Sports
Best (and worst) men’s college basketball offseason moves
Over the past six months, college basketball has once again experienced another offseason full of coaching changes, staff moves, portal action and recruiting gains and losses. As a result, the landscape is stacked with teams that have seemed to master the new Moneyball approach to restructuring teams every spring and summer. There are others who did not make the improvements they may have anticipated, which means there are winners and losers in this conversation.
Our 2025-26 superlatives list attempts to make some sense of what just unfolded and sort the victors from those who might have missed out this offseason.
Best overall offseason
After winning the national title, Todd Golden lost the best backcourt in America. Departures included the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in Walter Clayton Jr. and two more players who were selected in the 2025 NBA draft (Alijah Martin and Will Richard) — but that’s only part of the story. The return of Golden’s frontcourt wasn’t a guarantee as key players flirted with the NBA draft.
But the Gators enter the season with a strong case to be the No. 1 team in the country after securing the returns of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. They also added former five-star recruit Boogie Fland and all-Ivy League guard Xaivian Lee. In this turbulent climate, few teams have managed to lose the core of a championship squad and bounce back the way this team has ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Florida won’t look exactly like the title-winning team did, but it will be similarly equipped to chase another ring.
The chemistry the Gators foster over the course of the season will matter the most. Lee and Fland will have to share ballhandling responsibilities. Golden wants Haugh to be an inside-outside threat. And Condon is an SEC Player of the Year candidate who will have to deal with the pressure that comes with that attention. These are all good problems to have because it means Florida has the pieces to be the best team in America again.
Strongest overall transfer class
Rick Pitino made New York City fall in love with St. John’s basketball again with a run to the Big East conference and tournament championships last season. The Red Storm shouldn’t lose any ground as a result of Pitino again hitting the reset button in the portal, with a transfer class headlined by Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Bryce Hopkins (Providence), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford) and Joson Sanon (Arizona State) — all of whom averaged double figures at their previous stops.
Now, there are questions. Will Jackson be a consistent presence this season? He demonstrated his ability to impact a game at a high level only in spurts at North Carolina. Will Hopkins stay healthy? He has battled injuries in recent years. Will Sellers and Sanon continue to build on strong seasons a year ago? It certainly seems possible. But the questions don’t supersede the potential for this stacked group of transfer talent to excel under Pitino.
There’s also Dylan Darling — a star at Idaho State who scored 35 combined points between matchups against UCLA and USC last season — could be a hidden gem. And Dillon Mitchell is a veteran at his third school.
Pitino won big with a similar group a year ago. The same thing could happen in 2025-26.
Most impactful transfer commitment
Last year, Will Wade won 28 games at McNeese State and led the Cowboys to the second round of the NCAA tournament before he left for NC State — his first power conference job since being fired by LSU in 2022 as a result of recruiting violation allegations. He hit the ground running in Raleigh by adding some of the best players in the portal, including Williams.
The former Texas Tech star scored 23 points as the Red Raiders nearly knocked off Florida in the Elite Eight. Averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 2024-25, Williams is one of America’s most versatile players. His arrival gives Wade a chance to put his team in the NCAA tournament conversation a year after the program won just 12 games.
Biggest transfer portal loss
P.J. Haggerty, from Memphis to Kansas State
Penny Hardaway had his most successful season as coach at Memphis when Haggerty — an Associated Press second-team All-American and AAC Player of the Year — helped the Tigers win 29 games en route to capturing the regular-season and conference tournament championships in 2025-26 while averaging 21.2 PPG.
Haggerty isn’t the only star that the Tigers lost in the portal, but he is the most pivotal prospect who departed. Now a Memphis team that ended last season as a trendy pick to reach the second weekend of the NCAA tournament — until a foot injury that Tyrese Hunter sustained during the AAC tournament changed the Tigers’ outlook — will have to rebuild without one of the country’s top returning players.
Strongest recruiting class
Cameron Boozer is the obvious headliner for Jon Scheyer’s program, but Duke is stacked with young talent that will once again put the Blue Devils in the Final Four conversation.
Boozer, a 6-foot-9 do-it-all talent, is a two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year who could be the most polished freshman in the country. His twin brother Cayden Boozer could also leave his mark on this program. Nikolas Khamenia, a top-15 prospect, had a great offseason on the USA Basketball circuit. And Dame Sarr is a 6-foot-8 former EuroLeague standout who could be a major addition, too — he was ranked as a lottery pick in ESPN’s latest NBA 2026 mock draft.
With 6-foot-8 Sebastian Wilkins — who reclassified from the 2026 class to the 2025 class — also in the fold, the Blue Devils will have the size and versatility to compete with any team in America. Yes, they are young, but they won’t have talent disparities against most opponents.
