20 under-the-radar college basketball teams for 2026-27

Baylor didn't earn any votes in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 Poll, but it turned heads by beating No. 1 Florida and No. 3 Illinois during the exhibition run. Now, those games don't count, but it's still noteworthy. Junior guard Isaac Williams IV returns after he averaged 10.4 points in his first season with the Bears. Meanwhile, sophomore transfer Kayden Mingo from Penn State enjoyed a strong preseason after scoring 13.7 per game last season. Now that the games count, we'll see just how good the Bears can be.

In 2023-24, DePaul won three games. In the first two seasons under coach Chris Holtmann, the Blue Demons have won 30 games and snapped a five-game losing streak by going 16-16 in 2025-26. Now, we're not saying the Blue Demons are NCAA Tournament bound, but they could be good enough to record the program's first winning season since 2018-19. Layden Blocker (11.1 ppg) is an under-the-radar performer to watch in the Big East. 

The Seminoles finished eighth in the ACC last season and have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2021. However, their 18 wins from 2025-26 are the most since that same tournament season. Plenty of eyes should be fixed on 7-foot freshman Marcus Ponder. Meanwhile, Cincinnati transfer Shon Abaev has shown spurts of greatness, but needs to be consistently effective for coach Luke Loucks' squad to make serious noise in the ACC.

The Bulldogs have recorded three straight seasons with at least 20 wins and reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two campaigns. Even better for Georgia fans, it returns four key performers, highlighted by Blue Cain (13.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.6 apg), Smurf Millender (12.0 ppg, 4.1 apg), and Kanon Catchings (11.6 ppg). That experience should come in handy within the brutally tough SEC.

Bryce Drew has a good thing going at Grand Canyon, even though its run of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances ended last season -- and first in the Mountain West Conference. That said, college hoops experts think this could be Drew's best team in years. Jaden Henley (17.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.9 apg) is one of the MWC's best players, while Makaih Williams averaged a career-high 14.0 points last season. St. John's transfer Dylan Darling has played in plenty of big games during his career.

Another mid-major that likely won't sneak up on anybody, yet probably deserves more national love. The Panthers went 60-11 over the past two seasons, made the NCAA Tournament each year, and upset No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the 2026 first round. Cam'Ron Fletcher, entering his seventh collegiate season, was named the Big South Preseason Player of the Year after he averaged 13.2 points and 7.1 rebounds in 2025-26.

It's hard to believe Indiana University is more well known for its football team than its basketball program. However, the Hoosiers' three-year NCAA Tournament appearance drought could end thanks to a potentially stellar transfer class. When healthy, guard Markus Burton averaged 19.1 points in three seasons at Notre Dame, while Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell (11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) has star quality. Not to mention, Bryce Lindsay (Villanova), Samet Yigitoglu (SMU), and Jaeden Mustaf (Georgia Tech) each averaged double-figure points last season.

Was last season's 12-win campaign simply a bump in the road for Shaka Smart's program? Perhaps. Smart is too good a coach to let the Golden Eagles be anything but competitive in the Big East and beyond. With All-American-caliber Nigel James Jr. (16.4 ppg, 4.9 apg) returning for his sophomore season and Royce Parham (12.5 ppg), Milwaukee has talent. Remember the name Nolan Minessale, who averaged 19.8 points last season for St. Thomas (MN).

Buzz Williams' first season coaching the Terps ended with only 12 wins in 2025-26. However, star Pharrel Payne averaged 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in 10 games before a season-ending injury. He's healthy again, and adding veteran college guard DJ Wagner could help Maryland make some noise in the Big Ten. 

Favored to win the Mountain West, New Mexico is no stranger to success. It's won at least 22 games each of the last four seasons and made the NCAA Tournament twice and the NIT twice. The 2026-27 installment might be one of the most talented in recent years, with Jake Hall (16.3 ppg, 43.8 percent 3-point field percentage) and Uriah Tenette (10.6 ppg) leading the way.

Ohio State won 21 games and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years in 2025-26. John Mobley Jr. (15.7 ppg) returns, while touted freshman Anthony Thompson and Justin Pippen, who began his collegiate career at Michigan before averaging 14.2 points and nearly 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds for Cal last season, are nice additions for this sleeper Big Ten contender. 

Bryan Hodgson is coaching his third different program in four years. However, he won at least 20 games in each of his three seasons -- at Arkansas State and South Florida. Can he do the same at Providence? He last made the NCAA Tournament in 2023. Hodgson has some proven transfer talent in Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Malik Mack (Georgetown), Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic) and Arrinten Page (Northwestern). 

Yes, Purdue. Perennial Big Ten title contenders and usually favored for a deep NCAA Tournament run. However, recent stars Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn are gone, and the Boilermakers are not ranked to begin the season. So, expectations are tempered for now. That said, C.J. Cox has the potential for a breakout season. Meanwhile, 7-foot-4 Daniel Jacobsen and guard Anione West Jr. have a chance to make names for themselves this season. Also, it's never wise to underestimate a Matt Painter-coached team.

With Gonzaga's days in the West Coast Conference behind them, Santa Clara opens as the preseason favorite. Coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996, the Broncos lost some of their more potent offensive performers, but place guards Sash Gavalyugov and Jake Ensminger on the preseason all-conference team. 

Plenty of eyes will be on the Orange this season, mostly because favorite son Gerry McNamara is the new head coach. After two straight losing seasons, the Orange are banking on a restart with McNamara to help restore glory -- or at least a winning season -- to the storied program that last made the NCAA Tournament in 2021. McNamara comes over from Siena, where he brings along Gavin Doty (18.0 ppg), who has the potential to be among the best in the Big East. 

Another mid-major that won't surprise after going 56-15 the last two seasons and making the NCAA Tournament both years. However, are the Rams good enough to truly make an underdog run come March? VCU is the preseason favorite in the Atlantic 10, with Lazar Djokovic (13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), reigning A10 Rookie of the Year Nyk Lewis, and defensive standout Brandon Jennings all back in the mix. 

Following a fourth straight season without an NCAA Tournament appearance, the Hokies have again revamped their roster under coach Mike Young. Oklahoma State transfer Jaylen Curry (10.1 ppg, 3.5 apg) and Isaiah Elohim, who averaged 12.4 points at Florida Atlantic last season, are the most intriguing of the transfer options. However, returners Amani Hansberry (14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.4 apg) and Ben Hammond (13.2 ppg) will lead the way for a club that might be deep enough to turn heads.

Reigning title holders of the Crown championship, the Mountaineers won 21 games last season and added a proven scorer and 3-point threat in former Butler up-and-comer Finley Bizjack (17.1 ppg; 36.1 career 3-point field-goal percentage). Not to mention, West Virginia also boasts one of the game's top freshmen in exciting Canadian guard Miles Sadler. Could this be the year the Mountaineers return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2023? 

Wichita State's last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2021, but it made the NIT each of the last two seasons. Remarkably, the Shockers return 11 players from last season's 24-win squad, a marvel in the NIL and transfer portal era. Kenyon Giles averaged 19.1 points and shot nearly 38 percent from three-point range last season for Wichita State, which is a sexy underdog choice out of the gate. 

The Badgers have won at least 20 games in five consecutive seasons, but lost stars John Blackwell and Nick Boyd. Still, budding star, seven-footer Nolan Winter (13.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg) returns for a program that always seems to find a way to be competitive. Wisconsin is unranked to start this season, but we expect Greg Gard's group to crack the Top 25 at some point. Keep an eye on Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer, who averaged 12.7 points and nearly 6 rebounds last season.