Following a 2025-26 season in which the USC men's basketball team finished with an 18-14 overall record and went 7-13 in conference play, the Trojans, in their third season under coach Eric Musselman, are looking to get back on track and make an expanded 76-team NCAA Tournament.

The Trojans have a talented roster with the return of star guards Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas, a talented 2026 recruiting class, and notable transfer portal additions. While the expectations are high for the Trojans, they must prove it on the court, and several key Big Ten road matchups will determine their fate next season.

Last season, the Trojans finished with a 4-6 record on the road in Big Ten play. To make the tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 season, winning on the road, especially in conference play, is the key for Musselman's Trojans. Here is a breakdown of the three notable Big Ten road matchups on the Trojans' schedule that will determine their fate next season.

Illinois Fighting Illini

The Trojans are set for what is expected to be a loaded Big Ten road slate and one of those opponents that will present a massive test for the Trojans case as one of the conference's top teams is the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Last season at the Galen Center, the Trojans were dominated by coach Brad Underwood's Fighting Illini, winning 101-65. It was a crushing loss that marked the beginning of the end of USC's tournament hopes during the final stretch of the regular season.

Despite the loss of key players, including star freshman guard Keaton Wagler, the Fighting Illini are expected to remain one of the Big Ten's best this season as they look to build off their 2026 Final Four appearance, where they eventually fell 71-62 to the UConn Huskies in the national semifinal.

An upset win on the road against the Fighting Illini would be massive for the Trojans, and they've done it before. During the 2024-25 season, the Trojans upset the Fighting Illini in Champaign, winning 82-72. Can the Trojans do it again?

Purdue Boilermakers

One of the most hostile arenas in all of college basketball, the Trojans will also face the Purdue Boilermakers on the road next season. Only a few Big Ten teams over the past few seasons have been able to come out of Mackey with a win, and next season, the Trojans look to be one of them.

However, last season, four Big Ten teams came out of Mackey with a victory, including the Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines, and Wisconsin Badgers, proving the Boilermakers aren't as dominant at home as many realized.

Following the departure of star guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith, the Boilermakers look to rely on a trio of guards, including C.J. Cox, Omer Mayer, and Jack Benter.

Can the Trojans earn a statement win at Mackey next season? The last time the Trojans and Boilermakers faced off at Mackey, Purdue dominated USC, winning 90-72.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Under coach Fred Hoiberg, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are coming off their best season in program history. On top of winning their first-ever NCAA Tournament game, the Cornhuskers also made a run to the Sweet 16 before falling to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Cornhuskers enter the 2026-27 season looking to remain a Big Ten contender and are one of the Trojans' other road tests. Last season, the Trojans lost to the Cornhuskers at the Galen Center 82-67.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and X for the latest news.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/usc as Three Big Ten Road Games on USC Trojans' Schedule That Could Define the Season.

Just as soon as the Iowa Hawkeyes wrapped up a run to the Elite 8 and capped off a strong season in 2025-26, the first page of the next chapter is already being written.

The Hawkeyes and head coach Ben McCollum are getting summer workouts underway with a revamped roster as they enter Year 2 of this new era with expectations around the program higher than they have been in some time.

The excitement and buzz are there, but questions linger as well. Iowa has gaps to fill, players to mesh together, and a lineup that remains up in the air.

The squad is here.

Day 01 pic.twitter.com/PvLVWh1IWd

- Iowa Men's Basketball (@IowaHoops) June 8, 2026

How is Bennett Stirtz replaced?

There may not have been a player in college basketball shouldering more weight than Bennett Stirtz did in his lone year with Iowa. That can't be the same this year. Iowa needs to spread the load around more evenly.

Ty'Reek Coleman came over via Illinois State in the portal and figures to be the lead guard, but it's unfair to ask him to shoulder that weight in his first year in the Big Ten. Iowa has to get contributions from others.

Kael Combs, Isaia Howard, Tate Sage, and even freshman Jaidyn Coon may be asked to step up as a lead guard at times. The luxury Iowa has this year is depth, but the question is if this group as a whole can replace Bennett Stirtz.

Can the transfer portal and recruiting additions fit in quickly?

This is where Ben McCollum gets the benefit of the doubt in my book. Last year, he brought over players from Drake, transfer portal cast-outs, and what some viewed as leftovers, yet molded them into a quality Big Ten team.

This offseason, he brought in a true big man in Andrew McKeever from Saint Mary's, who gives Iowa a big presence at the rim, which they lacked and were hurt by at times last year.

Ty'Reek Coleman, as previously mentioned, will be the lead guard. I don't expect McCollum to ask him to put up 20 points each night; instead, he may be asked to game-manage things within the system.

Lastly, but definitely not least, are the arrivals of two four-star freshman, Ethan Harris and Jaidyn Coon, Mr. Iowa Basketball in 2026. At 6-foot-9, Harris is a lanky and versatile player who can play a wing role at times or slide into a traditional 4 if Iowa goes smaller.

What is Iowa's predicted starting five?

Prediction:

PG: Ty'Reek Coleman
SG: Tate Sage/Kael Combs
SF: Cooper Koch
PF: Cam Manyawu
C: Andrew McKeever

This is like aiming at a high-speed moving target, but here we go. Depending on who they play, Iowa is sure to shuffle things, but for the sake of this, let's go with a traditional lineup in Ben McCollum's offense.

Ty'Reek Coleman, Cam Manyawu, and Andrew McKeever seem likely to get big minutes this year. That's Iowa's point guard and two bodies down low. The guards and wings get interesting.

Cooper Koch came alive down the stretch last year from three, and I think that confidence carries over into 2026. The fourth and final spot could fluctuate. Kael Combs is a veteran and reliable, two things McCollum likes.

Alternatively, Tate Sage may provide Iowa with some more length and athleticism against teams demanding that in the Big Ten. I don't think you have a bad choice, just a matter of the matchup.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/iowa as Three Pressing Questions For Iowa Basketball During Summer Workouts.

Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs retained three key contributors from last year's roster and added two excellent transfers to build a starting lineup that can compete with anyone in college basketball in 2026-27.

The problem? They hardly have anyone else on the team - and the guys they do have have a combined zero games played at the collegiate level.

Mario Saint-Supery, Davis Fogle, and Braden Huff will all start for the Zags this upcoming season, with Arizona State transfer center Massamba Diop and Houston transfer wing Isiah Harwell stepping into the starting five alongside them.

Real Madrid big man Izan Almansa, 21, is an experienced player - but has never played college basketball. He's joined on the bench by redshirt freshman Parker Jefferson and a pair of 4-star freshmen in the 2026 class, wing Luca Foster and center Sam Funches.

As such, Gonzaga desperately needs more experience and more guard depth in order to compete in the new-look Pac-12 and get back to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Enter Tijan Saine, a Washington native and senior guard who is widely considered the best point guard - and one of the best players - still available in the transfer portal.

Who is Tijan Saine?

Saine is a 5'11 point guard from Everett, WA, who was a three-time All League selection at Mariner High School. Despite a decorated career, Saine ended up walking on at DII Western Washington in Bellingham, redshirting in the 2022-23 season.

He then won GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2023-24 by averaging 10.9 points and 2.3 assists, and returned to earn First Team honors in 2024-25 when he posted 17.3 points, 4.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 21 games with WWU, shooting a blistering 39% from three and 89% from the line.

That led Saine to hit the transfer portal, where, amongst a handful of D1 offers, he ended up heading to Ogden, UT, to play for Weber State in the Big Sky.

Saine picked up right where he left off, posting 17.5 points, 4.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 32 games for the Wildcats, earning First Team All Big Sky honors. He finished fourth in the league in assists per game, seventh in points, and 14th in steals, while shooting 52.2% on twos, 34.7% from three, and 89.6% from the free throw line - 18th nationally.

After a mini adjustment period to D1 basketball, Saine exploded as a scorer. He scored in double figures in each of his final 22 games last year and scored 15 or more points in 19 of those games. That included a 29-point performance on 4-7 shooting from deep on the road in an upset win over Idaho, as well as 27 points, three steals, and two assists on 7-12 shooting and 11-12 from the free throw line in the Big Sky Tournament, where his Wildcats fell to Dan Monson and Eastern Washington.

Saine has been in talks with multiple Power Five programs this offseason, including Washington, Seton Hall, UCLA, NC State, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Georgia Tech, as well as Oregon State, San Francisco, High Point, and Duquesne.

Fit at Gonzaga

Saint-Supery, Harwell, and Fogle are projected to start in the backcourt, leaving Foster and walk-on guards Alonzo Metz and Carter Nilson as the only other guards on the roster.

Gonzaga not only needs to add experience in the backcourt, they need outside shooting as well. While Saine's 34.7% last year doesn't pop off the page, that was on a whopping 6.0 attempts per game - and his 50 made threes would have led the Zags last year. That, combined with his 39% as a sophomore at Western Washington, seems to point to a young man who can really light it up in the right circumstance.

Saine is similar to Malachi Smith or Ryan Woolridge, two mid-major guards who transferred to Gonzaga after playing huge, ball-dominant roles in their previous programs. Both players adjusted well to different roles while in Spokane, and if Saine is willing and able to do so, he could be the perfect backup point guard and microwave scorer on Gonzaga's second unit in 2026-27.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/gonzaga as Why this Washington native could be Gonzaga's ideal transfer portal addition.

It may be several more months before fifth-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his cohorts begin officially targeting prospects in the 2028 recruiting arena. That said, it wouldn't be a surprise if one or more land an offer from the Blue Devils in the coming weeks, as Monday marks the first day that college coaches can directly contact rising high school juniors.

One such name to watch is St. Francis High School (Calif.) center Yann Kamagate.

Mike Malone, Pat Kelsey, Mark Pope, Tommy Lloyd, Sean Miller, Duke, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Indiana, BYU, UCLA and more on hand watching arguably the best prospect in all of HS basketball - Yann Kamagate.https://t.co/cD7v0KX0mG

- Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) June 13, 2026

According to a report from 247Sports national recruiting insider Travis Branham on Saturday afternoon, at least one member of the Duke basketball staff was on hand to check out Kamagate during this weekend's grassroots action in Arizona. Branham noted that coaches from UNC, Louisville, Kentucky, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Indiana, BYU, UCLA, and others were also in attendance to scout the budding big man.

A 7-foot, 230-pounder who originally hails from Burkina Faso in West Africa and has shown the potential this spring to emerge as the premier 2028 talent before it's all said and done, Kamagate currently stacks up at No. 4 overall and No. 2 among centers on the 247Sports 2028 Composite.

"I am going to be the No. 1 player in the country," Kamagate explained to Branham back in May. "I feel like I know how to do everything: dunk, rebound, and I'm a really good defender."

Kamagate already holds over a dozen offers at this early stage in his recruitment. His list of full-fledged suitors includes the likes of the Kansas Jayhawks, Alabama Crimson Tide, Arizona Wildcats, Houston Cougars, Baylor Bears, Texas Longhorns, and the Blue Devils' archrival in the UNC Tar Heels.

Only Two Duke Basketball Offer Recipients on 2027 Recruiting Trail

While Duke basketball recruiting efforts heat up in the 2028 cycle, it's worth pointing out that only two 2027 talents have reported offers from Jon Scheyer and his crew. That duo is Southeastern Prep Academy (Fla.) five-star guard Beckham Black and Wisconsin Lutheran School four-star forward Kager Knueppel.

Beckham Black, younger brother of third-year Orlando Magic point guard and former Arkansas one-and-done Anthony Black, checks in at No. 4 overall and No. 1 among point guards on the 247Sports 2027 Composite. As for Kager Kneuppel, younger brother of Charlotte Hornets rookie and 2024-25 Blue Devil standout guard Kon Knueppel, he ranks No. 80 overall and No. 10 among power forwards in the cycle.

Duke is set to welcome the nation's top-ranked 2026 collection, a five-deep bunch that includes three composite five-stars.

Stay tuned toDuke Blue Devils On SIfor more Duke basketball recruiting news.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as Duke Basketball Eyes Top-Shelf 2028 Big Man Yann Kamagate.

7-foot-3 Italian center commits to Villanova appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

On Saturday afternoon, 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo officially withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft and committed to playing college basketball at Villanova in 2026/27.

The 19-year-old from Tradate, Varese, Italy, had been evaluating his professional options throughout the draft process after receiving an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine, where he was one of 73 participants. Suigo entered the withdrawal deadline on June 13 before ultimately deciding to play college basketball under head coach Kevin Willard.

Suigo arrived in the draft process as a potential late first-round or early second-round selection. ESPN ranked him No. 32 on its draft board, and his measurements at the combine further boosted interest from NBA teams. He was officially measured at 7-foot-3 without shoes and weighed 289 pounds, making him one of the largest prospects in the draft class.

Before making the move to the Wildcats, Suigo spent the 2025-26 season with BC Mega Basket, also known as Mega Superbet, in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League. Across 32 games, he averaged 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 18.1 minutes per game.

His commitment brings a new dimension to Villanova’s frontcourt. Before Suigo’s arrival, redshirt freshman Nico Onyekwere was the Wildcats’ primary returning center. The addition gives Villanova a proven professional big man with size, interior presence and shot-blocking ability.

Suigo joins a roster that already includes returning players Tyler Perkins, Matt Hodge and Onyekwere. The Wildcats also strengthened their lineup through the transfer portal with forwards Kwame Evans Jr. from Oregon and Devin Royal from Ohio State, along with guards Elijah Crawford from UIC, Jake Fiegen from Cornell and Darryl “Buddy” Simmons II from St. Bonaventure. Freshman guard Adam Oumiddoch is also set to join the program.

In a fitting twist, Suigo’s first season with Villanova will begin in his home country. The Wildcats are scheduled to open the 2026-27 campaign against Notre Dame on Nov. 1 at the Eternal City Tip-Off in Rome.

Related: Louisville basketball rumors: Mikel Brown Jr. flying up boards before 2026 NBA Draft

Related: SWAC makes huge change to basketball tournament

On Saturday afternoon, Arkansas head coach John Calipari shared the news that sophomore guard Isaiah Sealy injured his knee Friday and will require surgery.

