Continuing coverage of College Basketball

November POTD | December POTD

January 31, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Sixth-ranked Gonzaga hosted its primary challenger in the West Coast Conference, St. Mary’s Gaels Saturday night in Spokane Washington, erasing a four-point halftime deficit to come away with a resounding 73-65 victory, keeping hold of first place n the conference with a 10-0 record.

Graham Ike was once again a standout performer, leading all scorers with 30 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including three of five from 3-point range, canning all five of his free throws.

Ike, a 6’9” senior forward, snapped up four boards to go with a steal and one block.

The Bulldogs fell behind by six points in the first four minutes of the second half, 38-44, but then responded with an 18-4 run that secured the lead for good at the 10:12 mark, at 56-48, punctuated by a pair of 3-pointers by Emmanuel Innocenti and a thunderous dunk by Ike.

Once the Zags had the lead, Ike finished off the Gaels, scoring 10 points over the final 9:21.

Gonzaga is now 22-1 overall, their lone loss to Michigan back in December. They’ve since won 15 straight, including a 89-77 victory over Santa Clara, currently in second place at 10-1 in the WCC.

The Bulldogs have a pair of road games upcoming, at Portland on Wednesday, 2/4, and Oregon State, Saturday, 2/7.

January 30, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Th stars came out in Friday night’s showdown between #3 Michigan and #7 Michigan State, with Jeremy Fears netting a career-high 31 points for the hosting Spartans, but Michigan’s defense and a double-double from Yaxel Lendeborg decided an 83-71 victory for the Wolverines, improving their record to 20-1 and 10-1 in the Big Ten.

Lendeborg scored 26 points on six of 13 shots, but was only 1-for-4 from 3-point land. He made up for his poor long-range touch by knocking down 13 of 15 free throws and snagging 12 rebounds.

Fears also struggled from behind the arc, making only one of five, but he too was on the mark at the charity stripe, canning 12 of 14. He finished with seven assists and five rebounds. Friday’s effort was two points better than his previous outing of 29 points in an 88-79 overtime win at Rutgers Tuesday.

Lendeborg, the 6’9” senior is averaging 14.7 points and 7.2 boards, helping the Wolverines to sole possession of first place in the conference, having handed #5 Nebraska (20-1, 9-1) their first loss of the season this past Tuesday. Friday’s win - their sixth straight - put them 1/2 game up on the Cornhuskers and #9 Illinois (18-3, 9-1) and a full game ahead of the Spartans (19-3, 9-2).

Michigan gats a bit of a breather, hosting Penn State on Thursday, February 5th. Michigan State heads to Minnesota on Wednesday.

January 29, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Senior guard Quinn Denker tossed in a career-high 35 points Thursday night as the Northern Colorado Bears took down the visiting Idaho Vandals, 91-83, in Big Sky conference action.

Denker, a native of San José, California, was 10-for-17 from the field, including 3-for-5 on 3-pointers. At the foul line, he cashed in 12 of 14. With 10 assists, Denker recorded his third double-double of the season. He pulled down seven rebounds in a stellar all-around effort. Denker leads the Bears in scoring (18.4) and assists (7.0)

The win was just the second in Big Sky play for the Bears this season. They are 2-7 in the conference and tied for last place with Northern Arizona. Their victory snapped a five-game losing streak ahead of their next opponent, Eastern Washington, visiting on Saturday, January 31.

January 28, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Kingston Flemings is one of the best of this season’s awesome freshman class. On Wednesday night, Flemings led all scorers with 27 points to lead #10 Houston to a 79-70 road win at TCU, getting the Cougars back on the winning track after their 90-86 loss at Texas Tech on Saturday.

Flemings played 35 minutes, making eight of 16 shots from the field (2-for-3 on 3s) and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line, adding five rebounds and five assists. The 6’4’ guard from San Antonio, Texas leads the Cougars in scoring (17.5), assists (5.4), and shooting percentage (52.4%)

Houston took a 43-30 lead into the break, but the Horned Frogs closed the gap to two twice during the second half, but never got any closer. An 8-0 run in which TCU didn’t score for nearly four minutes put the Cougars up by 10 (64-54) with 5:26 left. The teams essentially traded scores the remainder of the game after that. He scored a career-high 42 points in the loss at Texas Tech.

The Cougars hit the hardwood next on Saturday, January 31, when they host the Cincinnati Bearcats.

