Never-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 Update: A New Big East Champion?

Here, then, is the (correct) order of the Top 25 teams in my Never-Too-Early Preseason Top-25 rankings. The players in bold represent changes that have been made since my last rankings.

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1. Florida

Last week: 1

Losing: Xaivian Lee, Micah Handlogten, Olivier Rioux

Retaining: Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar, Isaiah Brown, C.J. Ingram, Alex Lloyd, Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu

Incoming (144): Jones Lay (NA), Denzel Aberdeen (Kentucky), Arturas Butajevas (Lithuania), Domen Petrovic (Slovenia)

When my first rankings came out, I had the Gators near the bottom based on the assumption that Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu would leave for the draft. All three are returning. (Thank you NIL!) That means Florida will have six of the top seven scorers back from a team that won the SEC by three games and earned a No. 1 seed to the NCAA Tournament. Florida still has one significant question regarding the status of Aberdeen, who has appealed to the NCAA for a waiver to play next season. If he is denied, I will consider moving the Gators down a spot or two, but either way Todd Golden will once again have a roster that is capable of winning a national championship.

2. Duke

Last week: 2

Losing: Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Maliq Brown, Nikolas Khamenia, Darren Harris

Retaining: Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr, Patrick Ngongba, Sebastian Wilkins

Incoming (3): Cameron Williams (3), Bryson Howard (15), Maxime Meyer (84), Deron Rippey, Jr. (10), John Blackwell (Wisconsin), Drew Scharnowski (Belmont), Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje (Spain), Jacob Theodosiou (Loyola, Md.)

There was a wee bit of chatter that Evans might come back to school, but he stayed in the draft as expected. Blackwell’s decision to withdraw from the draft was not a surprise. Ngongba’s decision to turn down a chance to be a first-round pick was an enormous boost. The Blue Devils will have another five-star freshman next season named Cameron who has a chance to be an All-American. Jon Scheyer also went the international route with Boumtje-Boumtje, a dynamic 7-foot center who plays on a development team for FC Barcelona, averaging 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23 minutes. He is only 16, which means he can’t declare for the NBA Draft for another two years.

3. Michigan

Last week: 3

Losing: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, Roddy Gayle, Nimari Burnett, Will Tschetter

Retaining: Elliot Cadeau, L.J. Cason, Trey McKenney

Incoming (4): Brandon McCoy (14), Quinn Costello (44), Joseph Hartman (95), Malachi Brown (169), Marcus Moller (Spain), Lincoln Cosby (45), J.P. Estrella (Tennessee), Jalen Reed (LSU), Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati)

Johnson and Maya were projected from the beginning to stay in the draft, so their decisions did not change the Wolverines’ assessment. Cadeau and McKenney also made the expected moves weeks ago and announced they are returning to Ann Arbor. Dusty May has had enormous success signing big men out of the transfer portal, and he got another great one in Thiam, a 7-foot-2 junior center from Senegal who averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Bearcats. He and Estrella will give the Wolverines yet another high-caliber tandem in the frontcourt.

4. Arizona

Last week: 4

Losing: Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Anthony Dell’Orso, Dwayne Aristode

Retaining: Ivan Kharchenkov, Sid Gueye, Bryce James, Montiejus Krivas

Incoming: (26): Caleb Holt (4), Cameron Holmes (29), Derek Dixon (North Carolina), J.J. Mandaquit (Washington), Endurance Aiyamenkhue (The Netherlands), Ugnius Jarusevicius (Nebraska), Evan Otten (Idaho State)

If Peat had withdrawn from the draft, the Wildcats might have moved up to No. 1, but he decided in the final hours to stay. Krivas’ decision to bypass the draft was the real game changer for Arizona. Tommy Lloyd has another big-time freshman class on the way. Dixon was also a terrific pickup after showing much promise as a freshman in Chapel Hill.

5. Michigan State

Last week: 5

Losing: Jaxon Kohler, Trey Fort, Carson Cooper, Denham Wojcik, Divine Ugochukwu

Retaining: Jeremy Fears, Kur Teng, Coen Carr, Cam Ward, Jordan Scott, Jesse McCulloch, Kaleb Glenn

Incoming (5): Ethan Taylor (28), Jasiah Jervis (33), Carlos Medlock Jr. (46), Julius Avent (86), Anton Bonke (Charlotte)

When Fears decided to return as projected, he put the Spartans in position for another run at a Big Ten title. He could be the preseason National Player of the Year. Tom Izzo’s only incoming transfer is Bonke, a 7-foot-2 junior center from the South Pacific island of Vanuatu who averaged 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season for the 49ers. Otherwise, continuity will once again be the major feature for this program.

6. Illinois

Last week: 6

Losing: Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Mihailo Petrovic, Toni Bilic, Ty Rodgers, Brandon Lee

Retaining: Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis, David Mirkovic

Incoming (8): Quentin Coleman (34), Lucas Morillo (59), Ethan Brown (164), Landon Davis (243), Zavier Zens (210), Stefan Vaaks (Providence)

It was a close call, but Stojakovic decided at the last minute to return to Illinois. He had always been projected to return, so it didn’t impact the Illini’s ranking. Brad Underwood will bring back five of the top eight scorers from his Final Four squad. Vaaks could be an All-Big Ten guard after a terrific freshman season at Providence.

7. Louisville

Last week: 7

Losing: Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, Kasean Pryor, J’Vonne Hadley, Ally Khalifa, Isaac McKneely, Kobe Rodgers, Sananda Fru, Khani Rooths, Vangelis Zougris

Retaining: Adrian Wooley

Incoming: Obinna Ekezie Jr. (4), Boyuan Zhang (49), Isaac Ellis (NA), London Johnson (NBA G League), Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstead (Oregon), Karter Knox (Arkansas), Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa), De’Shayne Montgomery (Dayton), Gabe Dynes (USC)

Once again, Pat Kelsey dipped into a very deep NIL bag and put together a promising roster. The Cardinals’ rank here will improve if Kelsey can add Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, who withdrew from the draft on deadline day. The biggest piece Kelsey has added so far is Bidunga, who withdrew from the draft as projected. Ekezie was another big-time late pickup. He is an uber-talented 7-foot center who was ranked No. 4 in the 247Sports Composite for the Class of 2027. He reclassified into the Class of 2026. In addition, Knox was a two-year starter at Arkansas and Folgueris is a 6-foot-9 senior forward who was one of the stars of Iowa’s run to the Elite Eight.

8. Houston

Last week: 15

Losing: Kingston Flemings, Milos Uzan, Chris Cenac Jr., Emanuel Sharp, Isiah Harwell, Ramon Walker, Kalifa Sakho

Retaining: Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller, Chase McCarty, Cedric Lath, Bryce Jackson, Kordel Jefferson

Incoming: Arafan Diane (16), Ikenna Alozie (55), Dedan Thomas (LSU), Delrecco Gillespie (Kent State), Corey Hadnot II (Fort Wayne), Braden East (Lamar)

The Cougars moved up seven spots due to their No. 3 ranking in BartTorvik’s preseason projections. Tugler’s decision to return instead of going into the NBA Draft was huge. He and Diane will make for an imposing tandem in the paint. Thomas is going to need to carry a heavy load to offset the losses of Uzan, Flemings and Sharp. Given Kelvin Sampson’s track record on player development, it’s safe to expect the other returnees will take significant steps forward.

9. Tennessee

Last week: 8

Losing: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Nate Ament, Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips, Jaylen Carey, J.P. Estrella, Bishop Boswell, Amari Evans

Retaining: DeWayne Brown, Ethan Burg, Troy Henderson

Incoming (15): Chris Washington (49), Ralph Scott (54), Manny Green (100), Marquis Clark (212), Tyler Lundblade (Belmont), Dai Dai Ames (Cal), Miles Rubin (Loyola Chicago), Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame), Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU), Braedan Lue (Kennesaw State), Juke Harris (Wake Forest), Christian Fermin (VCU)

Rick Barnes’ impressive portal haul is headlined by Harris, who averaged 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists for the Demon Deacons. Lue is a 6-foot-8 junior forward who averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists, and Lundblade is one of the nation’s best three-point shooters. This is shaping up to be one of the best offensive teams Barnes has coached.

10. UConn

Last week: 9

Losing: Tarris Reed, Alex Karaban, Malachi Smith, Eric Reibe, Jacob Furphy, Jaylin Stewart, Solo Ball

Retaining: Silas Demary, Jayden Ross, Jacob Ross, Braylon Mullins

Incoming: Colben Landrew (22), Junior County (36), Najai Hines (Seton Hall), Nik Khamenia (Duke), Oskar Giltay (Stanford), Nils Machowski (Wofford), Jaye Nash (Jacksonville State), Isaiah Shaw (Northern Arizona)

The best thing that happened for UConn this spring was Mullins’ decision to forego the NBA Draft. He and Demary will form one of the nation’s top backcourt tandems. Khamenia was also a huge addition from Duke. Nash and Machowski will give UConn some perimeter depth in the wake of Ball’s announcement that he is taking a medical redshirt next season following wrist surgery.

11. St. John’s

Last week: NR

Losing: Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, Oziyah Sellers, Dillon Mitchell, Sadiku Ibine Ayo, Joson Sanon, Dylan Darling, Kelvin Odih, Lefteris Liotopoulos

Retaining: Ian Jackson, Ruben Prey, Casper Pohto, Imran Wojijanovic, Handje Tamba

Incoming (21): Quinn Ellis (England), Dordije Jovanovic (Montenegro), Donnie Freeman (Syracuse), Lazar Stojkovic (Serbia), Avery Brown (Columbia), Babacar Sane (Senegal), Kyle Cuff (Mercer), Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor)

Rick Pitino has been steadily adding players the last few weeks, primarily from the international ranks, but he landed a big one when Yessoufou withdrew from the draft and committed to St. John’s. Yessoufou had a chance to play his way into the first round following an outstanding freshman season at Baylor, where he averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Freeman was the biggest domestic pickup. The 6-foot-9 junior forward averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds during his two seasons as a starter at Syracuse. Sane is a 6-foot-7 forward who has spent time in the NBA G League and most recently played professionally in Germany. He will be 23 years old when the season begins. Ellis is a point guard who played professionally in England and Jovanovic is a 6-foot-7 forward who is 22 years old.

12. Gonzaga

Last week: 10

Losing: Graham Ike, Tyon Grant-Foster, Jalen Warley, Adam Miller, Steele Venters, Emmanuel Innocenti, Braeden Smith

Retaining: Braden Huff, Davis Fogle, Mario Saint-Supery, Parker Jefferson

Incoming (21): Luca Foster (39), Sam Funches (89), Isiah Harwell (Houston), Massamba Diop (Arizona State), Izan Almansa (Spain)

Gonzaga got some unexpectedly bad news when Jack Kayil, a 6-foot-5 point guard from France, said he intends to remain in the NBA Draft. That aside, it has been a solid spring for Mark Few, beginning with the addition of Diop, a 7-foot-1 sophomore center from Senegal who averaged 13.6 points and 2.1 blocks in his freshman season. He will make a perfect complement to Huff, who needs to get back to health after missing the last three months of the season with a knee injury. Fogle is poised for a breakout sophomore season.

13. Iowa State

Last week: 11

Losing: Joshua Jefferson, Dominick Nelson, Tamin Lipsey, Nate Heise, Eric Mulder, Cade Kelderman, Milan Momcilovic, Mason Williams

Retaining: Killyan Toure, Blake Buchanan, Jamarion Batemon, Dominykas Pleta, Xzavion Mitchell

Incoming (20): Donovan Davis (38), Dorian Rinaldo-Komian (103), Jackson Kiss (106), Christian Wiggins (120), Yusef Gray Jr. (188), Taj Manning (Kansas State), Leon Bond (Northern Iowa), Jaquan Johnson (Bradley), Tre Singleton (Northwestern)

Momcilovic’s decision to withdraw from the draft was a surprise, but his price tag as a transfer will be way out of range for Iowa State. T.J. Otzelberger bagged five guys from the portal over the first weekend. He also landed a big-time high school recruit in Davis. The 6-foot-7 forward from Wisconsin chose the Cyclones over local schools Wisconsin and Marquette, among others.

