Thomas Haugh returned to Florida for a chance to win a second national title.
asserted
Haugh → return → title
Jeremy Fears Jr. put off the NBA in hopes of leading Michigan State to its first national championship in 27 years.
asserted
Jr. → put → years
The two stars’ decisions made their teams among frontrunners to cut down the nets next spring and earned them preseason All-America honors from The Associated Press.
Fears received 57 votes from a 58-person media panel on the team released Wednesday and Haugh earned 56.
asserted
Haugh → make → 56
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (43 votes), Illinois forward David Mirkovic (24) and Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas (17) rounded out the team.
asserted
Tanner → round → team
Fears had a superb second season as Michigan State’s starting point guard, averaging 15.2 points and a nation-leading 9.4 points on a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
asserted
that → have → Sweet
The 6-foot-2 guard from Joliet, Illinois, initially declared for the NBA draft before withdrawing.
asserted
guard → declare → draft
Fears’ return and a loaded roster earned the Spartans a No. 6 ranking in the preseason Top 25 poll.
asserted
return → earn → poll
“I think we have the pieces” Fears said.
asserted
Fears → think → pieces
“We’ve kind of got a lot of everything and my job is to get them the ball.”
asserted
job → get → ball
Haugh played a key role in Florida’s run to the 2025 national title and was the Gators’ leading scorer last year at 17.1 points per game, earning third team AP All=America honors.
asserted
Haugh → play → honors
The 6-9 forward from New Oxford, Pennsylvania, postponed his chances of becoming an NBA lottery pick to remain in school with his two brothers and chase another national title with close friend Alex Condon.
asserted
forward → postpone → Condon
“It’s national championship or bust for this team,” Haugh said.
asserted
Haugh → ’ → team
“But we’re mature enough.
asserted
we → ’re → ?
We have a really old group now, so I think we’re going to be really comfortable coming in this season.”
asserted
we → have → group
Tanner was one of the nation’s best guards last season, earning third-team AP All-America honors after becoming the only player in the nation to average 19 points (19.5), 5.0 assists (5.1) and 2.0 steals (2.1) for the season.
asserted
Tanner → earn → season
The 6-foot guard from Brentwood, Tennessee, also tested the NBA waters before opting to return, helping Vandy earn its first preseason ranking since 2015 at No. 24.
asserted
Vandy → test → .
“There’s not a more valuable player in the country,” Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said.
asserted
Byington → ’ → country
“Just everything that he can do on the court, off the court, what he means to me, what he means to Vanderbilt.
asserted
he → do → Vanderbilt
I’m glad we got year three with him.”
asserted
we → ’m → him
Mirkovic had a strong first season after moving over from SC Derby of the European ABA League, averaging 13.3 points, a team-high 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists on a team that reached the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
asserted
that → have → 2005
The 6-9 forward from Niksic, Montenegro, will likely be eased into the season after offseason foot surgery, but his return with twin brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic earned the Illini a No. 3 ranking the AP preseason poll, highest since they were No. 3 in 2001.
asserted
they → ease → 2001
“He’s got great charisma and great sense of humor, when you get to know him, you find out how intelligent he is, an unbelievable quick wit to him,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said.
asserted
Underwood → get → him
“Then you step across the line and he’s that guy that just wants to rip your throat out and compete.
asserted
that → step → throat
I’m excited for the world to get to know him.”
asserted
world → ’m → him
The 7-2 Lithuanian averaged 10.4 points and a team-leading 8.2 rebounds a year ago.
asserted
Lithuanian → average → points
He had an even bigger influence on defense, finishing 17th nationally with 73 blocked shots while teams shot 36.7% while he was on the floor, lowest in the country, according the CBB Analytics.
asserted
he → have → Analytics
Krivas was projected as a late first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft, but opted to remain in Tucson to continue rounding out his game and hopefully lead the Wildcats back to the Final Four.
asserted
Krivas → project → Four
“He’s got more experience now and he’s had more success, which comes with more confidence,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said.
asserted
Lloyd → get → confidence
“This team needs that out of him.
asserted
team → need → him
We’re going to need him to be a double-double type of guy on a nightly basis.”
asserted
him → go → basis
The Aporia
