"It has been 37 days since the men's college basketball season began -- and what a wild opening stretch it has been. The freshmen class quickly emerged as one of the best in the history of the sport. The group is so good that Washington's Hannes Steinbach, at an average of 18.5 points and 12.8 rebounds, is projected as the 21st pick in ESPN's 2026 NBA mock draft. The early"
"In the four seasons between 2021-22 and 2024-25, KenPom's final Player of the Year rankings featured four freshmen combined: Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero in 2022, Brandon Miller in 2023 and Cooper Flagg in 2025. That's the same number of freshmen included in this season's rankings. That list begins with Cameron Boozer. Duke's star has a higher offensive rating on KenPom than Flagg or Zion Williamson, the past two National Player of the Year winners produced by the Blue Devils, finished their award-winning seasons with"
Thirty-seven days into the season, freshman talent and high-level team play have defined a wild opening stretch. The freshman class stands out historically, with Washington's Hannes Steinbach averaging 18.5 points and 12.8 rebounds and projecting as a 2026 NBA draft pick. Early games have separated legitimate title contenders from pretenders, highlighted by Michigan's 40-point win over Gonzaga. Top teams exhibit strong play, deep talent pools, elite coaching, and electric atmospheres. The season is building toward a potentially spectacular finale in Indianapolis. The freshman class may be the best of the one-and-done era, led by Cameron Boozer.
Read at ESPN.com
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