The bombshell NBA scandal that took place as part of an FBI investigation last week has led to many questioning the sports betting market, even the legal side of it. 

That was especially the case with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who was among more than two dozen arrests for his role in the sports betting FBI probe where he allegedly gave non-public information regarding his injury status and when he would be exiting a game to hit certain prop bets. 

There was a similar situation last season with ex-Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA indefinitely and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Porter, who is connected to this current FBI investigation, had previously been found guilty of disclosing confidential information to sports bettors about his own health status and bet on games in violation of league rules. 

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So, seeing a situation like this happening on a perhaps larger scale, Fanatics Betting & Gaming CEO Matt King was “disappointed” to see “criminal elements” come into play in a market that has grown exponentially as more states legalize it. But given his expertise, King explained why he feels this situation proves the legal side of sports betting is working. 

“If you look at the chronology, the suspicious betting activity was flagged immediately, was reported immediately, investigations were kicked off immediately,” King told Fox News Digital earlier this week. “You had the right people involved. Obviously, the leagues were out ahead trying to aggressively understand what was happening, but they don’t have subpoena power, so they’re able to see part of it. But everybody worked in collaborations with the FBI, who were able to have subpoena power and really dig in. Ultimately, the perpetrators were caught, and I’m confident they’re going to be brought to justice.”

Fanatics Sportsbook is a newer operation and was in the early stages of its development when Rozier was accused of being involved in potential betting irregularities in a March 23, 2023, game. But King’s experience in this industry goes beyond the work he does with Fanatics Betting & Gaming now, having served as CEO and CFO of FanDuel during previous years. 

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So, regarding the question about the future of sports betting, especially the prop betting market, King gave a perfect analogy.

“This type of thing is inevitable, and I look at it through the lense of – the parallel I draw is the stock market,” he explained. “People have traded stocks for hundreds of years, and there’s always been the risk of insider trading. Consequently, there’s a healthy and aggressive regulatory enforcement regime around making sure people don’t trade on insider information. This is no different from that.

“I look at it as a great case study of the market and regulation all working and the industry participants working in concert together. I’m hoping the perpetrators were made an example of, because the deterrence element is equally as important.”

CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, Matthew King inside the Fanatics Sportsbook at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Sept. 14, 2025.   (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images )

King also gave some perspective on how these instances were caught from the start, and what an operation like Fanatics Sportsbook does when that flag comes up when wagers start coming in. 

“A lot of times, the first flag that comes out of suspicious activity is a volume well in excess of what we would’ve expected,” King said about a suspicious bet. “That typically tips off and tips you into further investigation. In particular, when an under [prop bet] or low-grade tennis match or something like that is ahead of expectations, then it’s really the question of, ‘Where is it coming from? Who’s making the wager? Where are they making that wager from? Is this consistent with their historical betting patterns?’ Questions like that. We have a lot of analytic resources and a lot of people on staff that kind of spend time looking at this data and make sure we understand. 

“Now, a lot of times you get a false flag. You dig into it and it’s like, ‘Hey, we didn’t expect this much action on the underdog, and it turns out the popular underdog that had a big Instagram story, and people are just piling on some narrative that exists in sports,’ which is great. It’s healthy. So, there’s a lot of false flags, but ultimately a chunk of those flags that get raised turn into something suspicious and we report that to the appropriate authorities.”

In short, King knows that, like any market prediction, there is going to be those who want to gain an edge. So, the future of betting in any professional sport will have those trying to cheat the system. 

However, King feels the strongest point to get across about this alleged criminal activity is having a legal market, coupled with aggressive regulations and monitoring, can at least diminish the potential for illegality. 

A self-service betting kiosk displaying NBA game odds inside the Fanatics Sportsbook on Nov. 23, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

“The most important fundamental point of this conversation is for everybody to understand that sports betting is going to exist no matter what,” he said. “You can’t show me an era of history, a country in the world, a sport that’s popular and doesn’t have some level of sports betting. We just have to accept that sports betting is going to exist. It’s then simply a question of do you want this to exist as a legal market or an illegal market? 

