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Nine men’s college basketball teams that need to turn around their seasons — now

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Nine men’s college basketball teams that need to turn around their seasons — now


There are just under two months left in the 2025-26 men’s college basketball regular season — plenty of time for most teams to enhance their NCAA tournament résumés ahead of Selection Sunday.

For some programs, it will be enough to regain momentum they may have lost after the opening stages. For others, the gap between preseason expectations and where they stand now may be too wide to overcome. And if teams that fall under that latter category aren’t prudent about turning things around, they could find themselves looking back at this stretch of the season as a missed opportunity that cost them a shot at a successful campaign.

Here are nine that need to shift gears sooner rather than later.

Note: Teams listed in alphabetical order.

Overall record: 12-5
SEC record: 2-2

Alabama has losses to Arizona (No. 1), Purdue (No. 5), Gonzaga (No. 9), Vanderbilt (No. 10) and Texas — and the common thread in each defeat was a woeful defensive effort. This past Saturday, Alabama surrendered 92 points (129 points per 100 possessions) at home to a Texas team that has losses to Arizona State and Mississippi State. Overall, the Tide have allowed 93.2 points per game in their five losses and rank 79th in adjusted defensive efficiency.

The bright spot: Labaron Philon Jr. (21.3 PPG) and Aden Holloway (18.6 PPG) are one of the top duos in the country and lead one of the best offensive units in America. Still, Alabama’s losses to Vanderbilt and Texas over the past week suggest that might not be enough.


Overall record: 11-5
Big 12 record: 1-3

The addition of James Nnaji, the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA draft, created a firestorm as coaches around the country criticized the move. But Baylor coach Scott Drew added the 7-foot center because his team needed more size after Juslin Bodo Bodo suffered an offseason injury. The Bears will need more than the former European pro to move the program in the right direction, though.

Baylor, which owns a defense that’s barely inside the top 100 in efficiency, lost its first three games in the Big 12. That stretch included a road loss to TCU and home losses to Houston and Iowa State. That’s not an easy collection of games for any team. Baylor is grappling with imbalance, though. Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou, two projected first-rounders in ESPN’s latest mock draft, lead a top-20 offense. But the Bears have to improve on the defensive end to survive the rest of their Big 12 schedule and secure a bid on Selection Sunday.


Overall record: 10-6
SEC record: 1-2

Kentucky’s defense has been subpar since the Dec. 2 loss to North Carolina, ranking 66th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per Bart Torvik. Its offensive production has been even worse, coming in at 91st in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Wildcats have also been one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in America over that stretch (32.1%).

Now, Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe (8.0 PPG, 2.4 APG) is out for the season and projected NBA draft lottery pick Jayden Quaintance is dealing with a knee injury. Considering those factors, the Wildcats could be a below-average team wearing a storied program’s uniforms. They don’t look the part of a Final Four contender like we expected them to — or even a team that’s a lock to make the NCAA tournament — despite reportedly spending $22 million on the current roster.

If Mark Pope can’t turn things around fast, he could enter the 2026-27 season on the hot seat.

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1:20

Jaland Lowe to have season-ending surgery

Jeff Borzello discusses Jaland Lowe’s season-ending shoulder surgery and how it affects the rest of the Kentucky roster.


Overall record: 12-5
ACC record: 2-3

A month ago, projected NBA draft lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. was ruled out with a back injury prior to Louisville’s loss to Tennessee. Coach Pat Kelsey seemed confident then that Brown’s injury wouldn’t become a bigger problem for the Cardinals. He was wrong.

Tuesday’s 79-70 home loss to Virginia was the seventh consecutive game Brown (16.6 PPG, 5.3 APG) missed. The timing isn’t ideal for a Louisville team that will face Duke and SMU before the end of the month. The Cardinals, ranked 11th in the preseason AP Top 25, are 3-4 overall and 2-3 in ACC play without Brown. They’re committing turnovers on nearly one-fifth of their possessions without him, too.

Short of an imminent return for Brown or a shift in strategy without him, the end result of his absence could be a difficult first-round matchup in the NCAA tournament.


Overall record: 6-12
Big East record: 1-6

Shaka Smart is a long way from his 2011 Final Four run with VCU. The current slide by Marquette, a team that started the season ranked 46th on KenPom, is the extreme opposite of the success he has enjoyed.

