 nationally in assist rate, powered by the creative backcourt tandem of Layden Blocker and CJ Gunn. Gunn remained a high-volume perimeter threat, while Blocker’s vision helped elevate senior big man NJ Benson into one of the most efficient interior scorers in the country with a 121.17 TS+1.

Perhaps the most cathartic moment for the Lincoln Park faithful was a 13-0 second-half blitz against Seton Hall, a run that effectively extinguished the Pirates’ postseason hopes by holding them without a field goal for nearly ten minutes. Though the year ended with a narrow, frustrating three-point loss in the conference tournament after a backcourt foul in the closing seconds, the transformation from a bottom-ten true shooting team to a dangerous, high-passing unit suggests Holtman has finally established a viable foundation for DePaul’s resurgence.

Creighton
#8 in the Big East
Preseason #37
Record: 15-17 (9-11)
Creighton entered the winter with the burden of top forty expectations, yet it was evident that they were a one trick pony without Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Bluejays continued to lean into a system that led the Big East in three point attempt rate, a strategy that peaked during a stunning road clinic against UConn where they connected on nearly half of their attempts from deep.

While Josh Dix and Howard transfer Blake Harper provided the efficient scoring punch promised in the preseason, the absence of a healthy Owen Freeman for significant stretches left the defense vulnerable, ranking a disappointing eighth in the conference in defensive efficiency, missing their four time Big East DPOY. A lack of a true defensive anchor manifested in frustrating collapses, most notably a blown sixteen point lead against Seton Hall and a pair of head scratching losses to last place DePaul. Despite individual heroics like Austin Swartz’s game winning put back against Xavier, the squad struggled to find easy points, finishing with the lowest free throw rate in the conference and a shot volume index that sat near the basement of the league. Greg McDermott’s final group fell to West Virginia in the college basketball crown.

Georgetown
#7 in the Big East
Preseason #71
Record: 16-18 (6-14)
Georgetown went on two separate six plus game losing streaks that completely disrupted a season that looked promising at points. Posting a road win against Maryland, as well as a home win against Clemson en route to a 5-0 start, this looked like the time Ed Cooley might be turning the program around. This wasn’t the case, as while the Hoyas closed the season well with a semifinal appearance in the Big East semifinals and a win against Villanova in the quarterfinals, there was too much poor play in the middle for this to truly be seen as the season it was during its best points.

All-Conference selections KJ Lewis and Caleb Williams led a relentless downhill attack that prioritized the rim and the charity stripe, helping the team rank 119th nationally in free throw rate. However, the offense frequently became one-dimensional due to a dismal 31.86% mark from beyond the arc, which sat near the bottom of the Big East and forced lead guard Malik Mack to navigate increasingly congested lanes. There was some impressive play from Vincent Iwuchukwu, who truly found a home in DC, providing a crucial interior anchor. This was a better two point defense team than they have been in years past. Year four will need to be better all the way through for people to be convinced of a Hoya revival.


Marquette
#6 in the Big East
Preseason #53
Record: 12-20 (7-13)
Shaka Smart’s season had what they’ll hope is the worst in the Smart era, as well as one that they can learn from. While the Golden Eagles remained a nightmare for opposing ball-handlers, ranking among the top twenty teams in the country in steal rate, their offensive rhythm was often disrupted by a perimeter clip of just 31.8%. In addition to this, the Golden Eagles quite simply lacked the finishing that would support their high volume assault of the basket.

All-Defensive anchor Chase Ross served as the program’s heartbeat, but even he shot under 50% from the interior. Freshman guard Nigel James Jr. emerged as a high-volume scoring threat with over 16 points per game, but finishing was an issue for him as well. The team’s most encouraging development was the craftiness of rookie big man Royce Parham and the spacing provided by Ben Gold. Though a seventh-place finish in the Big East was lower than projected, a win against UConn indicated that this was a better team than the numbers would suggest.

Butler
#5 in the Big East
Preseason #48
Record: 16-16 (7-13)
Thad Matta’s fourth year in his second stint with Butler had some highs and lows, as after a 4-5 start with some strong showings, a six game losing streak was an ugly blemish in this season of play. This wasn’t the most efficient offense, though we did get some strong high volume play from Michael Ajayi, as predicted in the preseason. Unfortunately, he shot only 26% from the perimeter and made less than half of his attempted two point shots, making the offense overall not as efficient as Matta might’ve expected when constructing the roster.

Jalen Jackson was missed, as the guard who was expected to be the engine of the offense played just six games. This led to Azavier Robinson being thrust into play, but after he was injured in February, the season was basically over. Despite failing to reach the preseason of top three in the league, projected by the computers, you can’t blame the Bulldogs based on what the team became by the end of the year.

Tier Four

Seton Hall
#4 in the Big East
Preseason #90
Record: 21-12 (10-10)
Shaheen Holloway did just about the most anyone could’ve done with the roster that he had. Seton Hall was picked 9th in the preseason, a ranking that was even higher than most other rankings, where he was largely seen as having the worst team in the league. This was a roster that was dragged to a 4th-place finish and a 20 win season when losing 20 games was seen as the more likely outcome.

The Pirates played a brand of basketball that was beautiful in its sheer persistence, ranking 25th nationally in defensive efficiency and punishing teams with a full-court press that forced opponents to labor deep into every possession. The offensive end, on the other hand, would be difficult to define as beautiful. They survived on a diet of free throws and interior toughness rather than the long ball, a necessity given their 362nd-place ranking in three-point attempt rate. Adam Clark was the heartbeat of this transformation, proving his Merrimack pedigree translated perfectly to the high-major level by sweeping All-Conference and All-Defensive honors. From Najai Hines sinking a gutsy freshman game-winner to stun Creighton to a defensive masterclass featuring 13 blocks in a road win at Butler, the Pirates proved they deserved more respect than they received in the preseason.

Tier Three

Villanova
#3 in the Big East
Preseason #98
Record: 24-9 (15-5)
Villanova didn’t enter the season with big time hopes at making the NCAA Tournament, but through steady play and winning games they should’ve won, they were comfortably a tournament team, even without the flashiest of resumes. Under the new leadership of Kevin Willard, the Wildcats shed their preseason projected rank of 98 to finish top 40, driven by an offensive engine that ranked 14th nationally in efficiency. This success was predicated on a relentless barrage from deep, as the team ranked 55th in the country in three-point attempt rate.

Willard is a funny guy

Tyler Perkins, the Big East Most Improved Player, was the catalyst for this identity, maintaining an incredible eight-game streak of 15-plus points to realize Villanova’s tournament hopes. While senior Devin Askew provided a stabilizing hand as the Sixth Man of the Year, the spotlight often belonged to freshman sensation Acaden Lewis, who delivered a cold-blooded performance in his Washington D.C. homecoming against Georgetown to secure a vital road win. In the NCAA Tournament after surging to a double-digit second-half lead against Utah State, the Wildcats’ lack of interior depth and a late-game shooting freeze saw them outscored by 12 in the final six minutes. Despite the sting of that early exit and bottom tier free-throw percentage in conference play that hinted at closing-time vulnerabilities, the season proved that Villanova has successfully recalibrated.

Tier Two

St. John’s
#2 in the Big East
Preseason #7
Record: 30-7 (18-2)
Rick Pitino’s team was picked top 10 in the preseason, and while this wasn’t the dominating team they were picked to be for the entirety of the season, making it to the second weekend provided a bit of validation. The Red Storm operated with a suffocating defensive identity that ranked 27th in the country, fueled by the historic dominance of Zuby Ejiofor. The Big East Player and Defensive Player of the Year was a force of nature in the paint, leading the conference in rebounding and pairing with Dillon Mitchell to form an interior wall that few teams could scale. The season’s definitive moment arrived at Madison Square Garden, where St. John’s shattered UConn’s 18-game winning streak, signaling to the college basketball world that the program had officially reclaimed the spotlight. This also felt like a turning point in St. John’s season.

This shot felt good before it even left his hand.

