As we flip the calendar from November to December, the men’s college basketball landscape is already starting to take shape. A handful of teams have emerged from the early-season chaos looking like legitimate national title contenders. The usual suspects are making noise, but there are some new storylines worth tracking - and if the past few weeks are any indication, this season is going to be a wild ride.
Purdue: The Early Standard-Setter
Let’s start with Purdue, who’s sitting at a perfect 7-0 and looking every bit like a team built for March. The Boilermakers haven’t just been winning - they’ve been doing it against top-tier competition.
Road wins over No. 8 Alabama and No.
15 Texas Tech have sent a clear message: this team is for real. With their size, experience, and a frontcourt that’s as physical as any in the country, Purdue looks like the early favorite in the race for the top overall seed.
And off the court, they’re firmly in the mix for Caden Pierce - a recruiting battle that’s heating up fast. UConn might have something to say about that, though.
Arizona: Statement Wins and a Star at the Point
Arizona’s 7-0 start isn’t just impressive - it’s been dominant. The Wildcats have already taken down three ranked teams: No.
10 Florida, No. 18 UCLA, and No.
5 UConn. Jaden Bradley has been the engine, and he’s proving why he belongs in the conversation for best point guard in the country.
Arizona’s blend of pace, perimeter shooting, and defensive toughness is giving teams fits. They’ve got the kind of balance that wins in March.
Duke: Undefeated and Loaded with Talent
Duke is 8-0 and flexing its depth in a big way. Wins over Kansas, Texas, and No.
22 Arkansas have solidified the Blue Devils as a top-tier squad. And while the spotlight often shines on Cooper Flagg, don’t sleep on Cam Boozer - he might just end up being the better long-term prospect.
Duke’s roster is stacked with next-level talent, and they’re starting to gel in a way that should have the rest of the ACC on alert.
Michigan: Making Noise in the Desert
If you weren’t paying attention to Michigan before this past week, you are now. The Wolverines rolled into the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas and absolutely dominated, beating San Diego State, No.
21 Auburn, and No. 12 Gonzaga by a combined 110 points.
That’s not a typo. It was a statement stretch that vaulted Michigan into the national conversation.
With that kind of firepower and depth, they’ve got a real case for the No. 1 spot.
UConn: Bouncing Back and Building Momentum
The defending champs aren’t going anywhere. UConn has already taken down No.
9 BYU and, more recently, No. 13 Illinois at Madison Square Garden.
Their lone loss came to Arizona back on Nov. 19 - and they were missing key contributors Tarris Reed Jr. and Braylon Mullins in that game. Both returned against Illinois, and while they weren’t in midseason form just yet, their presence was felt.
The Huskies are 5-0 against Big Ten opponents over the past three seasons, and that doesn’t even include their exhibition win over Michigan State last month. Tuesday night’s showdown at Kansas looms large, and it could be a turning point for both teams.
Kansas: Heating Up Without Their Star
Speaking of Kansas - after a rocky start, the Jayhawks are trending up again. They just rattled off wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Tennessee in Vegas, all without Darryn Peterson, the freshman phenom who’s projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Whether he suits up Tuesday night against UConn remains to be seen, but even without him, Kansas looked sharp. Don’t be surprised when they reappear in the AP Top 25.
Other Teams Making Early Statements
- Iowa State is quietly 7-0 and already 2-0 against the Big East - 3-0 if you count Syracuse. The Cyclones are defending at an elite level and look like a team built to grind out wins in March.
- BYU captured the ESPN Events Invitational with a win over Dayton.
Sure, the Flyers are without Malachi Smith, but it’s still a solid early-season resume booster.
- Michigan State has looked much improved since their sluggish start back in late October. Tom Izzo’s group is rounding into form.
- Houston fans know better than to panic early.
The Cougars were 4-3 at this point last season and still nearly made it to the promised land. They’re built to peak late.
- Alabama is averaging an eye-popping 95.6 points per game. That offense is humming - and it’s not just pace, it’s precision.
- Louisville dropped 20 threes in a win over NJIT. Yes, it’s NJIT, but that kind of shooting can’t be ignored.
- Florida has a rising star in Xavian Lee, who’s starting to look like the Gators’ version of Aidan Mahaney - cool under pressure and capable of taking over late.
- Vanderbilt is the second-highest scoring team in the nation. The Commodores are flying a bit under the radar, but that offense is real.
- USC may not have won the Maui Invitational in its heyday, but they still had a solid week. The Trojans are building momentum.
- Gonzaga is a bit of a mixed bag right now. Wins over Alabama and Maryland in Vegas were impressive, but that 40-point loss to Michigan? That one stings.
- Illinois can’t seem to solve UConn, whether it’s in Boston, New York, or anywhere else. They’ll get another shot in Chicago next year.
- North Carolina heads into a marquee matchup against Kentucky on Tuesday. That one’s got “instant classic” written all over it.
- Tennessee followed up a big win over Houston with a missed opportunity against Kansas. Still, the Vols are battle-tested and dangerous.
- Texas Tech has quietly strung together 45 straight non-conference home wins. That’s the kind of consistency that builds confidence.
- SMU has Boopie Miller. That’s the headline. That’s the story.
- Seton Hall is off to a strong start, and Shaheen Holloway is already making a case for Big East Coach of the Year.
- Buffalo is one of just seven 8-0 teams in the country, and they’ve done it with two true road wins. That’s the kind of start that turns heads.
The picture will continue to evolve, but as December begins, we’ve already got a strong sense of who’s built to make a run - and who still has something to prove. With heavyweight matchups on the horizon and conference play just around the corner, buckle up. College basketball is just getting warmed up.