8 multi-bid conferences in 2026 and 8 projected for 2027. See your team’s probability to earn a bid and more details here: https://www.jthomanalytics.com/basketball/seed/?conf=All%20Teams

Just like the title says. If these last few weeks of preseason games had actually been regular season games that counted, how would you be reacting to your team's performance?

Mark Pope, Kentucky

I know the seats holding Hardaway at Memphis and Capel at Pitt are hotter in the traditional sense. But I’m going with Pope because of the sheer expectations attached to Kentucky. Ever since reading this helpful explainer in March, I don’t understand how you can assemble a historic $22 million roster only to finish 22-14 and bow out in the NCAA Tournament’s second round. Injuries certainly played a role, but that’s an awfully modest return on such a staggering investment. Kentucky has reloaded with a talented roster headlined by Milan Momcilovic, and Pope enters his third season with one Sweet 16 appearance and plenty of goodwill as a former UK player. But the resources and talent are there. At some point, the results have to match. — Ira Gorawara

The tenor of the offseason changed when the Wildcats won the Momcilovic sweepstakes, but if things don’t click, the teams at the top of the ultra-deep SEC will give UK fans a bi-weekly look at the level they’re not on. — Eric Single

Penny Hardaway, Memphis

He’s gone a couple of years ago if he isn’t one of the most beloved figures in program history. Tigers fans desperately want Hardaway to work out, but none of them would have believed you eight years ago if you told them he’d be entering his ninth season with a grand total of one NCAA Tournament win earned. That’s not nearly enough success to offset the turmoil. Now he’s chipping in with his own money on a roster that probably won’t earn his fourth NCAA bid. Enough. — Joe Rexrode

It’s never a good sign when you’re publicly putting up your own money to fund your roster. And even more concerning when your AD has to then step in and clarify to avoid violations. — Justin Williams

College basketball is better when Memphis is good. The Tigers fell off last season, finishing 13-19 — their worst record since 1970 — and projected a $1.2 million shortfall in ticket sales last season. This feels like a make-or-break year. — Mark Cooper

Hardaway won at least 20 games each of his first seven seasons at his alma mater, but the floor at Memphis finally fell out last season, as the Tigers posted the first losing record of Hardaway’s tenure. Short of a (surprise) return trip to the NCAA Tournament this season, it feels like Memphis’ big bet on its golden era is finally coming to an end. — Matthew Ho

The Players Era 16 tournament in Las Vegas consists of two 8-team brackets, with each team guaranteed three games, plus the two winners playing each other in a fourth game. There's just one small problem: Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas State, Maryland, Miami, Oregon, TCU, and Tennessee show 29 games outside of this tournament on their schedules, so if they make the final, that's 33, which is one over the new NCAA limit of 32. (Note that the old "you can count one tournament that doesn't count against the limit" rule has been removed.)

Michigan and St. John's found a way around this: they have games "scheduled" against Mississippi Valley State and Columbia, respectively, that would be cancelled if they play four games in Vegas. (The other four teams - Gonzaga, Louisville, San Diego State, and Texas Tech - don't show 29 games outside of the tournament, so even if they play four, they're still under the limit of 32.)

Very happy Akron did a public exhibition this year. I’ve always said as a sicko I’d attend them and now I finally can. Plus it’s a team in YSU we don’t usually face anymore out of conference. Go zips!

Every preseason Top 25 team’s schedule, split into games against other preseason Top 25 teams, other teams that were top 75 last season, and everyone else. Arizona and Kentucky play the most ranked teams (11 each). Gonzaga plays 3, with 17 games against everyone else. Only games already set are counted, so later rounds of multi-game events aren’t in yet. Whose schedule is going to expose them?

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

7:00 PM EST

People’s Bank Arena Hartford, Connecticut

Local TV: WFSB

Streaming: UConn+

Radio: Purdue Global Sports Network / UConn Radio Broadcast

I feel like bench depth gets overlooked so much when people talk about contenders. Having reliable players who can come in without the whole offense falling apart makes such a difference late in the season.

TL;DR: they matter about as much as real games early in the season.

Big Ten Plus unfortunately

Shocking news out of West Lafayette

/s