When point guard Braden Smith announced his decision to return to Purdue for his senior season, it solidified the Boilermakers’ case as having the best Big 3 in the country.
The Bruins overachieved last season, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling. They return nearly every impact player from their core and added one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal, New Mexico Lobos guard Donovan Dent.
The Wolverines reeled in a terrific transfer class after seeing off several of their most productive players in 2025. Among them, Eliot Cadeau is the most proven after running the show at point guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels the past two seasons.
After a heartbreaking second loss in the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers graduated First Team All-Big Ten performer Jon Tonje but welcomed back second-leading scorer John Blackwell, who scored 15.8 points per game last season. Only a sophomore, Blackwell still has more room to grow and will be helped by potentially three impactful transfer portal recruits.
The core of a terrific defensive unit remains for coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans a year after winning 30 games and reaching the Elite Eight. The question over who can score was an issue for the 2025 Spartans, and they’ll likely face a similar predicament. But make no mistake: This veteran-laden squad will win basketball games and is certainly deserving of a top-15 ranking.
