The ultimate day of February noticed a number of Energy 5 groups clinch no less than a share of their league’s convention title. On Friday night time, Michigan defeated Illinois to clinch its first Large Ten title since 2021 in 12 months 2 of Dusty Might’s tenure.
Lower than 24 hours later, Duke, Arizona and Florida joined the celebration. The No. 1-ranked Blue Devils defeated No. 11 Virginia 77-51 at house to lock up the No. 1 seed within the ACC Event. Duke can clinch the outright ACC crown subsequent week with a win over NC State or North Carolina.
For the third consecutive season, somebody apart from Kansas – the staff that is dominated the Large 12 for the higher a part of 20 years — will win the convention. With No. 2 Arizona’s dominant 84-61 win at house over Kansas, the Wildcats clinched no less than a share of the Large 12 title for the primary time. Houston received the Large 12 regular-season title in every of its first two seasons as a member of the convention.
Duke dominates Virginia with stifling protection as No. 1 Blue Devils clinch share of ACC title in straightforward victory
Kyle Boone
Florida clinched its first common season title since 2014 with a blowout win over Arkansas on Saturday night time. The reigning nationwide champions have now received 9 consecutive video games since shedding to Auburn, which created separation on the prime of the SEC standings.
The Large East title will probably be determined subsequent week, with UConn and St. John’s suntil in rivalry to win no less than a share of the common season title. Now let’s get to the largest winners and losers of the Saturday faculty basketball slate.
Winner: Isaiah Evans shines, Duke clinches ACC title
No. 1 Duke stayed sizzling with a 77-51 win over No. 11 Virginia behind a standout efficiency from Evans. The star guard scored 14 of Duke’s first 19 factors and completed the day with a team-high 19 factors. Evans knocked down 5 of his 9 makes an attempt from the 3-point line and likewise dished out three assists in 29 minutes. Getting into March, Duke has the most effective participant within the sport (Cameron Boozer) on its roster, however this recreation was a reminder that the top-ranked staff within the nation is not only a one-trick-pony. — Cameron Salerno
Loser: Seton Corridor’s misses its greatest remaining alternative
Seton Corridor entered the day among the many “First 4 Out” in CBS Sports activities Bracketology and with a golden alternative on the highway in opposition to No. 6 UConn. The Pirates appeared poised to capitalize within the second half till UConn got here to life for a 71-67 victory. Seton Corridor (19-11, 9-9 Large East) would possibly look again on the final eight minutes with some remorse come Choice Sunday as UConn used a 23-11 closing run to drag away. It is getting more durable to ascertain a sensible path to an at-large bid for Seton Corridor, which closes the common season at Xavier and in opposition to St. John’s subsequent week.
— David Cobb
Loser: Gonzaga will get shoved out of the WCC
Saint Mary’s gave No. 9 Gonzaga a agency shove out the WCC door, beating the Bulldogs 70-59 because the longtime league rivals performed their ultimate common season convention recreation. With Gonzaga headed to the Pac-12 subsequent season, certainly one of faculty basketball’s nice rivalries won’t ever be the identical.
Gaels guard Mikey Lewis led the way in which with a career-high 31 level as Saint Mary’s turned a 36-29 halftime deficit right into a convincing victory. The win additionally secured the Gaels a share of the league title with Gonzaga, marking a fourth straight season Saint Mary’s has claimed a convention title. The groups might nonetheless play within the WCC Event title recreation, however their ultimate on-campus assembly as WCC foes might be remembered as a decisive Saint Mary’s win. — Cobb
Loser: Arkansas no-shows in SEC showdown
Two video games again within the SEC standings and chasing conference-leading Florida, No. 20 Arkansas had a chief alternative to achieve floor within the league with a highway tilt within the swamp.
And summarily blew it.
The Razorbacks trailed by 19 at halftime and ultimately fell 111-77 to Florida, successfully handing the Gators – who will probably be favorites of their two remaining regular-season video games – the SEC crown.
