There are folks in these jobs who will take chances, some who will take considerable risk – and then there’s Buster Posey.

Posey, the San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations, just established himself as the biggest gunslinger in the business with a massive gamble hiring Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello.

Yes, Vitello, the same guy who has never played a day professionally, never managed a day professionally, is now in charge of taking the San Francisco Giants to the promised land.

Vitello, 47, becomes the first person to ever jump straight from the college ranks to become a Major League manager, signing a five-year contract.

It has all of the makings of an unmitigated disaster, but Posey didn’t budge.

Posey had a chance to bring back future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy.

He could have tried to convince future Hall of Famer Dusty Baker to come for one last ride.

He could have reached out and tried to hire Skip Schumaker, who was the top choice of virtually everyone, including the Baltimore Orioles who wined and dined him before he was hired by the Texas Rangers.

Instead, he’s going with one of the most successful collegiate coaches in recent years, betting that his team mixed full of veteran All-Stars and young kids – with plenty of egos – will actually pay attention to him and give him respect.

Good luck!

Posey, of course, took a leap of faith in his personal life by leaving the relaxing confines of home in Georgia to move to San Francisco, become part owner of the Giants, and then the president of baseball operations.

He went out and dumped $182 million on free agent shortstop Willy Adames.

He drove to third baseman Matt Chapman’s home before he could hit free agency again, signing him to a six-year, $151 million contract extension.

And, of course, he traded for Boston Red Sox infielder Rafael Devers, assuming $255 million.

Now just a month after firing veteran manager Bob Melvin, weeks after telling Bochy he was not wanted, he turns to a guy who has zero experience at the professional level.

The Giants originally were expected to hire Nick Hundley, a special assistant with the San Diego Padres, but when he withdrew his name from consideration, Posey pivoted to Vitello and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Certainly, Vitello is taking a risk, too. The dude was earning more than $3 million annually with salary and benefits at Tennessee through 2029.

There’s also a $3 million buyout that must paid to Tennessee. While the Giants still owe $4 million to Melvin for 2026.

Still, Posey is convinced Vitello is the right guy after developing 10 first-round picks in eight seasons at Tennessee, including Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, Los Angeles Angels reliever Ben Joyce and Giants infielder Gavin Kilen. The Giants are filled with former players from Tennessee including outfielder Drew Gilbert, shortstop Maui Ahuna and pitcher Blade Tidwell. He also coached Toronto Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer at Missouri.

Now, he’s going where no man has gone before, straight from college to an MLB dugout as manager. The closest to make this jump was former Arizona State coach Bobby Winkles, who spent one year on the California Angels coaching staff become becoming their manager.

Will it work?

Scherzer believes Vitello he has the right temperament and will instantly infuse energy into the Giants. Gilbert can’t stop gushing over him.

And Posey is betting his job on him.

If it backfires, as several MLB executives and scouts already are predicting, it could end up costing Posey his job.

It’s one thing to take a chance that could damage a team’s chances for the postseason, it’s quite another to bet your job and reputation on it.

There’s a new gunslinging executive in MLB, a moniker last bestowed upon the great, late Kevin Towers, who was GM of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.

His name is Buster Posey.

And this one is a doozy.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This story has been updated to include new information.

The USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball preseason coaches poll is out, as the top title contenders for the 2025-26 season have been identified.  

Of course, the preseason poll is all about projections. It is comprised of who the nation’s coaches believe have a good chance of cutting down the nets at the Final Four in Indianapolis in April. 

For as much stock as we buy into it before the ball is tipped, we must be just as cautious. After all, it was just three years ago when Connecticut was just outside of the Top 25 to start the 2022-23 season. Five months later, the Huskies were national champions. This year it is Purdue at No. 1 to start the season.

OUTLOOKS: Previewing each team in the preseason Top 25 rankings

While we debate who is ranked too high or too low, you can’t forget about those flying under the radar. There are several teams that were left out of the preseason poll that could not only find themselves ranked as play begins, but making deep runs in the tournament. A look at our five biggest snubs from the preseason rankings.

North Carolina State

Will Wade arrives fresh off his stellar run at McNeese State and looking like he can carry the success over to the Wolfpack. He went to the portal and found proven stars, headlined by Darrion Williams (Texas Tech). Williams, the ACC preseason player of the year, has All-America potential as a consistent double-figure scorer. He is joined by Tre Holloman (Michigan State), who can flourish in an elevated roll leading the back court. With the ACC remaining pretty open outside of Duke and Louisville, North Carolina State can very much find itself winning 20 games and returning to the big dance.

Oregon 

Last season was a roller coaster for the Ducks, but it can be much more steady for Dana Altman’s club in a crowded Big Ten. Oregon returns one of the best tandems in the country with Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle, who combined for 27.9 points per game. Shelstad is expected to miss the first couple of weeks due to a broken right hand, but that could offer the opportunity for Oregon to showcase one of the most intriguing offseason additions in Wei Lin. The Chinese guard was ruled eligible and is coming off a season playing professionally in the Chinese Basketball Association, where he averaged 21 points and five assists per game.

