We’re just a few weeks into the 2025-26 college basketball season, and while some contenders have gotten off to great starts, there are some teams that have underachieved.
The good news is that there are still 25-plus games for these teams to get it together. Still, there are some warning signs that are best not ignored.
Here are 10 teams with glaring warning signs:
1. Loyola Chicago Ramblers
Record: 1-4
The first sign that something was amiss for the Ramblers was needing a buzzer-beating three-pointer to get past Cleveland State to open the season. It’s only gotten worse from there, having lost four straight games since, including a home defeat to Mercyhurst of the NEC. The defense, which was supposed to be a strength, has already allowed 80-plus points three times, including 95 in a loss to Wichita State. If they don’t improve on that end, Loyola could end up in the bottom tier of the Atlantic 10.
2. Memphis Tigers
Record: 1-3
To its credit, Memphis was highly competitive against No. 1 Purdue, leading with around six minutes to go in a near-upset. But the Tigers are still 1-3 to start the year, including a bad home loss to UNLV. Outside of Kansas State transfer Dug McDaniel, the roster is limited, with former five-star prospect and 7-foot junior forward Aaron Bradshaw closer to the end of the rotation than he is to being a breakout candidate. For a team in a one-bid league and still with postseason aspirations, it’s going to be an uphill climb for Memphis to get the marquee nonconference wins needed to contend.
3. Marquette Golden Eagles
Record: 3-3
The good news for Marquette is that 6-foot-4 senior guard Chase Ross (19.8 points and 3.8 assists per game) is in the early stages of a breakout campaign as the new lead guard. And that’s why it’s such a worrying sign that the Eagles haven’t been very good yet. They lost all three contests against competitive opponents, with no one else averaging more than 10 points a game. Unless someone other than Ross steps up to provide consistent production, the decision to eschew the transfer portal could be the team’s undoing this season.
4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: 4-1
The Yellow Jackets were close to an embarrassing opening night loss to Maryland Eastern Shore, needing overtime to win, 56-52. The offense has been a struggle, with all four key rotation guards currently shooting below 38 percent from the field. Six-foot-10 freshman forward Mouhamed Sylla (11.8 points and 11 rebounds per game) has been a nice bright spot, but until the perimeter players can be more efficient, no game will be easy for Georgia Tech.
5. Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 3-2
Kentucky was thoroughly outplayed in its two losses (Michigan State and Louisville), and coach Mark Pope’s postgame comments showed even more signs of concern regarding team chemistry and overall effort. This is still a team with plenty of talent and two starters, 6-foot-2 junior guard Jaland Lowe and 6-foot-11 sophomore center Jayden Quaintance, who are currently dealing with respective shoulder and ACL-related injuries. We’ll have to wait to see how Kentucky looks once fully equipped, but it’s fair to wonder if this cast of Wildcats will ever play to their ceiling.
6. Boise State Broncos
Record: 4-1
A case can be made that the entire Mountain West should’ve been included on this list, but there’s no bigger warning sign for a team than losing to a school outside of D-I, which the Broncos did at the hands of Hawaii Pacific on opening night. While Boise State has won its next four games, two of them (Montana State and Wichita State) were low-scoring close calls they could’ve lost as well. We’ll know next week how good the Broncos are, when they take on high-major competition in the Maui Invitational.
7. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 2-2
Having 5-foot-10 junior guard Josh Hubbard (22.5 points per game) will allow Mississippi State to be competitive in most games. However, the rebuilt supporting cast has struggled, with no one else scoring more than 11 points per game. The bigger issue for the Bulldogs is their defense, which allowed 96 points to Iowa State and 98 to Kansas State in blowout losses. If the team defense doesn’t get better, there’s nothing even Hubbard can do to win games in SEC play.
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8. Providence Friars
Record: 3-2
The Friars are one of the top scoring teams in the nation, putting up more than 96 points per game with six double-digit scorers. The issue has been on the defensive end, giving up at least 81 points in four of five contests, including 97 points allowed in regulation in a loss to Colorado.
9. Michigan Wolverines
Record: 4-0
Yes, the top-10 Wolverines are unbeaten, but it’s hard to overlook the two close calls they had against Wake Forest and TCU, two games they could’ve lost. The frontcourt, led by 6-foot-9 senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg, has been as good as advertised. Yet the backcourt, led by UNC transfer and 6-foot-1 junior point guard Elliot Cadeau, has had its ups and downs. For Michigan, this is more about warning signs of them being a Final Four contender, rather than just simply making the NCAA Tournament.
10. Texas A&M Aggies
Record: 3-2
To be entirely fair to the Aggies, they’re still without Indiana transfer and 6-foot-7 junior forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who is recovering from a foot injury. But losses to UCF and Oklahoma State, both by double-digits, raise early alarms. Between the early struggles of key transfer and 6-foot-2 senior guard Pop Isaacs (8.6 points per game on 34-percent field goal shooting) and the overall lack of defense, the Aggies have plenty of work to do, even once fully healthy.
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