2025-26 Non-Marquette College Basketball Discussion Thread

[Uncle Rico]

https://x.com/jeffborzello/status/1973783803517911306?s=61&t=6XPB8f4sAKmJIzxgMcsCjw

Well-deserved

[Billy Hoyle]

we should probably have a separate Big East discussion thread, but since we don't, big get for UConn and the conference:

https://www.espn.com/recruiting/basketball/story/_/id/46465574/junior-county-commits-uconn-part-2026-recruiting-class

Fast-rising four-star senior guard Junior County told ESPN that he has committed to UConn.

County, one of the top-five shooting guards in the 2026 class, chose the Huskies over a final list that also included Arizona, Indiana, Maryland and Purdue.

[MU82]

we should probably have a separate Big East discussion thread, but since we don't, big get for UConn and the conference:

https://www.espn.com/recruiting/basketball/story/_/id/46465574/junior-county-commits-uconn-part-2026-recruiting-class

Fast-rising four-star senior guard Junior County told ESPN that he has committed to UConn.

County, one of the top-five shooting guards in the 2026 class, chose the Huskies over a final list that also included Arizona, Indiana, Maryland and Purdue.

I don't know much about how stars are determined, but the 4th-best shooting guard in the entire class isn't a 5-star recruit?

[MuMark]

I don't know much about how stars are determined, but the 4th-best shooting guard in the entire class isn't a 5-star recruit?

Just depends on the class.....there were only 15 total 5 stars according to 247 in 2025 and as of now the same number in 2026.

[#UnleashSean]

Yep. Gard hired a guy who is sure to be a flop.

This is the best one.

[tower912]

Dude was a baller.

[Jay Bee]

I don't know much about how stars are determined, but the 4th-best shooting guard in the entire class isn't a 5-star recruit?

It's largely nonsense. Each 'service' is difference. For ESPN, I believe they still go with guys who are 90+ graded are 5 stars. So, one year could be a lot.. theoretically another year there could be zero. I guess the point is - and it makes sense - the stars relate to the individual, not their ranking in their class.

County grades out at 86, good for 43rd in ESPN's 2026 rankings, but well below the 90 needed for their 5-star status. Of the 19 5-stars, I think only 2 are listed as SG.. lots of SF designations, who might actually be SGs to others.

#SmokeNmirrors

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I don't know much about how stars are determined, but the 4th-best shooting guard in the entire class isn't a 5-star recruit?

He lost a star for being named Junior County.   If he wants that 5th star, he needs to change his name to Senior Country.

[brewcity77]

He lost a star for being named Junior County   If he wants that 5th star, he needs to change his name to Senior Country.

Either is probably better than his given first name. 

[Hards Alumni]

Either is probably better than his given first name. 

[MU82]

From Yahoo Sports:

There have always been imbalances in men's college basketball — from the power conference and high-major programs down to the mid- and low-major teams. But the gap between the "haves" and "have nots" widened significantly during the NIL/transfer portal era, which saw the best talent matriculate to the top in unprecedented fashion.

The growing divide: "The disparity between the high majors and the rest of college basketball has never felt bigger," writes analytics expert Evan Miyakawa alongside his preseason rankings, noting that the conference strength drop off from the fifth-best league (Big East) to the sixth-best league (A-10) is larger than the gap between sixth and 17th (Sun Belt).

What they're saying: "This was always going to be a cost of the NIL/portal era (with other benefits)," writes journalist Eamonn Brennan, "but the acceleration you're seeing in 2025-26 preseason ranks is starting to get a little freaky."

[CountryRoads]

I've switched my stance on the NIL/portal era and now think it has largely been a huge positive for the game. Players at the mid majors are now able to move up and make life changing money on the big stage. As a result, the playing field has been leveled somewhat in the high major conferences and I think it's much more competitive now where a few dozen teams have the talent to make a final four in a given year. No longer do the same 6 schools have their pick of the litter leaving everyone else with the remaining scraps. Lot of good ball players out there that are more accessible to get on your roster in less than a year now.

[MU82]

I've switched my stance on the NIL/portal era and now think it has largely been a huge positive for the game. Players at the mid majors are now able to move up and make life changing money on the big stage. As a result, the playing field has been leveled somewhat in the high major conferences and I think it's much more competitive now where a few dozen teams have the talent to make a final four in a given year. No longer do the same 6 schools have their pick of the litter leaving everyone else with the remaining scraps. Lot of good ball players out there that are more accessible to get on your roster in less than a year now.

All good points.

It also allows players who aren't quite P5 material to easily move down a level without having to sit out a year, while also still getting a little NIL.

I support scenarios that give athletes more freedom of movement and the opportunity to legally earn money - in other words, the same things coaches have always enjoyed.