"We don't know the timeline," Calipari said in a social media post. "I am disappointed for him because he has gotten so much better and spent time working on his game."

Isaiah Sealy hurt his knee playing pick up yesterday. It is going to require surgery. We don't know the timeline. I am disappointed for him because he has gotten so much better and spent time working on his game.

- John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) June 13, 2026

A Springdale, Ark., native, Sealy didn't play much during the 2025-26 campaign. Only six times did he get into a game for 10 or more minutes. He averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds after getting into 19 games.

Sealy injury could lead to lack of depth for Hogs

Even with an incredible class of fellow guards and wings coming to Fayetteville this year, however, it's likely Sealy would've at least seen a little more playing time than he did in his freshman year. Arkansas has five guards - Billy Richmond III, Jeremiah Wilkinson, Abdou Torre, JJ Andrews and Jordan Smith Jr., who would've been ahead of Sealy on the depth chart.

Still, it's not too far out of the realm of possibility to suggest that Sealy consistently playing 8-10 minutes per game was in the cards.

With it now being known that he won't be on the floor for at least the start of the season, if not the entire year. That's been a problem which has plagued Arkansas during the Calipari era could rear its ugly head from the opening tip of the season: a very noticeable lack of depth.

Calipari is understandably set in his ways. He likes to keep to a strict 7-8 man rotation that sometimes gets even more shallow in Arkansas' NCAA Tournament win over High Point, only seven Razorbacks saw action, and one of those was Sealy, who played for only a single minute.

The other six Hogs that got on the court averaged 33 minutes.

Even in a standard non-conference regular season game against Winthrop, Calipari only employed the services of eight Razorbacks.

Malique Ewin only played for seven minutes in that contest, a cardiac arrest-inducing 84-83 win for the Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas does, of course, have plenty of talent in the backcourt this season. Cooper Bowser, Maper Maker and MIika Muurinen are set to anchor the Razorbacks' frontcourt.

But that still only makes eight players for Calipari to potentially use, and given Calipari's volatility in regard to substituting players, it's very possible that a 6-7 man rotation is used at various points throughout the season.

With Sealy hurt, there's now one less option at Calipari's disposal, which could be a major detriment in the throes of SEC play and the NCAA Tournament when the clock is ticking down.

Sign up toour free newsletter, and follow us onFacebook,X (Twitter)for the latest news.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/arkansas as Sealy Injury Could Exacerbate Frustrating Calipari Trend Early in 26-27 Season.

The Wildcats made the tournament 16 times under Wright's tenure, which lasted from 2001 to 2022. They also won the national championship in 2016 and 2018 and made the Final Four in 2009 and 2022.

Kyle Neptune then replaced Wright, and the program never finished above sixth in the Big East during his tenure. Willard replaced him in 2025 after leading Maryland to the Sweet Sixteen.

Now, the latter coach has a new weapon, via Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.

"NEWS: Luigi Suigo has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and committed to Villanova, Sigma Sports and Excel Sports tell DraftExpress," he reported on Saturday. "The 7'4, 289-pound 19-year-old will be a physical outlier in the Big East who can pass, space the floor, protect the rim, and finish effectively."

NEWS: Luigi Suigo has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and committed to Villanova, Sigma Sports and Excel Sports tell DraftExpress.

The 7'4, 289-pound 19-year-old will be a physical outlier in the Big East who can pass, space the floor, protect the rim, and finish effectively. pic.twitter.com/S9HeU5kreq

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 13, 2026

Luigi Suigo Has Tools to Dominate for Villanova

Suigo declared for the 2026 NBA Draft after completing his professional season in Serbia's ABA League. The center averaged 7.9 points with 5.1 rebounds and one block in 17.8 minutes (26 games) for the club Mega Superbet. He also played in three games for the Italian national team in the 2025-26 campaign

Before that, Suigo played for Olympia Milano of the LBA, which is the professional Italian league. He joined the junior team in 2022 played two senior games across the next two seasons.

Film on Luigi Suigo, DX's No. 28 prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft.

He averaged 7.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 block in 18 minutes for Mega Superbet in the Adriatic League.

Should be able to boost his 2027 draft outlook considerably with a strong season in the Big East. https://t.co/XI6yOsOocjpic.twitter.com/jmkQ9rQcx8

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 13, 2026

Suigo will likely replace departed senior center Duke Brennan for Villanova, per The Villanovan's Sammie McKee. Willard released a statement to Villanova Athletics, per McKee.

“We’re excited to welcome Luigi to Villanova and America,” he said. “He is a player with exceptional skill, length, and feel for the game. This is a great fit for our team.”

Given Suigo's size and shooting ability, he could be the Wildcats' version of Victor Wembanyama next season. The latter player was an NBA MVP finalist this season and led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals at just 22 years old largely thanks to his size and skill, as the 7-foot-4, 235-pounder can play both inside and outside.

Villanova will begin next season with a matchup against Notre Dame at the Eternal City Tip-Off in Rome, Italy on Nov. 1.

Related: Derik Queen Breaks Silence on Kevin Willard Leaving Maryland for Villanova

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Missouri basketball is primed for an uber-important 2026-27 season, with expectations surrounding the program being arguably the highest since head coach Dennis Gates took over. After back-to-back first-round exits in the NCAA Tournament, incoming five-star freshman Jason Crowe Jr., along with a plethora of other incoming and returning talent, will look to lead the Tigers further into the postseason.

One of those incoming talents is veteran transfer big Jaylen Carey, who joins Missouri for his senior campaign after spending the last two seasons with Southeastern Conference rivals. The former unranked recruit and three-star transfer has blossomed into a consistent big at the collegiate level, carving out a role and identity for himself at ecah of his last three stops.

He began his career at James Madison in 2023-24, before transferring to Vanderbilt for the 2024-25 season and again to Tennessee for the 2025-26 season, playing in 33 or more games in each. He'll now look to bring his size and experience to Missouri for his final season.

Carey might have the smallest variability when it comes to predicting his ceiling and floor with the Tigers next season, as he's relatively been a similar player playing the same role for each of the past two - and to a lesser extent, three - seasons. Regardless, here's evaluating what both his ceiling and floor could be next season.

What Carey brings

Much of Missouri's roster is comprised with quick, long athletes with a bit of 3-point pop to their game. The army of positionally-sized players was likely built with the idea of surrounding incoming five-star freshman Jason Crowe Jr. - who's an all-time scoring talent at the high school level but on the smaller side - with an ideal roster.

While most of the roster fits the aforementioned bill, Carey is quite the opposite: the rising senior measures in at 6-foot-8, 267 pounds, making him the heaviest player on the Tigers' roster. His strength and physicality will play a unique role in the Tigers' lanky rotation, with Carey likely acting as an enforcer in the paint and on the glass.

In 18.5 minutes per game with the Volunteers last season, Carey hauled in six rebounds per game, reaching eight or more boards in 10 contests. He also averaged 5.7 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game with the Commodores in 2024-25, and 4.3 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game at James Madison the season prior. When given the opportunity on the floor, Carey's a surefire bet to make his presence felt on the glass.

Although far from a true playmaker, Carey has shown intriguing flashes out of certain scenarios throughout is career that Missouri could further utilize. He averages 1 assist per game on his career, peaking at 1.3 per game last season at Tennessee. Specifically, Carey's passing has been effective both out of the short roll and in big-to-big scenarios, the latter of which Missouri has increasingly utilized in its offense and Carey could continue.

He's not much of a scorer, relying largely on putbacks and roll-finishes to score his points, but his scoring isn't necessarily needed at Missouri.

Carey also provides the Tigers with lineup flexibility. If Missouri is matched up with a pair of large, physical bigs, Carey could be inserted into the starting lineup alongside Bryson Tiller in the frontcourt, as he has prior starting experience. He's also suitable for a bench role, as he's spent much of his career as a high-usage backup big, which has undoubedtbly been Missouri's biggest weakness in four seasons under Gates.

Carey's Ceiling

As previously stated, Carey should be one of the most surefire bets for production on the team - his playstyle and identity has been extremely consistent throughout his career. In an ideal scenario, he takes a small step up in the playmaking and scoring departments while remaining consistent as a rebounder and defender, spot-starting and serving as a reliable backup throughout conference play.

Stats: 7.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 0.8 tpg, 60% FG, 25% 3FG, 55% FT

Carey's Floor

Should Carey not work out with the Tigers, it wouldn't be for his talent or peaks - it'd likely be due to foul trouble, which plenty of Tigers have struggled with in recent seasons. In a lower-end outcome, Carey struggles with foul trouble - like he did to an extent in 2024-25 - and plays limited minutes.

Stats: 5.7 ppg, 5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1 tpg, 49% FG, 0% 3FG, 50%FT

Sign up for our freenewsletterand follow us onTwitter/X,Facebook,YouTubeandInstagramfor the latest news.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/missouri as Jaylen Carey's Ceiling, Floor with Mizzou Basketball in 2026-27.

Happy FIFA World Cup Week to all, and happy National Peanut Butter Cookie Day to those without the world’s most common food allergy.

Welcome to another edition of “You’re Nuts”, where our basketball writers pass the time during the long, grueling off-season by picking a basketball-related topic and debating it until we hit somewhere around 1,000 words and call it a day. 

Last week, the guys debated whether Ohio State’s offense – which has improved every year under Jake Diebler so far — will continue that trend and improve again next season. While offensive efficiency isn’t the only offensive statistic we care about, we used that as an example – by the end of his interim season, Ohio State was 39th in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.

During Diebler’s first full season, the Buckeyes jumped to 30th nationally, and last season Ohio State was 17th. Will they continue the upward trend in the 2026-27 season? 

Connor said no, mostly because he believed that the absence of Bruce Thornton will take some time after the program’s all-time leading scorer was the de-facto answer for every dead possession for three years. Justin said yes, the offense will continue to get better, because their top four options this season are better than their top four options last season. 

This week we actually aren’t talking about the Buckeyes at all — for good reason. Nine Big Ten teams made the NCAA Tournament last season, and nine did not. Of those nine, is there one that you feel is going to take a big step forward this year, and therefore make the tournament? Since Ohio State made the dance last year, we aren’t talking about them this week.

This week’s question: Which Big Ten team that didn’t make the NCAA Tournament last year will make it this year?

Connor: Maryland

Maryland was almost the worst team in the Big Ten last season, finishing second-to-last with a conference record of 4-16. I think most people expected it to be a transition year for Maryland, but with a coach like Buzz Williams leading the program, Maryland fans and alumni probably had higher expectations than a second-to-last place finish in the Big Ten. 

Not all of it was Buzz’s fault — Maryland’s  best player only played 10 games and then missed the rest of the season with a knee injury. Pharrel Payne, who transferred to Maryland from Texas A&M when Williams took the job in College Park, averaged 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game before he got injured. Maryland should get him back next season assuming his medical waiver is approved. 

In addition to getting Payne back, Maryland is also bringing in Baba Oladotun — a five-star freshman who was the No. 9 player in the 2026 recruiting class. He’s a 6-foot-10 forward who, according to 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein, “Has an instinctive ability to navigate the lane.” 

Williams also has one of the biggest breakout candidates in the Big Ten in sophomore guard Andre Mills, who had two 30-point games in Big Ten play last year and averaged 19.9 points per game over the final eight games of the season. He’s got good size at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and shot an acceptable 34% from three-point range as a freshman. 

Maryland brought in a few other solid transfers, including former Tennessee guard Bishop Boswell, but I think the two returners — Mills and Payne — paired with Oladotun are going to form a really strong core for Williams in year two.

Justin: USC

There are a handful of teams that I think will take a jump next season (Ohio State included), but the team that will take the biggest jump is USC.

The Trojans have added some top players in the portal, retained their two best players and got rid of Chad Baker-Mazara, who was a good player but very clearly did not want to be there towards the end of the season.

The three biggest stories for the Trojans are Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas and KJ Lewis.

Rice is back after suffering a season ending injury early in the season last year. Before that, the former Maryland guard averaged 20.3 points per game over the first six games and he is back and ready for a full season of basketball.

Alijah Arenas was supposed to be a one-and-done, but he is back after an injury stalled his NBA plans and his sophomore jump could put him amongst the best players in the conference after averaging 14.1 points per game during his freshman campaign.

And former Arizona and Georgetown guard KJ Lewis will join the group after averaging 14.9 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game.

Jacob Cofie is back for his junior season after averaging 9.9 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game and possibly heading to the NBA.

They also brought in Eric Reibe, a 7’1 former McDonalds All-American transfer from UConn and they are adding 5-star freshman Christian Collins, another McDonalds All-American.

The Trojans will be very solid next season.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas basketball sophomore Isaiah Sealy sustained a knee injury in a recent practice that will require surgery, according to a social media post from head coach John Calipari.

Calipari said that the Razorbacks do not know the current timeline for Sealy's return.

"I am disappointed for him because he has gotten so much better and spent time working on his game," Calipari wrote on the 'X' app.

USC assistant coach Will Conroy shared what his expectations are for the incoming freshmen next season. Conroy said the Ratliff twins will eventually become NBA champions and predicts Collins to become a USC fan favorite.

“Their talent and their length stand out. The Ratliff twins can do things that other guys can only dream of doing — like, you can really only create players like them on NBA 2K. Because they’ve been so much better, talented and taller than everybody, the biggest key is turning their motors on. Once they do that, their ceiling is ridiculous. They’ll be on NBA championship teams at some point,” Conroy said, per USC Athletics.

Adonis Ratliff is ranked as the No. 22 overall prospect in the nation, while Darius Ratliff is ranked No. 28 by 247Sports. Meanwhile, Collins is USC’s highest ranked recruit at No. 9 in the nation. All three incoming freshmen were selected as 2026 McDonald’s All-Americans.

Conroy said Collins’ energy on the court will be a trait that Trojans fans love next season.

“And while Christian Collins is a little bit shorter than those guys, that guy’s motor never stops. He’ll be a fan favorite because of how hard he plays. He can do a little bit of everything: he’s an offensive rebounding machine and he can go down the lane and dunk on you. He’s going to be fun to watch while we have him,” Conroy said.

With the addition of the freshmen trio, USC will look to make it back to the NCAA Tournament after losing in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament last season.

