Freshmen Shine, Upsets Emerge: Men’s Basketball Season Openers

The commencement of men’s collegiate basketball after an extended hiatus of over six months provided considerable excitement.

Impressive introductions from highly regarded freshman athletes underscored the proceedings, most notably Koa Peat’s remarkable 30-point effort during No. 13 Arizona’s surprising 93-87 victory over the reigning champion, No. 3 Florida.

In another contest, No. 20 Auburn narrowly avoided defeat against Bethune-Cookman, securing a 95-90 overtime victory in what marked Steven Pearl’s inaugural match as the new head coach, succeeding his father, Bruce.

What perspectives did ESPN’s analysts offer regarding the opening night of the 2025-26 season? Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi, and Myron Medcalf provide detailed analyses below.

How formidable did Florida appear in its capacity to defend its championship, despite the setback against Arizona?

The Gators need not be disheartened by their loss to No. 13 Arizona, a legitimate Big 12 contender that demonstrated to the college basketball community on Monday that it possesses a star in Peat, who harbors aspirations of being named Big 12 Player of the Year.

Thomas Haugh demonstrated his adaptability in the small forward position, amassing an impressive 27 points; however, Florida’s frontcourt struggled to impede Peat’s drives to the basket.

Within the Gators’ backcourt, Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland exhibited moments of synchronicity, highlighting the advantages of employing two point guards. With less than nine minutes remaining, Lee — an All-Ivy League honoree at Princeton for the preceding two seasons — executed a no-look pass to Fland, the former Arkansas standout, who finished in the lane while drawing a foul. Nevertheless, there were instances in which they reverted to their instincts, resulting in an inconsistent offensive flow due to both natural distributors potentially forcing too many shots.

Florida’s defensive vulnerabilities — the Gators conceded 50 points in the paint — constitute their primary concern following Monday’s defeat. Furthermore, the cohesiveness required for the Gators to pursue another championship will necessitate further time to develop within their new backcourt. Irrespective of the loss, Florida possesses the requisite talent to mount another significant campaign. — Medcalf

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Could Koa Peat establish himself as a contender for freshman of the year recognition?

Peat delivered one of the most impressive collegiate debuts in recent memory, amassing 30 points, securing 7 rebounds, distributing 5 assists, and executing 3 steals in a victory over Florida — against what was perceived to be the nation’s premier returning frontcourt.

The versatile forward was regarded as the West Coast equivalent of Cameron Boozer in the class of 2025, achieving considerable success at both the high school and international levels while maintaining consistent performance throughout his four years. He is now making a case that the widely touted trio of Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Boozer at the top of this class is, at the very least, a fearsome foursome.

According to ESPN Research, Peat became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to record 30 points and 5 assists in his debut. He appeared poised to lead a talented Arizona team this season. — Borzello

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How did AJ Dybantsa perform in his debut for BYU?

Dybantsa may reflect on some missed layups and free throws (converting only 2 of 7 attempts from the line), but the top-ranked recruit still managed 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in No. 8 BYU’s 71-66 victory over Villanova. More crucially, he executed significant plays during the critical stages of the second half.

With the score level at 59, Dybantsa accounted for six of the subsequent eight points, utilizing various offensive methods. While he encountered some unexpected resistance at the rim on a few occasions, he generally succeeded in reaching his preferred positions for short midrange jumpers or finishes near the basket.

Dybantsa’s combination of size, athleticism, body control, and playmaking skills renders him a formidable challenge for most defenders. — Borzello

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Peterson initiated his performance with a 3-pointer and a dunk prior to the first timeout and maintained his momentum through the first half. The potential NBA No. 1 pick accumulated 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 17 first-half minutes, and as the game’s outcome became evident, Bill Self opted not to utilize his star freshman extensively after the break. Peterson logged only five second-half minutes, concluding with 21 points.

