100 And 1 days until college basketball: Stars, storylines, contenders and pretenders for 2026-27 season - CBS Sports

What the report says

CBS Sports published a wide-ranging 2026-27 men’s college basketball preview by Isaac Trotter on July 23, framing the season as 101 days away from tipoff. The article says the season is scheduled to open at 9:30 a.m. ET with Notre Dame and Villanova playing in Rome, and it presents 101 notes on teams, transfers, contenders, potential surprises, All-America candidates and Final Four predictions.

Among the biggest developments highlighted by CBS Sports is NCAA Tournament expansion, with the 2027 men’s field set to include 76 teams. The preview also focuses on Michigan’s attempt to defend a national title after major turnover, including coach Dusty May’s move to the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. CBS notes assistant Mike Boynton has taken over and that Michigan still has a talented core, but must replace several key players and staff members.

The piece also examines North Carolina entering the Michael Malone era after the program did not land other high-profile coaching targets. CBS Sports describes Malone’s first roster as uncertain, particularly in the frontcourt, while crediting him with engaging in the demands of college recruiting. The SEC is portrayed as likely to remain a dominant conference, with CBS pointing to deep spending, returning scorers and transfer additions across programs including Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and others.

Conference realignment is another major theme. CBS says Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State have moved from the Mountain West to a new-look Pac-12, while Hawaii, UC Davis and UTEP are backfilling the Mountain West. The article also flags unresolved eligibility questions as a major issue still affecting roster planning.