Inside College Basketball Now

Every year in college basketball there are teams that make a statement out of nowhere. And every year pundits and fans alike are surprised by these teams. Inside College Basketball has the teams that you need to know about and will be on the rise in 2025 -2026.

Jon Rothstein identifies five college basketball teams that should make big jumps in 2025-26.

In a crucial year for the ACC's reputation, there are three teams with new head coaches primed for meaningful moves in the right direction. Can the conference return to a strong place in the sport?

Jon runs through his five teams representing three different conferences and breaks down coaching changes, roster moves & more.

(0:00) Intro + 5 Teams the Should be Vastly Improved

(1:50) NC State - Will Wade, Darrion Williams & more

(10:59) Miami - Jai Lucas and a brand new roster

(16:17) Virginia - Another new coach in Ryan Odom and a matter of when

(22:54) Providence - Year 3 for Kim English, looking for first NCAA Tournament

(26:59) Washington - a completely new roster, headlined by two USC transfers

Auburn came within two games of a national championship; however, they fell short. Today, Jon sits down with Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, who explains how he took last year's team as far as they could go, discusses when Pearl may retire, and why the transfer portal is detrimental to college athletics.

Sometimes, one can learn more from a loss than a win. Jon Rothstein chats with Duke head coach Jon Scheyer about every lesson he learned from losing to Houston.

Why has Houston's transition to the Big 12 been so successful? Head Coach Kelvin Sampson joins Jon Rothstein on a new episode of Inside College Basketball Now to discuss that and more. Sampson talks about their success last season, their Final Four comeback against Duke, and their loss to Florida in the Championship. Later, he shares his thoughts on their young roster, Jo Jo Tugler's injury, and the importance of playing big non-conference games before Christmas.

0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Being around family at Houston making the job more fulfilling

3:15 - What it was like to be part of the comeback against Duke in the Final Four

6:00 - Does he teach his players about being men, not just basketball players

8:45 - His message to the team after their loss to Florida

11:00 - Why was the transition to the Big 12 so seamless for Houston?

17:20 - His thoughts on the roster for the upcoming season

22:00 - Update on Jo Jo Tugler’s injury

23:40 - Having a younger team this year

28:30 - Importance of playing a big non-conference game before Christmas

33:15 - One great win and one difficult loss he holds close to his heart

36:20 - What will it take for Houston to get back to the tournament

Florida head coach Todd Golden sits down with Jon Rothstein to reflect on life after winning a national championship and the unforgettable run that got the Gators there. Golden discusses the emotions of the Elite Eight, key victories over Auburn and Houston, and whether he’s already thinking about a back-to-back title run.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo joins Jon Rothstein for an unfiltered, wide-ranging conversation on the state of college basketball. Izzo opens up about balancing family life with the demands of today’s game, reflects on last season’s team, and explains the fulfillment he gets from maximizing his roster’s potential.

UCLA Head Coach chats with Jon Rothstein about his impact transfer Donovan Dent, the reason why you need to "get old and stay old" and how NIL and the transfer portal have altered college athletics.

Jon talks with the electrifying head coach of the UConn Huskies, Dan Hurley. Jon and Dan delve into the early parts of Hurley's coaching career, examine what went wrong last season, and how things look to change heading into the 2025-2026 season.

Legendary head coach Rick Pitino sits down with Jon Rothstein about forgiving the people at Louisville, his incoming recruiting class and more !