NCAA basketball 2026-27 predictions: from JuJu Watkins to Tyran Stokes, the names you’ll know by March

What are you most looking forward to, on or off the court?Lots of stuff. The return of JuJu Watkins at USC after her 19-month injury layoff, the debut of Tyran Stokes at Kansas, the potential turnaround of the Big East on the men’s side, and the stacked ACC on the women’s side. Ella BrockwayJuJu Watkins’ return from injury, obviously, but also the question of whether college hoops can maintain any sense of continuity in the transfer portal era. Michigan won the men’s natty in April, then lost their coach to the NBA and watched much of their roster disintegrate. Florida, meanwhile, have managed to keep the majority of the core from their 2025 title team together. Which model wins out? Bryan Armen GrahamMultiple things, but top of mind: Like many fans of women’s college basketball, I’m already excited by what JuJu Watkins has shown in the preseason. She’s been away from the court for a long time, and it will be thrilling to see the presumptive No 1 draft pick take over again. Stephanie KaloiThe new-look Pac-12 Conference. This nine-team league has only two schools that were previously in the Pac-12 and adds five schools from the Mountain West, plus powerhouse Gonzaga from the WCC and Texas State from the Sun Belt. An interesting mix of playing styles, from one of the nation’s best defenses in San Diego State to one of the most efficient offenses year in and year out in Gonzaga. Nicholas LevineThe new 76-team format for men’s and women’s March Madness is …… not good nor necessary nor something that I think will affect most people’s consumption of March Madness. If the tournament is going to expand, I think we should full-send it and go to 128 with first-round games on campus. EB… a solution in search of a problem. When the deadline for most office pools is still Thursday at 12pm Eastern, the games on Tuesday and Wednesday have always felt like the tournament’s waiting room. Now we’re just making that waiting room bigger. BAGUSC star JuJu Watkins returns to the court after a long injury layoff as one of the leading contenders for national player of the year honors. Photograph: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images… potentially cool! I’m cautiously optimistic that this is more than just another money grab for the NCAA. Hopefully, it means more surprise wins from underdog programs that might not otherwise get a shot at the tournament. SK… fine. Like most people, I’m a “64 just feels so clean and right” guy. I like seeing more quality teams get a chance to compete, but expansion also hurts more of the lower-seeded automatic qualifiers, who now have to play in the First 12 on Tuesday and Wednesday. NLThe surprise package of the season will be …The Miami men won 26 games last season but were knocked out in the second round of the tournament. With 6ft 9in forward Malik Reneau back for a fifth year, they’re a top-10 team and a Final Four contender. I’m also excited about Jasmine Bascoe, one of the best point guards in the country last season, running it back for year three with the Villanova women. EBThe Michigan women have never reached a Final Four, but they return their top six scorers from an Elite Eight team. Olivia Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Holloway have grown up together and the Big Ten could be there for the taking with defending champions UCLA in a rebuild. BAGI think the Michigan women will make more noise than they have in recent years. They finished third in their conference last season, and beyond the usual suspects like South Carolina and UConn, the women’s game feels less predictable than it has in some time. SKThe Arizona State men. Randy Bennett spent 25 seasons building Saint Mary’s into one of the country’s most consistent programs, winning 20-plus games 19 times and reaching 12 NCAA Tournaments. An early adopter of the ball-screen-heavy offense now commonplace across the sport, Bennett brings his tactical acumen and attention to detail to a Sun Devils roster loaded with size and skill. Look for ASU to shake up the Big 12. NLMichigan State coach Tom Izzo and guard Jeremy Fears Jr look on during the second half of the Spartans’ Sweet 16 matchup with UConn in Washington DC last March. Photograph: Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesWhich team in either preseason top 10 will struggle?In a world where 76 (seventy-six!) teams make the NCAA Tournament, all of these teams should be safe. For the sake of the exercise, I’ll pick the Tennessee men. Of the top teams in the SEC, they probably have the lowest possible floor. EBThe Michigan men lost four starters, coach Dusty May to the NBA’s Mavericks and blue-chip recruit Brandon McCoy to a season-ending knee injury. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney give them an elite backcourt, but expecting the Wolverines to remain among the top flight of contenders after so much upheaval feels optimistic. BAGThe Notre Dame women are in an interesting position. Missing the tournament entirely feels like a stretch, but they’re relying on a lot of young talent this season. UCLA are also rebuilding after losing several seniors to graduation, though the defending champions have earned some breathing room as they put together their next contender. SKTexas Tech men. There is no one in the country more reliant on their fifth-year players remaining eligible than the Red Raiders. If they don’t go three-for-three in their eligibility lawsuits, they simply won’t have enough talent to earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. NLThe men’s national player of the year will be …Jeremy Fears Jr, Michigan State. Last season’s national assists leader takes a step up – and maybe even takes the Spartans to their first Final Four since 2019. EBThomas Haugh, Florida. The 6ft 9in forward could already be earning an NBA paycheck, but instead he’s back in Gainesville alongside Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. His versatility and experience make him the centerpiece of a team with legitimate title ambitions. BAGMichigan’s Olivia Olson, Mila Holloway and Syla Swords take the court against Oakland in Ann Arbor last December. The Wolverines enter the new season hoping to build on their third-place Big Ten finish Photograph: Jaime Crawford/Getty ImagesThomas Haugh, Florida. He’s a player I’m watching closely. Passing up strong NBA draft prospects to stick with the program is already a compelling storyline. SKDavid Mirković, Illinois. The 6ft 9in forward from Montenegro suffered a foot injury over the summer and has yet to be cleared to play. Once healthy, the skilled big man will be the best player on one of the best teams in the country. Coach Brad Underwood gives his players the freedom to play to their strengths, and Mirković should be highly productive on both ends of the court. NLThe women’s national player of the year will be …JuJu Watkins, USC. The four-way race between Watkins, Sarah Strong, Hannah Hidalgo and Mikayla Blakes will be the highlight of the season. I’m picking JuJu. EBSarah Strong, UConn. With Azzi Fudd having moved on to the WNBA, the reigning national player of the year becomes the undisputed centerpiece of Geno Auriemma’s offense. Strong’s cocktail of scoring, rebounding, passing and defensive instincts is almost unfair. Watkins will generate more headlines, but Strong could put together the more complete season. BAGJuJu Watkins, USC. Sarah Strong is a close second, and I think we’ll see these two battle it out all season. Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes is another to keep an eye on. SKJuju Watkins, USC. Not only could the consensus 2024-25 All-American win national player of the year honors, but she could go down as one of the greatest college players of all time. If her supporting cast can take some of the offensive pressure off her, look for Watkins to lead the Trojans on a deep tournament run. NLKansas freshman Tyran Stokes goes up for a lay-up against Louisville during an exhibition game in Lawrence. The highly touted forward is among the leading contenders to be the No 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesThe hottest NBA prospect is …Tyran Stokes, Kansas. The 6ft 7in freshman is the front-runner among the standout freshman prospects. On the older end, Motiejus Krivas could boost himself into the top-five pick conversation with another year at Arizona. EBTyran Stokes, Kansas. He looks like he was designed in a lab for maximum appeal to professional scouts: explosive, versatile, capable of creating his own shot and jumping out of the gym. His jump shot and decision-making remain works in progress, but the physical tools appear to have no ceiling. BAGEveryone is very excited about Tyran Stokes at Kansas, so I’ll hop on the bandwagon. But he’s got a lot to learn in just a handful of months. Caleb Holt is another dynamic player who should cause a ruckus at Arizona this season. SKTyran Stokes, Kansas. The best high school player in the country last season should follow in Darryn Peterson’s footsteps as a one-and-done Jayhawk. The 6ft 7in wing has an NBA-ready body and the athleticism to guard almost any position. Early signs suggest he can get into the paint and be productive once he’s there. If he continues to develop his perimeter game, he could be the first player taken in the 2027 NBA draft. NLThe hottest WNBA prospect is …Watkins will go No 1 in 2027, but the No 2 pick should be Madison Booker of Texas. The pro scouts will be watching to see what jump her already well-rounded game can take. EBHannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame. At 5ft 6in, she defies the prototype of a modern professional guard. But few players in the country can match her combination of scoring, defensive disruption and sheer competitive motor. The question is whether her diminutive frame limits her professional prospects. I’m betting her talent and tenacity win out. BAGUConn’s Sarah Strong grabs a rebound in front of Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo during a January meeting in Storrs. Both return this season among the leading contenders for national player of the year honors. Photograph: Joe Buglewicz/Getty ImagesI’m going to stick with JuJu Watkins, but Madison Booker cannot and should not be ignored. Ultimately, this may come down to what each team needs most. SKJuJu Watkins, USC. She appears to be a no-brainer as the best WNBA prospect. Not only does she have great size and athleticism, but she also checks the “smart, tough, skilled” boxes all coaches are looking for. NLOne bold predictionThe expanded tournament won’t generate much of a