On a day synonymous with love, Windfall and No. 17 St. John’s spent a part of their Valentine’s Day exchanging punches rather than pleasantries. The 2 Massive East rivals had an old style brouhaha in Rhode Island on Saturday that led to 6 ejections, quite a few flagrant fouls and one ugly scene after Windfall’s Duncan Powell dedicated a tough foul on St. John’s star (and former Friar) Bryce Hopkins, which required almost a 20-minute intermission for the officiating crew to type out.
That is Valentine’s Day carried out the Massive East approach.
However a brutal brawl within the Massive East was simply considered one of many headlines throughout faculty hoops Saturday — even when it reverberated the loudest of all of them.
Elsewhere, Florida chomped down on the SEC lead with a 92-83 win over Kentucky, Purdue stayed sizzling with a street win at Iowa and Duke — because it has carried out a lot of the season — dominated one other ACC foe to retain its grip on the lead league.
There have been loads of highs and lows from the day, which was largely frontloaded, and there are a lot extra to return. To digest all of it our group has a recap of a number of the day’s largest winners and losers under.
Winner: Duke sends a message to retain lead in ACC
With No. 20 Clemson one recreation again within the ACC standings with an opportunity to take down high canine and fourth-ranked Duke inside Cameron Indoor, the Blue Devils despatched a message with an emphatic 67-54 win, proving as soon as once more that they continue to be the category of the ACC. Duke led by double digits for almost the complete second half and quieted any potential of a Clemson upset comparatively early behind large days from Cameron Boozer (18 factors, eight rebounds), Isaiah Evans (17 factors) and Cayden Boozer (12 factors). The win places Duke two video games away from Clemson within the ACC standings and retains it 1.5 video games forward of second-place Virginia. — Kyle Boone
Loser: St. John’s, Windfall do not feel the love on Valentine’s Day
Windfall and St. John’s gamers actually did not get the memo that it was Valentine’s Day. Six gamers had been ejected after an enormous brawl broke out within the battle of Massive East foes. Windfall’s Duncan Powell dedicated a tough foul on St. John’s ahead Bryce Hopkins, who performed on the faculty earlier than transferring to the Purple Storm this previous offseason. Powell was assessed a Flagrant-2 foul and was ejected from the sport. This recreation was delayed for almost 20 minutes whereas the officers reviewed what simply occurred. It would not be stunning if some subsequent suspensions had been handed out after what transpired. — Cameron Salerno
WATCH: Huge brawl breaks out between St. John’s and Windfall, six gamers ejected
Will Backus
Winner: Texas Tech slays one other dragon
No. 16 Texas Tech’s resume now consists of victories over three of the top-four groups within the AP High 25 ballot after the Purple Raiders toppled No. 1 Arizona 78-75 in additional time on the street. The victory, which was keyed by a mixed 50 factors from JT Toppin and Christian Anderson, provides to a resume that additionally consists of wins over No. 3 Houston and No. 4 Duke.
Arizona was taking part in shorthanded, as star freshman ahead Koa Peat missed the second half attributable to a decrease physique damage. However the Wildcats (23-2, 10-2 Massive 12) nonetheless had a golden alternative to shut this one out, main 64-57 with simply over three minutes left earlier than wilting down the stretch for his or her second lack of the week. — David Cobb
Winner: Michigan makes a case to leap Arizona for No. 1
For the final two months, Arizona has occupied the No. 1 spot within the AP High 25 ballot. After the Wildcats suffered their first two losses of the season this week, that spot will doubtless now belong to Michigan. The No. 2 Wolverines rested their case with a dominant 86-56 win over UCLA at residence. The Wolverines have probably the most Quad 1 wins of any group within the nation, and 6 of their 12 wins in Massive Ten play have been by no less than 20 factors. — Salerno
Michigan makes case to leap Arizona for the No. 1 spot in subsequent AP High 25 ballot after dominant win over UCLA
Cameron Salerno
Loser: Peterson peters out in KU loss
Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson didn’t play the ultimate 7:01 of Saturday’s 74-56 loss to No. 5 Iowa State and was largely ineffective within the meager 24 minutes he was on the ground, ending with 10 factors on 3-of-10 capturing. It was one more recreation Peterson failed to complete, which has been a theme for the projected No. 1 choose for a lot of the season as he is both missed video games or exited early in video games he is performed.
