Although March Madness has only recently wrapped up, sports fans are already looking forward to the next college basketball season. While we won’t see any college hoops until November, fans are already looking at the past season and potential rosters to pick out the favorites from the rest.
So, while things can change over the offseason, our gambling.com NCAAB lovers threw their hats into the ring and picked out some of the most exciting basketball programs in 2025/26.
Houston Cougars
What makes the Houston Cougars a team to watch is the unpredictable nature of the roster. That’s because the program brings three top-20 prospects in this recruiting class. Kingston Flemings, Isaiah Harwell, and Chris Cenac Jr. could boost the talent of this team significantly, especially with Emmanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler remaining with the team. While it’s unlikely, if Milos Uzan decided not to turn pro and stayed with the team, the Cougars could get even more exciting.
The team fell just short in 2024/25, finishing runners-up in the NCAA Tournament. However, the additions of a talented recruiting class and Kelvin Sampson's experience could make this the best team in the country.
Purdue Boilermakers
A lot of the hype around the Purdue Boilermakers centers around Braden Smith. Last season, Smith developed and has the potential to be one of the best guards in the US. He hit 15.8 points per game. The team has also brought in Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State and his 17.6 points per game average from last season, while Trey Kaufman-Renn returns with his scoring prowess, which produced 20.1 points per game last season.
It was a fairly middling season for the Boilermakers last season, getting knocked out of the Sweet Sixteen. However, that was against No.2 ranked Houston, which was unexpected. Going into his 21st season as head coach, Matt Painter has still never led this program beyond the Final Four, but he still knows how to build an exciting team.
UConn Huskies
After a dominant run for the UConn Huskies under head coach Dan Hurley, winning the NCAA Championship in 2023 and 2024, the program slumped in 2025. While the team made it to March Madness, it was dumped out in the second round.
However, the team looks in a strong position to rebuild. Solo Ball is an exciting player and after averaging 14.4 points per game last season, could make a jump this year. Meanwhile, the team recruited a top prospect in Braylon Mullins and transferred in Silas Demary Jr., who averaged 13.5 points per game at Georgia last year.
Louisville Cardinals
Pat Kelsey led the Louisville Cardinals to a No.21 ranking and an elimination in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, his first as head coach. While that might not scream “must-watch” basketball team, the offseason has seen the program retool significantly.
The team has transferred Ryan Conwill from Xavier, who averaged 16.5 points per game, and Isaac McKneekly, who averaged 14.4 points per game at Virginia. The team also recruited Mikel Brown Jr., a highly ranked prospect. J’Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor could also return to make this a fascinating roster.
Michigan Wolverines
Dusty May took over the Michigan Wolverines last season as head coach and led the program to a No.11 ranking and a Big Ten Tournament championship. He also hit the transfer portal already, bringing in Yaxel Lendeborg from UAB. Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points per game last season and has the potential to get drafted in the first round next year. That will make the Wolverines very watchable if he remains on the roster.
The program also returned Roddy Gayle Jr. and Nimari Burnett from last season, so there’s some continuity there.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Despite only ranking No.25 nationally, the Arkansas Razorbacks exceeded expectations by reaching the Sweet Sixteen last season under first-year head coach John Calipari. Four of the team’s top six-minute players from the previous season will return, including D.J Wagner, who averaged 11.2 points per game last season.
The team has also added highly ranked recruits in Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, which could make this program even more exciting to watch this season.
Kentucky Wildcats
Mark Pope is hoping to build on his first season with the Wildcats, during which the program reached the Sweet Sixteen. The program has already brought in reinforcements through Jaland Lowe in the transfer portal. Playing at Pitt last season, Lowe hit 16.8 points per game. The program has also recruited the highly rated Jasper Johnson, while the top scorer from last season, Otega Oweh, may also return.
Duke Blue Devils
Few head coaches have a better connection to their college than Jon Scheyer. He played for the program, won the NCAA tournament in 2015 as an assistant coach, and is now the head coach of the team. Last season, he took the No.3 ranked team to the Final Four.
This team’s success could rest on whether Tyrese Proctor and Isaiah Evans declare for the NBA Draft. If both players return and combine
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins have made a significant move in the transfer portal, bringing Mountain West Player of the Year Donovan Dent from New Mexico. That kind of splashy move makes this team very watchable, especially considering Dent was a force at New Mexico, scoring 20.4 points per game.
The Bruins were pretty disappointing last season, getting knocked out by No.6 seeded Tennessee in March Madness, but Dent’s addition could supercharge Darren Savino’s roster in his seventh season.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s head coach, Nate Oats, has a pretty good record in the transfer portal, so he will likely assemble a strong roster again. Aden Holloway will likely start for the team again and will attract some attention from the NBA after scoring 11.4 points per game last season.
The Crimson Tide made it to the Elite Eight but lost to No.1 seeded Duke in a heavy 85-65 loss. The Tide made it to the Final Four the prior year, so fans will be hoping Oats and this program haven’t reached their ceiling.
