College Hoops: Weekend Roundup
No. 1 Arizona suffered a first defeat of the season.
With a plethora of sporting action this weekend, including that small football game in New Jersey, you’d be forgiven for having missed out on some of the quality hardwood action that took place at college campuses across the country this weekend.
For those that had their attention elsewhere, here’s a look at the headlines coming out of college basketball this weekend.
No. 1 Arizona Loses For First Time
Undeniably the headline above all other headlines this weekend, No. 1 Arizona (21-1, 8-1 Pac-12) found itself on the short end of the score line for the first time this season.
The Wildcats took their undefeated record to California (15-7, 6-3 Pac-12) looking to make short work of a Golden Bears team that had lost three straight. The basketball gods had a different story in mind though.
In what proved to be a close game throughout, California’s Justin Cobb connected with a last second shot that gave the Berkeley side a 60-58 victory, and sent the Wildcats home with their first loss of the year.
Even worse for Sean Miller’s side, sophomore forward Brandon Ashley suffered a suspected broken foot and is expected to be out indefinitely.
The AP Top 25 poll will be looking different this week. So might the college basketball futures.
No. 2 Syracuse Tops No. 17 Duke in OT
With Arizona losing, No. 2 Syracuse (21-0, 8-0 ACC) will take the AP top spot after a hard fought victory over No. 17 Duke (17-5, 6-33 ACC).
In what has to have been the most anticipated game of the season, the Orange entertained the Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome in front of a record-setting crowd. Not one of the 35,446 people in attendance went home feeling short-changed.
This first ever ACC meeting between the schools went to overtime, where Syracuse’s sophomore forward Jeremi Grant scored eight of the Orange’s 13 points, leading Jim Boeheim’s team to a 91-89 victory.
Still unbeaten, the Orange hosts Notre Dame (12-10, 3-6 ACC) on Monday night. You can find odds and trends for this matchup here.
No. 7 Michigan State fell to unranked Georgetown.
Another Weekend of Upsets
Arizona wasn’t the only ranked side to come up short against an unranked opponent. In total, the weekend saw seven AP Top 25 teams lose to unranked opposition.
After hanging on against Iowa during the week, No. 7 Michigan State (19-3, 8-1 Big Ten) fell to Georgetown (12-9, 3-6 Big East) at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten No. 10 Michigan (16-5, 8-1 Big Ten) was comfortably beaten by Indiana (14-8, 4-5 Big Ten) on Sunday.
After losing to Duke during the week, No. 18 Pittsburgh (18-4, 6-3 ACC) came up short on Sunday against fellow ACC contender, Virginia (17-5, 8-1 ACC).
Meanwhile, No. 21 Massachusetts (17-4, 4-3 A-10) and No. 22 Memphis (16-5, 6-3 American) also lost on Saturday.
Big 12 Drama Continues
The Big 12 continues to be one of college basketball’s most unpredictable conferences, with the league’s best teams all seemingly content to beat up on each other. This weekend served up a series of intriguing results.
In a battle of ranked sides, No. 25 Texas (17-4, 6-2 Big 12) handed No. 6 Kansas (16-5, 7-1 Big 12) its first loss in conference play this season, thanks to big performances from Isaiah Taylor (23pts) and Johnathon Holmes (25pts). The 81-69 final will put the Longhorns on everybody’s radar.
Elsewhere, Baylor (14-7, 2-6 Big 12) put an end to a five-game losing skid with a surprise 76-70 road win over No. 8 Oklahoma State (16-5, 4-4 Big 12). The Cowboys’ inconsistent form in Big 12 play could prove costly going forward, while the Bears are providing plenty of food for thought.
In another matchup of ranked sides, No. 16 Iowa State (16-4, 4-4 Big 12) managed to hold on for an 81-75 win over No. 23 Oklahoma (16-5, 4-4) in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday. The Cyclones had lost four of five heading into the contest, but 27 points from Georges Niang helped the side defeat the Sooners, splitting the season head-to-head.
Iowa State will travel to Oklahoma State on Monday in a game with plenty riding on it. Odds and trends can be found here.
AP Top 25 Results
Saturday
California 60, No. 1 Arizona 58
No. 2 Syracuse 91, No. 17 Duke 89 (OT)
No. 3 Florida 69, Texas A&M 36
No. 4 Wichita State 81, Evansville 67
No. 5 San Diego State 65, Colorado State 56
No. 25 Texas 81, No. 6 Kansas 69
Georgetown 64, No. 7 Michigan State 60
Baylor 76, No. 8 Oklahoma State 70
No. 9 Villanova 90, Temple 74
No. 11 Kentucky 84, Missouri 79
No. 12 Louisville 87, Central Florida 70
No. 24 Ohio State 59, No. 14 Wisconsin 58
No. 15 Iowa 81, Illinois 74
No. 16 Iowa State 81, No. 23 Oklahoma 75
No. 19 Saint Louis 87, George Mason 81
Saint Joseph’s 73, No. 21 Massachusetts 68
Southern Methodist 87, No. 22 Memphis 72
Sunday
Indiana 63, No. 10 Michigan 52
No. 13 Cincinnati 50, South Florida 45
Virginia 48, No. 18 Pittsburgh 45
For a list of today’s College Basketball odds, click here.
For a current list of College Basketball futures, click here.
For the latest College Basketball team prop bets, click here.
For the latest College Basketball player prop bets, click here.