14. Texas

Last week: 12

Losing: Dailyn Swain, Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark, Chendall Weaver, Lassina Traore, Nic Codie, Declan Duru, Cam Heide, Simeon Wilcher

Retaining: Matas Vokietaitis

Incoming (14): Austin Goosby (19), Bo Ogden (38), Joe Sterling (101), Isaiah Johnson (Colorado), David Punch (TCU), Amari Evans (Tennessee), Elyjah Freeman (Auburn), Mikey Lewis (Saint Mary’s), Mantas Laurencikas (Lithuania)

Swain was projected from the beginning to stay in the draft, so his decision did not impact the Longhorns’ ranking. Sean Miller has crushed it in the transfer portal. Punch has the potential to be an All-SEC forward after he averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Horned Frogs. He and Vokietaitis will comprise one of the top frontcourt tandems in the country. Lewis and Johnson are dynamic scorers who have proven themselves against top competition. Laurencikas, who played for AS Monaco Basket, a EuroLeague team in France, will provide backup at the point.

15. Virginia

Last week: 13

Losing: Malik Thomas, Jacari White, Dallin Hall, Ugonna Onyenso, Devin Tillis

Retaining: Thijs De Ridder, Chance Mallory, Sam Lewis, Johann Grunloh, Elijah Gertrude, Martin Carrere, Silas Barksdale

Incoming: Fabour Ibe (139), Jurian Dixon (UC Irvine), Christian Harmon (Arkansas State), Kalu Anya (Saint Louis)

The Cavs will return four of the top six scorers from the team that finished second in the ACC. Ryan Odom was quiet for a while on the transfer front, but he has now brought in three players who should all contribute. Ibe is a 7-foot-1 center from Maryland who also considered Tennessee, Alabama and Villanova. Dixon is a 6-foot-5 junior guard who averaged 15.7 points and 2.4 assists per game for the Anteaters.

16. Alabama

Last week: 18

Losing: Labaron Philon, Amari Allen, Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette, Noah Williamson, Taylor Bol Bowen, Jalil Bethea, Aiden Sherrell, Davion Hannah

Retaining: Aden Holloway, London Jemison, Keitenn Bristow, Collins Onyejiaka, Amari Allen

Incoming (12): Qayden Samuels (18), Jaxon Richardson (21), Tarris Bouie (40), Cole Cloer (NC State), Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State), Brandon Garrison (Kentucky), Drew Fielder (Boise State)

Allen has been projected as leaving for the draft, so his decision to return to Tuscaloosa for his sophomore season was a huge boost for the Crimson Tide. He was projected to be a late first-round pick. Nate Oats shored up his frontcourt with the addition of Fielder, a 6-foot-10 senior forward who averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Broncos last season. Garrison is a talented big man who should help offset the loss of Sherrell. The big question is Holloway, whose season ended early after he was arrested on drug charges but has made clear his intentions to return.

17. Arkansas

Last week: 14

Losing: Darius Acuff, Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile, Nick Pringle, Karter Knox, D.J. Wagner, Malique Ewin

Retaining: Billy Richmond, Isaiah Sealy

Incoming (1): Jordan Smith (2), J.J. Andrews (12), Abdou Toure (26), Miika Muurinen (55), Jeremiah Wilkinson (Georgia), Cooper Bowser (Furman)

The decisions of Thomas to stay in the draft and Richmond to return to school were projected from the beginning, so they did not impact the Razorbacks’ ranking. The late addition of Muurinen, a native of Finland who played at two different American high schools before heading overseas to play in Serbia, gave Arkansas the No. 1 recruiting class in the 247 Sports Composite. Wilkinson, who averaged 17.4 points for the Bulldogs as a sophomore, was another huge pickup, but Arkansas’ fortunes next season will depend heavily on whether Smith can live up to his considerable hype.

