Michigan started Saturday on the prime of the faculty basketball hierarchy, enshrined throughout the March Insanity bracket preview because the No. 1 general seed. By the tip of the day, the image appeared a little bit completely different, as No. 3 Duke’s thrilling 68-63 win over the No. 1 Wolverines muddied up the race for the highest spot within the NCAA Match bracket but once more.
No. 4 Arizona threw its identify into the hat with a 73-66 win at No. 2 Houston whereas enjoying with out star ahead Koa Peat. The takeaway from these two top-five battles is that there at the moment are three 25-2 groups from three completely different conferences with impeccable credentials heading into the ultimate week of February.
In case you were not already satisfied, it ought to be apparent by now that we’re within the midst of an elite common season and headed towards an equally nice postseason.
Consequential outcomes on Saturday weren’t confined to the nation’s most high-profile groups. No. 19 Vanderbilt landed as a No. 4 seed within the NCAA’s bracket preview and promptly suffered a house loss to Tennessee. No. 8 Kansas, which was a No. 3 seed, took a historic dwelling loss to a mediocre Cincinnati group.
Down towards the bubble, outcomes had been arguably much more consequential.
Bracketology: 2026 NCAA Match committee faces challenges with Michigan, Houston, Florida in similar area
David Cobb
Right here is the total rundown of winners and losers from a large day of faculty basketball motion.
Winner: UCLA defeats Illinois with OT buzzer-beater
UCLA labored ridiculously arduous to storm again from a 23-point gap, and Donovan Dent made certain these efforts weren’t in useless. The jet-quick guard zoomed coast-to-coast for the game-winning layup as time expired to assist UCLA beat No. 10 Illinois 95-94. Dent completed with 14 factors and a whopping 15 dimes. The oft-invisible duo of Eric Dailey Jr. and Xavier Booker rose to the event with 36 huge factors.
It is the third time that Illinois has misplaced in time beyond regulation throughout Huge Ten play. — Isaac Trotter
Winner: Duke takes down No. 1 Michigan
Michigan’s guards completed a mixed 6 of 25 from the ground as No. 1 Michigan misplaced to No. 3 Duke 68-63 because the Wolverines suffered their second lack of the season. If there’s an Achilles’ heel for Michigan, it’s the lack of an murderer within the backcourt. What was much more stunning, nevertheless, is that the towering Wolverines didn’t match Duke down low. The Blue Devils had been outscored 18-11 in second-chance factors amid a 13-8 deficit on the offensive glass. Consequently, Duke outscored Michigan 34-24 within the paint with Cam Boozer main the cost.
The star freshman completed with 18 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists whereas deftly enjoying the ultimate 4:47 with 4 fouls. His versatility was on show as effectively with a clutch late 3-pointer that put the Blue Devils up 64-58 — David Cobb
Winner: Arizona takes management of Huge 12
No. 4 Arizona scored its most vital win of the season, taking down No. 2 Houston on the street 73-66. The 2 groups entered the day tied atop the Huge 12, however the Wildcats, who performed with out star freshman Koa Peat, wrested management of the convention’s regular-season race in emphatic vogue. They led for almost 37 minutes of sport motion and closed out the signature win by retaining the lead for the ultimate 11 minutes.
With Peat injured, Arizona ahead Ivan Kharchenkov performed a season-high 39 minutes and added 16 factors, 9 rebounds and three assists. Wildcats guard Anthony Dell’Orso additionally chipped in in an enormous approach, tying a season-high in scoring with 22 factors.
The Wildcats maintain a one-game lead now on Houston within the Huge 12 standings with simply 4 regular-season video games remaining. They’ll doubtless be favored in every of the 4 video games, and their hardest checks – vs. No. 8 Kansas subsequent Saturday and at dwelling vs. No. 6 Iowa State the next Monday – are each dwelling video games. — Kyle Boone
Loser: Kansas takes largest dwelling loss beneath Invoice Self
No. 8 Kansas suffered its largest dwelling loss beneath Invoice Self, who started teaching the Jayhawks in 2003 – and its first double-digit dwelling loss vs. an unranked opponent since 1993 – in a surprising 84-68 defeat to Cincinnati on Saturday. The Jayhawks closed as 8.5-point favorites however performed from behind for the ultimate 17-plus minutes of the sport as Cincy turned a detailed sport right into a blowout by out-scoring KU 48-34 within the second half.
The excellent news for Kansas was that oft-injured guard Darryn Peterson performed 32 minutes, tied for the third-most he is performed in a sport this season. The dangerous information for Kansas is that his 17 factors in that motion had been rendered moot due to an abysmal defensive exhibiting. KU allowed 12 made 3-pointers from Cincinnati, tied for essentially the most it has allowed in a regulation sport this season, and likewise surrendered 84 factors, tied for the fourth-most allowed in a sport this season.
