Ohio State women’s basketball previews senior redshirt sophomore Seini Henry, who shifts from forward to guard for the 2026‑27 season. After a limited sophomore year (2.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and a summer stint in Tonga’s undefeated 3×3 Pacific Nations League, Henry returns at 6 feet tall with improved shooting and defensive grit. The Buckeyes, featuring five bigs, need depth at guard, making Henry a potential wild‑card off the bench. Expect her to showcase speed, deep three‑point shots, and McGuff‑style hustle during the non‑conference slate, possibly earning early-season minutes.
The 2026‑27 women’s college basketball season kicks off with 24 five‑star freshmen, but five stand out. USC’s Saniyah Hall joins fellow No. 1 recruits JuJu Watkins and Jazzy Davidson, debuting with 23 points in a preseason scrimmage and promising to form a potent “Big 3” under coach Lindsey Gottlieb. South Carolina’s 6‑foot‑3 dunking forward Oliviyah Edwards, a de‑committed Tennessee recruit, arrives alongside senior stars Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins, offering a potential modern‑Alyssa Thomas blend in Dawn Staley’s defense‑first system. UNC’s Kate Harpring is highlighted as a guaranteed scorer, while two additional high‑profile newcomers round out the list. Their impacts will shape each program’s chase for the 2027 national title.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Athletics is excited to announce its group ticket opportunities for the 2026-27 Mountaineer men's and women's basketball seasons, with themed group nights at Hope Coliseum throughout the year.
Ahead of the 2026‑27 season, Mountain West Connection releases its final preseason power rankings for the newly‑minted Pac‑12. Gonzaga tops the list, fueled by Braden Huff and transfer Massamba Diop, and opens the season at No. 15 in the AP Top‑25. San Diego State lands at No. 2, followed by Utah State, Colorado State, Boise State, Oregon State, Texas State, Washington State, and Fresno State at the bottom. The poll notes that only Gonzaga received AP top‑25 votes, while the rest earned none. Fans are invited to discuss the rankings in the comments.
By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter LSU guard Skyy Clark remains eligible to play in the Tigers’ regular season opener on Tuesday and onward after the Kentucky Court of Appeals denied the NCAA’s request [...]
The post LSU Basketball: NCAA’s Emergency Stay Denied, Keeping Tigers’ Talented Guard Skyy Clark Eligible appeared first on TigerRag.com .
The Big 12 Conference will have a new Commissioner in 2027.
Auburn's Narcisse Ngoy and Bukky Oboye could transform the Tigers' interior defense as Steven Pearl prepares for the 2026-27 college basketball season.
As the 2026‑27 season looms, UNC basketball faces unprecedented uncertainty with new head coach Michael Malone and a dramatically reshaped roster. The blog ponders how Malone’s NBA‑style offense—shaped by his Denver Nuggets tenure with a Nikola Jokić‑like centerpiece—will translate to college play, and whether his limited college experience (last at Manhattan in 2001) can adapt to the ACC’s demands. It also examines the support staff, including former Tar Heel Sean May and seasoned assistants, and raises questions about the integration of international talent. The piece offers four key questions to gauge the Heels’ ceiling and floor before the first game.
Sophomore guard Nigel James (#0) emerges as Marquette’s new focal point for the 2026-27 season. After stepping in for an injured Sean Jones as a freshman, James posted 17.3 points, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, earned Big East Freshman of the Year, and helped the Golden Eagles to a 12-20 record. Entering his sophomore year, he is a unanimous preseason All-Big East First Team selection and the primary reason Marquette is projected to finish fourth in the conference. Expect James to lead the team and vie for another All-Big East First Team honor, though any shortfall could be seen as a disappointment.