“The reality is this activity was caught because it is a legal market, because you were able to have relationship with leagues and have integrity monitoring services that you could flag data for and people could investigate. If you didn’t have legalized sports betting, all you’d have is the illegal markets that don’t have any commitment to integrity or consumer protections, which is the other side to remember. If you’re betting on an illegal sportsbook, they have no requirement, no interest to make sure you’re betting within your means or things like that.”

“I would argue the best thing for the integrity of the game, the best thing for consumer protection is a two-pronged strategy of a legal and robust market paired with aggressive enforcement against the illegal market.”

Fanatics Sportsbook, as well as having key Responsible Gaming tools for consumers, also has a unique “Fair Play” policy, which protects bettors from early player injuries. 

Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (3) looks to pass against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Spectrum Center. (Nell Redmond/USA Today Sports)

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This consumer protection addresses those situations where it’s clear key players get injured, but also the potential of something like the Rozier case. Being a starting guard on a team, Rozier’s prop bets are abundant every night he’s on the court, but if he leaves early and never returns, Fanatics Sportsbook voids that bet through Fair Play. 

Overall, there is no true way to root out the illegal side of sports betting, but operations like Fanatics Sportsbook, and leaders like King, continue to put the necessary regulations, technology and collaborations with leagues in place to ensure a fair and level playing field for all those wishing to play. 

“We will always be front of the line with leagues and regulators for what’s the right mix of prop bets to offer,” King said. “What I would say, though, is there’s a balance. Because ultimately, if you have a legal sports betting market, but one where regulations were strict with what you can offer to the point where it’s not giving consumers what they want, they will then go into the illegal market. You undermine the value of having a legal market. So, I look at it as finding that right balance that ensures we can limit, and make common sense decisions, but also make something the consumers want.”

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Dooney Johnson, the No. 28 recruit in the 2027 class per ESPN, has committed to Gonzaga, two days after his official visit to the school, he told ESPN on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-5 wing from Milwaukee is the highest-ranked recruit to commit to Mark Few’s program since Chet Holmgren (No. 1), Hunter Sallis (No. 16) and Nolan Hickman (No. 24) all signed with the Bulldogs in the 2021 class.

Johnson picked the Bulldogs over multiple schools, such as Indiana, Syracuse, LSU, Missouri and Wake Forest. Marquette and Wisconsin coveted the local product, too.

Johnson earned all-state honors last season as a sophomore when he averaged 25.5 PPG and 8.2 RPG for Milwaukee Juneau High school.

“It was a really good process,” Johnson told ESPN exclusively about his commitment to Gonzaga. “Me and Gonzaga have been talking all throughout the year. The conversation we’ve had has been great. We made that connection in person and over the phone. Going on the official visit, it really solidified it for me.”

The four-star recruit said he plans to remain in the 2027 class.

On Monday, Johnson and his family took an official visit to Gonzaga on the same night Tyon Grant-Foster was cleared by a judge to play this season after he’d initially been denied an extra year of eligibility.

Johnson said the support around Grant-Foster, a class of 2018 recruit who has missed multiple seasons due to injuries and cardiac ailments, was a factor in his decision.

“It was more so how they carried themselves and the brotherhood they had,” Johnson said. “It was how they all fought for him and went to court for him and really came together in these tough moments. It really meant a lot. Even with me coming down at that time, they still took care of me. It made me feel special. It made my family feel special.”

Johnson’s father, Torre Johnson Jr., said his son’s commitment proves that a blue-collar city like Milwaukee can produce high-level Division I talent. Previously, the city has had many of its top stars pick prep schools at this stage in their careers.

“We represent the Milwaukee kids,” he said. “That’s another reason why we stayed in Milwaukee and didn’t go to a prep school. I personally wanted to prove and show that if you guys work hard, you can make it out of a Milwaukee public school and go Division I.”

Torre Johnson Jr.’s connection to an NBA standout also influenced his son’s choice to play for Mark Few’s program. He coached Jalen Suggs, the former Gonzaga star and Orlando Magic guard, on the grassroots circuit when he was in fifth grade. That started a bond between Suggs and Johnson, which influenced his commitment on Wednesday.