San Diego State

No team from the Mountain West cracks the Top 25, and San Diego State may take it personal as a team that has made the tournament for five consecutive seasons. The Aztecs appear primed for another appearance. Magoon Gwath, the conference’s freshman of the year, decided to stay put. Gwath (8.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) is expected to be a bigger role. San Diego State also boasts one of the best back courts in the Mountain West with Miles Byrd (12.3 ppg) being joined by transfer Latrell Davis (San Jose State). Also added to the group is Reese Dixon-Waters, who missed all of last season with a foot injury and improves San Diego State’s scoring options.

Iowa

Ben McCollum brings his tradition of winning to Iowa City in hopes of revitalizing the Hawkeyes. He doesn’t come from Drake by himself. He brings five of his former players into the fold. Three of them were major contributors, including reigning Missouri Valley Conference player of the year Bennett Stirtz, one of the top transfers. Also joining is reigning Horizon League player of the year Alvaro Folgueiras (Robert Morris). The offense should be solid but the key will be if McCollum can replicate the defensive success he had last season that helped Drake reach the second round of the tournament.

Southern California

Eric Musselman is putting a ton of effort in making men’s basketball significant at USC, and his second year should see big gains. While he lost leading scorer Desmond Claude, Musselman made a major splash in the portal in luring Chad Baker-Mazara to Los Angeles after Auburn reached the Final Four. Also arriving is Rodney Rice (Maryland), who has a chance to break out in an elevated role after showing glimpses last season. One setback is an injury to five-star freshman Alijah Arenas. He is expected to miss the season with a knee injury.

The Toronto Tempo have moved one step closer to tipping off their inaugural season by selecting a head coach.

The Tempo are expected to name two-time WNBA champion Sandy Brondello the team’s first head coach in franchise history, according to reports by IX Basketball and ESPN on Wednesday, nearly one month after Brondello and the New York Liberty parted ways in late September.

Toronto is set to begin play next season as the 14th franchise in the WNBA, alongside the Portland Fire, the league’s 15th franchise. The Tempo will play home games at the Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto.

Brondello was named the Liberty’s head coach in 2022 and led New York to a 107-53 overall record in four seasons at the helm. The Liberty finished with a 32-8 record under Brondello in 2023 and 2024, when the Liberty won the franchise’s first WNBA title over the Minnesota Lynx in a decisive Game 5 that went to overtime.

The Liberty, however, fell upon hard times last season after the team’s Big 3 of Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu each missed time throughout the season due to injury. The Liberty finished the regular season with a 27-17 record and were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury despite taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Both Stewart and Ionescu vouched for Brondello following the team’s early playoff exit. Stewart said ‘(Brondello) has our back and we have hers’ and applauded the ‘way she continued to deal with the cards she was dealt,’ while Ionescu said untimely injuries are ‘something out of our control.’ It wasn’t enough to save Brondello’s job as Liberty management ultimately decided to go in a new direction and opted not to renew her contract.

‘Sandy finishes her tenure in New York as the winningest coach in franchise history, and she took us to never-before-seen heights as the first head coach to lead the Liberty to a championship. We wish Sandy the very best in her next chapter,’ Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement on Sept. 23.

Prior to her stint in New York, Brondello served as the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury from 2014-2021. She led the Mercury to the franchise’s third WNBA championship in 2014. She also spent one season as the head coach of the San Antonio Silver Stars (now the Las Vegas Aces) in 2010 after serving as an assistant since 2005.

Her coaching experience extends past the WNBA. Brondello has served as the head coach of the Australian women’s national team since 2017 and led the Opals to a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Tempo are the latest expansion team to hire a head coach. The Portland Fire hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Alex Sarama as head coach. Three head coaching vacancies remain in the WNBA: the Seattle Storm, Dallas Wings and New York Liberty.

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LOS ANGELES — The sight was the last thing Los Angeles Lakers fans wanted to see.

Luka Dončić – late into his 43-point, 12-rebound, nine-assist masterclass in L.A.’s season opening loss against the Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 21 – grimaced in apparent discomfort and grabbed at the inside of his leg, near his groin.

After the game, Dončić downplayed the matter, saying he felt a tweak in his hip.

‘It’s probably nothing,’ Dončić told reporters after the game. ‘Just felt it a little bit because my hip went that way. Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing.’

The ‘probably’ might still cause Lakers coaches and fans to pause, but Dončić did not appear to be overly concerned. Still, it will bear monitoring, especially this early in the season.

Los Angeles cannot afford to lose Dončić. The Lakers are without LeBron James (sciatica) for at least the next week, and Dončić showed Tuesday that the team will depend on his production.

