# Four Teams Overrated or Underrated in Preseason AP Top 25

> Preseason AP Top 25 men's college basketball teams: which are too high or too low?
- Title: Four Teams Overrated or Underrated in Preseason AP Top 25 · SI
- Summary: Preseason AP Top 25 men's college basketball teams: which are too high or too low? Sports Illustrated rates four teams as overrated or underrated in the…
- Keywords: college basketball, preseason ap top 25, michigan, tennessee, arkansas, usc, dusty may, rick barnes, john calipari, eric musselman, sports, Four
- Source: SI — https://si.com/college-basketball/four-overrated-underrated-teams-in-preseason-mens-ap-top-25
- Published: 2026-10-19T18:24:23+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: college basketball, preseason ap top 25, michigan, tennessee, arkansas, usc, dusty may, rick barnes, john calipari, eric musselman, sports
## Preseason Polls Start
The college basketball season begins on November 1 with Monday's preseason AP Top 25 men's hoops poll.
## Five-in-Five Eligibility Questions
Five-in-five eligibility question marks hover over many teams, making voters' tasks especially arduous this year.
## Underrated: No. 16 Michigan
Michigan is ranked 16th in the preseason AP Top 25 despite being defending champions.
## Michigan's Strengths
Michigan benefits from backcourt continuity with senior Elliot Cadeau and sophomore Trey McKenney, plus transfers J.P. Estrella and Moustapha Thiam.
## Michigan's Weaknesses
Michigan's coach Dusty May left for the NBA after winning a national championship, and five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. suffered a season-ending injury.
## Overrated: No. 8 Tennessee
Tennessee is ranked 8th in the preseason AP Top 25 but faces defense concerns after a weak preseason game.
## Tennessee's Strengths
Tennessee added perimeter shooting through a top-ranked transfer portal class, with coach Rick Barnes finding 13 new players to jell.
## Tennessee's Weaknesses
Tennessee was lit up for 59 second-half points by Xavier in its first preseason game.
## Overrated: No. 12 Arkansas
Arkansas is ranked 12th in the preseason AP Top 25 but relies heavily on freshmen and has a challenging nonconference schedule.
## Arkansas's Strengths
Arkansas has promising recruits, talented transfers, and forward Billy Richmond, last year's fourth-leading scorer.
## Arkansas's Weaknesses
Arkansas's nonconference schedule features three top-10 opponents, leading coach John Calipari to joke he was 'on crack'.
## Overrated: No. 21 USC
USC is ranked 21st in the preseason AP Top 25 but needs a major bounce-back season after missing the NCAA tournament.
## USC's Strengths
USC has talent in the backcourt with Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas, and returning forward Jacob Cofie.
## USC's Weaknesses
USC faces injury question marks, especially the status of potential starting center Eric Reibe.
## Key takeaway

Sports Illustrated rates four teams as overrated or underrated in the preseason AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll.