Barstool Breakdown: 2025-26 College Basketball Season Preview

As October comes to an end, so does the season of exhibitions and “secret” scrimmages... which means tip-off is here! College basketball is soooo back! Yes, I love college football, golf, and the NHL... but in the end, college basketball just strikes another chord with me. So, I’m putting some extra pressure on myself to write a great season preview for Barstool Breakdown. My second hope? That this somehow lands on the desk of Mark Titus and the Mostly Hoops crew.

The journey to March begins Monday, and for those who don’t usually tap in until the madness begins, I have a plea for you... DON’T MISS NOVEMBER BASKETBALL! The next four weeks of hoops deserve to be romanticized just like March. Between early-season tournaments and Feast Week, the amount of high-quality matchups should leave any ball knower or degenerate drooling.

There’s a lot to cover in this preview, from projected rankings to predictions. You’ll get a Projected Top 25, the teams I believe will be the 25 best heading into March, plus the Top 25 Mid-Majors, ya know the ones you’ll want to watch as potential Cinderellas. Of course, we’ll wrap it up with Final Four and Champion predictions.

Also, we’ll look at the Coach Day squads, the names you already know, need to know, or will know this season. You can’t miss this all-encompassing 2025-26 college basketball preview.

Projected Top 25 Teams

To jumpstart us, we’re taking a look at the top 25 teams. This list might differ from traditional preseason rankings, as mine is more of a projection of where things will stand come March. As you look over the graphic, there are a few eye-grabbing differences compared to the consensus non-ball knowing polls you’ve seen elsewhere.

This starts with my #1 team: St. John’s. I’m very high on this Red Storm squad. They still have the toughness and skill we saw last year that comes with Rick Pitino teams, now with much better shooting ability. Their Achilles’ heel last year was the lack of 3-point punch. If that’s improved, with their inside physicality from Zuby Ejiofor & Bryce Hopkins, they’ll be tough to beat in 25-26.

The Boilermakers are the one I’m a little nervous about, but their talent feels too much to ignore, which has them sitting 2nd. After that 1-2 punch, you’ve got the usual suspects, including defending champion Florida Gators at #6, who have a legitimate shot at the repeat.

A few teams lower in the rankings that could soar to the top: Arizona Wildcats, Illinois Fighting Illini, & Gonzaga Bulldogs. All three are lurking outside but have the talent to make a run.

Projected Top 25 Mid-Majors

Now, these next 25 teams might make 90% of you think I pulled names from the ol' EA Sports team builder database, but these are the ones true degenerates need to know. DUH! The squads that can win you big money or give your bracket the upper hand come March.

The top three are all familiar, Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, & San Diego State, household names in the college basketball world. But here are three more to keep an eye on this season:

• George Washington Revolutionaries – A team packed with returners and transfers. They’ll be tested in a solid A-10, and come on, how can you not root for the father of our nation?

• Grand Canyon Lopes – Their first year in the Mountain West, loaded with bounce-back transfers. They’ll look to make noise immediately.

• Illinois State Redbirds – Johnny Kinziger. Get to know that name. I’ll get into him more later, but this team kept its roster intact, which is rare these days. They’re talented across the board.

  
  

Coach Day's All-Squads: 2025-26 Season

Let’s now continue with the All-Squads, from THE All-Squad to All-Breakout Squad, showing love to the individuals who could lead their teams to the pinnacle this spring.

All-Mid-Major Squad

Told you I’d have more on Kinziger, this kid is must-watch. He’s on MVC Player of the Year watch after averaging 14.6 PPG last year while shooting 39% from deep. In Bennett Stirtz’s shadow last year, this could be his conference now.

Gonzaga, of course, holds two spots and could’ve had a third with Braden Huff. Tyon Grant-Foster & Graham Ike could be an unstoppable duo in pick-and-roll situations, must-see system ball. Rounding out the five are big men Saint Louis’ Robbie Avila & Yale’s Nick Townsend, both good enough to win Player of the Year in their conferences. Avila, finally healthy, should be a double-double machine.

