From “go green!” “go white!” chants in the Breslin center, to rock chalk, jayhawk chants in Allen Fieldhouse, or even the toilet paper game at John Brown University, there’s nothing better than college basketball and its atmosphere. So let’s dive into this season by anticipating what schools will be really good or not, players that will perform at a very high level, and some of the key matchups this year.
Which teams will rise or fall this season?
As we know, there are always the powerhouses in college basketball: Duke, Kentucky, UConn, Kansas, North Carolina, etc. They typically get the best high school recruits and usually are a top 25 team in the country. Now that there is NIL (Name Image and Likeness) and the transfer portal, big schools like these can promise the athletes that they will get endorsements if they come through the transfer portal, so that they can help their program win games. With that being said, teams that will have an outstanding season because of the transfer portal may include Michigan, Oklahoma, Washington, and St. John’s. These teams were all listed top five for most transfer talent added during the offseason, according to ESPN. The sky is the limit for these teams, but the question is, can they execute as a team and make it to the dance (march madness tournament) when it matters most? At any level in sports, it’s hard to dominate year after year. Especially at this level, there are so many factors that get in the way. For example, coaching changes in the program, recruiting challenges, and team chemistry.
Two teams that I don’t expect a lot from this year are Michigan State and Auburn. The Spartans and Tom Izzo barely made any moves in the portal during the offseason. He’s not a big fan of the transfer portal system, so most players are returning. Izzo publicly said “I’m not ready to move on… and if that costs me later, so be it”. He emphasized his commitment to his current players”. In addition, the Spartans have one of the hardest schedules this year in college basketball. Also, Jase Richardson, a freshman last year, left for the NBA, as well as a few key seniors who graduated. For Spartan fans, Hopefully, Izzo and his crew can fight the adversity they will have to face this year. Auburn this year will also face adversity throughout the season. With a brand new head coach due to Bruce Pearl’s retirement, it’s going to be a reset year for them. Although they have one of the best players in college basketball, Tahaad Pettiford, their team is young with only two seniors. It’s going to be hard with a new coach and a team full of young guys.
Players to look out for:
With everything I mentioned about the transfer portal, there is serious talent that has to be discussed. Michigan was very successful in the portal because they landed with the number one player in April of 2025, Yaxel Lendeborg, a power forward, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals; these stats were recorded for the 2024 and 2025 season according to 247 Sports. He is an all-around player who is likely to have an outstanding year for Michigan. Another standout player is point guard Donovan Dent from New Mexico, who was Mountain West Player of the Year, averaging 20.4 points, 6.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals last season. He is heading to UCLA. This is a great opportunity for Dent and UCLA to head back into the tournament and make a run this year. Lastly, a five-star out of high school, Ian Jackson, is a freshman guard from North Carolina who has a bright future ahead of him. Jackson averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, and while this is nothing mind-blowing, he is only going to be a sophomore attending St. Johns. Once he meets the top of his game, he will be so much fun to watch.
What makes college basketball so great is all the new recruits that come in. This freshman class is loaded with talent. Of course, the number one recruit out of high school, McDonald’s All American and FIBA MVP. AJ Dybantsa, standing six feet eight inches, who is attending BYU and will likely spend just one year in college before entering the NBA Draft. Also, players like Darius Acuff out of IMG Academy, who is from Detroit, is attending Arkansas, or Darryn Peterson from Ohio, attending Kansas. What makes it more fun is that there are sons of NBA legends who are not going to college. For example, the Boozer twins are the sons of Carlos Boozer, and both of them are attending Duke just like their father. The son of Carmelo Anthony, Kiyan Anthony who is following in his dad’s footsteps to play at Syracuse. Then, Bryce James, son of Lebron James, attended Arizona, looking to start his own path. All of these kids are our players to keep an eye on throughout the entire season.
Key matchups:
What makes college basketball games so great is the atmosphere.. Students wearing crazy outfits/costumes, how loud the arena can get, or the crazy traditions that they do to support their school. What makes kids so motivated to cheer them on is how big a game it is. Depending on the match-up, the more fans get into it. Games like Michigan State vs Arkansas or St. John’s vs Alabama, both on Nov. 8, 2025. There are also the rivalry games that everyone loves. North Carolina vs Duke, also known as the Battle of the Blues, is a rivalry that has lasted for a century. Or, Michigan vs Michigan State, a battle between two BIG Ten schools that is always competitive.
This is what makes college basketball so special to watch. The fans, players, coaches, and the culture of college basketball make it so unique. Basketball season is finally here, so it’s that time of the year to cheer on your team, embrace the culture, and feel the energy that only college hoops has to offer!