He showcased his characteristically efficient offensive play, converting 7 of 11 field-goal attempts and sinking three 3-pointers. A noteworthy positive aspect for Kansas’s overall offense was the potential for a dominant inside-outside combination between Peterson and Flory Bidunga (23 points), with Bidunga clearly assuming a primary role following Peterson. The utilization of Bidunga as a high-usage option in the post was not observed during his freshman year or in the exhibition games in October, but it would prove advantageous for Peterson from a balance perspective. The upcoming game against North Carolina will provide further insights into both Peterson and Bidunga. — Borzello

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What observations can be made regarding the debuts of other freshmen?

Each player’s standing in the SC Next 100 rankings for the class of 2025 is indicated parenthetically.

Nate Ament (No. 4), Tennessee

Ament faced scrutiny following his performance against Duke in last month’s exhibition contest, particularly concerning his shot selection and offensive efficiency. He demonstrated considerable improvement in Monday’s 76-61 victory over Mercer, converting 6 of 11 field-goal attempts to finish with 18 points and nine rebounds. His activity on the boards has been notably impressive early on, given his productivity in that area against the Blue Devils. Ament’s usage moving forward is virtually assured, as Rick Barnes’s team requires the freshman’s offensive explosiveness. The shotmaking prowess that made him highly sought after at the high school level will materialize over time. — Borzello

Caleb Wilson (No. 5), North Carolina

The five-star recruit holds a distinction that even Michael Jordan cannot claim. Following his 22-point performance over 25 minutes in a 94-54 victory over Central Arkansas, Wilson became the fifth North Carolina freshman to register 20 or more points in his debut, according to ESPN Research. The 6-foot-8 standout and his teammates faced an opponent ranked 348 out of 365 teams in KenPom’s preseason rankings, indicating that the challenges ahead will only intensify. Nonetheless, Wilson (also contributing 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) influenced the game on multiple fronts with an efficient effort from the freshman. — Medcalf

Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7) and Meleek Thomas (No. 11), Arkansas

John Calipari boasts a proven history with elite guards. Derrick Rose, John Wall, De’Aaron Fox, and others have been the cornerstones of Calipari’s most successful teams. Acuff and Thomas could potentially follow in their footsteps after the duo combined for 53 points (7-for-15 from 3), 11 assists, 4 steals, and only 3 turnovers in Monday’s 109-77 victory over Southern. These talented freshmen could emerge as the catalysts for a team featuring veterans such as Trevon Brazile (25 points on Monday). It was an impressive debut for Arkansas’s young guards. — Medcalf

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How did Steven Pearl’s inaugural game as the leader of Auburn unfold?

Pearl’s debut match unfolded in a manner that exceeded the most pessimistic expectations.

Bethune-Cookman, a plus-25.5 underdog according to ESPN BET prior to the game, exited the arena with a sense of accomplishment after pushing the No. 20 Tigers to overtime on their home court. The Wildcats (ranked 236th on KenPom) held a lead with 2:05 remaining and subsequently made three free throws at the end of regulation to extend the game into overtime. While Pearl’s squad ultimately secured a victory in his first game, any optimistic projections concerning Auburn as a potential SEC dark horse — with Tahaad Pettiford being the sole player on the team who had previously played in the Final Four last season — were likely tempered by Monday’s performance.

The Tigers face significant challenges ahead after narrowly avoiding defeat at home against a team that converted 55% of its 3-point attempts. — Medcalf

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Which team within the top 25 produced the most surprising performance?

Arizona Wildcats

In retrospect, we should have extended greater preseason recognition to an Arizona team that retained three starters from a Sweet 16 roster and augmented its lineup with two top-15 recruits. The Wildcats possess an abundance of talent, with a group of prospects surpassed only by Duke in overall quality. However, their rapid cohesion, particularly against the reigning national champions, was unexpected. Their performance elevates them from the “second-weekend threat” category to the “Final Four contenders” tier, in my estimation.

Peat’s exceptional play established him as the primary offensive focal point the team required, while Jaden Bradley’s significant advancement also proved to be a key factor. He dominated late in the game against Florida’s guards, amassing 10 consecutive points at one juncture.

