January 6, 2026
College Hoops
A Wild Weekend of Upsets and Surprises
The college basketball landscape was shaken this past weekend as several traditional powerhouses suffered significant losses, while an unexpected team continues its improbable undefeated run. Conference play is now in full swing, and the intensity is ramping up across the nation.
Blue Bloods Stumble
It was a tough weekend for some of the college basketball's most storied programs. Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina all fell in crucial conference matchups. The Wildcats (9 - 5) were soundly defeated by No. 14 Alabama 89 - 74 to open their SEC schedule. In the Big 12, No. 17 Kansas, despite the return of star freshman Darryn Peterson, was upset by UCF 81 - 75. Meanwhile, No. 12 North Carolina saw its seven-game winning streak snapped in a 97 - 83 loss to SMU, a game in which their normally stout defense allowed a season-high in points.
The Tar Heels, who entered the game with the ACC's second-best defense, had no answer for an SMU team that shot an impressive 14 - 27 from three-point range. Not all blue bloods faltered, however, as No. 6 Duke managed to survive a scare on the road, defeating Florida State 91 - 87.
The Unlikely Undefeated: Miami (Ohio)
In a season of surprises, perhaps none is bigger than the emergence of the Miami (Ohio) Red Hawks. The team has stormed to a 15 - 0 start, making them one of only six remaining undefeated teams in Division I basketball. This marks a remarkable turnaround for a program that had endured 13 losing seasons in the previous 14 years. The Red Hawks' latest victory was a hard-fought 76 - 73 win over a strong Akron team, a game that saw a crowd of over 4,000 fans pack the arena - a stark contrast to the empty stands of just a few years ago. Despite their perfect record, the Red Hawks remain unranked in the major polls, largely due to a weak non-conference schedule. However, with recent wins over quality opponents, Miami (Ohio) is starting to prove they are a team to be taken seriously.
Rankings Roundup
The weekend's results have caused a shakeup in the national rankings. Nebraska (14 - 0) has jumped to No. 12 in Casey Jacobsen's rankings after a 58 - 56 victory over Michigan State. The Cornhusker's perfect season continues, fueled by a stingy defense and timely shooting. In contrast, North Carolina and Louisville have both tumbled in the rankings after their respective losses. The Tar Heels dropped to No. 17, while the Cardinals, who have been struggling without their key player Mikel Brown, fell to No. 21.
Scholastic Hoops
Tournament Thrillers
The high school basketball scene was just as exciting, with major tournaments and top-ranked teams making headlines across the country.
Indiana Action
In Indiana, the nation's hotbed for high school basketball, several top teams were in action. Fishers, the top-ranked team in Class 4A, remained undefeated at 10 - 0 after winning their holiday tournament with an 81 - 60 victory over New Albany. In a battle of top-10 teams, NO. 7 Carmel staged a dramatic comeback, erasing a 17-point deficit to defeat No. 1 Cathedral 63 - 62 and keep their own perfect season alive.
SoCal Scene
Out in Southern California, the top of the rankings remained largely unchanged. Sierra Canyon (13 - 1) holds the top spot, with Redondo Union (16 - 3) and Santa Margarita (19 - 2) close behind. A major showdown is looming as Santa Margarita prepares to take on No. 4 St. John Bosco this Friday.
-Sources: Salerno, C., Trotter, I., & Boone, K. (2026, January 4). College basketball scores, winners and losers: Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, UCLA fall on bad day for blue bloods. CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-scores-winners-and-losers-kentucky-kansas-unc-north-carolina-blue-bloods/
Lopresti, M. (2026, January 4). How Miami (Ohio) became college basketball's unknown unbeaten team. NCAA.com https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2026-01-04/how-miami-ohio-became-college-basketballs-unknown-unbeaten-team
Jacobsen, C. (2026, January 4). Men's College Basketball Rankings: Nebraska Jumps, While UNC, Louisville Tumble. Fox Sports. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/college-basketball-men-top-25-rankings-nebraska-unc-louisville-michigan-state
Neddenriep, K. (2026, January 4). High school basketball takeaways from Saturday high school basketball. Indianapolis Star. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/01/04/high-school-basketball-takeaways-from-saturday-high-school-basketball/88014452007/
Sondheimer, E. (2026, January 4). The Times' top 25 high school basketball rankings. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2026-01-04/los-angeles-times-top-25-boys-basketball-rankings-week-7