Inside College Basketball Now

The 2026-27 college basketball season is HERE! Jon Rothstein breaks down the biggest storylines entering opening week, including why Florida and Duke look like the top two teams in the country, how close UConn is to joining that conversation, and why player eligibility could shape the entire season. Plus, can Kansas return to national prominence? What does the expanded 76-team NCAA Tournament mean for March Madness? And what should fans expect from Michigan under new head coach Mike Boynton? Jon also previews five must-watch opening week matchups, including Miami vs. Florida, Purdue vs. Gonzaga, Arizona vs. UCLA, and more! We'll also dive into Memphis' brutal opening schedule, Quinn Ellis' impressive start at St. John's, and answer your college basketball questions.

Jon Rothstein reveals his Top 45 teams heading into the 2026-2027 college basketball season.

The 2026-27 college basketball season is days away. Jon Rothstein reveals his first, second and third team All-Americans for the year. Who does Jon think will be the best of the best?

(0:00) Intro + Jon’s Preseason All-Americans

(4:10) First Team All-Americans

(11:10) Second Team All-Americans

(19:40) Third Team All-Americans

(23:00) Honorable Mentions

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🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW

We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.

Rick Pitino joins Jon Rothstein to discuss his success at Madison Square Garden, expectations for St. John's this season, and what it will take for the Red Storm to reach the Final Four. Pitino shares his candid assessment of a roster still learning how to play together, breaks down key players including Quinn Ellis, Ruben Prey and Tounde Yessoufou, and reflects on recent NCAA Tournament disappointments. Plus, his thoughts on Duke, Kentucky, a potential 76-team NCAA Tournament, the importance of Mike Repole to St. John's basketball, and why he still loves coaching.

Jon Rothstein gives 5 bold predictions for the upcoming college basketball season. Can Tom Izzo bring the Spartans back to the Final Four? Will the SEC reign supreme again?

Plus, conversation about new-look Georgetown looking to compete with head coach Ed Cooley and why Rothstein is high on USC heading into this college basketball season.

(0:00) - Intro
(1:30) - Bold Prediction 1: Michigan State
(7:35) - Bold Prediction 2: USC
(13:50) - Bold Prediction 3: SEC
(21:10) - Bold Prediction 4: Georgetown
(27:57) - Bold Prediction 5: New Mexico

Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland joins Jon Rothstein to reflect on his coaching journey, the Red Raiders' recent success, and the challenges of building a winning program in today's college basketball landscape. McCasland discusses handling adversity, learning from disappointment, JT Toppin's status, and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding NCAA eligibility.

Looking ahead, McCasland breaks down Texas Tech's 2026-27 roster, its challenging schedule, and the biggest keys to making another deep NCAA Tournament run.

(0:00) Grant McCasland

(0:30) First Memory

(1:50) Early Success

(4:20) Handling Struggles

(6:52) Experiencing Disappointment

(9:20) JT Toppin

(12:05) Eligibility Questions

(16:54) NCAA Landscape

(19:56) 2026-27 Roster

(22:04) NCAA Tournament

(23:54) Strength of Schedule

(26:58) Biggest Keys

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Jon Rothstein tackles the biggest burning questions surrounding the Big 12 ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season. With Houston and Arizona leading the pack, is there a true favorite? How many NCAA Tournament bids could the conference earn in a potential 76-team field?

Plus, can Kansas return to national prominence with the addition of Trey Kaufman-Renn? Rothstein also breaks down Texas Tech's loaded roster, why West Virginia could be a sleeper, and what to expect from one of college basketball's deepest conferences.

(0:00) Intro

(0:45) Big 12 Conference Favorites

(3:58) NCAA Tournament Bids

(12:45) Can Kansas Return to Dominance?

(18:30) Texas Tech Expectations

(22:30) Big 12 Sleeper Team

🎥 WATCH

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🎧 LISTEN

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• Download and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eye-on-college-basketball/id268800565

• Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRmmslKzdQ5AtGlXiM?si=9443b63851324a18

• Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now/id1823022867

Jon Rothstein is BACK answering 5 of his biggest questions surrounding the Big East.

