Get your popcorn ready because this NCAA tournament could be one of the best in recent memory. The top seeds are elite programs with the potential to cut down the nets. The underdogs are dangerous, too.
The field also has undeniable star power. Top transfers and freshman stars are all in the same tier of teams this year, chasing the same dreams.
Our annual NCAA tournament guide gives you the information you need to know about each team, pertinent information about any current issues that could impact their postseason, key injuries to note — and, finally, our projections on their ceiling.
Duke’s Road to the Championship
Cameron Boozer is the national player of the year front-runner this season, poised to end the 2025-26 campaign with the highest offensive rating. He is even better in most categories than last year’s winner. Coach Jon Scheyer also developed the returning talent around his star freshman.
Guard Caleb Foster will likely not see the court the rest of this season, after needing surgery on a fractured foot. Patrick Ngongba II is also dealing with a foot injury, although he is “hopeful” to return for the NCAA tournament. Those developments will put more pressure on Isaiah Evans and Boozer’s twin brother Cayden Boozer in the weeks ahead.
Duke’s tournament ceiling is a national championship.
Arizona’s Depth and Balance
The Wildcats won their first 23 games of the 2025-26 season, a byproduct of an unmatched depth to the roster: There are seven players averaging at least 8.7 points this season. This astute and balanced pack is led by Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries, an All-Big 12 first-team selection.
Since returning from injury, freshman Koa Peat has looked like the first-round pick he has been projected to be all season. And with an “Excellent” defensive rating, their tournament ceiling is a national championship.
Key Players to Watch
- Cameron Boozer: The national player of the year front-runner.
- Jaden Bradley: Big 12 Player of the Year.
- Koa Peat: Projected first-round pick.
The field has undeniable star power, with top transfers and freshman stars chasing the same dreams.