Picked to finish fifth in the Big East’s preseason poll, injuries and the sudden departure of Zaide Lowery (8.1 PPG) have played a role in the Golden Eagles’ slow start. But Smart’s team has also failed to show proficiency on either end of the court. Marquette is currently one of the worst offensive (152nd in adjusted offensive efficiency) and defensive (92nd in adjusted defensive efficiency) high-major teams in the country. And there are no signs of immediate improvement for a program that has already suffered losses to Maryland and Georgetown. Marquette would need a kind of miracle to finish the season strong.


Overall record: 7-8
American record: 2-1

Penny Hardaway is coming off the best season of his tenure at the helm of his alma mater. PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter were first-team honorees in the American for a Memphis team that won 29 games and reached the NCAA tournament, where it finally lost its sixth game in the first round to Colorado State (notably without Hunter). This season’s team had lost its sixth game by Dec. 17.

With a 7-8 tally entering the week, this is the first time the Tigers have had a losing record under Hardaway since their 1-2 start to the 2020-21 season. Their ticket back to the NCAA tournament will have to come through winning the American tournament. A recent 89-78 loss at Florida Atlantic suggests that’s far from a guarantee, especially if Memphis’ 20.5% turnover rate (337th nationally) persists.


Overall record: 12-4
SEC record: 2-1

At its best, Missouri can beat defending national champion Florida and Kentucky in back-to-back games. But lopsided losses to Kansas (20 points) and Illinois (43 points), along with other defeats to Ole Miss and Notre Dame, showcase the Tigers’ limitations, too.

Since the loss to the Fighting Irish on Dec. 2, the Tigers are ranked 85th overall per Bart Torvik. Mark Mitchell (17.4 PPG) has been a steady presence, but Anthony Robinson and others have not been the consistent contributors coach Dennis Gates has needed them to be. A grueling SEC schedule could make or break a Missouri team that will end the season with its most difficult stretch heading into Selection Sunday, but a NET ranking of 76 means the Tigers have more work to do before they can even think about that.

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2:08

Highlight: Missouri defeats Kentucky to extend hot start in SEC play

Mark Mitchell paces the offense with 21 points as the Tigers beat the Wildcats 73-68, marking a 2-0 SEC start for the first time in school history.


Overall record: 8-9
Big Ten record: 1-5

Coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, Dana Altman seemed to have the talent to make it three in a row. Unfortunately, the campaign has not gone as anticipated.

After starting the year ranked 37th on KenPom, Oregon entered the week ranked 83rd. A Jan. 5 overtime loss to Rutgers — the same Scarlet Knights team that lost to Central Connecticut (252nd on KenPom) — highlights how far the Ducks have fallen from preseason expectations that placed them squarely inside the NCAA tournament conversation.

Jackson Shelstad (15.6 PPG) has battled a hand injury and missed the first three games of 2026, but Altman’s team had significant challenges before that development. The Ducks now sit at 1-5 in Big Ten play and still have matchups against Michigan and Michigan State later this month. Having started the season with turbulent results, the Ducks’ season could continue to decline without a rapid turnaround.


Overall record: 11-5
Big Ten record: 3-2

Reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Donovan Dent was a coveted transfer. When he signed with UCLA, he was expected to elevate his game in his hometown. He has yet to do that.

Dent has connected on just 9% of his 3-point attempts against Division I opponents this season (not a typo!) after making 40% a year ago. Part of Mick Cronin’s charge to turn UCLA into a Big Ten contender — the Bruins started 3-2 in conference play and were ranked ninth in efficiency to open the week — will require Dent to tap into the same skill set that made him a star at New Mexico last season. A hamstring injury for Skyy Clark (13.5 PPG) could complicate that mission.



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Browns star Myles Garrett in speeding trouble again with 9th citation since entering NFL

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Browns star Myles Garrett in speeding trouble again with 9th citation since entering NFL


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He may be one of the best players in the NFL, but Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett isn’t great at following traffic laws. 

The 2025 Defensive Player of the Year was cited for driving 94 mph in a 70-mph zone on Interstate 71 in Congress Township, Ohio, which is between Cleveland and Columbus, back on Feb. 21, according to court records.

