Here is the final College Basketball top 25 of the season:
1. Auburn Tigers
Back to back losses to finish the regular season against two top ranked teams isn’t enough to knock the Tigers off our top spot. Bruce Pearl’s squad played the 2nd toughest Strength of Schedule and won the SEC outright.
2. Duke Blue Devils
Historic regular season for the Blue Devils who ran through the ACC with ease. Sion James impact cannot be underestimated and the experienced depth that was added to a generational recruiting class has Duke staring at a title or bust situation.
3. Houston Cougars
It feels like the Cougars haven’t gotten any love nationally with Auburn/SEC and Duke stealing all the headlines. This might be Coach Sampson’s best team which is saying something. They are shooting nearly 40% from three on the year to go with a Top 3 defense.
4. Florida Gators
The Gators have been tremendous all year and will be a popular pick to make it to San Antonio. They have a dynamic backcourt led by Walter Clayton and a loaded frontcourt that includes Alex Condon who has taken his game to another level late in the year.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide play at the highest tempo in the country and feature one of the best guards in the country in Mark Sears. They are one of the most experienced teams in the country and have tremendous depth. The big question is can they get enough stops?
6. St. John’s Red Storm
The Red Storm are one of the best stories in college hoops. Does there sub 30% three-point shooting a red flag? Sure, but they play tough defense, own the glass, have supreme individual talent, and a coach in Rick Pitino who knows how to push the right buttons.
7. Tennessee Volunteers
Is anyone surprised that the Vols finished the regular season as the #1 defense in the country? Probably not, but what we didn’t know was good transfers Chaz Lanier and Igor Milicic would be coming in from the Mid-Major ranks to go with star guard Zakai Zeigler.
8. Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans finished strong winning seven in a row to claim the outright Big Ten regular season championship. Coach Izzo has arguably done some of his best work with a roster that most believe lacked top end upside. The Spartans play tough defense and have great chemistry.
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
It took awhile earlier in the year for the polls to catch up with the metrics to just how good the Red Raiders squad is. JT Toppin put together one of the best years in program history. Coach McCasland’s program will be a popular pick to go far.
10. Maryland Terrapins
The “Crab Five” have completely transformed this program into a fun, up-tempo, three-point shooting shooting team anchored by a dynamic “Twin Tower” frontcourt. The Terps don’t turn it over and make you earn everything on the defensive end.
11. Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones were a rollercoaster after a nice 15-1 start to the year. A lot of that volatility stemmed from injuries and illness to their core players. We know everyone will dread seeing TJ Otzelberger’s team when the lights shine the brightest.
12. Clemson Tigers
The Tigers are the most underrated team in the country, which is weird considering their Elite 8 run last March. Their frontcourt of Lakhin and Schieffelin creates a lot of opportunity on both ends of the floor for them to be successful, plus we know how dangerous guard Chase Hunter can be this time of year.
13. Louisville Cardinals
Next to St. John’s, the resurgence of the Cardinals is one of the better stories in the land led by ACC Coach of the Year, Pat Kelsey. Chucky Hepburn unlocked a new level to his game that had not previously been seen and the collection of talent around him is a perfect fit in this system.
14. Texas A&M Aggies
Want a team with a ceiling to make it to the Final Four or get bounced in the first round? That’s the Aggies in a nutshell. They are one of the top defenses in the country and finished the year as the number one offensive rebounding team, but lack shooting and like to turn it over.
15. Memphis Tigers
After some big wins early in a loaded non-conference schedule, the Tigers have sort of been an afterthought during AAC play. Unlike last year, Penny and his squad were able to keep the train on the rails thanks to the stellar play of PJ Haggerty.
16. Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats are hard to gauge from week to week because of all the injuries to go along with the highs and lows of the year. One thing we do know is that they are outstanding offensively and struggle defensively. If Kentucky can find some stops, they are going to be tough to beat.
17. Wisconsin Badgers
Was there a better transfer in the country than John Tonje? It would be hard to argue against it. The play of Tonje and John Blackwell in the backcourt is why the Badgers have exceeded preseason expectations. Coach Gard has put this program in position to accomplish something special.
18. BYU Cougars
The Cougars are on fire right now and playing some of the best basketball in the country as evidence by a eight game winning streak to close the regular season. Richie Saunders has been scoring at will and Egor Demin continues to create opportunities for an offense that shows no signs of slowing down.
19. Purdue Boilermakers
Losing the two-time National Player of the Year is not an easy transition but Coach Painter and his team have made it look that way at times. Other times you see the inconsistency and rough stretches defensively. Still, Purdue has the best point guard in the world and they will go as Braden Smith goes.
20. Michigan Wolverines
Its easy to knock the Wolverines who finished Big Ten play on a three-game skid, but we can’t forget the entire body of work. Coach May has done an incredible job leading this back to relevancy after last year. Michigan needs Danny Wolf to be at his best if they want to make some noise.
21. Saint Mary’s Gaels
All the Gaels do is win. That’s 20+ wins every year (minus 2021 Covid) since 2008. They are led by two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis and arguably the most collection of talent during Coach Bennett’s tenure. Paulius Murasukas is an x-factor who could lead them to new heights.
22. Missouri Tigers
Remember when the Tigers failed to win a league game last year? That seems so far in the past with what Coach Gates and his squad were able to accomplish so far in 2025. The rim pressure and elite outside shooting for the Tigers has created one of the top offenses in the country.
23. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks quietly reeled off seven straight after a five-game losing streak to finish up the year. Oft-injured star forward Nate Bittle was finally able to put it all together in his final year. They aren’t elite in any one area, but they play solid on both ends and won’t beat themselves.
24. Marquette Golden Eagles
Marquette limped to the finish line in Big East play after a wonderful start to the year. You don’t beat Maryland, Purdue, Georgia, Wisconsin in the non-con if you don’t have talent. What they can’t have happen is for Kam Jones to go cold offensively which has been much of the case in the final month.
25. Kansas Jayhawks
Bill Self and his program have taken its licks over the last two years. The former preseason AP number one has struggled to find consistency on offense. One thing the Jayhawks can rely on is their defense which is Top 10 in the country and Division 1 experience where they rank number one in all the land.
