The 2026-27 college hoops season officially tipped off Sunday when Notre Dame took on Villanova in Rome, Italy.
It's been an offseason unlike any other, with opening-day rosters not necessarily the final product and the reigning national champs losing their head coach midway through the summer.
Here's more on those topics, plus other intriguing storylines to watch this season.
Eligibility chaos
Keeping track of each team's roster was already difficult enough with an abundance of players entering the transfer portal at season's end. Now, you've got hundreds of players - including NBA draft picks - suing the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility.
Some of those individuals have been temporarily cleared to play college hoops. Trey Kaufmann-Renn, a 2026 second-round pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, was granted a preliminary injunction against the NCAA in October. The former All-Big Ten first-team selection is among three key Kansas players fighting for their eligibility.
Last month, LSU had only four players on its official roster before several notable names received clearance for now, including Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark. The Tigers could also theoretically add ex-St. John's star RJ Luis Jr. after a Louisiana judge granted him a temporary restraining order, but the SEC has argued that Luis is ineligible because he signed multiple NBA contracts. Tigers head coach Will Wade previously said he'd abide by conference protocols, which prohibit players who've participated in the NBA draft or signed a contract with an NBA team.
The whole thing is a gigantic mess that doesn't seem to be ending soon, and nobody knows how long each of these players will be allowed to play. It's not a stretch to say a school's entire season and the national title picture could hinge on one player's eligibility.
Michigan's uphill title defense
When Michigan defeated UConn in last season's national championship game, it looked like the program was just getting started. The Wolverines were bringing back Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau and promising sophomore guard Trey McKenney, and they made a splash in the transfer portal by adding J.P. Estrella and Moustapha Thiam.
However, things changed quickly in the summer when head coach Dusty May abruptly left to take the Dallas Mavericks' head coaching gig. Michigan then lost five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. after he tore his ACL during an exhibition game in Europe. The Wolverines knew they'd be in for a challenge with Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson Jr. all going pro, but nobody foresaw the offseason taking such a turn.
Malone begins new era at UNC
It's been 65 years since somebody coached North Carolina without any prior ties to the blue blood program. The formula has generally worked well, with Dean Smith and Roy Williams leading the school to five national championships combined during their tenures.
When Williams retired in 2021, longtime assistant Hubert Davis succeeded him and immediately guided the Tar Heels to a national championship game appearance. Unfortunately, that was the peak of Davis' tenure, as he was fired last March following a second straight opening-round exit in the NCAA Tournament.
Instead of looking internally, North Carolina broke tradition and hired Michael Malone as its next head coach. It was a stunning move, to say the least, since Malone had no college experience beyond three assistant coaching stints over 25 years ago. The college game is a different beast in the NIL era. The Tar Heels are banking on Malone's championship pedigree and tactical acumen to bring them back to the promised land.
Self's last ride?
Kansas head coach Bill Self has brushed off retirement rumors, but it's hard to dismiss the possibility given the health issues he's endured over the past few years. If this is indeed the Hall of Famer's final year, he's got a chance to go out on top.
The Jayhawks boast No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, who's an early candidate for the top overall selection in next year's NBA draft. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, he can attack the rim with force and frequently gets to the charity stripe. Stokes is an above-average rebounder for a guard, possesses great court vision, and can make defensive plays with his 7-foot wingspan.
Fellow five-star recruit Taylen Kinney was also a McDonald's All-American and has shown off his playmaking chops during exhibition play. If Kaufmann-Renn, Melvin Council Jr., and Tre White all remain eligible, Kansas is a real threat to win it all.
Will Scheyer get over the hump?
Jon Scheyer has done an admirable job filling Mike Krzyzewski's shoes, leading Duke to a dominant 124-25 record, three ACC Tournament crowns, two conference regular-season titles, and one Final Four appearance in his first four years. But the Blue Devils' shortcomings in the past two Big Dances have overshadowed Scheyer's success. In the 2025 Final Four, his squad blew a seven-point lead to Houston with 1:26 to go. A year later, Braylon Mullins' epic 3-pointer off a late turnover capped UConn's miraculous 19-point comeback versus Duke in the Elite Eight.
Scheyer has all the ingredients to make another deep NCAA Tournament run, with Patrick Ngongba II, Dame Sarr, Caleb Foster, and Cayden Boozer all back for another kick at the can. He's also got a trio of five-star freshmen at his disposal, including Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, who's in the mix to go No. 1 in the 2028 draft. Additionally, Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell gives the Blue Devils a proven scorer and is coming off an All-Big Ten third-team campaign. Talent has never been in question with Scheyer's rosters. It's now a matter of pushing the right buttons when the calendar flips to March.
Pope on hot seat?
Most schools would be thrilled with back-to-back 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances, but that won't fly in Big Blue Nation. Kentucky's rabid fan base expected immediate results from Mark Pope - just as they did with his predecessor, John Calipari, who guided the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his first season, the Final Four a year later, and a national championship in Year 3. Though it would take a lot for Pope to repeat the feat in his third campaign, a deep run in the Big Dance would go a long way in his job security.
Fortunately, Pope has a roster that's better suited to his style of play. Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic was the nation's best 3-point shooter last season, knocking down an NCAA-leading 48.7% of his attempts from deep. Fellow newcomers Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins give Kentucky a pair of shot-creating threats in the backcourt who can also create for their teammates. Seven-foot center Malachi Moreno looks poised for a breakout sophomore campaign after averaging 12.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game during exhibition play.
Return of Pac-12
Pac-12 basketball is back following a two-season hiatus. The new-look conference features familiar faces Oregon State and Washington State, while Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State make their way over from the Mountain West Conference. Texas State also joins the fold after spending the previous 13 years in the Sun Belt Conference. The undisputed centerpiece of the new Pac-12 is West Coast Conference powerhouse Gonzaga. It'll take some time for these new rivalries to develop, but here's to hoping for some more Pac-12 After Dark magic.
NCAA Tournament expansion
The NCAA Tournament is growing to 76 teams this season, marking the first time since 2011 that the draw has expanded. The First Four will now be called the "March Madness Opening Round," featuring the 12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the 12 lowest-seeded at-large selections. There'll be no crossover matchups, so the automatic qualifiers will only face each other, and vice versa for the at-large bid winners. The 12 winning schools from this mini-bracket move into the main field of 64.
