
SEC Basketball Poised for a Breakout Season
Top freshmen, strategic roster moves and international summer experiences set the stage for a competitive SEC campaign in 2024.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning The Bahamas across Basketball.

Top freshmen, strategic roster moves and international summer experiences set the stage for a competitive SEC campaign in 2024.

A look at how Michigan and Arizona’s overseas preseason schedules are exposing strengths and vulnerabilities ahead of the new college basketball season.

The Naval Academy announced its 2026‑27 men’s and women’s basketball schedules, confirming a slate that will keep the programs busy in Alumni Hall for more than a month. Season ticket packages are now on sale, offering fans the chance to secure seats for either the women’s or the combined men’s‑women’s lineup, with prices beginning at $135 for a women’s‑only ticket. For donors, premium floor seats are available, with up to eight seats reserved for contributions of $25,000 or more, adding a high‑profile element to the home‑court atmosphere. The women’s team returns four of its five starters from the 2025‑26 squad that captured the Patriot League regular‑season crown with a 16‑2 record. Among the returning starters are All‑American Zanai Barnett‑Gay and Rookie of the Year Zoe Mesuch, who are expected to anchor the offense. The men’s side enters the new season riding a 26‑8 record from 2025‑26, a campaign that featured a 17‑1 mark in league play and an NIT berth. Key returnees include Cam Cole, who contributed 6.1 points per game and 55 assists, Jinwoo Kim adding 9.8 points per game, and Jordan Pennick contributing 7.2 points per game. The schedule kicks off with road tests at George Washington on Nov. 2 and Delaware State on Nov. 5 before the team dives into Patriot League competition, beginning with a Dec. 30 showdown against Lafayette and a Jan. 2 matchup with Bucknell. Notable non‑conference dates include early‑season contests against Mount St. Mary’s, Temple, James Madison and Air Force, while the women’s side will also travel to the Bahamas for a three‑game series in late November. The 2026‑27 Patriot League Tournament is slated for March, with the first round on March 1, quarterfinals on March 3, semifinals on March 6 and the championship game on March 9, promising a crescendo of high‑stakes basketball.

The University of Memphis released its full non‑conference schedule, highlighting seven matchups against top‑tier opponents, including a home game against Louisville, road contests at Texas and Vanderbilt, and a neutral‑site tournament in the Bahamas.
The Razorbacks opened their Summer League campaign with a perfect 4‑0 record, driven by freshman standouts and promising contributions from returning players.

Valparaiso University’s men’s basketball squad posted a convincing 90‑70 victory over Dalhousie in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, a contest held in Nassau, The Bahamas. The win marks the second straight exhibition triumph for the Crusaders, who improve to 2‑0 in the league and 13‑1 overall in preseason foreign‑tour matchups.
Arkansas completed a perfect 4‑0 run in the Baha Mar Summer League, capping the trip with a 105‑48 victory over the University of Calgary, driven by standout performances from JJ Andrews, Abdou Toure and Caleb Ourigou.

Arkansas routed Toros del Valle 91-49 in the Baha Mar Summer League, highlighted by a 19-point second-half surge and strong performances from JJ Andrews and Davion Thompson.
Arkansas opened its Baha Mar Summer League campaign with a 91‑49 victory over Toros del Valle, driven by JJ Andrews' double‑double and a balanced scoring attack.
Arkansas opened a 27‑2 run after halftime, pulling away from Colombia’s Toros del Valle for an 82‑47 win that extended their unbeaten streak at the Baha Mar Summer League.
The Arkansas Razorbacks will meet Toros del Valle, the reigning Liga WPlay de Baloncesto champions, in a streamed exhibition on August 3 at 5 p.m. CT.
Arkansas routed Carleton 98-58 in their first exhibition, highlighting a potent new backcourt and depth that bodes well for the upcoming season.
The University of Arkansas will test its new roster against Carleton University in a summer exhibition on August 1, streamed exclusively on FloSports from the Baha Mar Convention Center.
Arkansas rolled past The Bahamas National Team 106‑59 in a Baha Mar Hoops Summer League game, posting 19 steals and forcing 26 turnovers while dominating the paint.

The Razorbacks will play four exhibition games in the Bahamas starting July 31, streamed on FloSports, as coach John Calipari uses the trip to build chemistry with a young, highly ranked roster.
Coach John Calipari outlines the potential impact of Jordan Smith Jr., Miikka Muurinen, Abdou Toure and JJ Andrews, highlighting how each could influence the Razorbacks' strategy and performance.

Arkansas Razorbacks are poised to enter the 2026‑27 basketball season with the nation’s top‑ranked recruiting class, featuring eight freshmen who will test the limits of youthful talent under Coach John Calipari’s measured guidance.
The Razorbacks finalize a 15‑player roster that blends high‑profile freshmen, experienced returnees and international projects, promising a deeper eight‑man rotation for the upcoming season.

Louisville men's basketball will meet the Bahamas Select team on July 28 in a solitary game, after a schedule adjustment that removed a planned back‑to‑back series.

Louisville’s upcoming basketball exhibition in The Bahamas will be unseen on TV or streaming, a stark contrast to past broadcasts that reached fans worldwide.

The Aggies reveal a 10‑game home slate, exhibition matchups, and a road trip that includes the Battle 4 Atlantis, all under second‑year coach Bucky McMillan.

The Aggies will play three exhibition matches in the Bahamas as part of the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, using the trip to foster team chemistry and test new additions ahead of the upcoming season.
The Cincinnati Bearcats will play two exhibition matches in the Bahamas this August, marking the first appearance of the team under new head coach Jerrod Calhoun and featuring a lineup of NCAA and U Sports opponents.

Ilia Frolov, a 6‑foot‑11 Russian big man, has pledged to play for the University of Arkansas, bringing his 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game to a roster that already boasts five‑star prospects and a summer trip to The Bahamas.