This speeding ticket marks the ninth since Garrett has entered the NFL since his rookie season in 2017, which includes a scary moment where he flipped his Porsche in 2022 after an incident where speeding was a factor. 

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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Garrett was cited then for going 65 mph in a 45-mph zone at the time. 

Garrett was also driving a Porsche during this traffic stop, as the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office pulled over the Browns star as he was going 24 mph over the speed limit in the early hours last month. Before being pulled over, Garrett was spotted at a college basketball game between Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio in Oxford, which is near Cincinnati. 

Prior to this ticket, Garrett was pulled over during Browns training camp on Aug. 9, when he was driving 100 mph in a 60-mph zone in Strongsville, Ohio, which is near the team’s Berea training facility. 

The Browns had just returned home from their preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers, which led to a $250 fine for Garrett as well. 

He was peppered with questions from the media about his speeding past following his then-eighth citation, but he declined to respond. 

Myles Garrett reacts on field

Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the second quarter in the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

“I’d honestly prefer to talk about football and this team than anything I’m doing off the field other than the back-to-school event that I did the other day,” Garrett said to media on Aug. 20.

Garrett added that he tried to “keep my personal life personal. And I’d rather focus on this team when I can.”

It was hard not to ask Garrett about what happened in 2022, when he suffered a shoulder and biceps strains, among other less serious injuries, after his car flipped over. He had to miss the team’s Week 4 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, though he returned to his normal self that year. He had 16 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games for Cleveland. 

This past year, Garrett broke the single-season sack record (23) with a league-high 33 tackles for loss in an insane campaign that made him a lock for the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his ninth season for the Browns. He had now made it three straight first-team All-Pro honors and five overall. 

Myles Garrett looks on field

Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns looks on during warmups prior to the game at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

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But Garrett will now have to either appear in court on March 10, or pay a fine of more than $100 for his latest speeding ticket, per WKYC in Cleveland. After signing a then-record four-year, $160 million extension with Cleveland last year, the latter is likely the option he’ll choose. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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LaLiga side Celta Vigo put out plea to Madonna to find 1990 jersey

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LaLiga side Celta Vigo put out plea to Madonna to find 1990 jersey


Spanish club Celta Vigo have called on Madonna and their club fans to help them end their 36-year search to find the team jersey that the global icon wore during her concert at their Balaidos stadium in 1990.

Madonna’s show on July 29 1990 in Vigo marked the first major international concert in the city and was one of the last stops on the pop star’s Blond Ambition European tour.

The LaLiga outfit said it wants to recover the “unique and irreplaceable garment” to add it to its historical archives.

“That night, the artist donned a Celta Vigo jersey with [former Celta defender Jose Manuel] Espinosa’s number 5 on the back,” a club statement said.

“This moment, captured by photographer Víctor de las Heras, became an iconic image in the history of the club and the city. After the performance, the jersey vanished, its whereabouts unknown ever since. Celta Vigo has now revealed that it had been searching for it privately for years, but the investigation stalled.

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“Thirty-six years later, the club is launching an appeal to all Celta Vigo fans to help locate the jersey, with the intention of adding it to its historical archives. For Celta Vigo, it is a unique and irreplaceable garment that forms part of its emotional heritage. For this reason, the club would appreciate any relevant information regarding the whereabouts of the shirt Madonna wore on stage at Balaídos. The following link has been provided to receive any information related to the garment.”

Celta president Marián Mouriño has also written an open letter asking Madonna for her help while explaining why that jersey means so much to the club.

“Your image with our shirt has become a myth and is part of the history of Celta that is also written off the pitch,” she wrote.

“Many see all this as a simple anecdote. But I like to think that nothing happens by chance. Although it was not the only shirt you wore on stage, that image began to shine in a different way over the years. Because we understand better what you defended back then: questioning the established and standing up to those who try to tell you what you can or cannot do.

“At the club that I preside over, we recognize ourselves in that way of being in the world.”

In the letter, Mouriño said her club will “dedicate a gesture of affection” to Madonna ahead of Friday’s home league game against Real Madrid with the intention of asking the singer: “Do you have it? If you know where it might be or want to help us, please contact us by private message.”