Photo Credit: Seth Harrison/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The post USC MBB Assistant Coach Has High Expectations for Incoming Freshmen Trio appeared first on LA Sports Report.

"Duke narrowly edged Florida as the No. 1 overall seed in the latest simulation from the CBS Sports Bracketology model following the NBA draft withdrawal deadline," authors David Cobb and Jacob Fetner offer.

Cobb and Fetner cite the Blue Devils' addition of John Blackwell, who was ranked third among all transfer portal candidates, along with the nation's No. 1 recruiting class, as reasons for the change at the top of the projections. They also note the return of key rotation players Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba as contributors to Duke's ascent.

However, Florida had an impressive offseason as well, with its starting frontcourt — arguably the best in the country last year — all withdrawing from the NBA draft to return for another run with the Orange and Blue.

"The Gators are bringing back four starters, including three in Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, who played key roles on the program's 2025 title team. There is, however, uncertainty over whether guard Denzel Aberdeen will get an NCAA waiver to play a fifth season.

"Regardless, the Gators are neck and neck with Duke for the No. 1 overall seed in our Bracketology model's offseason evaluation."

SEC schools in ESPN's 2027 bracketology

The Southeastern Conference has 10 schools — down from 11 in the previous update — mentioned in this edition of CBS Sports' bracketology, which puts it two behind the Big Ten and one behind the Big 12; the ACC has nine to round out the Power Four conferences. The only other leagues with more than two among the 76-team field are the Big East with five, and the Pac-12 and Atlantic 10 with a pair.

Florida remains the highest-seeded team of the bunch at No. 1 in the South, while the Tennessee Volunteers moved up to a No. 3 seed in the East. Following them are the Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 4, Midwest), Texas Longhorns (No. 4, West), Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 5, South), Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 5, West), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 7, Midwest), Auburn Tigers (No. 8, West), Missouri Tigers (No. 9, East) and Texas A&M Aggies (No. 9, Midwest).

The LSU Tigers are listed among the first four out, while the Georgia Bulldogs dropped out of the bracketology after previously being seeded at No. 10 in the Midwest.

CBS Sports' 2027 NCAA Tournament Bracketology

Last Four In

• Baylor
• Virginia Tech
• Oregon
• San Diego State

First Four Out

• LSU
• TCU
• Florida State
• Iowa

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball's seeding in CBS Sports' bracketology update

The lone Kansas basketball player receiving attention leading up to the NBA Draft is star guard Darryn Peterson, and rightfully so. The phenom is considered a generational prospect and is viewed as a likely top-2 pick next week.

While he deserves all the hype he has been receiving, some of his former teammates also have an opportunity to carve out careers in the NBA, albeit in vastly different roles. Those players are his two backcourt mates from Lawrence, Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White.

Neither former Jayhawk is expected to hear their name called on draft night, but both will undoubtedly receive looks from NBA teams once the event concludes. Multiple organizations have already expressed interest in Council and White, who have completed individual workouts with teams such as the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Sacramento Kings.

Council shined at the G League Combine and turned plenty of heads despite not receiving an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine. White has been more of an under-the-radar prospect, but his point-of-attack defense and 3-point shooting make him an intriguing wing for teams to monitor.

Aside from his offensive limitations, Council is the exact type of player coaches want on their roster. He started all 35 games for the Jayhawks this past season, averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per contest.

What truly makes Council special, though, is his personality and grit on the court. In just one season at Kansas, he quickly became a fan favorite by playing with relentless energy and never shying away from being himself.

White, on the other hand, averaged 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Like Council, he joined the Jayhawks for the 2025-26 season as a transfer from Illinois, shooting a team-best 40.3% from 3-point range and consistently displaying the hustle and toughness that made him a fixture in Kansas' rotation.

Both players will naturally be overshadowed by Peterson when discussing KU's NBA prospects this year. Still, Jayhawk fans should keep an eye on where Council and White land after the draft, whether that comes in the form of an NBA contract, a two-way deal, or an opportunity in the G League.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/kansas as Two Kansas Jayhawks Who NBA Teams Are Overlooking Ahead of Draft.

The Kentucky Wildcats are already looking like a formidable outfit in the off season, with not too long to go before the new campaign begins, but it’s clear that Mark Pope isn’t quite done with recruiting just yet.

Despite the high profile acquisition of Milan Momcilovic, the return of Malachi Moreno after his departure from the NBA draft on withdrawal deadline, and the recruitment of talented four-star Ryan Hampton, there is still scope for at least one more addition in the Kentucky squad.

And per reports, Pope appears to be targeting Serbian star Nikola Kusturica to be that final piece of the puzzle. The only problem? There’s heavy competition to recruit him.

Per the report, Gonzaga appear to be the frontrunners to sign Nikola Kusturica, who has yet to make his decision about whether moving to an American college is the right call to make, but considering the benefits of NIL money, it might well be the right move.

As for Kentucky, they are reportedly in the hunt, and fans want the player to make the commitment as soon as possible.

“He could do a 2 year deal, redshirt, bulk up and learn the system. Then hit the ground running to be the number 1 pick in 2028 🤷🏻‍♂️,” one fan said.

“I can just imagine how good Kentucky’s offense could be with this dude added to the roster!,” another said.

“Our starting 4,” a fan simply said.

“Gonzaga being the clear favourite is interesting if true. Fogle and Kusturica is a nasty wing duo,” another pointed out.

“If Kusturica leaves this summer too, the damage to the Barça junior is historic,” a fan pointed out after translation.

Who is Nikola Kusturica?

At 6 feet 7 inches tall, Kusturica is one of the tallest Serbian players currently involved in the EuroLeague, with some traits that would be ideal for Kentucky.

He averaged 11 points and 5.8 rebounds in 34 international games during the 2025-26 season, and despite Milan Momcilovic’s similar traits, Kusturica would be the perfect fit to give the Iowa State transfer company.

At 17, he still has a lot to learn, but experience at FC Barcelona has added much needed exposure and experience, which could be vital if college basketball is on the horizon.

Read more:

John Calipari Shares Heartwarming Moment With Karl-Anthony Towns’ Dad After Knicks Victory

‘It Wasn’t Like That’: Cameron Boozer Opens Up About Carving His Own Path Beyond His Father’s Legacy

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball,tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

UCLA is one of the true top-tier programs in college basketball, contributing plenty of entertaining championship-caliber teams and players, and the greatest college basketball coach of all time in John Wooden.

The Bruin basketball legacy puts plenty of pressure on those who wear the uniform to live up to the accomplishments of the greats who came before them, but lately, it hasn't lived up to those tremendous expectations, and pressure is mounting for it to return to the top.

UCLA's Last Championship

UCLA has an NCAA record 11 men's basketball national championships to its credit, with 10 coming during its glory years under Wooden. However, it's been a struggle to get back there since he left, and UCLA has only reached the title game three times since his tenure ended, posting a 1-2 record.

It's now been 31 years since the Bruins last won the title. There are plenty of program's who have gone longer, but with the standards UCLA has set for itself, time is ticking on a return to glory. And the first step is returning to the Final Four.

Final Four History

UCLA has made 19 Final Fours in its history, with 13 appearances coming under Wooden's watch. Larry Brown and Gene Bartow also got them there, and Jim Harrick coached the Bruins to a national championship in 1995. Yet since Harrick's departure, UCLA has reached the national semifinals just four times.

Its other most successful run came under Ben Howland in the early/mid 2000s, when the Bruins went to three consecutive Final Fours and lost a championship game, and the last appearance came during a Cinderella run in 2021 under the current coaching staff.

Since The Last Final Four

It's now been five years since UCLA went to a Final Four, meaning multiple recruiting classes have come and gone without reaching the national semifinals. In that time, the Bruins have made four additional NCAA Tournament appearances, only reaching the second weekend twice.

Even their best team that won 31 games during the 2021-22 season, tied for the most since the program's three consecutive Final Four teams, couldn't make it past the Sweet 16.

But what seems to be making it worse is the recent underachievements. The Bruins have started the last two seasons as a top-25 team but stumbled to a 7-seed for the NCAA Tournament just to be eliminated in the second round. That won't cut it for the UCLA program, and a return to the Final Four must happen soon, or the Bruins will have to hit reset again.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/ucla as Mounting Final Four Expectations Force UCLA Basketball Into Crucial Modern Crossroads.

What’s going on, y’all? It’s officially the “off-season” for Oregon sports, so that means… Big Ten Basketball previews are back! And today, we’re going to be looking at the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers finished the ‘25-’26 season with a 18-14 record, finishing 10th in coach Darian DeVries’ inaugural season at IU. He will have essentially an entire new roster once again this season, after losing 12 players (5 graduated, 7 transfers). Among those graduating is Lamar Wilkerson, far and away their best player last season, averaging just shy of 21 points a game, on 46% shooting, and DeVries’ son Tucker, who was the Hoosiers 2nd leading scorer at just under 14 points per game.

Indiana hit the portal hard to replace their departing players, notably snagging the #6 Transfer Portal class in all of college basketball, according to 24/7 sports. Players to watch from that incoming group of transfers include Aiden Sherrell, a 6’11”, 255 lb. power forward who started 34 games for Alabama last season. Sherrell put up solid numbers for the Crimson Tide, averaging 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on 54% from the field, as well as being able to shoot the ball a little bit (33.8% from three, 71.3% from the line). I think, in what I’m assuming will be a slightly expanded role in Bloomington, Sherrell will step up and have a good year for the Hoosiers. I like his game a lot.

They also grabbed Markus Burton, an undersized point guard from Notre Dame, at just 5’11”. But don’t let the size fool you, this dude can BALL. Burton was a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish and averaged 19.1 points per game on ~44% shooting, and just under two steals per game for his career at ND. He could do big things for this Hoosiers team, if he can stay healthy (played just 10 games in ‘25-’26).

The last player I want to touch on is Turkish-born, and SMU transfer, center Samet Yigitoglu. Yigitoglu is a behemoth of a man, at 7’2”, 265 lbs., who started 66 games for SMU over the last two seasons. He holds career averages of 10.4 points, on 58.3% from the floor, and 7.1 rebounds per game. The man is large, and will no doubt be able to disrupt things in the paint for the Hoosiers, but he desperately needs to improve his shooting ability, shooting just 53% from the foul line for his career.

In general, I like what the Hoosiers have done this off-season. Losing essentially your entire roster and having to rebuild on the fly is incredibly difficult, and I think they handled it just about as well as you could hope for. I think this team has the potential to be in the top third of the conference, but only if Burton can stay on the floor. He is the X-Factor, to me. This team will go as he goes.

The Ducks will play host to the Hoosiers this season, but at this time, it is not clear when that game will take place.

As always, ‘Sco Ducks.

An interesting piece of news surfaced earlier this week when an Arkansas insider reported that former Razorback big man Malique Ewin was interested in Kansas. The former Ole Miss and Florida State standout is coming off a season in which he served as Arkansas' sixth man off the bench.

While the source was unconfirmed, it gave Jayhawk fans a sliver of hope that the team could make one more meaningful addition to next year's roster through the transfer portal. At this stage of the offseason, fans will take any tidbit of information they can get.

While Ewin is not entirely out of reach for Bill Self and Co., it appears highly unlikely that this rumor ever comes to fruition. Ewin is seeking a ruling that would allow him to play an additional year at the NCAA level after spending one season at the JUCO ranks.

Shreyas Laddha of the Kansas City Star and KC Sports Network explained why this is such a tricky scenario on a recent episode of the Pay Heed Podcast.

"I reached out to him a few days ago, and he got back to me," Laddha said. "He basically told me that he'd have conversations and kept in touch with coach Bill Self. But it's hard to get a feel if he is actually going to get this fifth year eligibility waiver."

Co-host Nick Springer noted that Ewin only spent one year at a community college, which could make a favorable ruling more likely in his case than someone like former KU guard Melvin Council Jr., who spent two years at the junior college level. Regardless, it doesn't sound like something the fanbase or coaching staff should be banking on.

Ewin has bounced around throughout his college career, playing for four schools in as many years. His best campaign came in 2024-25, when he averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists at Florida State while leading the ACC with a 59.6% field-goal percentage.

Standing 6-foot-10 and 220 pounds, Ewin would immediately enter the conversation to start at center for the Jayhawks if he were to commit. There are questions about how Charleston transfer Christian Reeves will perform at the high-major level and whether returning sophomore Paul Mbiya can take the necessary leap in his development.

Ewin is easily the most polished big man of that group and has experience both starting and coming off the bench for winning teams. He possesses many of the veteran qualities you'd want from a center, especially one playing alongside a star talent like true freshman Tyran Stokes.

Laddha did not completely rule out the possibility of Ewin ending up at Kansas at some point this offseason. It sounds as though, if the NCAA grants him another year of eligibility, many around the program would expect him to end up in Lawrence.

However, Jayhawk fans shouldn't get too excited until a ruling is made. As things stand today, it seems more likely than not that the NCAA denies his case.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/kansas as Why Kansas Fans Should Temper Expectations for Landing Malique Ewin.

The Kentucky Wildcats landed one of the biggest additions of the offseason when they secured former Iowa State Cyclone standout Milan Momcilovic. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier shooters, Momcilovic brings elite floor spacing, proven scoring ability, and valuable experience.

Kentucky Basketball Projected Top 15 After Milan Momcilovic Commitment

With Momcilovic now in the fold, Kentucky has climbed into the conversation for a preseason Top 15 ranking. A rise even higher if the rest of the roster comes together as expected. The Wildcats needed a player who could elevate their ceiling, and Momcilovic may be exactly that piece.

Before the commitment of Momcilovic, Kentucky looked like a team fighting to secure a favorable NCAA Tournament seed. The Wildcats had talent, but questions remained about consistent scoring, perimeter shooting, and whether they had enough firepower to compete with the SEC’s elite.

For Mark Pope, the commitment represents a significant offseason victory. What appeared to be a turbulent offseason at times, with roster turnover and questions surrounding the Wildcats’ direction, has quickly shifted back toward optimism.

