The countdown to college basketball 26 is only a couple months away: Final four picks
RawNews1st – The college basketball season for the 2024-2025 season will officially begin on Monday, November 4th.
know matter who your team maybe the excitement never changes. The ups and downs in college basketball it’s safe to say there really isn’t nothing like it.
Fans come from everywhere to see their team play final four time when winning mean everything. Here our the top five picks that could make a deep run come this March.
College basketball officially began in the early 1890s, with the first intercollegiate game played in 1895. However, the sport itself was invented in 1891 by James Naismith at Springfield College. The first official basketball game, under Naismith’s rules, was played on December 21, 1891, at the Springfield YMCA Training School, which is now Springfield College.
Now with this (Name, Image, and Likeness) NIL college players are cashing in at the bank. NIL has become a major factor in recruiting, with players considering NIL opportunities when choosing a school. It has also contributed to increased player movement through the transfer portal.
Coming in at number five on the list
Several factors suggest the Louisville men’s basketball team could be strong in 2026, building upon recent success in recruiting and the transfer portal under coach Pat Kelsey.
Its safe to say after the scandal Louisville basketball is back on the map. The 2026 class includes top prospects like five-star point guard Mikel Brown Jr., who is considered the Cardinals’ top target and the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the class.
5. St. John
Rick Pitino says he wants to play at Louisville, so here are five other nonconference clashes we want to see.
Rick Pitino’s once the head coaching at Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, Iona, and St. John’s, with a notable career highlighted by two NCAA championships (Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013) and multiple Final Four appearances. He is the only coach to win national championships at two different schools.
St. John’s has significantly improved its recruiting and transfer portal acquisitions.
The team is bringing in a strong mix of established players and promising young talent.
The influx of talent, combined with Pitino’s coaching, creates a strong foundation for a successful season.
4. Duke
Last year (2024-2025 season), the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team had a successful season, finishing with a 89.7% overall win percentage and claiming their 21st ACC regular season championship.
Duke’s 2025 men’s basketball recruiting class is highly ranked, led by five-star prospects Cameron Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia. The class also includes Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr, and Sebastian Wilkins, who recently reclassified to join the 2025 class.
With this roster Duke Blue Devils could easily make a push for another final four.
3. Purdue
Purdue now for their luxury talent of big men. But this year it is all about the guard play with one of the best returning guards in a nation Brandon Smith should have this team making a deep push.
Purdue has consistently been ranked in the top 25, appearing in the Associated Press poll for 59 straight weeks (as of February 11, 2025), which is the third-longest active streak nationally.
They’ve been ranked in the top 5 nationally 54 times in the last 10 seasons, ranking fifth in the country in that span.
They’ve been ranked No. 1 nationally more than any team since the 2021-22 season (13 weeks).
2. Louisville
Louisville’s odds to win the ACC and the NCAA tournament have significantly improved, indicating strong confidence from oddsmakers.
Pat Kelsey boasts an impressive 288-129 record (69.1%) across his head coaching career with 11 total conference championships and five NCAA Tournament bids. In his first year at the helm in Louisville, Kelsey led the Cardinals to a 27-8 overall record, tying for second in the ACC with an 18-2 conference record.
They also have the one of the best guards in the nation coming in Mikel Brown Jr.
- Kentucky
Say what you want about Kentucky basketball but they have been the best of the best for years. Could they be back on the map with new head coach Mark Pope.
Kentucky lands five of top 60Five of the additions are ranked among the top-60 transfers, headlined by No. 10 Jayden Quaintance.
After shining as a shot-blocking freshman at Arizona State last season, Quaintance will combine with ex-Alabama forward Mo Dioubate to give the Wildcats a ferocious frontcourt.
Not to add Kam Williams shot 48.5 percent from the floor, including 41.2 percent from three-point range, while averaging 9.3 points per game
