College basketball rankings have seen a significant shake-up as Duke claims the No. 1 spot, while St. John’s makes a remarkable entry into the top five. NCAA Tournament tickets are being secured in mid-major leagues, and power conference tournament brackets are taking shape. Across America, new stars are emerging and quickly becoming household names.
With March Madness in full swing, anticipation builds for the upcoming week. The unpredictability of college basketball is part of its charm. Just this past Saturday, SIU Edwardsville, known as SIUE, earned its first NCAA Tournament berth. Star guard Ray’Sean Taylor shone brightly, contributing 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in a decisive 69-48 victory over Southeast Missouri State during the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Game. Meanwhile, Auburn and Alabama faced off in what many are calling the game of the year.
Despite Sears scoring only nine points on 3-for-9 shooting, Alabama’s offense still managed an impressive 52% shooting percentage. What adjustments did the Tide make in this rematch to avenge their earlier home loss?
[Related: Mike DeCourcy’s latest NCAA Tournament projections]
Here are six noteworthy highlights from the weekend:
Zuby Ejiofor delivered a thrilling buzzer-beater for St. John’s during their road opener at Providence, completing a 16-point comeback that shifted the momentum of the Red Storm’s season. In another nail-biter against 20th-ranked Marquette, Ejiofor again showcased his talent with a last-second shot, leading to an 86-84 victory.
St. John’s impressive season continued as they matched a single-season record with 27 regular-season wins and tied last year’s UConn national championship team with a conference-record 18 league wins. RJ Luis, a strong contender for Big East Player of the Year, scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Kadary Richmond made headlines with the program’s first triple-double since Metta Sandiford-Artest in 1999. Coach Rick Pitino, recently appearing on “The Tonight Show,” has led the team to one of its finest seasons ever, positioning himself as a frontrunner for national Coach of the Year.
Mark Pope and Kentucky also made headlines, matching a college basketball record with their eighth top-15 win of the season by defeating Missouri 91-83 on Senior Day. Kentucky displayed its offensive prowess, with Otega Oweh scoring 22 points, Koby Brea adding 17 points from beyond the arc, and Andrew Carr contributing 16 points and 12 rebounds. Carr’s leadership is vital for this team, and with a healthy Lamont Butler, Kentucky is a team to watch as they head into the NCAA Tournament.
BYU is on a hot streak, winning eight consecutive games, fueled by standout performances from Richie Saunders and top draft prospect Egor Demin. However, the Big 12 remains dominated by coach Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars, who have steamrolled to a 19-1 record, clinching another outright regular-season title by four games. Houston’s remarkable consistency in Big 12 contests, with a 34-4 record over two years, is commendable.
Duke finished the ACC season with a stellar 19-1 record, securing the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Their win over North Carolina, which could keep the Tar Heels out of the NCAA Tournament, was marked by a balanced scoring attack, including standout performances from Cooper Flagg, who recorded 15 points, nine rebounds, six steals, and four blocks. With Coach Jon Scheyer at the helm, Duke has positioned itself as a strong contender for the championship in San Antonio.
As the bubble watch heats up, Duke’s victory has put North Carolina’s 1-11 record in Quad 1 at risk of excluding them from the NCAA Tournament. Indiana’s recent 66-60 win over Ohio State may have solidified their Big Dance ticket, marking nine wins in Quad 2 for the Hoosiers. Ohio State, with a NET of 35 and six Quad 1 wins, remains a strong candidate. Meanwhile, Boise State’s loss to Colorado State saw Nique Clifford shine with a career-high 36 points in a Mountain West Tournament-clinching victory. Xavier has also made strides with a 12-3 record, clinching the No. 4 seed in the Big East Tournament after a strong performance on Senior Day.
Here’s the updated top 25 rankings:
1. Duke (28-3)
2. Houston (27-4)
3. Auburn (27-4)
4. Florida (27-4)
5. St. John’s (27-4)
6. Alabama (24-7)
7. Michigan State (26-5)
8. Tennessee (25-6)
9. Texas Tech (24-7)
10. Clemson (26-5)
11. Maryland (24-7)
12. Louisville (25-6)
13. BYU (23-8)
14. Iowa State (23-8)
15. Memphis (26-5)
16. Wisconsin (23-8)
17. Kentucky (21-10)
18. Saint Mary’s (27-4)
19. Texas A&M (22-9)
20. Missouri (21-10)
21. Illinois (20-11)
22. Purdue (21-10)
23. Oregon (22-8)
24. UC San Diego (28-4)
25. Drake (29-3)
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