As nonconference play wraps up and teams gear up for the grind of conference schedules, we’re starting to see who’s for real-and who’s got work to do. Some programs picked up statement wins that could shape their seasons, while others are heading into the holidays with more questions than answers.
Let’s take a look at the weekend’s biggest winners and losers on the college basketball landscape.
Winner: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech didn’t just pull off an upset-they stormed back from the brink against one of the best teams in the country and made a statement in the heart of basketball’s most iconic arena.
Down by 17 in the second half to No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden, the No.
19 Red Raiders looked dead in the water. But they didn’t flinch.
Instead, they rattled off a clutch 8-0 run late in the game, flipping the script and grabbing an 81-80 lead. After Duke’s Cameron Boozer split a pair of free throws to tie it, Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson calmly knocked down the game-winner from the stripe to cap off a 27-point night.
Boozer had a chance to steal it at the buzzer, but his three came up short.
Anderson was sensational-9-for-14 from the floor, 5-for-9 from deep, and ice in his veins when it mattered most. After an up-and-down start to the season, Texas Tech is finding its rhythm at just the right time. With Big 12 play on deck, this win could be the spark that ignites a serious run.
Loser: Auburn Tigers
The Steven Pearl era at Auburn is off to a rocky start, and Saturday’s loss to No. 6 Purdue was a harsh reality check.
The No. 21 Tigers were overwhelmed from the jump, falling 88-60 in a game that never felt close.
Auburn struggled to find any rhythm offensively, shooting just 36.2% from the field. To make matters worse, they suffered injuries to two key contributors-guard Tahaad Pettiford and forward KeShawn Murphy.
This wasn’t just a bad night-it was the third time this season Auburn has lost to a top-10 team by at least 28 points. That’s not the kind of resume you want heading into SEC play, especially with a brutal stretch of games ahead. The Tigers have talent, but if they’re going to make a push toward the NCAA Tournament-or even stay in the top 25-they’ll need to regroup quickly and get healthy.
Winner: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina’s win over Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic was a battle, and freshman forward Caleb Wilson was the difference-maker.
The No. 12 Tar Heels were locked in a tight one, trailing 70-69 late.
That’s when Henri Veesaar came through with a timely putback dunk to reclaim the lead. But it was Wilson who stole the show.
He poured in 20 points and grabbed 15 boards for his eighth double-double of the season, showing exactly why he’s one of the most impactful freshmen in the country.
And just in case anyone forgot about his defensive chops, Wilson sealed the win with a game-saving block on a last-second putback attempt. With performances like this, it’s clear Hubert Davis has the Heels back in the national conversation-and Wilson is right at the center of it.
Loser: UC San Diego Tritons
This one stings for UC San Diego-not just because of the loss, but because of who it came against.
The Tritons were picked to contend in the Big West and had their eyes on a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. But a loss to crosstown rival San Diego-just 13 miles down the road-throws a wrench into that plan. UC San Diego led 80-79 in the final seconds but failed to close it out, allowing San Diego’s Ty-Laur Johnson to bank in a dagger and steal the win.
It’s the kind of loss that lingers, especially for a team trying to build a tournament-worthy resume. Conference play offers a chance to rebound, but this one won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Winner: Miami Ohio RedHawks
Quietly but confidently, Miami Ohio is putting together something special.
The RedHawks aren’t grabbing national headlines just yet, but they’re undefeated heading into the holidays-and that’s no small feat, no matter who’s on the schedule. Their best win so far might be against a struggling UNC Asheville squad, but they opened MAC play with a convincing win over Ball State, and they’re showing signs of being a serious contender in the league.
What makes Miami dangerous is their balance-four players averaging at least 12 points per game. That kind of depth can carry a team deep into March, especially in a mid-major conference. Keep an eye on the RedHawks-they’ve got the pieces to make some noise.
As the calendar turns and conference play kicks into gear, we’re starting to see which teams are built for the long haul. Texas Tech is surging, North Carolina looks dialed in, and Miami Ohio is quietly stacking wins.
On the flip side, Auburn and UC San Diego have some serious regrouping to do. The road to March is long, but weekends like this give us a glimpse of who’s ready-and who’s not.