He was an efficient 17 of 27 from the field, including 13 of 14 inside the paint. Each time the Lakers mounted runs to try to close the gap, it was Dončić’s scoring that led the charge. As the Warriors opened the third quarter on a devastating 23-9 run, it was Dončić who had scored all nine of L.A.’s points.

He played a game-high 41 minutes, which was four-and-a-half more than the next closest player, Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves.

‘Overall, 41 minutes,’ Dončić  said. ‘I like that.’

Dončić was late to appear to his postgame news conference because he was receiving treatment. He did not sport any notable limp and the Lakers now have the benefit of a few days’ rest before their second game of the season.

Los Angeles will host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have made consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals, on Friday, Oct. 24.

A significant change is coming to college athletics.

The Division II and Division III Management Councils announced on Wednesday, Oct. 22 that they have voted to approve the change in the NCAA’s sports betting policy for student athletes and athletics department staff members that will allow both parties to make bets on professional sports.

The change was adopted by the NCAA Division I Administrative Committee back on Wednesday, Oct. 8 but needed approval from Divisions II and III. The rule change will take effect on Saturday, Nov. 1.

It’s a monumental change from the NCAA, as sports gambling has become more engraved in everyday life. The change in the policy is just for professional sports — like the NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA, NHL and WNBA — and not on college sports, which remains prohibited by the NCAA.

Current NCAA sports betting policy on college sports prohibits student-athletes and athletics department staff members from making bets or sharing information with bettors on college sports.

Both Division II and Division III councils emphasized in their news release that their vote to approve the rule change ‘is not an endorsement of sports betting, particularly for student-athletes,’ and that there should be a continuous emphasis on ‘the importance of schools using harm reduction strategies and resources provided by the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the Sport Science Institute.’

The change also comes at a time when NCAA investigations into sports betting violations from different member schools around the country continue by the governing body’s enforcement staffs. It is the second notable change adopted by the NCAA in a matter of weeks, with the other being the approval of the recommendation to make the college football transfer window a 15-day window in January.

‘This change allows the NCAA, the conferences, and the member schools to focus on protecting the integrity of college games while, at the same time, encouraging healthy habits for student-athletes who choose to engage in betting activities on professional sports.’

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It’s been a rough start to the Aaron Glenn tenure in New York.

The Jets are the lone winless team in the NFL entering Week 8. In Week 6, the team posted the worst performance by passing yards in franchise history with negative-10 net yards against the Denver Broncos. In Week 7, the team benched quarterback Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor mid-game in a 13-6 loss to Carolina.

Jets owner Woody Johnson spoke about the offense’s struggles earlier this week and put some blame on Fields’ performance so far.

‘It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that we’ve got,’ Johnson said. ‘He’s got the ability, but something is not jibing.’

But Fields isn’t disappointed about where the team is at through the first seven weeks of the season.

‘I’m at peace, brother,’ Fields said to reporters today. ‘When you’re really in tune with God, nothing can actually like… I’m not even going to speak to what I was about to say as an example, but literally everything around me can ‘be negative’ in terms of the world, but I promise you, there’s nothing in this world, there’s nothing that can faze me and that’s just due to my relationship with the Lord. It’s not on me.’

Fields explained that if he makes mistakes, he’s ‘sick to [his] stomach’ about it but takes a long view of the situation.

‘Everything happens for a reason,’ he said. ‘I’ve been through trials, I’ve been through tribulations… I’m not stressed whatsoever.

At the end of the day, I have my family, I’m healthy, I’m blessed. I get to play a sport for a great amount of money… it’s easy to get down and feel some type of way but look at the grand scheme of things. Somebody would love to be in this position right now, a lot of people would.’

Fields also address Johnson’s comments. He said he didn’t see them but knows he needs to play better and that the Jets owner is entitled to his opinion.

‘Of course, everybody knows I need to play better,’ he said. ‘We need to play better as a team. No matter how the offense does as a unit, I’m going to get the blame and I understand that. That’s just what comes with the job… There’s going to be times where you have to be the only one who believes in yourself. That’s his opinion.’

New York has the worst passing offense in the NFL by yards and the 27th-ranked scoring offense as a whole. Fields has the fewest passing yards (845) of any quarterback who has started at least six games this season.

‘I know y’all want me to say stuff here and there but it’s just like, that’s what it is,’ Fields said. ‘I know y’all are going to keep asking to get me to say something but like, I’m truly at peace… I’m cool.’

The Jets have opened the season with seven consecutive losses for the third time in franchise history. In 1996, the team went 0-8 before finally breaking through for a win over the Cardinals in Week 9. In 2020, the team went 0-13 before winning two straight in December.

New York heads on the road to face Cincinnati this week before the bye in Week 9.

As many of his fellow luminaries in college basketball coaching have retired in recent years — from Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams to Jay Wright and Tony Bennett — Tom Izzo remains on the sideline, preparing to lead Michigan State for the 31st season.

That doesn’t mean he likes everything going on in the sport, though.