18. USC

Last week: 16

Losing: Chad Baker-Mazara, Ezra Ausar, Jaden Brownell, Kam Woods, Ryan Cornish, Terrance Williams, Jordan Marsh, Jerry Easter, Gabe Dynes

Retaining: Rodney Rice, Jacob Cofie, Alijah Arenas

Incoming (7): Christian Collins (9), Adonis Ratliff (17), Darius Ratliff (23), KJ Lewis (Georgetown), Eric Reibe (UConn), Jalen Cox (Colgate), Joshua Hughes (Evansville), Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (Hawaii), Jadis Jones (Lindenwood), Isaac Bruns (South Dakota)

Eric Musselman’s third team at USC should be his best. The big news was Arenas’ decision several weeks ago to withdraw from the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-8 wing only played 14 games due to a knee injury, but he showed great promise while averaging 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The best incoming transfer is Reibe, a 7-foot-1 sophomore forward and former McDonald’s All-American who is poised for a breakout season after averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.8 minutes as a freshman at UConn. If Rice returns to form after missing most of last season due to a knee injury and the Trojans stay healthy otherwise, they can contend for a Big Ten title. Collins and the Ratliff twins are high-impact freshmen.

19. Kansas

Last week: 17

Losing: Darryn Peterson, Melvin Council, Tre White, Flory Bidunga, Bryson Tiller, Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell

Retaining: Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya, Samis Calderon

Incoming (2): Tyran Stokes (1), Taylor Kinney (13), Davion Adkins (70), Trent Perry (94), Luke Barnett (140), Grant Mordini (N/A), Keanu Dawes (Utah), Leroy Blyden (Toledo), Christian Reeves (Charleston), Dennis Parker Jr. (Radford)

The biggest news for Kansas came when Stokes announced his commitment on April 28. He is a potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and will have an immediate impact in Lawrence. Kinney will also likely be a day-one starter as a freshman. Reeves, a 7-foot-2 center who averaged 11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, should help make up for the loss of Bidunga. Blyden was the MAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from three-point range.

20. Ohio State

Last week: 19

Losing: Bruce Thonrton, Devin Royal, Christoph Tilly, Brandon Noel, Puff Johnson, Colin White, Gabe Cupps, Taison Chatman

Retaining: John Mobley, Amare Bynum, Ivan Njegovan, Josh Ojianwuna

Incoming (34): Anthony Thompson (7), Alex Smith (122), Andrija Jelavic (Kentucky), Justin Pippen (Cal), Jimmie Williams (Duquesne), Curtis Givens (Memphis), Vuk Lazarevic (Serbia)

Replacing Thornton won’t be easy, but Jake Diebler has an impressive roster that can play its way into the top tier of the Big Ten. Mobley will have to carry the load as the team’s new alpha. Bynum should be headed for a breakout sophomore season, and Ojianwuna could be a major defensive presence as he comes off a knee injury that sidelined him last season following his transfer from Baylor. Williams averaged 15.1 points per game as a sophomore for the Dukes. Expectations are sky high for Thompson’s freshman season in Columbus.

21. UCLA

Last week: 20

Losing: Donovan Dent, Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, Jamar Brown, Steven Jamerson

Retaining: Trent Perry, Eric Dailey, Xavier Booker, Brandon Williams, Eric Freeny

Incoming (44): Joe Philon (71), Javonte Floyd (193), Sergej Macura (Mississippi State), Filip Jovic (Auburn), Jaylen Petty (Texas Tech), Azavier “Stink” Robinson (Butler)

Once again, Mick Cronin is relying heavily on the transfer portal instead of recruiting freshmen. Robinson will slide into the starting point guard role as a replacement for Dent. Petty averaged 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a freshman at Texas Tech. But UCLA’s success will hinge largely on whether the returning veterans can continue to develop.

22. Indiana

Last week: 21

Losing: Lamar Wilkerson, Tayton Conerway, Tucker DeVries, Reed Bailey, Sam Alexis, Conor Enright, Nick Dorn, Aleksa Ristic, Jasai Miles

Retaining: Trent Sisley

Incoming (16): Vaughn Karvala (51), Trevor Menhertz (65), Prince-Alexander Moody (80), Bryce Lindsay (Villanova), Aiden Sherrell (Alabama), Samet Yigitoglu (SMU), Markus Burton (Notre Dame), Darren Harris (Duke), Jaeden Mustaf (Georgia Tech), Clemens Sokolov (Germany), Justin Monden (Maryland Eastern Shore)

Darien DeVries’ roster has been heavily replenished through the transfer portal. Lindsay and Burton are high-scoring guards, and Harris would have had more impact at Duke if he weren’t playing alongside so much talent. Yigitoglu is an experienced big who can finish at the rim and protect it on defense. Sokolov is a 7-foot center who averaged 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in a German pro league. He is 18 years old and considered a developmental prospect.