“We had been simply terrible at present defensively,” KU coach Invoice Self mentioned. “Their bigs dominated. It was a mix of defensive rebounding, their guards getting the place they need, and their bigs destroying us.”
Kansas has dropped two of its final three – each by 16 factors – with tilts vs. No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Arizona upcoming over the subsequent week. — Boone
Winner: AJ Dybantsa’s near-triple-double boosts BYU’s résumé
For the primary time since 2020, BYU has defeated a top-six AP group. Greater than that, the Cougars wanted 27 video games to lastly beat a top-25 KenPom faculty, however they obtained it finished over Iowa State on Saturday night time within the ultimate huge results of the night. BYU’s 79-69 win was additionally simply the second victory vs. a ranked group for the Cougars this season, however not less than they’ve lastly obtained some perception about making a superb run within the NCAAs. And so they have that perception as a result of Dybantsa had a top-three sport of his school profession: 29 factors, 10 rebounds, 9 assists.
Cameron Boozer continues to be a cushty frontrunner for Nationwide Participant of the 12 months, however Dybantsa’s in his rearview mirror. By six February video games, Dybantsa’s averaging 30.7 factors. The win improved BYU to 20-7. No Richie Saunders (ACL) means this group has its limits, however Dybantsa will definitely look to push them in each sport that continues to be in his one-and-done profession.
BYU is 6-6 in Quad 1 and must keep away from a slip-up at dwelling on Tuesday vs. UCF with a view to make a push towards a No. 5 seed in three weeks. — Matt Norlander
Winner: St. John’s inches nearer to Huge East title
Rick Pitino and his St. John’s Crimson Storm scored their thirteenth consecutive win Saturday in resounding vogue, dominating Creighton 81-52 and inching nearer to their second consecutive Huge East title. The win comes simply days after fellow convention contender UConn fell at dwelling to the identical Bluejays 91-84 in a surprising consequence that has shaken up the Huge East race. It leaves St. John’s one sport up within the league’s regular-season standings with UConn set to face Villanova later Saturday night time. — Boone
Winner: Virginia honors Tony Bennett, beats Miami
Virginia honored former national-title successful coach Tony Bennett by dedicating the court docket at John Paul Jones Area in his honor earlier than the sport. The No. 14 Cavaliers then adopted by by honoring Bennett with an exciting 86-83 win over a high quality Miami group. It wasn’t a classic defensive effort from the Cavaliers, however they made up for it with six gamers reaching double figures throughout a 12-of-24 capturing effort from past the arc. Jacari White led the way in which with 17 factors on 5-of-8 capturing from 3-point vary. — Cobb
Loser: Vanderbilt loses one other heartbreaker
No. 19 Vanderbilt started the day with excellent news, as star guard Duke Miles returned from a six-game damage absence. Simply earlier than tip-off towards rival Tennessee, the Commodores had been additionally included within the March Insanity bracket preview as a No. 4 seed. However by mid-afternoon, the nice vibes had dissipated in a 69-65 loss to the Volunteers. It was solely the most recent shut loss for Vandy, which has dropped three of its previous 5 contests by a mixed margin of six factors. At 21-6 and 8-6 within the SEC, Vanderbilt continues to be within the midst of a implausible marketing campaign, however the “what if” moments are beginning to add up. — Cobb
Winner: Texas Tech dominates with out JT Toppin
Taking part in in its first sport with out the companies of All-American ahead JT Toppin, who suffered a torn ACL throughout the group’s street loss Tuesday to Arizona State, No. 13 Texas Tech bounced again with a powerful 100-72 win at dwelling over Kansas State. It is the third-highest scoring sport of the season for the Crimson Raiders’ prolific offense, which on Saturday was led by Donovan Atwell (26 factors) and Christian Anderson (21 factors). — Boone
Loser: Ole Miss performs as SEC punching bag (once more)
An more and more misplaced season at Ole Miss took one other ugly flip Saturday because it suffered its largest lack of the season 94-75 to SEC-leading Florida. The loss is the Rebels’ ninth consecutive stumble in SEC play to drop to 3-11 in convention motion after beginning 3-2. — Boone
Winner: Sandfort’s profession day lifts Nebraska previous Penn State
No. 9 Nebraska made fast and simple work of Penn State in Pinnacle Financial institution Area because of a career-high in scoring from guard Pryce Sandfort, who had 33 factors in 35 minutes of play. It is Sandfort’s second profession 30+ level scoring outing of his profession however second this season. He did his harm primarily from deep, as he’s wont to do, ending with eight made 3-pointers on 14 makes an attempt.