IU basketball legend Isiah Thomas serves as the guest picker for ESPN’s College GameDay live from Bloomington on Saturday, Oct. 30. Thomas will join the regular hosts to select winners of the day’s top college football matchups. The former Hoosiers point guard boasts an NCAA title (1981), two NBA championships (1989, 1990) and a Hall of Fame career, including a 13.9 assists‑per‑game NBA record. The broadcast runs from 9 a.m. to Noon ET at Showalter Fountain, following Kyle Schwarber’s guest picker stint two years ago.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas previews the 2026‑27 college basketball season, praising Duke as the nation’s most talented squad and noting their depth, size and versatile guards after impressive exhibition wins over Kansas and Tennessee. He ranks Florida No. 1 in the preseason AP and Coaches polls, highlighting their elite frontcourt and veteran core, and points to the Miami‑Florida opener as a key Week 1 matchup. Bilas also stresses the importance of a strong start for Kentucky, lauds freshmen like Caleb Holt (Arizona) and Tyran Stokes (Kansas), and offers insights on Arizona’s roster outlook. The interview, edited for clarity, airs as Bilas calls Duke’s season on Monday against Army.
Missouri enters the 2026-27 season with freshman Jason Crowe Jr. and returning All-SEC standout Mark Mitchell, who delivered a rare statistical achievement last season.
The final installment of the ACC roster preview breaks down Virginia, SMU, and Stanford for the 2025‑26 season. Virginia (30‑6, 2nd in the league) leans on All‑ACC freshman Thijs de Ridder (15.6 PPG) and adds transfers Kalu Anya and Jurian Dixon. SMU (20‑14) hopes transfer guard Rowan Brumbaugh can replicate his 19.2 PPG, 45% shooting and 1.5 steals per game from Tulane. Stanford (20‑13) turns to 5‑year Ivy League forward Nick Townsend, who posted 16 PPG and 7 rebounds at Yale and earned conference Player of the Year. Each team’s key returners, departures, and incoming talent are outlined, giving a clear picture of their prospects before the season tip‑off.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Mountaineer Ticket Office in conjunction with the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) is launching a new program to help season ticket holders put their extra tickets in the hands of fellow Mountaineers as part of Gold Rush Returns ticket program. This program will be exclusive to lower-level men's basketball (Courtside, padded seats, and 100-level) and baseball season tickets holders.
College basketball’s long-awaited preseason AP poll was released on Monday, Oct. 19. After an eventful offseason with the transfer portal and the NCAA implementing the new “five in five” rule, there are plenty of teams loaded with talent going into the 2026-27 college basketball season. However, with only 25 spots, there were bound to be […]
The post Three College Basketball Teams the AP Poll Got Wrong appeared first on The Lead .
TIGER RAG NEWS SERVICES LSU’s ZaKiyah Johnson has been named to the Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watchlist by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as one of the Top 20 power forwards across the country [...]
The post LSU’s ZaKiyah Johnson Makes Watch List for Katrina McClain Award appeared first on TigerRag.com .
Lilly Becomes First Corporate Brand Featured on the Basketball Courts of Purdue and Indiana, Connecting with Two of College Basketball's Most Passionate Fan Bases
Sportsnaut reveals the opening‑day Top 25 men’s college basketball rankings for the 2026‑27 season. Michigan’s portal moves turn them into a contender, while UCLA (24‑12 last year) lands at No. 25 despite losing top scorer Tyler Bilodeau, and BYU slips to No. 24 after the departure of AJ Dybantsa. Kentucky (No. 23) banks on transfer Milan Momcilovic after a disappointing 22‑win season, Vanderbilt (No. 22) returns guard Tyler Tanner amid POTY buzz, and USC (No. 21) hopes Rodney Rice can lead a stronger Trojans squad. Alabama (No. 20) looks to senior Aden Holloway to replace NBA‑bound Labaron Philon Jr., and Texas Tech continues its rise under Grant McCasland. The list previews which programs are poised for breakout years as NIL deals reshape the landscape.
