2025-26 Preseason Rankings

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jessej

jessej

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Atlantic 10 Basketball Power Rankings: Saint Louis Sets the Bar for 2025-26​


GMU #7

#6

#7

#2
 

psyclone

Hall of Famer
Not so much a "rankings" article, but Patrick Stevens' overview of the NCAA basketball season nationally.
Begins with ....

"And so here’s an attempt to zip through the landscape, a 20-point rundown of the season to come — starting with a look back.

20 … years since George Mason’s riveting run​

It has been two decades since the Patriots became the first true mid-major since 1979 to reach the Final Four, and it set off a decade-plus stretch that saw Butler (2010 and 2011), vcu (2011), Wichita State (2014), Loyola Chicago (2018) and Florida Atlantic (2023) all make it to the last weekend of the season.

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Last year’s decidedly chalky tournament, which saw No. 1-4 seeds go a combined 16-0 in the first round and only one double-digit seed (Arkansas) advance to the second weekend, made it trendy to suggest such magical runs are things of the past. And it is worth noting all six of those schools above have switched leagues since their Final Four trips.

But the tournament is a wonky thing, and while resources are getting even more tilted toward brand names, a deep run for a cohesive, veteran team isn’t impossible. Or, at the very least, not more impossible than it seemed when George Mason did it 20 years ago."

For the other 19 points, see:
 
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