Welcome to the ultimate 2026-27 National College Basketball Season Preview on The Assist! 🏀

In this episode, Kyle Tucker, Adam Finkelstein, and Isaac Trotter break down everything you need to know heading into the new men's college basketball season.

The crew unveils The Assist's official Preseason Top 25 rankings led by Florida, Duke, Illinois, UConn, and Arizona before diving into the chaos of roster volatility, transfer portal impacts, and ongoing court cases affecting player eligibility. Plus, we name our Preseason All-American Teams, highlight the Top 5 Impact Transfers and Must-Watch Freshmen, predict Champions & Dark Horses across every major conference, and deliver our Final Four & National Champion Predictions.

00:00 – Intro & National Landscape Overview

01:45 – Official Preseason Top 25 Rankings Reveal

05:30 – Roster Volatility, Portal Rules & Court Cases

12:15 – Conference Power Dynamics (SEC Dominance, ACC & Big East Questions)

19:00 – Deep Dive on National Title Contenders & Blue Blood Outlooks

26:00 – Preseason All-American Teams & Player of the Year Favorites

37:00 – Top 5 Impact Transfers to Watch

41:00 – Top Impact Freshmen

46:00 – Conference Breakdowns & Dark Horses (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC)

58:00 – Mid-Major Sleepers & Cinderella Contenders

01:03:30 – Final Four & National Championship Predictions

The Assist with Kyle Tucker is your weekly source for everything college basketball. Join insider Kyle Tucker as he analyzes the transfer portal, breaks down recruiting cycles, and hosts exclusive interviews with coaches and players. In a sport that never stops changing, get the expert insight you need to stay informed.

New episodes of The Assist drop once a week - hit follow and never miss an update.

SUBSCRIBE to the The Assist with Kyle Tucker Podcast: ​​

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-assist-with-kyle-tucker/id1884410896

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UTZLgHab0CAn2OJb9lSfM?si=534d0f4720b546c6

Follow Kyle on X: @KyleTuckerCBB

In this episode, Kyle Tucker and Isaac Trotter continue their season preview series by turning their attention to the best programs outside the traditional power conferences.

From Gonzaga’s high-stakes move into the revamped Pac-12 to eight-figure NIL budgets at Grand Canyon and High Point, Kyle and Isaac analyze who has true national title potential, which mid-major spenders are acting like power-conference majors, and what to expect from Penny Hardaway’s roster at Memphis in Year 9.

(00:00) Intro: Previewing the "Best of the Rest" in College Basketball

(01:45) The New Pac-12: Can Gonzaga & 7 Hoops-Focused Schools Be a Power League?

(06:15) Gonzaga’s Roster Breakdown: Frontcourt Power & Legal Eligibility Questions

(10:30) Pac-12 Contenders: Utah State & San Diego State

(15:45) Oregon State’s Upward Trajectory

(17:30) Atlantic 10 Powerhouses: Saint Louis, VCU, & Dayton

(20:00) St. Louis: Top-30 Potential & Retention

(25:00) VCU’s Roster Depth & Landing Top-75 Freshmen

(28:30) Dayton’s Elite Frontcourt

(30:40) Grand Canyon’s $10 Million Roster & High-Major Portal Additions

(33:30) New Mexico: The Best Backcourt in the Mid-Major Ranks

(35:30) High Point’s Massive Budget, Loaded Non-Conference Schedule & Mid-Major Dominance (43:00) Memphis & Penny Hardaway: Make-or-Break Year 9 Outlook

(49:00) American Athletic Conference Breakdown & Wichita State Contention

(52:00) Life After Randy Bennett at Saint Mary’s

(54:00) Miami (OH) & UIC’s Seven-Figure Philanthropic Backing

(59:00) UAB as a Sneaky Contender & Show Wrap-Up

The Assist with Kyle Tucker is your weekly source for everything college basketball. Join insider Kyle Tucker as he analyzes the transfer portal, breaks down recruiting cycles, and hosts exclusive interviews with coaches and players. In a sport that never stops changing, get the expert insight you need to stay informed. New episodes of The Assist drop once a week - hit follow and never miss an update.

