College basketball season is almost here!
Between now and Nov. 3rd, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.
Today’s focus is on the Big 12:
1. How will Houston deal with more youth?
The Cougars played four seniors — LJ Cryer, Mylik Wilson, Ja’Vier Francis, and J’Wan Roberts — 19 or more minutes in the national title game last April against Florida. Cryer and Wilson were in their fifth season and Roberts was in his sixth. This rendition of Houston will be much younger. There’s a strong chance that two freshmen — Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac — join veterans Milos Uzan, Emmanuel Sharp, and Joseph Tugler in this team’s starting lineup on opening night. It will be interesting to see how quickly those two newcomers can catch up in a program that’s won at least 32 games in each of the past four seasons.
2. Can Kansas get back to being vintage Kansas?
TBD. Bill Self has repeatedly said that the Jayhawks have never had a prospect in Lawrence like five-star freshman Darryn Peterson — who could be the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be able to carry Kansas back to its original form. Bouncy big man Flory Bidunga should give Self another All-Big 12 caliber player to go along with Peterson, but there’s plenty of questions regarding the Jayhawks’ supporting cast around those two players. Kansas is coming off back-to-back seasons with 10 or more losses for the first time during Self’s tenure.
3. Will BYU live up to expectations?
It depends on what the term “expectations” truly means. This is unequivocally the most anticipated season in the history of the Cougars’ program thanks to the additions of five-star prospect AJ Dybantsa and Baylor transfer Rob Wright, but people need to be reminded that BYU advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 last March in its first season under Kevin Young. Anything less than a trip to the Elite Eight will be a disappointment in Provo.
4. Which program is facing the most pressure?
Cincinnati. The Bearcats haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and ultimately haven’t been close under Wes Miller, who’s entering his fifth season as this program’s head coach. Cincinnati has a quality returning guard in Day Day Thomas as well as several proven transfers in Jalen Celestine (Baylor), Baba Miller (Florida Atlantic), and Moustapha Thiam (UCF). We’ve seen this movie before, though. It’s NCAA Tournament or bust for Cincinnati in 2025-26.
5. Who is the sleeper?
TCU. Player retention is massive in today’s current climate and the Horned Frogs return four players who averaged double figure minutes in David Punch, Micah Robinson, Malick Diallo, and Jace Posey. Jamie Dixon’s squad also added three perimeter transfers who could all be starters in Jayden Pierre (Providence), Brock Harding (Iowa), and Liutaurus Lelevicius (Oregon State). Dixon has quietly led his alma mater to three of the last four NCAA Tournament. A return trip feels like it’s in the cards for 2026.
Leftovers
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (9/21): The top non-conference games of the 2026-27 season — Part 1
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (9/18): Guest — Duke’s Jon Scheyer
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (9/17): 5 teams that could overachieve during the 2026-27 college basketball season
- VCU, Wichita State finalizing agreement to begin home-and-home in Richmond during 2027-28 season
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (9/14): 15 players who will become stars during the 2026-27 college basketball season
