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 have been on the No. 1 seed line, and 6 of the highest 10 groups on the seed checklist got here from the SEC.
Whereas Choice Sunday is simply over 4 weeks away, Auburn made its case because the No. 1 general 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.
Whereas the highest-profile recreation was happening within the state of Alabama, different video games throughout the nation came about which might 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 Massive 12.
In the meantime, within the Massive 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 Massive 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 have been omitted of the top-16, even though each have robust resumes. However do not feel sorry for the SEC. The league received 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 Massive 12 is in nice form, too, with 5 of the highest 16. In the meantime, the Massive Ten landed three groups whereas the ACC and Massive 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 crew. 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 were not considered among the group of the last four teams 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 recreation’s finish, they’d given again no matter momentum they gained towards the Purple Storm. — Cobb
Winner: Auburn will stay No. 1 on Monday
The sport of the 12 months in school 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 crew within the nation was. After Auburn knocked off No. 2 Alabama, the Tigers will probably be the unanimous top-ranked crew within the polls on Monday. This is among 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 imagined to get a break on Saturday. The Sooners have been internet hosting LSU, which entered at simply 1-10 in league play, making it an exceedingly uncommon Quad 3 SEC recreation for OU. It was the right 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 remaining 20 seconds. Cam Carter scored seven factors — a 4-point play included — over the ultimate 20 seconds to raise the Tigers to a shocking 82-79 victory.
Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9 SEC) entered as a projected No. 10 seed in Jerry Palm’s Bracketology. However after making a gift of a house recreation 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 crew in a rush if the Sooners are going to make the Massive Dance for the primary time underneath his path. — Cobb
Loser: Purdue loses floor in Massive Ten title race
Purdue’s possibilities of profitable the Massive Ten regular-season title for the third consecutive season took a drastic hit on Saturday following a 94-84 loss to Wisconsin at Mackey Enviornment. The Badgers went into Mackey Enviornment 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 harm its possibilities of profitable the common season title. — Salerno
Winner: Tre Johnson fuels Longhorns in key spot
CBS Sports activities Bracketology Skilled Jerry Palm wrote getting into Saturday’s recreation between Texas and No. 15 Kentucky that “the Longhorns’ match 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 any case. — Cobb
Winner: Kansas will get good thing about the doubt
The Kansas resume was certainly a tough one for the committee to judge, 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 big impact on a crew’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 Massive 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 wanting more and more unlikely. — Salerno
Winner: Houston takes management in Massive 12 title race
No. 6 Houston elevated its lead atop the Massive 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 recreation lead over Arizona for first place within the Massive 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 Massive 12 common season title for the second consecutive season. — 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 have been outscored 49-33 within the second half and look like heading towards the NIT. Georgia received 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 developing 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 lure
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 instant aftermath of the bracket preview. Nevertheless, each projected No. 2 seeds received 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 gained their fifth straight. — Cobb
Winner: Colorado wins first Massive 12 recreation
12 months 1 as a member of the Massive 12 has been rocky for Colorado. One 12 months faraway from profitable their first NCAA Match recreation since 2021, the Buffaloes started Massive 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 have 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 – homeowners 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 practically squandered the nation’s third-longest profitable streak on Saturday earlier than rallying from a 9-point deficit within the remaining 9 minutes to edge Saint Joseph’s 58-57. The win stored the Patriots’ slim at-large NCAA Match hopes alive and stored them one recreation forward of VCU within the loss column of the Atlantic 10 standings. — Cobb
Winner: Tom Izzo passes Bob Knight in Massive Ten wins
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo handed Indiana legend Bob Knight for many profession Massive Ten victories on Saturday because the No. 11 Spartans used a giant second half to win 79-65 at Illinois. The end result propelled Izzo to the 354-win plateau in Massive Ten video games, a mark that proved elusive throughout a difficult two-week stretch for the Spartans. — Cobb