The win gave Nebraska its twenty third win of the season – tying for its second-most in a single-season in program historical past.
— Boone
Loser: USC’s loss to Oregon pricey to Trojans
USC main scorer Chad Baker-Mazara returned from a three-game absence as a result of a knee pressure, however the Trojans suffered a devastating 71-70 dwelling loss to Oregon anyway. The Trojans led by six with 1:10 remaining earlier than a surprising late collapse that might hang-out them on Choice Sunday. USC entered the day as a No. 10 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology, however a drop is probably going in retailer after an inexplicable stumble towards a Geese squad that’s simply 10-17 (3-13 Huge Ten). — Cobb
Winner: Georgia trending up after beating Texas
Georgia entered the day because the final No. 9 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology, which is not a secure place to be this time of yr. However the Bulldogs capped off an enormous week by beating Texas 91-80. With a Tuesday victory at Kentucky additionally in hand, UGA (19-8, 7-7 SEC) is as soon as once more trending towards making back-to-back NCAA Match appearances for the primary time since 2001 and 2002. There may be work nonetheless to be finished, however Mike White’s membership has rediscovered itself after shedding 5 of six video games in league play over the tip of January and starting of February. — Cobb
Loser: Clemson is cratering after loss to FSU
This Clemson group is beginning to resemble the 2023 group that began 18-4 earlier than falling aside and lacking the NCAA Match. After struggling a 70-65 dwelling loss towards Florida State, the Tigers have dropped 4 straight and are sitting at 20-8 (10-5 ACC) with video games towards Louisville and North Carolina up subsequent. Clemson entered the day as a No. 8 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology, however its margin for error is quickly diminishing. If the slide continues towards the Cardinals and Tar Heels, the ACC Match could possibly be very uncomfortable. — Cobb
Winner: Calipari closing in on 900 victories
Arkansas coach John Calipari led his No. 20 Arkansas group to a 94-86 win at dwelling over Missouri to safe his thirty first season with 20 or extra wins and within the course of reached 897 profession wins. He’s now three wins shy of becoming a member of the unique 900 membership, which is occupied by solely 5 coaches: Mike Krzyzewski (1,202), Jim Boeheim (1,116), Rick Pitino (906) and Bob Knight (902). — Boone
Loser: Washington faceplants to kiss at-large hopes goodbye
Washington‘s slim margin of error fully evaporated in Saturday’s 64-60 loss to lowly Maryland. Washington had one of many prime NIL budgets in final spring’s portal cycle, and it’s dealing with the music that with out successful the Huge Ten Match, it is not going to make the NCAA Match. Hannes Steinbach continued his stellar freshman season with 14 factors on 7-for-8 capturing, however the Huskies shot simply 5 for 22 from downtown and obtained out-rebounded by a baker’s dozen. Not nice. — Trotter
Winner: Cincinnati will get off the mat
Wes Miller apologized to Cincinnati’s dwelling devoted after a dreadful meltdown loss to West Virginia on Feb. 5, and his Bearcats bunch has reeled off a four-game successful streak, punctuated by a surprising 84-68 win over No. 8 Kansas in entrance of a shocked Allen Fieldhouse crowd. Cincinnati’s offseason visions got here to life. Huge man Moustapha Thiam was dominant, scoring 28 factors and ripping down eight rebounds on his birthday. Baba Miller added 18 factors, eight assists and 7 boards.
“This group’s been fairly persistently resilient, which is why I really feel a lot pleasure they get to have a second like this tonight,” Miller mentioned.
Cincinnati (15-12, 7-7 Huge 12) is just not removed from combating its approach again towards the bubble. Tuesday’s street conflict with JT Toppin-less Texas Tech is gigantic — Trotter
Winner: UConn bounces again with street win over Villanova
Three days after getting torched by Creighton, UConn’s protection had a revival. The No. 5 Huskies held Villanova to simply 5 made buckets within the first quarter-hour of regulation within the second half and ran away with a 73-63 street victory. UConn performed 9 gamers. All 9 of them scored not less than 4 factors, led by a dozen from captain Alex Karaban. 15-1 St. John’s vs. 15-2 UConn on Wednesday for Huge East supremacy. — Trotter
Winner: Colorado State will get job finished
Jase Butler and Carey Sales space mixed for 47 factors to assist short-handed Colorado State knock off San Diego State 84-73. It is a huge loss for SDSU’s quest to win the Mountain West. The Aztecs at the moment are a full two video games behind Utah State within the loss column.
This one additionally featured among the best baptisms of the season, courtesy of the high-flying Sales space. — Cobb