KU coach Invoice Self mentioned postgame the choice to sit down Peterson for the ultimate 7:01 was his to make as he seemed forward to prep the No. 9 Jayhawks for Wednesday as a result of ISU was so in command of the sport. He additionally added that Peterson, who missed Monday’s recreation vs. No. 1 Arizona due to an sickness, didn’t get a full allotment of practices this week as he handled the lingering results of it. — Boone
Iowa State routs Kansas, snaps Jayhawks eight-game successful streak in Darryn Peterson’s return after sickness
Kyle Boone
Winner: Hilton Magic reveals off its powers
Far too usually this season, Iowa State has relied solely on Milan Momcilovic to be the very best shooter within the nation and Joshua Jefferson to do, properly, all the things. However within the 74-56 dismantling of No. 9 Kansas, it was Iowa State’s supporting forged that had its finest exhibiting in awhile. Jamarion Bateman got here off the bench and splashed three treys. Blake Buchanan (11 factors, six rebounds) had his finest recreation in a month. Momcilovic did his skinny with 18 factors and 4 triples, however 57 factors from everybody not named Momcilovic or Jefferson is strictly what Iowa State wants to achieve the height of its powers. Oh, and a vicious protection would not damage both. — Isaac Trotter
Loser: NC State chokes late vs. Miami
NC State led by as many as eight factors within the second half — and held a seven-point lead with 55 seconds remaining over Miami! — earlier than flailing to the end within the largest choke job of the afternoon. Miami scored eight unanswered factors within the closing 52 seconds, which culminated with three free throws from Miami guard Tru Washington after an ill-advised NC State foul on a 3-point try from Washington.
Washington made all three makes an attempt from the charity stripe, and NC State’s try and win it with a buzzer-beater on the opposite finish was no good within the 77-76 Miami victory.
“I do not see an entire lot of positives,” NC State coach Will Wade mentioned. “Poor teaching. Poor teaching on my half that we could not convey that residence. We seemed like Keystone Cops there on the finish of the sport.”
It is the second consecutive loss for NC State after falling at Louisville on Monday by 41 factors — its largest loss since 2017. — Boone
Winner: BYU’s Wright can do no incorrect this week
For the second time in as many video games, BYU guard Rob Wright dropped a career-high in factors in a recreation his group wanted each little bit of his manufacturing. Simply 4 days faraway from a career-high 30 factors vs. his former group, Baylor, the first-year Cougars star scored 39 factors and led BYU to a 90-86 additional time win over Colorado. He completed the sport 12-of-16 capturing from the sphere, made all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt and was 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. He additionally added 5 boards and 4 steals.
Wright’s manufacturing was solely second-most vital to the timeliness of mentioned manufacturing. Twenty-three of his 39 factors got here within the second half, and a mixed 29 of his whole 39 factors got here in each the second half and additional time. In additional time, he scored or assisted on 11 of his group’s 12 factors to ultimately draw back. — Boone
Loser: Ohio State allergic to Quad 1 wins
Ohio State had a fantastic alternative to enter Sunday with two Quad 1 wins after starting Saturday as one of many First 4 Out in CBS Sports activities Bracketology. Now, it seems the Buckeyes may have zero Quad 1 wins come Sunday.
