By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
It’s that point of the 12 months.
Large 12 basketball begins subsequent week, and with it comes new preseason expectations.
The Convention is debuting its media ballot this season, and I’ve all the time been a proponent of transparency. The listing under displays my vote.
As a place to begin, the High 6 appear to be pretty set aside from the remaining. There could also be some variations of opinion in how they stack up, however it’s clear that these six faculties are a step above the remaining.
There’s one other grouping between No. 7 and No. 9. I’d describe these three applications as Bubble Groups. The remainder of the colleges from No. 10 by means of No. 16 are on the skin trying in.
Right here’s how I ranked all 16 groups within the Large 12’s preseason media ballot.
1. Houston
Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp lead a Houston staff coming off an look within the Nationwide Championship Recreation.
The Cougars went 19-1 within the Large 12 common season final 12 months however should substitute their main scorer and several other different key contributors.
But, Kelvin Sampson is the highest coach within the Convention proper now. I wouldn’t guess in opposition to Houston.
2. BYU
Expectations for BYU are excessive.
AJ Dybantsa may be the most effective freshman within the nation, and Kevin Younger added a key portal addition in Baylor’s Robert Wright III.
Mix the 2 newcomers with the return of Richie Saunders, and you may perceive why the hype is actual. A return to the Candy 16 is the ground of expectations for this 12 months.
3. Texas Tech
JT Toppin is again for an additional season in Lubbock. The ahead averaged 18.2 ppg final 12 months with 9.4 rpg.
Grant McCasland’s staff completed second within the league final 12 months and made the Elite Eight.
However like many different groups within the Large 12, they need to substitute the manufacturing misplaced from key gamers. The freshman-to-sophomore bounce of Christian Anderson can be essential in that respect.
4. Arizona
The Wildcats have a number of freshmen who will decide the trajectory of their season.
If Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, Dwayne Aristode, and Ivan Kharchenkov stay as much as their hype, then Arizona might make a run within the NCAA Event.
Tommy Lloyd will even lean closely on upperclassmen Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, and Motiejus Krivas.
5. Iowa State
Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Milan Momcilovic are the three heavy hitters who return for Iowa State.
The Cyclones want to exchange their main scorer from final season, however have the items in place to do it.
Lipsey is without doubt one of the prime guards within the nation, and T.J. Otzelberger is aware of what he’s doing.
6. Kansas
The Jayhawks are led by true freshman Darryn Peterson. Ranked because the No. 1 prospect in his class by 247Sports, he’s the face of Kansas basketball in 2025-26.
However KU misplaced 9 convention video games final 12 months and should substitute its prime seven main scorers.
That may not be a foul factor, however it does create loads of questions within the preseason.
7. Kansas State
Jerome Tang hit the portal laborious over the offseason. He introduced within the No. 1 switch class within the Large 12, per 247Sports, highlighted by Memphis switch P.J. Haggerty.
The Wildcats needs to be adequate to make the NCAA Event this 12 months.
Particularly if the fan assist supplies a constant residence court docket benefit.
8. Baylor
The Bears are one other Large 12 staff hovering across the Bubble within the preseason.
With the No. 4 switch class within the league, per 247Sports, Scott Drew ought to have a aggressive group.
However Baylor misplaced a number of leaders from final 12 months’s staff and actually has a completely new roster. The faster they gel collectively, the higher.
9. Cincinnati
Wes Miller ought to have an excellent staff.
The Bearcats have the No. 3 switch class within the Large 12, and expectations are excessive. This system hasn’t made the NCAA Event since 2019, when Mick Cronin was the coach.
This would possibly lastly be the 12 months they break by means of.
10. TCU
Jamie Dixon is a decent coach who deserves the advantage of the doubt. However the Horned Frogs solely have the No. 12 switch class within the Large 12 and the No. 11 recruiting class.
That signifies a expertise hole that may be troublesome to beat.
Nonetheless, Dixon has led TCU to a few Event appearances during the last 4 seasons.
11. Oklahoma State
Don’t sleep on Oklahoma State. Steve Lutz is constructing a program in Stillwater, and the outcomes determine to indicate this season.
Recruiting is on the uptick, and Lutz has the No. 7 switch class within the Convention.
It might not be surprising to see Okay State take a noticeable bounce in 12 months Two.
12. West Virginia
The Mountaineers are a little bit of a wildcard. Darian DeVries left to teach Indiana, and Ross Hodge was employed from North Texas.
With a completely new roster, it’s anybody’s guess the place WVU finally ends up.
However Hodge’s Imply Inexperienced staff made the semifinals of the NIT final 12 months and he introduced within the No. 6 switch class within the Large 12.
13. UCF
Johnny Dawkins revamped his roster by means of the portal over the offseason.
His switch class is rated ninth within the league, creating some expectations to be above the underside of the barrel within the Convention.
UCF went 7-13 in Large 12 video games final season and would possibly fall round that very same mark once more this 12 months.
14. Utah
The Utah boosters received their man. Now we get to see if he performs.
Alex Jensen reeled within the No. 11 switch class within the Convention, overperforming the likes of TCU, Arizona State, and Colorado.
The Utes have an inexpensive residence court docket benefit that they need to maximize. However this system hasn’t made the NCAA Event since 2016, and it doesn’t seem like within the playing cards this 12 months.
15. Colorado
Tadvert Boyle utilized an fascinating technique in his roster development.
Whether or not it was by alternative or necessity, he introduced in six freshmen versus mining the switch portal.
Three of the freshmen are rated as four-stars, per 247Sports, for what it’s price. The lone splash within the portal was level guard Barrington Hargress, a UC Riverside switch that averaged 20.2 ppg final 12 months.
16. Arizona State
Bobby Hurley took a world and portal strategy when constructing his roster for 2025-26.
Bringing in mainly a completely new staff, there are various questions in Tempe on the onset of the season. First 12 months worldwide gamers are hit and miss and are hardly ever capable of be vital contributors straight away.
But when his skilled portal gamers hit the bottom operating, ASU would possibly exceed its preseason expectations.
Miller covers Faculty Basketball and Faculty Soccer in addition to Formulation 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
