Locked On College Basketball

UCLA Bruins shake up college basketball with the blockbuster signing of Serbian star Nikola Kusturica. Can Mick Cronin’s new wing elevate UCLA to a Big Ten title contender and reshape the program’s future? Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer and Andy Patton debate expectations for Kusturica's immediate impact, his two-year college stay, and whether the Bruins can finally blend international talent with home...

Texas lands Marcus Spears Jr., Louisville pushes for Aaron Webb and Domantas Sabonis makes a record donation to Gonzaga. #marcusspearsjr #aaronwebb #domantasabonis 📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers from our sponsors: lockedonpodcasts.com/offers Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. FanDuel FanDuel...

College basketball’s elite returners shake up the preseason power rankings—who are the real difference-makers this year? Andy Patton and Isaac Schade draft their top eight returning NCAA stars, spotlighting Thomas Haugh’s move to Florida, Juke Harris electrifying Tennessee, and Milan Momcilovic’s firepower for Kentucky. The dynamic duo break down roster versatility, transfer portal impact, and pos...

Michigan State Spartans eye a Final Four return as Jeremy Fears Jr. leads a high-powered, veteran squad into the 2026-27 college basketball season. Coen Carr’s explosive athleticism and new transfers raise expectations in East Lansing—can this cohesive core fill the massive rebounding void left by Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler? Isaac Schade and Matt Sheehan debate Michigan State’s potential for a...

Texas Tech gets a major boost as JT Toppin confirms his return for the 2026-27 season after last year's ACL injury. With questions swirling about his recovery timeline and the impact of the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 eligibility rule, the Red Raiders must strategize amid roster turnover and key departures like Christian Anderson and Donovan Atwell. Could Toppin’s comeback reshape Texas Tech’s outlook in th...

UCLA Bruins lean into Mick Cronin’s defensive mindset as returning starters Trent Perry, Eric Dailey Jr., and Xavier Booker set the tone for 2026-27. With dynamic guards Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent out, can a revamped lineup and underrated transfer class outwork the Big Ten’s elite? Key transfers Jaylen Petty and Stink Robinson look to complement Cronin’s signature style, while position battles at...

Brandon McCoy stays at Michigan, Shawn Eichorst takes over at Wisconsin and Penn State misses on Khalil Taylor. #brandonmccoy #shawneichorst #khaliltaylor 📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers from our sponsors: lockedonpodcasts.com/offers Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. FanDuel FanDuel, America...

FBI arrest shakes college basketball as former Arizona, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Cincinnati point guard Kerr Kriisa faces wire fraud charges exceeding $2.2 million. Could this scandal forever change perceptions of NIL-era players? Andy Patton breaks down the bizarre allegations that Kriisa scammed victims while juggling multiple college teams, detailing the outlandish storytelling and potentia...

Villanova Wildcats cement their legacy as the decade’s most dominant NCAA men’s basketball champion—are they college basketball’s true gold standard? Andy Patton and Isaac Schade rank and debate every national champion from the past ten years, breaking down powerhouse squads like the 2024 UConn Huskies, 2021 Baylor Bears, and 2019 Virginia Cavaliers. They analyze key runs by stars such as Jalen Br...

St. John’s face a major setback as star forward Donnie Freeman suffers a season-ending Achilles injury, leaving their formidable frontcourt exposed in the Big East. Can Rick Pitino reshape the frontcourt in time, or will the loss derail the Red Storm’s high hopes? Andy Patton examines St. John’s transfer portal options, highlights Quinn Ellis and Tounde Yessoufou’s impact, and questions whether la...

Texas Longhorns reload after massive roster turnover as Sean Miller’s pivotal offseason sets the stage for a high-stakes Year Two in Austin. Can breakout transfer Isaiah Johnson, along with new arrivals David Punch, Elyjah Freeman, and McDonald’s All-American Austin Goosby, turn Texas into a consistent force in the SEC and beyond? Isaac Schade and Brad Kellner break down Texas’ aggressive transfer...

Pac-12 basketball is reborn with Gonzaga leading a bold new era—can this revamped conference reclaim its Power status? Isaac Schade and Andy Patton unpack the latest realignment shocks as Oregon State and Washington State rally a fresh lineup featuring Mountain West powerhouses Utah State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Boise State, and a surprise arrival from Texas State. With Mark Few’s Bulldo...

Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona Wildcats reload with 18-year-old Montenegrin wing Maksim Brnović — could he be the missing link for another Final Four push? Andy Patton and Leif Thulin assess Brnović unique skill set, the potential shakeup of Arizona’s starting lineup, and the lingering need for a true four-man. The conversation weighs Ivan Kharchenkov’s role, the impact of last season’s late-game struggles...

Zion Williamson, Cooper Flagg, and Cam Boozer headline the top 10 one-and-done freshmen who redefined college basketball from 2016-17 through 2025-26. Can anyone top Zion’s iconic season at Duke, or does Trae Young’s historic scoring and assists double-lead at Oklahoma make him the true freshman sensation of the decade? Andy Patton and Isaac Schade rank the most dominant first-year players, breaki...

NBA draft chaos sends shockwaves through college basketball as Narcisse Ngoy is "draft-and-stashed" by the Los Angeles Clippers while still set to suit up for Auburn. Andy Patton unpacks the unusual draft scenario, breaking down the eligibility loopholes and the broader implications for both Auburn and NCAA basketball. Is this a sign of the sport’s changing landscape, or just a one-off quirk? Coll...

SEC basketball aims to reclaim national dominance—can Todd Golden and the Florida Gators lead the charge? With a reloaded frontcourt featuring Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Reuben Chinyelu, plus Boogie Fland’s rising star power, Florida looks poised to set the pace in a conference brimming with returning talent and high-profile transfers. Tennessee’s aggressive portal strategy under Rick Barnes a...

Big 12 stars AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson shock NBA Draft pundits as the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz pass on an expected blockbuster trade that would have kept Dybantsa in Utah. Did the Wizards make a mistake at No. 1, and can the Jazz turn Peterson into an MVP-caliber player? Isaac Schade and Drake Toll dissect the draft’s high-stakes drama, potential attempted insider moves by Utah’s Rya...

Dusty May has officially left Michigan to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, just months after leading the Wolverines to a national championship. The move sends shockwaves through college basketball and raises major questions about the future of one of the sport's premier programs. On today's episode of Locked On College Basketball, we break down why May made the jump, whether it...

NBA Draft fever peaks as Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa emerge as leading MVP contenders from a stacked lottery class. Who boasts the highest ceiling among elite prospects like Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson? Andy Patton and Isaac Schade spotlight the dynamic guard group—Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown, and Braden Burries—debating who’s primed for NBA superstardom, an...

College basketball’s last decade has been dominated by elite talent—but which players truly defined the era? Andy Patton and Isaac Schade count down the top 10 NCAA men’s hoops stars since 2016-17, spotlighting legends like Zach Edey, Luka Garza, Jalen Brunson, and dynamic one-and-done standout Zion Williamson. Who earns the #1 spot, and what set these stars apart on the national stage? The debate...

NCAA’s crackdown on international pros sparks debate as top programs, including LSU and St. John’s, continue to add experienced European and global talent. Are 24-year-old standouts like Boris Tisma and Yam Madar shifting the balance of college basketball? Andy Patton examines whether coaches are ignoring new eligibility guidelines—or simply betting that the NCAA won’t enforce them this season. Th...

Ohio State Buckeyes get a major offseason boost as five-star combo guard L.J. Smith reclassifies and joins Jake Diebler’s squad early. How does Smith’s arrival—alongside top returner John Mobley and Cal transfer Justin Pippen—reshape Ohio State’s Big Ten outlook and national ranking potential? Isaac Schade spotlights the newly electrified Buckeyes backcourt, examines key additions like Anthony Tho...

UConn Huskies claim the top spot as the most dominant men’s college basketball program of the past decade, with multiple national championships and unrivaled postseason success. Did perennial contenders like Kansas Jayhawks, Purdue Boilermakers, and Michigan Wolverines do enough to rival UConn's supremacy, or does the Huskies' tournament performance outshine even the blue bloods? Villanova Wildcat...

Jalen Brunson’s NBA Finals MVP sparks fresh debate: can smaller, offensive-minded guards like Darius Acuff Jr. become true centerpieces for NBA contenders? Andy Patton and Isaac Schade examine how Brunson’s rise, the New York Knicks’ roster strategy, and shifting league trends could reshape perceptions of “non-prototypical” draft prospects. Are teams finally ready to build around star talents who...

Arizona faces a demanding Big 12 schedule as Tommy Lloyd’s squad aims to defend its conference title. Challenging home-and-away matchups against Arizona State, BYU, and Houston await the Wildcats, while their young backcourt led by Caleb Holt and Derek Dixon is tested by tough road-only games at Iowa State and Texas Tech. Can Arizona’s returning core rise above a brutal slate to stay atop the stan...