Florida center Rueben Chinyelu is CBS Sports’ preseason pick for 2026-27 National Defensive Player of the Year, leading a group of defenders selected for their ability to shape games at every level. The teams balance guards, wings and bigs to reflect how defense works on the court, rather than simply stacking the top individual talents.

By the Numbers
  • Florida’s defense was 10.5 points per 100 possessions better with Chinyelu on the floor.
  • Opponents shot 43.5% on 2-pointers with Chinyelu playing — the best mark in college basketball.
  • Houston allowed 0.87 points per possession across 1,382 possessions with Tugler on the floor.
  • Opponents shot 47% at the rim against Arizona with Krivas on the floor, the second-best mark nationally.
Yes, But

These are preseason projections, not a ranking based solely on proven results: Arkansas guard Smith has yet to play a college game. The selections also leave out some elite defenders because of eligibility uncertainty and prioritize a balanced, playable lineup over naming only the top individual defenders.

State of Play
  • Chinyelu is the headliner after winning national Defensive Player of the Year last season.
  • Houston’s Tugler, Arizona’s Krivas and Louisville’s Bidunga are expected to anchor imposing frontcourts.
  • Guards and versatile wings—including Iowa State’s Toure, Duke’s Sarr and Texas’ Punch—round out the teams with pressure and switchability.
What's Next

The season will test whether these defenders can deliver on their preseason billing, particularly as new roles and team schemes take shape. Toure’s return from preseason shoulder surgery is also a factor for Iowa State.

Bottom Line

Chinyelu’s combination of rim protection, switchability and rebounding makes him the preseason standard—but the strongest defensive teams will depend on more than one star.