A freshman dropped 30 points on the defending national champs in his collegiate debut. Two future lottery picks dueled at the Dean Dome. An All-American candidate lit up Madison Square Garden in an upset over St. John’s. A senior who missed all of last season due to injury recorded a triple-double. And it’s only been seven days!
The start of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season did not disappoint. Below are the top 10 performances from opening week:
1. Arizona freshman forward Koa Peat vs. No. 3 Florida: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 11-18 FG
It was a historic first game for Peat, a five-star prospect out of Perry High School in Gilbert, Ariz.. The 6-foot-7 forward destroyed Florida’s loaded frontcourt, leading the Wildcats to an impressive 93-87 victory at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He became just the second Big 12 freshman to debut with 30 or more points, joining Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (32 points in 2007). “I feel like I’ve been kind of forgotten,” Peat told Hoops HQ over the summer. “I’m just trying to remind people and show them what I’m about.” Mission accomplished.
2. BYU freshman forward AJ Dybantsa vs. Villanova: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 9-18 FG, 1-1 3PT
Right after Peat put on a show, another freshman took center stage at T-Mobile Arena. The highly anticipated debut of AJ Dybantsa lived up to the hype, as the do-it-all forward guided his team to a 71-66 win over Villanova. With the game tied at 59 and under six minutes remaining, Dybantsa went “alpha,” scoring six of the Cougars’ next eight points to help them pull away. “In this game, the team needed him to go get a bucket when we needed one,” BYU coach Kevin Young told Hoops HQ. “He answered the call.”
3. Texas Tech sophomore guard Christian Anderson vs. Lindenwood: 34 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 11-23 FG, 3-7 3PT
No JT Toppin, no problem. With Texas Tech’s Preseason All-American sidelined for the season opener, Anderson stepped up, surpassing his previous career high of 22 points in the first half alone. The 6-foot-3 guard nearly registered a triple-double and committed just one turnover in 37 minutes of running the offense, as the Red Raiders coasted to a 98-60 victory. Expect the gifted sophomore to have plenty of performances like this one in 2025-26.
4. North Carolina freshman forward Caleb Wilson vs. No. 19 Kansas: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 9-12 FG
BYU’s Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer have garnered most of the attention in the stacked freshman class. But on Friday night at the Dean Dome, it was Wilson who stole the spotlight, propelling his team to an 87-74 win over Peterson’s Jayhawks. Wilson’s unique blend of athleticism, quickness and shotmaking was on full display, as the 6-foot-10 forward made a compelling case to be a top 10 pick in next year’s draft. “People underestimate me and they’re going to keep doing it,” Wilson said afterward. “But honestly, I’m always going to prove people wrong.”
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5. Texas Tech junior forward JT Toppin vs. Sam Houston: 31 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 10-19 FG
The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year made his season debut on Friday and picked up right where he left off, filling the stat sheet in a 98-77 victory against the Bearkats. As always, the 6-foot-9 forward, who was returning from a lower leg injury, was a force inside the paint. Eight of his 14 rebounds came on the offensive end, and he got to the free throw line at will. Toppin should be among the top contenders to win 2025-26 National Player of the Year.
6. Ohio State senior guard Bruce Thornton vs. Purdue Fort Wayne: 38 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 14-17 FG, 5-8 3PT
Thornton was almost perfect from the field en route to a career-best 38 points, the most by a Buckeye since 2010. He moved into 15th place on the program’s all-time scoring list, passing Jon Diebler, coach Jake Diebler’s brother. While Thornton has been tremendous throughout his Ohio State career, making the All-Big Ten Team twice, he has yet to play in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-2 guard is clearly determined to change that this season.
7. Oregon senior center Nate Bittle vs. Rice: 25 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, 2 steals, 7-15 FG
The Ducks narrowly avoided a major upset at home thanks to their star big man. With his team trailing by five at halftime, Bittle took over, scoring 18 of his 25 after the break to lift Oregon to a 67-63 victory. Outside of Bittle, the Ducks shot a dismal 27 percent from the field. The 7-footer was also dominant defensively, matching his career-high with six blocks and recording two crucial steals in the final two minutes.
8. Alabama sophomore guard Labaron Philon vs. No. 5 St. John’s: 25 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 10-17 FG
In a sold-out Madison Square Garden packed with rowdy St. John’s fans, Philon rose to the occasion. The 6-foot-4 guard, who made the Preseason All-SEC First Team, controlled the game whenever he was on the floor. He got to the basket with ease, putting constant pressure on the Red Storm defense. He finished with 25 points, a new career-high, and hit the biggest shot of the afternoon: a step-back, heavily-contested three with two minutes left to give the Tide a comfortable 98-88 advantage.
9. Nebraska senior forward Rienk Mast vs. Florida International: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 8-10 FG, 2-3 3PT
Welcome back, Rienk Mast! After missing the entire 2024-25 campaign due to knee surgery, the 6-foot-10 forward recorded just the third triple-double in Nebraska history in his second game back, helping the Cornhuskers secure a 96-66 win against FIU. “I’m just really happy for him,” said Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg afterward. “That was a hard year for Rienk. With that surgery, you have to be so diligent with your recovery, and there’s nobody more disciplined than Rienk when it comes to following the rules. That’s exactly what he did and that’s why he’s having the type of impact that he’s having right now.”
10. Virginia Tech freshman guard Neoklis Avdalas vs. Providence: 33 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 13-23 FG, 5-8 3PT
If you didn’t know who Neoklis Avdalas was before this weekend, you do now. The 19-year-old guard from Greece, nicknamed “Neo,” was phenomenal in the Hokies’ thrilling 107-101 victory. A former pro overseas, Avdalas has garnered comparisons to Luka Doncic because of his ability to handle the ball, shoot from the perimeter and make plays for others at 6-foot-9. As Virginia Tech coach Mike Young told reporters afterward, Neo is just scratching the surface of his potential. “Avdalas is still coming into his own,” Young said. “He was good today, but this is still growing on him. He is immensely talented, needless to say.”
