Billy Donovan breaks down Florida’s toughness during 24-25 title run (2:12)Legendary Gators coach Donovan highlights how Florida was able to overcome adversity and make plays down the stretch throughout last season. (2:12)
Purdue will tip off the season at No. 1 for the first time. Reigning national champion Florida and national runner-up Houston are also in the mix for the top spot. Can either the Gators of the Cougars return to the NCAA title game (April 6, Indianapolis)?
The top 25 features bluebloods Duke (No. 6), Kentucky (No. 9), Kansas (No. 19) and North Carolina (No. 25). All eyes will be on No. 8 BYU, as the Cougars — helmed by No. 1 recruit and projected top NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa — attempt to improve on last season’s Sweet 16 run.
The ever-present transfer portal and 62 coaching changes, coupled with NIL and the launch of revenue sharing, will make this college basketball season one to watch when it begins on Nov. 3.
Let’s break down the projected starting lineups and biggest early season games for each of the 25 men’s hoops teams in the AP Poll rankings.
Projected starting lineup: Braden Smith (15.8 PPG) C.J. Cox (6.0 PPG) Fletcher Loyer (13.8 PPG) Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1 PPG) Oscar Cluff (17.6 PPG at South Dakota State)
Projected starting lineup: Milos Uzan (11.4 PPG) Emanuel Sharp (12.7 PPG) Isiah Harwell (No. 14 in ESPN 100) Joseph Tugler (5.5 PPG) Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 6 in ESPN 100)
Projected starting lineup: Boogie Fland (13.5 PPG at Arkansas) Xaivian Lee (16.9 PPG at Princeton) Thomas Haugh (9.8 PPG) Alex Condon (10.6 PPG) Rueben Chinyelu (6.1 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Silas Demary Jr. (13.5 PPG at Georgia) Solo Ball (14.4 PPG) Braylon Mullins (No. 17 in ESPN 100) Alex Karaban (14.3 PPG) Tarris Reed Jr. (9.6 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Ian Jackson (11.9 PPG at North Carolina) Joson Sanon (11.9 PPG at Arizona State) Oziyah Sellers (13.7 PPG at Stanford) Bryce Hopkins (15.5 PPG at Providence in 2023-24) Zuby Ejiofor (14.7 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Caleb Foster (5.1 PPG) Isaiah Evans (6.8 PPG) Nikolas Khamenia (No. 15 in ESPN 100) Cameron Boozer (No. 3 in ESPN 100) Patrick Ngongba II (3.9 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Elliot Cadeau (9.4 PPG at North Carolina) Roddy Gayle Jr. (9.8 PPG) Nimari Burnett (9.4 PPG) Yaxel Lendeborg (17.7 PPG at UAB) Morez Johnson Jr. (7.0 PPG at Illinois)
Projected starting lineup: Robert Wright III (11.5 PPG at Baylor) Kennard Davis Jr. (16.3 PPG at Southern Illinois) Richie Saunders (16.5 PPG) AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 in ESPN 100) Keba Keita (7.4 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Jaland Lowe (16.8 PPG at Pitt) Denzel Aberdeen (7.7 PPG at Florida) Otega Oweh (16.2 PPG) Mouhamed Dioubate (7.2 PPG at Alabama) Brandon Garrison (5.9 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Christian Anderson (10.6 PPG) Tyeree Bryan (10.4 PPG at Santa Clara) LeJuan Watts (13.7 PPG at Washington State) JT Toppin (18.2 PPG) Luke Bamgboye (3.8 PPG at VCU)
Projected starting lineup: Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 8 in ESPN 100) Isaac McKneely (14.4 PPG at Virginia) Ryan Conwell (16.5 PPG at Xavier) J’Vonne Hadley (12.2 PPG) Sananda Fru (12.6 PPG for Loewen Braunschweig)
