Men's College Basketball Rankings: Illinois, Duke Highlight Way-Too-Early Top 25

Key Points:

• Michigan Wolverines won the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship and are expected to remain strong next season, though not ranked No. 1 in early projections.
• Key teams to watch include VCU, Texas Tech, Texas, Florida, Purdue, BYU, Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Houston, North Carolina, Kansas, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Iowa State, Gonzaga, UConn, Alabama, Arizona, Michigan State, and Duke, each facing roster changes due to NBA Draft entries, transfers, and graduations.
• Notable player decisions impacting team outlooks include Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson and JT Toppin's NBA Draft considerations, Florida’s potential early departures, BYU’s Robert Wright’s return, and Michigan State’s efforts to retain All-American Jeremy Fears Jr.
• Coaching changes and new recruits will also shape next season, highlighted by Michael Malone taking over at North Carolina and Duke bringing in a top recruiting class alongside key returnees.
• Several programs will rely heavily on incoming freshmen and transfers to fill gaps left by NBA-bound players, with teams like Kansas, Houston, and UConn preparing for significant roster transitions.