Winners and losers: Nebraska stays undefeated; Michigan takes first loss

Saturday started with six undefeated groups in school basketball.

Solely 5 stay.

That is as a result of Wisconsin — 19.5-point street underdogs vs. No. 2 Michigan — pulled off the unbelievable in Ann Arbor, downing the Wolverines 91-88 and delivering them their first loss since final season’s Candy 16.

4 of the opposite 5 remaining unbeaten groups have been in motion Saturday (Miami Oh. received Friday) — and the 4 held up their half. No. 1 Arizona, a street favourite, rolled TCU; No. 11 Vanderbilt, a house favourite, stopped LSU; and No. 3 Iowa State, a heavy house favourite, cruised previous Oklahoma State.

Maybe most spectacular amongst these unbeaten groups was what transpired in No. 10 Nebraska’s 83-77 win vs. Indiana. The Cornhuskers– a 4.5-point street underdog, and the one underdog amongst top-10 groups in motion Saturday — remained unbeaten with a gritty 83-77 win over the Hoosiers, erasing a 16-point second-half deficit to win by six.

Nebraska is now 16-0. That’s their greatest begin to a season in program historical past. 

This is to you, Huskers followers. What a season it has been. You have earned this area.

The remainder of Saturday’s winners and losers throughout the school hoops panorama is beneath.

Auburn kilos Arkansas, picks up first SEC win in John Calipari’s second-biggest loss as Razorbacks coach

Kyle Boone

Loser: Kansas‘ season hits one other snag

Darryn Peterson had his third consecutive outing of 23 or extra factors — he completed with 23 factors, six boards and two assists — however Kansas nonetheless managed to stumble in an 86-75 loss to West Virginia as its roller-coaster season hit one more bump. The loss moved No. 22 KU to 11-5 on the season, marking its second-worst begin by means of 16 video games since Invoice Self took over this system in 2003. The loss additionally moved KU to 1-2 in Large 12 play, tying for its worst begin to convention motion since a 1-2 begin in 2005-06.

“We suck proper now,” Self mentioned after the loss. “But it surely’s proper now. Everyone goes by means of ebbs and flows within the season. The final three video games we’ve not performed nicely. We have to flip it.”

Kansas can have an opportunity to flip its momentum Tuesday as No. 3 Iowa State involves Lawrence to face the Jayhawks. KU has defeated Iowa State seven consecutive instances the 2 have met in Allen Fieldhouse. — Kyle Boone

Winner: Houston blows out Baylor regardless of chilly taking pictures

No. 7 Houston shot simply 28% from downtown in a Large 12 street sport towards an in-state rival … and nonetheless waxed a stable Baylor membership 77-55. That is one spectacular feat. Houston confirmed a glimpse of the recipe that is made the Cougars a Large 12 juggernaut. Houston smoked Baylor on the glass, corralling a whopping 23 offensive rebounds. Houston additionally held Baylor to only 35 factors by means of the primary 34 minutes of regulation. This Houston protection is beginning to appear like Houston once more after some November follies. This offensive rebounding with this protection and this stage of guard play? Yeah, Houston is definitely in play to win the Nationwide Championship. — Isaac Trotter

Loser: Michigan suffers first lack of the season vs. Wisconsin

For a greater a part of the 2025-26 school basketball season, Michigan has seemed virtually unbeatable. The No. 2 Wolverines entered the weekend with 11 wins by not less than 14 factors and have been 3-0 towards ranked opponents. Nonetheless, Wisconsin’s scorching taking pictures second half helped the Badgers pull off a 91-88 upset over Michigan. The Wolverines have been one in all six Division I groups with no loss getting into the weekend, and that quantity has since been diminished to 5. After practically being upset earlier within the week towards Penn State on the street, Michigan lastly suffered its first loss. – Cameron Salerno

Winner: Nebraska retains its excellent season alive

Nebraska stored its dream season alive with a steely efficiency on the street by erasing a 16-point second-half deficit in Bloomington to defeat Indiana 83-77. The Cornhuskers, whose 16-0 begin is greatest at school historical past, obtained a profession day from Jamarques Lawrence, who scored a career-high 27 factors and in addition had season-highs in each steals (3) and rebounds (5). The group additionally completed with 14 3-pointers on 34 makes an attempt, which is the second-most made 3-pointers in a sport for Nebraska vs. a high-major opponent since 2020. — Boone

Winner: Shorthanded Kentucky wins huge

The boo birds have been out inside Rupp Area as Kentucky fell behind Mississippi State by 12 within the opening six minutes. From there, Wildcats performed a few of their greatest basketball of the season to earn an authoritative 92-68 win. A loss would have dropped UK (10-6, 1-2 SEC) to 0-3 in league play for the primary time since 1976, and the woebegone Wildcats have been reeling early. However with their backs towards the wall in a must-win sport, UK lastly flashed its full potential. Otega Oweh led the cost with 22 factors and 5 steals because the Wildcats constructed a 27-10 edge in factors off turnovers with the form of depth that had been missing.

