Other notable schools considered competitive include Michigan, BYU, Kentucky, and Louisville, indicating a wide field of potential top teams.

The article notes that Purdue and Houston are expected to dominate early preseason rankings, with the season set to begin in less than two months, promising an exciting year of college basketball.

CBS Sports' annual Candid Coaches survey predicts Purdue as the top men's college basketball team for the 2025-26 season, with 32% of coaches voting for them, followed by Houston with 28%, and Duke with 8%.

Coaches highlight Purdue's consistency, roster continuity, experienced players including returning All-Americans, and a strong coaching staff led by Matt Painter as reasons for their top ranking.

Houston is praised for its high-level talent, retention of key players, strong culture under Kelvin Sampson, and the return of talented big men, making them a serious contender.

Previous seasons' predictions for top teams have varied, with some predictions aligning with final results (like Houston in 2023) and others missing (like Kansas in 2024).

Historical accuracy of coaches’ preseason predictions shows mixed results; last year, Kansas was predicted top but finished unranked, while Houston reached the national title game, illustrating unpredictability.

St. John's is recognized for their disciplined, gritty style under Rick Pitino, with a talented roster and a potential sleeper for top honors, despite receiving fewer votes.