Last Saturday was packed with exciting college basketball action, highlighting some impressive bounce-back performances. After losing two games in a row, No. 4 Alabama needed a win against No. 17 Kentucky. In a thrilling match, Alabama topped Kentucky 96-83, fueled by Mark Sears, who scored 30 points after a 35-point game earlier in the week.
No. 9 Texas Tech also shined, bouncing back from a loss at TCU to defeat West Virginia 73-51. JT Toppin, the standout sophomore forward, proved his worth as a potential Big 12 Player of the Year with another stellar game.
No. 23 Kansas faced No. 7 Texas A&M after a tough loss at BYU. They responded impressively with a 96-64 victory, led by Hunter Dickinson, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes.
Across the league, BYU made headlines too, upsetting No. 19 Arizona. A controversial foul allowed Richie Saunders to secure the win with two late free throws, leading to a nail-biting 96-95 finish. This marked BYU’s second win over a ranked team in a row, a feat they hadn’t achieved since 1988.
Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier shined brightly, scoring a personal best of 30 points in a victory over Texas A&M. After struggling in a previous game against Texas, Lanier found his scoring touch and led the No. 6 Vols to a solid win.
On the darker side, Kentucky faced difficulties without key players Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, losing to Alabama. Otega Oweh’s poor performance didn’t help, as he finished with just two points, failing to support his team’s needs.
Houston also faced a tough battle against No. 8 Iowa State but pulled through with a 68-59 victory, thanks to LJ Cryer, who scored 28 points. Cryer stepped up as the Cougars needed him, especially after almost losing a 16-point lead in the second half.
Oklahoma State struggled against No. 23 Kansas, suffering a heavy defeat after recently losing to BYU. Kansas’s victory was their largest in conference play in some time and showcased a significant turnaround from their last performance.
Over in the Pac-12, Oregon pulled off an incredible comeback against No. 11 Wisconsin, sealing a 77-73 overtime victory and marking their 15th consecutive season with over 20 wins. Coach Dana Altman continues to build on Oregon’s success.
North Carolina managed to secure a win against Virginia, staying alive in NCAA Tournament talks. This victory was crucial for them as they prepare for a big matchup with No. 3 Duke, where they’ll need to prove themselves further to solidify their tournament hopes.
Meanwhile, Yale climbed to the top of the Ivy League after their win against Columbia, continuing their unbeaten streak in the conference. In contrast, Duke delivered a historic defeat to Illinois, winning 110-67, marking the largest loss in Illinois’ history.
Arkansas boosted its hopes for an NCAA Tournament berth with a crucial win over No. 15 Missouri. The Razorbacks, led by Zvonimir Ivišić’s 20 points, showed resilience after struggling against other conference teams.
In a surprising development, South Carolina clinched its first SEC win of the season against Texas, leaving Texas reeling from the defeat. This loss added pressure on Texas as they fight for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Lastly, High Point celebrated a significant win in the Big South, keeping the momentum from their previous successes. Alan Huss has revitalized the program, achieving another league title and improving their tournament prospects.
As the season heats up, teams are jockeying for tournament positions, leading to more thrilling basketball on the horizon.
