Key Highlights
- St. John’s remains No. 1 in the CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 And 1 rankings for the 2025-26 season.
- Rick Pitino identified Oziyah Sellers as St. John’s starting point guard after initial plans with Ian Jackson.
- The Red Storm open their season on Monday against Quinnipiac.
- Other teams in the Top 25 include Purdue, Houston, BYU, and UConn.
St. John’s Reigns Supreme: Preseason Rankings for 2025-26 College Basketball Season
The 2025-26 college basketball season tips off with St. John’s maintaining its No. 1 ranking in the CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 And 1, according to Gary Parrish.
Despite some initial uncertainty regarding the Red Storm’s point guard position—Pitino had initially named Ian Jackson as “next great point,” but later chose Oziyah Sellers for the starting role—the roster remains packed with talent. This includes transfers like Zuby Ejiofor, who was named Big East Preseason Player of the Year.
Team Movements and Openings
The Red Storm are set to face Quinnipiac on Monday as they begin their season. The rankings also highlight other teams gearing up for the new campaign:
- Purdue is led by Braden Smith, while Houston features Joseph Tugler.
- BYU and UConn prepare with their own star freshmen and transfer players.
The article emphasizes the ongoing nature of these rankings, noting that they will be updated daily until Selection Sunday. Gary Parrish himself is handling the updates every morning on X.
Upcoming Games and Analysis
The season kicks off with several key games, such as Houston-Lehigh at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, where Matt Norlander and Gary Parrish will provide analysis. Other notable matches include Michigan against Oakland and Duke against Texas.
In addition to the rankings, fans can also tune into the Eye On College Basketball podcast for more in-depth coverage and insights from industry experts.
Conclusion
The 2025-26 season of college basketball sees St. John’s maintaining its top spot despite some roster changes. As the season progresses, fans can expect continued updates on these rankings and analyses that promise to offer a deep dive into the upcoming campaign.