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Summer transfer needs for all 20 Premier League teams

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Summer transfer needs for all 20 Premier League teams


It’s never too early for clubs to be planning transfers. While the window might be closed, you can guarantee all 20 Premier League clubs are still working furiously behind the scenes to produce short lists, decide on targets and set their course for next season.

They won’t have all the answers yet — for many, those depend on relegation or European qualification — but what should they at least be thinking about? What do they already know needs addressing?


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Arsenal logo Arsenal

NEED: Even more attacking juice

Arsenal spent £162 million to bring in Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke last summer to boost their attacking corps, but there’s a strong argument to be made that they still need more. With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus experiencing severe injury issues and the club lacking a top-shelf left wing threat, they should be in the market for a forward of some sort.

Aston Villa logo Aston Villa

NEED: Plan for potential major departures

Aston Villa are operating on a very strict budget due to a UEFA settlement, so any move they make must be carefully considered. They are also in a tricky spot, given that one or more key players could conceivably depart the club, which means replacements would be required. Earning Champions League football may eradicate the need to make any deals they don’t wish to, but if they fall short, the likes of forward Morgan Rogers and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez will be eyed up by others. Villa need to know who they’ll target if this happens.

Bournemouth logo AFC Bournemouth

NEED: Figure out the center back situation

Bournemouth are facing all sorts of questions at center back for the second year running. The most important one revolves around Marcos Senesi, whose contract is set to expire this summer and has been linked with a series of top clubs, including Barcelona and Juventus. If the Argentina international left, would Veljko Milosavljević be ready to step up and start consistently? If not, the Cherries might need to sign two new defenders this summer (luckily, they’re very good at this).

Brighton logo Brighton & Hove Albion

NEED: A natural right back

Brighton may have drifted a bit this season, but when looking over their squad, there aren’t many issues to address from either a qualitative or quantitative perspective. One upgrade they could make is at right back, where they have plenty of options, but no specialist outside of Joël Veltman, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The Seagulls will also need to be ready and willing to sign a center midfielder if Carlos Baleba leaves the club.

Brentford logo Brentford

NEED: Carefully manage some departures

Brentford are in an incredible spot. The squad is good; they have a star striker in Igor Thiago (17 league goals), an excellent goalkeeper in Caoimhín Kelleher, and everything in between. If they finish in the European spots, they’ll need to add further to the ranks. If not, it might be time for some of the old guard — such as Ethan Pinnock and Rico Henry — to depart. Time will tell.

Burnley logo Burnley

NEED: Promotion players for next year

Likely doomed for relegation, Burnley’s eye should be on who can get them promoted from the second tier next season. They’ve got a looming issue in midfield, as Josh Cullen has torn his ACL, James Ward-Prowse has only replaced him on loan, and Florentino Luís may not wish to stick around.

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Are Chelsea in serious financial trouble?

ESPN’s Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens react to Chelsea’s damaging UEFA European Club Landscape report.

Chelsea logo Chelsea

NEED: Some veteran, steadying presences

Chelsea‘s policy of investing heavily in young players brings some great benefits — but also some noted negatives. Chief among those is a lack of maturity and discipline running through the squad, which has resulted in a whopping seven red cards in the league this season (no other team has more than three). While it might break from policy, it could be time for Chelsea to consider adding a few adults to the room.

Crystal Palace logo Crystal Palace

NEED: Where do you even start?

Major uncertainties surround Palace heading into the summer. We don’t know who will take over from Oliver Glasner as manager, and the squad look short in multiple areas. If they stick with a back-three system, they’re probably in need of a center back and a right wing back. Regardless of the shape, they’ll have to sign some new center midfielders, as both Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma are out of contract, and Adam Wharton is sure to command interest from top clubs.

Everton logo Everton

NEED: A truckload of full backs

Everton need to sign at least two, perhaps even three, full backs this coming summer. None of James Garner, Jarrad Branthwaite or Jake O’Brien are naturally full backs, yet they’ve all played there recently as David Moyes lacks options. The only consistently available first-team full-back is Vitaliy Mykolenko, whose contract expires this summer. There’s no doubt they’d love to sign winger Jack Grealish permanently, too — once his loan from Man City expires — but that all depends on the fee.

bar-chart-race visualization

Fulham logo Fulham

NEED: Future-proof the forward line

Fulham tried (and failed) to sign USMNT and PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi in January, which is an obvious hint as to what this summer’s priority might be. Raúl Jiménez’s contract is set to expire, as is midfielder Harry Wilson’s, while winger Samuel Chukwueze is only on loan (with an option to make the move permanent). This trio have scored 20 of the Whites’ 40 league goals; best figure out who stays, who goes and who needs to come in — and fast.

