The return of the AP Top 25 is a kind reminder that basketball season is here. Clearly, the top objective for college basketball scribes throughout the country is to outperform the football projections that look awfully dire past the midway point of the season.
On paper, the initial AP Top 25 is tame. There were not any egregious additions or omissions.
Let’s dive into the projected starting lineups and the biggest strengths and weaknesses for each club.
AP Top 25 poll reactions: North Carolina overrated, Kansas underrated in preseason college basketball rankings
Cameron Salerno
Projected starting lineup
Top reserves: C Daniel Jacobsen, G Omer Mayer, G Gicarri Harris, F Liam Murphy, G Antione West Jr.
Biggest strengths: Purdue’s personnel is different. Smith is the best point guard in America, and Kaufman-Renn is a problem in the paint. A Smith pocket pass to Kaufman-Renn was one of the most unguardable actions in the sport. Smith fed Kaufman-Renn for a whopping 236 points last year, per CBB Analytics, and it should be a go-to feature of a Purdue offense that could be the best in America in 2025-26. Purdue always has loads of shooting, and this year is no different with Loyer, Cox, Mayer, Murphy and Harris. A fresh bill of health for…
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