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 14 vs. Arizona in Inglewood (Hall of Fame Series – Los Angeles), 10 p.m., Peacock
Projected starting lineup: Donovan Dent (20.4 PPG at New Mexico) Skyy Clark (8.5 PPG) Eric Dailey (11.4 PPG) Tyler Bilodeau (13.5 PPG) Steven Jamerson II (10.0 PPG at San Diego)
Projected starting lineup: Jaden Bradley (12.1 PPG) Brayden Burries (No. 12 in ESPN 100) Anthony Dell’Orso (7.2 PPG) Koa Peat (No. 10 in ESPN 100) Tobe Awaka (8.0 PPG)
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Houston in Newark (Never Forget Tribute Classic), 5:30 p.m., CBS/Paramount+
Projected starting lineup: Labaron Philon Jr. (10.6 PPG) Aden Holloway (11.4 PPG) Latrell Wrightsell (11.5 PPG) Taylor Bol Bowen (8.0 PPG at Florida State) Aiden Sherrell (3.4 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Tamin Lipsey (10.6 PPG) Jamarion Batemon (No. 77 in ESPN 100) Milan Momcilovic (11.5 PPG) Joshua Jefferson (13.0 PPG) Blake Buchanan (5.7 PPG at Virginia)
Projected starting lineup: Mihailo Petrovic (14.3 PPG for Mega Superbet) Kylan Boswell (12.3 PPG) Andrej Stojakovic (17.9 PPG at California) Zvonimir Ivisic (8.5 PPG at Arkansas) Tomislav Ivisic (13.0 PPG)
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 25 vs. Houston in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 6 p.m., TNT/HBO Max
Projected starting lineup: Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.7 PPG at Maryland) Amaree Abram (12.3 PPG at Louisiana Tech) Nate Ament (No. 4 in ESPN 100) Cade Phillips (4.6 PPG) Felix Okpara (7.1 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Tahaad Pettiford (11.7 PPG) Kevin Overton (7.8 PPG at Texas Tech) Elyjah Freeman (19.3 PPG at D-II Lincoln Memorial) Keyshawn Hall (18.8 PPG at UCF) KeShawn Murphy (11.7 PPG at Mississippi State)
Projected starting lineup: Mario Saint-Supery (8.3 PPG for BAXI Manresa) Adam Miller (9.8 PPG at Arizona State) Tyon Grant-Foster (14.8 PPG at Grand Canyon) Braden Huff (11.0 PPG) Graham Ike (17.3 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Jeremy Fears Jr. (7.2 PPG) Trey Fort (14.6 PPG at Samford) Coen Carr (8.1 PPG) Jaxon Kohler (7.8 PPG) Carson Cooper (5.0 PPG)
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 25 vs. Iowa State in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 2 p.m., truTV
Projected starting lineup: Blake Harper (19.5 PPG at Howard) Josh Dix (14.4 PPG at Iowa) Jackson McAndrew (7.8 PPG) Jasen Green (4.9 PPG) Owen Freeman (16.7 PPG at Iowa)
Projected starting lineup: Nick Boyd (13.4 PPG at San Diego State) Andrew Rohde (9.3 PPG at Virginia) John Blackwell (15.8 PPG) Austin Rapp (13.8 PPG at Portland) Nolan Winter (9.4 PPG)
Projected starting lineup: Kyan Evans (10.6 PPG at Colorado State) Seth Trimble (11.6 PPG) Luka Bogavac (14.9 PPG for SC Derby) Caleb Wilson (No. 5 in ESPN 100) Henri Veesaar (9.4 PPG at Arizona)
Billy Donovan breaks down Florida’s toughness during 24-25 title run (2:12)Legendary Gators coach Donovan highlights how Florida was able to overcome adversity and make plays down the stretch throughout last season. (2:12)
Legendary Gators coach Donovan highlights how Florida was able to overcome adversity and make plays down the stretch throughout last season. (2:12)
The 2025-26 preseason men’s college basketball AP Top 25 poll results are out!
2024-25 record: 24-12 (lost to 1-seed Houston in Sweet 16)
2024-25 record: 35-5 (lost to 1-seed Florida in national title game)
2024-25 record: 24-11 (lost to 1-seed Florida in round of 32)
2024-25 record: 31-5 (lost to 10-seed Arkansas in round of 32)
2024-25 record: 35-4 (lost to 1-seed Houston in Final Four)
2024-25 record: 27-10 (lost to 1-seed Auburn in Sweet 16)
2024-25 record: 26-10 (lost to 2-seed Alabama in Sweet 16)
2024-25 record: 24-12 (lost to 2-seed Tennessee in Sweet 16)
2024-25 record: 28-9 (lost to 1-seed Florida in Elite Eight)
2024-25 record: 27-8 (lost to 9-seed Creighton in round of 64)
2024-25 record: 23-11 (lost to 2-seed Tennessee in round of 32)
2024-25 record: 24-13 (lost to 1-seed Duke in Sweet 16)
2024-25 record: 22-14 (lost to 3-seed Texas Tech in Sweet 16)
Projected starting lineup: Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7 in ESPN 100) D.J. Wagner (11.2 PPG) Karter Knox (8.3 PPG) Trevon Brazile (6.8 PPG) Malique Ewin (14.2 PPG at Florida State)
2024-25 record: 28-9 (lost to 1-seed Duke in Elite Eight)
2024-25 record: 25-10 (lost to 6-seed Ole Miss in round of 32)
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 24 vs. St. John’s in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 4:30 p.m., truTV
2024-25 record: 22-13 (lost to 3-seed Kentucky in round of 32)
2024-25 record: 30-8 (lost to 1-seed Houston in Elite Eight)
2024-25 record: 21-13 (lost to 10-seed Arkansas in round of 64)
2024-25 record: 32-6 (lost to 1-seed Florida in Final Four)
2024-25 record: 26-9 (lost to 1-seed Houston in round of 32)
2024-25 record: 19-16 (lost to 1-seed Auburn in Elite Eight)
2024-25 record: 25-11 (lost to 1-seed Auburn in round of 32)
2024-25 record: 27-10 (lost to 6-seed BYU in round of 32)
2024-25 record: 23-14 (lost to 6-seed Ole Miss in round of 64)
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Auburn in Indianapolis (Indy Classic), 6:30 p.m., Peacock
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 16 vs. Auburn in Birmingham (Battleground 2k25), 3 p.m., ESPN
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Arizona in Las Vegas (Hall of Fame Series), 7 p.m., TNT
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 at Duke (ACC/SEC Challenge), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 9 vs. Florida in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Quinnipiac, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Kentucky in Atlanta (CBS Sports Classic), 12:30 p.m., CBS
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Texas in Charlotte (Dick Vitale Invitational), 8:45 p.m., ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 vs. Kansas in New York (Champions Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 25 vs. Auburn in Las Vegas (Players Era Festival), 8:30 p.m., TNT
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Villanova in Las Vegas (Hall of Fame Series), 9:30 p.m., TNT
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. UConn in Boston (Hall of Fame Series – Boston), 7 p.m., FOX
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 vs. North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Duke in New York, 8 p.m., ESPN
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. SC State, 9 p.m., ACC Network
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 11 vs. Kentucky, 8 p.m., ESPN
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Eastern Washington, 10:30 p.m., BTN
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Florida in Las Vegas (Hall of Fame Series), 7 p.m., TNT
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 13 vs. Purdue, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Jackson State, 8:30 p.m., BTN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 28 vs. UConn in New York, 12:30 p.m., FOX
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 vs. Duke in New York (Champions Classic), 8 p.m., ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Purdue in Indianapolis (Indy Classic), 6:30 p.m., Peacock
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Texas Southern, TBD, ESPN+
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 5 vs. Kentucky in Nashville, 7 p.m., ESPN2