After a 4-3 start to the season, this was their first truly nationally relevant victory. The roster was loaded with transfer portal gems like Dylan Darling, who etched his name into Queens folklore with a buzzer-beating drive to topple Kansas in the second round. The return of Bryce Hopkins was also an important return, who played a versatile point-forward role after years of injury frustration, Hopkins provided the veteran composure that led the team to a Big East Tournament and regular season title. Though their run ended in a heartbreaking Sweet 16 battle against Duke where Darling’s final attempt fell just short, there is little to be disappointed with when looking at the entire season.

Tier One

Connecticut
#1 in the Big East
Preseason #14
Record: 34-6 (17-3)
The Huskies proved that reports of their demise following a failed three-peat were greatly exaggerated, recalibrating under Dan Hurley to make it back to the National Championship game. Three championship games in four seasons, a mark that we haven’t see in decades would’ve felt sweeter had UConn held off Michigan, but this is still quite the accomplishment. Solo Ball had a rough shooting season, just barely sneaking above the Mendoza line and getting into 30% from three from the season after making six threes in the Final Four. Despite these struggles from the perimeter, this was a far more efficient season in the paint. Paired next to Silas Demary, this was a backcourt that quite simply worked. Between toughness, defense and experience, Demary was a perfect transfer to add to the rotation.

The last exciting (non NIT) game of the season.

Alex Karaban provided the veteran poise necessary to navigate a grueling conference slate, becoming the winningest player in the history of the program, pairing UConn’s impressive four year stretch with his four seasons in college. The defining story of the year, however, was the interior dominance of Tarris Reed Jr., who etched his name into the history books with a Herculean 30-point, 25-rebound effort against Furman in the Round of 64. This physical identity allowed UConn to secure their first-ever road win at Kansas and survive a Sweet 16 dogfight against Michigan State where Reed’s clutch free throws sealed the deal. The season reached a fever pitch in an Elite Eight thriller against Duke; despite trailing by as many as 19, the Huskies clawed back to take a lead on a legendary logo shot by freshman Braylon Mullins with less than a second remaining. UConn didn’t have much issue against Illinois, but fell to Michigan last Monday, ending their season, and their hope at three titles in four seasons. UConn’s ability to pair a top-twenty defense with a top-ten Shot Volume Index ensured they remained the gold standard of the Big East.

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This continues a clear trend in the A-10. Since 2018, the conference has functioned as a one-bid league, with occasional bid thieves. No team has received an at-large bid in that span without winning the conference tournament.

There was a bid thief in 2024, but the league sent only one team in 2023 and 2025. Loyola Chicago still has not reached the NCAA Tournament since joining the A-10. Several teams have come close, but without winning the conference tournament, close has not been enough.

Tier Six

Loyola Chicago
#14 in the A10
Preseason #63
Record: 9-24 (4-14)
Loyola Chicago began the season with the lofty expectations of a second place preseason rank in the Atlantic 10, but that optimism quickly disintegrated into a defensive nightmare. Despite the elite rim protection of Miles Rubin, the Ramblers fell into the 300s nationally, a complete shock compared to what the team was projected at in the preseason, and has been in recent years. This was brought on due to a staggering 336th nationally in defensive efficiency, largely due to a perimeter defense that ranked 350th in the country by allowing opponents to torch them from deep. Of course, with Rubin in the middle, this remained a strong team anchoring the defensive paint, with a much better two point than three point defense.

The campaign was defined by unforced errors and stagnant stretches against zone looks, as the team’s turnover rate plummeted to 341st in the nation. While players like Justin Moore and Deywilk Tavarez flashed occasional brilliance, they were often neutralized by a catastrophic lack of rebounding and a shot volume index that sat near the bottom of the conference. This was a season that was over before it really began, with the buzzer beating win to open the year against Cleveland State the last time Loyola was in the top 100 in any metric.

La Salle
#13 in the A10
Preseason #199
Record: 9-23 (5-13)
The transition to the Darris Nichols era proved to be a steep climb as La Salle navigated a season defined by shooting droughts and defensive hurdles. The Explorers struggled to manufacture points with any consistency, finishing 330th in the nation in offensive rating and 14th in the A10. While Nichols hoped to modernize the attack, the team languished at 355th in the country in three point percentage, connecting on a dismal 29.61% of their looks.

This lack of floor spacing was painfully evident during a rough non conference slate highlighted by a 27 point blowout at Temple and a staggering 52 point loss to Michigan. However, the grit of Philadelphia basketball occasionally surfaced to produce genuine highlights. The Explorers pulled off a signature home upset over Dayton and managed a season sweep of Rhode Island, providing glimpses of their competitive ceiling. Rob Dockery anchored the offense with 12.5 points per game while Ashton Walker provided a much needed spark for the future, earning a spot on the A10 All Freshman Team. Despite these individual bright spots, the defensive end remained a liability. La Salle ranked 301st nationally in defensive rating and struggled to protect the glass, finishing 13th in the conference in defensive rebounding gap. This is a team that has been effectively rebuilding the last decade, but hopefully this is a move in the right direction.

Tier Five

St. Bonaventure
#12 in the A10
Preseason #89
Record: 17-17 (4-14)
St. Bonaventure’s season was a tale of two vastly different chapters, beginning with a non-conference blitz that suggested Mark Schmidt’s squad might exceed its preseason projection of 89th. They secured an impressive road victory against Florida Atlantic and dominated the likes of Bradley and Youngstown State, fueled by elite perimeter accuracy that eventually settled at 24th in the country at 37.57%. However, once Atlantic 10 play commenced, the Bonnies’ notoriously narrow rotation began to fray under the pressure of the conference grind. This is the second straight year that we have seen such a pattern play out, as the Bonnies got out to a 10-1 start this season, and a 14-1 start last season, though performed much worse in conference play. Part of this may be based on a team that lacked depth, with a bottom 15 bench utilization in the nation meant the team fell apart late into the season.

Despite the heroic interior presence of All-Conference selection Frank Mitchell, who averaged 16.3 points and anchored the glass, the defensive unit languished at 12th in the conference with a defensive rating of 110.65. Daryl Simmons II proved to be the microwave scorer promised, leading the team with 16.4 points per game and providing a lethal shooting punch alongside Cayden Charles. While they found some solace in the A10 Tournament by dismantling La Salle and edging out George Mason, a narrow exit against Dayton capped a year where statistical brilliance from deep could not mask defensive inconsistencies.

Richmond
#11 in the A10
Preseason #116
Record: 15-17 (5-13)
Richmond entered the year determined to shed the weight of recent struggles, and for a fleeting two month stretch, they appeared to have succeeded. Chris Mooney’s squad sprinted through a promising non conference slate, highlighted by a gritty road victory at Belmont and a resilient overtime win against Southern Illinois. Starting out 13-5, it was considered that the Spiders had largely been misjudged, though their A10 play saw many of the same concerns raised in the preseason.

Maine transfer AJ Lopez translated his scoring prowess to the Atlantic 10 with 13.4 points per game, while freshman Aiden Argabright injected life into the backcourt with an All Freshman campaign defined by his fearlessness at the charity stripe. However, as the schedule shifted to a rigorous conference grind, the team’s inability to control the glass became a fatal flaw. Ranking a dismal 331st in the nation in offensive rebounding gap, the Spiders often found themselves limited to one and done possessions, regardless of Michael Walz’s facilitating or Will Johnston’s outside shooting. Even with the defensive tenacity of Jaden Daughtry, who earned All Defensive honors, the Spiders could not overcome a slide that included a humbling loss to lowly Loyola Chicago in the conference tournament. This rounded out a four game losing streak to end their season, which had followed a six game losing streak earlier in the year. While the Spiders had the three point shooting to contend, they were a bit of a one trick pony, making their glimmer not last for long.