“That’s my guy,” Johnson said. “I’ve always looked up to him.”

He said he plans to bring more wins to Gonzaga and help the program chase a national title.

“Coach Few is a winner,” he said. “Gonzaga is a winner. It’s a great program.”

More than 200 days will have passed between the Florida Gators winning the 2024-25 national championship and the start of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, but the action finally returns on Nov. 3.

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf weigh in on storylines that could shape the new season — and they join Neil Paine in making their predictions for everything from the Final Four and conference winners to All-America teams and beyond.

Which teams could make the biggest jumps? Which Top 25 programs are primed for early NCAA tournament exits? They answer seven burning questions then make their picks below.

Jump to:
Championship picks, conference winner |
Awards, All-America predictions

Could Florida really repeat?

Borzello: Florida absolutely can run it back this season.

Todd Golden brings back his entire frontcourt, a dominant group led by potential first-round NBA draft picks Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh and starting center Rueben Chinyelu. Golden also added two bona fide playmakers from the transfer portal in Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. Sure, there are some questions about depth — and whether Haugh can play full time at the 3 — but the talent of this starting five has few peers nationally, and Golden has proved he has the chops to win big games.

Medcalf: Florida can join the Gators team that achieved the same feat in 2006 and 2007.

Still, it’s important to note that this is a completely different squad with more questions than last season’s championship roster. Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard had a rare chemistry that was the foundation of the Gators’ 2025 title run. Martin was the new face in that trio, but he also had previously helped a team reach the Final Four (Florida Atlantic). Haugh, Fland and Lee will have to build that bond on the fly as Golden guides a starting five that will feature two point guards.

Lunardi: Don’t bet on a repeat in Gainesville.

Not because the Gators aren’t good enough but because winning 12 straight NCAA tournament games over two years is really, really hard. The fact that UConn did it in 2023 and 2024 makes the probability of back-to-back repeats less likely — not more. I still like Florida. A lot. But this is a case where you shouldn’t blame the messenger.

Will the SEC be as dominant as it was in 2024-25?

Borzello: The depth will be just as good, but it won’t be as powerful at the top.

Last season, the league produced two 1-seeds, two 2-seeds, a 3-seed and a 4-seed among its 14 NCAA tournament teams. With the expected improvement of LSU, we could see up to 15 teams fighting for tournament bids this season — and I would have at least 13 projected as of today. But it’s difficult to foresee four teams in the top eight again. Florida is a title contender and Kentucky isn’t far behind, but none of the other teams is a surefire Final Four threat.

Lunardi: It’s important to consider the laws of probability.

Is a conference likely to get better or worse after breaking the NCAA single-season bid record by three spots? Both on the court and team sheets, the SEC was every bit as dominant as the selection committee concluded its teams would be in the NCAA tournament. But there has to be at least some regression this season, if only because the uncommon sense of handing NCAA bids to teams that win only one-third of their conference games has undergone an offseason of heavy scrutiny. (As it should. No league is that good.)

Medcalf: It depends on your definition of dominant.

The SEC could again have a double-digit pool of representatives in the field on Selection Sunday, but it doesn’t have as many teams that could actually cut down the nets as last season. Florida and Kentucky are real contenders. It seems as if Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas could all be second-weekend teams too. Last season’s SEC, however, had three players who made the Associated Press’ All-America first team and one who made the third team. Those were dominant squads with star power.

Which team will make the biggest leap from 2024-25?

Borzello: NC State Wolfpack

Last season, we saw Dusty May and Pat Kelsey take over new programs and produce incredible turnarounds in Year 1, as their respective Michigan and Louisville squads jumped from eight wins to 27. This season, the best bet might be Will Wade and NC State. The Wolfpack went 12-19 overall last season, including 5-15 in the ACC, but Wade stockpiled a talented roster after taking over for Kevin Keatts in the spring. Led by potential All-American Darrion Williams, NC State finds itself inside my preseason top 25.

