UConn Huskies Top CBS Preseason Rankings for 2026-27 After Title Repeat

STORRS, Conn. -- The UConn Huskies men's basketball team, celebrating a national championship repeat just two weeks ago, has rocketed to No. 2 in Version 8 of CBS Sports' 2026-27 preseason Top 25 And 1 rankings, behind only Michigan -- the squad they bested in the title game. The ascent stems from the surprise return of guard Braylon Mullins and the addition of Duke transfer Nikolas Khamenia, bolstering a roster already loaded with talent from Storrs. Connecticut Public Radio first flagged the national buzz, igniting pride across the state from Hartford to New Haven.

In the Big East, UConn remains a powerhouse but faces stiff competition. St. John's, the defending regular-season and tournament champ, snagged the top spot in the 2025-26 preseason coaches' poll with seven of 10 first-place votes and 97 points, edging the Huskies' 94 points and four first-place nods. This marks the first time in three years UConn isn't the unanimous Big East favorite, yet Huskies coach Dan Hurley's squad enters with momentum from their latest title run.

UConn's storied history adds weight to the hype. The program last hit No. 1 in the AP Top 25 on March 2, 2009, and has reached the top spot seven times total. With Mullins back and Khamenia aboard, analysts project another deep March run, keeping Connecticut's basketball fever at fever pitch as exhibition games loom.