College Basketball Teams Post Exhibition Wins, Preview Season

College basketball programs are beginning preseason play and preparing for the 2026–27 season. FGCU enters the year with the tallest roster in program history, including its first seven-footer, and coach Pat Chambers says the team is developing chemistry as it targets success in March. UConn’s women will open exhibition play with Sarah Strong taking on a larger leadership role after Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd moved to the WNBA; sharpshooter Allie Ziebell is expected back from an ankle injury next week. In exhibition games, Virginia beat Richmond 96–53 after a decisive 26–0 run, while North Carolina rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat USC 88–70, led by Jarin Stevenson’s 25 points and 10 rebounds.