Tier Four

Fordham
#10 in the A10
Preseason #134
Record: 17-15 (8-10)
Under the first year of Mike Magpayo, Fordham established a defensive grit that few in the Atlantic 10 could match, though a historically stagnant offense eventually anchored their ceiling. For a coach with a program that has historically struggled to compete with their conference peers resource-wise, a defensive intensity was often easier to afford, while offense came second. The Rams forged an elite identity on the less glamorous end of the floor, finishing with a defensive rating that ranked 52nd in the country while holding opponents to the 30th lowest true shooting percentage nationally.

This defensive prowess kept the Bronx faithful engaged even when the basket seemed to have a lid on it for the home team. Offensively, the season was far grimmer as the program languished at 358th in the nation in both three point percentage and free throw rate, making every point feel like a monumental struggle. DeJour Reaves acted as the solitary beacon of scoring efficiency, earning All Conference honors while averaging 17.9 points per game as the only reliable perimeter threat. While Zarique Nutter provided an interior presence and Christian Henry attempted to organize the attack, the team’s inability to space the floor or draw fouls resulted in a disappointing 12th place conference finish. The campaign began on a low note with a humbling home loss to NJIT, but the squad showed real resilience, going on a four game winning streak to get back into a competitive place in the league. Magpayo’s debut offers a clear identity to build upon.

Rhode Island
#9 in the A10
Preseason #145
Record: 16-16 (7-11)
Archie Miller hasn’t won more than seven conference games in any of his first four seasons in Kingston. This season saw a shift, the slowest pace his team has played at, as well as the best offense since arriving back in the A10. Rhode Island transformed into a fortified unit, boasting the 68th best defensive rating in the nation and the fifth best in a rigorous Atlantic 10. This identity was personified by Tyler Cochran, who anchored the unit as the conference Defensive Player of the Year while providing a versatile 15.4 points per game.

The definitive peak of the campaign arrived in a moment of pure catharsis against Saint Louis, where the Rams snapped the Billikens’ 18 game winning streak. Jonah Hinton etched his name into the conference’s lore that night, tying a program record with 10 three pointers in a performance that briefly suggested the Rams could topple the league’s elite. However, the offense was often its own worst enemy, languishing at 286th nationally in efficiency. A catastrophic 14.56 percent turnover rate, which ranked near the absolute bottom of the country at 337th, frequently undermined a unit that struggled with floor spacing and a 324th ranked perimeter percentage of 31.09. It seems so far that no matter his attempt, Archie Miller is stuck with a mediocre unit, on either end of the court.


Duquesne
#8 in the A10
Preseason #115
Record: 18-15 (9-9)
Duquesne’s second year under Dru Joyce III landed them right in the middle of the league with a 9-9 record. The middle of conference play just about defined the season, as after a five game winning streak including a road win against George Mason, the Dukes went on a four game losing streak. This was a bottom third perimeter defense in the A10, allowing for volatility to define many of their stretches of play.

This is best defined in a loss against Saint Louis, wherein the Billikens hit 16 threes. Though this wasn’t a unit that allowed a high volume of threes, a combination of issues between a lack of length, speed on the perimeter or communication on closeouts led to a number that was difficult to overcome in many games. The season’s narrative was often built on dramatic extremes: the team suffered a staggering collapse after blowing a 21 point lead to Queens, only to respond later in the year with a historic 30 point comeback against Richmond that stood as the program’s largest since 2018. Tarence Guinyard and Jimmie Williams emerged as the primary engines of an offense that posted a 111.4 rating, with Guinyard evolving into a high-volume, efficient threat from the perimeter. Defensive concerns proved fatal in the A10 Tournament; after a gritty opening win over Rhode Island, the Dukes couldn’t contain VCU, ending a season characterized by resilient rallies and flashes of high-octane scoring.

Tier Three

George Mason
#7 in the A10
Preseason #85
Record: 23-10 (11-7)
Tony Skinn’s second year at George Mason was a tale of two seasons defined by a meticulous, grinding pace that initially looked like a blueprint for Atlantic 10 dominance. The Patriots operated at one of the slowest tempos in the country, ranking 352nd in possessions, but they used that deliberate style to suffocate opponents during a scorching non-conference run highlighted by impressive wins over Florida Atlantic and James Madison. This early success was fueled by the emergence of All-Conference selections Kory Mincy and Riley Allenspach.

Mincy provided the backcourt grit while Allenspach proved to be a versatile weapon as a shooting big man. Tactically, George Mason was elite at controlling the charity stripe; they ranked top 40 in free throw rate and free throw rate allowed, showcasing a level of defensive discipline rarely seen in the mid-major ranks. However, the momentum that built up during a nearly flawless December faded as the calendar turned. Despite a signature win over VCU in January, the Patriots struggled with consistency down the stretch and finished 7th in the conference. A 18-1 start faded quickly into 5-9 for the rest of the season, a tough pill to swallow in a year that began so promisingly.

George Washington
#6 in the A10
Preseason #59
Record: 19-15 (8-10)
The Revolutionaries entered the season as the Atlantic 10’s preseason darlings, with the talent on the roster to back up that claim. At their peak, George Washington boasted a top 30 offense in the country, a high-octane machine fueled by the interior dominance of Rafael Castro and the perimeter volume of Tre Dinkins.

Castro was a statistical marvel, drawing fouls at a rate that rivaled nearly anyone in college basketball, but his late-January injury proved to be the season’s inflection point. Without their All-Conference anchor, a recurring turnover problem and a defensive unit that languished at 106th nationally finally caught up to them, triggering a mid-season slide that surrendered their grip on the conference lead. The heartbreak was codified in their matchups with Saint Louis, first falling to a Robbie Avila game-winner and finally seeing their postseason dreams evaporate after surrendering a staggering 21-point lead. Despite the individual hardware for Castro and a respectable finish in the A10, the inability to protect double-digit cushions or protect the rim without their star leaves a lingering sense of unfulfilled potential for a roster that was once the class of the league.

Davidson
#5 in the A10
Preseason #160
Record: 20-14 (10-8)
Davidson entered the winter written off as a rebuilding project after losing its entire starting lineup, yet Matt McKillop’s squad shattered their preseason conference projection of 13th to finish a defiant 5th in the Atlantic 10. The primary catalyst for this climb to a 99th national computer ranking was a defensive unit that sat 85th in efficiency, famously stifling Boston College to under 50 points during an early November statement win.

While the offense occasionally grappled with turnover sloppiness, the Wildcats established a distinct identity through a high-volume perimeter attack led by Roberts Blums and Parker Friedrichsen, the latter of whom connected on nearly 41% of his attempts. The roster’s remarkable depth was on full display as Devin Brown earned All-Freshman honors and Spanish newcomer Ian Platteeuw anchored a relentless gang rebounding philosophy. This was the second top 90 defense for the second time in the (junior) McKillop era, and a slower pace seems to be the most effective way for this team to play moving forward.

Tier Two

Saint Joseph’s
#4 in the A10
Preseason #107
Record: 23-11 (13-5)
The Steve Donahue era at Saint Joseph’s began under the sudden shadow of a coaching carousel, yet the Hawks emerged as one of the most disciplined and resilient units in the Atlantic 10. The program built its identity on a bedrock of defensive excellence anchored by Justice Ajogbor.

As the conference Defensive Player of the Year, Ajogbor led a unit that ranked 60th nationally in defensive efficiency with a stifling 102.8 rating. While the offense occasionally grappled with a 276th ranked three point percentage of 31.47 percent, the Hawks remained a nightmare for opponents because of their impressive turnover gap. This wasn’t the flashiest of teams, but on the offensive end, simply preventing mistakes was enough to win 24 games. Despite a season ending loss to VCU in the conference tournament, the Hawks secured a top five finish in the A10 and fully validated the promotion of Donahue.

Dayton
#3 in the A10
Preseason #68
Record: 24-11 (12-6)
Dayton went on a five game winning streak, lost four straight, and later in the season, won six consecutive games. This was indicative of their abilities to win against anyone and lose to anyone. With losses to La Salle and Rhode Island, but (two) victories against Saint Louis and at George Mason, this was a frustrating season at times. The Flyers reestablished their perimeter precision, highlighted by gritty overtime triumphs against Marquette and Georgetown.