The potentially concerning aspect is the Wildcats’ remaining growth potential. They did not substantially address lingering questions regarding perimeter shooting, despite Ivan Kharchenkov’s successful conversion of a pair of 3-pointers. Furthermore, Brayden Burries recorded only three points, and Dwayne Aristode played for just six minutes. — Borzello

Illinois Fighting Illini

During the summer, Brad Underwood voiced concerns that immigration-related matters could disrupt his team’s preparations for the season. Instead, the Illini decisively defeated SWAC contender Jackson State by an emphatic 58 points, delivering one of the most impressive blowouts amid an opening night schedule filled with lopsided contests. More significantly, this victory served as a reminder that Purdue faces multiple challengers within a deep and Final Four-caliber Big Ten Conference. In addition to the Boilermakers, Michigan, and perhaps UCLA, let’s include Illinois among the legitimate contenders to finally end the conference’s protracted national championship drought.

Louisville warrants an honorable mention as well. The Cardinals restricted South Carolina State to a mere 15 first-half points, en route to a 104-45 victory. — Lunardi

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Mere days after a legal ruling permitted him to play this season, Tyon Grant-Foster swiftly asserted his presence on a Gonzaga team featuring multiple notable players. He, Graham Ike, and Braden Huff combined for 42 points to spearhead the Bulldogs’ offensive efforts, as they outscored Texas Southern in the second half (52 points) compared to Texas Southern’s total for the entire game (43 points). Considering the obstacles Grant-Foster has faced to reach this point — the 2023-24 WAC Player of the Year struggled at Grand Canyon last season before dedicating his offseason to navigating legal procedures to secure another year of eligibility after injuries and cardiac issues sidelined the 25-year-old for multiple seasons — it was unexpected to witness him perform as someone unburdened by those past struggles. — Medcalf

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Which team outside the top 25 produced the most surprising performance?

Boise State Broncos

Over the past four seasons, Boise State has earned three NCAA tournament invitations. In the sole season in which the Broncos fell short of qualification (2024-25), they amassed 26 victories and were among the final teams excluded from the field. They were projected to finish third in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll, with the general expectation that Leon Rice’s team would return to the tournament. However, that potential bounce-back season commenced with a significant setback as Boise State suffered a 79-78 defeat at home to Division II Hawaii Pacific — a team with a 15-14 record last season that did not receive any votes in the Division II coaches poll.

While there is ample time remaining, and games against D2 teams technically do not factor into a team’s metrics, it represented perhaps the most significant upset on the opening night schedule. — Borzello

TCU Horned Frogs

Although it might be premature, given that it is only the first week of November, TCU has already significantly impacted its NCAA tournament qualification prospects. Projected to finish 10th in the Big 12 Conference and commencing the season ranked No. 83 in our Bracketology rankings, the Horned Frogs could ill afford a lackluster performance against a team picked seventh in the Southland Conference and ranked No. 309 on our board. What other description adequately captures an 18-point first-half deficit in a guarantee game against New Orleans?

Credit is due to the Privateers for their victory in Fort Worth, but this outcome reflects a TCU team desperate to avoid a second consecutive season of mediocrity. Thus far, the signs are not encouraging. — Lunardi

Baylor Bears

Baylor experienced the departure of key players, such as Robert Wright III, via the transfer portal, was projected to finish seventh in the Big 12 Conference preseason poll, and welcomed a five-star freshman, Tounde Yessoufou, who has the potential to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA draft. The Bears secured a double-digit victory over UT Rio Grande Valley — a team predicted to finish at the bottom of the Southland Conference standings after returning only one starter — but allowed the Vaqueros to score 81 points, converting 56% of their 2-point shots and 41% of their 3-point shots.

Baylor has finished 10th or lower in defensive efficiency during conference play in two of the past three seasons. Based on their performance on Monday night, questions may linger regarding the Bears’ defensive capabilities. — Medcalf