January 27, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Competition in the Big Ten is fierce, especially on the road, as Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans were reminded of Tuesday night in Piscataway, New Jersey.

That’s where #7 Michigan State needed overtime and a career-high 29 points from Jeremy Fears to notch their seventh straight win.

Fears scored 27 of his 29 in the second half and overtime, and also dished nine assists in Michigan State’s 88-79 overtime win over Rutgers. Though the Scarlett Knights are just 2-8 in conference play they are a scrappy bunch and led the Spartans most of the game.

Fears, the 6’2” sophomore guard from Joliet Illinois, didn’t have a great shooting night, going 6-for-12 overall but made only one of four 3-point attempts. He did, however, draw many fouls and canned 16 of 17 free throws. Fears is averaging 8.9 assists per game, which would normally lead the conference, if not the nation, but he’s often overshadowed by Purdue’s Braden Smith even though their stats are nearly identical. The two are currently the nation’s assist leaders. Smith is averaging 9.0 per game. Purdue suffered its third straight setback Tuesday, upended at Indiana, 72-67.

#3 Michigan won at #5 Nebraska on Wednesday, sending the Cornhuskers to their first loss of the season. The Wolverines, Spartans and Cornhuskers are all now 9-1, leading the conference, with Illinois a half game back at 8-1, Purdue has dropped into fifth place at 7-3. Michigan State hosts Michigan on Friday, January 30th.

January 26, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Braden Burries led all scorers with 29 points and make a key defensive play in the final seconds as top-ranked Arizona won at #13 BYU, 86-83 Monday night at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.

Burries made seven of 13 shots from the field, which included a pair of 3-pointers. He knocked down 13 of 14 from the foul line and added five rebounds, four assists and three steals. The 6’4” freshman guard also came up with the defensive stop of the game, blocking a close in shot by BYU’s Robert Wright III, collecting the ball and taking a foul, leading to two decisive made free throws.

BYU had trailed by as many as 19 points, but cut the deficit to one with a 12-2 run in the final 1:01. The Cougars were down 84-83 when Burries made his defensive play with just three seconds to play. BYU failed to get off a good shot as time expired.

The win left the Wildcats at 21-0 and BYU at 17-3. Arizona leads the Big 12 with an 8-0 mark while BYU is 5-2. Arizona stays in-state for their next game, at Arizona State, on Saturday, January 31, while BYU travels to play #14 Kansas the same day.

January 25, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd and USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara each scored 29 points, but the Trojans outlasted the Badgers, 73-71, snapping Wisconsin’s four-game winning streak.

Baker-Mazara canned five 3s in 11 tries and was 10-for-22 overall, adding four free throws, four boards and three assists. His 8-foot floater put USC up four with 46 seconds left to play, but Boyd countered with a pair of free throws before USC’s Jerry Easter II knocked down a pair of freebies. Wisconsin’s Nolan Winter hit a jumper at the buzzer for the final score.

Hailing from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, 6’7” fifth-year senior, Baker-Mazara, leads the Trojans in scoring at 19.2 points per game. He scored a career-high 34 points in a 107-106 overtime win against Troy in the Maui Invitational in November. After a season at Duquesne, Baker-Mazare transferred to Auburn for two years before arriving at USC for the 2024-25 season.

The Trojans improved to 4-5 in the Big Ten and are 15-5 overall. Wisconsin slipped to 6-3 in conference play and is 14-6 complete.

The Big Ten is loaded and could send as many as 10 teams to the NCAA Tournament in March. Both the Badgers and Trojans are expected to make the Big Dance. USC heads to Iowa while the Badgers host Minnesota on Wednesday, the 28th.

January 24, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

There were more than the usual share of freshman highlight real performances in Saturday’s coast-to-coast hoops action.

Cameron Boozer threw down a customary 32 points in #5 Duke’s 90-64 win over Wake Forest.

#6 Houston’s Kingston Flemings scored 42 in a losing effort to #12Texas Tech, 90-86.

AJ Dybantsa tossed down 43 in #13 BYU’s 91-78 win over Utah.

They were all outdone by the relatively unknown, Keaton Wagler of Illinois, who not only set the Fighting Illini freshman scoring record, but also set a new mark for an opponent at Purdue’s Mackey Arena, with 46 points in #11 Illinois’ 88-82 victory at #4 Purdue.