After main Virginia by six halfway by way of the second half of a neutral-site showdown in Nashville, the Buckeyes wilted late in a 70-66 loss. Making issues worse, Northwestern misplaced 68-49 at Nebraska. The Wildcats had been No. 74 within the NET, which put them one spot forward of the top-75 cutoff for Ohio State’s street win over Northwestern to be thought of a Quad 1 win. After dropping their fifth straight recreation, the Wildcats could also be in line for a NET drop. Which implies the Buckeyes could possibly be 4 weeks out from Choice Sunday with zero Quad 1 wins. — Cobb
Winner: TCU will get gritty OT win over Oklahoma State
TCU may have folded after giving up an uncontested layup to Parsa Fallah to pressure additional time with a tenth of a second left in regulation, however the Horned Frogs continued their standout play with a gut-check 95-92 additional time victory over Oklahoma State. It is the second key street win for TCU’s ever-improving resume, and Jamie Dixon’s bunch has now received three in a row.
Six totally different Frogs cracked double figures, however Jayden Pierre (16 factors, 4 assists) was the star of the sport as he snuffed any Oklahoma State momentum along with his fourth trey late within the recreation. David Punch (19 factors) was additionally wonderful after intermission. TCU has added +1.2 Wins Above Bubble to its ledger within the final 5 days after knocking off a top-10 Iowa State membership and notching a street win — which is important for WAB — over the Pokes. — Trotter
Loser: Fireplace delays Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Through the first half of Oklahoma’s 94-78 victory vs. Georgia, the sport was paused briefly after a hearth broke out on the concourse at Lloyd Noble Heart. Followers close to the hearth had been briefly cleared out of their seats. The sport resumed after a brief pause within the motion. It appeared {that a} popcorn machine was what caught on fireplace. — Salerno
Winner: Louisville’s Brown goes off (once more)
Mikel Brown Jr. adopted up his 45-point Monday explosion in opposition to NC State with 29 factors in No. 24’s Louisville’s 82-71 win over Baylor. The freshman flamethrower made 4 of 5 makes an attempt from past the arc and likewise dished out six assists in one other sterling efficiency that demonstrated the Cardinals’ high-end potential. Louisville was simply 4-4 when Brown missed over a month attributable to a again damage, however it’s 6-1 since his return. Brown is among the most enjoyable guards in faculty basketball, and his presence on the ground makes Louisville a deadly offensive group. — Cobb
Loser: Virginia Tech’s resume takes a beating
Virginia Tech entered the day as one of many First 4 Out of the NCAA Match area in CBS Sports activities Bracketology after its at-large hopes picked up vital steam Wednesday night time in a win at Clemson. That upset victory was value a meaty 0.78 factors in WAB, which is a vital metric the NCAA Match choice committee makes use of in evaluating a group’s resume. However the Hokies circled and gave all of it again on Saturday — after which some — whereas getting run off their very own flooring late in a 92-69 loss to Florida State.
The Quad 3 defeat shall be robust for the Hokies to beat of their quest to achieve the NCAA Match for the primary time since 2022. Massive alternatives at Miami (Feb. 17), at North Carolina (Feb. 28) and at Virginia (March 7) nonetheless await, and now they loom even bigger than earlier than. After faltering at residence to lower-tier ACC foe, the Hokies will doubtless must win a few these. — Cobb
Winner: Purdue scores one other vital street win
The Massive Ten seems to be prefer it’s Michigan to lose till additional discover, however No. 13 Purdue took one other vital step towards remaining in competition with a 78-57 street win at Iowa. It is the second consecutive street win over an NCAA Match high quality group this week after downing Nebraska in additional time on Tuesday, and one which will get it to 11-3 in convention play with Michigan coming to West Lafayette on Tuesday night time. — Boone
Winner: Florida builds SEC separation
Florida received the nationwide championship final season, but it surely did not win the SEC common season title. After a 92-83 win over No. 25 Kentucky on Saturday, the No. 14 Gators are properly on their method to altering that in 2026. Since beginning league play with a loss at Missouri, Florida (19-6, 10-2 SEC) is 10-1 and working as effectively as any group in faculty basketball. A number of shut early-season losses could have diminished Florida’s nationwide profile, however this group is discovering its stride, wanting just like the clear lower finest group within the SEC and a professional nationwide title contender. — Cobb
Loser: Texas A&M’s slide towards bubble continues
Lengthy shedding streaks for in any other case good basketball groups are a Texas A&M staple now transcending a number of eras of Aggies hoops. Saturday’s 82-69 loss at No. 19 Vanderbilt was the fourth straight for A&M (17-8, 7-5 SEC), which is slipping quickly towards the NCAA Match bubble after it was first within the SEC standings earlier this month. First-year coach Bucky McMillan is new on the town, however A&M followers are used to this.
