It’s been a whirlwind in the world of college basketball the past few days—rule changes, transfer news, and the perennial hustle to get ready for another intense season. Let’s start with what everyone seems to be buzzing about: the NCAA just rolled out some substantial updates for men’s college basketball, aiming to enhance the flow of the game. For the first time ever, coaches will now have the chance to challenge certain on-court calls starting with the 2025-26 season. Instead of every close call grinding the game to a halt for endless reviews, the responsibility now shifts to the coaches. If they think a call is way off—like an out-of-bounds play, basket interference or a restricted area violation—they can throw down a challenge, provided they have a timeout left. If they get it right, they can use another challenge later; miss it, and that’s their only shot for the night. The final two minutes and overtime still give officials some discretion for reviews, but that’s now reserved for only the most critical plays. It’s a bold move, designed to keep the game moving and ratchet up the drama in crunch time.

But it’s not just on the court where we’re seeing shake-ups. The transfer portal continues to reshape college basketball’s power map. St. John’s has made the biggest splash, barely edging out Kentucky for the top spot in this year’s incoming transfer class. Rick Pitino worked the transfer scene with his usual energy, landing five top-100 transfers, including previous All-Big East stars and some big-time former recruits. It’s a perimeter-heavy group and might not have a true point guard, but depth and versatility could be their ticket to a deep postseason run.

Kentucky, under new leadership from Mark Pope, is not far behind, assembling another five top-100 transfers. Names like Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, and Denzel Aberdeen are set to make an immediate impact. The only hiccup is Quaintance’s recovery from an ACL injury, which could slightly temper their explosive potential—at least for the early part of the season. Still, the Wildcats’ mix of returning talent and incoming firepower makes them a team to watch, especially if their young stars make the anticipated leap.

With fresh faces, game-changing rules, and all the anticipation that comes with a new season, college basketball feels charged with possibility. As coaches adjust their playbooks and fans brace for faster, cleaner games, one thing’s for sure: the 2025-26 season is already shaping up to be one for the books.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI