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They have Purdue #1, Houston #2, and then UConn at #3. Michigan and Florida round out the top 5.
Notable returners: Jayden Ross
Other newcomers: Malachi Smith (transfer), Braylon Mullins, Darius Adams, Eric Reibe, Jacob Furphy (international), Jacob Ross
In 2022 the Huskies returned two starters and three of the top seven scorers from a team that won 23 games and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then landed a 6-foot-5 point guard out of the transfer portal and won a title. The 2025-26 Huskies return two starters and four of the top seven scorers from a team that won 24 games and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They landed a 6-foot-5 point guard out of the transfer portal. Will the end result be the same?
It’s not hard to see who slots into each role on the ’22-23 champs. Solo Ball could be the Jordan Hawkins, a gifted shooter ready to become one of the nation’s best shooting guards. Tarris Reed is capable of carrying the offense like Adama Sanogo could. This year’s UConn has a gifted freshman backup center in Eric Reibe; the original model was Donovan Clingan. The ’22-23 champs had Alex Karaban; this team has (an older) Alex Karaban. And then Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. seems like the ideal fit to play the Tristen Newton role. I’m not sure Jaylin Stewart can match Andre Jackson, and Reibe might be further along offensively but won’t have Clingan’s defensive impact, but you could argue the rest of the cast of characters are equals. Last year was a rebuilding season, but I’m betting this group is ready to win now that the core has had time to marinate.
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Other BE teams include St Johns (#12) and Creighton (#22). No other BE teams even made the "others considered" list.
www.nytimes.com
edit: just noticed they still list Darius Adams as being on our roster.
3. UConn
Projected starters: Silas Demary Jr. (transfer), Solo Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Alex Karaban, Tarris ReedNotable returners: Jayden Ross
Other newcomers: Malachi Smith (transfer), Braylon Mullins, Darius Adams, Eric Reibe, Jacob Furphy (international), Jacob Ross
In 2022 the Huskies returned two starters and three of the top seven scorers from a team that won 23 games and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then landed a 6-foot-5 point guard out of the transfer portal and won a title. The 2025-26 Huskies return two starters and four of the top seven scorers from a team that won 24 games and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They landed a 6-foot-5 point guard out of the transfer portal. Will the end result be the same?
It’s not hard to see who slots into each role on the ’22-23 champs. Solo Ball could be the Jordan Hawkins, a gifted shooter ready to become one of the nation’s best shooting guards. Tarris Reed is capable of carrying the offense like Adama Sanogo could. This year’s UConn has a gifted freshman backup center in Eric Reibe; the original model was Donovan Clingan. The ’22-23 champs had Alex Karaban; this team has (an older) Alex Karaban. And then Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. seems like the ideal fit to play the Tristen Newton role. I’m not sure Jaylin Stewart can match Andre Jackson, and Reibe might be further along offensively but won’t have Clingan’s defensive impact, but you could argue the rest of the cast of characters are equals. Last year was a rebuilding season, but I’m betting this group is ready to win now that the core has had time to marinate.
----------------------------
Other BE teams include St Johns (#12) and Creighton (#22). No other BE teams even made the "others considered" list.
Men’s college basketball Top 25 reset: How transfers, draft decisions change 2026’s contenders
Except for perhaps a few late international signings, this ranking may be nearly identical to the one I submit right before the season.
www.nytimes.com
edit: just noticed they still list Darius Adams as being on our roster.