Lunardi: Iowa Hawkeyes

A season ago, Iowa missed its second straight NCAA tournament. As a result, Fran McCaffery now finds himself coaching at his alma mater, Penn. The deeper issue involved the Hawkeyes going three straight campaigns with a sub-150 defensive rating, costing them games despite considerable offensive talent. It was an anomaly in terms of approach in the Big Ten, one that new coach Ben McCollum figures to immediately solve. McCollum’s ultra-patient style and ultra-experienced imports will surprise in their new league and sneak into the tournament.

Medcalf: Washington Huskies

Last season, Washington finished 13-18 in Danny Sprinkle’s first year in Seattle, but a strong transfer class led by former USC teammates Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III could put the Huskies in the bubble conversation in Sprinkle’s second campaign. Early matchups against Baylor, USC and UCLA will be great barometers for Washington and its new roster.

First Top 25 team to exit the NCAA tournament

Borzello: Creighton Bluejays

The only preseason AP Top 25 team that wasn’t in my preseason top 25 is Michigan State, but I’m not naive enough to bet against Tom Izzo, regardless of the seed he gets on Selection Sunday. So, I’ll go with Creighton. The Bluejays should be elite offensively, especially if Jackson McAndrew makes the leap I’m expecting. But they could really struggle on the defensive end of the floor, and the primary creators in the half court could be a work in progress. If things get tight in a tournament environment, it could spell an early exit.

Lunardi: Gonzaga Bulldogs

Gonzaga avoided a major hit when a judge in Washington’s Spokane County granted a preliminary injunction to Grand Canyon transfer Tyon Grant-Foster, allowing him to play this season. The hard-luck veteran is no longer in limbo to start the campaign, but the Bulldogs — who last season missed the Sweet 16 for the first time in a decade — still have legitimate backcourt concerns, ones that could lead to an even earlier tournament exit.

Medcalf: North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels have more depth and more overall talent, but they couldn’t avoid the bubble with AP All-American RJ Davis leading the way last season. Caleb Wilson is a five-star prospect who will have key transfers — including Henri Veesaar — around him, but North Carolina will have to prove things have changed before fans are ready to believe.

Most intriguing mid-major

Borzello: UNC Wilmington Seahawks

UNCW won 27 games last season and went to the NCAA tournament, but the Seahawks will be more talented this time around despite returning just one starter. I’m mostly fascinated by the way Takayo Siddle went about that reload: poaching good players from other teams around the Coastal Athletic Association. CJ Luster II transferred from Stony Brook, Christian May arrived from Towson, Jahnathan Lamothe from North Carolina A&T and Madison Durr from Monmouth. Siddle also upgraded the interior with Virginia Tech transfer Patrick Wessler, who scored 10 points in 18 minutes against Duke last season, as well as Binghamton transfer Gavin Walsh, one of the nation’s top rebounders. This team has a chance to go to a second straight NCAA tournament — and potentially win a game.

Lunardi: The Western Athletic Conference

I’m going with an entire mid-major conference in lieu of a single team — and it’s not necessarily for good reason. Only seven schools remain in the shrinking WAC, a conference with both a serious past and a negligible future. The early departure of Grand Canyon to the Mountain West leaves a gaping hole at the top — and only three teams that have ever made the NCAA tournament. Somebody has to qualify, at least in 2026, which should make for great short-term theater in the WAC.

Medcalf: St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies

I’ll go with St. Thomas-Minnesota, a team that is eligible for the NCAA tournament for the first time after its transition from Division III to Division I athletics. The Tommies are the preseason pick to win the Summit League crown and potentially the conference tournament, which would make the team the first squad to go from Division III to Division I and secure an NCAA tournament berth. But it gets better. The supporters of this program are ready to spend (see: the new $175 million arena that opens next week) to make this private school in St. Paul the Gonzaga of the Upper Midwest. A run this season could put the Tommies on that path.

