Men's AP preseason top 25 poll reaction: What to know about every team

3 weeks ago 3

ESPN

Oct 13, 2025, 12:08 PM ET

The 2025-26 preseason men's assemblage hoops AP Top 25 canvass results are out!

Purdue volition extremity disconnected the play astatine No. 1. Reigning nationalist champion Florida and nationalist runner-up Houston are besides successful the premix for the apical spot. Can either the Gators of the Cougars instrumentality to the NCAA rubric crippled (April 6, Indianapolis)?

The apical 25 features bluebloods Duke (No. 6), Kentucky (No. 9), Kansas (No. 19) and North Carolina (No. 25). All eyes volition beryllium connected No. 8 BYU, arsenic the Cougars -- helmed by No. 1 enlistee and projected apical NBA draught prime AJ Dybantsa -- effort to amended connected past season's Sweet 16 run.

The ever-present transfer portal and 62 coaching changes, coupled with NIL and the motorboat of gross sharing, volition marque this assemblage hoops play 1 to ticker erstwhile it begins connected Nov. 3.

Let's interruption down the projected starting lineups and biggest aboriginal play games for each of the 25 men's hoops teams successful the AP Poll rankings.

All times Eastern

1. Purdue Boilermakers

2024-25 record: 24-12 (lost to 1-seed Houston successful Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Evansville, TBD

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 20 vs. Auburn successful Indianapolis (Indy Classic), 6:30 p.m., Peacock

Projected starting lineup:
Braden Smith (15.8 PPG)
C.J. Cox (6.0 PPG)
Fletcher Loyer (13.8 PPG)
Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1 PPG)
Oscar Cluff (17.6 PPG astatine South Dakota State)

2. Houston Cougars

2024-25 record: 35-5 (lost to 1-seed Florida successful nationalist rubric game)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Lehigh, TBD

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 16 vs. Auburn successful Birmingham (Battleground 2k25), 3 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Milos Uzan (11.4 PPG)
Emanuel Sharp (12.7 PPG)
Isiah Harwell (No. 14 successful ESPN 100)
Joseph Tugler (5.5 PPG)
Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 6 successful ESPN 100)