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dick vitale
This season is going to be awesome, with a capital A!
College hoops fans, get ready – your favorite time of year is back! I’m talking about the buzzer-beaters, diaper dandies, and prime time players (PTPlayers) who are lighting up the courts from coast to coast. What else? Yours truly is back, and I can’t wait to kick off the season by calling the Dick Vitale Invitational on November 4th: ruler versus texas In Charlotte, North Carolina, baby!
That’s right, we’re coming to the Queen City to get the party started with some fireworks (8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN).
But before we get there, let me give you 12 reasons why I’m ready for the 2025-26 college basketball season!
1. Florida aiming at history
Can you say back-to-back national champions, baby? Florida’s roster is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean alex condon Returning after withdrawing from the NBA Draft. He is a shot blocker, rebounder and low-post beast. add Reuben Chinyelurim protection of and thomas hoff‘s stretch-four skills, and you have a paint presence that will punish opponents.
But here’s the kicker: Todd Golden added two electric guards to it Boogie Landa five-star dynamo that can illuminate its depths, and xavien leeA combo guard from Princeton who is as smart as they come. This team has talent, size, experience and a coach who knows how to push the right buttons. The Gators are chasing a rare repeat – and they have the guts to do it!
2. cameron boozer Takes the torch in duuuuuke!
This is the Boozer Brothers era in Durham. Cameron Boozer is the most complete freshman in the country, a double-double machine with NBA polish. And he’s bringing his twin, caydenalong for the ride. Cameron is considered one of the top contenders to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. kansas, darrin peterson And BYU‘S AJ DiBantsaAlso Jon Scheyer has the No. 1 recruiting class in America Dame Sarr, nicholas khameniya And Sebastian WilkinsDuke also brings back Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans And Patrick Ngongba IIThree rising stars are ready to take the next leap. The talent is there, the depth is scary and Cameron Indoor Stadium is going to rock every night. Be careful, ACC. Duke is coming, baby!
3. houston There’s liftoff!
You thought Houston was done after losing LJ Cryer and Ja’Wan Roberts? think again. This squad stands out like flapjacks at Sunday breakfast. the cougars returned Emmanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan, joseph tugler And daya miller – All major contributors to last year’s title game run. And then, boom! he added Chris Cenac Jr.And Isiah HarwellTwo five-star standouts, both likely first-round NBA draft picks. Kelvin Sampson’s culture of toughness, discipline and defense is a proven formula, and this roster is as complete as any other in America.
4. Cal’s new blueprint arkansas is a brand new hog
This is John Calipari like you’ve never seen him. The all-freshman formula is gone; Now, this is typical youth as well as experience. Year 2 is looking like fire in Fayetteville carter knox Returning to lead a group that includes dj wagner, Billy Richmond III And trayvon brazil –That guy has a pogo stick with a jump shot. Cal also brought in five-star backcourt monsters Darius Acuff Jr.And melek thomasplus big man malik ivin And Nick Pringle To bang down. This team is more physical, more mature and more dangerous than last year’s Sweet 16 team. Don’t be surprised if the Hogs make their first Final Four since they were rolling with Nolan.
5. Braden Smithhelp the king in waiting
PurdueSmith is the floor general of the country. He averaged 15.8 points and 8.7 assists last year, and has his sights set on Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assist record. The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Award winner is smart, steady and runs the offense like a master with a stick. he is next to Trey Kaufman-RenA 20-point scorer who took over for Zach Eddy like a boss last year. With an experienced core, strong supporting cast and national title expectations, Purdue enters the season as a legitimate favorite to cut down the net in April and ultimately bring that elusive national title back to the Big Ten. It’s time to move to West Lafayette.
6. Big Slice of Small Apple: kansas stateOf P.J. Power!
PJ HaggertyThe reigning American Player of the Year dropped 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists a night in Memphis, and is now Jerome Tang’s main man in Manhattan, Kansas. He has a cutting style, can draw fouls, create for others and score at all three levels. His 3-point shot has improved and he is a very efficient scorer whose speed allows him to score easily in transition. He plays strong defense on the ball and is not afraid to use his body near the rim and finish tough shots. Kansas State has missed the tournament the last two years, but this guy changes everything. with akron Nate Johnson and serbian sensation Andrzej Kostić By joining him in the backcourt, the Wildcats can dance into March – and do some damage while they get there.
