The Bilas Index: The best 64 men's basketball teams in 2026-27 — SkimNews
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- Duke Blue Devils occupy No. 1 in the 64-team Bilas Index; their résumé includes 35 wins and a Player of the Year winner in each of the past two seasons, while Bilas calls the current squad the deepest and most talented in the nation.
- Florida Gators rank second behind a frontcourt of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, all described as big, experienced national champions; Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar and returning Denzel Aberdeen form the backcourt that must match that interior strength.
- Illinois Fighting Illini rank third after reaching the Final Four last season, their first since 2005; David Mirkovic led last year's team with 8.0 rebounds and 13.3 points, while Brad Underwood has changed his approach following Keaton Wagler's NBA departure.
- Arizona Wildcats rank fourth after reaching the Final Four last season, with Motiejus Krivas among the country's best interior defenders and rebounders, Ivan Kharchenkov a star-caliber forward, and Derek Dixon the player Bilas calls the key.
- UConn Huskies rank fifth with one of the nation's best backcourts and an excellent perimeter defense; since 1999, they have won six championships and averaged more than 26 wins per season, including two titles in the past four years.
- Houston Cougars occupy No. 6 after winning more than 30 games in each of the past five seasons, though Bilas notes the Cougars lost a lot of key players from last season.
Why it matters: Under the NIL era, Division I schools have greater access to high-level players and talent is spread beyond legacy blue bloods. The ranking consequence is a four-team chase behind Duke: Florida, Illinois, Arizona and UConn each pair multiple quality contributors with distinct strengths, leaving the top of the Index decided by roster depth rather than one star.
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