As March Madness approaches, Duke sits atop college basketball with Cameron Boozer leading the nation's best team. The Blue Devils, ranked No. 1 in America, boast the highest NET rating in nearly 30 years and already defeated two projected 1-seeds. Coach Jon Scheyer's squad faces injury concerns to Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II, but remains the favorite heading into the NCAA tournament.

Florida emerges as a legitimate title contender after a dominant SEC run, winning the conference outright with games to spare. The Gators' frontcourt trio of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu provides elite defense and rebounding. Since December, perimeter play has improved dramatically with Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee finding chemistry, while the team's 3-point shooting and ball security have markedly improved.

The 2025 freshman class could be the best ever, headlined by Boozer and BYU's AJ Dybantsa. Six freshmen made the final Wooden Award ballot, including Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois' Keaton Wagler, and Arizona's trio of Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, and Ivan Kharchenkov. Kansas' Darryn Peterson, projected as the 2026 No. 1 pick, adds to the historic depth of first-year talent reshaping college basketball.