Perimeter aggression aggression allowed them to finish 11th nationally in free throw rate, key in a season where they had tough stretches at times. Javon Bennett emerged as a cornerstone for the program, earning All-Conference honors alongside De’Shayne Montgomery, while Keonte Jones provided the defensive spark that allowed the Flyers to navigate tight possessions late in the clock. The postseason provided a glimpse of their potential when Amaël L’Etang secured an All-Freshman nod and delivered a legendary putback to stun Saint Louis and vault the Flyers into the conference championship game. Even though they fell short against VCU in the finale, the Flyers proved their resilience by blending an experience rotation with the ability to beat just about anybody.

Tier One

VCU
#2 in the A10
Preseason #72
Record: 28-7 (15-3)
Phil Martelli Jr. didn’t just maintain the status quo at VCU; he amplified the program’s reputation as an Atlantic 10 powerhouse, steering the Rams to a top 50 national ranking and a second-place conference finish. The team’s identity was forged in a relentless, full-court defensive pressure that forced opponents into uncomfortable possessions, while their own offensive efficiency surged to 46th in the country with a 118.9 rating. The season’s defining chapter unfolded in the NCAA Tournament against North Carolina, where the Rams authored the largest comeback in Round of 64 history.

Trailing by 19 and appearing left for dead, VCU ignited a 19-5 run to force overtime, eventually seizing the victory behind a clutch three-pointer from Terrence Hill Jr. While they couldn’t replicate that magic in a Round of 32 loss to Illinois, the individual accolades told the story of a balanced, high-ceiling roster: Nyk Lewis secured Rookie of the Year and All-Freshman honors, Lazar Djokovic earned an All-Conference nod for his three-level scoring, and Brandon Jennings anchored the defense as an All-Defensive selection. Between Jadrian Tracey’s transformation into a reliable starter and weakside rim protection of Djokovic, VCU proved that their “springboard” status is built on a foundation of elite execution and an unbreakable competitive spirit.

Saint Louis
#1 in the A10
Preseason #77
Record: 29-5 (15-3)
Under the masterful guidance of Josh Schertz, Saint Louis transformed from a preseason curiosity into the undisputed champions of the Atlantic 10. The Billikens didn’t just win; they overwhelmed, weaponizing an offensive rating of 122.2 that ranked 14th in the country and first in the conference. The Billikens had a top 12 rating in both three point and two point efficiency. This, combined with a top three shooting defense nationally meant when the team got an equal number of shots to their opponent, they’d both win and dominate.

At the heart of this juggernaut was Robbie Avila, the Player of the Year whose unique blend of guard skills and post dominance saw him average nearly 13 points while serving as the league’s premier passing big man. The regular season was defined by a record-breaking home winning streak and a nearly unblemished conference run, highlighted by a 20-2 blitz against VCU early in league play and a dramatic buzzer-beating three from Avila to stun George Washington. Even when faced with adversity, such as a 21-point hole against those same Revolutionaries in the tournament quarterfinals, the Billikens authored the largest comeback in program history to survive. While a heartbreaking putback by Dayton in the semifinals eventually halted their pursuit of a conference tournament title, their body of work secured a well-deserved at-large bid. After dismantling Georgia by 25 points in the Round of 64, the Billikens finally ran out of gas against Michigan in the Round of 32.

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The two closest contenders, New Mexico and San Diego State, likely needed to steal a bid to get in, probably as an 11 seed. That is a sharp contrast from just two years ago, when the league earned six bids.

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The Mountain West still ranked sixth nationally in KenPom, despite limited NCAA Tournament representation. The gap between fifth and sixth was wider than usual this season, and there is typically another drop between sixth and seventh. That separation often gives teams in this range more room to land in the top 40, rather than slipping toward the 60s and NIT territory.

This season should not overshadow how strong and entertaining the league has been since 2022, when it earned at least four bids each year until now. Utah State also stood out by exceeding expectations, winning its first round game and putting together a more competitive performance against a one seed than most recent 8 or 9 seed teams from the conference.

Tier Six

Air Force
#12 in the Mountain West
Preseason #305
Record: 3-29 (0-20)
Air Force spent much of the winter searching for an identity that could survive life after Ethan Taylor, but the transition proved to be a grueling exercise in growing pains. After winning just a single conference game last year, the Falcons were even worse this season, losing their final 25 games of the season, going winless in league play.

The Falcons were frequently betrayed by their own lack of touch, converting a dismal 30.37% of their looks from beyond the arc. This inability to find a rhythm cratered an offense that finished 363rd nationally in rating, leaving Kam Sanders and Lucas Hobin to shoulder a massive scoring burden with very little relief. While early non-conference victories over Alabama State and IU Indy provided brief moments of optimism, getting out to a 3-4 start was the highlight of the season. Their defensive rating plummeted to 359th in the nation, putting up bottom 15 showings against both two and three point shooters. Losing their head coach based on concerns of treatment of his team was the cherry on top of a miserable year in Colorado Springs.

Tier Five

San Jose St.
#11 in the Mountain West
Preseason #173
Record: 9-24 (3-17)
San Jose State’s season was a fight between an offense that was the second best in the Tim Miles era and a defense that ranked as his worst. Despite a top-100 national ranking in three-point accuracy at over 35 percent, the Spartans could never fully capitalize on their range due to a defensive unit that sat at the absolute bottom of the country.

The team frequently found itself in high-scoring shootouts than might be predicated on their bottom 60 pace nationally. A bottom 10 defensive rebounding unit was the thorn in their side in many games, unable to end possessions, begetting a bottom five two point defense, with putbacks and other high percentage looks often available. This was still a strong offensive unit, with Colby Garland emerging as a legitimate star. He averaged over 20 points per game and securing an All-Conference selection as the engine of the offense. This offense led to a stunning of Boise State in the conference tournament opener, a high-water mark that briefly validated the potential of their transfer-heavy roster.

Tier Four

Fresno St.
#10 in the Mountain West
Preseason #243
Record: 13-19 (7-13)
Fresno State defied the grim preseason projections that had them buried at 243rd nationally, climbing over a hundred spots to finish as a persistent thorn in the side of the Mountain West. This was a group that was debated alongside Air Force as the worst team in the Mountain West. While Air Force was truly miserable, Fresno State moved up in the ranks. While the offense often sputtered to a league-worst 105.78 rating, the Bulldogs reinvented themselves through a gritty defensive identity that surprisingly ranked fifth in the conference.

Jake Heidbreder acted as the undisputed engine of this resurgence, earning All-Conference honors by pairing his lethal perimeter gravity with a crafty downhill game that kept opposing defenses honest. Even with freshman DeShawn Gory providing athletic bursts above the rim, the team’s high turnover rate and a bottom-tier shot volume index frequently undermined their aggressive tempo. Ultimately, their campaign ended in a gut-wrenching four point loss to Colorado State in the conference tournament, a final testament to a group that played with immense heart but could not quite shoot their way past their own technical limitations.


Wyoming
#9 in the Mountain West
Preseason #136
Record: 18-15 (9-11)
Sundance Wicks orchestrated a significant climb for the Cowboys, guiding a roster once viewed as a transitional group to a team within the top 100 at KenPom. While preseason prognostications pinned Wyoming at 136th, a much improved offense saw a unit that was very strong on the boards on both sides of the ball. Ranking top 60 in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate, this was key for a team that didn’t shoot the ball particularly well. Last season under Wicks had flashes of this, with a strong defensive rebounding team that struggled on the offensive end, but this year’s team put it all together.

The Pokes surged to 96th on the back of an offense that was as efficient as it was aggressive, finishing fourth in the Mountain West in offensive rating. Leland Walker steered the ship with 13.7 points per game, but the supporting cast provided the necessary punch to keep the Cowboys competitive in a gauntlet of a conference. Khaden Bennett and Damarion Dennis offered consistency from the perimeter, while freshman Abou Magassa provided elite efficiency in the paint. Despite defensive lapses that saw the Cowboys rank 216th in the country for defensive rating, they proved they could hang with the league’s best by toppling Nevada and rival Colorado State at home.