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Spartans coach criticized the NCAA for its changing player eligibility guidelines after two former NBA G League players have committed to college programs.

His comments came one day after Louisville landed a commitment from guard London Johnson, a former four-star recruit who played the past three seasons in the NBA’s developmental league. Johnson isn’t alone, either, as last month, fellow G Leaguer Thierry Darlan announced his commitment to Santa Clara.

‘I am going to get myself in trouble, but I listen to people talk about how kids changed. Kids aren’t the problem, we’re the problem,’ Izzo said. ‘This was sprung on us again yesterday where a guy can be in the G League for two or three years and then all of a sudden, he’s eligible. Most of my people knew nothing about it. … I’m not real excited about the NCAA or whoever is making these decisions, without talking to us, just letting it go. They’re afraid they’re going to get sued.’

Previously, such moves would have been unthinkable in college basketball, which outlawed players who had competed professionally and earned money beyond ‘actual and necessary expenses’ from playing on an NCAA team.

In the years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling in NCAA v. Alston — which opened the door to college athletes earning money off their name, image and likeness — players who would have once been barred from the sport by the NCAA’s amateurism rules have started populating college rosters.

Previously, that flood of former professionals had largely been players from overseas, primarily those who competed in European leagues. With Johnson and Darlan’s commitments, though, it’s extending to the American professional ranks.

The moves have come as NCAA player eligibility rules have been contested in court, often successfully. Last year, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, one of the Heisman Trophy front-runners this season, was granted an injunction by a federal judge in Tennessee that gave him an additional year of eligibility after he argued his years at the junior-college level shouldn’t count against his NCAA eligibility clock.

‘Someone is going to say, ‘Well, if they go pro and it doesn’t work out, they should be able to come back,’” said Izzo, who added that the NCAA needs to “regroup.’

‘Well, what about the freshmen you recruited there? That’s somebody’s son and he thinks he’s got himself a good place, and all of a sudden, shazam, they pull out of their hat and bring a 21- or 22-year-old in (from the G League). To me, it’s ridiculous. It’s embarrassing, and I love my job. I don’t respect my profession, and I don’t respect whoever is doing that. Whoever made those decisions because they’re afraid that a lawyer is going to sue them, sooner or later, you’ve got to fight the fight.”

The start of the college basketball season is right around the corner, and the voters in the USA TODAY Sports preseason coaches poll have weighed in on who they think will be the teams to beat this season.

We begin today with the release of the men’s poll, where Purdue will open the campaign at No. 1. The Boilermakers, who played for the championship two years ago but are still seeking the program’s first national title, received 18 of 31 first-place votes. It is the first ever preseason No. 1 ranking for Purdue.

Houston, last season’s NCAA tournament runner-up, begins this year where the last one ended at No. 2. The Cougars were picked first on 12 ballots and will start a position higher than the school that knocked them off in the most recent title game. That would be Florida, which will open its championship defense with a No. 3 preseason ranking, though the Gators did pick up one first-place nod. Perennial powers Connecticut and Duke round out the preseason top five.

OUTLOOKS: Previewing each team in the preseason Top 25 rankings

The rest of the top 10 also includes some names quite familiar to hoops followers. St. John’s opens at No. 6 followed by No. 7 Michigan, and Kentucky and Louisville hold down the 9 and 10 spots. Then there’s Brigham Young, checking in at No. 8 with its highest preseason ranking.

Several other usual contenders weren’t rated quite as high by the voting panel. Kansas opens at No. 19, its lowest starting point since 2008. Michigan State starts with a wait-and-see No. 21 ranking, and No. 25 North Carolina narrowly avoids missing the preseason poll for the first time since 2005.

The Power Five basketball conferences dominate the Top 25. The Big 12, Big Ten and SEC each have six ranked teams, with three each from the ACC and Big East.

No. 20 Gonzaga is the lone program from outside those leagues that will begin the year with a number.

Purdue men’s basketball is openly aiming for a national championship this season.
The Boilermakers are ranked No. 1 in the preseason coaches poll for the first time in program history.
Key roster additions were made to address weaknesses from last season’s late-season losses.

Many Purdue men’s basketball teams entered the season focused on yet another Big Ten championship.

For this season, you can put those 20 league games in the same pile as everything else. That’s not a reflection of a Big Ten banner meaning less to this team. This group fully recognizes the legacy within reach, and they want to win it all.

‘Obviously our goal is we’re locked in on a national championship,’ Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn said at Big Ten media day Oct. 11. ‘At the same time, every game that we play, we’re trying to win. As (assistant) coach (Brandon) Brantley says, you can never be too greedy with wins.’

Those championship expections don’t seem unrealistic. Purdue starts its campaign atop the USA TODAY Sports preseason men’s basketball coaches poll for the first time in program history. The Boilermakers are also a near-unanimous preseason Big Ten favorite, deemed so by our USA TODAY Network writers,

“It is pretty cool to be a part of Purdue being at the mountaintop of college basketball and in the Big Ten,” senior guard Fletcher Loyer said. “People are going to say whatever before the season. We’ve got to go out and do our job and win games.” 