Wagler was simply unstoppable, hitting 13 of 17 shots from the field, which included a stunning 9-for-11 effort from beyond the arc. The 6’6” freshman cashed in 11 of 13 from the charity stripe and rested only one minute in the win.

Hailing from Shawnee, Kansas, Wagler, who is scoring 17.5 points per game for the rapidly-improving Fighting Illini, put Illinois on a path toward a high seed in the NCAA March tourney.

Purdue’s Braden Smith did his best to bolster senior pride, scoring 27 with 12 assists as he drives ever closer to Bobby Hurley’s all-time assist record.

The Illini host Washington on Thursday, 1/29, and then head for a showdown with #7 Nebraska, one of just three undefeated teams in the U.S. (Arizona, Miami-OH), on Sunday, February 1. With Purdue now having lost two straight and Houston’s defeat at the hands of Texas Tech, Monday’s Top 25 is going to see some changes.

January 23, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Ishan Sharma hit his first four shots - all 3-pointers - propelling St. Louis to a 37-11 lead in the first 12 minutes, to lead the Billikens to a 97-62 romp at St Bonaventure Friday night in Western New York.

St. Louis led wire-to-wire and held a 32-point lead at the break, cruising to their 13th straight win.

Sharma, who came in off the bench at the 13:57 mark, scored 12 points in just over three minutes and finished with a career-high 29 points on 10-for-14 shooting, canning nine of 12 from beyond the arc.

A 6’5” sophomore from Milton, Ontario, Sharma’s effort was easily his best. He had scored in double figures just six times prior, with 16 his previous high. Sharma had seen limited playing time as a freshman at Virginia last season.

The Billikens have emerged as the class of the mid-majors with a 19-1 record and a perfect 7-0 mark in the Atlantic-10 conference. St.Louis hosts George Washington on Tuesday, January 27 and then Dayton, next Friday, the 30th.

January 22, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

6’6” senior forward, Chris Carroll threw down a career-high 34 points, leading the Youngstown State Penguins over the visiting Green Bay Phoenix, 88-81 Thursday night in Youngstown, Ohio.

Carroll, who hails from Tallahassee, Florida, hit 11 of 16 shots from the field, which included 8 of 12 3-pointers. He made all four free throws and snagged seven rebounds. Carroll has scored in double figures in 20 of Youngstown State’s 21 games this season.

The Penguins are unlikely to make it to the NCAA tournament, coming out of the Horizon League, as they are just 3-7 in conference play this season and are 10-11 overall. Their next game is Saturday, January 24, when they host Milwaukee.

January 21, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

With just under eight minutes left in the first half, Maryland found itself leading the #11 Fighting Illini, 26-22, but Illinois blew open the game by closing out the half with a 25-4 run and a 47-30 lead at the break en route to an 89-70 victory.

Andrej Stojakovic led all scorers with 30 points on 9-for-18 shooting, including making four of seven from 3-point range. The 6’7” junior canned all eight of his free throws and collected nine rebounds, while on the defensive end holding the Terrapins’ leading scorer, David Coit, to 15 points.

Stojakovic’s effort was a season high in scoring. His career best came in last season’s ACC tournament, when he threw down 37 as a player for Cal in a 78-73 losing effort to Stanford. Stojakovic played his freshman year at Stanford, transferred to Cal and joined the Illini via the portal after the 2024-25 season.

The Illini are now 16-2 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten, tied with Purdue, Michigan, and Michigan State in second place, all chasing 8-0 Nebraska. Illinois faces a touch test on Saturday, January 24, when they play at #4 Purdue.

January 20, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Joshua Jefferson recorded his second triple-double of the season, guiding Iowa State to an 87-57 victory over visiting UCF Tuesday night in Ames, Iowa.

Jefferson scored 17 points, 10 boards and a career-high 12 assists. He was 6-for-11 from the field with one 3-pointer, and was 4-for-7 from the foul line, adding four steals and a a block for good measure. His first triple double came in an 80-59 win over West Virginia on January 2nd. The 6’9” senior from Las Vegas is averaging 17.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists

The blowout, 30-point winning margin the result of a good start for the Cyclones, tough defense and some impressive runs. Iowa State raced off to a 25-12 start over the first nine minutes and closed out the first half with a 13-0 run in the last 5:45. In the second frame, the Knights managed to close to within 15 points, trailing, 55-40, until the Cyclones outscored them 13-3, essentially putting the game away midway through the second half.

Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic led all scorers with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. The Cyclones improved to 17-2 with the win, which followed back-to-back losses at Kansas and Cincinnati. Next up for the Cyclones is a road game at Oklahoma State on Saturday, January 24.

January 19, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Inside the 3-point line, Cornell’s Jake Fiegen made all nine shots and was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc for a game-high 31 points, leading to a Big Red road win at Brown, 89-67, Monday night in Providence, Rhode Island.

Fiegen, a 6’4” senior guard from Wilmette, Illinois, added nine rebounds and did the bulk of his scoring in the paint, hitting nine shots from inside of five feet on layups and put-backs. A consistent scorer, Fiegen averages 16.8 points per game and is also deadly accurate, hitting at a rate of 55.3% from the field.

Cornell’s win was their first Ivy League triumph of the season against three losses. They play at 3-1 Harvard on Saturday, January 24.

January 18, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

After six unsuccessful tries, the Maryland Terrapins got their first Big Ten win of the season, downing Penn State, 96-73, Sunday at College Park, Maryland. With a career-high 43 points, David Coit spearheaded the effort, making good on 14 of 23 shots from the field, including 9-for-15 from 3-point range. Coit added six free throws on a special night for the senior guard.

Coit, who had already scored 30 or more three times this season, surpassed his previous career mark of 41, when the Terps won at Mount St. Mary’s on November 19. Coit played his first two seasons at Northern Illinois, where he was a consistent scorer in the Mid-American conference. After a season at Kansas, where he was used mostly as a sub, Coit transferred to Maryland and got back into the starting rotation. He’s delivered with a team-leading 15.4 scoring average.

The win brought Maryland to 1-6 in conference play, sending the Nittany Lions to an 0-7 start in the Big Ten. Next up for the Terrapins is a ticket to Illinois on Wednesday, January 21, to meet the #13 Fighting Illini.

January 17, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

After knocking off #14 North Carolina on Wednesday, 95-90, Stanford Cardinal players looked to take their game up another notch when they hosted #6 Duke Saturday at Maples Pavillion.

Cameron Boozer and the Blue Devils’ defense quickly squelched their dreams as Duke thrashed Stanford, 80-50.

Boozer scored a game-high 30 points and the Cardinal was held to just 35% shooting for the game, scoring just 19 first half points. Boozer scored nine points early as the Blue Devils never trailed, opening up a 15-4 bulge and were never threatened. Boozer notched his ninth double-double of the season with 30 points and 14 rebounds. The nation’s third-leading scorer (23.2) went 12-for-17 from the field and made two of three from beyond the arc, adding four free throws and three assists in 30 minutes on the court.

The Blue Devils improved to 17-1 with their sixth straight win following their lone, one-point loss to Texas Tech. Duke next hosts Wake Forest on Saturday, January 24.

January 16, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Accuracy and efficiency were the keys for Kansas as freshman Darryn Peterson scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the first half and Fiory Bidunga added 23 and 11 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks to an 80-62 home win over Baylor, Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.

Peterson went 11-for-13 from the field, and was perfect inside the 3-point arc, outside of which he went 2-for-4. Bidunga notched his sixth double-double on 11-for-14 shooting with 11 rebounds.

Kansas opened the game with a 9-0 run, but the Bears rallied to a 37-36 lead with 2:51 left in the first half. Kansas countered with a 7-0 to lead, 43-37, at the break and gradually pulled away in the second half as Bidunga dominated in the paint.

The Jayhawks improved to 13-5 and 3-2 in the Big 12, dropping Baylor to 11-6 and 1-4 in the conference. Kansas plays next on Tuesday, January 20, when they travel to meet the Colorado Buffaloes.

January 15, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Northern Kentucky continues to grind through its Horizon League schedule, winning for the fourth time in its last five games thanks to a career-high 35 points from L. J. Wells.

On Thursday, the Norse ripped Detroit Mercy, 96-71, on their home court in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

Opening the game with a 10-0 run, the Norse led the entire game, closing out the first half with a 16-3 surge for a 52-37 bulge at the break. Wells scored 20 of his 35 points in the second half as the Norse cruised to victory.

Wells made 11 of 15 shots, including two of three from 3-point range, canned 11 of 13 free throws and snagged seven rebounds. A 6’8” senior from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Wells leads the team with a 57.8% shooting percentage and is averaging 14 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He’s played all four years for Northern Kentucky.