Kentucky Basketball's 2026–27 Outlook: From Question Marks To SEC Title Hopes And Dreams

After testing the NBA Draft process and returning to Lexington, Malachi Moreno enters a pivotal sophomore season. Kentucky will rely on him to anchor the paint, protect the rim, and provide a consistent interior presence against SEC competition.

This is a player worth watching, as his development could be the key to Kentucky going from simply good to making a serious run in the NCAA Tournament. A strong sophomore season could pay big dividends for the Wildcats.

Zoom Diallo brings toughness, playmaking ability, and experience to the Wildcats’ backcourt. A lead guard, he’ll be tasked with controlling the pace, creating opportunities for teammates, and making big plays in crucial moments. The big key is that Diallo performs as expected. He could be one of the key reasons the Wildcats emerge as an SEC contender and spend the season in the national rankings.

The roster construction also reflects a noticeable shift from last season. In Pope's first year, the Wildcats had a clearer identity with players who fit the system more naturally, playing with pace, spacing, and defined roles.

The other key addition to the backcourt is Furman transfer Alex Wilkins, joining a group that also includes the return of Kam Williams. Together, those moves give Kentucky more shooting, spacing, and versatility on the perimeter. Opening up the offense and making the Wildcats significantly harder to guard in Pope's system.

With a more cohesive roster, Kentucky has the pieces to flip several of those narrow losses into wins this season. The team comes together as expected; the Wildcats won't just be more competitive. They'll be positioned to close out games, climb the SEC standings, and firmly reestablish themselves as a contender.

End Of My Kentucky Basketball Rant

Now, all of it circles back to Year 3 under Mark Pope. After a rocky year that fueled outside criticism and job-security talk. The offseason swing gives the program something it clearly needed:

For Kentucky, Year 3 under Pope comes with a different kind of temperature than the first two seasons. The early roster volatility and portal imbalance that defined parts of Year 2 aren't the same story anymore. After late additions like Milan Momcilovic helped stabilize the rotation picture.

For more Kentucky Basketball coverage, Kentucky Wildcats Must Act Fast To Prevent Season Derailment.

Subscribe to College SportsCast for fun, original college sports shows. Do not miss our weekly Big Blue HoopsCast Show for more Kentucky basketball recaps, previews, and analysis.

The post Milan Momcilovic Pushes Kentucky Into National Status appeared first on Stadium Rant.

It’s one of the biggest groups of newcomers in the Brad Underwood era at Illinois.

And on Friday, the Illini revealed the jersey numbers for the seven offseason additions, which includes six high school products.

Take a look there. Any specific numbers you like? Don’t like?

Obviously there’s a great history with 11, so that stands out for Quentin Coleman. May he follow in the footsteps of Ayo and Dee?

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Basketball has always been about putting the ball in the basket. But for coaches evaluating rosters in the offseason, the more pressing question is often what happens after the ball comes off the rim.

How do you build for what comes next?

For what it's worth, I think Virginia Tech men's basketball did a stellar job of rebuilding through the portal. Though the Hokies lost Neoklis Avdalas to North Carolina and Christian Gurdak to Rutgers, they did a solid job of replacing both through the aggregate. Next year's roster will presumably not have a player with the potential pop Avdalas possessed - ex: the Greek prospect's 33-point outburst against Providence on Nov. 8 - but it should possess a potential higher, and at least more consistent floor.

Virginia Tech's 2025-26 season, one in which it went 19-13 (8-10 ACC), was undone by lapses in judgement. That applies both in one play, such as the Boopie Miller half-court triple to send SMU to a 77-76 win.

It also applies over the course of cascading outcomes, such as the inbounding gaffe from Avdalas to forward Amani Hansberry, who the Field of 68 listed as the No. 40 returning player in college basketball for the 2026-27 season, that preceded it. Virginia Tech's 2026-27 season may be more fruitful than its 2025-26 campaign, not because the skill level is higher - that remains to be seen - but because the lapses in judgement that defined last season may be fewer and far between. The sting of the 2025-26 season should linger. Virginia Tech's season was one capable of ending in the NCAA Tournament, but the team fell by the wayside due to nine one-score losses against ACC teams, including four by one possession and six by two or fewer.

One of the best returning players in college basketball.

No debate. pic.twitter.com/QUZElPbThM

- Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) May 29, 2026

The Hokies may still have some of those issues lingering, but one side effect of Avdalas' exit is that Virginia Tech will presumably run with an offensive engine more prototypical of head coach Mike Young's previous outfits.

The Hokies ran more in 2025-26, and they slowed down once the ball was placed into sophomore guard Ben Hammond's hands. While Hammond has proven that he can be dynamic, he also fits the mold of a Young system more. While he has the jitterbug-style of play as a guard, he's become more adept at slowing the pace down rather than playing at an uber-frenetic pace as he did in his freshman year. Expecting an evolution from Hammond feels reasonable, and that in turn, obviously benefits Virginia Tech.

Beyond that, it feels like the Hokies have more consistency, even if they don't have as much presumed star power. Oklahoma State transfer guard Jaylen Curry adds a change-of-pace option as the sixth man, while Florida Atlantic transfer guard Isaiah Elohim brings proven production from last year with the Owls (12.4ppg, 4.2rpg).

While I do think that the 2026-27 season has the potential to be better than 2025-26, that doesn't mean I'm sold. Virginia Tech is now without the player that has the capability to be the man, as Avdalas could be at points. And while it could emerge from internal improvement, the Hokies are likely better suited to do so in the aggregate this season.

Virginia Tech's first announced game at the time of writing is against Coppin State on Nov. 3.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/virginiatech as Hughes: Virginia Tech Well-Positioned For 2026-27, Though Sting of 2025-26 Should Still Linger.

The Illinois basketball program is struggling to surpass the Michigan Wolverines in various Big Ten power rankings across the internet.

Coming off a run to the Final Four, the Illini have had a great offseason. They were fortunate enough to retain five of their key offensive weapons from a year ago, while also signing an elite recruiting class led by five-star guard Quentin Coleman.

All signs for Illinois are pointing straight up, as Brad Underwood will look to take another shot at winning a national title come March. But according to analysts like the NCAA's Andy Katz, it looks like the Wolverines will be the team to beat in the Big Ten this season.

The latest @TheAndyKatz@B1GMBBall Power Rankings have dropped as summer workouts get underway

Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/8fMQPiY9Gc

- Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) June 10, 2026

Michigan, which won the national championship last season by defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63, was one of the most dominant teams in the country. They were a strong force in their trek through the NCAA tournament, defeating their opponents by an average of 19 points per game.

This season, Michigan will be without Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara, as their three top scorers from a year ago have entered the NBA Draft. But to combat those major losses, the Wolverines brought in a top-5 recruiting class for 2026, led by five-star point guard Brandon McCoy Jr.

The Big Ten is a two-horse race between Michigan and Illinois, with Michigan State looking to make some noise

As an Illinois fan, it's hard not to say that the Illini should be No. 1 in every preseason power ranking that is published on the internet. They have an experienced group of Final Four participants returning, and their own five-star recruit in Coleman.

The Illini have a great, proven team on paper that was able to add complementary pieces in their recruits and transfer guard Stefan Vaaks. They may have lost guards Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell to the NBA Draft, but there is still plenty of veteran firepower from top to bottom.

If fans want to make the argument that Michigan and Illinois are interchangeable, I am willing to entertain that discussion. But on paper, until proven otherwise, Illinois has the most impressive roster.

Take experience over a team that's missing its top three scorers until proven otherwise

• Recent bump in NBA Mock Draft has Keaton Wagler stepping on a land mine
• Brad Underwood has Illinois basketball in reach of the Big Ten crown
• Kylan Boswell adds NBA Draft workout with recent legendary dynasty
• Keaton Wagler could experience crazy NBA Draft night with projected trade landing him locally

This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as Illinois basketball's Big Ten foe receiving champions treatment in recent basketball power rankings.

We’re cracking the Top 15 in this week’s drop of the Top 25 players since 1989 for the Michigan men’s basketball program. This group is a slight tier up in our scoring model from last week’s rendition, with us cracking the 90-point range. Without further ado, let’s jump right in.

No. 16 – F Iggy Brazdeikis – Score: 87.2

The 2018-19 season was one to remember for the Wolverines, opening the season on a 17-game winning streak after making an improbable run to the National Championship the year prior. The team was expected to be good, but I don’t know if anyone expected them to get off to that kind of start and be a 30-win team, especially after the departure of talents like Moritz Wagner, Duncan Robinson, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Jon Teske.

But little drop off happened because of the emergence and dominance of a true freshman —- Ignas Brazdeikis. He immediately brought an edge and filled the shoes of the “villain” on the team from Wagner’s departure.

By the end of the season, Brazdeikis was the best player on the team, averaging 14.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting just under 40 percent from three; he scored at least 20 points per game 10 times. He made the unfortunate decision to head to the NBA Draft after being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, an All-Big Ten second-team performer and an All-American honorable mention.

In case you are interested in what he is doing today, Brazdeikis plays for Zalgiris Kaunas in the Lithuanian Basketball League and internationally in the EuroLeague. It’s his second stint with the team after playing in just 64 games over a three-year NBA career playing for the Knicks, 76ers and Magic.

No. 15 – G Daniel Horton – Score: 89.7

Cracking the Top 15 is former McDonald’s All-American Daniel Horton. That designation is important because Horton chose to go to Michigan and play for Tommy Amaker during one of the most difficult periods in the history of the program.

In desperate need for a star after the Ed Martin scandal, Horton delivered. In 2003, he won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was Second-Team All-Big Ten after averaging more than 15 points and four assists per game. The Wolverines finished with their first winning record in four years because of his leadership at such a young age.

Horton was the Wolverines’ leading scorer the following season, as the program ended a five-year drought of not reaching 20 wins. That’s because the team went on a run in the NIT, eventually winning the championship after beating Oregon and Rutgers in their final two matchups.

After Horton was suspended for the majority his junior season because of a domestic violence incident, he returned for a senior season for the history books. He broke the Big Ten record for free throw percentage, converting at a 90.1 percent rate after being a career 73.6 from the charity stripe. He also put on a show against No. 8 Illinois, scoring a career-high 39 points in an upset win. He was an All-Big Ten first-team performer averaging more than 17 points per game as a senior.

Horton finished towards the top of almost every major category in program history — 11th in points, second in steals, second in three-pointers and fourth in assists.

No. 14 – F Moritz Wagner – Score: 90.2

Wager is the face of the second-half of John Beilein’s tenure at Michigan. In his sophomore season, Wagner made the starting rotation and began to make a name for himself highlighted by a 26-point, 11-rebound performance in an NCAA Tournament upset over the 2-seeded Louisville Cardinals.

Wagner became the team’s leading scorer in a storybook 2017-18 season where the Wolverines made it back to the National Championship. He averaged 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and was the Big Ten Tournament MVP as the Wolverines won their second consecutive tournament.

Overshadowed by Jordan Poole’s buzzer-beater that was the peak of the NCAA Tournament run, Wagner dropped 21 in the Sweet 16 dismantling of Texas A&M, and then had a career performance against Loyola Chicago in the Final Four with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

At 6-foot-11, Wagner could do a bit of everything, making him a really tough cover for his competition. Michigan State learned that the hard way in the Breslin Center in a massive midseason win for the Wolverines over the No. 4 team in the country.

Wagner had two Sweet 16 appearances, a Final Four appearance, two Big Ten Tournament championships, and was a two-time All-Big Ten performer. He was the heart and soul of one of the most surprising runs in Michigan basketball history.

More in this series

• The Top 25 Michigan men’s basketball players since 1989: No. 25-23
• The Top 25 Michigan men’s basketball players since 1989: No. 22-20
• The Top 25 Michigan men’s basketball players since 1989: No.19-17

Former Duke Blue Devil Isaiah Evans has seen his draft stock fluctuate a lot in recent weeks, but the most recent projections favor him much more than what he's been seeing of late.

Evans blossomed into a true secondary scorer for the Blue Devils as a sophomore last season. After averaging a little over 6 points per game as a freshman, Evans brought his scoring average up to 15 points per game in the 2025-26 season. Evans played a major part in Duke's deep NCAA Tournament runs in each of the last two seasons.

Evans's Strengths

His three-point shooting is his true calling card. Evans shot 38 percent from three-point range over his two seasons with the Blue Devils on nearly 6 attempts per game. The 6-foot-6 guard has other tools in his bag, but his marksmanship from downtown is what will earn him playing time at the next level.

Evans opted to stay in the draft after mulling a decision to return to college, which could be a risky maneuver given how unclear his draft stock has appeared. Some mock boards have him being a top-25 pick this summer, while others exclude him from the first round entirely, making him a second-round pick.

In Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor's latest mock draft, he projects that Evans will be a first-round pick, being chosen with the 28th pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Given Minnesota's roster situation, it could open up a lane for Evans to get playing time early on in his career if he ends up with the Timberwolves. The projection is also a slight rise for Evans, as he was previously projected to be a second-round selection by O'Connor a week ago. M

O'Connor's Thoughts

"Just look at how crucial Mike Conley still was to the Timberwolves in these playoffs. But he's 38. And Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland will both be upcoming free agents. The Wolves might need a secondary shot creator that can double up as a scorer".

"Evans is the kind of shooter that defenses guard and think they've got him contained, then he uses a screen and catches it off a full sprint, moving away from the rim, and somehow manages to rise into a perfect 3-pointer".

"He's a legitimate sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive without even running any offense for himself, and he also has a developing handle that could unlock more creation chances. But he's still a perimeter-based player who needs to add more layers to his game to become a complete offensive talent," O'Connor said.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as Isaiah Evans Silences Pre-Draft Skeptics With Sudden Rise on National Mock Draft Boards.

Newly hired head coach Michael Malone had his work cut out for him upon arrival in Chapel Hill, with the North Carolina Tar Heels' roster in complete shambles at the time of his appointment.

Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar, and Seth Trimble were all inevitable departures this offseason, but losing five other key contributors from last season's roster was an avalanche that seemed inescapable. However, Malone achieved the impossible, completely revamped the roster while assembling an allotment of talent ready to compete in the ACC right away.