Kyle Tucker and Isaac Trotter wrap up their conference preview series on The Assist by taking a deep dive into the SEC, arguably the most loaded league in college basketball. Florida returns 87% of its scoring guys, while Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and others bring in elite transfer portal and high school recruiting classes.

In this episode, the guys analyze whether anyone can dethrone Todd Golden’s Gator juggernaut, break down the massive roster overhaul across the league, and unpack the Mark Mitchell interconference transfer saga. Plus, they explore SEC hot seat pressure on coaches like Mark Pope and Porter Moser, examine John Calipari’s 8-freshman class at Arkansas, and reveal their end-of-season conference awards.

0:00 - SEC Basketball Preview 2:15 - Tyler Tanner’s Return to Vandy 4:30 - David Punch & Texas Upgrade 6:30 - SEC Coaching & Will Wade’s Return 8:45 - SEC Hot Seats & Mark Pope Pressure 11:00 - Mark Mitchell Transfer Drama 14:00 - Tier 1 Contenders: Florida & Texas 20:00 - Tier 2: Alabama, Arkansas & Tennessee 29:00 - Tier 2: Kentucky, Mizzou & Vandy 43:00 - Wildcards: LSU, Auburn & Oklahoma 49:00 - SEC Bubble & Bottom Tier 53:30 - SEC Picks & Award Predictions

The Assist with Kyle Tucker is your weekly source for everything college basketball. Join insider Kyle Tucker as he analyzes the transfer portal, breaks down recruiting cycles, and hosts exclusive interviews with coaches and players. In a sport that never stops changing, get the expert insight you need to stay informed. New episodes of The Assist drop once a week - hit follow and never miss an update.

The college basketball conference preview series rolls on! In Episode 21 of The Assist, Kyle Tucker and 247Sports roster expert Isaac Trotter deliver a deep-dive preview of the Big 12 Conference. From Arizona's national title expectations powered by Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov to Texas Tech's high-ceiling roster waiting on crucial eligibility rulings and JT Toppin's recovery, the guys break down every team tier in the league. Plus, they tackle the biggest storylines in the sport: Is this Bill Self’s final season at Kansas with #1 freshman Tyran Stokes, can Rob Wright win Big 12 MVP at BYU, and how Kelvin Samson's Houston team replaces three NBA guards?

⏱️ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro & Big 12 Conference Reset 03:00 – New Head Coaches 05:00 – Hot Seat Watch 08:00 – Year 2 Coaches & West Virginia’s Massive Roster Upgrade 10:00 – Is the Big 12 the Best Coaching League in College Basketball? 14:00 – Tier 1: National Title Contenders (Arizona & Texas Tech Asterisk) 22:00 – Tier 2: Top 25 Contenders (Houston, Kansas, BYU, Iowa State) 25:00 – Kansas Deep Dive: Bill Self Retirement Rumors & Tyran Stokes 30:00 – BYU Breakdown: Rob Wright’s MVP Ceiling & Shooting Upgrades 32:30 – Iowa State: T. J. Otzelberger’s Relentless Defensive Blueprint 34:00 – Tier 3: NCAA Tournament Teams (West Virginia, Baylor, Oklahoma State) 41:00 – Tier 4: Bubble Watch (Cincinnati, TCU, Arizona State) 43:00 – Tier 5: Conference Basement (Kansas State, Utah, UCF, Colorado) 44:30 – Official Predictions: Big 12 Champion, Newcomer of the Year & MVP Picks

The Assist with Kyle Tucker is your weekly source for everything college basketball. Join insider Kyle Tucker as he analyzes the transfer portal, breaks down recruiting cycles, and hosts exclusive interviews with coaches and players. In a sport that never stops changing, get the expert insight you need to stay informed. New episodes of The Assist drop once a week - hit follow and never miss an update.