Preseason predictions, though, only represent a theoretical mountaintop. Matt Painter’s team is chasing the tangible mountaintop — the one with a national championship trophy at its summit. Forgoing traditional decorum on such matters, they also speak freely and openly about that goal. 

OUTLOOKS: Previewing each team in the preseason Top 25 rankings

Where another team might be self-conscious about embracing those expectations, Boilermakers players speak them out loud matter-of-factly. Shooting for anything else would be selling themselves short. 

“It’s important to be able to say your goals and to write down your goals and see your goals every single day,” said point guard Braden Smith, their reigning Big Ten player of the year and the preseason pick to repeat. 

“I think it’s a big part of it — visualizing you cutting the nets down, being in the national championship again, being in Indy and winning it.”

Purdue used to favorite status, but knows disappointment of falling short

Purdue defied preseason expectations in its run to a Big Ten championship and No. 1 seed in the tournament in 2022-23. The unofficial preseason media poll predicted a fifth-place finish, with one first-place vote.

The Boilermakers have been the preseason favorite since.

The past two seasons, even with the expectations, the internal drive to disprove the doubters fueled Purdue. The 2024 team resolved itself not to be defined by the previous season’s first-round tournament history loss as No. 1 seed. Last season’s team endeavored to prove it could keep winning at the highest level without Zach Edey.

If worldwide consensus says this Purdue team already is better than everyone, from where does it find that edge?

Perhaps the pursuit of the Big Ten championship can perform that utility. After all, while last season’s team nearly surpassed outside expectations in the postseason, it underperformed its expectations in the league.

They started off on a trajectory to defend their championship, winning seven of their first eight games. After a second-half collapse in a home loss to Ohio State — the last in a six-games-in-16-days stretch — they beat Michigan and Indiana at home to open a four-game winning streak.

Then came a four-game stretch many predicted would define Purdue’s regular season. It did. Road losses at Michigan, Michigan State and Indiana — with Wisconsin shooting the lights out in a win at Mackey Arena in between — ended any real chance of Big Ten title contention.

Purdue finished tied for fourth, four games behind champion Michigan State. The season began with a group of third-year players planning to take their shot at the third leg of an unprecedented four Big Ten championships in four years. By mid-March, that dream had died.

Every roster decision made since then specifically helped offset deficiencies exposed down that stretch.

Need better rebounding to reward defensive stops at places like Michigan and Indiana? Enter Oscar Cluff. Need to protect the rim better when Michigan State’s long scorers start crashing downhill? Here’s a healthy Daniel Jacobsen. Need someone to help Smith reach March with a little more in the tank? May I introduce you to Omer Mayer?

Everyone already believed Purdue had the best returning player in Smith. Across all of those polls, the next-highest vote-getter for preseason player of the year was Kaufman-Renn. Loyer is a fourth-year starter and the top two backcourt reserves — both part-time starters last season — return in C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris.

“This year, it feels a little bit more meaningful, because of how good and how talented we are and how cohesive the team is,” Kaufman-Renn said. “This year, speaking it out loud, saying it out loud, it hits a little bit different than some previous years.” 

The consensus of the college basketball world looks at that roster and sees no obvious glaring weakness. Who are the Boilermakers to disagree? They experienced that dynamic from the inside in a series of intense practices in recent weeks.

However, this group has been through enough to know no one looks back fondly on potential.

“We’ve experienced every up, every down,” Smith said, before catching himself.

“I mean, not every up. We haven’t won the whole thing yet.”

Purdue is used to this position — on the brink of a season with limitless possibility and the wind of their league’s respect at their backs. They want a new experience coming out the other side.

Nathan Baird covers Purdue athletics for the IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Last year’s national runner-up, Houston, is ranked No. 2, while defending champion Florida is at No. 3.
The top 25 rankings are heavily influenced by offseason moves in the transfer portal and new recruiting classes.
Connecticut and Duke round out the top five, with both teams reloading with strong recruiting classes and key transfers.

The USA TODAY Sports preseason men’s basketball poll is out with the start of the season less than three weeks away. The Top 25 is filled with teams across the Power Four conferences with traditional powerhouse programs and some unheralded teams occupying many of the places among the Top 25.

It’s Purdue that starts at No. 1 for the first time, but there’s plenty of contenders behind Matt Painter’s team. What is the outlook for the Boilermakers and all the other teams in the rankings? We break them all down in our previews that get you up to speed after another offseason impacted by the transfer portal and recruiting classes.

1. Purdue (24-12)

Points: 755 (18 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 12.

