This college basketball season is delivering everything fans could’ve hoped for-and then some. As we hit the home stretch of January, the spotlight has narrowed on a trio of programs that had managed to dodge the loss column entirely: Nebraska, Arizona, and Miami (OH). But with conference play heating up, the question was never if these perfect records would fall-it was when.
On Tuesday night, one of those unblemished runs came to an end.
Nebraska Falls in Top-5 Showdown
Fifth-ranked Nebraska rolled into Ann Arbor for a marquee showdown with No. 3 Michigan-a clash between two teams that have looked every bit like March contenders.
The Wolverines struck first, taking a quick 3-2 lead, but Nebraska responded with a run of their own and held control for most of the night. That is, until crunch time.
With just over two minutes remaining, Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau stepped to the line and knocked down a free throw to tie things up at 72. A minute later, the Wolverines grabbed the lead for good and held on for a 75-72 win, handing Nebraska its first loss of the season in front of a raucous home crowd.
It was a game that lived up to the billing-high-level execution, elite talent, and the kind of late-game drama that defines college basketball in February and March. For Nebraska, the dream of an undefeated season may be gone, but their performance still cements them as a serious threat come tournament time.
Arizona Remains Perfect, and Dominant
That leaves two teams still standing without a loss-and Arizona looks like the most complete of them all.
The Wildcats, perched atop the AP rankings at No. 1, survived a scare in Provo on Monday night. BYU gave them all they could handle, but Arizona held firm and escaped with another win, pushing their record to 21-0 overall and a flawless 8-0 in Big 12 play.
Arizona’s success hasn’t been a fluke-it’s been a statement. They’ve been dominant on both ends of the floor, blending high-octane offense with suffocating defense.
Leading the charge is freshman phenom Koa Peat, who’s playing well beyond his years. Peat is averaging just under 15 points per game and shooting a scorching 57% from the field, showing poise and polish that’s rare for a first-year player.
The road ahead won’t be easy. Arizona still has six ranked opponents left on their regular season schedule, and every game from here on out will come with a target on their back.
But if they keep playing at this level, they’ve got a real shot to run the table. Next up: a rivalry clash in Tempe against Arizona State this Saturday.
Miami (OH): The Underdog That Won’t Go Away
Meanwhile, over in Oxford, Ohio, another unbeaten story is quietly unfolding. Miami (OH), ranked No. 24, is sitting at 21-0 and 9-0 in MAC play. Unlike Arizona, the RedHawks haven’t steamrolled their way through the season-they’ve clawed and scraped their way to victory, time and again.
Sophomore guard Brant Byers has been the breakout star for Miami, nearly doubling his scoring average from last year and shooting better than 50% from the field. His growth has been a key reason why this team keeps finding ways to win, even when the margins are razor-thin.
And those margins have been very thin. Miami has played in three overtime games this season, including two of their last three. Seven of their 21 wins have come by seven points or fewer-each one a test of resilience, focus, and late-game execution.
There’s no ranked opponent left on their regular season schedule, which means the path to perfection is there. But in a conference known more for MACtion on the football field, the RedHawks are trying to make some noise on the hardwood-and they’re doing it with grit.
They’ll look to keep the streak alive this Saturday when Northern Illinois comes to town.
What’s Next
With Nebraska now out of the running, the spotlight shifts squarely to Arizona and Miami. One is a national powerhouse with NBA-caliber talent and a target on its back. The other is a mid-major fighter that just won’t blink in the face of pressure.
Two teams. Two perfect records. And a whole lot of basketball still to play.