In this episode of The Assist, college basketball analysts Kyle Tucker and Isaac Trotter deliver the ultimate Big Ten Basketball Preview, breaking down the league’s high player retention rates and national title potential. From elite contenders like Michigan State and Illinois fighting for a spot in the Final Four, to the transfer portal shakeups and coaching transitions defining the conference, they lay out a complete strategic tier list. Plus, the guys react to the devastating, season-ending injury to Michigan’s five-star freshman Brandon McCoy and analyze how this offseason volatility reshapes the entire conference title race.

00:00 – Intro 01:31 – Isaac joins, Big Ten breaking news intro 02:05 – Brandon McCoy ACL injury: impact on Michigan 03:06 – Big Ten reset: last season's standings & tournament results 04:05 – Retention leaders & returning talent across the league 04:52 – Top transfer & recruiting classes in the Big Ten 05:43 – Best new face: Aiden Sherrell to Indiana 07:00 – Biggest "I'm coming back" decision: Jeremy Fears Jr. 08:23 – Coaching change: Mike Boynton Jr. taking over at Michigan 10:02 – Hot seat coaches around the league 13:21 – Big Ten tiers revealed 14:05 – Title Contenders: Illinois breakdown 18:52 – Title Contenders: Michigan State breakdown 24:34 – Top 25 Tier: UCLA 27:16 – Top 25 Tier: Indiana 30:11 – Top 25 Tier: Michigan 33:07 – Tournament Teams: Nebraska 34:58 – Tournament Teams: USC 36:58 – Tournament Teams: Ohio State 40:01 – Tournament Teams: Iowa 43:31 – Tournament Teams: Purdue 46:31 – Bubble Teams: Maryland & Wisconsin 50:06 – Bubble Teams: Minnesota, Washington, Oregon 51:34 – Basement: Rutgers, Penn State, Northwestern 52:52 – Champion, Player of the Year & Newcomer of the Year picks 53:20 – Outro

The Assist with Kyle Tucker is your weekly source for everything college basketball. Join insider Kyle Tucker as he analyzes the transfer portal, breaks down recruiting cycles, and hosts exclusive interviews with coaches and players. In a sport that never stops changing, get the expert insight you need to stay informed. New episodes of The Assist drop once a week - hit follow and never miss an update.

Get ready for the ultimate 2026-27 Big East Basketball season as we break down the conference's competitive hierarchy and key storylines! We dive deep into UConn as they reload with a revamped, explosive backcourt and elite transfer frontcourt. Next, we analyze St. John’s as a premier challenger under Rick Pitino featuring elite international guard talent, alongside Villanova’s newly acquired, massive frontcourt size. Finally, we preview the critical coaching transitions at Creighton and Providence, assess the pressure-filled hot seat at Georgetown, and discuss if DePaul can complete a staggering, historic turnaround to reach its first NCAA tournament in over two decades.

The Assist with Kyle Tucker is your weekly source for everything college basketball. Join insider Kyle Tucker as he analyzes the transfer portal, breaks down recruiting cycles, and hosts exclusive interviews with coaches and players. In a sport that never stops changing, get the expert insight you need to stay informed. New episodes of The Assist drop once a week - hit follow and never miss an update.

(0:50) - Isaac Trotter joins the show

(1:05) - Reviewing last season in the Big East

(2:10) - Newcomers to watch out for

(4:40) - Favorite returning players

(6:40) - New coaches

(8:38) - Who is on the hot seat

(13:08) - Why UConn is a national title contender

(19:20) - Villanova preview

(21:18) - St. Johns preview

(24:40) - Other tournament-bound teams from the Big East

(29:50) - Which teams will be on the bubble?