The Boilermakers aren’t exactly shying away from the notion the goal for the season is to bring home the program’s first NCAA title. Rising seniors Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn made that pretty clear when announcing they would be back with sharpshooter Fletcher Loyer, all of whom were part of the group that came up just a win short two years ago. Sophomores C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris provide backcourt depth. Big man Daniel Jacobsen returns from a leg injury, and he’ll be joined in the post by transfer Oscar Cluff (South Dakota State).

2. Houston (35-5)

Points: 749 (12 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 2.

Last year’s national runner-up loses stalwarts L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts but is poised to make another run to the Final Four behind one of the top recruiting classes in the country, led by five-star forward Chris Cenac Jr. and guard Isiah Harwell. They should blend well with returning contributors that include guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp and frontcourt defensive standout Joseph Tugler. Look for the Cougars to again be the class of the Big 12.

3. Florida (36-4)

Points: 704 (1 first-place votes).  Previous ranking: 1.

The defending national champion Gators will look a bit different this year. They’ll be more of a front-court oriented squad with Final Four MVP Walter Clayton Jr. and most of his fellow guards gone. Thomas Haugh (9.8 ppg) and Alex Condon (10.6 ppg) figure to handle even more of the scoring load with Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Handlogten back to man the post. Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) transfer in and should start immediately in the backcourt.

4. Connecticut (24-11)

Points: 647.  Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Three in a row wasn’t in the cards, but a third title in four years isn’t out of the question for the Huskies. Liam McNeeley is gone after just one year in Storrs, but there are a lot of key pieces returning, and a strong recruiting class and several key transfers have the roster restocked. The key veterans are do-everything forward Alex Karaban (14.3 ppg) and sharp-shooting guard Solo Ball (14.4 ppg). Tarris Reed Jr. will move into a starting role in the middle, and Ball will be joined in the backcourt by either Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia) or Malachi Smith (Dayton). The high-rated freshman prospects include shooting guard Braylon Mullins and Australian wingman Jacob Furphy.

5. Duke (35-4)

Points: 623.  Previous ranking: 3.

As usual, several talented Blue Devils are off to the next level, and as usual there’s a top-rated recruiting class coming in. But this year’s Duke squad might actually be deeper than some recent versions thanks to several key contributors who are still with the program. Naturally, the focal point will be freshman phenom Cameron Boozer, whose twin brother Cayden is also among the newcomers. The returning guard tandem of Caleb Foster (4.9 ppg) and Isaiah Evans (6.8 ppg) will be joined by another touted freshman, Dame Sarr, and banger Patrick Ngongba II is back to help on the interior.

6. St. John’s (31-5)

Points: 609.  Previous ranking: 10.

Now that Rick Pitino has instilled the work ethic needed to bring the Red Storm back to prominence, he hopes the shooters he’s brought in via the portal will improve the team’s accuracy. Bryce Hopkins (Providence) should provide an immediate boost in that regard if he can stay healthy, with Joson Sanon (Arizona State), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford) and Ian Jackson (North Carolina) adding back-court depth. Zuby Ejiofor (14.7 ppg) returns and should again be among the Big East’s most dominant big men.

7. Michigan (27-10)

Points: 569.  Previous ranking: 11.

Despite losing his top three players, things could get even better in year two for coach Dusty May in Ann Arbor thanks to a huge haul in the transfer portal. Yaxel Lendeborg (Alabama-Birmingham) elected to forego the NBA for another year in college and should thrive in the May’s system. The newcomers also include point guard Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), forward Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and center Aday Mara (UCLA). Michigan also brings in an impact freshman in combo guard Trey McKenney, and returnees Nimari Burnett (9.4 ppg) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (9.8 ppg) could step into bigger roles on the wings.

8. Brigham Young (26-10)

Points: 532.  Previous ranking: 15.

This is rare heights for the Cougars, who have their highest ranking in the preseason poll with the arrival of heralded freshman AJ Dybantsa and holdover talent that includes guard Richie Sanders (16.5 ppg) and forward Keba Keita (7.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg). Also added to the mix are transfer guards Robert Wright III (Baylor) and Kennard Davis (Southern Illinois). Dybantsa will draw the headlines but the supporting cast is what should make BYU a challenger in the Big 12.

9. Kentucky (24-12)

Points: 529.  Previous ranking: 14.

Mark Pope didn’t have quite as many holes to fill entering his second season at the helm in Lexington, but there will still be quite a few new faces. Thankfully, one of the pieces already in place is high-scoring guard Otega Oweh (16.2 pgg), the preseason pick for SEC player of the year. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by touted freshman Jasper Johnson, with Denzel Aberdeen transferring in from Florida’s national championship squad to provide another perimeter shooter. Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh) also arrives via the portal and will likely start at the point. Either Brandon Garrison, who backed up Amari Williams last season, or freshman Malachi Moreno will man the middle.

10. Louisville (27-8)

Points: 456.  Previous ranking: 21.