In total, North Carolina added four players in the transfer portal, with Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas representing the inaugural addition of the Malone era. With that in mind, here are the best- and worst-case scenarios for the Greek guard/forward in his potential lone season in Chapel Hill.

Best-Case Scenario

Avdalas' offensive versatility was one of, if not the main reason, Malone heavily pursued the 6-foot-9, 216-pound guard, and prioritized the European talent as his first addition to the roster. In 2025, Avdalas averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 31. 4 percent from three-point range.

The production profile is certainly promising, and although efficiency is a work in progress, Avdalas proved that he can operate as a true point guard. And that is exactly how the Tar Heels will hit their ceiling.

If the Virginia Tech product can run the offense smoothly while offering a threat off the dribble, which he illustrated countless times, North Carolina could be one of the most potent offenses in the country.

The sophomore can operate at both guard positions and on the wing, but ideally, Avdalas running the offense as the primary ball handler raises the ceiling exponentially. For that to happen, Avdalas must present as a legitimate threat at all three levels, which he is more than capable of delivering.

Worst-Case Scenario

There are not an egregious number of holes in Avdalas' game, and his weaknesses are very fixable. Those shooting percentages need to improve. If they don't, which again, I expect that they will, this offense will be somewhat hindered by that.

Shooting just over 30 percent from beyond the arc will not force defenders to step out onto the perimeter and respect Avdalas' jump shot. That will lead to teams packing the paint and leaving Avdalas vacant on the perimeter.

Sayon Keita possesses all the tools to develop into a physically dominant center, but he needs space to operate. Avdalas' shooting ability will be monumental in Keita's ability to navigate and create leverage in the paint.

Similar to most players in this system, I expect Avdalas to flourish, but if Avdalas struggles offensively, it could somewhat derail the Tar Heels' ceiling and aspirations this upcoming season.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/unc as Virginia Tech Transfer Neoklis Avdalas Holds Key to Ramped-Up Tar Heels Offense.

The NCAA Tournament is a unique experience for teams and fanbases. On one hand, an early exit or upset by a lower-ranked team can completely taint a season and turn the offseason into doom and gloom with no signs of hope.

On the other hand, a run in March Madness can completely flip the script and create a palpable buzz around a program that can be a sign of things to come or eagerness to believe in a team after a small sample size.

The Iowa Hawkeyes face the latter entering the 2026-27 season. Iowa found its way to the Elite 8 after a great run, but are those future expectations for this program, or creating an impossible standard?

Iowa is replacing a lot of production

With the NCAA Tournament expanding to 76 teams, there is a real world where missing the tournament is an objective failure of a season for the Iowa Hawkeyes, even with the production gap they now face.

Bennett Stirtz carried Iowa this season as a coach on the court. He played almost every minute of every game and knew Ben McCollum's system better than anyone. Also gone from Iowa's run are Tavion Banks and Alvaro Folgueiras.

This is a sizable production gap Iowa must replenish, and although they have dug in the portal, plugging in starters in the Big Ten is much easier said than done. The Big Ten is a gauntlet every single night. Showing up and being competitive in the conference isn't a walk in the park.

Ben McCollum deserves the benefit of the doubt

Now, those transfers - Ben McCollum saw something in them. Highlighted by the additions of Ty'Reek Coleman (Illinois State) and Andrew McKeever (Saint Mary's), McCollum has plugged in two starters.

Coleman figures to be in command of this offense, while McKeever gives Iowa a true post presence, something they lacked at times last year. At 7-foot-2, he can be a true rim protector and force on the boards for the Hawkeyes.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, do you want to be the one to bet against Ben McCollum? The guy who is 450-108 in his career with 13 NCAA Tournament appearances in 17 years?

Iowa basketball resides in the upper-middle of the Big Ten

The Big Ten is loaded once again. It is very top-heavy, with Illinois, Michigan, and Michigan State all being capable of cutting down the nets. Then you have a middle group that includes Iowa, USC, Purdue, which is replacing a ton, Ohio State, Indiana, and Nebraska.

Anyone from that group could emerge as a newcomer to the top of the conference, while just as easily missing the NCAA Tournament. That is how small the gap in the Big Ten is this year.

So, for Iowa, this team has to prove consistency to join the top group, but the Hawkeyes should expect to be a fringe top-25 team all year, playing for seeding in the NCAA Tournament rather than simply hoping to get in.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/iowa as Is Iowa Basketball Being Underrated or Overrated in the Big Ten for 2026-27?.

The Duke basketball program returned much more of its rotation from last season than most fans are used to seeing. Of the three starters that head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff were able to get back, arguably none were more important than big man Patrick Ngongba.

Ngongba will enter his junior season in Durham with the potential to be an All-ACC performer. The 6'11" big man was the Blue Devils' biggest breakout during the 2025-26 season, and figures to grow even more in his third year with the program.

The Virginia native went from averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds as a rookie, sitting behind future top-10 NBA Draft choice Khaman Maluach, to averaging 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks a night on 60.6% shooting from the field.

Ngongba Could Have Been First-Round Pick in 2026 NBA Draft

Across his sophomore campaign, Ngongba grew in more ways than most Duke fans thought was feasible. His footwork, ability to protect the rim, and offensive arsenal as a whole improved dramatically.

After attempting just one three-pointer through his entire rookie year, Ngongba attempted 31 as a sophomore, connecting on eight. As a proven defensive anchor, shot-blocker, and passer, Ngongba played his way into becoming a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, leaving an intriguing decision following the 2025-26 season.

As a projected mid-to-late first-round selection in today's NIL era of college basketball, Ngongba had a legitimate debate to either make the jump to the NBA or potentially make more money in the college game. Ultimately, the big man elected to come back to school.

Ngongba will now enter his third season with the Blue Devils as one of the most crucial pieces of the roster, mainly on the defensive side of the ball. Alongside newcomers Drew Scharnowski, Cameron Williams, and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Duke assuredly has the personnel to be the best defensive frontcourt unit in the country next season. It will all flow through Ngongba down low.

Additionally, his passing ability will help take this Duke offense to a whole new level, especially if he can at least be a threat from the perimeter to move the defense out.

The value of Ngongba's return is recognized on a national scale.

Patrick Ngongba Deemed One of Nation's Top Retentions

CBS Sports' Cameron Salerno released his list of the top retentions for the 2026-27 college hoops season, and Ngongba was ranked fourth.

"He [Ngongba] was by far the biggest name the Blue Devils are bringing back, as he is expected to anchor the defense next to five-star forward Cameron Williams. After being a backup on Duke's Final Four team in 2025, he had a breakout season and started 28 games. Ngongba is a name to know for the 2027 NBA Draft," Salerno said.

Ngongba will have expectations to be an All-ACC-caliber performer and an All-ACC Defensive Team performer. As the anchor of the Blue Devils' frontcourt, his health will be a massive part of next season's Duke team.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as The Real Reason Patrick Ngongba Just Saved Duke 2026 Title Hopes.

If T.O. Barrett had entered the transfer portal after his freshman season, I doubt there would be many who would have blinked. After all he only saw action in 19 games, rarely played more than a handful of minutes when he did play, and was sitting behind Anthony Robinson II on the depth chart. That’s usually when you see a guy bounce.

But Barrett stuck it out, believing he could see a larger role as a sophomore, and he did see a larger role.

The first 19 games of the year Barrett came off the bench, but averaged 18.4 minutes per game, but only chipped in 5.9 points a contest. But with Robinson struggling, Dennis Gates turned to Barrett in an attempt to ressurect their fledgling NCAA Touranment hopes, and Barrett delivered. Over the final 12 games, Barrett started all 12 while averaging 28.9 minutes, and 12.4 points per game. Mizzou went 7-7 over that span, but they picked up 4 quad 1 wins over that span, which was enough to secure them a tournament berth.

Much of T.O.’s game was known before his breakout. He’s not a shooter, but at 6’4 and 200 pounds, he’s a powerful driver. He’s adept at getting his body into the defender and creating enough angles and space to get his shot off.

But with his increased role his efficiency suffered. On the season he shot 52.2% from inside the arc, but over the last 14 games that percentage was just 46.6%. And he knocked down just 7 three pointers, with 6 of them coming in just three games. So for 14 games, Mizzou had a non-shooting threat who was struggling to finish around the rim at times.

Not always though. When T.O. was on he could be electric. I doube few will forget his epic 28 point night against Tennessee, leading the Tigers to a must have win in their quest for the NCAA Tournament. Barrett overpowered the smaller UT guards, and he pounded them for 12 makes on 17 attempts, all inside the 3 point arc. And just two of those were even outside the paint. But that was the TO experience, when things were going as they were against Tennessee, he could be scintilating.

Here were his 2FG makes and attempts in the final 14 games:

• Oklahoma: 8-11
• Alabama: 3-7
• Mississippi State: 1-7
• South Carolina: 4-9
• Texas A&M: 7-10
• Texas: 2-9
• Vanderbilt: 1-5
• Arkansas: 2-3
• Tennessee: 12-17
• Mississippi State: 4-8
• Oklahoma:: 2-5
• Arkansas: 4-10
• Kentucky: 4-10
• Miami: 0-5

You can see when T.O. was higher in usage and effective, Missouri usually won. In particular they beat OU, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. Three of the most important wins on the season, and T.O. was there. But down the stretch, he struggled, Mizzou struggled, and the wins didn’t come along.

After the season it seemed hit or miss whether Barrett would return. He left, then he was maybe back, then he was gone again, then he committed to Vanderbilt. Barretts physical style will be missed in the backcourt, but college basketball now isn’t like that of even a four years ago. The financials didn’t match up for either party and Barrett had to find a new home.

Past Reviews:

• Sebastian Mack
• Anthony Robinson II

Naturally, Izzo and the Spartans are a top contender for Cleaves Jr., but nothing is a sure thing in the NIL era of recruiting in college athletics. The Orchard Lake (MI) native is now playing at Dream City Christian in Arizona, where he is prepping for his college career. Right now, the 6-foot-4 wing is ranked as a 4-star prospect and the No. 41 overall prospect in the 2028 recruiting class according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

According to On3's Joe Tipton, Izzo was checking in on the Spartan legacy prospect, watching him live at a recent camp.

As of now, Rutgers is Cleaves Jr.'s only reported offer, but the Spartans are almost assuredly going to enter the mix.

Recruiting Buzz from the NBPA Top-100 Camp

◾️ Purdue building momentum with PG target
◾️ Indiana emerging as a team to monitor closely for a 6-9 forward
◾️ Izzo checks in on Mateen Cleaves Jr.
◾️Plus the latest on several top-100 prospects and their recruitments.

View:… pic.twitter.com/gjK9Sz3A0O

— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) June 12, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Tom Izzo checks in 4-star Mateen Cleaves Jr., according to a report

While Nova Nation waits impatiently for a potential commitment announcement tomorrow, PortalUpdates is reporting that Kevin Willard has added a forward to the roster in 6’8” senior Abdou Samb.

The Upper Marlboro, MD native only appeared in seven games a year ago for Towson, starting one. In those games, Samb averaged 7.7 minutes played, scoring 0.9 points and grabbing 0.7 rebounds. The forward missed the rest of the season with an Achilles injury. His final appearance came on November 25 against Liberty, where he scored two points and grabbed two rebounds in ten minutes played. In the 2024-25 season, Samb started nine games and played in 32, averaging 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per contest for the Tigers.

Samb began his career at Rhode Island before transferring to IU Indianapolis, where he had his best season of his collegiate career. The forward started 20 games, playing 19.8 minutes per contest. In 30 games total for the Jaguars, he averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. Samb’s career high came that year, with 14 points against UW-Milwaukee.

After playing for the Jaguars and Tigers, Samb now takes his talents to the Wildcats. Those talents are assuredly going to come in handy for practice, but it’s unlikely we see him in any games outside of the blowout situations. Think Malcolm Flaggs from a year ago. Regardless, Villanova did need another forward body (at least until Matt Hodge is back).

The roster now stands at 11 players, with two more centers likely needed to round things out. 13 total players sounds like the sweet spot in today’s game.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs may have lost 11 players from last season's roster, but the big story for Mark Few's team is the three they were able to keep: sophomores Mario Saint-Supery and Davis Fogle, as well as star big man Braden Huff.

Huff returns for his fourth season playing in a Gonzaga uniform and is primed to take over as the team's go-to scoring option after averaging 17.8 points last year while shooting a ridiculous 69.7% on two-pointers and 33.3% from three.

It's not at all unreasonable to project Huff as an All-American this upcoming season, which makes it a surprise he wasn't included on CBS Sports' list of the top 25 best returners in college basketball.

The list only included players who are returning to their previous school - not transfers - which makes Huff's exclusion even more glaring.

Another snub?

This isn't the first time Huff has been snubbed this offseason. The Field of 68 ranked the top 50(!) returners in college basketball - again excluding transfers - and did not include Huff. In both of these cases, another high-profile big man, Texas Tech's JT Toppin, was left off the list as well - and that could help explain the rationale.

Toppin is a former All-American and is unquestionably one of the best returners in college hoops, but he suffered a torn ACL in February and will likely miss a good chunk of this upcoming season. No official timeline has been given for Toppin, and it would make sense for lists like these to exclude him until more clarity around his status emerges.

Perhaps the same logic is being applied to Huff, who missed the final 17 games of Gonzaga's season with a left knee injury suffered in practice before the team's road game against Washington State on Jan. 15.

However, Huff was moving around well before Gonzaga was eliminated by Texas in the Round of 32, and seems all but certain - barring a setback - to be ready for the 2026-27 season opener against Purdue on Nov. 2.

That is not only the most logical explanation for Huff's omission, but it's also the only one. The big man is an extremely efficient scoring machine, set to take over a huge role for a team that feeds bigs paint touches like a rich family giving out candy on Halloween.

20 points on 65+% shooting is a completely reasonable projection for the senior, and the addition of Massamba Diop gives Huff help defensively while taking pressure off him as a rebounder as well.

Huff was left off CBS' list in favor of another Pac-12 star - Utah State guard Mason Falslev - while other notable names included Arizona's frontcourt of Mo Krivas (5) and Ivan Kharchenkov (24), Texas big man Matas Vokietaitis (22), Kentucky center Malachi Moreno (20), and a trio of Florida Gators in Thomas Haugh (1), Rueben Chinyelu (9), and Alex Condon (11).

