Jason Burgos
The regular season, and soon the conference tournaments, will all be in the rearview. Then all the focus in college basketball will be on seeding for the 2026 edition of the NCAA Tournament. But which teams have done the most to lock up a spot in March Madness?
Our latest college basketball rankings answer that question ahead of Selection Sunday this weekend.
25. Tennessee (LW: 24)
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is proving why he is a notable prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft. He is second on the team in points (17.7) and leads in rebounds (6.5). The combo of him and senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie is why the Vols are an SEC team that can never be underestimated.
For much of the season, Tennessee has been an inconsistent group and already has more losses than it did last year. However, the 22-10 still has a chance to greatly improve their NCAA Tournament seed if they can score some big wins in the SEC Tournament.
24. Miami (LW: 22)
Jai Lucas was handed a difficult situation in having to turn Miami basketball around after a disastrous 7-24 season from his predecessor in 2024-25. However, in his first season as a head coach, he has the 25-7 Hurricanes in position to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years.
Their big bounce-back season is due to some strong years from transfers Tre Donaldson and Malik Reneau. The duo is combining for over 35 points and 9 rebounds a night for a Miami team that will be a tough out in the ACC tournament.
23. Vanderbilt (LW: 25)
Vanderbilt’s backcourt duo of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles leads a Commodores offense that is scoring 86.9 PPG — which is 13th best in the nation. It’s why they head into Selection Sunday with a 24-7 record.
After starting the year 16-0, Vanderbilt has been up and down. Going 8-7 since January 14. They need a couple of good wins in the SEC Tournament so they can avoid facing a dangerous team early in the NCAA Tournament.
22. Wisconsin (LW: UR)
This has been an up-and-down season for coach Greg Gard and Wisconsin. While they have gotten good seasons from guards Nick Boyd (20.2 PPG) and John Blackwell (18.8 PPG), it hasn’t stopped them from racking up losses to ranked and unranked teams during their current campaign.
However, despite their inconsistent play in 2025-26, they have built a little momentum over the last couple of weeks, winning four straight, including a W over Purdue. A trip to the Big Ten finals this week would benefit their Selection Sunday results.
21. Saint Mary’s (LW: 21)
Legendary Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett has been on a roll over the last few years, and he has his team positioned to make a record fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament this month.
Their strong showing in 2025-26 is due, in large part, to the play of Lithuanian big man Paulius Murauska (18.8 PPG and 7.7 RPG) and a defense that is giving up the seventh fewest points in the nation (64.6). Nevertheless, they aren’t a sure thing to make the NCAA tourney after an upset loss to Santa Clara this week.
20. North Carolina (LW: 17)
Hubert Davis’ North Carolina team has held on to a spot in our college basketball rankings all year due to the outstanding performance of potential lottery pick Caleb Wilson. The freshman leads the Tar Heels in points (19.8), rebounds (9.4), assists (2.7), and steals (1.5).
Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, their top star will miss the rest of the season due to a hand injury. They will need a big next few weeks from veterans Henri Veesaar (16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds) and Seth Trimble (14.0 points) if they hope to make any noise in the NCAA Tournament this month.
19. Miami (OH) (LW: 19)
While it took a couple of seasons to change the program from the bottom up, Miami (OH) head coach Travis Steele has put together what is turning into the greatest season in school history.
The Redhawks ended the regular season with an outstanding 31-0 record and have generated real buzz throughout college basketball with an offense that is scoring the second-most in the nation (90.7 PPG). However, getting into the NCAA Tournament is no longer a lock after they suffered a stunning loss to Massachusetts in the MAC tourney.
18. Purdue (LW: 11)
Purdue has something most elite schools lack: Top players with a boatload of experience. Seniors Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith lead the way for the Boilermakers in 2026 and are combining for close to 30 points a night. Smith is also adding just under nine assists a game.
Purdue began the season with an impressive 17-1 record. However, since Jan. 20, they have been an inconsistent group. The school that was near the top of the college basketball rankings has split its last 14 games and doesn’t have much momentum entering the NCAA Tournament.