(35:00) - Why DePaul could be a sleeper team

(40:10) - Big East Champ, Player of the Year & Newcomer of the Year predictions

SUBSCRIBE to the The Assist with Kyle Tucker Podcast: ​​ APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-assist-with-kyle-tucker/id1884410896 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UTZLgHab0CAn2OJb9lSfM?si=534d0f4720b546c6

Follow Kyle on X: @KyleTuckerCBB

Get ready for the ultimate 2026–27 ACC Basketball conference preview as we break down why Duke remains the undisputed king of the league, boasting what may be the country's most talented roster and a dominant 42-2 record against ACC competition over the last two years. The Blue Devils face massive new threats, starting with Pat Kelsey’s Louisville squad, which has loaded up on elite transfers like Flory Bidunga using an unprecedented $25 to $30 million roster budget. We also dive into Virginia's "new moneyball" strategy after they became the only Power Five program to lose zero players to the transfer portal, North Carolina's high-stakes reboot under former NBA head coach Michael Malone, Miami's physical, glass-crushing "bully ball" identity, and why Boston College is the ultimate sleeper program after pulling off a stunning coup to hire offensive mastermind Luke Murray.

The Assist with Kyle Tucker is your weekly source for everything college basketball. Join insider Kyle Tucker as he analyzes the transfer portal, breaks down recruiting cycles, and hosts exclusive interviews with coaches and players. In a sport that never stops changing, get the expert insight you need to stay informed. New episodes of The Assist drop once a week - hit follow and never miss an update.

Follow Kyle on X: @KyleTuckerCBB

0:00 – Intro & show open 0:55 – Last season's ACC recap (Duke, Virginia, Miami, Carolina, Clemson) 1:41 – Offseason overview: retention, recruiting & portal battles 2:28 – Best incoming addition: Flory Bidunga to Louisville 4:13 – Best returning player: Thijs De Ridder & Shelton Henderson 6:04 – New ACC head coaches overview 6:48 – Luke Murray's move to Boston College 9:04 – Coaches on the hot seat (Forbes, Shrewsberry, Capel, Kelsey) 12:03 – Preseason tiers introduced 12:48 – Duke: roster building & the "can he win the big one" question 15:39 – Duke's offense & the Boumtje-Boumtje factor 18:40 – Thought exercise: Duke's "second team" in the ACC 19:37 – Louisville moves up a tier: Seth Trimble addition 22:19 – Virginia's historic roster retention 27:12 – Miami's physical identity under Jai Lucas 30:37 – North Carolina under Michael Malone 35:11 – Bubble teams overview 36:02 – Florida State as a sleeper pick 37:27 – Virginia Tech & Clemson outlook 40:58 – Toughest rebuild: Gainey (NC State) vs. McNamara (Syracuse) 41:24 – Basement team to buy: Boston College 44:08 – Predictions: ACC champion, Player of the Year & Newcomer of the Year

Kyle Tucker sits down with sports attorney and former college basketball player Mit Winter to dissect the legal storm reshaping college athletics. They break down the wave of state and federal lawsuits over the NCAA’s "five-in-five" eligibility rule, the stalled "Protect College Sports Act" in Congress, and why the transition to athlete employee status and collective bargaining may be the only way to stabilize the sport.

0:00 – Intro: College sports is a mess 1:36 – Mitt Winter joins, William & Mary background 3:55 – How did we get here? The legal roots of the chaos 6:01 – "Chaos" vs. "disruption" — new market forming 7:01 – The most pressing issue: eligibility rules 9:19 – The NCAA's 5-for-5 rule & the excluded Class of 2026 10:57 – The legal arguments: state contract suits vs. Colorado antitrust case 13:25 – Conspiracy theory: did the NCAA time this on purpose? 17:15 – Will last year's seniors play a full season? 19:05 – Would the Protect College Sports Act override the courts? 22:01 – Risk to schools playing "ghost transferred" athletes 24:11 – NIL/rev-share contract language for eligibility-risk players 25:37 – The Protect College Sports Act: good, bad, and ugly 28:35 – Best fixes without government intervention 32:47 – Why collective bargaining hasn't happened yet 34:53 – What Mitt's hopeful about for college basketball's future 36:51 – Outro