Weekend Recap of Men’s College Basketball

January’s conference play is heating up, showcasing incredible talent in the Big Ten, thrilling buzzer-beaters in the Southland, and some significant shifts in the dynamics of both the Big Ten and SEC.

Let’s delve into the highlights and lowlights from this past weekend in men’s college basketball.

Perhaps the most astonishing victory this season came from the University of Wisconsin, surprising many with their performance in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

As 19.5-point underdogs against Michigan State—ranked second in the nation and holding a distinguished record since the Ken Pom era—Wisconsin made an impressive splash. They nailed 15 three-pointers and allowed 54 points in the second half, ultimately securing a dominant win. This boosts their chances of making the NCAA Tournament, especially after having already lost five games.

Six teams entered the weekend with unblemished records, but now, Michigan stands as the lone team experiencing a loss.

While there’s no immediate cause for alarm in Ann Arbor, this defeat might sting a bit more since Michigan was recently pushed to the limit by Penn State. Most metrics still rank the Wolverines at the top of college basketball, yet January hasn’t painted them in the best light.

I get it; there’s much history behind the phrase “When Florida belonged to Spain, Miami was a university.” My brother went there, so I have somewhat of a connection.

The undefeated RedHawks, with a 3-0 start in the Mid-American Conference, became the first team to notch 17 wins in the 2025-26 season. They secured an 87-73 victory over Toledo, which many considered a significant hurdle on their way to a perfect regular season.

These players certainly have the ability to shine and will be exciting to watch as the season unfolds, but let’s hope they can rise to the occasion in March.

There’s no disgrace in losing a road game against a good conference opponent. But losing by 22 points? That’s something else.

Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall turned heads with a stellar 32-point performance against Arkansas, leading a team that had struggled recently to a convincing 95-73 win.

What might have John Calipari told his team after their first heavy defeat of the season?

“That’s not us,” he remarked. “I’m burning the tape, and it’s time to move on. We didn’t have a shot today… That wasn’t my team.”

Illinois State halted its five-game losing streak with a notable road win against No. 19 Iowa State on Sunday. The Illini, who led by 17 in the second half, ultimately won 75-69.

Since losing to Iowa in five consecutive encounters from 2018 to 2020, Illinois has flipped the script, winning 10 of the last 11 matchups, including five straight. Freshman Keaton Wagler made a case for himself as an underrated talent, recording 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

There are myriad ways to win when holding a two-point lead with just 0.1 seconds left on the clock. But, there are only a few ways to lose.

So credit (?) to Chicago State for managing to find one of those few outcomes.

Literally, all the inbounder needed to do was pass to a Stonehill player, and the game would have ended in Chicago State’s favor. It would have been reckless to even consider a timeout in that situation—just throw the ball anywhere. Instead, they slipped to 0-4 in Northeast Conference play and now sit at 2-15 overall.

Every time it seems Nebraska might slip up, they pull off something surprising. On Saturday, they overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat Indiana 83-77 on the road, extending the nation’s longest winning streak to 20 games. Jamarquez Lawrence shined with a career-high 27 points.

The Huskers are off to their best start in school history this season, boasting a 5-0 record in Big Ten play for the first time since 1965-66 and reaching a program-high AP ranking of No. 8.

Even with four losses heading into the weekend, Alabama remains a clear contender for the national title. However, they have yet to defeat a team outside of the top six—Purdue, Arizona, Gonzaga, and Vanderbilt were all defeats, though they’ve claimed victories over Illinois, St. John’s-Clemson, and Kentucky.

After their 92-88 home loss to Texas on Saturday, some may be reconsidering their options regarding Nate Oats’ team.

“We’ve got to improve,” Oats stated post-game. “Opponents seem to exploit our backcourt. We need a defensive overhaul; today, we looked like we didn’t know what we were doing.” Alabama was favored by 11.5 points in this matchup.

Winner: Miami (Florida)

Thanks, Oxford.

While there’s been plenty of chatter about the revitalizing ACC season, the Miami Hurricanes seem to have flown under the radar.

With their 91-81 victory over Georgia Tech, under first-year coach Jay Lucas, Miami stands at 14-2 overall, and 3-0 in conference play. Their only losses were understandable defeats to BYU and Florida in November.

Malik Luhnow, a standout transfer from Indiana, could well be heading for an All-ACC first-team pick if the season ended today. Tre Donaldson, another transfer from Michigan, is also making waves as a lead guard. While they haven’t yet reached the Final Four, they seem to be on the right track.

It’s hard to hold it against a team for losing to Houston at home—let’s be honest, that’s a common pitfall in the Big 12.

However, losing at home by 22 points, coupled with an 0-3 conference record? That raises eyebrows.

Scott Drew has turned down significant offers in recent years to remain at Waco and cement his legacy. However, there are growing concerns about how his final seasons will unfold, as Baylor struggles with notable wins in the current landscape.

While it may not have been the most thrilling SEC game, Vanderbilt’s 84-73 victory over LSU improved their astounding record to 16-0, matching the best start in school history. Tyler Tanner is boosting his All-American credentials with consistent performances.

Vanderbilt is set to be favored against Texas State on Wednesday, followed by an exciting clash against Florida State on Saturday.

Winner: Northwestern State

Micah Thomas from Northwestern delivered a remarkable performance this past weekend.

The Demons clawed back from a 14-point deficit to decisively win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, moving to 3-4 in the Southland Conference.

Don’t count Florida State out of the national championship race just yet.

The Gators put forth their most impressive performance of the season, overpowering No. 21 Tennessee 91-67 on Saturday. Boogie Frando shined with a standout performance, scoring 23 points.

Metrics still suggest Florida could be the frontrunner, showcasing what many believe to be the best frontcourt in college basketball. If Frand, Xavien Li, and Urban Kravsaal maintain their form through the end of the season, they could be formidable come March.

Meanwhile, Kansas continues to weather another disappointing season. After their 86-75 defeat to West Virginia on Saturday, they fell to 11-5, marking their third straight disappointing campaign under coach Bill Self.

“It’s tough right now,” Self expressed post-game. “Everyone experiences highs and lows in a season, but we need to turn this around.” The Jayhawks, who previously set records for consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25, are currently absent from the latest rankings.