Tuesday’s college basketball schedule was considered one of the best non-conference days of the season. With close matches, upsets and drama in marquee clashes, it’s safe to say it lived up to the hype. No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Illinois were all in action against quality opponents on the road. And two of the three were defeated.
Florida came away with an 81-72 road victory over foe Florida State to improve to 2-0, while Duke received a wake-up call with a 79-73 upset loss to No. 5 Michigan State in the Champions Classic. The Fighting Illini weren’t so lucky in their road game at No. 16 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders took a 20-point first-half lead and held off an Illinois rally behind 20 points from Cruz Davis in Texas Tech’s 74-68 victory.
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Not all teams playing Tuesday came away in great shape after a victory.
Michael Malone’s North Carolina team led by just two points at halftime against Wyoming before surging in the second half for a 76-63 victory. The Tar Heels also received a scare in their season opener against Western Carolina last week before pulling away in the final minutes.
After an intense day of basketball, here are the biggest winners and losers on the list.
Winner: Jeremy Fears Jr. shines against Duke
Fears were nothing short of brilliant against Duke. He finished with a double-double (18 points and 11 assists). The way he controls the pace of the game and runs the offense, there aren’t many players in this sport that do it as well as him. Fears is the best point guard in America. The way he prepares his teammates to look good in transition and in half-court sets is unmatched. Scares showed why he was CBS Sports’ preseason POTY. – Cameron Salerno
Loser: Duke receives a wake-up call
Tuesday should serve as a wake-up call for Duke. Not only did Michigan State beat Duke, but it also dominated from start to finish in the most impressive victory of any team in college basketball this season. The Blue Devils couldn’t buy a bucket in this game. Part of it was shot selection and the other part was Michigan State’s defense, which was so good and so physical that Duke couldn’t get a clean look.
The bad (maybe the good) news? Duke’s schedule gets a lot tougher over the next month. Duke faces UConn and Illinois this month. Duke will certainly be tested this season. This game should serve as a first measure for Scheyer’s team. — CS
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Loser: Bad vibes for Kentucky already?
Not only did Kentucky look disjointed and outmatched, but they also looked timid and disinterested compared to the smooth, well-connected Jayhawks. The bench lacked energy, and it was hard not to consider the “what if” factor of Tyran Stokes. Kentucky heavily pursued the Kansas freshman phenom from Louisville. They lost that recruiting battle and lost to a great player who brought strong vibes to the game. Stokes played with an obvious intensity and joy that was clearly lacking on the Kentucky side. It wasn’t as bad as Kentucky’s 94-59 neutral-site loss to Gonzaga last season. But this should be a wake-up call. At the start of a crucial third season for coach Mark Pope, UK have a lot to figure out. -David Cobb
Winner: Texas Tech records huge win over Illinois
You could hear how loud the Texas Tech environment was while sitting at home with the volume on your TV turned up. The atmosphere inside the arena was electric. Texas Tech recorded one of the most impressive wins of the season, beating No. 3 Illinois. A rematch of this game sometime in March would be great when All-Americans on both sides (Illinois’ David Mirkovic and Texas Tech’s JT Toppin) are cleared to play. Still, Texas Tech should receive a sizable boost in next week’s AP Poll after knocking off the No. 3 team in the nation. — CS
Winner: Tyrant Stokes rose
When the top-rated freshman hits jump shots, Stokes is nearly unstoppable. It’s early in the cycle, but Stokes appears to be head and shoulders above the rest in the early talk of the 2027 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-8 bullyball wing has been phenomenal, totaling 23 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Kentucky had absolutely no answer for this big buddy. –Isaac Trotter
Loser: North Carolina scares Wyoming
For the second time in three games, it was scary for North Carolina. In Malone’s debut at UNC, the Tar Heels played a close game with Western Carolina before pulling away down the stretch. Against Wyoming, UNC led by just two points at halftime before outscoring the Cowboys by double digits in the second half. With a game against Georgia looming at home later this week, the Tar Heels will have to play better or risk not coming away with a win. — CS
Winner: Florida takes victory over another in-state rival
Florida played a C+ game against Miami last week and came away with a double-digit win. Tuesday’s showdown against foe Florida State was much more hostile than the very pro-Gators crowd Todd Golden’s team played in front of in the season opener against Miami in Tampa. FSU made things very interesting in the second half, cutting the lead to four with less than seven minutes remaining. However, Florida was able to close out the game thanks to another double-double (21 points and 10 rebounds) from star forward Thomas Haugh.
Florida State played against some extremely tough teams in the first year of Luke Loucks’ tenure at his alma mater. This game showed that the Seminoles will really make some noise in the ACC this season. — CS
Winner: Vanderbilt makes a statement against Memphis
Vanderbilt made a statement with a 105-81 victory over Memphis, which is off to a surprising 2-0 start under coach Penny Hardaway. Washington State transfer Ace Glass III knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points. Meanwhile, preseason All-American Tyler Tanner scored 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Vanderbilt is now 3-0, with double-digit wins over Wake Forest and Memphis on the record. Memphis started the season with an upset win over Iowa State, but was unable to defeat Vanderbilt on the road. — CS
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