The SEC was on the heart of the faculty basketball universe Saturday, which started when the NCAA revealed its high 16 seeds. Auburn, Alabama, and Florida had been on the No. 1 seed line, and 6 of the highest 10 groups on the seed listing got here from the SEC.
Whereas Choice Sunday is simply over 4 weeks away, Auburn made its case because the No. 1 total seed with a 94-85 win over No. 2 Saturday at Coleman Coliseum. The matchup between Auburn and Alabama marked the primary time the highest two ranked groups from the SEC performed one another.
Bracketology: Auburn is high seed with Alabama, Duke and Florida additionally No. 1s as NCAA reveals early bracket
Jerry Palm
Whereas the highest-profile sport was happening within the state of Alabama, different video games throughout the nation befell which can be sure to form the opposite energy convention title races. No. 6 Houston defeated No. 13 Arizona 62-58 to strengthen its lead on the high of the Large 12.Â
In the meantime, within the Large Ten, No. 7 Purdue misplaced at residence to No. 16 Wisconsin 94-84. The Boilermakers entered the week on the high of the convention standings, however losses to Michigan and Wisconsin may alter the Large Ten title race heading into the house stretch of the common season.
Winner: SEC will get 5 of high six seeds in early reveal
Missouri and Ole Miss had been not noted of the top-16, although each have robust resumes. However do not feel sorry for the SEC. The league bought 5 of the highest six spots within the bracket preview, with Tennessee and Texas A&M touchdown on the No. 2 seed line behind projected No. 1 seeds Auburn, Alabama and Florida. No different convention had a couple of consultant among the many high eight. With Kentucky’s spot as a projected No. 3 seed, the SEC ended up with six of the 16. The Large 12 is in nice form, too, with 5 of the highest 16. In the meantime, the Large Ten landed three groups whereas the ACC and Large East had only one every. — David Cobb
Loser: Villanova follows triumph with embarrassment
Villanova adopted up a momentous Wednesday victory over No. 9 St. John’s with a dud, because the Wildcats fell 75-62 towards a shorthanded Windfall staff. The Friars entered on a four-game dropping streak however had no downside with a Villanova squad that gave the impression to be on the cusp of reviving its beforehand moribund NCAA Match hopes (the Wildcats weren’t thought of among the many group of the final 4 groups in Saturday morning). Villanova (15-11, 8-7) by no means led and was by no means inside single digits within the second half. By sport’s finish, they’d given again no matter momentum they gained towards the Pink Storm. — Cobb
Winner: Auburn will stay No. 1 on Monday
The sport of the yr in faculty basketball lived as much as the hype. Auburn exited with a dramatic 94-85 win over its in-state rival to take management of the SEC title race. There was a debate final week (from voters) on who the No. 1 staff within the nation was. After Auburn knocked off No. 2 Alabama, the Tigers will seemingly be the unanimous top-ranked staff within the polls on Monday. This is likely one of the largest wins within the historical past of Auburn basketball. — Cameron Salerno
Loser: Bubbly Oklahoma chokes in can’t-lose spot
It wasn’t all roses for the SEC on Saturday, although. After three blowout losses towards ranked SEC foes, Oklahoma was lastly purported to get a break on Saturday. The Sooners had been internet hosting LSU, which entered at simply 1-10 in league play, making it an exceedingly uncommon Quad 3 SEC sport for OU. It was the proper spot for the Sooners to search out themselves forward of a tricky stretch run getting into the postseason. However what they discovered was catastrophe, blowing a five-point lead within the ultimate 20 seconds. Cam Carter scored seven factors — a 4-point play included — over the ultimate 20 seconds to carry the Tigers to a surprising 82-79 victory.
Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9 SEC) entered as a projected No. 10 seed in Jerry Palm’s Bracketology. However after freely giving a house sport towards a convention bottom-feeder, the Sooners are headed nowhere quick. Their subsequent 5 video games are towards ranked foes, which implies fourth-year coach Porter Moser might want to reinvigorate his staff in a rush if the Sooners are going to make the Large Dance for the primary time beneath his path. — Cobb
Loser: Purdue loses floor in Large Ten title race
Purdue’s probabilities of successful the Large Ten regular-season title for the third consecutive season took a drastic hit on Saturday following a 94-84 loss to Wisconsin at Mackey Area. The Badgers went into Mackey Area and upset the Boilermakers behind a standout efficiency from John Tonje. Purdue had an opportunity to separate themselves from the remainder of the pack this week, however losses to Michigan and Wisconsin may damage its probabilities of successful the common season title. — Salerno
Winner: Tre Johnson fuels Longhorns in key spot
CBS Sports activities Bracketology Knowledgeable Jerry Palm wrote getting into Saturday’s sport between Texas and No. 15 Kentucky that “the Longhorns’ event hopes are fading quick.” In opposition to that backdrop, Texas earned a pivotal 82-78 win over the visiting Wildcats. With UK shorthanded and the Longhorns on the incorrect aspect of the bubble, it was nearly a must-win. Freshman guard Tre Johnson made certain Texas dealt with the second, as he racked up a career-high 32 factors. With a stunningly manageable run of 5 video games towards unranked groups to shut the common season, the Longhorns may nonetheless want their dancing footwear in spite of everything. — Cobb
Winner: Kansas will get advantage of the doubt
The Kansas resume was absolutely a tough one for the committee to guage, because the Jayhawks entered at No. 11 within the NET however with a handful of uncompetitive losses Quad 1 losses and a Quad 2 residence loss towards West Virginia. However KU’s inclusion within the bracket preview as a projected No. 4 seed reveals that what occurs in November could make a huge effect on a staff’s seeding. The Jayhawks picked up neutral-site victories over Duke and Michigan State in non convention play, and people early marquee victories clearly helped insulate Kansas from its inconsistencies in Large 12 play. — Cobb
Loser: UConn blows late lead vs. Seton Corridor
With 59 seconds remaining in additional time, UConn led Seton Corridor 68-63. The Pirates closed the ultimate minute of additional time on a 6-0 run, which included a game-winning layup by Scotty Middleton with three seconds left to safe an upset 69-68 win over the two-time reigning defending champions. After dropping two convention video games final season, UConn has already misplaced 5. With simply six common season video games remaining, the Huskies are three video games again of first place within the convention standings and a daily season title is trying more and more unlikely. — Salerno
Winner: Houston takes management in Large 12 title race
No. 6 Houston elevated its lead atop the Large 12 standings with a 62-58 win over No. 13 Arizona Saturday on the McKale Heart. The Cougars entered the weekend with a 1.0 sport lead over Arizona for first place within the Large 12 and exited Tucson, Arizona, with a two-game benefit and the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Wildcats. Houston is within the driver’s seat to win the Large 12 common season title for the second consecutive season. —Â Salerno
Houston handles Arizona with late surge on the street that places No. 6 Cougars in command of Large 12 race
Cameron Salerno
Loser: Georgia is sliding in SEC play
Georgia’s NCAA Match hopes took successful on Saturday following an 87-74 loss to Missouri at residence. The Bulldogs had been outscored 49-33 within the second half and seem like heading towards the NIT. Georgia bought off to a 12-1 begin to the season however has since misplaced 9 of its final 13 video games. Moreover, Georgia’s wins in SEC play have come towards Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina and LSU. With video games arising towards Auburn and Florida within the coming days, issues may worsen earlier than they get higher. — Salerno
Winner: Texas A&M, Tennessee keep away from the entice
Texas A&M fell behind 8-0 early to Arkansas, and Tennessee trailed Vanderbilt by 16 late within the first half. A house loss towards an unranked foe for both would have been embarrassing within the rapid aftermath of the bracket preview. Nevertheless, each projected No. 2 seeds bought it collectively to flee with victories towards their bubblicious opponents. Tennessee senior level guard Zakai Zeigler scored all 22 of his factors within the second half because the Volunteers rallied to keep away from a season sweep towards the Commodores. Wade Taylor IV led A&M with 18 factors and 9 assists because the Aggies received their fifth straight. — Cobb
Winner: Colorado wins first Large 12 sport
12 months 1 as a member of the Large 12 has been rocky for Colorado. One yr faraway from successful their first NCAA Match sport since 2021, the Buffaloes started Large 12 play 0-13. Their fortunes lastly swung Saturday. Colorado outscored UCF 38-27 within the second half for a 76-63 win. Washington State switch Andrej Jakimovski scored a team-high 15 factors within the win. — Salerno
Loser: No point out of Memphis
When choice committee chair Bubba Cunningham talked about a few groups that had been robust to exclude from the highest 16, he named Michigan State and Marquette. However he did not point out Memphis, which is No. 14 within the AP ballot. That leaves the Tigers – house owners of an unorthodox resume – left to ponder the place they stand. The Tigers are 10-2 throughout Quads 1 and a couple of and 5-2 in Quad 1 however are clearly being dinged for a pair of Quad 3 losses. Given the poor caliber of AAC opposition, there might be little Memphis can do to make the case for a top-four seed as Choice Sunday approaches. — Cobb
Winner: Disaster averted for George Mason
George Mason almost squandered the nation’s third-longest successful streak on Saturday earlier than rallying from a 9-point deficit within the ultimate 9 minutes to edge Saint Joseph’s 58-57. The win saved the Patriots’ slim at-large NCAA Match hopes alive and saved them one sport forward of VCU within the loss column of the Atlantic 10 standings. — Cobb
Winner: Tom Izzo passes Bob Knight in Large Ten wins
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo handed Indiana legend Bob Knight for many profession Large Ten victories on Saturday because the No. 11 Spartans used a giant second half to win 79-65 at Illinois. The result propelled Izzo to the 354-win plateau in Large Ten video games, a mark that proved elusive throughout a difficult two-week stretch for the Spartans. — Cobb
Tom Izzo passes Bob Knight for Large Ten wins document as No. 11 Michigan State races previous Illinois
David Cobb
