We’re only one month away from Choice Sunday for the 2023 NCAA Event and Saturday’s full slate of motion introduced some February insanity as an appetizer of what is forward. The Large Dance bubble image appeared chaotic getting into the day, and the on-court outcomes solely strengthened the concept we’re in for a mad sprint to the end line as some look to bolster postseason credentials whereas others hope to salvage them.

No. 4 Arizona was among the many groups within the former class who came across Saturday after falling in a shocking 88-79 highway loss to unranked Stanford. The Wildcats entered the weekend a projected No. 2 seed in CBS Sports activities Bracketology.Knowledgeable Jerry Palm’s  bracket, however its resume stacked up as one of many final groups on the 2-line. A loss to a beneath .500 Stanford group does it no good for potential upward mobility, particularly with the 12 months the Pac-12 is having.

It wasn’t all dangerous for the delight of the Pac-12, although, as No. 7 UCLA dealt with a difficult highway check to Eugene, Oregon, and rolled simply previous the Geese. UCLA closed as only a 1-point favourite however had a monstrous second half to complete its two-game highway journey in Oregon. The Bruins at the moment are two video games away from everybody else within the Pac-12 with a win and Arizona’s loss, positioning themselves to win their first regular-season convention championship in a decade.

That is only a pattern of among the good and the dangerous that took place from Saturday, although. There have been loads of different outcomes to kind out so with the scene set, let’s go additional in-depth and have a look at the winners and losers from one other huge Saturday of faculty hoops.

Loser: Arizona stumbles at Stanford

As a result of it’s a down 12 months for the Pac-12, No. 4 Arizona has not — not like many different groups vying for high seeds within the NCAA Event — had as many possibilities to bolster its March Insanity credentials inside convention play. And Arizona did itself no favors Saturday by failing to deal with enterprise on the highway as a 7.5-point favourite vs. Stanford. The 88-79 loss places Arizona, a projected No. 2 seed in Palm’s bracket getting into the weekend, in a doubtlessly precarious spot for tourney positioning as postseason play nears. Its Pac-12 title hopes aren’t useless, however on high of a horrific defensive displaying — Arizona shot 61% from the sphere and 10 of 18 from 3-point vary! — this actually places it behind the eight ball so far as its objectives of incomes a top-two seed in March.

Winner: UCLA completes highway journey with W

The highway journey to finish January wasn’t a form one to UCLA because it took losses at Arizona and at USC to threaten its standing as the highest canine within the Pac-12. However bouncebacks wins inside Pauley Pavilion propelled it to a profitable two-game journey to Oregon this week with highway wins over Oregon on Saturday 70-63 following a victory at Oregon State on Thursday to seize management of the convention race by two video games over Arizona. UCLA struggled early however closed by outscoring Oregon 40-30 within the closing 20 minutes whereas forcing 9 second-half turnovers.

Winners: WCC high canines advance

No. 16 Gonzaga survived a scare from BYU with an 88-81 win in The Kennel and No. 15 Saint Mary’s blasted Portland 81-64 on the highway to maintain the WCC race neck and neck nearing the end line of the common season. The Gaels nonetheless cling to a lead within the standings nevertheless it is not as snug because it was every week in the past after falling this week in OT to Loyola Marymount. Each the WCC’s high canines profitable is nice for drama down the stretch with the Feb. 25 matchup between the 2 set to doubtlessly function a regular-season title sport — in The Kennel.

Loser: Kansas State’s struggles proceed

Large 12 cellar-dweller Texas Tech toppled No. 12 Kansas State because the Wildcats’ string of struggled continued with a 71-63 loss in Lubbock, giving them their third loss within the final 4 video games. After climbing to the highest of the Large 12 standings in January, Kansas State’s run into onerous instances within the vaunted Large 12, with this loss pushing it now two video games off the Large 12-leading tempo of Texas. The schedule will not relent anytime quickly, both, because it goes on the highway subsequent to face Oklahoma earlier than getting two consecutive matchups towards top-15 ranked groups in Iowa State and Baylor.