17. Texas Tech (LW: 15)
Texas Tech has progressed a lot during Grant McCasland’s first two seasons overseeing the program. And the formidable duo of JT Toppin and Christian Anderson (19.6 PPG) made Tech look like a team that can be a real problem in March.
However, the news that Toppin — one of the top scorers in the nation (21.8 PPG) — is out for the season put a dark cloud over their campaign. They head into Selection Sunday losing three straight and look like a team that could be ousted from the tournament quickly.
16. Arkansas (LW: 20)
Arkansas has an impressive all-freshman backcourt in Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff Jr. However, Acuff has emerged as the best of the pair, and the Razorbacks’ star continues to generate serious NBA Draft buzz by leading the team in scoring (22.2 PPG) and assists (6.4 PPG).
In year two with legendary head coach John Calipari, Arkansas has played rock-solid ball. Scoring big wins over four ranked teams. However, they are an imperfect group. They need a deep run in the SEC tourney to get a good seed on Selection Sunday.
15. Nebraska (LW: 12)
Fred Hoiberg’s 2026 team looks to be his best yet at Nebraska. The school heads into March Madness with a 26-5 record and is fronted by former Bradley recruit Rienk Mast. The Dutch senior is second on his team in points (13.6 PG) and first in rebounds (5.9). He is part of a formidable combo with junior Pryce Sandfort, who leads in scoring with 17.9 PPG.
Nebraska emerged as a serious problem in the Big Ten after starting the year 20-0, including victories over Illinois and Michigan State. However, they have been up-and-down since the end of January, losing five of their last 11, including surprising setbacks to Iowa and UCLA.
14. Alabama (LW: 18)
Alabama can be a problem for any team in the nation on any night. The Crimson Tide has the best scoring offense in college basketball (92.1 PPG), and it is led by future NBA draft pick Labaron Philon Jr — his 21.5 PPG 14th-best in the nation.
Yet, despite their offensive firepower, they had a tough go of it in January. Going 4-3 in the month. However, since Feb. 4, they have performed far better and have posted Ws in nine of their last 10.
13. St. John’s (LW: 16)
There were huge expectations for St. John’s this season after a breakthrough year in 2024-25. However, over the first two months of the season, they were inconsistent and struggled against ranked schools.
But since the calendar hit 2026, the team led by Zuby Ejiofor (16.2 PPG) and Bryce Hopkins (13.43PPG) has played far better. Winning 13 straight at one point, including a big victory over UConn last month. The Johnnies are a dark horse in the Big East tournament and head into the NCAA Tournament with a lot of momentum and confidence.
12. Kansas (LW: 9)
Kansas was a frustratingly inconsistent group for much of this season. You just never truly knew what you would get from week to week. However, the Jayhawks and top star Darryn Peterson (19.9 PPG when he is on the court) got hot at the midway point of the season and reeled off eight straight Ws, half against ranked teams.
However, they have gotten back to their inconsistent ways over the last few weeks, splitting their last eight.
11. Illinois (LW: 14)
Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a force in the Big Ten and a consistent tournament participant. A key reason why they are in our updated college basketball rankings is freshman guard Keaton Wagler. The breakout star leads the Fighting Illini in scoring (17.9) and assists (4.3).
Illinois’ rise into a top team in the conference came after a 12-game win streak that included Ws over three ranked rivals. Unfortunately, they have cooled off in recent weeks, splitting their last eight games.
10. Michigan State (LW: 13)
Legendary coach Tom Izzo has another good Michigan State team on his hands in 2026. This year’s group has four players averaging 10 or more points and is led by star guard Jeremy Fears Jr. There is no better proof of their top 25 worthiness than owning wins over five ranked teams this season.
If they are focused and playing up to potential, Michigan State can make noise in March Madness.
9. Gonzaga (LW: 8)
Mark Few’s Gonzaga squad heads into Selection Sunday with an impressive 30-3 record because of what their veteran front court of Braden Huff and Graham Ike gives them each night. The duo is averaging close to 40 points and 15 boards a game for the Bulldogs this season.