Best freshman*
*after top-three recruits AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer
Nate Ament, Tennessee Volunteers
Since 2019, Rick Barnes has coached 11 players who were drafted by NBA teams. He knows talent. And he called five-star freshman Ament, a 6-foot-11 small forward, the “No. 1 player in the class” this past April.
Ament is not as physically ready as the three players ahead of him — Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer — in ESPN’s latest 2026 NBA mock draft. But Ament’s ceiling is high in a scheme that has produced elite players such as Dalton Knecht, Chaz Lanier and Grant Williams in recent years. Ament is big, can play and guard multiple positions, and will continue to grow throughout the season as he begins to understand this level of basketball. His coach will help him get there.
Barnes has shown a willingness to adapt by allowing his elite players to get the shots they want when they are on the floor, rather than being married to a system. That’s how Knecht earned SEC Player of the Year honors two years ago before he was selected 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 draft. Ament could follow the same path.
Most surprising recruiting miss
Darius Acuff Jr. choosing Arkansas over Michigan
The No. 7 recruit in ESPN’s 2025 rankings is the top-rated point guard in the class, and was also a high school superstar in the state of Michigan until he ended his prep career at IMG Academy in Florida. The Detroit native had three great choices for the next chapter of his career, ultimately selecting Arkansas over Kansas and Michigan, in part because John Calipari has produced a fleet of high-level point guards who became standouts in the NBA (John Wall, De’Aaron Fox, Derrick Rose).
Bill Self had already landed Peterson, who is in the running to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, but Dusty May missed a chance to turn the in-state star into the next great point guard for the Wolverines. Michigan is still a threat to reach the Final Four, of course. With Acuff, however, May’s squad would have been in a different tier entering this season.
Highest-upside coaching hire
Sean Miller, Texas Longhorns
During a 20-year coaching career that includes two stints at Xavier and a stop at Arizona, Sean Miller has won at least 20 games in 15 season (or 75% of his coaching tenure). That consistency over a stretch that includes the most transformative chapter in college basketball history with the introduction of NIL deals, revenue sharing and the transfer portal has demanded consistency that is difficult to attain. Yet, Miller managed to lead three different programs to the Sweet 16 or beyond.
At Texas, Miller’s standards and expectations will remain. While the SEC has been one of the country’s strongest conferences in recent years, Miller has proved that he can elevate the Longhorns to the same heights Arizona once reached under his watch.
The good (Treylon Burks’s incredible catch) and bad (Washington’s record in prime time) from the Commanders’ seventh-straight loss.
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NEED CHANGE: Pakistan won a record 21 T20Is this year under Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy. Photo: AFP/File
KARACHI:
“Alright, you tell me — who should be made captain in T20s?” asked a person connected to Pakistan cricket during a friendly discussion with me.
Without hesitation, I replied, “Shaheen Shah Afridi.”
He responded, “The World Cup is so close now. If a change is made at this stage and, God forbid, the team doesn’t perform well, then you people will say ‘bring a new captain.’ That’s not a solution. Constant changes cause more harm than good.”
Hearing this, I said, “Salman Ali Agha is a nice, decent guy — that’s why he suits the board. That’s why he was given the captaincy. You can’t make Shaheen take ‘favorable decisions.’”
Smiling, he said, “You’re right that Salman is a straightforward person. He doesn’t get involved in groupings and listens to the board. But remember, he became captain based on his cricketing skills — these are just additional qualities. Shaheen is also a good guy; if the PCB tells him something, do you think he would refuse? Actually, Salman has been given the role with the future in mind. Shaheen is already the ODI captain; if the officials didn’t like him, why would they give him that responsibility either? I know you won’t be convinced, but I’m telling you the truth.”
I replied, “I know what’s going on in your minds. Salman’s own performance isn’t great; he’s been made captain because it’ll be easier to replace him later. Shadab Khan is fit again, and Mike Hesson wants to make him captain — they’ve worked together for years at Islamabad United.”
To this, I got the response, “Those are social media-type theories. It doesn’t suit you to repeat them. Tell me one thing — is Hesson’s job guaranteed unless the team wins? Why would he prioritize personal preferences? Yes, he’s friendly with Shadab, but it’s not that simple to make him captain directly upon return from injury. Remember, when Shadab was fit, he still played as vice-captain under Salman. They have good chemistry. Such a setup could continue when he returns. Anyway, we’ll talk later — okay, bye.”
After all this, it seems to me that Salman Ali Agha will be the captain for the World Cup. But with Pakistan cricket, nothing is ever certain — anything can happen. Until an official announcement is made, uncertainty will remain. Salman has performed well in Tests and ODIs, but his T20 performance hasn’t been extraordinary, which is why his place in the team is often questioned. However, in the recent triangular series, he seemed determined and even played a good innings against Sri Lanka.