UNLV
#8 in the Mountain West
Preseason #92
Record: 18-16 (11-9)
Josh Pastner’s debut season in Las Vegas highlighted a team that could beat and just to just about anyone. The defensive vulnerability of this unit, a big time fouling squad, and one that allowed teams to shoot as well from the perimeter just as well as they did was reason for this volatility. Led by the scoring brilliance of All-Conference guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who scorched opponents for 20.7 points per game, UNLV leaned into a breakneck pace that ranked 69th nationally, which had its positives and its negatives.

While the offense frequently hummed to the tune of a 112.4 rating, the defense struggled to stay in front of anyone, languishing at 260th in the country for efficiency. The season functioned as a pendulum of extremes; the Rebels suffered baffling home losses to UT Martin and Montana early on, only to prove their high ceiling with impressive road victories over Memphis and Stanford. Within the conference, they flashed elite potential by sweeping Boise State and dismantling Utah State on the road, but a persistent lack of interior presence left them 243rd in defensive rebounding gap. Despite the offensive fireworks, the Rebels were unable to find the defensive stops necessary to climb the standings, ultimately falling to Utah State in the conference tournament to finish right about where they were projected.

Tier Three

Colorado St.
#7 in the Mountain West
Preseason #87
Record: 21-13 (11-9)
Colorado State’s first campaign under Ali Farokhmanesh was a high-stakes fireworks display that saw the Rams finish with top 10 nationally in three point accuracy and top 20 nationally in three point attempt rate. The Rams operated with a surgical offensive efficiency that led the Mountain West in True Shooting. Jevin Muniz anchored the backcourt with All-Conference poise, facilitating a lethal rotation of shooters like Josh Pascarelli and sophomore Kyle Jorgensen.

Yet, for all their offensive brilliance, the Rams were a classic glass cannon, as a defensive rating that slumped to 265th nationally. Part of the team’s issue was their turnover gap, often losing the shot volume battle due to a dependency on scoring on the looks they got, rather than creating additional looks of their own. It was a season defined by elite firepower and defensive volatility, leaving Fort Collins with the bittersweet reality of a nationally ranked offense that just couldn’t find enough stops to reach the mountaintop.

Nevada
#6 in the Mountain West
Preseason #79
Record: 23-12 (12-8)
Nevada entered the year facing a total identity crisis after losing four of its top five scorers, yet the Wolf Pack managed to carve out a remarkably resilient campaign that mirrored its preseason projections. The Wolf Pack relied on a physical and disciplined brand of basketball that prioritized ball security and sheer force. While they largely ignored the three point line, ranking a lowly 325th in attempt rate, they were devastatingly efficient when they did let it fly, hitting 36.07% of their looks from deep.

The true hallmark of this team was a relentless aggression toward the rim. They finished second in the entire country in free throw rate, a testament to the interior presence of Elijah Price, who deservedly earned All-Conference and All-Defensive honors. The season was punctuated by moments of pure grit, such as the blistering 13-0 run to stun Colorado State at home and a hard fought postseason victory over Grand Canyon. Though their journey ended in the Mountain West tournament at the hands of Utah State, Nevada proved that a disciplined, old school approach to limiting turnovers, ranking 57th nationally, can keep a rebuilding program remarkably competitive in a cutthroat conference.

Boise St.
#5 in the Mountain West
Preseason #57
Record: 20-12 (12-8)
Boise State’s season was paradoxical in many ways. While this was a team that ranked top 80 in both offensive and defensive adjusted efficiency, it was done in a variety of manners. On the offensive end, this was a quality shooting team, and a good, not great offensive rebounding unit. The defensive end was a completely different story. A top three defensive rebounding team in the nation made up for a team that allowed teams to shoot at a rate which was in the bottom quadrant of the conference.

This unique style of play is what led to a 1-5 start to conference play, a loss to non-Division I Hawaii Pacific, and eventually, a top five unit in the Mountain West, despite the early season struggles. Powered by a free throw rate that ranked 36th in the country, things came together eventually, though it was too little, too late, as a 12-8 record in the Mountain West was simply not good enough to be in the at large conversation this season. Sophomore Drew Fielder blossomed into an All-Conference force, while Javan Buchanan and Dylan Andrews provided veteran grit. The journey reached a frustrating conclusion with an early exit in the conference tournament to San Jose State, punctuating a year where the Broncos’ high octane potential was ultimately tethered by their inability to secure the big moments.

Tier Two

New Mexico
#4 in the Mountain West
Preseason #103
Record: 24-10 (13-7)
Replacing an entire roster (and coaching staff) that just knocked off a Big East team in the NCAA Tournament blood is usually a recipe for a transitional year, but Eric Olen had other plans for Albuquerque. The emergence of Jake Hall redefined the Mountain West record books as he delivered the greatest freshman scoring campaign the league has ever witnessed, propelling a squad picked to finish eighth in the preseason all the way to a third place conference finish.

New Mexico led the conference in pace, fueling a 115.51 offensive rating that consistently overwhelmed opponents. They weren’t just fast; they were dangerous, stacking high-profile non-conference wins against VCU and Mississippi State to solidify a ranking just out of the bubble picture. However, the ride was often a delicate balance, due to a perimeter defense that allowed a high volume of looks, ranking 358th in opponent three point attempt rate. This volatility combined with a struggle on the offensive glass often kept games closer than Olen would have liked. It all culminated in a Mountain West semifinal that served as a painful microcosm of the year. Despite the interior presence of Tomislav Buljan and the floor spacing of Antonio Chol, a flurry of missed free throws and a last-second BJ Davis bucket for San Diego State sent the Lobos home.

Grand Canyon
#3 in the Mountain West
Preseason #86
Record: 20-12 (13-7)
Grand Canyon’s baptism in the Mountain West was a strong showing, just outside of the top tier of the league. After losing Tyon Grant-Foster to the WCC, the program reinvented itself around the All-Conference brilliance of Jaden Henley, whose 17.7 points per game paced an offense that lived at the charity stripe. While the roster struggled mightily with perimeter shooting, ranking a lowly 304th nationally in three point percentage, they compensated with a defense that suffocated opponents to the tune of a 34th overall national efficiency ranking.

All-Defensive selection Nana Owusu-Anane provided the necessary muscle in the lane, while Makaih Williams etched his name into GCU lore by calmly sinking game winning free throws to topple San Diego State in front of a frenzied (as always) home crowd. This sweep of the perennial league powers highlighted a team that climbed from a preseason rank, getting up into the top three of the league. Though they were unable to make a run through the conference tournament, the Lopes feel at hope in their new league.

San Diego St.
#2 in the Mountain West
Preseason #42
Record: 22-11 (14-6)
San Diego State entered the year as the hunted, yet their path to a second-place conference finish was paved with uncharacteristic obstacles and defensive defiance. The preseason favorites stumbled early during a stretch where Magoon Gwath’s elite rim protection was sorely missed, highlighted by a baffling double-overtime collapse against Troy and a non-competitive showing against Michigan.

However, the Aztecs eventually found their footing behind the sheer athletic dominance of Miles Byrd, the conference Defensive Player of the Year who anchored a unit that held opponents to a 94.76 True Shooting+1 rating. The narrative of their season was written at the free-throw line, where BJ Davis experienced the cruelty of the stripe in a one-point heartbreak against Grand Canyon before flipping the script with a heroic game-winner to sink New Mexico in the conference tournament. Although a leaky defensive rebounding effort, which ranked a dismal 271st nationally, occasionally left them vulnerable to second-chance points, they remained a tactical nightmare for high-volume shooters. The Aztecs weren’t as strong top to bottom as we’ve come to expect, and they were just barely on the outside looking into the tournament picture.

Tier One

Utah St.
#1 in the Mountain West
Preseason #55
Record: 29-6 (15-5)
Utah State turned what was projected as a rebuilding year into a dominant championship campaign, defying a preseason number 55 ranking to claim the Mountain West crown. Jerrod Calhoun’s Aggies weaponized an efficient and precise offense that ranked 19th nationally in efficiency, characterized by a relentless 35.68% mark from deep and an aggressive willingness to launch early in the shot clock.