Following a bad loss to Michigan in November, Gonzaga caught fire and reeled off 15 straight wins. While they’ve suffered a pair of surprise setbacks to Portland and Saint Mary’s in recent weeks, the WCC Champs are still playing well ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
8. Virginia (LW: 10)
Head coach Ryan Odom had a rough go of it in his first year overseeing Virginia. However, year two has been far better due to the strong play of Belgian big man Thijs de Ridder. The freshman forward leads in points (15.9) and rebounds (6.3) for the 28-4 team.
The only thing that has stopped the Cavaliers from closing in on the top 10 is few wins against ranked schools. Nevertheless, they head into Selection Sunday with a good bit of momentum after going 13-1 to finish the regular season.
7. Iowa State (LW: 7)
In his final season at Iowa State, Joshua Jefferson is creating serious NBA Draft buzz by being among the team leaders in points, rebounds, and assists. But the Cyclones have also gotten strong seasons from guard Tamin Lipsey and top scorer Milan Momcilovic (17.1).
They are 27-6 ahead of Selection Sunday due to those three and a formidable defense that is giving up 65.0 points a night. While they hit a slump recently, they have started to heat up again. Scoring three-straight wins.
6. UConn (LW: 4)
It’s another season in college basketball, and UConn is once again among the elite programs in the country. Although they took a step back last season, they retooled in the summer by adding stud recruit Braylon Mullins and are back to being a title contender in 2026.
Senior big man Tarris Reed Jr. (13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds) and junior guard Solo Ball (13.9 PPG) lead the way for a team that is not just a group to respect on offense, but is a handful on defense (65.3 opponents PPG). However, recent surprising losses to Creighton and Marquette have cast doubt on the Huskies’ championship potential.
5. Florida (LW: 6)
The first couple of months of the season for defending champs Florida were rough as they lost four of their first nine games. However, after back-to-back defeats to Duke and UConn, the Gators have played like a team ready for another deep run in March. Since Dec. 13, they are 20-2 and have Ws over six ranked schools.
Juniors Alex Condon (14.8 PPG) and Thomas Haugh (17.2 PPG) have led the way during their resurgence. However, Rueben Chinyelu has been the X-factor because the center is having a breakout season. Posting 11.4 points and 11.7 rebounds a night.
4. Houston (LW: 5)
Kelvin Sampson’s Houston squad is again among the top teams in the nation. Senior Emanuel Sharp (15.8 PPG) has been as important as ever, but if they win the program’s first national championship this month, it will be because of freshman Kingston Flemings (16.5 points and 5.4 assists a night), who is emerging as a potential top-five pick in June.
Beyond Sharp and Flemings, the Cougars own a 26-5 record due to an elite defense that is limiting opponents to just 62.7 points a night — third-best in the nation. After a three-game losing skid at the end of February, they’ve bounced back with a quartet of victories.
3. Michigan (LW: 3)
After 31 games, Michigan has shown that head coach Dusty May has a team that can win the program’s first championship in close to 40 years this month. Former UAB star Yaxel Lendeborg (14.7 PPG and 7.2 RPG) leads a dominant front court that has the Wolverines among the 10 best scoring teams in the country (88.4 PPG).
Their rise to elite status in 2026 features wins over seven ranked teams, including decisive victories against Illinois and Michigan State in two of their last three.
2. Arizona (LW: 2)
Arizona has been impressive throughout the 2025-26 regular season. Led by fantastic play from freshman Brayden Burries (16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds) and stud NBA prospect Koa Peat (13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds), the Wildcats have posted wins over 10 top-25 teams.
Their performance this season has been led by an offense averaging 86.7 PPG (14th-best in the nation). After a pair of tough losses to Kansas and Texas Tech in February, Arizona roared back with six straight Ws, with four against ranked teams.
1. Duke (LW: 1)
Duke had a vintage Blue Devils regular season because of the outstanding play of big man Cameron Boozer. The freshman, who stepped in to replace Cooper Flagg, leads the team in points (22.7) — which is also seventh best in the nation — rebounds (10.2) and assists (4.1).
Beyond the superb play of Boozer, Duke is also getting big minutes from sophomores Isaiah Evans (14.5 PPG) and Patrick Ngongba II (10.7 PPG and 6.0 RPG). The trio and the team’s elite defense (62.5 PPG) are why Duke is 29-2 and will be the top seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
