December 25, 2025
College Basketball
Kentucky Hits Their Stride
In college basketball, the Kentucky Wildcats extended their winning streak to four games with a 99 - 85 victory over Bellarmine, improving their record to 9 - 4 and maintaining their No. 21 position in the CBS Sports Top 25 ranking. However, the victory was bittersweet as standout point guard Jaland Lowe was sidelined again with a recurring shoulder injury that has caused him to miss seven of the team's first thirteen games. Lowe's health is a significant concern for the Wildcats, with his consistent presence in the lineup seen as a key factor in their potential for a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Villanova Beats Seton Hall
Meanwhile, the Villanova Wildcats secured a crucial 64 - 56 victory over Seton Hall in their first Big East conference game of the season. This win Marks a significant step for Villanova in building their NCAA Tournament resume, as it was their first victory in a Quad 1 game this season. The Wildcats' defense was instrumental in the win, holding Seton Hall to a season-low 56 points and limiting their effectiveness from beyond the arc. This victory propelled Villanova from 30th to 20th in the NET rankings, while Seton Hall dropped from 34th to 44th.
Scholastic News
The high school basketball landscape saw a significant shift as Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) claimed the top spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings for the fourth time this season. Their ascent to No. 1 comes after a dominant performance at the prestigious City of Palms Classic, where they defeated three nationally-ranked opponents to win the tournament for the first time. Senior Jordan Smith was named tournament MVP for his outstanding performance, averaging 31.3 points per game.
The tournament caused a major shakeup in the rankings, with several teams making significant moves. Principia (St. Louis, Mo.) jumped to the No. 2 spot after being previously unranked, and Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.) moved up to No. 9 after their victory at the 'Iolani Classic. The results of upcoming holiday tournaments are expected to further impact the national rankings.
-Sources: Parrish, G. (2025, December 24). Top 25 and 1: Kentucky wins fourth straight, but injury questions remain. CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-kentucky-jaland-lowe-injury-top-25-and-1/
Last night in college basketball: Villanova wins its 1st Big East battle. (2025, December 24). Fox Sports. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/last-night-college-basketball-villanova-wins-1st-big-east-battle
Divens, J. (2025, December 24). High school basketball: New team takes over top spot in MaxPreps Top 25 for fourth time in 2025-26. MaxPreps. https://www.maxpreps.com/news/IZy4opa60E0pjljb1tqPIA/high-school-basketball-new-team-takes-over-top-25-for-fourth-time-in-2025-26.htm