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Vitale: 12 men's college basketball storylines, games, teams

ByDick Vitale ESPN logo
Friday, September 4, 2026 2:00PM


Are you kidding me?!

We are heading into one of the most fascinating seasons of men's college basketball I can remember. We've got new rules, new conferences, new coaches, a bigger NCAA tournament, NBA-caliber freshmen everywhere -- and enough storylines to keep us talking from November all the way to Detroit in April.

As I get ready for another season, here are Dickie V's "Dazzling Dozen" storylines that have me fired up.

Jump to:

Circle your calendars | Breakout stars |

Coaches to watch | Preseason top 25

1. The eligibility chaos: Who's really playing?

This is the biggest off-court story in America.

The new age-based "five-in-five" eligibility model has created confusion, lawsuits and uncertainty across the sport. Some current seniors are fighting for extra eligibility, while schools are waiting to see who is actually available when the season tips.

It's changing roster construction, recruiting, transfer decisions and even championship expectations.

We've got coaches checking legal briefs as much as scouting reports!

2. Kentuckyis back to answer the bell

Big Blue Nation isn't interested in moral victories. After an underwhelming season, Mark Pope landed Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic and now pairs him with talented youngster Malachi Moreno. Kentucky looks deeper, tougher and better suited for the SEC grind this coming campaign.

But here's the deal: The SEC is a monster. The conference retained 10 of its top 30 scorers and imported 11 more top-30 scorers from other major conferences.

Kentucky has to contend, not just compete.

3. Conference realignment never stops


The Pac-12 is back. Well, sort of.

The new-look league features Gonzaga, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Texas State, Oregon State and Washington State.

Meanwhile, the rebuilt Mountain West welcomes Grand Canyon, UC Davis, UTEP and Hawai'i, among others.

I can't wait to see how these leagues develop new identities. Gonzaga joining the Pac-12 is going to be a game changer.

4. Another deep Kansas run?

In comesTyran Stokes.

As the No. 1 recruit in the country and an early projected No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA draft, Stokes gives coach Bill Self one of the most tantalizing young stars in America. He's described as a matchup nightmare with strength, playmaking ability and elite passing skills.

Could this be Self's latest opportunity to take Kansas back to the Final Four? We'll see.

And when Kansas and Missouri meet in Kansas City on Dec. 6, you can bet everybody will be watching Self.

One more title run? One more banner? We may be witnessing the final chapter of an all-time coaching legend.

5. Can Jon Scheyer get his title?

It's the Duke standard.

And Scheyer has another elite Duke roster to put him in another national championship conversation.

With veteran leadership from Caleb Foster, Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell and a talented collection of young players led by five-star freshmanCameron Williams, Duke is prepared for another deep run.

Don't expect Duke to cruise through November, either. The Blue Devils may experience some early bumps while Scheyer blends the new players with a tough schedule. But, come March? Watch out.

6. Welcome to the 76-team NCAA tournament


The Big Dance just got bigger.

The NCAA tournament expands to 76 teams, with 44 at-large bids and Opening Round games -- previously the First Four -- split between Dayton, Ohio, and Wichita, Kansas.

Will we see more power-conference teams or more deserving mid-majors?

My crystal ball says we're going to have some Selection Sunday drama!

The teams I have circled as national championship contenders: Florida, Duke, Illinois, UConn, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, Arizona and Louisville.

I think we're going to see multiple leagues place 10 or more teams into the tournament. Which means the bubble could be absolutely brutal this year.

7. Circle these must-see early-season matchups


Get your popcorn ready!

A few games that have me screaming "Awesome, baby!" already:


That's not a schedule. That's a basketball buffet!

And Duke-Florida in Gainesville? That one could well have a national championship preview feel to it.

8. My breakout stars

Every season has players who go from "Who?" to "WOW!"

There are the players I have ready to take major jumps:


Kharchenkov, McKenney, Ngongba, Allen and Moreno are already generating serious NBA buzz. But pay particular attention to Moreno. Kentucky needs him. The SEC had better be ready for him.

9. Freshmen chasing NBA millions

The race for the top pick begins immediately, and this year is loaded with possibilities.

My Diaper Dandy breakout watch list includes:


Stokes opens many mock drafts at No. 1, but Holt and Smith aren't far behind.

And we'll get to see both put on a show against each other Dec. 19, when Arizona and Arkansas meet in Phoenix. NBA scouts, get your tickets for that one.

10. Mid-majors that could bust brackets

The power conferences will get most of the headlines, but March has a funny way of making everybody pay attention to the little guy.

I love New Mexico, Grand Canyon, VCU, Saint Louis and UIC.

And don't forget Gonzaga. For years, the Zags helped define the West Coast Conference. Now, they enter a Pac-12 that has assembled a collection of programs with legitimate NCAA tournament credentials.

The expanded tournament gives more teams a chance to get in. And once you're in, anything can happen.

11. The new rules will matter

Don't underestimate the impact of changes to the game. This year, officials will emphasize post-play physicality, offensive three-second calls, freedom of movement and traveling.

The transfer portal window has also been shortened dramatically, and teams can now schedule up to 32 regular-season games.

These aren't headline grabbers, but they absolutely could affect winning and losing.

12. A new generation of coaches takes center stage

The coaching carousel this past offseason was wild, giving us a whole slew of new coaches across the country. Here are the names to keep an eye on:


Michael Malone's move from the NBA to North Carolina is particularly fascinating. The former Denver Nuggets championship coach now has to navigate NIL, the transfer portal and college recruiting after years in the pros.

BONUS: My preseason top 25


  1. Florida

  2. Duke

  3. Illinois

  4. UConn

  5. Michigan State

  6. Arizona

  7. Michigan

  8. Virginia

  9. Louisville

  10. Texas

  11. Tennessee

  12. Houston

  13. USC

  14. Gonzaga

  15. Arkansas

  16. St. John's

  17. Kentucky

  18. Miami

  19. UCLA

  20. Iowa State

  21. Vanderbilt

  22. Alabama

  23. Purdue

  24. Missouri

  25. Indiana

Dickie V's final take

If you love college basketball, this season has everything:

Florida wants another championship.

Duke wants Scheyer's first.

UConn wants another banner.

Michigan wants to prove it wasn't a one-hit wonder.

Kansas wants to give Self and Stokes a magical ride.

Kentucky wants to remind everybody what Big Blue basketball is supposed to look like.

And somewhere out there, a mid-major is waiting to become America's favorite Cinderella.

So, buckle up, basketball fans. The brackets will be bigger, the rosters will be deeper, the pressure will be greater. And when March arrives, I suspect we're going to have one heck of a basketball party.

Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be AWESOME, BABY, WITH A CAPITAL A!

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