College Basketball: Duke, Arizona, Florida, and Michigan Claim Conference Titles

The final day of February saw multiple Power Five teams clinch at least a share of their league’s conference title. On Friday night, Michigan defeated Illinois to clinch its first Considerable Ten title since 2021, marking a significant achievement in Dusty May’s second year as head coach.

Conference Championship Roundup

Duke, Arizona, and Florida joined Michigan in securing conference titles on Saturday. No. 1-ranked Duke defeated No. 11 Virginia 77-51, locking up the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. Duke can clinch the outright ACC crown next week with a win over NC State or North Carolina. For the third consecutive season, a team other than Kansas will win the Big 12, with No. 2 Arizona’s 84-61 win over Kansas securing at least a share of the title for the Wildcats. Florida clinched its first regular season title since 2014 with a dominant win over Arkansas.

Duke Dominates Virginia

Duke’s victory over Virginia was highlighted by a standout performance from Isaiah Evans, who scored 14 of Duke’s first 19 points and finished with a team-high 19 points. Evans shot 5-for-9 from the 3-point line and dished out three assists. The Blue Devils demonstrated they are more than just Cameron Boozer, their top player.

Seton Hall’s Tournament Hopes Dim

Seton Hall suffered a setback in its NCAA Tournament aspirations with a 71-67 loss to No. 6 UConn. Despite a strong second-half effort, a 23-11 closing run by UConn sealed the Pirates’ fate. Seton Hall faces challenging upcoming games against Xavier and St. John’s, making an at-large bid increasingly tricky.

Saint Mary’s Upsets Gonzaga

Saint Mary’s defeated No. 9 Gonzaga 70-59, securing a share of the WCC title and marking the fourth consecutive season the Gaels have claimed the conference championship. Mikey Lewis led Saint Mary’s with a career-high 31 points. This was the final on-campus meeting between the two programs as WCC foes, as Gonzaga will join the Pac-12 next season.

Arkansas Falls Short Against Florida

No. 20 Arkansas suffered a significant loss to Florida, 111-77, effectively handing the Gators the SEC crown. Arkansas struggled from beyond the arc and was dominated on the boards, ending their hopes for conference hardware this season.

Texas Tech Remains Competitive Despite Injury

Despite a season-ending knee injury to JT Toppin, Texas Tech continues to impress, defeating No. 4 Iowa State 82-73. The Red Raiders splashed 14 three-pointers, with Donovan Atwell scoring 18 points and Tyeree Bryan contributing 10 points off the bench.

UConn’s Karaban Shines on Senior Day

Alex Karaban led UConn to a 71-67 win over Seton Hall with 23 points on Senior Day, making several clutch shots. Karaban is UConn’s all-time winningest player and a key contributor to the program’s recent success.

Iowa Stumbles Against Penn State

Iowa suffered an unexpected loss to Penn State, 71-69, which could impact their NCAA Tournament seeding. The loss to a 12-17 Penn State team is a Quad 2 setback for the Hawkeyes.

New Mexico Boosts Bubble Chances

New Mexico improved its NCAA Tournament bubble chances with an 81-76 win over San Diego State, overcoming an 11-point first-half deficit. The win gives New Mexico a 10-6 record against Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents.

NC State’s Slide Continues

NC State has lost four of its last five games, including a 96-90 overtime loss to Notre Dame. Their chances of securing a double-bye in the ACC Tournament are diminishing, with a tough matchup against No. 1 Duke looming.

Clemson Ends Losing Streak

Clemson snapped a four-game losing streak with an 80-75 win over Louisville, boosting their NCAA Tournament hopes. Justin Porter led the Tigers with a strong offensive performance.

UCLA Falls to Minnesota

UCLA lost to Minnesota 78-73, shooting just 58% from the floor. This loss is a reality check for the Bruins after recent momentum-building wins.

Arizona Avenge Loss to Kansas

Arizona avenged an earlier loss to Kansas with a dominant 84-61 victory, securing at least a share of the Big 12 title and positioning themselves for a No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.

Cal’s Tournament Hopes Take a Hit

Cal suffered a damaging home loss to Pitt, 72-56, jeopardizing their NCAA Tournament chances. The Bears struggled offensively and defensively in the defeat.

Northwestern’s Game-Winner

Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli hit a game-winning shot on his bobblehead night, leading the Wildcats to a 63-62 victory over Oregon.

Tennessee Collapses Against Alabama

No. 22 Tennessee lost to No. 17 Alabama 71-69 after leading for almost the entire game. A late surge by Alabama, led by Laban Philo, secured the victory for the Crimson Tide.

Louisville Struggles

Louisville’s season continues to falter with an 80-75 defeat at Clemson, marking their third loss in the last four games.

BYU’s Struggles Continue

BYU has lost eight of its last twelve games, falling to 20-9 overall. The Cougars are struggling after losing Richie Saunders to an ACL injury.