McCoy goes down, LSU waits on courts, and preseason rosters keep moving

The Aug. 24–31 offseason changed the 2026–27 picture through player availability and eligibility rulings. Michigan lost a five-star freshman to an injury scare in Europe, LSU gained a court-ordered path for a former Big East Player of the Year, and two women’s programs had sharply different roster changes. Florida also locked in its coach while Gonzaga lost another transfer.

Michigan finished a three-game exhibition tour in Croatia at 1–2. The final game produced the week’s clearest injury concern: five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. slipped early against Serbian professional team Megabasket, grabbed his knees, and was carried from the floor after appearing unable to put weight on his right knee. Michigan said McCoy would continue to be evaluated. Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam also missed the final two exhibitions after a leg injury in the first game. 1

McCoy was expected to take on a major role for first-year coach Mike Boynton Jr. Michigan kept Elliot Cadeau and other important players after Dusty May left for the Dallas Mavericks, but the Wolverines also lost three NBA lottery picks from their championship team. The program therefore enters November with a central question about health before it can answer questions about lineup fit. 1

LSU’s roster moved in the opposite direction through a court order. A Louisiana judge cleared RJ Luis Jr. to practice with LSU and potentially play this season. The former St. John’s star was the 2025 Big East Player of the Year and had spent time with two NBA clubs before signing with the Tigers. The Associated Press report carried by U.S. News says the ruling came after a five-hour hearing. 2

The court order gives LSU a possible player. It does not settle every eligibility question around the Tigers. CBS Sports reported that Luis’s Class of 2022 status, NBA draft declaration and two-way contract still intersect with new SEC rules that could keep him ineligible even after the preliminary injunction. LSU had only four players on its publicly disclosed roster in that report, leaving first-year coach Will Wade dependent on more court and conference decisions. 3

Kentucky faces a related but separate case. Former Missouri forward Mark Mitchell received a Kentucky temporary restraining order, yet CBS Sports reported that SEC intra-conference transfer rules could still block him from playing for the Wildcats. Kentucky’s preseason ceiling changes substantially depending on whether Mitchell and Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic are available together. 3

Florida gave Todd Golden a six-year, $49.5 million extension that runs through the 2031–32 season. ESPN reported an average annual value of $8.25 million, with Golden’s salary rising from $6 million to $7.5 million next season. Golden has gone 103–41 in four seasons at Florida, including the program’s third national title in 2024–25, and the Gators return nearly 82% of last season’s scoring. The contract turns Florida’s preseason favorite status into a longer coaching commitment. 4

Gonzaga lost transfer guard Skylar Wicks less than a day after adding Florida transfer Xaivian Lee. Wicks, a 6-foot-6 Saint Francis transfer, reopened his recruitment after committing to Gonzaga in June; his NCAA waiver had been approved earlier in August. He averaged 17.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 2025–26. Sports Illustrated reported that Wicks was projected for a limited role, but Gonzaga still faces a wide roster range because three fifth-year seniors have eligibility questions and two international recruits await clearance. 5

LSU announced on Aug. 24 that Kate Koval would leave the women’s program for personal reasons. Head coach Kim Mulkey said Koval made the decision after “much consideration,” and the program would respect her privacy and support her. LSU’s official statement gives the departure and the program’s response; it does not provide a basketball or medical explanation. 6

Koval’s departure removes a 6-foot-5 center from a team that had expected her to contribute. The immediate basketball question is rotation depth, while the reason for her decision remains private. That distinction matters because public reporting has connected the timing to LSU’s addition of Russian player Anna Minaeva, but the official statement does not make that connection. 6

Arizona added a different kind of roster signal. Four-star 2027 forward Celsy Colombo committed after visiting campus during the Aug. 21 recruiting weekend, according to Arizona Desert Swarm. The 6-foot-4 power forward from St. Mary’s High School in Lancaster, New York, is ranked between No. 36 and No. 53 nationally by the services cited in the report, with ESPN giving her a 91 scout grade. Arizona now has two verbal commitments in its 2027 class. 7

The NCAA’s Aug. 28 season guides place the first regular-season men’s and women’s games on Nov. 1. The men’s opener is Notre Dame against Villanova at 9:30 a.m. ET in Rome; the women’s opener is Villanova against Notre Dame at noon ET in the same venue. 89

That calendar explains the week’s shape. The Aug. 24–31 window produced exhibition results and roster news, while regular-season scores, weekly scoring or rebounding leaders, conference standings and tournament-bubble movement await November. The verified sources also yielded no current AP poll, official coaches poll, NCAA NET table for both sports or dated KenPom efficiency snapshot for this window.

For now, the men’s preseason picture turns on Michigan’s medical updates, LSU and Kentucky’s eligibility rulings, Florida’s continuity and Gonzaga’s unresolved roster count. The women’s picture turns on LSU’s lost interior player and Arizona’s new 2027 commitment. The next useful test will be played on a court, not in a preseason projection.