The preview covers Nevada’s upcoming test at UCLA, with Chris Murray breaking down the Wolf Pack’s position battles, while also ranking the Mountain West’s top ten players. It outlines what New Mexico must achieve to reach the College Football Playoff and previews Colorado State’s bowl‑lurking game against Utah State. Gonzaga, now in the Pac‑12, is pegged as the conference favorite after a 76-72 loss to Arkansas, and a must‑watch matchup between Washington State and San Diego State is highlighted. The article bundles these storylines to gauge early‑season momentum across football and basketball.
Indiana guard Darren Harris, a former Duke transfer and 4‑star 2024 recruit, steps into the Hoosiers’ starting shooting‑guard role as the team’s primary 3‑point threat for the 2026‑27 season. After limited minutes at Duke, Harris aims to prove his deep‑range accuracy and expand his game beyond shooting, including rebounding and playmaking, under coach Darian DeVries. The Hoosiers, fresh off a 96‑68 preseason win over Butler, rely on Harris to fill the void left by last year’s prolific scorer Lamar Wilkerson.
The season‑opening showdown between Villanova (0‑0) and Notre Dame (0‑0) kicks off Sunday, Nov. 1 at 9:30 AM EST in Rome’s Palazzo dello Sport. Villanova enters as a 7.5‑point favorite, bolstered by Devin Royal’s 22 ppg and Tyler Perkins’ 19.3 ppg in three exhibitions, though key players Kwame Evans Jr. and Matt Hodge remain sidelined. Notre Dame, coached by Micah Shrewsberry in his fourth year, struggles with a 41‑56 record and a 16th‑place ACC projection. Ethan Roberts (11 points vs. Dayton) and senior center Logan Duncomb may lead a squad that posted a 75‑65 loss to Dayton and a 71‑63 win over DePaul in exhibition play. Both teams aim to start strong at the Eternal City Tip‑Off, televised on FOX.
IU Athletics and Purdue Athletics have secured a joint court branding deal with Eli Lilly, placing the pharmaceutical giant’s logo on the basketball floor at Indiana’s Assembly Hall and also on the surface at Purdue’s Mackey Arena. The partnership was announced on Oct. 30, 2026, highlighting a collaborative sponsorship that spans both rival schools.
Eli Lilly becomes the first corporate brand to appear on the basketball courts of Indiana University’s Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and Purdue’s Mackey Arena. Announced on Oct. 30, 2026, the multiyear partnership places the Lilly logo on Branch McCracken Court and Keady Court, linking the Indianapolis‑based drugmaker with two of the nation’s most storied programs. The deal aims to boost fan engagement, promote career pathways in Indiana and highlight Lilly’s expanding manufacturing campus in Lebanon, while reinforcing ties between the universities and the state’s leading industry partner.
Five three-pointers from Mikaylah Williams gave LSU a perimeter threat Loyola could not solve. But she was not the only problem. ZaKiyah Johnson added another scoring punch, and the two of them turned the Tigers’ final preseason exhibition into a statement. Loyola had no answer for either. The No. 9 Tigers defeated Loyola of New […]
The post Mikaylah Williams Headlines Alongside Zakiyah Johnson as LSU Crushes Loyola in 2nd Preseason Exhibition Game appeared first on EssentiallySports .
The preview of Clemson men's basketball highlights a season of uncertainty and opportunity. The Tigers lose 2.5 of their key post players, including RJ Godfrey (now at Arizona) and injured forward Carter Welling, who tore his ACL in the ACC tournament and will miss non‑conference play. Leading three‑point shooters Jestin Porter and Butta Johnson also depart, and Zach Foster suffers another ACL tear. Returning star Ace Buckner, who shot 41.7% from three in ACC play and scored 21 points in the final exhibition, becomes the focal point, with Double‑digit scoring expected. Coach Brownell recovers Dillon Hunter for depth, while bench players Chase Thompson and Dallas Thomas aim to step up. The article promises game previews, recaps, and analysis throughout the 2026 season.