After taking a huge step forward behind a senior-heavy roster in coach Pat Kelsey’s first year, Louisville looks to compete for an ACC title behind newcomers to the backcourt, including freshman Mikel Brown Jr., Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell and Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely. A wild card is 7-foot center Aly Khalifa, who transferred from Brigham Young last season but missed the year due to injury.

11. Texas Tech (28-9)

Points: 455.  Previous ranking: 8.

Only two main pieces return from a team that pushed Florida to the brink in the Elite Eight. But the two returnees are huge: junior forward JT Toppin (18.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is a player of the year candidate and sophomore guard Christian Anderson (10.6 ppg) is ready to take on more of the scoring load. Two transfers — guard Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) and forward LeJuan Watts (Washington State) — will help determine where the Red Raiders land in the Big 12.

12. UCLA (23-11)

Points: 421.  Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Former New Mexico guard Donovan Dent may end up being the nation’s most impactful transfer. His all-around game should blend in seamlessly. The Bruins also added a promising but unproven newcomer in former Michigan State forward Xavier Booker. The biggest key for Mick Cronin’s team may be developing holdovers Eric Dailey Jr. (11.4 ppg) and Tyler Bilodeau (13.5 ppg) while finding minutes for transfer guard Jamar Brown (Missouri-Kansas City).

13. Arizona (24-13)

Points: 398.  Previous ranking: 13.

After losing Big 12 player of the year Caleb Love, Arizona will trot out a blended roster of freshmen and seniors that could coalesce into a legitimate national title contender. Dwayne Aristode, Koa Peat and Brayden Burries are set for starting roles or key minutes off the bench as part of one of the nation’s top recruiting classes. One veteran who needs to take another step forward is senior guard Jaden Bradley (12.1 pgg).

14. Illinois (22-13)

Points: 349.  Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Illinois is heavy on international imports after striking gold with one-and-done guard Kasparas Jakucionis last season. The Illini have a great building block in junior center Tomislav Ivisic (13.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg), a candidate to break out nationally after a strong 2024-25 season. Arriving to assist him in the frontcourt is is brother Zvonimir Ivisic from Arkansas and Andrej Stojakovic from California. The backcourt of senior Kylan Boswell (12.3 ppg) and freshman Mihailo Petrovic could develop into one of the best in the Big Ten.

15. Arkansas (22-14)

Points: 329.  Previous ranking: Not ranked.

After a really nice debut for John Calipari, Arkansas has the talent to make noise in the SEC. In addition to returning guard D.J. Wagner (11.2 ppg) and breakout candidate Karter Knox (8.3 ppg) at forward, the Razorbacks added in transfer forward Nick Pringle (South Carolina) and immediate-impact freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. It took some time for Calipari to find the right mix last year before a run to the Sweet 16. That same recipe could be in the cards this season.

16. Alabama (28-9)

Points: 322.  Previous ranking: 6.

Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide are dealing with a heavy amount of attrition and will need inexperienced contributors to play beyond their years to make another run at the Final Four. Sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr. (10.4 ppg) will take on a much bigger role with the loss of Mark Sears and others. Philon and Aden Holloway (11.4 ppg) are two-thirds of a good-looking backcourt that will be even better once Miami transfer Jalil Bethea returns from a toe injury. Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) and Noah Williamson (Bucknell) arrive as part of a revamped frontcourt. Houston Mallette’s return from injury should also be a major plus.

17. Tennessee (30-8)

Points: 292.  Previous ranking: 5.

Tennessee is a minor rebuilding mode after losing Chaz Lanier, Zakai Zeigler and others from last year’s Elite Eight squad. Adding all-conference guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie from Maryland is a big first step. Veteran center Felix Okpara (7.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) can man the middle and help five-star freshman Nate Ament transition to the SEC. J.P Estrella is another projected contributor up front after missing almost all of last season.

18. Iowa State (25-10)

Points: 289.  Previous ranking: 17.

The Cyclones were ranked near the top of the poll last season before injuries derailed hopes of a deep tournament run. Tamin Lipsey (10.6 ppg) was one of the key players hampered, and his status for the start of the season is uncertain after a knee injury. Milan Momcilovic (11.5 ppg) and Joshua Jefferson (13.0 ppg, 7.4 ppg) are returning veterans that will get a boost from the arrivals of WAC player of the year Dominick Nelson (Utah Valley) and Blake Buchanan (Virginia). Incoming freshmen Jamarion Batemon and Killyan Toure are expected to be key contributors.

19. Kansas (21-13)

Points: 235.  Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Since winning the tournament in 2022, the Jayhawks haven’t advanced past the second round in the past three seasons. Perhaps a lower starting position will help after being No. 1 in the past two preseason rankings. Bill Self has overhauled the roster with transfers and freshman Darryn Peterson. It may take some time for the talent to mesh, but there’s a chance this group could peak in March if sophomore Flory Bidunga reaches his potential.

20. Gonzaga (26-9)

Points: 185.  Previous ranking: 20.