The Norse remain home for their next game, Saturday, January 17 versus Robert Morris. At 6-3, Northern Kentucky is 4th in the Horizon League, 1 1/2 back of 7-1 Wright Sate and 1/2 game behind Oakland and Green Bay.

January 14, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar each scored 26, and #14 North Carolina led by as many as 12 points in the second half and by six with 5:20 left to play, but Stanford shooters caught fire late, led by Jeremy Dent-Smith, Ryan Agarwal and Ebuka Okorie, who led all scorers with a career-high 36 points, as the Cardinal downed the Tar Hells, 95-90, Wednesday night at Maples Pavillion in Stanford, California.

Both teams shot effectively, with North Carolina hitting at a rate of 58% from the field and Stanford at 57%, but the Cardinal’s 3-point accuracy proved to be the difference, as they made 16 of 28 from downtown (57%). Dent-Smith was 6-for-7 from long range, Agarwal, 5-for-9, and Okorie, 3-for-5 and 12 of 20 overall.

A 6’2” freshman from Nashua, New Hampshire, Okorie added nine more points from the foul line and dished out nine assists. Okorie, who leads the Cardinal in scoring at 22.9 points per game, is tied for fifth nationally with P.J. Haggerty of Kansas State. He has put up double figures in scoring in 17 of 18 outings this season.

The result left Stanford at 14-4 and 3-2 in the ACC. North Carolina fell to 14-3 and 2-2 in the conference. The unranked Cardinal hosts #6 Duke while the Tar Heels travel to Cal on Saturday, January 17.

January 13, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Nebraska improved to 17-0 Tuesday night - the best start in school history - behind 28 points from 6’7” junior forward, Pryce Sandfort, sending the Oregon Ducks back to the pond with a 90-55 beat-down.

Sandfort was firing at will, making nine of 15 shots from the field, including a 7-for-11 effort from beyond the arc. He added four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in his 31 minutes of floor time. Sandfort transferred to Nebraska after two years at Iowa. His 16.4 points per game leads the team, helping the Cornhuskers to their record start.

The game was close until late in the first half. The Cornhuskers made a 14-2 run into the break to lead 42-30 and then broke the game open with a 10-3 spurt to open the second half. Nebraska outscored the Ducks 48-25 in the second twenty minutes.

The 8th-ranked Cornhuskers are 17-0 and 6-0 in the Big Ten, leading 5-0 Purdue by 1/2-game. They’ll be looking to extend their winning streak Saturday, January 17 at Northwestern.

January 12, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Southern tradition is very much alive in Beaumont, Texas, as Rob Lee Jr. scored 31 points to lead the Lamar Cardinals to a 64-56 victory over the visiting Houston Christian Huskies, Tuesday night.

Lee, a 6’2” junior from Flint, Michigan, scored his career-high 31 points in 27 minutes, hitting nine of 13 overall and 4-for-6 from 3-point land. He also cashed in on all nine free throw attempt snap collected seven rebounds. Lee leads the team in scoring at 15.5 points per outing.

The Cardinals shot 45% from the field while limiting the Huskies to just 34% and 4-for-20 (20%) on 3-point shots.

Lamar is 4-4 in the Southland conference, which is led by the trio of McNeese, Stephen F. Austin, and Nicholls, all at 7-1. Lamar heads to Nicholls on Saturday, January 17, and is at New Orleans on Monday, the 19th

January 11, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Wichita State’s Kenyon Giles scored a game-high 33 points as the Shockers defeated North Texas, 78-67, Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.

Giles, a 5’10” senior from Cheaspeake, Virginia, was on target, making 13 of 17 from the field and all four of his 3-point shots. Over the last four games, Giles has scored 99 points and leads the Shockers with 18.6 points per game.

Giles played all 40 minutes as the Shockers evened their record at 2-2 in the American Athletic conference. Wichita State is 10-7 overall. Tulane and Temple are leading the conference with identical 3-0 records.

The Shockers will be back in action on Thursday, January 15, when they travel to meet Florida Atlantic.

January 10, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

SEC hoops is a tough place to get road wins, especially with teams like Auburn and players like Keyshawn Hall, who torched Arkansas Saturday at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama for 32 points in a 95-73 win for the Tigers, their first SEC victory of the season.