Leeds logo Leeds United

NEED: A new goalkeeper

Leeds got the vast majority of last summer’s recruitment right, but fumbled in one key area: between the posts. Lucas Perri, signed for €15 million from Lyon, struggled and lost his place to Karl Darlow, who has spent most of his career as a backup at this level. Expect the Whites to enter the market for a goalkeeper once again this summer.

Liverpool logo Liverpool

NEED: Long-term solutions in defense

Jérémy Jacquet is on the way to Liverpool from Rennes for €60 million, and young Giovanni Leoni will recover from his ACL tear in time for next season, but there are still big questions hovering over this Liverpool defensive line. Center back Ibrahima Konaté‘s contract is set to expire, left back Andy Robertson nearly moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January, and all of their right backs appear to be injury prone. Big changes could be on the way.

Manchester City logo Manchester City

NEED: A long-term solution at right back

Credit is due to Matheus Nunes, a midfielder who has converted into a solid right back. He has filled in admirably in the post-Kyle Walker era, taking up the mantle while City’s faith in academy product Rico Lewis has seemingly waned. But a club with City’s spending capacity should probably have a specialist to call upon, and it is the most obvious way to upgrade this XI over the summer.

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Man United logo Manchester United

NEED: You guessed it! Central midfield

Center midfield has been an area of concern at United for well over a year now, and the need to sign a player for this position has only intensified since Casemiro announced he will leave the club this summer. This could get really expensive — the club have been repeatedly linked with Nottingham Forest‘s Elliott Anderson, Crystal Palace‘s Adam Wharton and Newcastle United‘s Bruno Guimarães, among others — but the United higher-ups can’t put it off any longer.

Newcastle logo Newcastle United

NEED: Defensive reinforcements … and a striker?

Newcastle’s forward situation needs figuring out. Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga cost a combined £167 million to sign last summer, but Eddie Howe has struggled to get them going. Do you give them another season, or spend again? Regardless of that call, the defensive line needs addressing. Of the center backs, only Malick Thiaw has been fit and available all season long, and the club badly need adequate cover for full backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento too.

Nottingham Forest logo Nottingham Forest

NEED: A manager and a consistent playing style

It’s hard to nail your recruitment when you go through four managers in one season — and those four managers all coach different playing styles. Forest have loads of players, several of which are excellent, and the thing they need the most is a consistent direction to travel in.

Sunderland logo Sunderland

NEED: A forward and a left back

Newly promoted Sunderland have spent most of the campaign in the top half of the table, which is a miraculous achievement. This is a well built squad that, unlike last summer, does not need wholesale changes. If the Black Cats can spot a forward who can elevate this team, they should pounce. It’s also worth looking at cover for Reinildo at left back, who has missed time due to injury and suspension.

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Will Igor Tudor save Tottenham from relegation?

ESPN’s Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens react to Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham in the Premier League

Tottenham logo Tottenham Hotspur

NEED: A progressive passing center midfielder

If Tottenham avoid relegation, they must take an axe to their midfield setup, which is chock full of runners and ball-winners — but curiously lacking in players who can pass the ball forward and through the lines. Many of their other issues will iron themselves out when key players return to fitness, but the midfield balance can only be fixed via the transfer market.

West Ham logo West Ham United

NEED: If they stay up, a defensive leader

West Ham are right on the precipice, but if they do manage to stave off relegation, they’ll need to add a defensive leader — likely a center back — to prevent the same desperate fight next season. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo loaned Axel Disasi from Chelsea in January to address this, but that’s only a short-term solution.

Wolverhampton logo Wolves

NEED: Plan for the Championship

Wolves have shown immense spirit of late, with some fine results against bigger teams, but the smart move is still to plan for the Championship next season. They’ve already partaken in that by swapping out Jørgen Strand Larsen for Adam Armstrong in January and more moves of that ilk loom.



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