Big Ten basketball opened the 2026-27 season with the league doing plenty of the heavy lifting on a night full of high-major matchups. The conference put three top-25 opponents from other leagues on the schedule, and while two Big Ten teams came up short, there was also a top-5 win in the mix. Just as important, nobody took a damaging loss, which made for a clean start overall.
The biggest statement came from UCLA, which stayed in control long enough to beat No. 5 Arizona, 84-75.
The Bruins leaned on their backcourt to get it done, with Trent Perry and Jaylen Petty combining for 34 points and 12 assists. Perry led the way with 21 points, and UCLA got a balanced scoring night behind him as seven players finished with at least seven points.
That came even with freshman forward Nikola Kusturica struggling to find his shot, finishing 3-for-11 from the field. Of all the teams in the league on opening night, UCLA walked away with the clearest signature win.
Purdue also had reason to feel encouraged despite a loss, hanging around for 40 minutes before falling 78-72 to No. 15 Gonzaga.
The Boilermakers looked far more competitive than an unranked team usually does in that spot, and Daniel Jacobsen was the reason they stayed in the fight. He turned in a career-high 22 points and added seven rebounds while shooting 9-for-11 from the floor.
Purdue’s guard play could have been better, and that likely would have changed the outcome, but Jacobsen’s showing against Gonzaga’s frontcourt stood out as the kind of performance that could mean something bigger for both him and the Boilermakers.
Ohio State’s opener ended in a 94-83 loss to No. 25 BYU, and the Buckeyes’ defense had no answer in the second half, when they allowed 60 points.
Even so, Amare Bynum gave them a real offensive lift with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting. After a strong preseason, he looks like he’s becoming the centerpiece of Ohio State’s frontcourt.
The defense needs work, no question, but the Buckeyes may not have an offense problem if Bynum keeps producing like this.
In Other News...
Mark Few Joins Emotional Bill Walton Tribute With Lasting Impact
Mark Few helped lead a meaningful tribute to Bill Walton by joining three other high-profile coaches in supporting a new scholarship effort tied to the Hall of Famers legacy. Few, Matt Painter, Tommy Lloyd and Mick Cronin combined to donate $32,000 to help launch the Bill Walton Foundations Shine On Scholarship, a program designed to provide college scholarships for young people overcoming homelessness.
The scholarship is aimed at cities where Walton played during his career, adding a personal layer to a cause that fits the spirit of his life and influence. Friends of Walton have also pledged matching donations, which could push the launch total as high as $128,000 and give the effort a much bigger reach as it gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Is Closing In On A Huge Backcourt Recruiting Moment
A major recruiting opportunity is starting to take shape for Gonzaga in the 2027 class, and it comes with a familiar local angle. Jalen Davis, the highly regarded five-star guard from Bremerton, has trimmed his list to four finalists, putting the Bulldogs in position to make a strong impression on one of the countrys top backcourt prospects. Gonzaga already has one commitment in the class, Dooney Johnson, and adding a player of Davis caliber would give the group a much bigger ceiling.
The timing also works in Gonzagas favor, with Davis set to make an official visit to Spokane during the home opener in early November. That gives the staff a chance to showcase the program, the atmosphere and the role he could play in the future, all in front of a recruit who would immediately elevate the class if he chooses the Bulldogs. For a program that has long sold itself on player development and guard play, this is the kind of recruiting moment that can shift the conversation around an entire class. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Passed Its First Real Test But One Question Already Looms
Opening night gave the Pac-12 a mostly clean start, with six of its nine basketball teams winning and Gonzaga handling the biggest spotlight game of the bunch. The Bulldogs beat Purdue in a competitive Hall of Fame Series matchup, and they did it with a balanced effort that suggested there is already some real substance to work with as the season gets rolling. Xaivian Lee made a smooth debut, Davis Fogle gave Gonzaga the kind of scoring punch it needed, and Izan Almansa added to a performance that looked sturdy enough for November.
Still, the first night also left one obvious question hanging over the Bulldogs: how much of this can they sustain once the schedule keeps tightening? Washington State took a loss to Davidson, while Utah State and Oregon State did their part against Big Sky opponents Idaho State and Weber State, but Gonzagas win carried the most weight because it came against a ranked-caliber test and offered a glimpse of both promise and unfinished business. The early answer was encouraging, even if the bigger picture is still being written. [Read more 🡒]