College Basketball Analyst Tabs Purdue as Nation's No. 1 Team for 2025-26 Season

Another college basketball analyst believes Purdue will have the best team in college basketball for the 2025-26 season.

Purdue Boilermakers forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4), guard Fletcher Loyer (2) | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Another college basketball analyst is hopping aboard Purdue's hype train for the 2025-26 season. NCAA.com's Andy Katz has pegged the Boilermakers as the No. 1 team in the country entering next year.

This week, Katz released his Power 37 with Purdue listed in the top spot. This comes after the Boilers retained Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith, first-team All-Big Ten forward Trey Kaufman-Renn and All-Big Ten honorable mention Fletcher Loyer.

Additionally, the Boilers added center Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State and wing Liam Murphy out of North Florida from the transfer portal. Purdue also returns freshmen Gicarri Harris, CJ Cox, Daniel Jacobsen and Raleigh Burgess. Matt Painter and his staff are also bringing in four-star guards Omer Mayer and Antione West Jr. as members of the 2025 recruiting class.

Katz's top-10 looks like this:

1. Purdue Boilermakers
2. Houston Cougars
3. St. John's Red Storm
4. UConn Huskies
5. Duke Blue Devils
6. Kentucky Wildcats
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders
8. Michigan Wolverines
9. Florida Gators
10. Louisville Cardinals

🚨 NEW #Power37 from @TheAndyKatz 📋

1. Purdue
2. Houston
3. St. John's
4. UConn
5. Duke
6. Kentucky
7. Texas Tech
8. Michigan
9. Florida
10. Louisville pic.twitter.com/pbLH0nFjD9

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 12, 2025

Purdue is coming off a 24-12 campaign in the 2024-25 season, reaching the Sweet 16. Two years ago, Painter and the Boilermakers climbed a massive hurdle, reaching the Final Four for the first time since 1980 and making the program's first National Championship Game appearance since 1969.

With so much talent returning and coming in via recruiting and the transfer portal, expectations are for the Boilermakers to make a push to win a third Big Ten title in four years and enjoy a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Katz is another college basketball expert who is a believer in the Boilers.

Related stories on football

JADEN IVEY RECEIVES HIGH PRAISE: Detroit Pistons president Trajan Langdon spoke highly of guard Jaden Ivey, saying he's the hardest worker on the team and has made major improvements. CLICK HERE

PURDUE OFFERS 4-STAR GUARD: Purdue is already working on the 2027 recruiting class, extending an offer to top-50 prospect and four-star point guard Kevin Savage, a native of Georgia. CLICK HERE

PURDUE DROPS 2024-25 HIGHLIGHT REEL: The Purdue men's basketball program released its "movie" for the 2024-25 season, highlighting some of the best moments from the year. CLICK HERE