Hall scored six points in a 15-3 Auburn run midway through the first half that put the Tigers up by 14 points, establishing a lead they would not relinquish. The Tigers led 49-34 at the break and added another 46 second half points as they cruised to the win.

A 6’7” senior from Cleveland, Ohio, Hall was on target throughout the game, making 11 of 14 from the field, including four of five on 3-pointers, equaling his season high from Aubrun’s previous games, a 90-88 loss to Texas A&M. Hall was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line and added five assists. He leads the team in scoring at 21.7 points pe game, has scored in double figures in each of Auburn’s 16 games this season and has recorded six double-doubles.

Hall transferred into Auburn after his 2024-25 season at UCF. Well traveled, Hall played at UNLV as a freshman and George Mason as a sophomore.

10-6 overall, the Tigers will be looking to even their SEC record at 2-2 when they travel to Missouri on Wednesday, January 14.

January 9, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

6’7” senior, Kael Robinson missed all four of his shots inside the 3-point line, but was deadly accurate on the other side, knocking down nine treys on 13 attempts to lead Northern Kentucky over Milwaukee, 85-67, Friday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Robinson scored a game-high 29 points.

The Norse blew open a close game late in the first half. Leading by six with 8:02 to play, Northern Kentucky outscored the Panthers 23-13 to close out the half with a 55-37 lead. In the second half, Northern Kentucky kept Milwaukee at bay, leading by as many as 22 points and costing to the win.

Northern Kentucky held a significant advantage in the paint, out-rebounding the Panthers, 43-29. They also led in assists, 19-11.

Robinson, who hails from Hamilton, New Zealand, is hitting field goals at a rate of 53.3%, and threes at 48.5%, averaging 16.4 points per game. He snatched seven rebounds in Friday’s win.

The Norse of Northern Kentucky are 13-5 overall with a 5-2 mark in the Horizon League. They trail Wright State and Oakland, both 5-1, by a half game. They tip next at Green Bay on Sunday, January 11.

January 8, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

8th-ranked Gonzaga improved to 17-1 Thursday on the back of a season-high 34 points from Graham Ike one of the best big men in collegiate America.

Ike was virtually unstoppable in the paint, making 13 of 17 shots from the field, drawing fouls and making seven of eight from the foul line. Ike also collected 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season as the Bulldogs schooled visiting Santa Clara, 89-77.

The game was tied at 37-all at the break and remained close until midway through the second half. With Gonzaga leading, 59-55, the Bulldogs went on a 21-2 run that put Gonzaga up 80-57, their largest lead of the game.

Ike, a 6’9” senior, nearly doubled his scoring average of 17.8 and came within a point of matching his career high of 35 from the 2021-22 season when he played for Wyoming. This is Ike’s third season at Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs lead the West Coast conference with a 5-0 mark. Their next game is Thursday, January 15 at Washington State.

January 7, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Richie Saunders scored a career-high 31 points, leading BYU past Arizona State, 104-76, Wednesday night at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.

The #9 Cougars improved to 14-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12, powered by Saunders, 23 points from AJ Dybantsa and 27 from Robert Wright III. Saunders made 10 of 13 shots from the field, including six 3-pointers. A perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line, along with eight boards, and three assists.

Saunders broke an early 6-6 tie with a three-pointer and Dybantsa scored seven straight points in a 10-0 spurt that put the Cougars in the lead for good. They led by 15 at the break and expanded their lead to as many as 38 in the second session.

Saunders, a senior from Riverton, Utah, is averaging 19.1 points per game. The Cougars hit the road for a test at Utah Saturday, January 10.

January 6, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 22 of his career-high 34 points in the first half as Tennessee bombed Texas, 85-71, Tuesday night in Knoxville. The win evened the 21st-ranked Volunteers at 1-1 in SEC play. They are 11-4 overall.

With the game tied early in the first half at 14-all, the Volunteers opened up a lead with a 14-3 run and never looked back. Gillespie scored seven points during the spurt with a pair of layups and a 3-pointer, one of five that he canned on eight attempts for the game. Overall, Gillespie was 12-for-18 and 5-for-5 from the foul line. In 38 minutes of playing time, the 6’1” senior from Greeneville, TN, added four rebounds, five assists and three steals.

A transfer from Maryland, Gillespie leads the Vols in scoring, averaging 18.7 per game, and assists, at 5.7 per outing, and field goal percentage (44.3%).

The Vols next game is Saturday, January 10, when they head south to play the Florida Gators.

