Matt Norlander has spent the previous few days on the Vegas Strip, bouncing forwards and backwards between the 2 arenas internet hosting this yr’s Gamers Period Championship. He is been offering insider data all through every day of the occasion. You’ll be able to learn his Monday pocket book right here and his recap from Tuesday right here.
LAS VEGAS — When the AP Prime 25 refreshed on Monday, Kansas discovered itself in a spot it hadn’t been since 2005.
Unranked within the month of November.
That departure shall be a one-week deal, nonetheless, as Kansas earned by far its greatest win of the season on Wednesday, beating No. 17 Tennessee 81-76 within the third-place recreation of the Gamers Period Championship. The Jayhawks did it in head-turning style: with out star level guard Darryn Peterson for the sixth straight recreation; after trailing by as many as 12 within the second half; and after dropping key wing, senior Tre White by way of foul-out with 8:23 remaining and Tennessee main 59-56.
“Who would’ve thought we acquired higher when Tre was out of the sport,” KU coach Invoice Self mentioned after the Jayhawks snagged their first win over a top-70 staff this season.
The Volunteers had been 24 hours faraway from beating Houston by three factors in a bruising battle. Did catching Tennessee on its third recreation in as many days, however particularly after the Houston take a look at, assist the Jayhawks?
“Completely,” Self advised CBS Sports activities. “However you could possibly have a look at it a number of methods, to enjoying with out Darryn and we for 2 nights in a row, we play 4 guys 35 minutes every. This can be a gut-check recreation, and this does not have something to do with scouting. It does not have something to do with calling performs. What it’s: Hey, guys, go hoop and ball this recreation and attempt to play from a principal standpoint, the best way that we’re that approach we need to play.”
Self additionally wasn’t too shy to confess he did not anticipate a 3-0 file after the best way his staff had been enjoying with out Peterson.
“We got here right here doubting how good we may very well be,” he mentioned. “What it ought to do is give us confidence that, if we’re complete we are able to study to play collectively.”
Kansas’ gamers gained $300,000 in further NIL earnings alternatives, whereas Tennessee will get $200,000.
“I really advised the staff as we speak we’re enjoying with home cash, as a result of we actually had been,” Self mentioned. “They’re enjoying for 300 however you already acquired 200.”
Whether or not Tennessee is a top-10, top-15 or top-20 staff, it is nonetheless one of the vital aggressive and strongest defensive teams within the nation. For Kansas to discover a strategy to work a win right here is main for Self’s staff.
Stated Self: “With out Darryn, this goes lots additional with me than any current win that I can bear in mind within the final couple of years.”
That is a giant assertion. Wednesday was a giant win. It has been some time since this program was even ready to have a victory with this type of shock worth to it. Bench participant Elmarko Jackson had 17 in what was his greatest recreation as a Jayhawk. Melvin Council Jr. matched him with 17, and KU was capable of win out in no small half as a result of potential All-American Ja’Kobi Gillespie was held effectively under his season common (11 factors on 5-of-19 capturing).
Now we await Peterson to return. The hope is it will not be for much longer. Kansas’ subsequent recreation is in six days and it is a huge one. UConn involves city Tuesday.
“He is working his ass off,” Self advised CBS Sports activities, including that Kansas acquired Peterson a gymnasium to get basketball work in daily in Vegas. “[He] seems good, however till he does not really feel it, we’re nonetheless within the air.”
Peterson shall be evaluated once more on Friday, Self mentioned, and famous he desires him to observe at the very least as soon as earlier than he returns for a recreation.
“There’s an opportunity that UConn isn’t in play, so we’ll simply have to attend and see how he seems on Friday,” Self advised CBS Sports activities.
Iowa State seems top-10-good even with out Lipsey
The staff that has a declare to the most important gripe over the format of the 2025 Gamers Period Championship is Iowa State.
The Cyclones went 2-0 towards St. John’s and Creighton, successful these video games by a complete of 19 factors. It wasn’t sufficient to complete within the prime 4, nonetheless, which meant ISU not solely did not make the championship or third-place recreation on Wednesday, it needed to face Syracuse at 10 a.m. native for the primary recreation of the day — with no bonus NIL cash on the road.
T.J. Otzelberger’s staff appeared prefer it was enjoying pissed off: Cyclones 95, Orange 64. There have been 18 groups concerned on this sophomore version of the Gamers Period Championship. Iowa State will fly again to Ames as certainly one of three with a 3-0 file within the occasion. The Cyclones are ranked No. 15 however ought to see their standing leap into the highest 10 of the AP rankings subsequent week.
This very a lot seems like a top-10 squad — all of the extra as a result of ISU gained two video games with out place to begin guard Tamin Lipsey, who’s coping with a groin difficulty. Otzelberger mentioned after Wednesday’s win that they will take a cautious method earlier than ISU’s subsequent recreation towards Alcorn State per week from now, on Dec. 3, but it surely certain looks like Lipsey ought to be capable of be again for the massive battle at No. 1 Purdue on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Gamers Period format must be tweaked to ensure that occasion to achieve its full potential in 2026 and past
Matt Norlander
To get a greater sense of what Lipsey’s coping with, I requested Otzelberger if he would’ve performed if, say, the damage he has proper now was occurring within the NCAA Event.
As for not attending to play Tennessee or Kansas or Gonzaga or Michigan, Otzelberger was diplomatic in regards to the matter within the postgame press convention.
“How our staff operates is simply no matter is in entrance of us we’re going ti deal with with the most effective intent and mindset, mentality, and that is the place we’ll maintain our focus,” he mentioned. “Our guys did an incredible job of doing that as we speak, and that is actually all that issues.”
