Even coaches aren’t sure who will be on their rosters for a ’26-27 hoops season like no other

Less than three months after leading Michigan to an NCAA championship, Dusty May moved on to the NBA. May was impressed by the Dallas Mavericks' roster, stating they checked all the boxes. College coaching, however, proved much more complex, with hundreds of coaches left wondering about roster changes due to NIL payments and legal battles.

University of Arkansas coach John Calipari expressed sympathy for coaches and players facing these challenges. The 2026-27 college basketball season, featuring 76 teams, is expected to be riddled with uncertainties and complications. Florida, Duke, UConn, and Illinois are favored to win the championship, while Michigan, now without three of its top scorers, enters with a new coach.

The situation remains unclear due to the complex eligibility rules. Cases challenging the NCAA’s five-year eligibility rule have led to various players being eligible again, causing confusion for coaches like Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, who admits he doesn’t know who’s eligible yet, even a month into the season.