January 8, 2026
College Basketball
College Basketball News
A major storyline in college basketball is the dwindling number of undefeated teams. As of January 8, 2026, only six teams remain without a loss: Michigan, Arizona, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Nebraska, and Miami (Ohio). Michigan has been particularly impressive, achieving a historic feat by defeating three consecutive ranked opponents by at least 30 points. This has made them a favorite to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament. However, the path to perfection is fraught with challenges, as evidenced by Michigan's narrow two-point victory over Penn State.
The first full week of conference play has also brought significant excitement and upsets. Kansas staged a remarkable comeback against TCU, overcoming a 15-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining to win in overtime. This victory was crucial for the Jayhawks to avoid their worst conference start in 43 years. In another notable game, Penn State, despite a recent string of losses and the absence of their leading scorer, nearly defeated the undefeated Michigan team, losing by only two points. These games highlight the unpredictable and chaotic nature of the conference play as teams vie for position heading into March.
High School Basketball
High School Basketball News
In the high school basketball world, a significant story has emerged from Chicago. An investigation by the Chicago Public Schools' Office of the Inspector General revealed that two basketball players at the prestigious Whitney Young Magnet High School had been improperly enrolled, as they were living in the suburbs rather than within the city limits. This is the second consecutive year that a prominent Chicago high school basketball program has been the subject of such an investigation. The OIG has recommended that the school district seek to recover nonresident tuition from the families involved.
On a more positive note, a noteworthy achievement was celebrated as Cathedral Prep in Erie, Pennsylvania. Two teammates, Michael Thompson and Nando Mirarchi, both surpassed the 1,000-career-point milestone. Mirarchi reached the mark in December, and Thompson joined him on January 6th in a rivalry game victory over McDowell. This accomplishment solidifies their place as one of the top scoring duos in the school's history.
Cobb, D. (2026, January 8). College basketball's undefeated teams: Michigan, Arizona among teams yet to lose. CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-undefeated-teams-arizona-michigan-iowa-state-vanderbilt-nebraska-miami-ohio/
Lopresti, M. (2026, January 7). First full week of conference play delivers with wild Tuesday of Men's hoops. NCAA.com. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2026-01-07/first-full-week-conference-play-delivers-wild-tuesday-mens-hoops
O'Brien, M. (2026, January 7). Two basketball players attended Young while living in the suburbs, CPS' Office of the Inspector General says. Chicago Sun-Times. https://chicago.suntimes.com/high-school-basketball/2026/01/07/whitney-young-basketball-cps-suburbs-inspector-general
Reisenweber, T. (2026, January 7). Prep boys basketball beats McDowell behind two 1,000-point corers. Erie Times-News. https://www.goerie.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2026/01/07/prep-boys-basketball-beats-mcdowell-behind-two-1000-point-scorers/87990035007/