Athlete with outside shot to win Player of the Year

Borzello: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s

If we take out two returning All-Americans (Braden Smith and JT Toppin) and the top three freshmen (AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer), the next guy on my list would be Ejiofor. You could have made the case last season that the St. John’s big man was the most impactful player in the Big East, given his offensive rebounding, ability to draw fouls and influence defensively. The Red Storm should be right around the top five nationally this season and a legitimate Final Four contender — and if that comes to fruition, Ejiofor taking another step forward after last season’s breakout will be a major reason.

Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Lendeborg is the right man in the right place at exactly the right time to possibly collect some major hardware. Last season, only two Division I players led their respective teams in the five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and steals). One was Cooper Flagg; the other was Lendeborg at UAB. Now in a great spot at Michigan, Lendeborg’s number will be impossible to miss. That he could be the missing player for a legitimate Final Four contender is just a bonus.

Medcalf: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

John Calipari has a strong history with high-level point guards at this level. John Wall, Derrick Rose and Tyler Ulis were All-Americans under his leadership. If Acuff can be a high-level playmaker for an Arkansas team that competes for a spot in the SEC’s top tier, Acuff could enter the Player of the Year conversation.

Coach with the most at stake

Borzello: Hubert Davis, North Carolina

Davis is the highest-profile coach entering the season in a tenuous situation, and he happens to coach one of the blue bloods of the sport with one of the best jobs in the country. Through four seasons at the helm, he has been to a national championship game, won an ACC championship, earned a 1-seed and been to multiple Sweet 16s. But the expectations in Chapel Hill don’t drop, and a missed NCAA tournament in 2023 combined with last season’s inconsistent 11-seed have increased the pressure on Davis. There’s enough talent on the roster to cool his seat, but that was the case last season too.

» Read Borzello’s coaching hot seat guide

Lunardi: Rick Pitino, St. John’s

Pitino is 73 years old. He has won everything there is to win at virtually every level of basketball. One could argue his numbers since being selected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 — a 221-72 record, a .754 winning percentage and six NCAA tournament bids in nine tries — make up their own HOF trajectory. What he hasn’t done is finish the job in his hometown. Two years with the New York Knicks half a lifetime ago and the past two with St. John’s have scratched an inch, certainly. But the chance to go out by winning really big with the Red Storm is very much on the table for Pitino in 2025-26. It could be his last, best chance.

Medcalf: Kelvin Sampson, Houston

It’s not like Sampson needs this; he has won 30 or more games in four consecutive seasons. He was within seconds of capturing the first national title of his career against Florida last season. And with the additions of three top-25 recruits, he’ll have the talent to get back to the final game of the campaign. At 70 years old, Sampson says he will always adapt, despite the changes in this game. He has proved he can do that. Yet few teams have had the five-year window he has enjoyed as a national title contender. This could be the season. And if it’s not, it could be difficult to get back to this stage with all of the real-time turbulence impacting college basketball.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS

National champion

Borzello: Purdue
Lunardi: Michigan
Medcalf: Houston
Paine: Houston

Final Four

Borzello: Purdue, Florida, Louisville, BYU
Lunardi: Duke, Purdue, Michigan, UConn
Medcalf: Kentucky, Houston, Purdue, BYU
Paine: Houston, Purdue, Michigan, Florida

Conference winners

AWARDS PREDICTIONS

Player of the Year

Borzello: Braden Smith, Purdue
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Medcalf: Braden Smith, Purdue
Paine: JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Freshman of the Year

Borzello: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Lunardi: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Medcalf: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Paine: Darryn Peterson, Kansas

Newcomer of the Year

Borzello: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lunardi: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Medcalf: Darrion Williams, NC State
Paine: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

» Read ESPN’s top 50 newcomer rankings

All-America teams

Borzello:
Braden Smith, Purdue
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Cameron Boozer, Duke
JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Lunardi:
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Cameron Boozer, Duke

Medcalf:
Braden Smith, Purdue
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Cameron Boozer, Duke

Paine:
Braden Smith, Purdue
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Graham Ike, Gonzaga

» Read Jay Bilas’ All-America predictions

Coach of the Year

Borzello: Pat Kelsey, Louisville
Lunardi: Dusty May, Michigan
Medcalf: Mark Pope, Kentucky
Paine: Matt Painter, Purdue