While in some games, their turnover margin was a liability, the Aggies compensated with a defensive philosophy rooted in disruption, leading the conference in deflections and leveraging the active hands of MJ Collins to stifle opponents. Mason Falslev emerged as the undisputed heartbeat of the roster, earning Player of the Year honors by pairing elite scoring with All-Defensive lockdown ability. The postseason showcased their championship mettle when they wiped away a late deficit against Villanova with a staggering 13-1 run to survive the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Though their journey ended in a hard fought battle against Arizona, the Aggies solidified their status as a national force, hopefully finding their coach for the future this offseason.

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Games between the two followed a familiar pattern. Gonzaga often struggled to match its usual scoring output, both in total points and points per possession, against Saint Mary’s disciplined approach.

The new Pac-12 will bring intriguing matchups, but it will take time to build the kind of history and identity this rivalry delivered.

Tier Five

Pepperdine
#12 in the WCC
Preseason #256
Record: 9-23 (4-14)
The Waves never got out of the basement in the Ed Schilling era, finishing 4-14 in both of his seasons in the WCC. His team was often hampered by a defensive rating of 114.9, a porous mark that sat at 326th in the country and frequently left the door open for conference opponents to exploit their interior gaps. With a paint defense that ranked bottom 50 nationally, and little on the offensive end to make up for it, this was a non-competitive team on many nights.

Despite those struggles, a resilient offensive identity took root through the leadership of Aaron Clark, whose 15.3 points per game and floor generalship kept the Waves competitive in several high scoring affairs. Sophomore Styles Phipps provided an impressive spark with 13.4 points per contest, though the team’s overall efficiency was often undermined by a true shooting percentage of 95.6, placing them among the bottom tier of the league. Their campaign ultimately met a cold end in the first round of the WCC Tournament against Portland, where an 11 point loss silenced a group that never had much of a chance to begin with.

Tier Four

San Diego
#11 in the WCC
Preseason #159
Record: 12-21 (5-13)
San Diego’s campaign was a mercurial ride that ultimately saw them slip from a hopeful preseason ranking of 159 down to a bottom two team in the league. While Steve Lavin’s squad flashed high level firepower in a thrilling 96-92 victory over Washington State, the fact that it was a close game while scoring 96 points defines their problem. Ranking bottom 10 nationally in two point defense, this was quite simply a team that lacked rim protection. Ranking in the 300s in average height, a noted concern in the preseason of their lack of a big man proved to rear its ugly head. The Toreros finished the year with a defensive rating that languished at 294th in the country.

Things were palatable on the offensive end, as Ty-Laur Johnson lived up to the transfer hype by anchoring the offense with 14.6 points per game, while Toneari Lane provided the veteran shooting presence the team craved. Unfortunately, those scoring efforts, as well as a shortened season from Johnson were frequently undercut by a defensive rebounding gap that ranked 342nd in the nation, giving opponents far too many second chances. It was a year of what-ifs, where a team with a strong backcourt didn’t have the size to contend on both ends of the court.

Portland
#10 in the WCC
Preseason #226
Record: 15-19 (6-12)
Predicted to be the cellar dwellers of the West Coast Conference after losing their entire scoring core, Portland spent the season navigating a tricky path, eventually finding their footing. Offense was the main issue for Shantay Legans after a few years of posting the worst defense in the league. A bottom 20 three point shooting team, as well as a unit which turned the ball over quite a bit, winning with this season’s team was quite different than that in year’s past.

Yet, amidst the offensive lapses, Joel Foxwell emerged as a premiere playmaker, highlighted by a stunning 15 assist performance against Santa Clara that helped earn him All-Conference honors. The height of their regular season arrived with a shocking 87 to 80 upset of Gonzaga, proving that Legans’ high octane system could still topple giants when the shots fell, as they won a 74 possession affair. Though it was just a six win conference season, a new era of the league should alter expectations moving forward.

Loyola Marymount
#9 in the WCC
Preseason #118
Record: 15-17 (6-12)
Loyola Marymount began the year impressively, storming out to a 6-0 start that included a hard fought overtime victory against UC Santa Barbara. This early surge suggested that Stan Johnson’s rebuilt roster, led by the veteran poise of MJ Amey Jr. and the sharp shooting of Rodney Brown Jr., might exceed its preseason billing. While the defense remained a legitimate force throughout the year, ranking 96th nationally in defensive efficiency and proving difficult for even the WCC elite to dismantle, the offense often flickered out in crucial moments.

Despite a formidable offensive rebounding presence fueled by the relentless tip-ins of Aaron McBride, the Lions struggled with scoring consistency that left them 246th in the country for offensive rating. As the calendar turned to March, the Lions could not find the final gear necessary to make a deep run, suffering a disappointing 66-62 loss to San Diego in the opening round of the conference tournament. It was a season defined by a stingy defensive identity that ultimately lacked the consistent offensive firepower to climb higher than ninth in a crowded conference landscape.

Washington St.
#8 in the WCC
Preseason #138
Record: 12-20 (7-11)
Washington State’s second year in the West Coast Conference was better than their 20 loss record might’ve indicated. This was again a strong offensive season, though the team struggled again on the defensive end. The Cougars found a new heartbeat in freshman sensation Ace Glass III, who authored one of the most electric debut seasons in program history by shattering freshman scoring records with a 40 point masterclass.

Under the direction of a backcourt featuring Jerone Morton and Adria Rodriguez, the team embraced a perimeter heavy identity that ranked third in the conference in three point attempt rate, a strategy that fueled high scoring wins over Pepperdine and Pacific. The team’s defensive rating of 113.4, which sat at 309th in the country frequently left them vulnerable in high stakes conference matchups. Understandably, a younger team with a less experienced core would struggle on the defensive end, despite enough talent to compete offensively. The Cougars lost the shot volume battle quite often, especially struggling regarding turnover gap. These inconsistencies ultimately defined their finish in the WCC standings.

Tier Three

San Francisco
#7 in the WCC
Preseason #80
Record: 17-16 (8-10)
This felt like a season that San Francisco could sneak into the top tier of the league, especially with how much Saint Mary’s lost in the offseason. This wasn’t the case. After beginning the year at a promising preseason rank of 80, the Dons eventually settled well out of that ranking, a slide that mirrored their struggle to marry a top tier perimeter attack with strong interior play. Chris Gerlufsen’s group once again shot the ball at a high volume from the perimeter, but this was the both the least efficient two point unit and weakest defense in his tenure.

All Conference selections Ryan Beasley and David Fuchs provided the backbone of the squad, with Fuchs anchoring the interior with 8.0 defensive rebounds per game while Beasley navigated the backcourt with veteran poise. The non conference slate offered glimpses of brilliance, specifically a gritty neutral site win over Mississippi State, but was marred by an inexplicable collapse against North Alabama where a 16-2 lead to open the game evaporated under a frozen offense. The year concluded in a gut wrenching 78-77 postseason exit against Oregon State, a game that encapsulated their season: high level play from Mookie Cook and Tyrone Riley IV that ultimately fell one bucket short of the destination their talent suggested they could reach.

Oregon St.
#6 in the WCC
Preseason #74
Record: 17-16 (9-9)
Oregon State’s second and last run through the West Coast Conference felt less like a victory lap and more like a grueling test of attrition. With overperforming expectations last year and building quite the talented roster, they entered the season with a top 75 prediction. Even with their roster being picked apart in the transfer portal, the hope was that talent could once again be accumulated to the same extent.

This wasn’t the case, as the departures of their interior anchors to the Big 12 left a crater in the defense that never quite filled, evidenced by a defensive rating that slumped to 285th nationally. Despite the struggle to stop opponents, Josiah Lake II transformed from a former walk-on into the roster’s heartbeat, leading the charge with elite rebounding for a guard and a vastly improved perimeter game. Transfer Dez White provided necessary backcourt depth, a big time three point shooter by way of Missouri State. A final tournament win over San Francisco offered a moment of postseason catharsis, but a symbolic loss to Gonzaga ultimately closed the chapter on an era defined by growing pains and transition.

