College Basketball 2026-27 Preview: Duke Dominates Exhibitions, NIL Arms Race and Eligibility Chaos
Exhibition takeaways, the best defenders in the country and the money and eligibility fights reshaping the sport.
College basketball's new season is almost here, and the preseason has already delivered plenty of storylines. Here is what you need to know before the games count.
Duke Looks Dominant
Exhibition games do not count, but they do tell us something. Duke looked dominant in its tune-ups, Louisville showed off an eye-popping freshman and Auburn vs. Alabama got chippy even in a preseason setting. Tennessee, Michigan State, UConn and Kansas also offered early clues about their rotations.
The Best Defenders in the Country
CBS Sports named Florida's Rueben Chinyelu its preseason defensive player of the year, leading its 2026-27 All-Defensive Team. Defense rarely gets the preseason spotlight, but players like Chinyelu often decide games in March.
Recruiting and the Transfer Portal
- Recruiting: Houston and UConn lead ESPN's early rankings of future freshman classes, with Indiana close behind. Duke is in the top 10 too.
- Transfer portal: Tennessee and Texas are among the teams that gained the most, while two programs from Georgia took a step back.
The NIL Arms Race
Money has transformed the sport. A CBS Sports investigation that contacted more than 100 sources found UNC spending big and raised questions about the so-called "Duke discount." Name, image and likeness deals now shape rosters as much as recruiting pitches do.
Eligibility Chaos
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has been vocal about the mess. He pleaded for an explanation of why fifth-year forward RJ Godfrey remains in eligibility limbo, and he has a theory: the NCAA is letting eligibility battles linger to build pressure for federal legislation.
Ole Miss Sanctioned
The NCAA penalized Ole Miss men's basketball for tampering violations by former assistant Wes Flanigan, who had talks with an athlete adviser. Most of the penalties were served during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.
Remembering Dale Brown
The preseason has also been a time to remember one of the sport's great personalities. Read our tribute to Dale Brown, LSU's winningest coach, who coached Shaquille O'Neal.
From Campus to the Pros
The NBA season has just tipped off, with Giannis Antetokounmpo debuting for Miami. Many of this year's college stars will be on NBA rosters soon, and our guide to the NBA Play-In Tournament explains how the pro postseason works.
Follow the whole season in our college basketball coverage.
Background from Wikipedia
2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
The 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was an event involving 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the NCAA Division I men's college basketball national champion for the 2025–26 season. The 87th edition of the tournament began on March 17 and concluded with the championship game on April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Michigan Wolverines won their second title, and the first under Dusty May. It was Michigan's first national championship since 1989, ending a streak of four straight title game defeats (two of which were vacated by the NCAA) for the Wolverines.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the preseason defensive player of the year in college basketball?
CBS Sports named Florida's Rueben Chinyelu its preseason defensive player of the year for 2026-27.
Which schools have the top recruiting classes?
Houston and UConn lead ESPN's early recruiting class rankings, with Indiana also near the top and Duke in the top 10.
Why was Ole Miss basketball sanctioned?
The NCAA penalized Ole Miss men's basketball for tampering violations by former assistant coach Wes Flanigan.
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