The Duke gets a major preseason boost as the college basketball rankings reveal surprising contenders first appeared in The News. Add the Toys News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The college basketball season is approaching, and one of the sport’s most respected statistical models has already identified his favorite.
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Leader season 2026-27 numbers No. 1 in the preseason KenPom ratings. The Blue Devils lead a talented group of contenders that includes Florida, Houston, Illinois and Arizona.
Those five programs occupy the top five positions in the initial ratings released on November 2 before the opening of the regular season.
However, there are also several interesting developments that are shaping up to be a national championship conference. Some traditional powers seem to have been put into effect at a different time. Others enter with considerably more problems than their reputations suggest.
Leader’s impressive preseason top five leads
The leader’s position in No. 1 shows the expected pattern for another season under Jon Scheyer entering the Blue Devils. Florida follows at No. 2, giving the SEC one of the nation’s strongest projected teams. Houston checks in at No. 3, followed by Illinois and Arizona.
Iowa State ranks sixth, Michigan State seventh, Kansas eighth, Alabama ninth and Texas tenth.
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The distribution of several contributions highlights the importance of power.
Big 12 places Houston, Arizona, Iowa State and Kansas among the top eight. The SEC has Florida, Alabama and Texas in the top ten, with several additional programs close behind.
The ratings are based on the project team’s effectiveness rather than simply ranking the most popular programs. That distinction makes it particularly useful when evaluating teams with significant roster turnover.
Gonzaga and Purdue create an intriguing opening-night matchup
One of the most interesting early-season NCAA games will feature Gonzaga and Purdue. The party will be held in Las Vegas on November 2.
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Gonzaga opens at No. 14 in KenPom, while Purdue is ranked No. 24. The Bulldogs went 31-4 last season and look to enter the new campaign with another offense to rank as the nation’s most efficient.
Gonzaga is ranked seventh nationally in the draft. Purdue, meanwhile, has an opportunity to make an immediate statement against a highly regarded opponent.
The matchup gives college basketball fans an early experience between two programs with national recognition.
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UConn and Kentucky have different expectations
UConn enters the preseason ranked No. 11 after reaching the national championship game last season. The Huskies stand out as one of the nation’s strongest defensive teams, ranking sixth in defensive efficiency.
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Kentucky opens at No. 26, outside of KenPom’s top 25. That position creates an interesting challenge for a program whose fan base expects to compete nationally every season.
Of course, preseason ratings are projections rather than guarantees. Transfers, injuries, player development and coaching adjustments will change the landscape over time.
But the initial numbers provide a starting point. The leader enters as a favorite statistic. The question is whether the Blue Devils can maintain this position once the games begin.