Dribble Handoff: New Yr’s resolutions for Kentucky, Kansas and extra contenders

When the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025, neither of the groups that in the end performed within the nationwide championship sport have been ranked within the top-five of the AP High 25 ballot. Florida started the brand new 12 months at No. 6, and Houston began the brand new 12 months at No. 14.

That they ended up being the final two groups standings contained in the Alamodome on April 7 reveals that the saying, “new 12 months, new me” can apply to varsity basketball groups. As 2026 arrives, so does the guts of convention play and a line within the sand.

Did not accomplish what you needed to in November and December? January and February deliver a shot for redemption. Houston began gradual a 12 months in the past earlier than ratcheting up the depth with the beginning of Large 12 play to go 19-1. It is nearly as if the Cougars resolved anew to be the nastiest, grittiest staff in school basketball.

In opposition to that backdrop, we’re getting down to make New Yr’s resolutions on behalf of a few of school basketball’s 2025-26 contenders for this week’s Dribble Handoff.

I hope Peterson performs Saturday for the primary time in three weeks; I collect that is the plan. Both approach, my hope is that everyone can discover a method to keep affordable even when the five-star freshman misses what could be his tenth sport of the season at UCF, as a result of, as I’ve stated many occasions on current episodes of the Eye On Faculty Basketball Podcast, a number of the hysteria related to Peterson’s absence has appeared just a little overblown, not less than from my perspective.

Has it been irritating for KU followers? Actually. Has it been irritating for KU coach Invoice Self? How may it not be? However here is the reality: basketball gamers lacking a number of weeks, and even a number of months, with accidents and points just like the accidents and points Peterson has reportedly been coping with is not all too unusual within the NBA, neither is a participant, or his household/advisors, having a say in any plan for a return to the court docket. From that perspective, all of this has been extra regular than it’d seem to some. However, sure, it will be superior if it have been a giant school basketball story that quickly turns into an outdated school basketball story, as a result of we’re solely going to get one 12 months of Peterson within the Large 12, and it will be a disgrace if the recollections from it have been principally tied to the doable No. 1 general choose of the 2026 NBA Draft sitting on a bench in road garments watching a season unfold with out him . — Gary Parrish

Tennessee: Give Nate Ament a full-time inexperienced gentle

As this 2025-26 freshman class has grown into perhaps the strongest within the sport’s historical past, one top-10 prospect has drifted into the background a bit. Nate Ament has been productive (15.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg) however hasn’t been in that upper-echelon dialog with the likes of Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr. and even Kingston Flemings. 

I do suppose Ament may have a stronger second half of the season vs. what we noticed in November and December. His taking pictures splits have to enhance, and whereas Ja’Kobi Gillespie working the purpose goes to be UT’s most vital consider pushing for the highest of the SEC, Ament displaying his array of offensive expertise shall be almost as crucial if the Vols are going to be a 4-seed or higher for a fifth straight season. I believe that is the SEC staff with the widest hole between ceiling and flooring. The ten-3 Volunteers open up league play this weekend at Arkansas, a spicy check to get January going. Rick Barnes’ staff has two high-quality wins (vs. Houston in Las Vegas in November, residence towards Louisville in December), with losses to Kansas, Syracuse and Illinois additionally on the docket. Ament hasn’t been his greatest towards the most effective groups. 

Time for him to degree up, and time for Barnes to scheme up his greatest expertise, as a result of we’ll be seeing the identical elsewhere in that league at faculties like Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Auburn. — Matt Norlander

Florida: Keep within the gymnasium till taking pictures improves

Among the many extra perplexing early-season developments is defending nationwide champion Florida’s incapability to shoot at even a Division I common from 3-point vary. It’s taking pictures 6.8% beneath the Division I common on above-the-break 3-pointers per CBB Analytics information, which final season was one in every of its many strengths. And its 3-point taking pictures share amid a 9-4 begin is 28.2%. That ranks 340th amongst 344 groups. That’s abysmal for a Gators staff that ranked No. 3 within the preseason and was fifth nationally in scoring per sport only a season in the past. 

The Gators have a roster price thousands and thousands of {dollars} and the employees focused gamers who’d beforehand shot it nicely — amongst them Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee — however the numbers up to now have been ugly. Fland is taking pictures 22.2% on 3-pointers and Lee is at 25.3%. And even returning gamers who beforehand shot it nicely from distance like Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh are beneath their percentages from final season. 

It has been ugly all the way in which round. Florida as a staff ought to make a decision to carry an open gymnasium and lock its doorways till this improves. There are effervescent the reason why it has not maybe been higher — the guard play has been inconsistent, turnovers have been a problem and depth (or lack thereof) is an issue. Nevertheless it’s nearly inexplicable that this staff is just not solely the worst amongst all SEC groups in 3-point share — but additionally the worst amongst all main convention groups in 3-point share. That has to enhance, and dramatically, earlier than Florida may even start to start out daydreaming a couple of repeat. — Kyle Boone

Kentucky: Shoot fewer 3-pointers

Kentucky is 2-1 towards high-major opponents when taking pictures 16 or fewer 3-pointers and 0-3 towards high-major opponents when taking pictures 30 or extra 3-pointers. For this UK staff, much less is extra relating to exterior taking pictures. In concept, Kam Williams, Jasper Johnson, Collin Chandler and Trent Noah have been meant to comprise a strong nucleus of perimeter marksmen. In apply, they’re position gamers who’ve struggled mightily to seek out something resembling a rhythm towards high quality opponents. UK is at its greatest when enjoying in transition, attacking the basket and crashing the glass. 

Second-year coach Mark Pope is tactically good and may choose an suave fashion constructed round a bunch of 40% 3-point shooters. However he must acknowledge this Kentucky staff will not be profitable an offensive magnificence contest this season. The Wildcats ought to resolve to shoot much less from past the arc and assault extra for the rest of the 2025-26 season. — David Cobb

Windfall: A recommittment to doing the laborious issues  

It is soul-searching season for a 7-6 Windfall membership that was one of many big-money spenders in free company. Windfall cannot go anyplace within the Large East with out discovering the gumption to settle in and play protection, field out and cease enjoying “after me, you come first” offense. This protection wants an intervention. The Friars have allowed 1.23 factors per possession in six video games towards top-100 groups, per hoop-explorer. That charges 347th (!) nationally. At any time when large man Oswin Erhunmwunse checks out, Windfall’s protection charges 365th nationally towards top-100 groups. That is useless final in America. 

As traditional, every part in basketball is interconnected, and it is laborious to look at Windfall and never really feel that this group is enjoying unconnected, egocentric basketball. The defensive effort is uninspiring at greatest and horrific at worst. The shortage of ball motion offensively and the quantity of quick-trigger jacks constantly put this transition protection in unhealthy spots, too. 

This staff is definitely gifted, however one thing has to present in a rush. Jason Edwards‘ heaters are unstoppable. When he will get his ft set, freshman Stefan Vaaks is a net-shredder. Jaylin Sellers is a freakshow in transition. If rims may speak, they’d be frightened of Sellers’ lefty drives. Jamier Jones seems to be like a senior linebacker trapped in a freshman’s physique. There is a good staff in right here someplace, however it’s getting late early.

We’ll study a ton in regards to the Friars’ psychological fortitude and whether or not they need to make one thing of this season within the subsequent six days. Windfall travels to St. John’s on Saturday earlier than internet hosting No. 4 UConn in an infinite tilt on Wednesday.  — Isaac Trotter