Loser: Badgers blow 17-point lead in loss to Huskers 

After an 11-2 (3-0 Large Ten) begin, Wisconsin entered Saturday’s sport at Nebraska having misplaced eight of its final 11 video games however nonetheless clinging to one of many closing projected NCAA Event bids in Palm’s Bracketology. The Badgers misplaced to the Huskers 73-63 in extra time, however appeared nice for the primary 24 minutes as they took a 45-28 lead early within the second half. Then catastrophe struck. Nebraska roared again, outscoring Wisconsin 33-16 over the remainder of regulation to pressure extra time. The Cornhuskers received the bonus interval 12-2 to drop Wisconsin to 14-10  and 6-8 within the Large Ten. The distinction within the sport was Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga, who scored 17 of his 22 factors after halftime as he surpassed the 20-point mark for a 3rd straight sport.

Winner: Alabama is STILL unbeaten in SEC

After enhancing to 22-3 (12-0 SEC) with a 77-69 win at rival Auburn, No. 3 Alabama is closing in on its second regular-season title of the previous three seasons. The Crimson Tide are additionally monitoring for this system’s first No. 1 seed for the NCAA Event in program historical past after erasing an early 8-point deficit to tug away late towards the Tigers. Alabama made an absurd 23 of 28 makes an attempt contained in the arc as they dominated within the paint with a 44-20 edge. The Crimson Tide’s greatest participant, freshman wing Brandon Miller, went 0 for 7 from past the arc and Alabama nonetheless beat a top quality opponent on the highway by double digits. That is scary.

Loser: Kentucky loses ‘must-win’ sport

Bear in mind when Kentucky received six of seven video games and appeared to have put its struggles prior to now? Properly, the Wildcats are formally again on the ropes after dropping 75-68 at Georgia. CBS Sports activities Bracketology Knowledgeable Jerry Palm described the sport as a “must-win” for UK. As a substitute, it turned the Wildcats’ second straight loss, leaving them preventing for his or her NCAA Event lives with only a month to go till Choice Sunday. To be truthful, CJ Fredrick and Sahvir Wheeler missed the sport because of damage. Even nonetheless, UK misplaced with a beginning lineup that included the reigning nationwide participant of the 12 months and two five-star freshmen. There’s little excuse for a gifted UK group to be taking Quad 2 losses this late within the season. Simply six regular-season video games stay for the Wildcats they usually want one other run to keep away from a disastrous ending to a maddening season.

Winner: Texas refuses to remain down

You simply cannot preserve this Texas group down. West Virginia actually failed in its try because the Mountaineers’ latest run of high quality play got here to a screeching halt in a 94-60 loss to the No. 5 Longhorns. By eviscerating WVU – the Mountaineers dedicated 20 turnovers resulting in 32 Texas factors – the Longhorns prevented dropping consecutive video games for the primary time and remained the one Large 12 group that has not misplaced two video games in a row at any level. Between the dismissal of coach Chris Beard and the gauntlet of Large 12 play, you’ll suppose that cracks in Texas’ basis may need proven in some unspecified time in the future. They haven’t, and the Longhorns stay in solo possession of first within the nation’s hardest league.

Loser: Tennessee loses on one other buzzer beater

Assume your group had a nasty week? Go take a look at what occurred to No. 6 Tennessee, as a result of it might make you are feeling higher. The Volunteers misplaced on a buzzer beater at Vanderbilt on Wednesday night time and did it once more Saturday in an 86-85 loss to Missouri. Vols’ guard Santiago Vescovi missed two free throws with 4.2 seconds left together with his group forward 85-83. As a result of a lane violation was known as on Tennessee throughout the second try, it allowed Missouri to take the ball out of bounds. DeAndre Gholston took a number of dribbles and let a deep 3-pointer fly. It hit nothing however web, sending Mizzou’s bench flooding on the ground to have fun a signature win for this system below first-year coach Dennis Gates. The Vols battled again from a 17-point deficit to take command late, making all of it they extra painful that they could not maintain on. Tennessee has now dropped three of its final 4 with two of them coming in essentially the most excruciating trend possible. 

Winner: North Carolina will get proper

Few groups wanted a victory Saturday greater than North Carolina, and the Tar Heels made an announcement of their 91-71 win over Clemson. UNC led by as a lot as 25 within the second half as its starring trio of Armando Bacot, Caleb Love and RJ Davis mixed for 59 factors. The Tar Heels entered averaging simply 6.6 made 3-pointers, which was 272nd nationally. However they tied a season-high with 15 towards the Tigers as Love and Davis mixed to shoot 10 of 19 from behind the arc. The chemistry of the 2 guards was been known as into query because the Tar Heels slid to the final group within the NCAA Event in Palm’s Bracketology in latest days. However they posted a message of concord placing rumors to relaxation on Thursday and delivered with a dominant outing in a must-win state of affairs towards Clemson.

Loser: Clemson is fading

Clemson began 18-4 (10-1 ACC) and held a commanding edge within the league standings. However after Saturday’s blowout loss, the Tigers have dropped three straight and at the moment are wanting up at Pittsburgh and Virginia within the league standings. Clemson shall be preventing for an NCAA Event bid down the stretch after getting into the day as one of many “First 4 Out” in Palm’s Bracketology. Fortunately, video games towards lowly Florida State and Louisville are up subsequent for coach Brad Brownell’s struggling squad.

Portland State’s Isaiah Johnson hit one of many most ridiculous game-winning buzzer beaters you’ll ever see to raise the Vikings to an 88-87 win over Northern Arizona. Johnson redirected the ball off the backboard and thru the ring following a full-court inbound move from Hunter Woods with 0.4 seconds left. Making issues even nuttier, the shot got here after a go-ahead 3-pointer from NAU’s Liam Lloyd that appeared like it could be the sport’s decisive shot. Johnson had different plans.

Winner: Measurement emerges for Kansas

The Achilles’ heel of this reigning champion Kansas group all season has been its propensity to show the ball over and its measurement – or lack thereof – within the frontcourt. However with Dajuan Harris enjoying his greatest ball as KU’s lead guard of late and seemingly answering the primary query mark, KU seems to have settled its second drawback spot with the emergence of true freshman Ernest Udeh Jr. Udeh performed a season-high 17 minutes on the highway at Oklahoma in KU’s 78-55 win Saturday and was a difference-maker down low, including eight factors on an ideal 4 for 4 taking pictures, 4 boards and a pair of blocks. KU has performed by its guards and wings all season and rode KJ Adams as its main huge in small-ball lineups, however the emergence of Udeh right into a authentic inside presence opens up the potential for this Jayhawks group to be extra full – and extra deadly – at simply the precise time. 

Loser: Rutgers offense will get caught

No. 24 Rutgers led for almost all of the primary half on the highway at Illinois however its offense bought slowed down within the muck for an enormous chunk of time within the second half that precipitated its eventual demise vs. the Combating Illini in a 69-60 loss. The Scarlet Knights had a drought that spanned greater than 10 minutes within the second half by which they not solely didn’t hit a area objective or free throw, however didn’t rating in any respect, giving up in that span a 19-0 Illini run that wound up deciding the sport.

Winner: Creighton driving report wave

No. 23 Creighton received its eighth straight sport on Saturday with a 56-53 victory over No. 21 UConn. It is the longest Large East profitable streak for the Bluejays since they joined the convention for the 2013-14 season, and it solely reinforces how harmful this group may very well be in March. A six-game dropping streak over late November and the primary half of December coincided with an sickness for star middle Ryan Kalkbrenner. That dropping streak drove down the inventory value on the Bluejays. However since Kalkbrenner’s return, Creighton is 11-2. The group’s solely losses in that span got here within the two video games by which the opponent made extra free throws. The Bluejays are obsessive about avoiding fouls, and the philosophy paid off once more Saturday as UConn tried only one free throw within the second half.