Seattle
#5 in the WCC
Preseason #114
Record: 21-13 (8-10)
Seattle’s inaugural run through the West Coast Conference was defined by a defense that stifled their newly-minted conference opponents. Anchored by Defensive Player of the Year Will Heimbrodt and the pickpocketing instincts of Maleek Arington, the Redhawks boasted the 13th best defensive rating in the nation, a mark that far outstripped their peers in the conference.

This elite resistance allowed them to punch well above their weight class early on, securing statement wins over Washington and Stanford that signaled they were not just here to fill a seat. However, the offensive end was often a more frustrating tale, as the team ranked 305th in offensive rating and were often one and done on the offensive end, posting the worst offensive rebounding rate in the league. Seattle frequently found themselves in rock fights where every possession felt like a marathon, nearly toppling the giants of the league only to fall just short. They blew a late lead in a heartbreaking overtime loss to Gonzaga and watched Jojo Murphy’s potential game winner against Saint Mary’s rim out at the buzzer. All-Conference selection Brayden Maldonado provided the necessary downhill spark to keep the engine humming, while seven footer Austin Maurer offered a glimpse of a high flying future above the rim. Seattle clawed their to a top five finish in year one, posting a top 10 forced turnover rate in the nation.

Pacific
#4 in the WCC
Preseason #170
Record: 18-15 (8-10)
Though a myriad of teams could’ve been the fourth place team in the conference, Pacific had a quiet season, proving they were no longer a basement dweller in the WCC, finish fueled by an offense that ranked 78th nationally in three point percentage. The Tigers had a system that just plain worked due to their ability to rebound the ball well.

While a bottom 15 turnover rate meant this wasn’t a dominant team pertaining to the shot volume battle, a slow pace limited those turnovers from turning into easier point than they might otherwise. All-Conference selection Elias Ralph acted as the catalyst for this improvement, pouring in 16.7 points per game and providing the veteran leadership necessary to navigate a second year head coach’s unique system. The backcourt tandem of TJ Wainwright and Jaden Clayton effectively balanced scoring and distribution, working through the ball security issues. The defining moment of their resilience came in mid January when they erased a seventeen point deficit to stun San Diego.

Tier Two

Santa Clara
#3 in the WCC
Preseason #69
Record: 26-9 (15-3)
Santa Clara’s leap from a preseason projection of 69th to an at large team signaled a definitive arrival for Herb Sendek’s program as a national heavyweight. The Broncos operated with a blistering pace that ranked 21st in the country, powered by an offense that sat 48th in efficiency. While veteran Elijah Mahi provided consistent rim pressure with a flurry of 20 point performances, the year truly belonged to the breakout of Allen Graves. The standout freshman swept through the awards circuit as the conference’s Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, eventually earning an All-Conference nod for his interior dominance and ability to stretch the floor.

This versatility culminated in a big time Round of 64 clash against Kentucky where the Broncos proved they belonged on the big stage. Graves nearly etched his name into tournament lore with a clutch pull up three pointer with three seconds remaining, only to see the lead slip away on an Otega Oweh miracle. The overtime period served as a harsh lesson in offensive balance, as Santa Clara became overly reliant on the arc and failed to attempt a single two point shot in the extra frame. Despite the heartbreaking exit, a season that saw them finish third in a deep conference and push a blue blood to the brink confirms that the Broncos are no longer just waiting for an opening at the top of the WCC; they are actively kicking the door down.

Saint Mary’s
#2 in the WCC
Preseason #45
Record: 27-6 (16-2)
Saint Mary’s entered the year with its usual reputation for suffocating defense and a methodical pace, and they largely lived up to the billing. Making it back to the NCAA Tournament for the last time in this era of the Gaels. Paulius Murauskas blossomed into the team’s undisputed alpha, earning All-Conference honors while lulling defenders to sleep with a crafty post game and mid-range touch.

Beside him, Mikey Lewis provided the acrobatic self-creation that Randy Bennett’s slow-burn offense desperately needed. The Gaels were statistically a nightmare on the glass, leading the nation in defensive rebounding gap and ranking second in offensive rebounding gap. This physical dominance allowed them to dictate terms for most of the year, including a statement victory over Gonzaga, the last time they’d meet in the WCC. However, the lack of depth eventually caught up to them. With a bench so shallow that substitutions often ceased entirely in the final ten minutes, the Gaels looked gapped in their Round of 64 loss to Texas A&M. After an 11-2 run by the Aggies created an early deficit, Saint Mary’s spent the game chasing a double-digit lead they couldn’t quite cut down. It was a season of clinical efficiency and rebounding mastery that ultimately hit a wall of fatigue and stylistic friction in the tournament.

Tier One

Gonzaga
#1 in the WCC
Preseason #13
Record: 31-3 (16-2)
Gonzaga’s final chapter in the West Coast Conference was much more of a reliance on their defense than has come to be expected. This was the lowest rated adjusted efficiency for Gonzaga’s offense since 2014, but their best rated defense in four seasons. Graham Ike acted as the program’s gravitational center, earning Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors by dismantling interior defenses with a surgical hook shot and a vastly improved perimeter game.

While the Zags frequently flirted with danger by falling into early double digit holes, the perimeter depth provided by a healthy Steele Venters and the downhill aggression of Tyon Grant-Foster usually allowed them to climb back with ease. The season took a somber turn when the highly efficient Braden Huff suffered an injury that sidelined him through the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, depriving the rotation of its most reliable spark from the dunker spot. The Bulldogs secured yet another conference crown before their postseason journey hit a snag in the Round of 32. Facing a physical Texas squad, the offense lacked its usual late game punch, resulting in a back and forth defeat that marked a second consecutive year without a Sweet 16 appearance.

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Drake could still rebound under a second-year head coach, and Ryan Miller showed promise before the final stretch of the season. Ryan Pedon may have sparked something with a defensive resurgence, though it remains to be seen what that looks like without Chase Walker.

If Valpo continues to build strong freshman classes, the league will only get deeper. None of that will matter, however, if it cannot retain its coaching talent.

Tier Five

Evansville
#11 in the MVC
Preseason #256
Record: 7-25 (3-17)
The promise of a defensive fortress built around Connor Turnbull quickly eroded as Evansville found itself submerged in the relentless waters of the Missouri Valley Conference. Between injury issues and less consistency, Turnbull wasn’t the centerpiece of the team as expected. Playing just 14 games on the season, and not fully healthy in many of the games he did compete, Turnbull had just three 20+ point efforts on the season. Due do the void in the paint, the Purple Aces struggled to find any rhythm on either end of the floor, ultimately plummeting from their higher preseason expectations to a distant last in Valley. Their offensive efficiency was particularly anemic, ranking 348th in the country, a mark underscored by a frustrating inability to protect the rock as their turnover gap lingered among the bottom ten teams nationally.

This was a team that often lost the shot volume battle as a poor offensive rebounding unit, and even when they got shots up, they weren’t particularly efficient. Last season had hints that this was a team that was turning around. Unfortunately, this was not the case for the Purple Aces.

Tier Four

Indiana St.
#10 in the MVC
Preseason #180
Record: 11-21 (4-16)
Indiana State’s 2026 was a disapointment relative to their first season in the Matthew Graves era. Offensive efficency across the board was well down, as this was a team that rarely made it to the free throw line, and while they were hyper-efficent within the arc, there wasn’t enough shooting on the perimeter to keep the Sycamores afloat. Pairing poor perimeter shooting with the worst turnover gap and worst forced turnover margin in the conference, it comes as a bit of a surprise that this was a team that was 7-4 at a point in time.