Arkansas has largely strayed away from stinkers of late, however two particularly – a highway blowout at Georgia in January and a house loss to Kentucky two weeks later – loom significantly giant now. With these losses and the Saturday loss to Florida, John Calipari and Co. can kiss a shot at convention {hardware} goodbye. — Kyle Boone
Winner: Wounded Texas Tech will not go down quietly
Texas Tech clearly didn’t hear any bell after JT Toppin‘s season-ending knee harm. The Pink Raiders walked into Hilton Coliseum and emerged with an eyebrow-raising 82-73 victory over No. 4 Iowa State. It is the Cyclones’ first house lack of the season, and reiterates simply how powerful of an out these short-handed Pink Raiders might be in March. Texas Tech splashed 14 treys. Donovan Atwell continued his magnificent season with six triples and 18 factors. Tyeree Bryan, who was buried on the bench for lengthy stretches of Large 12 play, revitalized his season with 10 huge factors and a pair large treys. Jaylen Petty, Josiah Moseley and Luke Bamgboye have been additionally excellent in expanded roles. Texas Tech has now bulldozed Kansas State, Cincinnati and Iowa State in three video games with out Toppin.
The Pink Raiders probably wouldn’t have the firepower to win six in a row in March Insanity with out its All-American huge fella, however this outfit is harder than a two-dollar steak. — Isaac Trotter
Winner: UConn’s Karaban will get a becoming sendoff
Consecutive Alex Karaban 3-pointers helped spark UConn because it rallied late for a 71-67 win over Seton Corridor. That was becoming contemplating it was Karaban’s Senior Day and since he has made so many clutch photographs over the course of his Huskies profession. Senior Day would not at all times imply what it used to within the period of mass transferring and one-year leases. However Karaban is UConn’s all-time winningest participant, and he performed a pivotal function on this system’s 2023 and 2024 title groups.
The deep connection between Karaban, coach Dan Hurley and the UConn program have been evident in an emotional pregame scene. However Karaban locked in and led UConn with 23 factors on 8 of 11 taking pictures because the Huskies retained their grasp on the fourth No. 1 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology. — Cobb
Loser: Iowa suffers ugly loss vs. Penn State
On paper, Iowa‘s 71-69 loss to Penn State will go down as only a Quad 2 setback. Nevertheless, shedding to 12-17 Penn State is not nice for the resume. Iowa entered the weekend as a No. 7 seed in CBS Sports activities’ newest Bracketology projections. It would not be shocking to see the Hawkeyes take successful due to the loss. Iowa was beforehand 7-0 in Quad 2 video games, with the closest margin of victory coming in opposition to USC (73-72). — Salerno
Winner: New Mexico picks up key bubble win
Getting into the weekend, New Mexico was among the many “Final 4 Out” in CBS Sports activities’ newest Bracketology projections. The significance of this win over San Diego State — a staff that entered as a No. 11 seed within the newest Bracketology projections — is critical. New Mexico is now 10-6 in opposition to Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents this season. There may be nonetheless work to do, however selecting up an 81-76 win over SDSU after trailing by as many as 11 within the first half is a stable begin heading into the house stretch. — Salerno
Loser: NC State’s slide continues
12 months 1 of the Will Wade period at NC State has been a blended bag. Positive, the Wolfpack are on observe to return to the NCAA Event, however their latest stretch is trigger for concern heading into March. NC State has now misplaced 4 of its final 5 video games after a 96-90 loss in additional time in opposition to Notre Dame. Throughout that stretch, NC State suffered losses to Louisville, Miami, Virginia, and Notre Dame, in addition to a blowout win over in-state foe North Carolina. After getting off to a 9-2 begin in ACC play, it appeared like a double-bye within the ACC Event can be a lock. That is not the case, particularly with a matchup in opposition to No. 1 Duke looming subsequent week. — Salerno
Winner: Clemson stops the tailspin
Clemson obtained a desperately wanted 80-75 win over Louisville to cease a four-game shedding streak that had dropped it from ACC title rivalry to the NCAA Event bubble. The Tigers (21-7, 11-5 ACC) led by as a lot as 15 late within the second half following an offensive explosion from Justin Porter. Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr. was lower than 100% wholesome and largely ineffective in simply 21 minutes, which definitely aided Clemson’s trigger. The Tigers wanted a victory in no matter type they might discover one after falling to a No. 10 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology. Subsequent up is a Tuesday night time highway recreation at North Carolina that may give this membership an opportunity to show that its 20-4 begin was no fluke.