(0:30) 2-team race

(5:15) UConn X-Factor

(13:00) St. John's

(18:55) How many teams in tournament?

(23:45) Who is the sleeper?

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few joins Jon Rothstein to reflect on 37 years with the Bulldogs, from his early days as a graduate assistant to building one of college basketball's most consistent national powers. Few discusses Gonzaga's rise from Cinderella to perennial contender, his Hall of Fame career, and why he's remained loyal to the program.

Coming off a 31-4 season, Few also previews the 2026-27 Bulldogs, including Braden Huff, Massamba Diop, Davis Fogle, and key newcomers. Plus, Gonzaga's move to the Pac-12, its challenging non-conference schedule, and the biggest keys to success this season.

(0:00) Welcome Mark Few

(0:30) John Stockton

(0:52) Coaching Career

(2:05) 1999 Team

(3:40) Becoming Head Coach

(4:58) From Cinderella to Elite

(8:50) March Madness Consistency

(11:29) Hall of Fame

(13:50) Staying at Gonzaga

(15:30) Upcoming Season

(17:34) Braden Huff

(19:22) Massamba Diop

(20:10) Davis Fogle

(21:25) Newcomers

(23:00) Pac-12 Conference

(24:50) Non-Conference Schedule

(28:38) Keys to Success

(30:10) Who Plays Mark Few?

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Jon Rothstein is BACK answering 5 of his biggest questions surrounding the SEC.

0:00 Intro

0:50 Who is the SEC’s best team after Florida?

8:03 How good is Kentucky?

13:26 What should we expect from LSU?

18:55 How many teams from the SEC will play in the 2027 NCAA Tournament?

22:18 Who is the sleeper?

Jon Rothstein identifies 5 burning questions for the ACC heading into the 2026-27 college basketball season.

(0:00) Intro + 5 questions for the ACC

(0:50) Can anyone challenge Duke?

(7:15) What are reasonable expectations for Michael Malone’s first season at UNC?

(15:00) What kind of impact will the Class of 2022 have on the ACC’s perception?

(20:02) Will the ACC get mileage out of its diminished brands?

(23:50) Who are the sleepers in the ACC?

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📖 READ

• More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/

🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW

We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.

Jon Rothstein answers his biggest questions surrounding the Big Ten.

0:00 Intro

1:02 Does the Big Ten have a clear-cut favorite?

6:02 What can Michigan do for an encore?

13:16 What will Purdue look like without Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn?

19:18 How many teams from the Big Ten will play in the 2027 NCAA tournament?

28:16 Who is the sleeper in the Big Ten?

Jon Rothstein identifies five dark horse candidates for the 2027 Final Four. Will one of these teams make a surprise run to Detroit?

(0:00) Intro + Let’s talk dark horse Final Four teams!

(1:35) Injuries are the biggest question for USC

(6:01) St. John’s still has Rick Pitino and a very good perimeter

(12:44) Virginia is hiding in plain sight

(16:08) Arkansas’ defense will be a real issue in the tournament

(20:42) Miami has impressive talent on the roster

🎥 WATCH

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🎧 LISTEN

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• Download and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eye-on-college-basketball/id268800565

• Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRmmslKzdQ5AtGlXiM?si=9443b63851324a18

• Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now/id1823022867

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📖 READ

• More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/

🛍️SUPPORT

• Shop our merch: https://www.paramountshop.com/collections/eye-on-college-basketball

🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW

We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.

Jon Rothstein dishes out 10 non-power-conference college basketball teams to watch out for during the 2026-27 season.

