NCAA basketball 2025-26 predictions: from Sarah Strong to Darryn Peterson, the names you’ll know by March | College basketball

What are you looking forward to most, on or off the court?

I'll go with St. Thomas–Minnesota men's teamqualified to the NCAA Tournament for the first time after an unprecedented jump from Division III to Division I. They are among the favorites in the Summit League and now boast a $175 million arena that has brought them a significant influx of new players. A run in March could cement Tommie's status as the Gonzaga of the Midwest. Brian Armen Graham

Besides the excitement of the premiere, I can't wait to see How Tennessee's Kim Caldwell steers the ship in Season 2 — and where Notre Dame will land after Olivia Miles leaves for TCU. Honestly, Miles herself is one of the main storylines I'll be following this year. Stephanie Caloy

Can the Duke boys repeat their success leading the freshmen? In the transfer portal era, where teams are older and more experienced than ever, can five-star freshman Cameron Boozer lead the Blue Devils to the Final Four like Cooper Flagg did? Nicholas Levine

The surprise package of the season will be…

Women of Kansas. The Jayhawks return five starters, led by S'Myia Nichols, and add two five-star freshmen. Getting past the Sweet 16 is out of the question. BAG

Living in Nashville, I'm especially interested in Vanderbilt women's team – they quietly built something special. Miami is also worth a look: The Hurricanes are consistently making noise and could easily parlay that momentum into a breakout campaign in 2025-26. SK

San Diego State Men. While the Aztecs are not ranked in the preseason top 25, they return a significant portion of last year's team that finished in the top 25. NCAA Tournament. Miles Bird and Magun Gwat are potential future NBA players, and Reese Waters (former Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year at USC) returns after a year off due to injury. With a core returning group that understands the Aztec culture mixed with some talented newcomers, SDSU will be a tough task for everyone come March. Netherlands

Which preseason top 10 team will struggle?

Saint John people. Rick Pitino previously reviewed point guard options stopping at Stanford transfer Oziah Sellers, a professional off-ball player with minimal playing experience. Without a true general, the Red Storm's top-10 talent could fizzle out early due to a massive non-conference schedule. BAG

Unfortunately, I'm leaning towards either option. North Carolina State or Maryland on the women's side. Not because they sit at number 9 and number 10, but because it's hard to imagine any other top team falling apart enough to miss the game. SK

BYU men. The Cougars play in the ultra-competitive Big 12, where they finish third. They have the most talented freshman in the country in a future lottery pick in AJ Dybanz. Can an 18-year-old player consistently lead them in a tough schedule against (much) older players? Time will show. Netherlands

The best male player of the year will be…

I like Michigan Yaksel Lendeborg seize the throne through their all-round dominance of the top five teams. BAG

It's hard to bet against Purdue. Braden Smith. The Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year is poised to take another leap, and all eyes will be on how he runs the Boilermakers' offense from start to finish. SK

Braden Smith. The best player on the best team, Smith averaged more than eight assists per game last year and is surrounded by just as much, if not more, talent this season. An extension of Matt Painter on the court, Smith has an elite sense of how to run a team. Netherlands

The Women's Player of the Year will be…

Sarah Strong from UConn poised, strong and now the center of Geno Auriemma's latest power. Look for a superslot who can go from prodigy to Storr legend. BAG

If she stays healthy Sarah Strong is the clear favorite. She's only a sophomore, but she's already playing in a league of her own and looks ready to dominate at every level. SK

Lauren Betts from UCLA He became a walking double-double for the Bruins last season, averaging 20 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. After making his first Final Four appearance last season, Betts will look to continue his dominant play as he leads the Bruins to a national title. Netherlands

The NBA's hottest prospect is…

Darrin Peterson, Kansas. The combination of an NBA-ready 6-foot-6 rookie size, lithe athleticism and advanced shot-creation prowess makes him one of the most complete guard prospects in recent years. He scores easily at all three levels, defends energetically and already plays the game like a pro. BAG

A name you need to know Darrin Peterson. The freshman from Kansas is considered one of the most complete defenders in recent years: a true unique talent who can score, create and lead. SK

A. J. Dybanza, Brigham Young. The 6-foot-9 freshman comes under enormous pressure to live up to the hype that has surrounded him for years. The athletic forward has the body and feel for the game that should allow him to make an immediate impact in the league. One area he will have to improve is his long-range shooting. Netherlands

The WNBA's hottest prospect is…

Lauren Betts, UCLA. The 6'7 frontcourt anchor, who dominates on both ends of the floor with power, touch and consistency, combines elite footwork and rim protection with developing mid-range and passing skills. BAG

Spanish teenager Ava Pham likely to be number one pick next year, but among US college players Azzi Fudd from the University of California and Rory Harmon from Texas stand out. Both have grown significantly since their first season and look completely professional: proof that sticking to one program can improve a player's game as much as raw talent could. SK

I'm going to stick with the 6'7 center. Lauren Betts. Her size and touch around the rim allows her to be ready to contribute from day one at W. Netherlands

One bold prediction

The 16th seed would upset the top-ranked team in the men's tournament. This took more than three decades. it's finally happening for the first timebye Fairleigh Dickinson did it twice in five years back in 2023. We'll see this again soon for several reasons, mainly due to the transfer portal redistributing talent to the fringes while traditional superpowers continue to rely on disposable players. BAG

The USC women could be the biggest surprise of the season. Even without JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen, the Trojans have the grit and cohesion to be successful. Think of an Indiana Fever style campaign – a young team that simply refuses to give up and keeps finding ways to win. SK

Erik Ohlen and New Mexico will win the Mountain West Conference tournament. The longtime UCSD coach has a proven system that wins, but with 14 new players on the team, the Lobos will take some time to gel. UNM has good positional size that will allow them to rotate between 1-5 schemes and become one of the most disruptive defenses in the league. The time will come for a tournament that will be difficult for even some of the most talented teams in the MWC to prepare for. Netherlands

Men. Final four

Connecticut, Houston, Kentucky, Tennessee. BAG

Duke, Houston, Michigan, Purdue. SK

Gonzaga, Michigan, Purdue, St. John's. Netherlands

National champion among men

Houston. The Cougars seem built to finish where they are. in April it was so cruelly lacking. Kelvin Sampson returns three starters and seven key players from the team that nearly won last year's title game, including star guards Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan and defensive anchor Joseph Tagler. To that battle-tested core, they added a top-five recruiting class led by five-star phenoms Chris Cenac Jr. and Isaiah Harwell, as well as elite point guard Kingston Flemings. The unpredictability of March Madness is right there in the name, but Houston is the safest bet on the board. BAG

Houston. The Cougars came agonizingly close last year, and that unfinished business still burns. With their chemistry, defense and experience, they have what it takes to get the job done this time. SK

St. John's. The Johnny's are led by arguably the greatest college basketball coach of all time, Rick Pitino. When Pitino has talent and a group of guys that fit his personality, he wins. They return last year's Big East POY in Zudi Ejiofor and have the top transfer class in the country. Look for the Johnny's to send Pitino into retirement by cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. Netherlands

Women's Final Four

Connecticut, LSU, South Carolina, UCLA. BAG

Connecticut, South Carolina, Texas, UCLA. SK

Connecticut, Notre Dame, South Carolina, UCLA. Netherlands

National Women's Champion

Connecticut. Connecticut has the right combination of size, shooting and experience to crash the nets in Phoenix. Even without Paige Bueckers, these Huskies could be better: Sarah Strong is poised to become the top player in the country, Azzie Fudd is healthy and Wisconsin transfer Sera Williams adds depth. Geno Auriemma's 13th title seems very close to a fait accompli. BAG

Connecticut. This year's squad is deeper and more balanced than last season. The addition of Sera Williams was the perfect fit, and with size, shooting and championship experience, the Huskies are positioned to reclaim their throne. SK

South Carolina. Dawn Staley adds another talented group led by Florida State transfer Ta'Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring a year ago. The Gamecocks, last year's runner-up, will avenge an embarrassing loss to UConn and give Staley her fourth national championship trophy. Netherlands