The defense was improved, with Enel St Bernard posting the fourth highest block rate in the Valley. Ian Scott was key to the offense, with 13.5 points per game and a reliable interior presence, while Sterling Young made a respectable transition from the SWAC to provide double-digit scoring. The season reached a heartbreaking crescendo in the opening round of the conference tournament against Valparaiso. After leading for nearly the entire contest, a desperate buzzer-beating attempt was blocked at the rim, resulting in a one-point loss that perfectly illustrated a year of high speed and narrow margins.

Drake
#9 in the MVC
Preseason #130
Record: 14-20 (6-14)
Eric Henderson’s first year at the helm was a reconstruction project that spent most of the winter trying to find its footing. After losing a top-fifty national identity and an elite floor general, the Bulldogs struggled to find defensive consistency, plummeting to a bottom three team in the Valley. Despite the need to rebuild, Jalen Quinn quickly became the undisputed engine of the offense, averaging nearly 20 points per game and earning All-Conference honors by sheer force of will.

The regular season was marred by a catastrophic collapse against Belmont where a 25-point cushion evaporated in a blizzard of turnovers, seemingly defining a season of missed opportunities. Ending the season on a nine game losing streak, this wasn’t a team going into the conference tournament with much momentum. However, the Bulldogs saved their most poetic basketball for Arch Madness. As a lowly 9 seed, they shocked the conference by dismantling that same Belmont squad, becoming the first 9 seed in MVC history to topple the top seed and extending a legendary tournament winning streak to eleven games. While the magic finally faded in a semifinal loss to UIC, this wasn’t a season ending as discouraging as it looked at times.

Tier Three

Southern Illinois
#8 in the MVC
Preseason #131
Record: 16-16 (10-10)
The Salukis carved out a reputation as one of the most suffocating defensive units in the nation, anchored by a defensive rating that ranked second in the Missouri Valley and 42nd across all of college basketball. Scott Nagy’s second year was defined by this grit, as Southern Illinois held opponents to a true shooting percentage that was the best in the conference. While the offense often labored due to a team three point shooting percentage that languished at 364th nationally, Quel’Ron House emerged as a vital focal point, earning All Conference honors by relentlessly attacking the interior. House, a sophomore and transfer from Jacksonville State was fifth in the league in assist rate and third in steal rate, adding a bit of versatility beyond being a high volume interior scorer. Damien Mayo Jr. was the only capable shooter on the team, yet the team’s overall identity remained rooted in the paint rather than behind the arc.

The regular season was highlighted by a near twenty point comeback attempt against Murray State, and the squad seemed to find its ultimate stride with a four game winning streak to close the calendar. However, that momentum hit a sudden wall in the conference tournament where they were upset by Drake in the opening round, a loss solidified by a missed one and one late that prevented them from closing a multiple possession gap.

Valparaiso
#7 in the MVC
Preseason #296
Record: 18-15 (11-9)
Valparaiso defied every gloomy preseason projection that pinned them as the definitive cellar dweller of the Missouri Valley Conference. Roger Powell Jr. orchestrated a remarkable ascent from a 296 preseason ranking to right in the mix by the season’s end, proving that his focus on high school recruiting could yield immediate dividends.

Another freshman laden roster, the narrative centered on a fearless youth movement led by freshman JT Pettigrew, whose 12.5 points per game and ability to draw contact fueled a free throw rate that ranked 82nd nationally. Alongside All Conference selection Owen Dease, Pettigrew transformed a presumed transitional year into a competitive campaign, with top-seeded Bradley needing double overtime to beat them in the conference tournament quarterfinals. Their season-long resilience was never more evident than in the opening round of the conference tournament where they trailed Indiana State for the vast majority of the contest before snatching a thrilling one point victory in the closing seconds.

Tier Two

Murray St.
#6 in the MVC
Preseason #131
Record: 20-13 (12-8)
The transition to the Ryan Miller era at Murray State was a full-throttle sprint, as the Racers transformed into the fastest team in the Missouri Valley and the 48th most uptempo program in the country. This was quite the contrast from the final Steve Prohm season, wherein the team was in the 300s nationally in tempo. As might be expected, this led to easier buckets on both ends of the court, their offense improving while their defense regressed.

The primary catalyst for this high-scoring attack was Roman Domon, a sensational freshman from France who cleared out the league’s trophy case by winning both Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year honors. Alongside Domon, All-Conference selections Fredrick King and Javon Jackson provided a vital veteran presence, Jackson key on the interior while King roamed the paint. The season came to a disappointing close, as after a 16-3 start and 8-0 commencement of conference play, they finished the season 4-8, and lost both of their postseason games, firstly in the league tournament and then in the NIT.

Bradley
#5 in the MVC
Preseason #93
Record: 21-13 (13-7)
The Bradley Braves entered the season in a state of flux after losing their veteran core, but this was the second best record in the conference. The campaign was headlined by the meteoric rise of Jaquan Johnson, a defensive powerhouse who shattered the program’s freshman steals record while claiming both Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player honors. Johnson orchestrated an offense that thrived on the perimeter, fueled by senior Alex Huibregtse’s elite 43% mark from deep, helping the team secure a top 100 national rank in three point percentage, something we’re all too familiar with seeing in the Wardle era.

However, the lack of traditional size and a thin wing rotation eventually caught up with them. The Braves struggled mightily on the glass, finishing with a offensive rebounding gap that ranked 246th in the country. On the defensive end, their reliance on a 1-3-1 zone late in games often left them vulnerable to second chance points. While the season ended with a narrow four point exit in the conference tournament against eventual champs Northern Iowa, the Braves were unsurprisingly competitive once again in the league.

UIC
#4 in the MVC
Preseason #156
Record: 19-16 (12-8)
After being picked near the bottom of the Missouri Valley in the preseason, UIC orchestrated a defiant leap to relevance, climbing into a contender status within the league. The season was characterized by a jarring duality; a strong offensive rebounding team that couldn’t clean the glass on the other end. This was both the narrative the entire season, as well as in the MVC championship game.

Winning the offensive rebounding battle by five, but losing the defensive rebound gap by six, this was simply too big of an issue to overcome in a game that they never lead in. Despite this, even getting to the championship game was impressive. This turnaround was anchored by a stifling defense that ranked 73rd nationally, led by the mobile rim protection of Abdul Momoh and the perimeter tenacity of Sam Silverstein. While Ahmad Henderson II provided the raw offensive spark and Jayce Nathaniel was a strong rebounder, it was Elijah Crawford who truly shouldered the load, earning All-Conference honors with a robust 14.1 points per game.

Illinois St.
#3 in the MVC
Preseason #109
Record: 21-12 (12-8)
Building on the high expectations of a returning All-Conference duo, Illinois State validated its preseason billing by transforming into one of the most resilient defensive units in the Missouri Valley.

While the spotlight often found Chase Walker’s methodical back to the basket style or Johnny Kinziger’s lightning quick perimeter scoring, it was a stifling defense ranking 49th nationally that truly defined their rise. Defense, was, in fact the concern of the team in the preseason, whose offense last season was 150 spots better in adjusted efficiency than their defense. This wasn’t the case in 2026. The Redbirds suffocated opponents to a 94.57 True Shooting Plus, ranking 64th in the country, and utilized their top 10 national momentum to secure a sweet of Northern Iowa and win against Belmont. Boden Skunberg provided the necessary third option by averaging double figures, while the 7’1” Brandon Lieb offered crucial relief minutes behind Walker. Their run met a frigid end in a 22 point tournament loss to Northern Iowa, unable to beat them for a third time.

Northern Iowa
#2 in the MVC
Preseason #113
Record: 23-13 (11-9)
Northern Iowa’s final season with Ben Jacobson at the helm was a special one, getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade. Playing at the second slowest pace in the country, despite losing their top scorers from the previous winter, the Panthers leaned into prioritizing efficiency over volume. This was key for their defense, which ranked 19th nationally in opponent true shooting percentage. This grit was personified by Trey Campbell, whose postseason heroics earned him Tournament MVP honors and a spot on the All-Defensive team. Alongside the versatile interior presence of Leon Bond III and the emergence of freshman Will Hornseth, Ben Jacobson navigated his 20th season by becoming the winningest coach in the history of the conference tournament.