Getting within the SEC win column did include a value, although. Place to begin guard Jaland Lowe left within the first three minutes after showing to re-aggravate his injured proper shoulder. Sophomore middle Jayden Quaintance additionally didn’t play attributable to swelling in his knee. The absence of two prime portal prizes solely made this exhibiting extra spectacular.

Winner: UConn off to greatest Large East begin in 24 seasons 

Do not look now, however No. 4 UConn — which received nationwide titles in 2023 and 2024 below coach Dan Hurley — is quietly (or maybe not-so-quietly swiftly) off to its greatest begin to a season in practically 20 years. The Huskies downed DePaul, 72-60, to enhance to 16-1 total — constructing off their greatest begin to a season since 2008-09 when it opened 24-2. The win additionally moved UConn to 6-0 in Large East play for the primary time in 24 seasons. — Boone

Loser: Gainesville stays a jail for Tennessee

A 12 months in the past, Florida used a 30-point house win over Tennessee in early January to point out a championship-level ceiling en path to a nationwide title. These Gators nonetheless have some kinks to work out, however Saturday’s 91-67 house beatdown of the No. 21 Volunteers supplied compelling proof to counsel Florida is on course after an uneven begin.

Florida (11-5, 2-1 SEC) used 18 Tennessee giveaways to create a 30-8 edge in factors off turnovers. In a matchup between the nation’s prime offensive rebounding groups, the Gators additionally owned the glass with a 12-6 edge in offensive boards that led to a 14-6 benefit in second-chance factors. Tennessee seemed uncharacteristically sloppy on protection, as six Florida gamers reached double figures. Boogie Fland led the cost with a season-high 23 factors.

Tennessee has dropped 9 of its previous 11 video games at Florida. Eight of these 9 losses have come by double-digits, and UF has received three of its previous 4 house video games vs. the Volunteers by 24 or extra. — Cobb

Winner: Excellent Large 12 groups keep unbeaten

The checklist of undefeated groups in school basketball dropped from six to 5 on Saturday — however the two unbeaten Large 12 groups did their half to maintain their unbeaten seasons alive. Iowa State held off Oklahoma State at house to maneuver to 16-0 and No. 1 Arizona impressively blasted TCU on the street in a troublesome spot to get to 16-0 itself. That leaves Arizona, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and Miami (Ohio) as the one 5 undefeated groups nonetheless standing. — Boone

Loser: Alabama takes a confounding loss

Texas surprised No. 13 Alabama 92-88, bringing an finish to the Crimson Tide’s 23-game house successful streak towards unranked groups. The Longhorns (10-6, 1-2 SEC) entered rated fifteenth amongst SEC groups at KenPom and with only one win over a high-major opponent. However the frustrations of a sluggish begin for first-year coach Sean Miller dissipated with every made 3-pointer and offensive rebound. Jordan Pope exploded, tying a season-high with 28 factors on 6 of 13 taking pictures from past the arc. After getting outworked on the glass in a loss at Tennessee earlier within the week, the Longhorns racked up a 20-12 edge in second-chance factors. — Cobb

Winner: Miami continues scorching begin below Lucas

Miami continued its scorching begin below first-year coach Jai Lucas by driving a 52% taking pictures efficiency to a 91-81 win over Georgia Tech. Tre Donaldson led the cost with a career-high 27 factors and 10 assists for the Hurricanes (14-2, 3-0 ACC), who’ve already doubled final season’s win complete and are thought-about a No. 8 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology.

There is a lengthy option to go, however with veterans like Donaldson and Indiana switch Malik Reneau main the cost, the ‘Canes are on monitor to succeed in the NCAA Event. Lucas, a former Duke assistant, additionally introduced former Blue Devils dedication Shelton Henderson with him. The stud wing prospect is proving to be one of many ACC’s greatest freshman gamers. And his coach is proving to be one of many nation’s greatest freshman coaches. — Cobb

Winner: NC State offense explodes prefer it’s 1991

NC State ran circles round Florida State on the Seminoles’ house ground in a 113-69 rout to enhance to 3-1 in ACC play. The 113 factors for the Wolfpack have been essentially the most they’ve scored vs. an ACC opponent since scoring 114 vs. Maryland on Feb. 27, 1991, per CBB Reference Information — and the 44-point remaining margin is their largest vs. an ACC opponent on the street in program historical past.

