With opening night still a few weeks away, there isn’t much going on in college basketball right now. Teams are preparing for the long season ahead and there is little to no movement in regards to personnel. But there are still some headlines regarding recruiting, conference realignment and more. Here are the stories that I found to be the most significant and interesting.
Gonzaga University announces its decision to join the new Pac-12 in 2026
Finally, it has happened. After what feels like a decade of rumors for every conference you can name, Gonzaga has made the decision to switch conferences and help with the rebranding of the Pac-12. While the rivalry with Saint Mary’s College brought us some great games, the West Coast Conference didn’t have much for the Zags competition-wise, and a conference change seemed inevitable. I think this move makes a lot of sense for Gonzaga in regards to basketball and convenience. Along with Gonzaga, San Diego State University and three other schools from the Mountain West Conference are making the move to the Pac-12, already making it a stronger conference than the WCC. With that, the locations of these schools are much better for travel purposes than the schools in the power four conferences. As it stands now, the Pac-12 might actually be improved after the major conference realignment of 2024.
Boozer twins commit to Duke University
If you follow the recruiting circuit for basketball, you probably know the hype surrounding the twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the sons of former Blue Devil and long time NBA player Carlos Boozer. Their dad left a great legacy at Duke, as a 2001 NCAA Champion and 2002 All-American. While there is a lot of pressure on these two going to their father’s alma mater, I’d be surprised if things don’t work out. Cameron is currently ranked second nationally and is the number one power forward in his class. Cayden, who is slightly less touted, is ranked 21st nationally and fourth positionally (point guard). Clearly, these are two great pickups for Jon Scheyer and his staff. Not to mention, it’ll be cool to see the Boozer twins follow in their father’s footsteps.
Memphis University basketball facing serious allegations
It seems like there is a new concerning headline about the Memphis basketball program every month. The most recent news is about the submission of an anonymous letter accusing the program, specifically head coach Penny Hardaway, of several possible violations, including recruiting infractions. To make matters worse, this followed the unexpected and oddly-timed firing of four staff members. Memphis has now submitted the letter to the NCAA and investigations have started. Hardaway, if he wasn’t before, is definitely on the hot seat for this season and it’ll be interesting to see what comes of these allegations.