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/gonzaga as Gonzaga star Braden Huff left off CBS Sports' list of top returners in college basketball.

The USC Trojans got a huge boost this offseason with the return of guard Rodney Rice. Rice averaged a team-high 20.3 points per game with the Trojans last season, but was only able to suit up for six games due to a shoulder injury.

He's ranked as one of the top retentions in college basketball for the 2026-27 season.

Rodney RiceRanked As Top 25 Returner

Rodney Rice is a 6-4, 195 guard that will be entering his fifth collegiate season and second with USC. Rice began his collegiate career with the Virginia Tech Hokies in 2022-23. He took a redshirt season in 2023-24 before retuning to the court in 2024-25 with Maryland. Now, he's heading into his second year at USC.

Cameron Salerno of CBS Sports ranked his top 25 retentions for the 2026-27 college basketball season. Rice is ranked No. 23 on this list. No. 1 is Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh. Haugh has been with the Gators since 2022 and was a key part of their 2025 national championship winning team in 2025. He averaged 17.1 points per game for Florida in 2025-26.

In Rice's first year at USC, he averaged 20.3 points, 6.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. These were all career high numbers for Rice. That shoulder being injured and ending his season was extremely disappointing. USC missed his presence on the court.

With Rice in the lineup, the Trojans began the season 6-0, winning the 2025 Maui Invitational. They looked destined to make it to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after coming up short the two previous years.

Even without Rice, USC was still able to finish non-conference play without a loss. Then came Big Ten conference play. The Trojans struggled, going 7-13 in league play and finished the regular season with a record of 18-13 overall.

USC then lost their first game of the Big Ten conference tournament to fall to 18-14 on the season. That was their eighth loss in a row. It took them out of real consideration for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. USC has not made it to the big dance for three straight years, with their last appearance coming in 2023. They'll look to change that in 2026-27.

USC coach Eric Musselman is going into year three as coach in Los Angeles. Musselman, like USC, is on his own three-year NCAA Tournament drought. Prior to USC, he was the coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. After leading Arkansas to the second weekend of March Madness in three straight seasons from 2021-2023, they missed the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Musselman left for USC that offseason.

The Trojans should have a good chance to get to the tournament in 2027 with Rice and also guard Alijah Arenas returning. Furthermore, the NCAA Tournament is expanding from 68 team to 76 this season, so there's an eight additional at-large bids USC could wind up getting.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and X for the latest news.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/usc as USC's Rodney Rice Listed Among Best Retentions in College Basketball.

Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are hard at work putting the finishing touches on what is shaping up to be a young, talented, and international-heavy roster for the 2026-27 season.

The return of Mario Saint-Supery and additions of Spanish big man Izan Almansa and Arizona State transfer and former Real Madrid big man Massamba Diop have put more international presence back in Spokane, a trend that could continue as the team tries to fill out its final four roster spots this summer.

The latest target for the Zags, according to a report from Jack Pilgrim of KSR+, is 6'9 Serbian Nikola Kusturica. The 17-year-old currently plays for FC Barcelona in Spain and is drawing interest from Gonzaga as well as Kentucky and UCLA, among others.

While Kusturica could return to FC Barcelona, he is working toward finishing school so he can enroll early at the collegiate level, where he'd need to stay at least two years before being eligible for the 2028 NBA draft.

NEW -- Mark Pope and Kentucky pursuing Serbian star for 2026-27, multiple sources tell KSR+

INTEL: https://t.co/IJ1A96IIUs
JOIN: https://t.co/yDpOSjrg7Cpic.twitter.com/fiRxmPjXgC

- Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) June 12, 2026

Who is Nikola Kusturica?

Kusturica is a big guard who averaged 11 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals across 34 international games this past season as a 17-year-old. That included 11 appearances with FC Barcelona's top club, where he averaged 1.9 points in 4.8 minutes per game.

Kusturica helped Barcelona capture the Adidas NextGen Finals championship earlier this year, dropping 20 points with 10 rebounds in the title game against Real Madrid. He averaged 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across six total games.

The Serbian has excelled against similarly aged competition, winning MVP of the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket tournament last summer - averaging 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals in seven games, including 18 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists in the championship over Lithuania.

Fit at Gonzaga

Although he'd be among the youngest players in college basketball, Kusturica is an incredibly polished player for his age and could impact Gonzaga right away next season.

He offers elite positional size and rebounding, defensive versatility, and an advanced offensive game. For a team that has zero guard depth at the moment, Kusturica would immediately slot into a role as the team's backup wing, assuming Isiah Harwell and Davis Fogle slot in at the two and three, respectively.

Gonzaga has been all over Spanish basketball this past year with Saint-Supery, Diop, and Almansa, and Kusturica's time with Barcelona gives the Zags an in on his recruitment. It likely doesn't hurt that Gonzaga has also succeeded with players from Eastern Europe - including Serbian forward Filip Petrusev, who earned All-America honors at Gonzaga in 2020.

Gonzaga has more roster spots and promise of playing time than either Kentucky or UCLA, giving them a real chance at snagging a very promising young player with real NBA upside in Kusturica.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/gonzaga as Gonzaga competing with Kentucky, UCLA for 17-year-old Barcelona prospect.

On Thursday, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced four new members to the Division I Men's Basketball Committee.

The NCAA chose Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics, Keith Carter, to serve a five-year term on the council.

Basketball is not a new area for Carter; he was a former Rebel All-American basketball player, starting all four years, and continued to play professionally for nine seasons, most of which were in Italy in several American Leagues.

What is the NCAA Basketball Committee?

The NCAA Basketball Committee is a 12-member panel responsible for selecting, seeding, and bracketing teams for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

Committee Members track teams throughout the regular season and conference tournaments. Come Selection Sunday, the committee determines which teams earn automatic qualifications and selects remaining "at-large" teams along with a multitude of other responsibilities.

Members of the committee serve multi-year terms and are composed of athletic directors and conference commissioners from across the country. To maintain fairness, committee members must excuse themselves from discussions about their own schools or conferences.

Who is Keith Carter?

Carter became a well-known name in college basketball, helping lead the Rebels to a pair of SEC Western Division titles in 1997 and 1998. He was named an All-American in his 1999 senior season and received all-conference honors in 1998 and 1999. His name remains etched in record books, ranking in the top ten for career points with UM on his chest, with 1,682 total points.

In 2009, Carter returned to Mississippi to join the Ole Miss Athletic Department, where he was named the executive director for Ole Miss's Athletic Foundation. The Foundation experienced the four highest years for donations under his direction.

Following Ross Bjork's resignation as athletic director, Carter took on the role of interim athletic director. On November 20, 2019, the term "interim" was removed, becoming a key part of the university's athletics program. He served as the Deputy A.D. for Development and Resource Acquisition between his two roles.

Since Ole Miss Athletics appointed Carter, the department has had one of the most successful periods in Ole Miss history.

Since 2019, Ole Miss has seen two national champions, record postseason runs across all sports, four sports ranked No. 1 in the country, and its three best finishes in the Learfield College Directors' Cup.

Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/olemiss as Ole Miss AD Keith Carter is Taking on a New Role with NCAA.

With the Spurs clinging to a one-point lead and just under 13 seconds, Fox grabbed a loose ball after a Jalen Brunson miss, and instead of dribbling out the clock, he attacked the rim for what he thought was an open layup.

The issue is that OG Anunoby came flying in to block the shot. Then Anunoby went and tipped in the go-ahead basket with just 1.2 seconds left, and New York secured the 107-106 victory.

In what was the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, the Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to walk out of Madison Square Garden with a commanding 3-1 series lead, and everyone has been quick to point the blame at Fox.

But one voice has now pushed back, John Calipari, who appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Friday, and defended his former Kentucky point guard.

“Stop on De’Aaron Fox, he’s playing with a high ankle sprain, probably shouldn’t be playing. He would normally dunk that layup. If he would’ve dunked it, he’s the hero,” Calipari said, before begging the question, “What would have happened to Josh (Hart) if he missed that dunk and they had lost?”

More news: Spurs Coach Mitch Johnson Sends Clear Message to De’Aaron Fox Ahead of Game 5

Calipari coached Fox during his lone season at Kentucky in 2016-17, when Fox averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds across 36 games. He famously scored 39 points against UCLA in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to lead the Wildcats to the Elite Eight, all as just a freshman.

Fox has since gone on to become a two-time NBA All-Star, third team All-NBA honoree, and one of the faces of this Spurs run to the NBA Finals.

Calipari, already a Hall of Fame head coach, led Kentucky to four Final Fours, six SEC Tournament titles, and an NCAA Championship in 2012. He now coaches the Arkansas Razorbacks, who he just led to a 28-9 record, an SEC tournament title, and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

More news: Magic Johnson Slams De’Aaron Fox After Costly Game 4 Blunder in NBA Finals

More news: Knicks’ OG Anunoby Earns Finals MVP Buzz After Historic Game 4 Comeback

The Spurs now face a Game 5 elimination game on Saturday night at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.

Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET with the Spurs listed as 5.5-point favorites. A loss would end San Antonio’s season and ignite further debate about how it ended.

Wisconsin Basketball's roadmap for 2026-27 continues to come together piece by piece.

The Badgers recently announced their in-season tournament for next fall, as they'll compete in the Baha Mar Hoops Championship in Nassau, The Bahamas.

The Big Ten also recently dropped its slate for the 2026-27 season as the conference announced home, away and doubled-up opponents for each team.

Now, Wisconsin knows its season opener, per a report from college basketball writer Rocco Miller. The Badgers are reportedly slated to open the season against Denver on Nov. 2 at the Kohl Center.

Sources: Wisconsin will open the 2026-27 college basketball season on Monday, November 2nd at the Kohl Center against Denver.

Greg Gard versus Tim Bergstraser. #B1G#WCC

- Rocco Miller (@RoccoMiller8) June 11, 2026

As Wisconsin continues to fill its out-of-conference game slots, here's some quick takeaways from the Badgers' reported opener against Denver:

Wisconsin gets what should be an easy first test

The Badgers tend to start their seasons against a severely overmatched mid-major, but Denver is a particularly putrid program that hasn't put together a winning season since 2017, when the Pioneers went 16-14.

Denver is coming off a 15-17 season last year (8-8 in the Summit League) and lost to the two high-major teams they faced (Washington and Arizona) by a combined 44 points.

Badgers still draw tough individual matchup

Denver as a team shouldn't be anything for Wisconsin to lose sleep over, but the Pioneers do return a stud guard who could give the Badgers problems in the Kohl Center.

6-foot-1 guard Carson Johnson returns for Denver after a sophomore campaign in which he averaged 20.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while posting 46/88/42 shooting splits, taking 6.6. three-pointers per game. The guard is an absolute bucket, and he'll immediately challenge Wisconsin's on-ball defense.

Wisconsin looks to stay hot in openers

The Badgers have won six straight season openers and will look to make it seven in a row against Denver. The last lost they suffered came at the hands of St. Mary's to tip-off the 2019-2020 season.

That wasn't an isolated incident, however - Wisconsin has slipped up in buy game openers before. In 2015-2016, it dropped its opener to Western Illinois. The last time the Badgers opened their season against a fellow high-major program was St. John's in 2013-2014, resulting in a 86-75 win over the Johnnies.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/wisconsin as Report: Wisconsin Basketball's 2026-27 Season Opener Announced .

Mark Pope and Kentucky got a big fish in Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, who was a highly sought-after player in the portal and ranked as consensus top three transfer overall. Now, it looks like Pope and the staff aren't done swinging big after assembling a top 15-20 roster as they look to fill out the final piece.

According to KSR's Jack Pilgrim, Kentucky is involved with Serbian forward Nikola Kusturica, one of the top international prospects. Kusturica plays for the UC Barcelona U18 team and at his age, many are buzzing about his potential as an NBA Draft prospect. This past season, the 6-7 forward averaged 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

The upside with Kusturica is absolutely nuts as many scouts and draft analysts believe he can be a top 10 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. At 17-years-old, the 6-7 forward has all of the talent to make some serious noise in college. Kentucky has competition for his services, as expected, and those schools include Gonzaga, Louisville, Duke UCLA, Arizona and North Carolina. Aa you can see, it's not going to be easy, but Kentucky can pitch a great role for him at the three spot.

Kusturica is seen as a versatile shot-creator with a ton of guard skills with his ball-handling ability. Given how electric of a scorer he is, he would pair well alongside Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins. Add in Milan Momcilovic's absolutely efficient shooting as the best shooter in college basketball last season and you've got yourself a top 10 squad and a title contender. There is so much potential with Kusturica and there is a reason many believe in him as a lottery pick in the draft.

Here is a scouting report on Kusturica from NBA Draft Room: "One of the top international prospects in the world, Kusturica is an extremely talented big guard/wing who can handle the rock, make plays off the bounce and has an elite physical profile. Has great size and length for the position and instantly passes the eye test. Can score from inside and out and is really good at getting into the lane, using a combination of great handles, a quick first step and great size to cover ground quickly. Is a high feel player who has some point guard instincts."

The 6-7 forward is considered one of the best players in international ball. Could Mark Pope land yet another home-run get to add to the roster?

Sign up to ourfree newsletterand follow us onFacebookandYouTubefor the latest news.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/kentucky as A new target for the upcoming season has reportedly emerged for Kentucky .

A year ago, a hectic offseason for the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team finished up with an emergency head coaching switch from father to son, when Bruce Pearl surprised the college basketball world with an abrupt retirement.

Now, his son, Steven, will look to build on his first season in 2026-27, and the expectations might be a little lower than his first year.

Eight SEC teams made ESPN college basketball analyst Jeff Borzello's way-too-early top 25 list. However, Auburn did not have a spot on the list, compared to high hopes that Pearl had in his inaugural season in 2025-26.

However, it could have the Tigers exactly where they want to be: underrated.

Let's start with last year's postseason. Auburn was one of the first teams out of the NCAA Tournament, but then proved doubters wrong with an NIT win. It could be the perfect momentum that Pearl needed to kickstart the program's new era.