“From prime to backside, we have been horrible tonight,” FSU coach Luke Loucks mentioned postgame. “The rating displays that. As a training workers we obtained outcoached from prime to backside. They adjusted; we tried to regulate and none of it labored.”

The 44-point remaining margin is the fourth-largest loss in program historical past and largest loss since falling to North Carolina by 48 factors on Jan. 24, 1998. — Boone

Winner: New-look St. John’s could possibly be harmful

St. John’s dump-trucked Creighton 90-73 exhibiting off a brand new rotation and tons of stability. Rick Pitino took Joson Sanon out of the rotation, and Lefteris Liotopoulos erupted for a team-high 17 factors off the bench. Zuby Ejiofor (12 factors), Oziyah Sellers (16 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists), Ian Jackson (12 factors), Dylan Darling (11 factors) and Bryce Hopkins (12 factors) all cracked double figures.

If the Johnnies discover a option to earn a share of the Large East title, this week’s exhibiting will loom so massive. St. John’s emerged with two huge street wins over Butler and Creighton to enhance to 4-1 in convention play. The expertise on this roster was by no means in query, and Pitino is beginning to press the best buttons. — Trotter

Winner: Vanderbilt matches greatest begin at school historical past

No. 11 Vanderbilt held off LSU 84-73 to enhance to 16-0. It matches one of the best begin at school historical past, and Tyler Tanner continues to be an enormous motive why. The sophomore level guard added one other notable exhibiting to his star-studded ledger with 20 factors, three assists and three steals. He’s a legit All-American candidate. Tyler Nickel, Duke Miles, AK Okereke and Jalen Washington all cracked double figures within the victory over the short-handed Tigers. — Trotter

Winner: Quick-handed SMU impresses in street loss to Duke

Even with out All-ACC guard Boopie Miller, who was caught within the group resort with the flu, No. 24 SMU gave No. 6 Duke all it may deal with. Duke emerged with an 82-75 win due to extra clutch heroics from sophomore sniper Isaiah Evans, however SMU seems to be each bit the a part of a NCAA Event group. Prized freshman Jaden Toombs had his coming-out occasion with 23 factors and 7 rebounds towards Duke’s gifted frontline. BJ Edwards (20 factors) was additionally fabulous. SMU has not made the match since 2017. Andy Enfield’s crew seems to be poised to alter that in 2026. — Trotter

Loser: Chicago State finds outstanding option to lose

You may rightly say Chicago State has been inventing methods to lose for the whole lot of its 42-year span on the Division I stage. However the Cougars actually took their ineptitude to new heights in an 85-82 time beyond regulation loss at Stonehill. 
Chicago State led 71-69 and had the basketball with 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation. All it needed to do was inbound the ball and the sport could be over. In actual fact, the Cougars may have simply handed the basketball to Stonehill, as a result of the Skyhawks would not have had sufficient time to aim a shot.

However on this scenario, with one thing like a 99.99999% win chance, Chicago State did the one factor it completely couldn’t do. The Cougars have been out of timeouts however known as one anyway. They have been assessed a technical foul, which allowed Stonehill’s Kofi Hermann to sink a pair of game-tying free throws. Stonehill went on to win time beyond regulation, dropping Chicago State to 2-15 and 6-43 over the previous two seasons. Even by the requirements of a perennial loser, this was powerful to take. — Cobb

Winner: Will Kyle’s vertical

Syracuse knocked off Pitt 83-72 however the story of the sport was William Kyle unleashing arguably the dunk of the 12 months? Kyle is as much as 33 dunks this season, however this can be a 10/10 rack assault. — Trotter

Trailing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by two factors with time winding down, Northwestern State guard Micah Thomas went coast-to-coast and pulled off a one-legged game-winner as time expired to raise the Demons to a 79-78 victory on the horn. Thomas completed the day with a game-high 20 factors and was an ideal 2 for two from 3-point vary on the afternoon. — Boone

Winner: Smith has one other huge day for Purdue

Purdue star level guard Braden Smith just lately turned the Large Ten’s all-time help chief, and he added to that complete throughout a win over Penn State. Smith completed with 26 factors and 14 assists and have become the primary Large Ten participant in not less than the final 10 years to hit each of these marks. Purdue has now received seven consecutive video games since falling to Iowa State at house final month. Smith now has eight video games with not less than 14 assists, which is essentially the most in Large Ten historical past by 5 video games. He wants 36 assists to maneuver into the highest 10 within the all-time help leaderboard. — Salerno