A former great captain once told me something very insightful: “First select your best eleven players — then pick a captain from among them. If you bring in someone from outside that eleven, it means you’re compromising for other reasons.”
Our cricket “superstars” have also betrayed one another. Some former players broke relationships just to break “players’ power.” There was a time when even thinking about removing a captain was forbidden; later, the same friends started hiding things from each other to gain the captaincy.
It’s true that there’s no “players’ power” anymore, but if we compare the teams of that era with today’s, there’s a big difference. Babar Azam, once feared by bowlers, now lacks co confidence and consistency. When the team is chasing a big total in T20s, he seems visibly tense. If he hadn’t been entangled in the captaincy issue, would it have been the same?
Shaheen, on the other hand, will probably always feel that the very friends for whom he was ready to stand up to the board were the ones who “betrayed” him. The British introduced the policy of “divide and rule,” and it’s still being used in every field today.
Looking at all this, it seems that Salman Ali Agha is currently the best candidate for captaincy. He hasn’t been part of any group, his own place in the team isn’t always secure — so he’s likely to remain under the board’s control. The good thing is that under his captaincy, the team has started producing positive results recently, both in events and bilateral series.
The real question, however, is whether he can perform well in a high-pressure tournament like the World Cup. Maybe that’s what’s going through the officials’ minds — which is why there’s still no announcement. But time is running out; a decision will have to be made soon.
Let’s see what happens.
By the way, what do you think — should Salman remain captain, or should the responsibility go to Shadab or Shaheen instead? Don’t forget to share your opinion.
Ounahi gave Girona the lead before half-time, but Mbappe equalised from the penalty spot
French forward Kylian Mbappe earned Real Madrid a point from the penalty spot. Photo: AFP
BARCELONA:
Real Madrid were held to a third consecutive La Liga draw in a 1-1 tie at Girona on Sunday, allowing Barcelona to retain pole position.
Azzedine Ounahi fired the hosts into a surprise lead before half-time, with Kylian Mbappe earning Madrid a point from the penalty spot.
After Barcelona beat Alaves on Saturday to move top of the table, Madrid needed a victory at Girona to reclaim top spot but now sit second, a point behind the champions.
Earlier Alberto Moleiro helped Villarreal, third, move back ahead of fourth-place Atletico Madrid with a stoppage time winner in a 3-2 victory at Real Sociedad.
Real Madrid’s draw increases the pressure on Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, after recent rumours suggesting his future is insecure in the Madrid dugout.
“We are up there, it’s all very even, it’s a long season and we have to continue,” Alonso told reporters.
“I liked the reaction from the players. It was not enough to turn it around but we were close, and we have to continue with the unity we have, being self-critical enough, and wanting to win away from home.”
Madrid travel to face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday for a fourth consecutive league match on the road, a game moved because of the club’s participation in the Spanish Super Cup in January.
“The table will be hard-fought, there will be lots of movement,” added Alonso.
Mbappe and Arda Guler fired off target for Madrid early on in a hotly-contested but scrappy clash, in front of a raucous home crowd.
French superstar Mbappe had a goal ruled out for handball moments before Morocco international Ounahi fired Girona ahead, rifling home from just inside the area to stun their illustrious visitors.
Catalan minnows Girona, 18th, have twice beaten Real Madrid at Montilivi since making their top flight debut in 2017 and for a while it looked like they were going to manage it again.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a stunning save to tip away Vanat’s drive across goal before Los Blancos fought back.
After having a goal disallowed for offside Vinicius was clumsily felled in the box by Hugo Rincon.
Mbappe smashed the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner past Gazzaniga’s dive for his 14th La Liga goal of the campaign.
“Absolutely not the result we wanted tonight, but the league is still on and very long,” wrote Mbappe on social media network Instagram.
“We need to change this dynamic and show who we are as a team.”
Keeping the pressure on
Villarreal playmaker Moleiro netted twice in the second half of a thrilling game in San Sebastian.
Villarreal secured their fifth consecutive league win to stay firmly in the Spanish title fight.
Ayoze Perez sent the visitors ahead midway through the first half and teed up Moleiro for Villarreal’s second soon after the break.
Real Sociedad fought back strongly, with Carlos Soler netting on the hour mark.
The Basque side ramped up the pressure and levelled in the final stages through a spectacular Ander Barrenetxea free-kick.
However, Moleiro had the final say, firing home in the 95th minute to maintain his team’s momentum.
“We had that little bit of luck to get three very important points, as important as they were difficult (to get),” said Marcelino.
“To get 32 points out of a possible 42 to me seems a stunning achievement.”
Elsewhere, Real Betis claimed a 2-0 win at Sevilla in a fiery derby clash which was briefly suspended after home fans threw bottles onto the pitch.
The referee ordered players from the field in the 87th minute at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, with the match resuming 15 minutes later as Betis held on to fifth place.
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