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.