The 2025-26 school basketball season is buzzing alongside. Because the calendar yr prepares to show to 2026, groups are wrapping up their non-conference schedules and can enter the guts of league motion.
Because the common season is now about one-third over, it is time to have a look at 5 groups which have confirmed nice surprises, together with 5 groups which have been disappointing (in alphabetical order).
High 5 studs and duds in males’s school basketball
Largest surprises
Georgia Bulldogs (10-1, No. 25 in the Associated Press Top 25): Suffice it to say that Georgia’s offense is buzzing alongside properly. The Bulldogs are averaging 98.3 factors per recreation, which is tops in the country. They’ve defeated power-conference groups comparable to Georgia Tech, Xavier, Florida State and Cincinnati. Georgia’s solely setback was a three-point loss to Clemson.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: (11-0, No. 15 within the Related Press High 25): The Cornhuskers are off to their finest begin in program historical past. They personal wins over Oklahoma, Kansas State, Creighton, Wisconsin and, most just lately, then-No. 13 Illinois on the street. Nebraska is the one power-conference college that has by no means notched an NCAA Event victory. That is going to alter in 2026.
Seton Hall Pirates (10-1): The Pirates have been picked to complete final within the Massive East Convention, per that league’s preseason ballot. Seton Corridor has a transfer-laden roster, and it appears to be working. The Pirates’ solely blemish has been a two-point loss to Southern California, whereas Seton Corridor has triumphed over foes comparable to then-No. 23 N.C. State, Washington State, Kansas State and Rutgers. The Pirates personal a top-10 scoring protection.
Vanderbilt Commodores (11-0, No. 13 within the Related Press High 25): A lot because the Commodores have been a pleasing shock in soccer this season, so, too, has the boys’s basketball group. Vanderbilt boasts a high-flying offense averaging 93.7 factors per contest. The Commodores, earlier this week, knocked off in-state rival Memphis on the street.
Virginia Cavaliers (9-1, tied for No. 23 within the Related Press High 25): Blue-blood packages Duke and North Carolina garner a variety of the eye within the Atlantic Coast Convention, however the Cavaliers are rolling. A seven-point loss to Butler is UVA’s solely setback, whereas the Cavs have dispatched Northwestern, Texas and Dayton — and common a strong 87.1 factors per recreation.
Largest disappointments
Creighton Bluejays (6-5): The Bluejays have been No. 23 within the preseason Associated Press Top 25 and forecast to complete at No. 3 within the Massive East. Creighton, although, has struggled to this point. Granted, a number of of its losses have been to ranked foes, however the Bluejays have additionally fallen to Baylor and Kansas State.
Florida Gators (7-4, tied for No. 23 within the Related Press High 25): It might appear harsh to place the defending nationwide champs right here, given the Gators are nationally ranked. Florida has performed a brutal non-conference docket. Falling to Arizona, Duke and UConn is comprehensible, however the Gators dropping by 4 factors to TCU was a head-scratcher.
Kentucky Wildcats (7-4): Kentucky hasn’t lived as much as its preseason hype. The Wildcats, No. 9 within the preseason AP High 25, secured a latest win over Indiana, however Kentucky has didn’t defeat any ranked opponent it has confronted.
Marquette Golden Eagles (5-7): The Golden Eagles, projected at No. 5 within the Massive East, have been terrible in opposition to power-conference foes. Marquette’s finest win in 2025-26 is in opposition to Valparaiso. What else is there to say?
Oregon Ducks (6-5): The Geese, No. 5 within the Massive Ten Convention preseason ballot, had suffered by a five-game dropping streak earlier than uninspiring wins over UC Davis and Portland. Whereas Oregon has been lackluster, it will get a shot at No. 7 Gonzaga on Sunday.