January 5, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Rutgers’ Tariq Francis came off the bench to score a game-high 30 points, leading the Scarlet Knights to their first Big Ten win of the season, 88-85 over Oregon in Piscataway, NJ, Monday night.

Francis scored four of Rutgers’ last five points in regulation before Oregon’s Wei Lin sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer with four seconds left.

Rutgers outscored the Ducks, 12-8, in overtime. Francis scored six points in the extra period. The 6’1” junior transfer from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) transfer made 10 of 16 shots from the field and was 10-for-11 at the foul line, contributing four rebounds and four assists.

The result left Rutgers and Oregon with identical 1-3 records in the Big Ten. 8-5 overall, the Scarlet Knights travel to Champagne, IL, on Thursday to meet the #16 Fighting Illini.

January 4, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Kobi Williams was on target Sunday in Springfield as the Missouri State Bears improved to 3-0 in Conference USA with an 89-82 victory over visiting New Mexico State.

Williams, a 6’4” junior guard from St. Louis, scored a career-high 32 points, going 8-for-11 from the field, including seven of nine from beyond the arc. He was also money from the foul line, hitting nine of 10 free throws.

Williams played just one game for Truman State in 2023-24, missed the entire 2024-25 season, but has sparkled this season for Missouri State, averaging 14.1 points per game.

The 9-5 Bears are tied with Liberty and Middle Tennessee atop the conference standings, each with a 3-0 record. Riding a five-game winning streak, Missouri State next visits Kennesaw State on Wednesday, January 7.

January 3, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Braden Smith set a new Big Ten standard for career assists Saturday night in Madison, Wisconsin, as the #5 Boilermakers downed the Badgers, 89-73.

Smith dished 12 assists in the win, increasing his career total to 893, breaking the conference record of 890 held by Cassius Winston, point guard for Michigan State from 2017-2020.

Smith leads the nation in assists at 9.6 per game and is averaging close to a double-double with 12.6 points per outing. He scored his customary 14 on 6-for-11 shooting, as Purdue won its fifth straight. The Boilermakers are 13-1 and 3-0 in conference play, currently tied with Nebraska and Michigan in the Big Ten.

With a full slate of conference games, the Big Ten tournament and a probable deep run in the NCAA tourney, Smith has a legitimate opportunity to become the leading assist provider in NCAA History. Purdue has 17 conference games remaining. Smith needs 183 assists to match all-time leader Bobby Hurley’s 1,076, set in Hurley’s playing days for Duke from 1989 to 1993.

Barring injury, Smith is within range for at least the top five all-time:
#2. Chris Corchiani (NC State, 1989-93), 1,038
#3. Ed Cota (North Carolina, 1995-99), 1,030
#4. Jason Bickman (LIU Brooklyn, 2010-14), 1.009
#5. Sherman Douglas (Syracuse, 1986-90), 960

Next up for Smith and the Boilermakers is a Wednesday, January 7 home game with Washington.

January 2, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

#2 Michigan remained undefeated and tied 14-0 Nebraska - 58-56 upset winners over Michigan State - for the top spot in the Big Ten at 3-0 as Morez Johnson Jr. led the Wolverines to a 96-66 rout of USC, improving to 3-0 in the conference and 13-0 overall.

Johnson scored 17 of his career-high 29 in the first half as Michigan raced out to an 11-0 lead were never challenged after that, taking a 49-31 lead into halftime finishing with their largest lead of the game. Johnson sizzled, making 10 of 12 shots from the field, 8-for-10 from the foul line, adding six rebounds and a pair of steals.

A 6’9” sophomore from Riverdale, Illinois, Johnson is averaging 14.8 points and 6.7 boards per outing this season. His 68.2% field goal percentage leads the team. Johnson has upped his game recently, registering his second double-double on Monday, December 29, with 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 112-71 win over McNeese. Johnson played a full season at Illinois before going through the portal to Michigan for the 2025-26 season.

The Wolverines will look to keep their winning streak going when they travel to Penn State on Tuesday, January 6, for a tip with the Nittany Lions.

January 1, 2026 College Hoops Player of the Day

Portland State started the new year right, opening conference play in the Big Sky with a 95-90 overtime win at Weber State..

Jaylin Henderson scored on a twisting layup with two seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime and scored 10 points in the extra frame to lead the Vikings with a career-high 34 points.

