Countdown to Men’s College Basketball: 100 Things to Know About the 2026 Season - Sports Illustrated

What the report says

Sports Illustrated published a 100-item offseason guide for men’s college basketball, pegged to the season being 100 days from opening with Villanova and Notre Dame scheduled to play in Rome. The magazine frames the 2026–27 buildup as unusually turbulent, citing coaching turnover, transfer-portal movement, returning stars and incoming international and high school talent as the main forces reshaping the national picture since spring.

The report’s coaching section leads with a major move: Dusty May, described as the defending national champion coach, leaving college basketball for the Dallas Mavericks. Sports Illustrated says Mike Boynton, formerly Oklahoma State’s head coach, takes over May’s former program on a two-year deal. It also highlights North Carolina replacing Hubert Davis with former NBA champion coach Michael Malone after a poor NCAA tournament finish, and says Malone has already been active in recruiting.

Other coaching changes cited include Will Wade returning to LSU after a short stay at NC State, with Justin Gainey taking over the Wolfpack; Gerry McNamara returning to Syracuse; Ronald Nored going to Butler; Jerrod Calhoun landing at Cincinnati; Randy Bennett moving from Saint Mary’s to Arizona State; and Luke Murray getting the Boston College job after working under Dan Hurley at UConn.

On rosters, Sports Illustrated identifies Florida and Illinois as major retention winners. It says Thomas Haugh’s return to Florida, alongside Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Boogie Fland, puts expectations on the Gators. Illinois is portrayed as a Big Ten favorite behind David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojaković and the Ivišić twins. The piece also names Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State among the top returning players nationally.