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Missouri begins its 2025-26 season in an unusual spot — on the road at Howard’s Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C. Coach Dennis Gates’ team comes off a 22-12 year and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Junior guard Anthony Robinson II and senior forward Mark Mitchell headline the Tigers. Robinson’s defense helped spark a 100-91 exhibition win over Kansas State. Mitchell, who averaged 13.9 points and led Missouri in scoring last season, returns after a minor wrist issue in preseason. You can review full team trends and past results on the college basketball previews page Howard, a preseason MEAC contender, counters with forward Bryce Harris, who averaged 16.6 points and 7.5 rebounds before injury last season. Transfers Cam Gillus and Cedric Taylor

No. 16 Iowa State tips off its season Monday night against Fairleigh Dickinson in Ames, Iowa, looking to prove defense still drives its success under T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclones finished 25-10 last season, built around one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, and open as heavy favorites against a rebuilding Knights squad. Otzelberger’s team prides itself on physical play, ranking top five nationally in defensive efficiency last year. “That’s been our identity and will continue to be,” he said. Returners Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Milan Momcilovic form the core, though Lipsey is nursing a knee injury that could affect his availability for the opener. For bettors tracking early-season momentum, this is an ideal matchup to follow on the college basketball

Defending champion Florida begins its title defense in a marquee matchup against Arizona on Monday in Las Vegas. The neutral-site opener has the feel of a March matchup, with both teams ranked inside the top 15. Florida closed last season on a 12-game winning streak, capped by a national title that included upsets of Auburn and Houston. Coach Todd Golden now reshapes his lineup around frontcourt power—Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu—after losing guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard to the NBA. Transfers Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton) fill out the backcourt. Arizona enters its first full Big 12 season with similar turnover. The Wildcats lost Caleb Love and Carter Bryant but reloaded with

DePaul opens its 2025-26 campaign Monday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago against in-city foe Chicago State. Chris Holtmann’s second season with the Blue Demons begins with optimism and experience after a 14-win year that exceeded expectations. DePaul returns its top scorers CJ Gunn (12.9 ppg), NJ Benson (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), and Layden Blocker (9.5 ppg). They’ll try to maintain momentum after a postseason appearance in the College Basketball Crown. Holtmann stressed leadership and consistency over hype, saying the team must “build off the competitiveness of last year’s group.” Chicago State enters a new era under first-year coach Landon Bussie, who takes over a program looking to reset after a 4-28 season. Bussie brings an up-tempo system and several