reaction. Expansion is the way of the future, from the World Cup to tennis majors to leagues themselves, because more teams means more games means more money. This year’s tournaments will probably feel bloated and include a few more lopsided results, but I suspect most fans will either begrudgingly enjoy an extra upset or two – or just skip the play-in round entirely and tune in starting Thursday. EBRick Pitino takes St John’s to the Final Four. The Red Storm have won 61 games and two Big East tournament titles over the past two seasons, but haven’t advanced beyond the Sweet 16. With a formidable NIL war chest and a 74-year-old Hall of Fame coach who cannot go on forever, the urgency is palpable. This is the year Pitino delivers the program’s first Final Four appearance since 1985 – an outcome that suddenly feels natural with the Liberty and Knicks having primed the pump by ending decades-long droughts of their own in recent years. BAGAfter an OK first season and an absolutely brutal second under head coach Kim Caldwell, I think Tennessee’s women will surprise a lot of people. They’ve brought in a strong, enthusiastic group, and there’s something powerful about rebuilding a roster from scratch. Caldwell is such a unique force in college basketball. I think they’ll make a serious push come tournament time. SKThe New Mexico men win the new-look Mountain West and make a tournament run. Eric Olen is in his second year in Albuquerque and has retained All-Mountain West first-teamer Jake Hall, the preseason conference player of the year, along with backcourt partner Uriah Tenette. The Lobos have also added a mix of European pros and transfers. The last time Olen had this much skill and positional size, he led UC San Diego to 31 wins and an NCAA tournament appearance. Grand Canyon will provide the stiffest competition in the conference, but look for Olen and the Lobos not only to secure the automatic bid but also to reach the Sweet 16. NLDuke’s bench react during an exhibition game against Tennessee at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils enter the new season among the favorites for the men’s national championship after two consecutive March Madness disappointments. Photograph: Jared C Tilton/Getty ImagesMen’s Final FourArizona, Duke, Florida, Illinois. EBArizona, Florida, Illinois, St John’s. BAGDuke, Florida, Michigan, UConn. SKArizona, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State. NLMen’s national championDuke. I’ve spent too much of my life watching the Blue Devils (albeit from the other side of the Tobacco Road rivalry) to believe they’ll let a third straight NCAA Tournament heartbreak happen. They have a deep roster, but their biggest threats will be from Florida and Illinois, who also spent the offseason retaining and retooling. EBFlorida. In a sport increasingly defined by roster turnover, Todd Golden has achieved something remarkable: keeping much of his 2025 championship core together. Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu give the Gators the kind of experienced, physically imposing frontcourt that grinds out wins in March. Duke may have more individual talent, but the Gators have something harder to manufacture: continuity. BAGUConn. That loss to the Wolverines was a tough pill to swallow, and I expect they’ll come back laser-focused on getting the biggest win of all this season. There’s plenty of motivation to go one better. SKIllinois. The Fighting Illini have experienced returners who are proven winners. With an international-heavy roster and great size and skill at every position, they’re a matchup nightmare for opponents. At one point last season, they had the highest offensive efficiency rating of the KenPom era. The health of David Mirković and Andrej Stojaković will be critical, but their combination of skill and winning experience gives them the edge over powers like Duke and Florida for me. NLWomen’s Final FourNotre Dame, South Carolina, UConn, USC. EBMichigan, South Carolina, UConn, USC. BAGMichigan, South Carolina, UConn, USC. SKLSU, South Carolina, UConn, USC. NLWomen’s national championSouth Carolina were embarrassed in the national title game against UCLA last season. Dawn Staley and co will use that as fuel. The Gamecocks have a gauntlet of a schedule, but they also have valuable depth that will pay off in November and in March. EBSouth Carolina. Dawn Staley has enough frontcourt talent to field two formidable teams, with Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins headlining an embarrassment of riches. Add Tessa Johnson’s experience and a promising collection of newcomers and the Gamecocks look built to withstand just about anything. Last April’s title-game humiliation against UCLA should provide all the motivation they need. BAGSouth Carolina, probably, and I’m making my peace with it, despite always enjoying the possibility of a surprise. Dawn Staley continues to build teams that are light years ahead of the rest. And after losing last season’s championship, I suppose the Gamecocks are underdogs in a way. Their talented freshmen should fit in nicely alongside the veterans. SKUSC. I’m sticking with the JuJu theme and predicting she’ll lead the Trojans past their crosstown rivals UCLA. The generational star will most likely turn pro after this season, but not before cutting down the nets in Columbus. NL