School basketball energy rankings: Which groups are almost certainly to win all of it?

1The five-point loss on to Duke on a impartial courtroom final weekend would not dissuade me from the idea that Dusty Might has the very best crew in faculty basketball. Wolverines are 26-2, on trajectory to win the loaded Huge Ten and a lock to be a 1 seed.2Houston’s doubled its loss complete the final two weeks with three consecutive losses to drop to 23-5. However I am not pushing the panic button on the Cougs. They’ve NBA expertise within the frontcourt and backcourt, play elite protection, have high quality guards who can dictate tempo and have roster versatility as well. This’ll be a tough crew to out within the tourney.3Few groups are tougher to match with than Arizona — one in every of solely three groups to be rated top-10 in offensive and defensive adjusted effectivity at KenPom. The Wildcats have their greatest defensive unit since Tommy Lloyd’s arrival and have managed to pair that with an elite offense. If totally wholesome, they need to be thought-about the 1B title favourite with Michigan.4Duke’s No. 1 at KenPom and the frontrunner to be the No. 1 total seed. However, by a slim margin, I’ve the Bule Devils fourth amongst title contenders solely due to reservations about this crew’s backcourt and its taking pictures potential surrounding Cameron Boozer. Boozer, although, has the flexibility to simply drag this crew all the best way. He is that good.5Dan Hurley has his Huskies enjoying with verve at simply the fitting time after smacking St. John’s by 32 factors this week. The Huskies have gone from good to nice defensively and have dimension, scoring and expertise.6This Illinois crew can rating with anybody — it charges No. 1 in adjusted offensive effectivity at KenPom — and it has a star in Keaton Wagler with killer complementary items round him. Three OT losses in its final 5 outings would not and should not stunt how we view this crew’s ceiling.7Florida is 17-2 since beginning the season 5-4 and discovering methods to win by smashing the offensive glass and dominating on protection. If it could actually get good, constant guard play in March, this crew can go back-to-back.8The Darryn Peterson noise has drowned out KU’s stable season. I am right here to say it should not. This is the components: Invoice Self + No. 1 decide + star defender Flory Bidunga = Closing 4? If this crew can get continuity with its roster I feel it may be among the best, if not the perfect, within the 68-team discipline.9That is low for a crew on observe to be a No. 1 seed candidate, however for pretty much as good as Iowa State is — notably on protection and taking pictures the ball — I am skeptical of its postseason ceiling. Name me a hater, however Cyclones have critical first-weekend upset potential. We do not know the bracket but, however I’m already locked on not selecting them previous the Candy 16.10The preseason No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers have six losses on the season — 4 of which have shockingly come at house — however for causes that needs to be apparent I nonetheless can’t stop this crew. Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn are a duo no crew will wish to face in March.11Accidents have plagued Gonzaga and saved the Bulldogs largely simply out of the highlight, and but, they’re 28-2 on the season and really a lot within the combine to win 30 video games by Choice Sunday. When wholesome, Mark Few has a crew that’s his most full since 2020-21.12John Calipari has his greatest offensive crew in years due to the star flip of freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. He may be Mr. March and lead the Razorbacks deep into the bracket — if they’ll discover a method to sluggish groups defensively, that’s.13We noticed Michigan State’s potential on full show Thursday because it went into Mackey Area and downed Purdue, 76-74. Sparty has nice guard play led by Jeremy Fears, an athletic marvel in Coen Carr and a cohesive defensive unit.14First-year UVA coach Ryan Odom has the very best crew within the ACC not named Duke — and it’s using a nine-game profitable streak into the weekend. Expertise, dimension, toughness — this Cavaliers crew checks a ton of packing containers.15A stat that doesn’t really feel actual: Nebraska has by no means gained an NCAA Match sport. That modifications this yr. It would be outstanding but becoming if, within the first NCAA Match by which it modifications that, it goes all the best way and claims the title. Not not possible, given the best way Fred Hoiberg’s 3-point-and-defense method has positioned the Cornhuskers.16A middling 9-6 document in ACC play has Louisville flying properly underneath the radar, however this Cardinals crew — with a heavy emphasis on flinging 3s, enjoying with tempo and counting on its guards — has the makings of an underrated tourney membership. Mikel Brown Jr. might have some massive moments and make himself a March legend with a deep run.17UConn smacked St. John’s round Wednesday in a humbling outing. However Rick Pitino will discover a method to tweak his roster and guarantee they’re prepped for the insanity. The large query is whether or not they have the guard play to go the space.18Alabama has gained seven-straight after a 4-4 begin to SEC play. The Tide have a definite model underneath Nate Oats, prioritizing tempo and a gradual quantity of 3s. Led by Labaron Philon they are going to little doubt be a tough out.19The lack of star ahead JT Toppin is doubtlessly a dying knell for Texas Tech’s title hopes. I am leaving the sunshine on, although, as a result of Christian Anderson has been that good. If Donovan Atwell and LeJuan Watts may be constant ancillary items then I like this Crimson Raiders crew as a sleeper contender.20It has been ugly the final two weeks — Saint Louis has gone from 24-1 to 25-3 — however the Billikens have an environment friendly offense predicated on getting high quality appears to be like and have a deep bench stuffed with expertise. Josh Schertz’s membership has loads of weapons, and Schertz will not be outmatched from an Xs and Os standpoint.21The 16-0 begin to the season for Vandy seems like a very long time in the past — it’s 6-6 within the 12 video games since — however the Commodores have confirmed they’ll go on runs after they get sizzling. Tyler Tanner and Tyler Nickel are studs.22Dropping Richie Saunders to a torn ACL is maybe probably the most devastating damage for any crew this season — on par with the impression Texas Tech has felt after dropping JT Toppin. The Cougars have faculty basketball’s main scorer and a No. 1 decide candidate, AJ Dybantsa, and he’s well-equipped to be the very best participant on each courtroom he steps on.23The 22-6 document would not do justice to explain UNC’s ceiling. This crew has wins over Kansas, Virginia, Duke and Louisville. The large query looming right here is the standing of injured freshman star Caleb Wilson. With uncertainty there it is laborious to be assured projecting the Tar Heels.24Nick Boyd and Wisconsin have been big killers a number of instances this season with wins over Michigan, Illinois and Iowa — amongst others — within the 2026 calendar yr. The Badgers deal with the ball, shoot a excessive quantity of 3s and have the personnel to match with any crew.25The one remaining undefeated crew in faculty basketball deserves inclusion on this record. Travis Steele’s Redhawks are 28-0, and whereas they’re 800-1 to win all of it, they need to be on the radar. They’ve a star coach and a roster that has continuity. Few groups have each of these in 2026.