December Highlights in College Basketball

The second weekend in December showcased what might be the most exciting two-day stretch of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season.

Here, we spotlight the ten teams that gained the most from the events of mid-December.

The Johnnies cruised to a 91-64 victory over Iona, which had particular significance for their head coach, Rick Pitino. Iona gave Pitino a chance to revive his career in 2021 after he faced challenges following his dismissal from the University of Louisville, and he has since guided the Gaels to two NCAA Tournament appearances in three years.

“Iona has a really good team,” Pitino commented post-game. “It’s a special place with a rich tradition. I’m truly grateful to them. With me at the helm, we’re committed to playing this game annually.”

The Buckeyes overcame a 16-point deficit in the second half to triumph over West Virginia in double overtime, which was crucial for their momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Bruce Thornton was pivotal in this comeback.

These early-season games tend to fade from memory by the end of December, yet they significantly impact which teams advance or are left out of the NCAA Tournament.

While conference shifts have altered the college football landscape, they have benefited the basketball program inheriting those rivalries.

Similarly, Oklahoma desperately needed their recent win to maintain a respectable early-season record before entering the demanding conference play. The Sooners hit 13 three-pointers and secured their fourth consecutive victory against Oklahoma State.

On another note, Kentucky notched its first win against a hot team, an outcome that, perhaps more importantly, prevented a damaging loss that could have left the Big Blue Nation in despair.

The Wildcats have struggled significantly in the early weeks of the season. Fans have expressed dissatisfaction with how Mark Pope has managed pressure in his initial season. A loss to a rival team, typically looked down upon by the UK program, would thoroughly dampen the holiday spirit across the region.

In his first game back from injury, Mo Diubatte made a substantial impact for Kentucky, scoring 14 points and pulling down a season-best 12 rebounds after being sidelined since November 13. The team really needed this lift.

Boise State continues its rebound from a rocky opening game, where they suffered a record loss of 79-78 to Hawaii Pacific. They have since faced two tough losses but recently secured victories against Wichita State, Butler, and now St. Mary’s by a narrow margin of 68-67.

As a result, Boise State has climbed into the top 40, landing at No. 39 in the latest NET rankings, representing the second-best standing among Mountain West teams, trailing only Utah State at No. 30.

This season, the Mountain West isn’t faring too well, so Boise will likely need a strong conference record to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament. However, Sunday’s win has definitely helped their cause.

The Zags faced off against UCLA in a late-night matchup on neutral territory in Seattle. Graham Icke’s standout performance, scoring 28 points, helped Gonzaga maintain control despite a solid showing from UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau, ultimately winning 82-72.

If Gonzaga can secure a win against Oregon this Sunday, they’ll likely start their final season in the West Coast Conference with only one loss—a hefty defeat to Michigan at the Players Era Festival. Their overall record should position them well for the NCAA Tournament, generating ongoing debates about their legitimacy.

During such shifting times, it’s refreshing to have a few constants in college basketball.

It feels a bit unsettling to label Kansas a “winner” given the injury troubles faced by star freshman Darrin Peterson, who exited the matchup against North Carolina State over the weekend due to what seems to be a recurring hamstring issue. Yet, the Jayhawks pulled off a 77-76 overtime victory, bolstered by a stellar performance from Melvin Council Jr.

Council, who admitted he had never made more than “two or three” three-pointers in a game prior, landed nine triples and registered a career-high 36 points, preventing the team from possibly losing before Christmas.

Though Peterson’s situation remains worrisome, this win was crucial for Kansas, especially as they aim for a smoother non-conference finish. The Jayhawks have a lighter schedule ahead, allowing time for their freshman star to recover.

Are the Razorbacks the top team in the SEC? They surely play like it.

Arkansas celebrated its second Top 20 victory in two weeks with a thrilling 93-86 win against No. 16 Texas Tech in Dallas. This win was particularly sweet since Texas Tech eliminated Calipari’s team in the NCAA Tournament last season.

The key difference was a standout game by forward Trevon Brazil, who scored 24 points, with 18 coming in the second half, contributing heavily to overcoming a double-digit deficit.

Despite Texas Tech’s JT Toppin scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, Brazil’s performance, along with 20-point contributions from Darius Eif and Carter Knox, secured the win for Arkansas.

They have one last significant matchup before conference play begins: a neutral-court challenge against No. 7 Houston this Saturday.

As of this weekend, Arizona appeared poised for another strong season, potentially eyeing their second national championship. Now, under Tommy Lloyd’s guidance, five-star freshman Brayden Burries seems to be hitting his stride, which is alarming news for the Big 12.

Burries, ranked No. 9 in the 2025 recruiting class, had a slow start to the season but exploded in a recent game, scoring a career-high 28 points as the Wildcats triumphed over No. 12 Alabama 96-75.

He made five three-pointers and shot 11-of-19 overall, with a significant burst of 15 points in just four minutes during the second half. This performance helped demonstrate that the Wildcats could win in whatever way needed.

With the victory over Alabama, Arizona became the first team in 30 years to win five of their first nine games against AP top 25 opponents.

Nebraska Basketball achieved its best-ever start (11-0) with an exciting 83-80 road win over No. 13 Illinois, marking possibly its most impressive victory during Fred Hoiberg’s tenure.

Jamarquez Lawrence’s buzzer-beater created one of the most thrilling moments of the season so far, leaving even the Cornhuskers’ play-by-play announcer breathless.

We even got to see on-court footage of the game-winning shot and the aftermath, captured by injured Cornhusker guard Connor Essegian.

While the ending was intense, it was no fluke; Nebraska dominated throughout the game. They led Illinois by as many as 14 points in the first half and maintained a ten-point lead in the second.

Although Lawrence shone, it was Price Sandfort’s career-high 32 points that proved most damaging for Nebraska, alongside Rienk Mast, who contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds.

With an 11-0 start coupled with a previous season’s success in the College Basketball Crown postseason, Nebraska is on a remarkable 15-game winning streak—the longest in the program’s history and the longest active streak in men’s college basketball.

Historically, Nebraska is the only power conference school yet to win an NCAA Tournament game, but it seems that this might change sooner rather than later.