Looking Ahead to April 2026
While we can’t pinpoint exactly which teams will be celebrating with net-cutting ceremonies on that first Monday in April 2026, we can confidently say it will be one of the eight teams mentioned below.
The Cougars came heartbreakingly close to clinching their first national title last season, missing it by just one shot—and perhaps a late-game slip. Yet, despite that disappointment, they’re poised to remain contenders through the 2025-2026 season.
Coach Kelvin Sampson welcomes back three key starters: Emmanuel Sharpe, Milos Uzan, and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Joseph Tugler. The recruiting class looks promising too, featuring five-star freshman Chris Cenac Jr. With their formidable “monster” defense still intact, the Cougars aim to be even more potent on the offensive front next season.
They seem well-equipped to make another Final Four run and finally deliver that elusive national title to Cougar fans who have been dreaming of it for years.
Meanwhile, the reigning national champions are more than capable of reclaiming the “recent back-to-back” title from UW, making their way back to Gainesville in the near future.
The team’s transfer portal duo, Boogie Frand and Xavien Lee, will undoubtedly draw a lot of eyes this upcoming season. Yet, the true strength lies in their frontcourt, featuring preseason All-Americans Alex Condon, Thomas Ho, and Ruben Chiniel.
Last year, Florida State topped the nation with 36 wins. Coach Todd Golden has a roster that seems more than capable of matching that success in 2025-26.
After back-to-back national championships, the Huskies didn’t seem like genuine title contenders in 2024-25. That said, don’t expect that trend to stick around.
Solo Ball is set to shine and is pushing Georgia to shift Silas Demarie to the backcourt to manage the game. Alex Karaban’s decision to return to college after testing the NBA waters means the team will likely be back in title contention for the third time in four years.
Matt Painter truly excelled at maintaining his roster this offseason, returning five of his top six scorers from last year’s Sweet 16 team.
Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Len, and Fletcher Royer form an incredibly talented returning trio, with Smith garnering preseason player of the year recognition. They are likely to rank among the top five offensive teams this season. If they can improve, even modestly, on the defensive end, the Boilermakers could finally deliver a moment that their dedicated fanbase has been yearning for.
Dusty May has set a challenging standard after his debut season, where Michigan captured 27 wins, claimed the Big Ten Tournament title, and made a strong NCAA run. He has all the components needed to exceed expectations in year two.
The May roster features key returns like Roddy Gale Jr., Nimari Barnett, and LJ Cason, along with an impressive group of newcomers such as Jaksel Lendeborg from UAB, Mores Johnson from Illinois, and Elliott Cado from North Carolina. They might just have the most well-rounded roster in college basketball.
Texas Tech arguably gained the most from last spring’s stay-or-go decisions, especially with All-American JT Toppin opting for another season. Grant McCasland seems ready to make substantial strides in his second year, especially with double-digit scorer Christian Anderson returning. Fans are justified in harboring lofty aspirations, especially with a talented transfer class led by Geoffan Watts.
Kentucky’s roster boasts impressive size, athleticism, and speed, thanks to portal additions like Jaden Quainance, Mohamed Diobate, and others. Mark Pope retains some cultural continuity with leading scorer Otega Oweh returning, which could be crucial.
While the roster appears strong, questions linger about how well these new additions will integrate into Pope’s proven systems. Success in reshaping this team into a serious national title contender would certainly elevate Pope’s status in the sport as college basketball enters this new era.
Last season, Florida landed in the 23rd spot in the preseason. Thus, it seems reasonable to pick a less conventional team for the last spot on this list.
Nate Oats has been active in the portal again, adding notable players like Jahlil Beshear and Taylor Bol Bowen. What really set the Crimson Tide apart was the unexpected return of sophomore standout Lavalon Fillon. Don’t be surprised if Fillon contends for SEC Player of the Year and leads the team on a thrilling postseason journey.