All-Breakout Squad

First up is freshman Uriah Tennette. I’ve personally coached against and seen this kid play, he’s a freak athlete who can score at all three levels. Already starting in New Mexico’s scrimmages, he should be a game-changer, similar to former Lobo Jalen House, but with major bounce.

Next is Gonzaga’s Spanish freshman Mario Saint-Supery. Already splitting time for the PG job, he took on Giannis in the Euros this summer, I mean he literally has no fear and eyes in the back of his head with the ball.

My insider sources are also very high on the Illinois Euro invasion led by David Mirkovic. His highlights remind me of a young Danilo Gallinari or a more physical Franz Wagner. Expect his draft stock to rise.

Rounding out the five are two transfers: Carson Towt (NAU ➡️ Notre Dame), a throwback to Luke Harangody or Bonzie Colson, & Dusty Stromer (Gonzaga ➡️ Grand Canyon), a sharpshooter ready to lead a potential tournament team.

All-Transfer Squad

The biggest name here is Donovan Dent, moving from New Mexico to UCLA, a crucial addition for a team that lacked scoring punch. Dent is a pure three-level scorer, lookout for him to take the Bruins to the next level this season.

Next is Bennett Stirtz, following his coach from Drake to Iowa to prove he belongs at the Power 4 level. His play is smooth & very under control.

We then have the two big men jumpin' from mid-majors to the Big Ten, Yaxel Lendeborg (to Michigan) & Oscar Cluff (to Purdue), though completely different styles, both dominant last season.

Closing out the five is Boogie Fland (Arkansas ➡️ Florida), a lengthy, playmaking guard who should pair beautifully with Florida’s scoring bigs.

All-Name Squad

Because how could we not... come on Money Williams (Montana) wins this one hands down.

All-Squad (All-Americans)

The BIG DAWGS! Starting with Purdue’s Braden Smith who leads this group as a potential player of the year candidate too. He’s undoubtedly the best point guard in the country, great size, can score or set up teammates with ease.

Then we’ve got two elite freshmen: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson & BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. Both are scoring machines and could battling to be the No. 1 overall pick next summer.

Rounding out the five are two of the best bigs in the nation, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, a classic back-to-the-basket player, and Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, an explosive, high-flying big.

Hands down, these are the five best players in the country right now, and man those two freshmen will only get better as the year goes on.

2025-26 Season Predictions

Alright now we put the icing on the cake with the predictions. To stay true to my No. 1 team, I’ve got to stick with St. John’s cutting down the nets. They won’t sneak up on anyone this year, but they’ll be such a tough out in March.

My Final Four: St. John’s, UConn, Florida, & Michigan. All four have coaches who’ve been there before, and each has the roster to make another run. As for others, Duke, Houston, & BYU who are popular picks, I just see too many questions about their youth, defense, and shooting.

The Dark Horses: Arizona, Illinois, Gonzaga, & Texas Tech. The Red Raiders’ athleticism jumps off the screen, meawhile with the addition of Tyon Grant-Foster, Gonzaga’s deep, long roster will be a nightmare matchup if they’re shooting it well. Arizona & Illinois have constructed some potent rosters as well, no one will want to see these four teams this year.

Letdown Team: BYU Cougars. While there's no denying the star power of AJ Dybantsa, I’m just not confident in their defense, and then add in that the Big 12 will be a grind. They scream potential letdown.

Surprise Team: Washington Huskies. A roster loaded with high-level transfers and recruits, they’ll have to battle through a tough Big Ten, but they’ve got the talent, including a prospect I LOVE in German forward Hannes Steinbach, who has Dirk Nowitzki-type potential.

WHEW. There it is, the full Barstool Breakdown College Basketball Preview, straight from the expert who triumphs over all other “experts.”

We’ve waited 180+ days for this moment. Tip-off comes as we turn the calendar to November. From coast to coast... from the McCarthey Athletic Center to Cameron Indoor, Hawaii to Maine...the madness is coming.

Not just in March… but all season long.