Henderson, a 6’3” senior guard from Wichita, Kansas, went 11-for-24 from he field with three 3-pointers. He was 9-for-16 from the charity stripe and added six rebounds, seven assists and a pair of steals. Teammate Terri Miller Jr. poured in 29 for the Vikings.

Henderson began his collegiate career with one season Louisiana State prior to transferring to Portland State for the 2024-25 season. He’s scored in double figures in every game this season for the 7-5 Vikings. He’s second on the team in scoring, with 18.4 points per game and leads in assists at 6.2 per outing.

The Vikings continue conference play Saturday, January 3rd, at Idaho State.

December 31, 2025 College Hoops Player of the Day

Ben Hammond came off the bench to score a career-high 30 points, including eight in the third overtime, to lead Virginia Tech over #21 Virginia, 95-85, in triple overtime, Wednesday in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Hammond played 42 minutes largely because the Hokies were down two starters due to injury. He was just 7-for-16 from the field, but kept picking up fouls, keying a 16-for-18 effort from the free throw line. The 5’11” sophomore from Manassas, Virginia also had five boards, five assists, and a pair of steals.

The Hokies, now 12-2 and 1-0 in the ACC, have played four overtime games already this season, winning all of them. Next stop for the Hokies is at Wake Forest, Saturday, January 3rd.

December 30, 2025 College Hoops Player of the Day

Florida State proved to be no match for the Tar Heels, especially in the post, where Caleb Wilson dominated with 22 points and 16 rebounds, leading North Carolina past the Seminoles, 79-66 Tuesday night in Chapel Hill, NC.

Wilson, the 6’10” freshman forward that is one of the stars of the collegiate freshman class, added six assists, recording his third straight double-double and 10th of the season. Wilson has scored in double figures in every game this season and leads the Tar Hells in scoring and rebounding, at 19.8 and 11.2, respectively.

Wilson hit nine of 15 shots from the field and made four of five from the foul line. #12 North Carolina opened ACC play with a win and is 13-1 overall. Next up for the Tar Heels is a trip to SMU against the Mustangs on Saturday, January 3.

December 29, 2025 College Hoops Player of the Day

Arizona put six players in double figures and Koa Peat threw down a double-double with 19 points and 14 boards, as the top-ranked Wildcats cruised to a 99-71 win over South Dakota State Monday in Tucson, Arizona.

Peat made seven of 12 shots from the field, including a 3-pointer. He was 4-for-7 from the foul line and added three assists. Peat leads the Wildcats in scoring (14.2 ppg) and in field goal percentage, at 56.3%.

Peat, a 6’8” freshman from nearby Chandler, Arizona, had a breakout game, his second double-double and a career high in rebounding. Peat’s career-high scoring was 30 in his debut appearance, a 93-87 win over Florida back on November 3rd.

Arizona kept its record free from losses at 13-0. The Wildcats open Big 12 play on Saturday, January 3rd, when they travel to Utah.

December 28, 2025 College Hoops Player of the Day

Fresh off a game-high 27 points in an 82-81 win over Duke, Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson dropped in 29 Sunday in an 87-57 Red Raider blowout of Winthrop, wrapping up heir non-conference schedule with a 10-3 mark and a #15 ranking in the most recent AP Poll.

Anderson, playing on Tech’s home court in Lubbock, Texas, was 8-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-9 from 3-point range and a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line, adding six rebounds and five assists.

Averaging 20.6 points and 7.1 assists per game, the 6’3” sophomore from Atlanta leads the team in assists and is second in scoring behind J.T. Toppin.

Texas Tech begins Big 12 play on Saturday, January 3rd when they host Oklahoma State.

AP Top 25 (1/26) (1st place votes)

1. Arizona 20-0 (60)
2. UConn 19-1
3. Michigan 18-1
4. Duke 18-1
5. Nebraska 20-0
6. Gonzaga 21-1
7. Michigan State 18-2
8. Iowa State 18-2
9. Illinois 17-3
10. Houston 17-2
11. Texas Tech 16-4
12. Purdue 17-3
13. BYU 17-2
14. Kansas 15-5
15. Arkansas 15-5
16. North Carolina 16-4
17. Virginia 16-3
18. Vanderbilt 17-3
19. Florida 14-6
20. Louisville 14-5
21. St. Louis 19-1
22. Clemson 17-4
23. Alabama 13-6
24. Miami (OH) 19-0
25. St. John’s 15-5