If size matters, then the Bulldogs are in good shape to start a new streak of Sweet 16 appearances after their run of nine in a row ended last season. Graham Ike (17.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Braden Huff (11.0 ppg) will be formidable threats inside. It’s the perimeter group that is a work in progress with Braeden Smith expected to contribute more than one year removed from arriving from Colgate and the addition of sharpshooter Adam Miller from Arizona State. An added bonus would be the inclusion of Tyon Grant-Foster, who is hoping for an injunction to play after being denied eligibility by the NCAA.

21. Michigan State (30-7)

Points: 144.  Previous ranking: 7.

Tom Izzo fell just short of another Final Four last season and returns several key pieces from that squad. This group will again be physical and defense-oriented. Among those that will shoulder more of the load are Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler and Jeremy Fears Jr. Arriving is Trey Fort (Samford) — a rare transfer of the Izzo tenure. He’s expected to have a valuable outside threat the Spartans were lacking last season.

22. Auburn (32-6)

Points: 114.  Previous ranking: 4.

The Bruce Pearl era is over after taking the Tigers to their second Final Four last season. The program is now in the hands of his son Steven, who has never been a head coach, making the transition uncertain. On the court, sophomore Tahaad Pettiford (11.6 ppg) should be one of the top guards in the SEC and push for All-America honors. Two Big 12 transfers — Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) and Keyshawn Hall (Central Florida) — will help with the scoring load. Another arrival to monitor is Elyjah Freeman, who comes from Division II with high hopes.

23. Creighton (25-11)

Points: 103.  Previous ranking: 24.

Greg McDermott has made the Bluejays one of the best programs in the country over the last five years. His team will have a new look without Ryan Kalkbrenner in the middle and Steven Ashworth as the primary ball handler. Jackson McAndrew (7.8 ppg) is expected to take a huge step forward as a sophomore. Two transfers from Iowa — Josh Dix and Owen Freeman — will be major contributors as will former Charlotte guard Nik Graves. There’s a nice combination of youth and experience that should again have Creighton again near the top of the Big East.

24. Wisconsin (27-10)

Points: 62.  Previous ranking: 16.

Like most editions of the Badgers, this team is long on depth and size that will serve them well for the fight in the Big Ten. John Blackwell (15.8 ppg) will contend for all-conference honors and is joined in the backcourt by San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd. Nolan Winter (9.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) returns in the frontcourt and will get support from Portland transfer Austin Rapp, who was West Coast Conference freshman of the year.

25. North Carolina (23-14)

Points: 37.  Previous ranking: Not ranked.

The Tar Heels start in unfamiliar territory. This is their lowest ranking in the preseason poll since being unranked in 2005. The optimism for this season starts with freshman Caleb Wilson, who will be an anchor up front. Alongside him will be Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar. Holdover senior Seth Trimble (11.6 ppg) leads the backcourt with help from additions Jonathan Powell (West Virginia) and Kyan Evans (Colorado State). Another important add is Jarin Stevenson from Alabama, a contributor to recent tournament runs by the Crimson Tide.

Dropped Out: No. 9 Maryland (27-9);No. 18Mississippi (24-12); No. 19 Texas A&M (23-11); No. 22 Saint Mary’s (29-6); No. 23 Clemson (27-7).Others receiving votes: North Carolina State (12-19) 33; Oregon (25-10) 26; Ohio State (17-15) 15; San Diego State (21-10) 15; Baylor (20-15) 13; Virginia (15-17) 11; Vanderbilt (20-13) 10; Southern California (17-18) 7; Texas (19-16) 6; Missouri (22-12) 5; Villanova (21-15) 5; Mississippi (24-12) 4; Cincinnati (19-16) 3; Iowa (17-16) 3; Saint Mary’s (29-6) 3; Washington (13-18) 3; Virginia Commonwealth (28-7) 2; Boise State (26-11) 1; Kansas State (16-17) 1; Oklahoma State (17-18) 1.

The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2025-26 season: Adrian Autry, Syracuse; John Becker, Vermont; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s; Jeff Boals, Ohio; Alvin Brooks, Lamar; Pat Chambers, Florida Gulf Coast; Scott Drew, Baylor; Dan Earl, Chattanooga; Jonas Hayes, Georgia State; Donte’ Jackson, Alabama A&M; Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa; James Jones, Yale; Greg Kampe, Oakland; Brad Korn, Southeast Missouri State; Anthony Latina, Sacred Heart; Jim Les, UC Davis; Greg McDermott, Creighton; Nick McDevitt, Middle Tennessee; Mike McGarvey, Lafayette; Dan Monson, Eastern Washington; Chris Mooney, Richmond; Mike Morrell, UNC Asheville; Nate Oats, Alabama; Eric Olen, New Mexico; Matt Painter, Purdue; Paul Sather, North Dakota; Michael Schwartz, East Carolina; Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State; Zach Spiker, Drexel; Brett Tanner, Abilene Christian; Stan Waterman, Delaware State.