The next thing to mention was the retention along the way. The Tigers got two key retentions with guard duo Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton. Both averaged double-digit amounts and played over 30 minutes for the program last season. Pettiford was a key member as a freshman of Auburn's Final Four run two seasons ago, and he's shown how much of a standout he can be.

Yes, the likes of Keyshawn Hall and Elyjah Freeman are gone, but Pearl has a solid transfer portal class that will fill in the missing roles. That began with two four-star transfers in Troy's Thomas Dowd and Creignton's Owen Freeman.

Dowd averaged 14.4 points and over 10 boards for the Trojans last season, looking to be an all-around piece with the Tigers in his final year of eligibility. Freeman gives Pearl some length down low, being a key piece with the Iowa Hawkeyes two seasons ago before going to the Bluejays. Freeman averaged over 16 points per game in his sophomore season.

Guard George Kimble III, forward Adam Olsen and center Bukky Obeye will also be critical rotational pieces over the course of the season. Two freshmen, Caleb Williams and Narcisse Ngoy, will round out the roster.

Auburn has plenty of early games to prove its worth as well. The Tigers have another shot of the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. this November. While playing three premier programs during that stretch, the program also has to play Wisconsin on Dec. 19 in Nashville.

An ACC/SEC challenge game with Clemson also awaits Pearl on Dec. 1.

The Tigers have their opportunities, while also playing in a stacked SEC conference. If they can stack a few wins together to begin 2027, it will help them stay off the bubble that ended up haunting them on Selection Sunday.

Sign up for our free Auburn Tigers newsletter and follow us on Facebookand Xfor the latest news!

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/auburn as How Underrated Is Auburn Basketball Heading Into 2026-27 Season?.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mizzou fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Mizzou Basketball’s roster is officially set for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, and there’s a lot to be excited about heading into Year 5 under Dennis Gates.

The Tigers are bringing in a star-studded recruiting class featuring Jason Crowe Jr., Toni Bryant, and Aidan Chronister. The transfer portal class isn’t too shabby, either — highlighted by Jaylen Carey, Bryson Tiller, Jamier Jones, and Kennard Davis. A good mix of talent, depth, and experience.

While not the flashiest addition, Jaylen Carey could very well provide the defense and rebounding that Mizzou desperately needs. Meanwhile, can Bryson Tiller fill the Mark Mitchell role? Is Jamier Jones ready to be a breakout star after landing on the Big East All-Freshman Team? Can Kennard Davis thrive at the combo guard position?

We asked you this a few weeks back, but we’ll ask you again in our latest edition of SBN Reacts: Which power conference transfer will make the biggest impact for Mizzou Basketball?

While the 2026-27 college basketball season might seem a ways away, it is the time of year when teams and conferences finalize the upcoming season's schedule.

On Thursday, the Big 12 Conference released its complete men's basketball matchup matrix, featuring each school's 18 conference games. Every team will play a home-and-home series with three opponents and single games with the other 12 schools (six at home, six on the road). Dates and times, along with the full conference schedule, won't be announced until closer to the season.

As for Tad Boyle's program, Colorado will play a home-and-home series with Utah, Houston and Baylor. The series with the Utes is the only one that was on last year's schedule. Neither the Cougars nor the Bears have been to Boulder in the past two seasons.

CU's home-only opponents include Arizona State, BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The Buffaloes road-only games will be against Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU and UCF. Those sex teams were only home games last season.

Colorado basketball's Big 12 home opponents

• Arizona State
• Baylor
• BYU
• Cincinnati
• Houston
• Iowa State
• Texas Tech
• Utah
• West Virginia

Colorado basketball's Big 12 away opponents

• Arizona
• Baylor
• Houston
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma State
• TCU
• UCF
• Utah

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado basketball Big 12 opponents set for 2026-27 season

The NCAA announced that four administrators were recently appointed to the 12-member committee. Notre Dame Athletics Director Pete Bevacqua, Ole Miss Athletics Director Keith Carter, Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Jeff Jackson and Northwestern Athletics Director Mark Jackson (no relation) will all join the fold.

Bevacqua's term will begin on July 1, while the other three newly minted members will begin their committee duties on September 1.

The new quartet will be part of the first committee in NCAA history to put together a 76-team bracket for the NCAA tournament.

The following four administrators were appointed to the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Committee, per release.

*Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua
*Ole Miss AD Keith Carter
*MVC Commissioner Jeff Jackson *Northwestern AD Mark Jackson

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 11, 2026

The incoming foursome will replace Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill, Alabama Athletics Director Greg Byrne, Minnesota Athletics Director Mark Coyle and Syracuse Athletics Director John Wildhack.

Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: NCAA adds 4 new administrators to men's D1 basketball committee

The team has officially signed four transfers: Abdi Bashir Jr., Mouhamed Dioubate, Austin Nunez and Divine Ugochukwu.

Bashir Jr. is the headliner, as the former Kansas State and Monmouth guard figures to provide LSU's backcourt with significant scoring punch next season. He's shooting a shade under 40% from three-point range in his three-year college career, in just over seven attempts per contest.

He averaged 13 points per game last year for Kansas State, a year after averaging over 20 points per game for Monmouth.

Signed and Arrived ✍️🏠

Welcome to The Boot, Abdi Bashir Jr.!@abdibashirjr | #BootUppic.twitter.com/E7dUaqSScL

— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) June 11, 2026

Dioubate joins LSU by way of Alabama and Kentucky, while Nunez has played for Arizona State, Ole Miss and the UTSA. Ugochukwu has played for Miami and Michigan State.

Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: LSU basketball officially signs 4 transfers, including Abdi Bashir Jr.

The Michigan State Spartans basketball squad has officially arrived on campus, ready to embark on what could be the most successful season for a Tom Izzo team since 2019, when the Spartans last made a Final Four run.

While Michigan State boasts a roster loaded with NBA talent, veteran leadership, youthful energy, and a litany of stellar players, today we're going to hyper-focus on one specific Spartan.

Jordan Scott.

The sophomore out of Reston, Virginia, exploded onto the scene during his freshman season at Michigan State. Coming off the bench for the first 10 games of the year, Scott kept his head down, stayed ready, and made the most of every opportunity he was given.

Then came a lull in Michigan State's scoring.

Tom Izzo decided to shake things up, inserting Scott into the starting lineup. From that point forward, he never looked back, looking more and more like a future star with each passing game.

Now, there were definitely areas where improvement was needed. But for a freshman who was essentially thrown directly into the fire, expecting senior-level production during an NCAA Tournament-caliber season is a tall task. Somehow, for both Izzo and Scott, it worked.

Scott finished his freshman campaign averaging 20.8 minutes per game. In those minutes, he averaged 5.8 points per game, but that number jumped to over 8.0 points per game once he became a starter. Included in that stretch was a six-game streak of double-digit scoring performances, providing a much-needed spark for a Michigan State offense that occasionally struggled to find consistent production early in the season.

Scott averaged 1.1 made three-pointers per game while attempting 2.9 per contest. He shot 41.1% from the field and averaged 1.9 made field goals on 4.7 attempts per game. His shooting helped the Spartans offensively, though it wasn't enough to transform Michigan State into an offensive powerhouse.

Still, there's every reason to believe those numbers will improve.

A year of college basketball experience, another offseason in the weight room, and a game that should slow down considerably for him all point toward increased efficiency and confidence as a sophomore.

Of course, scoring is far from the only thing Scott brings to the floor.

With his size, basketball IQ, and instincts, his ability to disrupt passing lanes and contribute defensively became a major reason for his success in the starting lineup. Scott averaged 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game, routinely making winning plays that don't always show up in the box score.

His size also allows him to attack the glass. Pair that with his intensity and relentless motor, and even being outsized at times doesn't seem to bother him. Scott consistently positions himself in the right place to secure rebounds and create extra possessions.

He averaged 1.3 offensive rebounds and 1.7 defensive rebounds per game, finishing with 3.1 rebounds per contest. Those contributions played a significant role in Michigan State's success throughout the season.

Now, with the recent photo of freshman Jasiah Jervis arriving in East Lansing officially signaling that the roster is assembled and summer workouts are underway, one detail immediately stood out.

Jordan Scott added muscle.

Welcome home @Jasiah_Jervis 🟢 ⚪ pic.twitter.com/vVbvUxiTs2

— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) June 10, 2026

And by the looks of it, quite a bit of muscle.

His arms practically jumped off the screen. With his back turned to the camera while greeting his new 7-foot-2 teammate, Scott looked noticeably bigger than he did just a few months ago. His arms appeared bulked up to the point where he looked ready to step into the ring at WrestleMania.

More importantly, he looks hungry.

This isn't "Fat Mac" from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This looks like the result of a player fully committing himself to becoming a better basketball player. The added mass appears to be pure muscle, helping him prepare for an even bigger role in the rebounding and defensive departments while also allowing him to attack the basket with more authority instead of settling for difficult perimeter shots.

With his size, basketball IQ, growing confidence, and now increased muscle mass, Jordan Scott appears poised to take another major step forward.

At minimum, he looks capable of retaining a starting role for Michigan State.

At his ceiling?

Don't be surprised if his name starts appearing in early conversations surrounding the 2027 NBA Draft.

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff are once again bringing in an elite recruiting class.

Scheyer and Co. sealed the nation's No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class, the third consecutive year they have accomplished that feat. The class is headlined by three 5-star prospects in Cameron Williams, Deron Rippey Jr., and Bryson Howard. 4-star seven-footer Maxime Meyer is also a part of the incoming class.

All three of those 5-star prospects will be contributors in the rotation, but the 2026 recruiting class is different than most other recent recruiting classes in the sense that there aren't many players who are viewed as go-to guys on championship-caliber college basketball teams right away.

Outside of the class's No. 1 prospect, Kansas commit Tyran Stokes, most of the top prospects in the class are viewed as great long-term gems, but they don't have the skill sets or polish to be a Cameron Boozer or Cooper Flagg type of player right now.

However, the Blue Devils brought in international recruit Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje late in the process, and he has seemingly flown under the radar as a star talent in college basketball next season, even though he can contend to be the best incoming rookie of Duke's entire class.

Significance of Duke's Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje Signing Flying Under the Radar

Boumtje Boumtje just turned 17 years old in May, meaning he will have to spend at least two seasons in college basketball before potentially declaring for the 2028 NBA Draft. Obviously, given his age, Boumtje Boumtje is viewed as a long-term prospect, but his skill set, given his current size and age, sets the stage for an unbelievable future at the next level.

The Florida native has true guard skills at his size, able to handle the ball in transition, pass effectively, and shoot from the outside. His footwork and athleticism still have a long way to go, which makes his offensive game way ahead of his defense right now, but the wealth of skill he currently possesses will already be extremely effective at the high-major level.

Boumtje Boumtje recently competed in the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Tournament, where he led FC Barcelona's U18 club to a victory, averaging 19 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game on 47.4% shooting from three-point range.

The seven-footer will participate in the Team USA U17 National Team Training Camp, aiming to represent Team USA at the FIBA U17 World Cup later this month.

Outlook for Boumtje Boumtje With the Blue Devils

Most highly-touted incoming rookies heading into college basketball generate lots of hype heading into the season, but that hasn't really happened with Boumtje Boumtje. Because he was an overseas recruit, most fans in the sport haven't seen how impactful he can be right away.

It's going to be very difficult for Scheyer not to get Boumtje Boumtje significant time on the floor and possibly insert him into the starting lineup early on. His mix of offensive skill and size gives him the long-term projection of one of the best two-way big men in college basketball and a prospect who will be under heavy consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as How Duke Basketball's Best Recruit Flying Under the Radar.

Since taking over at the helm in Durham, Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer has prided his teams on elite defensive length and versatility.

In each season Scheyer has been the head coach of the Blue Devils, they have become one of the best defensive teams in college basketball. Duke has ranked inside the top 16 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, in every season under Scheyer, and in the top five in each of the last two seasons.

Now, Scheyer doesn't just happen to land elite defenders year in and year out. Rather, he intentionally builds his rotations to have length at every part of the floor and to include players who can guard multiple positions. It's no coincidence that in those four seasons when Duke has been elite defensively under Scheyer, it has ranked in the top three nationally in average height per KenPom in three of them.

Duke's Size Will Be Extremely Overwhelming Next Season

Scheyer wants a lineup on the floor at all times that can be switched and versatile, making it an absolute nightmare for opponents to find any sort of offensive rhythm or get inside the paint.

I think this 2026-27 Duke rotation could easily be the best defensive team that Scheyer has had since he took over for the Blue Devils, and the length will be a huge part of that.

Let's break down Duke's projected rotation and each player's height:

Duke 2026-27 Projected Rotation

John Blackwell - 6'4"

Caleb Foster - 6'5"

Dame Sarr - 6'8"

Cameron Williams - 6'10"

Patrick Ngongba - 6'11"

Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje - 7'0"

Cayden Boozer - 6'4"

Drew Scharnowski - 6'9"

Sebastian Wilkins - 6'8"

Bryson Howard - 6'4"

Deron Rippey Jr. - 6'2"

Not Just Length, But the Ability To Switch

Duke could very well be the tallest team in college basketball, but it isn't pure size that sets the Blue Devils apart; it's the fact that so many different lineups can switch on multiple positions on the court.

The Blue Devils will have one of the deepest backcourts in college hoops, and outside of Rippey at 6'2", every guard in the rotation is at least 6'4". Additionally, the wings in Sarr, Wilkins, and Howard each pose a major three-point-shooting threat while also being capable of guarding multiple positions on the floor.

#Duke will once again have ridiculous size at every position.

Blackwell - 6'4"
Foster - 6'5"
Sarr - 6'8"
Williams - 6'10"
Ngongba - 6'11"
JBB - 7'0"
Boozer - 6'4"
Howard - 6'4"
Wilkins - 6'8"
Scharnowski - 6'9"
Rippey - 6'2"

- hughstraine (@HughStraine) June 11, 2026

I think the combo of Ngongba, Boumtje Boumtje, and Scharnowski down low could turn out to be the best defensive frontcourt in the country next season. All three are stellar rim protectors, and with at least two of them on the floor together at the same time, it will be extremely difficult for teams to get anything going inside the paint.

