Men's Preseason Top 25: Who is No. 1? Plus risers and fallers in final month to tip

It's been six months since the Florida Gators won the nationalist rubric and the runner-up Houston Cougars topped the archetypal variation of these offseason apical 25 rankings, with Purdue, Louisville, UConn and Michigan rounding retired the apical five. Now with conscionable a mates of weeks near until the 2025-26 assemblage hoops play tips off, lone 3 of those teams clasp a spot among the apical five.

Way-too-early rankings are considered thing of a fool's errand successful the modern epoch of assemblage basketball, fixed the rampant rebuilds and roster overhauls each offseason. But with large programs getting their concern done earlier successful the transportation portal cycle, and astir non-first-rounders returning to assemblage alternatively of leaving aboriginal for the NBA draft, galore of the projected high-end rotations didn't alteration overmuch betwixt April and October.

Still, it has been a agelong offseason, and we're little than a period from the Nov. 3 tipoff -- truthful it's clip for the last preseason apical 25 rankings.

Is this the play Matt Painter and Purdue chopped down the nets arsenic first-time champs? There is simply a statement astatine No. 1, with Houston and Florida successful the mix, but the Boilermakers get the nod. They bring backmost the Wooden Award favourite successful Braden Smith, different All-American successful Trey Kaufman-Renn, 2 much starters from a Sweet 16 squad -- and person superior extent and acquisition from a play ago.

1. Purdue Boilermakers

Previous ranking: 1

There are precise fewer doubts astir Purdue's violative imaginable -- the Boilermakers were seventh nationally successful violative ratio past play and bring backmost the bulk of that group. The cardinal to their quest for a nationalist championship, however, volition travel down to defense. They had the worst 2-point defence successful the Big Ten past season, a stark drop-off from erstwhile Zach Edey was patrolling the paint. If Purdue tin enactment up its defense, Painter's squad is the rubric favorite.

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. Florida Gators

Previous ranking: 2

Could Florida spell back-to-back? After what Todd Golden did to revamp the backcourt successful the offseason, it's not retired of the question. The Gators were already bringing backmost 1 of the nation's elite frontcourts, with imaginable first-rounders Read Entire Article