(0:00) Intro + Let’s talk non-power conference teams to watch

(2:00) Gonzaga is starting a new era

(6:10) Utah State in year one under Ben Jacobson

(8:56) San Diego State is trying to right the ship in the NIL era

(13:12) Santa Clara has the resources to be the standard of new WCC

(16:40) Saint Mary’s has a guy following the guy on the sideline

(18:56) VCU is coming off a win over UNC in the NCAA Tournament

(21:30) Saint Louis has retention uncommon for a non-power-conference program

(23:35) Penn has former high-major talent headlining its roster

(25:50) New Mexico has a great backcourt

(27:45) UC Irvine has a very good coach leading the way

🎥 WATCH

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🎧 LISTEN

• Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRmmslKzdQ5AtGlXiM?si=9443b63851324a18

• Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now/id1823022867

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📖 READ

• More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/

🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW

We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.

Jon Rothstein breaks down his top ten most anticipated non-conference matchups of the 2026 -2027 season.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:30) - 10th game

(3:07) - 9th game

(5:10) - 8th game

(7:00) - 7th game

(8:40) - 6th game

(10:30) - 5th game

(12:15) - 4th game

(14:15) - 3rd game

(16:42) - 2nd game

(18:13) - 1st game

Jon Rothstein is back breaking down some of the TOP non-conference matchups to watch ahead of the 2026-27 CBB season.

0:00 Intro

1:30 No. 20: Xavier at Cincinnati

4:03 No. 19: Kentucky at Virginia

5:37 No. 18: Michigan at Villanova

7:11 No. 17: UCLA vs. Gonzaga

9:38 No. 16: Indiana vs. Kentucky

11:53 No. 15: Arizona at St. John’s

14:19 No. 14: Arkansas vs. Michigan State

16:54 No. 13: UConn vs. Illinois

219:57 No. 12: UConn vs. Virginia

22:47 No. 11: Kentucky vs. North Carolina

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer joins the show for an in-depth conversation about entering his fifth season leading the Blue Devils, taking over for Coach K and what he’s learned since stepping into one of the biggest jobs in college basketball. Scheyer discusses his relationship with Coach K, the succession plan at Duke, last season’s Elite Eight loss to UConn and how he evaluates a successful season without a championship attached. He also addresses NBA interest, including the Mavericks job, and why he remains committed to Duke. Plus, Scheyer previews this year’s Blue Devils, breaking down the roster’s depth, returning players, John Blackwell, the newcomers and freshman class, potential four-guard lineups, the schedule and what it will take for Duke to get back to the Final Four.

Jon Rothstein breaks down some unexpected teams to look out for.

Jon Rothstein identifies 15 players that will become stars during the 2026-27 college basketball season. Did your team's best player make the list?

(0:00) Intro

(2:10) David Mirkovic

(4:15) Trey McKenney

(5:40) Shelton Henderson

(7:40) Jordan Scott

(9:30) Alijah Arenas

(11:45) Killyan Toure

(13:10) Trent Perry

(15:15) Jaylen Petty

(17:00) Pryce Sandfort

(18:35) David Punch

(21:25) Chance Mallory

(22:55) Billy Richmond III

(24:30) Braden Huff

(25:35) Amari Allen

(26:55) Rob Wright III

🎥 WATCH

• Subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CBSSportsCBB

• Watch CBS Sports HQ: https://cbssports.com/live

• Watch CBS Sports Network on your TV or the CBS Sports App with your cable provider

🎧 LISTEN

• Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRmmslKzdQ5AtGlXiM?si=9443b63851324a18

• Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now/id1823022867

📱FOLLOW

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▶︎Jon Rothstein: https://x.com/JonRothstein

📖 READ

• More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/

🛍️SUPPORT

• Shop our merch: https://www.paramountshop.com/collections/eye-on-college-basketball

🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW

We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.

Jon Rothstein gives you 11 head coaches to keep an eye on in 2026-27. Jon identifies 10 head coaches on the rise in the 2025-26 college basketball season that you could see on a power conference sideline in the near future.

0:00 - Intro

1:20 - Josh Schertz

5:00 - Tony Skinn

7:10 - Phil Martelli Jr

10:00 - Flynn Clayton

13:40 - Takayo Siddle

15:30 - Speedy Claxton

17:10 - Travis Steele

18:37- Eric Olen

21:22 - Kenny Blakeney

22:50 - Nolan Smith

24:30 - Bill Armstrong