100 And 1 days until college basketball: Stars, storylines, contenders and pretenders for 2026-27 season

Key Points:

• The 2026-27 men's college basketball season will start uniquely with Notre Dame and Villanova playing in Rome, Italy, while the NCAA Tournament expands to 76 teams, a change met with mixed feelings.
• Michigan faces a challenging title defense without head coach Dusty May and several key players, but retains enough talent to remain competitive; North Carolina begins the Michael Malone era amid roster concerns, and the SEC is expected to dominate with multiple strong teams and significant financial resources.
• Realignment has disrupted the Mountain West Conference's traditional rivalry dynamic, with several teams moving to the Pac-12, altering the competitive landscape.
• Eligibility uncertainties persist into the offseason, affecting team planning and player availability, while coaching changes and transfer portal activity have reshaped many programs with notable new coaches and impactful transfers.
• Early projections highlight top offensive and defensive teams, key breakout players, and potential NBA Draft prospects, with some teams like Indiana, Oklahoma State, and St. John's viewed more favorably than consensus, while others like Michigan and North Carolina face skepticism.