Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf
Nov 10, 2025, 08:45 AM ET
It was a thrilling first week of men’s college basketball, complete with upsets and superstar freshman showings. No. 13 Arizona upset defending champion No. 3 Florida on opening night. No. 25 North Carolina opened the weekend with a statement win over No. 19 Kansas. No. 5 St. John’s and No. 15 Alabama headlined Saturday, with the Johnnies losing at Madison Square Garden. Should Arizona be a Final Four contender? Is North Carolina “back”? What do Alabama’s results and Purdue’s slow start mean? ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf judge six opening-week overreactions.
Purdue isn’t living up to its preseason No. 1 hype
With Braden Smith (preseason NPOY favorite), Trey Kaufman-Renn (All-Big Ten) and Fletcher Loyer (44.4% from 3 last season), Purdue entered the year as AP preseason No. 1. But early games have been uneven: Oakland held a second-half lead in West Lafayette, and the offense has looked rusty at times. Kaufman-Renn’s absence (hip) has impacted flow, though he’s expected back soon. Even so, Purdue still ranks first in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency through two games.
Verdict: Slight overreaction — they haven’t clicked yet, but the offense remains elite and rust explains much of the concern. — Medcalf
This is the best freshman class in recent memory
NBA evaluators long eyed the 2025 class, and through one week it’s delivered. Big names — AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas) and Cameron Boozer (Duke) — had strong debuts, and others have flashed elite upside. AJ Dybantsa (21 and 6 vs. Villanova), Peterson (21 in 22 minutes vs. Green Bay) and Boozer (15 and 13 vs. Texas) were headliners, but depth has been startling: top freshmen performances include Koa Peat, Caleb Wilson, Chris Cenac Jr., Kingston Flemings, Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas, Nate Ament, Mouhamed Sylla, Tounde Yessoufou, Cam Ward and Ebuka Okorie. International newcomers — Neoklis Avdalas, Thijs De Ridder, Hannes Steinbach and Stefan Vaaks — have also made big impacts.
Verdict: Not an overreaction — it’s a loaded class with both immediate impact and long-term NBA potential. — Borzello
Koa Peat, Caleb Wilson are turning the Big 3 into a Big 5
Entering the season the top freshmen trio was Peterson, Boozer and Dybantsa. But Peat (Arizona) and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) have vaulted into that conversation. Peat’s debut — 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals vs. Florida — was historic, and he followed with an efficient 18-point outing. Wilson has been a force for UNC, following 22 in the opener with 24, 7, 4 and 4 against Kansas. Both were top-12 recruits and should maintain prominent roles on teams that need them.
Verdict: Not an overreaction — Peat and Wilson belong in the top freshman conversation, though the preseason Big Three likely remain the safest top-three picks for the 2026 NBA draft. — Borzello
North Carolina basketball is back
Hubert Davis’ tenure has included high highs and deep lows: a national title game in Year 1, a missed tournament and an inconsistent ride since. This season’s roster retool — led by projected lottery pick Caleb Wilson and Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar — produced an 87-74 win over Kansas that looked like a program reclaiming its identity. Wilson’s leadership and production have been immediate positives.
Verdict: Overreaction — for now. Friday’s win was a strong early step, but Seth Trimble’s indefinite absence (broken bone in left forearm) and the small sample size temper claims that UNC has fully returned to elite status. More sustained evidence is needed. — Medcalf
The Arizona Wildcats are Final Four good
Arizona’s win at Las Vegas over defending champ Florida was the marquee statement of opening night. Peat paced the Wildcats, and Jaden Bradley’s late scoring surge (10 straight points to finish with 27 and five assists) highlighted veteran leadership. Arizona returned three starters from a 24-win, Sweet 16 team and added a top-five recruiting class with multiple high-level contributors and depth — scorers, shooters and versatile bigs like Tobe Awaka, Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov.
Verdict: Not an overreaction — Arizona has inside-out balance, experienced pieces and talented freshmen; they belong in the Final Four conversation. — Borzello
Nate Oats is the best offensive strategist in college basketball
Historic offensive minds have driven title runs. Nate Oats’ Alabama squads have consistently been among college basketball’s most potent offenses. Saturday’s 103-96 win over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden — snapping St. John’s 12-game MSG streak — was another demonstration of Oats’ system producing elite scoring even without key players at full strength. Alabama’s KenPom offensive finishes under Oats and his ability to craft top offenses at multiple stops back up the claim.
Verdict: Not an overreaction — Oats has repeatedly shown he can assemble elite offenses, and Saturday reinforced that reputation. — Medcalf
Bottom line
Opening week supplied vivid moments and early narratives: breakout freshmen, statement wins and a mix of confirmations and cautionary tales. Some reactions — the strength of the freshman class, Arizona’s ceiling, Alabama’s offensive identity — are justified. Others, like declaring UNC fully back or writing off Purdue, need more time and context. The season ahead will sort how many opening-week conclusions hold.