— Cobb
Loser: UCLA cools off in loss at Minnesota
Simply when it appeared like UCLA had steadied the ship and would possibly even be discovering its stride, the Bruins took one other hit. Minnesota completely shredded the Bruins in a 78-73 house win, taking pictures 58% from the ground, which included a 12 of 23 mark from deep. It was the Gophers’ second-best taking pictures efficiency of the season. The one staff which has shot it higher in opposition to the Bruins this season is Michigan. UCLA entered the day as a No. 9 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology and nonetheless has a bit wiggle room, however this was a actuality test after momentum-building wins in opposition to Illinois and USC. — Cobb
Winner: Arizona makes an announcement in win over Kansas
Lower than three weeks in the past, Arizona walked away from Allen Fieldhouse with its first lack of the season regardless of star freshman Darryn Peterson being out of the lineup. On Saturday, Arizona avenged that loss with an announcement victory over No. 14 Kansas behind the stellar play of Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. With the win, the Wildcats clinched no less than a share of the Large 12 title and are in line to earn the No. 1 seed within the Large 12 Event. — Salerno
Arizona will get revenge with win vs. Kansas, clinches no less than share of the Large 12 title
Cameron Salerno
Loser: Cal takes brutal house loss
Cal entered the day as one of many “Final 4 In: in accordance with CBS Sports activities Bracketology and with a easy task: do not lose at house to a foul Pitt staff. The Bears failed the task, falling 72-56 in a recreation they by no means led. Cal hit simply 5 3-pointers, turned it over 16 groups and solely tried seven free throws. This was a horrendous exhibiting from a bubble staff that could not afford a foul loss. The Bears entered at No. 43 in Wins Above Bubble (WAB), which is an important resume metric. They may get up on Sunday round fiftieth. — Cobb
Winner: A bobblehead-night game-winner
Northwestern‘s Nick Martinelli drained certainly one of his patented ‘flippers’ within the ultimate seconds to knock off Oregon, 63-62. The Wildcats star senior delivered the game-winner on his bobblehead night time.
Yeah, that’ll play. — Trotter
Loser: Tennessee collapses at finish in loss to Alabama
No. 22 Tennessee led for nearly the whole 40 minutes of motion in opposition to No. 17 Alabama … till the ultimate minute. With the sport tied at 69, Alabama star guard Labaron Philon obtained the swap he needed on the prime of the important thing, obtained to the paint and hit a jumper with 24 seconds left to present his staff its first lead of the night time. On the opposite finish, Tennessee did not get a top quality look on its ultimate possession. After main by as many as 13 within the second half, Alabama got here away with a surprising 71-69 win. — Salerno
Loser: Louisville creeps into harmful territory
A season full of promise crept additional into the hazard zone at Louisville, which on Saturday dropped its second consecutive recreation – and fell for a 3rd time in its final 4 outings – with an 80-75 defeat at Clemson. The Cardinals and their high-octane offense made ten 3-pointers – their fourth consecutive recreation to hit no less than ten in a recreation – however their protection once more failed them in one more shut loss.
Clemson obtained 27 factors from its bench unit, completed with a 17-point successful margin on the free-throw line and shot 50% from the sphere within the ultimate 20 minutes of play. There’s loads of time for this proficient Louisville staff to proper the ship, nevertheless it seems to be trending the fallacious path as March Insanity approaches. — Boone
Loser: BYU stumbles once more down the stretch
On Jan. 14, BYU was ranked No. 11 within the AP Prime 25 and 16-1 on the season.
On Feb. 28, because the calendar flips to March, the Cougars – 4-8 of their final 12 video games – are 20-9 and falling aside on the seams after a 79-71 highway loss at West Virginia.
The Cougars have not been the identical staff we noticed earlier within the season – and so they’ve been a shell even of the staff we noticed within the coronary heart of the season after shedding Richie Saunders to an ACL harm earlier this month. In his absence, they’re now 1-3 – and 8-8 in Large 12 play with two convention video games remaining.
Freshman star AJ Dybantsa and sophomore guard Rob Wright have been productive as ever on Saturday, ending with 20 and 23 factors, respectively. However this staff’s depth has been laid naked on the back-end of Large 12 play. What as soon as was one of the crucial enjoyable offensive groups within the nation is now a shorthanded staff spiraling downward with no reprieve in sight. — Boone