After the presser, Otzelberger talked with a small group reporters and he echoed what he advised me on Tuesday after beating Creighton: “Look, I do not care, 10 out of 10 instances, we’re not taking the shot towards (Greg) McDermott. Anybody can rip me if they need. To me, the correct factor to do is we do not take that that shot.”
Massive image on Iowa State is the staff is once more going to be probably the greatest within the Massive 12. Joshua Jefferson‘s enjoying like an All-American by means of the primary three-plus weeks of the season. He averaged 16.0 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists over the previous three days. I additionally love French freshman Killyan Toure‘s recreation. What a silky, savvy participant.
With Lipsey sidelined, Toure moved right into a extra distinguished function, totaling 49 factors on 15-of-24 capturing towards Creighton and Syracuse. He additionally had six assists and three steals Wednesday.
“I simply performed my recreation, took the chance to win, as a result of that is crucial factor. The win issues greater than what I am doing on the courtroom, the stats and all that stuff,” Toure advised CBS Sports activities. “We confirmed our identification on the courtroom in these three video games.”
Iowa State’s subsequent big-stage alternative is at Mackey Enviornment in 10 days. That is a troublesome ask, however given how good ISU has appeared, it will be probably the greatest matchups of the primary week of December.
Sampson: I need us to look our worst in November
Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars will go away Las Vegas with a 2-1 file after beating Syracuse on Monday, dropping in a heavyweight struggle Tuesday vs. Tennessee, then overpowering Notre Dame on Wednesday. The third-ranked Cougars held off the Combating Irish 66-56 within the second males’s recreation of the time out right here. Houston acquired out to a 26-4 result in begin the sport, then the Irish pushed as onerous as they might to shut it to a four-point hole within the second half.
Issues finally settled in Houston’s favor.
It was the second yr in a row Notre Dame needed to face Houston at Gamers Period.
“I’m going to petition to by no means, ever see them once more,” Combating Irish coach Micah Shrewsberry mentioned tongue-in-cheek afterward.
Houston is 7-1 and has nearly per week and a half off earlier than internet hosting Florida State on Dec. 6. Sampson mentioned afterward that the break is essential coming off three video games in three days with a staff extra reliant on freshman than he is ever had. To wit: Kingston Flemings was unimaginable within the Tennessee loss, however managed just one level (and 5 assists) towards Notre Dame.
“Individuals judging us proper now see us fragmented,” Sampson mentioned. “There are some groups that play their greatest basketball in November. I might quite play my worst basketball in November.”
After loss to Tennessee, Houston needed to wait till near 9 p.m. native time to seek out out its opponent. That meant Notre Dame and Houston had lower than 15 hours to prep for his or her recreation. Shrewsberry mentioned certainly one of his assistant really banked on their staff possible getting the loser of Houston-Tennessee, whereas Sampson mentioned his staff’s play towards Tennessee was extra on his thoughts than the timeliness of understanding the ultimate opponent.
“Yeah, that was fascinating,” he mentioned. “Not understanding the opponent took a again seat to the frustration of not enjoying higher. Typically it isn’t about whether or not you win or lose, you need your staff to play higher. … We’re not working at a deficit. It is all the identical. It is simply your angle and the way you method it.”
Reminder: Final season’s Cougars began 4-3, then went 31-2 all the best way to the nationwide title recreation. This staff’s ceiling can match that, however Sampson mentioned it will take a number of endurance with a freshman group that wants extra time and much more studying.
2025 Gamers Period Outcomes
Wednesday’s scores, schedule
| No. 15 Iowa State 95, Syracuse 64 | Recap |
| No. 3 Houston 66, Notre Dame 56. | Recap |
| Third-place: Kansas 81, No. 17 Tennessee 76 | Recap |
| No. 21 Auburn 85, No. 14 St. John’s 74 | Recap |
| Championship: No. 7 Michigan 101, No. 13 Gonzaga 61 | Recap |
| Baylor vs. San Diego State | 10:30 p.m. (truTV) at Michelob Extremely Enviornment |
| Maryland vs. No. 8 Alabama | 12 a.m. (TNT) at Grand Backyard Enviornment |
Thursday’s schedule
| Oregon vs. Creighton | 2 p.m. (truTV) at Michelob Extremely Enviornment |
| UNLV vs. Rutgers | 4:30 p.m. (truTV) at Michelob Extremely Enviornment |
Monday’s scores
| No. 17 Tennessee 85, Rutgers 60 | Recap |
| Baylor 81, Creighton 74 | Recap |
| Kansas 71, Notre Dame 61 | Recap |
| No. 15 Iowa State 83, No. 14 St. John’s 82 | Recap |
| No. 3 Houston 78, Syracuse 74 (OT) | Recap |
| No. 21 Auburn 84, Oregon 73 | Recap |
| No. 12 Gonzaga 95, No. 8 Alabama 85 | Recap |
| No. 7 Michigan 94, San Diego State 54 | Recap |
| Maryland 74, UNLV 67 | Recap |
Tuesday’s scores
| Notre Dame 68, Rutgers 63 | Recap |
| No. 15 Iowa State 78, Creighton 60 | Recap |
| Kansas 71, Syracuse 60 | Recap |
| No. 14 St. John’s 96, Baylor 81 | Recap |
| No. 17 Tennessee 76, No. 3 Houston 73 | Recap |
| No. 7 Michigan 102, No. 21 Auburn 72 | Recap |
| No. 13 Gonzaga 100, Maryland 61 | Recap |
| San Diego State 97, Oregon 80 | Recap |
| No. 8 Alabama 115, UNLV 76 | Recap |
This pocket book will replace afterward Wednesday, as extra outcomes from Gamers Period are available.