Defensive length and switchability have become a calling card for Scheyer during his tenure at Duke, and it has worked like a charm. There's no reason this team can't be the runaway best defensive unit in college basketball next season, which is exactly what Scheyer wants to see on a consistent basis.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as One Key Aspect for Duke Basketball To Be Elite Defensively.

The Duke Blue Devils are entering next season as one of the top teams in the country, and it's largely because of their strong transfer portal class.

The Blue Devils do have some returning pieces for next season. Talents such as Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr, and Patrick Ngongba will be back on the team next year. Amidst a lot of changes, these constants give the Blue Devils a sliver of continuity that'll only benefit them going forward.

Those players will try to put this year's NCAA Tournament heartbreak behind them and lead the charge with a batch of new additions as they look to contend for the title once again next season.

Duke Brings in Marquee Transfer

Now to focus on the new faces, the Blue Devils aren't usually the type to build their team strictly through the transfer portal, but this year, they managed to snag some of the top transfers in the country. Most notably, Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell is moving to Durham after a strong season in which he averaged over 19 points per game. Blackwell figures to be one of the Blue Devils' top scoring options next season.

Blackwell also tried his luck at the NBA Draft Combine before deciding to commit to the Blue Devils for good earlier this offseason. His draft stock fell off throughout the combine due to his unfavorable measurements, and he'll be looking to have a standout season at Duke to improve his stock.

The Blue Devils also landed Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski, a physical big man with the ability to pass and protect the rim.

ESPN's Jeff Borzello deemed the Blue Devils' portal haul as one of the best in the country, saying that the pickups they've brought in only improve their odds of winning the national championship.

Borzello's Thoughts

"There are strong arguments to be made for Texas and St. John's, two teams just outside the elite of the elite that landed top-tier portal classes. But Jon Scheyer's Duke squad is in the mix for preseason No. 1, and much of that has to do with the addition of Blackwell, arguably the best guard in the portal this spring," Borzello said.

"As good as the Blue Devils were last season, they sometimes lacked a guard who could get his own shot on a consistent basis in the half court. Especially with Cameron Boozer gone, Scheyer desperately needed a go-to guy on the offensive end."

"All signs point to that player being Blackwell, an All-Big Ten third-team selection at Wisconsin who averaged 19.1 points and had back-to-back 30-point outings in the conference tournament. Scharnowski is an efficient two-way player with size who should add depth and experience to the frontcourt," he added.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as Why Duke's Portal Haul Considered One of Nation's Best.

We thought that Syracuse Orange men’s basketball had finished putting together its coaching staff once Greg Fahey joined as general manager, but new head coach Gerry McNamara had one more trick up his sleeve.

On Wednesday, McNamara named former Orange star Tyus Battle as Director of Player Development, per a release from the athletic department.

Battle, who will turn 29 in September, played for Syracuse under Jim Boeheim when McNamara was an assistant coach from 2016 to 2019. In those three seasons, he scored 1647 points and was named All-ACC twice.

In his role as Director of Player Development, Battle will “coordinate the off-court efforts to maximize each basketball student-athlete’s potential… assist with individual and small-group workouts and work closely with the coaching staff to implement tailored development plans… (and) collaborate with sports medicine and the nutrition staff to support overall well-being of each student athlete,” according to the release.

This is the first time that Syracuse will have that specific role on staff. The Orange also added the Director of Player Engagement role this offseason, assumed by former SU standout Ryan Blackwell, who was an assistant coach at Siena with McNamara.

The other two Siena assistant coaches last year, Ben Lee and former Orange big man Arinze Onuaku, are two of Syracuse’s assistant coaches, alongside former Penn State assistant Jamal Brunt, and former VCU assistant Ryan Daly. McNamara brought Syracuse alumnus Ryan Beaury, his D.O.B.O. at Siena to take the same role at SU. He also hired former Hampton general manager Greg Fahey to be the program’s second ever general manager.

Peter Corasaniti is the only carryover from Red Autry’s coaching staff, albeit he’s in an administrative role rather than on the coaching staff. 

After Battle’s playing career at SU, he played in the G League and overseas for a few years, before joining the coaching ranks as a high school assistant over the last two seasons.

This move is likely the final piece of the puzzle for what will be the Orange’s largest ever coaching staff. It’s a trend we’ve seen at the top levels of college basketball, with ever expanding coaching staffs and support staffs for a variety of reasons.

Syracuse started summer practice during the first week of June.

Big 12 basketball games are always street fights, as assistant head coach Kellen Sampson likes to say. It's arguably year in and year out the toughest and most physical conference for college basketball in the country.

The brand of Big 12 basketball is well known, and it's said to be the most competitive group of schools with a high number of contenders. Houston seamlessly joined the elite conference back in the 2024 season and immediately rose to the top with a Big 12 regular-season title. The Cougars did it again in the 2025 season and this time won both the regular season and tournament titles.

That made Houston the first school in more than a century to win back-to-back regular-season titles in the first two years of joining a power conference. The Cougars went a historic 19-1 during that season. The Big 12 went back to an 18-game schedule for 2026, and the conference will stick with that for the upcoming season as well.

Houston's 18-game Big 12 schedule will be stacked and a grind as usual. Here's how UH's Big 12 schedule matrix turned out.

Houston's Big 12 Opponents

All Big 12 teams will play three schools in a home-and-away series, six opponents at home only, and six opponents solely on the road.

Houston will play Arizona, Texas Tech and Colorado at home and on the road. Both Arizona and Texas Tech are the two teams over the years that have given the Cougars the closest fights and a majority of their Big 12 losses over the past two seasons.

Houston's home schedule is looking quite daunting but also entertaining with some great matchups on hand. The Cougars will also face BYU, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU and Utah in the Fertitta Center. Houston did not play any of those opponents at home last season and will face them after two years.

Iowa State and Kansas are never easy, while BYU is still one of the better teams in the conference. TCU always plays hard, while Oklahoma State gave a good fight to Houston last season. The Cougars did face Arizona, Texas Tech and Colorado at home in 2026, with UH looking for revenge against the Wildcats.

Houston's other road opponents include Baylor, Cincinnati, UCF, West Virginia, Arizona State and Kansas State. The two toughest are obviously Arizona and Texas Tech, but this road slate does look possible to navigate.

The entire schedule with game days, times, and networks will be released at a later date. Houston went 14-4 in the Big 12 last year and finished second overall. The Cougars fell in the Big 12 title game to Arizona after beating them in 2025.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/houston as Houston Cougars Unveil Big 12 Basketball Opponents for 2026-27.

At this time a year ago, it's likely that even Ryan Odom didn't know exactly how good his first University of Virginia men's basketball team might be.

Odom and his staff had assembled a promising international roster, but had to synthesize all of his newcomers' talents into a new system and convince them to buy into roles that might not have aligned with those at their previous stops. All of this while succeeding a legend in Tony Bennett, who had turned the program over to assistant Ron Sanchez on the eve of a 2024-25 season that ended with a losing record.

National observers were skeptical, aside from occasional rumblings of sleeper potential. The Cavaliers exceeded those modest expectations, finishing 30-6, finishing second behind Duke in the ACC regular-season standings, reaching the ACC tournament final and advancing to the second round of the ACC tournament.

Then Odom pulled off arguably an even more impressive feat in a new transient era: convincing every key player with remaining eligibility to stay put.

As a result, there's a bit more buzz around Virginia entering the 2026-27 season. In their Way Too Early rankings, The Athletic has the Cavaliers rated 13th, while ESPN.com picks them 14th and Sports Illustrated 16th.

To which some hardcore Virginia fans might ask: Why not higher?

Why not higher?

It's not an unfair question. The Cavaliers bring back 59 percent of their scoring from a year ago, headlined by first-team All-ACC forward Thijs de Ridder (15.6 points per game). Senior wing Sam Lewis (10.6) and center Johann Grunloh are also incumbents, and Chance Mallory seems likely to start at the point after providing an undeniable spark off the bench as a freshman.

As he did a year ago, Odom also replenished his roster via the NCAA transfer portal with lesser-known players who excelled at their previous schools: Jurian Dixon (UC Irvine), Christian Harmon (Arkansas State), Jan Vide (Loyola Marymount) and Kalu Anya (Saint Louis).

Still, the pundits aren't exactly overwhelmed, although The Athletic's CJ Moore admitted that the data "suggests I'm slightly lower on Virginia than I should be."

Perhaps that's because of a second-round NCAA tournament loss to a lower-seeded Tennessee team. Also, as he did last season, Odom didn't chase the biggest names in the transfer portal, preferring to shop for players who fit his system.

None of this year's newcomers was highly ranked, but if they integrate themselves as well as Lewis, Malik Thomas, Jacari White and Dallin Hall did a year ago, Virginia should be strong again.

Dixon and Harmon may also help in a very tangible way: by giving the Cavaliers more consistent 3-point shooting. White's marksmanship was a highlight of last season, but he has exhausted his eligibility.

And in their six losses last season, the Cavaliers were a combined 53 for 193 (27.4%) from long range. In their 30 wins, they made 316 of 825 attempts (38.3%). Dixon connected on 38.5% of his 182 3-pointers last season at UC Irvine, while Harmon was 84 for 243 (34.6%).

Of course, all of this is speculation, and nothing matters until the season tips off in November. Preseason polls simply give fans and the media something to talk about.

And if last season proved anything, it's that the Cavaliers don't exactly mind being underdogs. Overlook them at your peril.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/virginia as Even with way-too-early preseason rankings, is Virginia basketball underrated?.

Over the last myriad of years in college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils have become the program most notable for the term "one-and-done."

The term refers to top-end high school recruits who are bound to spend just one season in college basketball before entering the NBA Draft. Each recruiting class typically features several of them.

Duke Has Become Home for "One-and-Done" Prospects

Over time, the Blue Devils became the top program in terms of building rotations around these elite young prospects, or "one-and-done" players.

In seven of the last nine seasons, Duke's leading scorer has been a rookie. Throughout Mike Krzyzewski's career at Duke and into Jon Scheyer's tenure, Duke's rotations have revolved around these elite young recruits.

Duke hasn't won a National Championship since 2015, but up until recently, this strategy has worked fairly well.

Since that national title, the Blue Devils have reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament or further seven times. Still, Duke fans have grown fairly accustomed to seeing the Blue Devils oozing with top talent, only for that talent to leave after one season, and then Duke rebuilds with the next wave of elite talent.

Jayson Tatum, Tyus Jones, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Cooper Flagg, RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, Jared McCain, Justise Winslow. The list goes on and on. However, the NIL and transfer portal era has put this to a stop, even for a program like Duke.

NIL Era Is Changing Everything

A couple of years ago, being a sure-fire first-round pick in the NBA Draft made it nearly impossible to justify going back to college basketball, as that would mean leaving millions of dollars on the table. Now, that is no longer the case.

Each season since the NIL era began, the paychecks for these top college players or portal talents have been getting higher and higher. In many cases, that leaves players with much more intriguing decisions to make, as many of their paychecks in college basketball could be higher than what they would make in their first year in the NBA, based on their current draft projection.

As a result, this has changed how the Duke program operates.

Scheyer and his staff, despite landing the No. 1 overall high school recruiting class for the third straight year, built their 2026-27 roster in a different way than what Duke fans are used to.

The Blue Devils returned three starters in Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba, and Dame Sarr, while also bringing back rotation guard Cayden Boozer and redshirt freshman Sebastian Wilkins. Additionally, Scheyer landed veteran portal players in rising senior John Blackwell from Wisconsin and rising junior Drew Scharnowski from Belmont.

Guys like Ngongba and Sarr, before the NIL era, would've had real conversations to have about heading to the NBA this offseason, especially Ngongba, who was a projected first-rounder.

Even a guy like Isaiah Evans, who declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, might not have come back to Duke for a sophomore season before the NIL era of college basketball began.

All of Duke's rookies after the 2024-25 season who departed for the NBA Draft were selected in the top 10 of the 2025 draft. However, a guy like Ngongba or Evans, who were slotted in the mid-to-late first round or even into the second, doesn't have nearly as clear a decision.

The NIL era is reshaping the entire landscape of college basketball, and it could lead to Duke's reputation as the home of "one-and-done" prospects fizzling out.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as Why 'One-and-Done' Label at Duke Is Officially Dead.

The 2026-27 Kansas basketball schedule is all but set now that the Big 12 has released its scheduling matrix. Jayhawk fans now know who the team will take on in conference play and how many times they'll see them.

KU received a favorable draw in this scheduling matrix for the most part, with its mirrored opponents for home-and-home matchups being Iowa State, Kansas State, and Baylor - all of those schools are the same as last year besides Arizona, which was replaced with BU. The other 12 schools in the conference will take on the Jayhawks just once.

This year's conference matchups

https://t.co/XKf7q5yLue#RockChalk x @fnbopic.twitter.com/SMeUTjjgox

- Kansas Men's Basketball (@KUHoops) June 11, 2026

Dates for the conference games themselves were not released, but this gives us a good idea of how the schedule will play out this season. Let's dive into who and where KU will take on in league action.

Kansas' Big 12 Home Games

Arizona State, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UCF, West Virginia

Bill Self and Co. will take on Arizona State, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UCF, and West Virginia in Allen Fieldhouse for their lone meeting this upcoming season. Iowa State, Kansas State, and Baylor will also make the trip to Lawrence as part of the conference's double-play format.

Most of those schools are teams the Jayhawks will be expected to beat, whether at home or on the road. The toughest challenge will be Texas Tech, which defeated Kansas 78-73 in Allen Fieldhouse the last time it visited the Sunflower State in 2025.

Kansas' Big 12 Road Games

Arizona, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, TCU, Utah

The road schedule looks a bit trickier for this group. They will take on Arizona and Houston, arguably the two most formidable preseason teams in the conference, on the road in two environments the Jayhawks have mightily struggled in over recent years.

The team will also travel to BYU, Cincinnati, TCU, and Utah for away contests sometime between the beginning of January and the beginning of March.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/kansas as Kansas Basketball's Scheduling Matrix for 2026-27 Big 12 Play Revealed.