23. Miami

Last week: 22

Losing: Malik Reneau, Tre Donaldson, Ernest Udeh, Tru Washington, Noam Dovrat, Timo Malovec, Salih Altuntas, John Laboy

Retaining: Shelton Henderson, Dante Allen, Marcus Allen

Incoming (67): Caleb Gaskins (20), Acaden Lewis (Villanova), Somto Cyril (Georgia), DeSean Goode (Robert Morris), Quin Berger (Bucknell), Nick Dorn (Indiana), Brent Bland (St. Peter’s)

Jai Lucas has done a great job rebuilding a roster that lost seven players to the portal. Lewis was one of the top freshmen in the country last season and should be a top-three ACC point guard. Henderson has the potential to play his way into the lottery as a sophomore. The 6-foot-11 Cyril was a starter last season for Georgia, where he averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in 21.2 minutes. Bland is a three-point specialist who averaged 13.9 points per game for the Peacocks, while Dorn is a 6-foot-7 senior forward who averaged 8.1 points on 38 percent three-point shooting for the Hoosiers. 

24.  Vanderbilt

Losing: Duke Miles, Frankie Collins, Tyler Nickel, A.K. Okereke, Devin McGlockton, Jalen Washington, Mike James, Tyler Harris, George Kimble III

Retaining: Chandler Bing, Jayden Leverett, Tyler Tanner

Incoming (18): Ethan Mgbako (67), Anthony Brown (74), Jackson Sheffield (138), Berke Buyuntuncel (Nebraska), Ace Glass (Washington State), Bangot Dak (Colorado), Sebastian Williams-Adams (Auburn), T.O. Barrett (Missouri)

Tanner’s decision to withdraw from the draft vaulted the Tigers into the top 25. The Commodores had much to replace, but all five transfers that Mark Byington signed will have a chance to start and play major minutes. Williams-Adams is a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward who started 21 games for the Tigers and averaged 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Dak is a 6-foot-9 senior who was a three-year starter at Colorado and has pro potential. Buyuntuncel is a versatile wing who is on his third team after being a two-year starter at Nebraska following his freshman season at UCLA.

25. Purdue

Last week: 23

Losing: Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Oscar Cluff

Retaining: Omer Mayer, Daniel Jacobsen, C.J. Cox, Gicarri Harris, Jack Benter, Antoine West Jr., Raleigh Burgess

Incoming (9): Luke Ertel (41), Jacob Webber (64), Sinan Huan (83), Jemyn Sondrup (134), Rivers Knight (211), Caden Pierce (Princeton)

Purdue is one of the few high-major programs that did not lose any significant players to the portal. Matt Painter made a run at Kansas forward Flory Bidunga and Saint Mary’s center Paulius Murauskas, but both landed elsewhere. The Boilemakers’ fortunes in the Big Ten will depend heavily on whether Pierce can make an immediate impact and whether Mayer takes advantage of his opportunity to play more minutes now that Smith and Loyer have graduated.

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Notable Omissions

Nebraska: Fred Hoiberg signed six transfers but the heart of the team will be the returning veterans, especially the perimeter corps of Connor Essegian, Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager.

BYU: Robert Wright’s decision to return to Provo after entering the transfer portal and visiting Kentcky was huge for the Cougars. They also might again have the nation’s top freshman in Bruce Branch.

Missouri: Dennis Gates is bringing in arguably the best recruiting class in history, and he did well in the portal by adding former BYU guard Kennard Davis and former Kansas forward Bryson Tiller.

North Carolina: Matt Able’s decision to withdraw from the draft was expected but welcome news. Michael Malone also added a pair of quality international big men in Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov, but the Tar Heels’ best player will likely be Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas.

Kentucky: Good news has been hard to come by this spring for Mark Pope, but he got some when Malachi Moreno withdrew from the NBA Draft. Pope has lost out on a lot of high school and transfer targets, but he did land a couple of quality players in Furman guard Alex Wilkins and Washington forward Zoom Diallo. If UK is able to sign Momcilovic that will likely vault the Cats into the preseason top 25.