7. Bluegrass Rivalry in the Zero Age
Two proud programs, two coaches in their second year with their respective teams, and barking orders flying around. kentuckyK Mark Pope went wild in the portal, pulling in jaland lowe (pit), kam williams (Tulane), denzel aberdeen (Florida), mohammed diaubet (Alabama) and top-five NBA prospect jayden quantance (State of Arizona). The Wildcats are big, fast and defense-first.
over at louisvillePat Kelsey brings in a five-star recruit and potential NBA lottery pick mikel brown jr., who won a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup. He is a lightning-fast point guard with one of the fastest jumpers in the game. add germany Sananda Fru With three 1,000-point scorers Ryan Conwell, Isaac McNeely And Ja’Von HeadleyAnd this group of Cardinals could highlight that. Both teams are Final Four contenders, and if the bracket gods smile, they could meet again in March Madness.
8. Big East controversy
Do you want old school toughness with new school flair? After winning consecutive national championships in 2023 and 2024, Dan Hurley’s yukon huskies are back in title-hunting mode with a reloaded roster featuring elite shooters, top-tier new players and a deep bench.
Rick Pitino’s st johns Bringing fire to New York City every game. The Red Storm won their first Big East regular season crown last year since 1985. This year’s mix of vets and rookies looks to be Final Four ready. Together, these programs have created a talent-rich top tier in the Big East that has garnered national attention and restored the league’s reputation as one of the premier basketball conferences in the country. Their success not only increases the visibility of the Big East, but it also intensifies the competition in college basketball, challenging other power conferences on the national stage.
9. International Infusion: It’s a global game, baby!
Over 70 international players joined the high-major roster this year. Very good! you have got Dame Sarr (Italy) at ruler, luka bogavac (Montenegro) North Carolina, Tounde Yessoufou (Benin) at boiler, oscar cluff (Australia) at Purdue, just to name a few. Illinois There are only Croatian twins (Tomislav And Zvonimir Ivicic), a Serbian point guard (Mihailo Petrovic) and a Montenegrin forward (David MirkovicThat’s an Olympic rooster. These international stars bring skill, maturity and a professional mentality. They are changing the way teams are built and the way the game is played. I’m excited to see what impact they’re bringing.
10. Diaper Dandies are dominating the race for number 1!
This is the acquisition of a new person. darrin peterson But kansas Top recruiter in the country. Even Peterson’s coach Bill Self called him the best player he ever played. AJ DiBantsa But BYUA 6-foot-9 highlight reel! cameron boozer But ruler Is the NBA ready yet? and don’t sleep Darius Acuff Jr.,arkansas, mikel brown jr,louisville, kian anthony ,Syracuse) Or Nate Ament ,Tennessee), another Swiss Army knife. The list of diaper dandies gets even deeper when you add this Isiah Harwell And Chris Cenac Jr.But houston, Tounde Yessoufou But boiler, koa peat But Arizona And Caleb Wilson In North Carolina. This draft class could rival 2003, baby. We’re talking Carmelo, LeBron, Bosh and Wade vibes!
11. Feast Week Mania!
We start the college season with some heavyweight bouts, and I, for one, won’t miss a minute. The Champions Classic comes to Madison Square Garden on November 18 kentucky versus michigan state (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and ruler versus kansas (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). NBA scouts have already set their calendars. Then the action shifts to Vegas: The Players Era Festival features 18 top men’s events – including alabama, houston, gonzagakansas, Tennessee, boiler And st johns – Fighting for bragging rights and zero big-time exposure. It is the largest non-March Madness event to date. It’s a three-day basketball giveaway!
12. #NewRules, SmarterHoops!
Let’s talk strategy, baby! This season brings challenges from coaches, clean perpetual motion rules and glaring misdirection. Officials can now only stop the shot clock once if there is a breakdown – no longer two interruptions. These changes are intended to speed up the game and give teams more control at key moments. It will be smarter, sharper and smoother on the court. For one thing, I like change.
And now, the main event, baby. Now your popcorn is ready. November 4 is the date, and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte is the venue for the Dick Vitale Invitational. ruler versus texasWe have super freshmen, two blue bloods battling under electric energy and bright lights. And I’ll be on the call to start our season.
Let’s get this party started, baby! I’m talking PTpper after PTpper, dreams of bigger performances and March Madness are being created every night. College hoops is back, and I can’t wait any longer!
