College basketball preseason top 25: Ranking the nations best teams

College basketball is coming off an offseason unlike any other. Between the ongoing saga of the high school class of 2022 playing out in courtrooms across the country and the continued lobbying in Congress for the passage of the Protect College Sports Act — it’s really the give-power-back-to-the-NCAA and take-it-away-from-players bill — it was a mess all summer and into the fall. In June, the NCAA passed a new eligibility model that allowed for five seasons of competition over a five-year period.It declined to grandfather in that extra year of eligibility to the high school class of 2022 (seniors last season), while for some reason giving an extra year to athletes who were juniors, sophomores and freshmen in 2025-26.

A strong contingent of those players sued for an extra year of eligibility, and committed to schools in August.Some are eligible, others aren’t, and this issue remains unresolved.  Get Zach Braziller’s text messages with all the latest St.

John’s info and get your questions answered — exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.Fortunately, the season is here, although the off-the-court drama has no end in sight.

A number of elite players returned to school rather than going the pro route and the migration of top international talent only increased.It promises to be a fascinating year. The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks it all down in his preseason Top 25. Impactful returners (center Patrick Ngongba II, guards Cayden Boozer and Caleb Foster, and wing Dame Sarr)? Check.

Dynamic transfer (Wisconsin shooting guard John Blackwell)? Check.Uber-talented freshmen (forwards Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje and Cameron Williams, and guard Deron Rippey Jr.)? Check.

Duke has all the pieces to win its first title since 2015 after agonizing collapses in the Final Four and Elite Eight the previous two years.Coach Jon Scheyer’s team is so deep, his second unit would be ranked in our Top 25. The Gators kept almost their entire roster together — most notabl...