Loser: Windfall takes tough loss

No. 20 Windfall entered the day among the many group of 4 Large East title contenders with simply three league losses and was favored by 4.5 factors at Madison Sq. Backyard towards a St. John’s group that had misplaced 5 of its final six video games. But it surely was the Pink Storm who got here to play contained in the Mecca of Basketball because the Friars shot a season-low 33.3% in a 73-68 loss. Windfall closes with 4 of its closing six video games at house and may have an opportunity to play its method again into the league title dialog. However after a poor efficiency Saturday, the Friars shall be enjoying catch up within the Large East race.

Loser: Duke will get jobbed vs. Virginia

As time expired in regulation between Duke and No. 8 Virginia, the rating tied at 58-all, officers in Charlottesville, Virginia, known as Reece Beekman for an unlawful contact foul that may ship Duke freshman Kyle Filipowski to the road to doubtlessly win the sport for the Blue Devils in regulation. However after a evaluation of the play, officers overturned the foul name and as an alternative dominated that the unlawful contact – regardless of Filipowski getting the shot off earlier than the horn – got here after the ultimate buzzer sounded.

You be the choose.

Filipowski as much as that time was 0 of 1 from the free throw line and he completed 0 of two for the sport after lacking one other in OT, so it is no lock he’d have received the sport for Duke. However getting into the sport he was hitting 77% from the charity stripe, third-highest amongst these on Duke’s group who’ve taken a minimum of 20 makes an attempt on the season.

The reversal might very effectively have been the distinction within the sport for Duke because it went on to lose in OT 69-62. For Duke and Filipowski, it is one other painful controversy that comes simply weeks after a prolonged evaluation led to a no-call after a Virginia Tech participant inadvertently punched Filipowski within the throat. 

Duke additionally misplaced that sport. 

Winner: Baylor squeaks it out

No. 14 Baylor saved itself firmly within the Large 12 title race with a 72-68 win at No. 17 TCU. The Horned Frogs had been with out star guard Mike Miles, who’s on the mend from a knee damage, and the Bears almost blew it late. However Baylor survived even after a doubtlessly catastrophic turnover with eight seconds. So, yeah, this win wasn’t a factor of magnificence for the Bears. Finally, although, any highway win within the Large 12 is a treasured commodity, no matter how it’s obtained. Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer mixed for 51 factors to tempo Baylor as coach Scott Drew’s group continues to get elite guard play.

Loser: Michigan misses vital likelihood

Michigan and Indiana mixed to go scoreless for the ultimate 2:58 because the No. 18 Hoosiers squeaked out a 62-61 victory in a sport the Wolverines sorely wanted. Michigan led No. 18 Indiana by 11 within the first half and by seven with below 11 minutes whereas attempting so as to add some meat to its weak NCAA Event resume. However when the sport was on the road, the Wolverines went chilly. IU held Michigan scoreless for the ultimate 5:12, and it was factor because the Hoosiers could not rating both. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino mixed for 49, and nobody else had greater than 4 for the Hoosiers.

Winner: Cowboys make magic vanish at Hilton

Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum is understood for “Hilton Magic” and the No. 11 Cyclones had been undefeated within the venue till Saturday. Then Oklahoma State conquered the magic with a 64-56 victory to bolster its NCAA Event hopes. OK State entered as one of many “Final 4 In” in Palm’s Bracketology and left with its fifth straight victory. This group was largely written off after a 1-4 begin to Large 12 play, however the Pokes at the moment are 7-5 towards convention foes and clearly trending in the precise path on the proper time.