[WhiteTrash]

From Yahoo Sports:

There have always been imbalances in men's college basketball — from the power conference and high-major programs down to the mid- and low-major teams. But the gap between the "haves" and "have nots" widened significantly during the NIL/transfer portal era, which saw the best talent matriculate to the top in unprecedented fashion.

The growing divide: "The disparity between the high majors and the rest of college basketball has never felt bigger," writes analytics expert Evan Miyakawa alongside his preseason rankings, noting that the conference strength drop off from the fifth-best league (Big East) to the sixth-best league (A-10) is larger than the gap between sixth and 17th (Sun Belt).

What they're saying: "This was always going to be a cost of the NIL/portal era (with other benefits)," writes journalist Eamonn Brennan, "but the acceleration you're seeing in 2025-26 preseason ranks is starting to get a little freaky."

I'm a little freaked out myself, that the BE is behind the ACC in rankings? The BE was #4 last year in NET. 

[Uncle Rico]

I'm a little freaked out myself, that the BE is behind the ACC in rankings? The BE was #4 last year in NET. 

ACC is better this year than it has been in recent years.  All of them are top-100 KenPom to begin the season whereas last year, you had 8 teams sub-100, with BC 181 and Miami 193.  KenPom still has the BE ahead of the ACC.

I'd wager that a few ACC schools crash and burn and drag down the league but I don't think the league is as bad as it has been.  Having a good Louisville team helps them quite a bit.

[Billy Hoyle]

All good points.

It also allows players who aren't quite P5 material to easily move down a level without having to sit out a year, while also still getting a little NIL.

I support scenarios that give athletes more freedom of movement and the opportunity to legally earn money - in other words, the same things coaches have always enjoyed.

I agree with the benefits for student-athletes, but I see two negatives:

1 - it's easier to run off student-athletes. If a coach misses on an evaluation, it shouldn't be the student-athlete who is punished by being broomed out the door even if they want to stay at the school. Finding a new home isn't as easy as you'd think; in 2023, 55% of kids who entered the portal don't end up at another school.

2 - it hurts the mid-majors. The roster turnover coaches at those programs deal with when high majors use mid-majors as a farm system harms their ability to build continuity and establish a foundation for success. Coach friends at low and mid-major schools who are replacing their entire rosters every year, and not all of those kids are moving up and being successful at a higher level.

[MU82]

I'm a little freaked out myself, that the BE is behind the ACC in rankings? The BE was #4 last year in NET. 

The Big East is basically even with the ACC. I couldn't include an image of the chart, but here's the top 6:

SEC ... 15.7
Big 18 ... 15.1
Big 12 ... 13.9
ACC ... 11.2
Big East ... 11.0
A-10 ... 3.5

So we're talking a fraction between the BEast and the ACC ... and miles between the BEast and the Daytonites.

[MU82]

I agree with the benefits for student-athletes, but I see two negatives:

1 - it's easier to run off student-athletes. If a coach misses on an evaluation, it shouldn't be the student-athlete who is punished by being broomed out the door even if they want to stay at the school. Finding a new home isn't as easy as you'd think; in 2023, 55% of kids who entered the portal don't end up at another school.

2 - it hurts the mid-majors. The roster turnover coaches at those programs deal with when high majors use mid-majors as a farm system harms their ability to build continuity and establish a foundation for success. Coach friends at low and mid-major schools who are replacing their entire rosters every year, and not all of those kids are moving up and being successful at a higher level.

All that is reasonable.

But the old rules didn't stop Buzz - and lots of other coaches - from running off numerous kids. And although it has become more prevalent, mid-majors lost plenty of athletes to majors over the years; Creighton, for example, practically operated a farm system for a while there. 

[21Jumpstreet]

Syracuse all-time scorer dead at 53.

https://nypost.com/2025/09/30/sports/lawrence-moten-syracuse-basketball-legend-dead-at-53/

Lawrence "Poetry In" Moten

[WhiteTrash]

All that is reasonable.

But the old rules didn't stop Buzz - and lots of other coaches - from running off numerous kids. And although it has become more prevalent, mid-majors lost plenty of athletes to majors over the years; Creighton, for example, practically operated a farm system for a while there. 

Agreed. I don't see how NIL and transfer rules made it easier to run off players. If anything it has made the situation better by not having to sit for a year.

I don't think there is a way to both give the players freedom of movement and guaranty spots for everyone. 

[MuMark]

https://x.com/johncanzanobft/status/1978901503860408375?s=61&t=6XPB8f4sAKmJIzxgMcsCjw

[Hards Alumni]

https://x.com/johncanzanobft/status/1978901503860408375?s=61&t=6XPB8f4sAKmJIzxgMcsCjw

Wow.

[tower912]

Thoughts and prayers to his family.