Beneath Buzz Williams final season, A&M dropped 4 straight late in convention play however was nonetheless a No. 4 seed within the Massive Dance. In 2024, it dropped 5 straight in February and nonetheless ended up as a No. 9 seed. The Aggies misplaced eight straight in league play throughout 2022 and almost reached the NCAA Match anyway. The pattern even dates again to Billy Kennedy’s tenure, when the Aggies began 0-5 within the SEC in 2018 and nonetheless managed to achieve the Candy 16. — Cobb
Winner: Navy (!) continues its breakout season
Navy has not made the NCAA Match since 1998, however the Midshipmen added one other chapter to a breakthrough season underneath first-year head coach Jon Perry. Navy waltzed into Colgate, often the Patriot League titan, and emerged with an 84-80 street victory to enhance to 21-6 and 13-1 in convention play. Jordan Pennick splashed six treys and completed with 22 factors. Donovan Draper got here off the bench and added 20 factors, eight rebounds, three steals and three assists. These Midshipmen can hoop. — Trotter
Loser: Georgia’s tourney outlook dims with ugly OU loss
Mike White’s Georgia Bulldogs entered Saturday as one of many Final 4 In the 68-team NCAA Match area as projected by CBS Sports activities Bracketology — after which laid a large egg on the street in a tough-to-swallow loss to an OU group that was tied for final place within the SEC coming into the day. UGA’s 94-78 loss to the Sooners will nearly actually dim its speedy tourney outlook, however worst of all, it is a loss that may probably fester and stick as a Quad 2 loss given OU’s downward trajectory. Few video games in SEC play qualify as can’t-lose video games, however falling to this Sooners group right now and by 16 factors — whereas dropping the fifth recreation in its final six outings — is a troublesome one to abdomen.
Georgia should not really feel good in any respect about the place issues are proper now with respect to their March Insanity hopes. There may be work to do to bolster its missing resume, and the schedule solely will get extra stiff from right here. — Boone
Loser: Auburn’s shedding streak grows
Auburn has now dropped 4 straight after falling 88-75 at No. 21 Arkansas. The Tigers (14-11, 5-7 SEC) had been taking part in with out main scorer Keyshawn Corridor, who’s out indefinitely for disciplinary causes. First-year coach Steven Pearl mentioned the period of Corridor’s suspension shall be “as much as him.” Auburn entered the day as a No. 8 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology, but it surely wants to begin successful once more. Enjoying with out Corridor is lower than superb contemplating he entered Saturday fourth within the SEC in scoring at 20.7 factors per recreation.
“We’re hoping this is not one thing that has to pull out longer than it must,” Pearl mentioned. — Cobb
Winner: Texas can exhale
At a time when a bit of its SEC friends are sliding towards the bubble, Texas is attempting to do the other after starting the day as a No. 10 seed. The Longhorns throttled Missouri 85-68 on the street for his or her fourth straight victory and fifth Quad 1 win. Texas (16-9, 7-5 SEC) can not relaxation on its laurels, however it could actually take a breath in acknowledgement of the truth that its hopes of dancing are in a great place. First-year coach Sean Miller has this group working at its highest ranges of the season. Missouri’s respiratory room may be gone. After coming into the day as one of many Final 4 within the CBS Sports activities Bracketology area of 68, the Tigers reside life on the sting. — Cobb
