College Hoops Gets Wild: Fires, Fights, and a Few Bubble Bursts
If you thought college football had a monopoly on chaos, college basketball just reminded everyone it can bring the weird too-and this past weekend, it delivered in spades.
Let’s start in Norman, where Georgia-one of the more surprising teams in the SEC this year-ran into a literal and figurative fire. Mike White’s Bulldogs came into the matchup against a struggling Oklahoma squad averaging over 90 points per game, good for third-best in the country.
But lately, things haven’t been clicking. Georgia had dropped three of its last four heading into Saturday, and this road trip was supposed to be a get-right game.
Instead, it turned into a scene straight out of a sitcom.
Popcorn, Sprinklers, and a Scorching Second Half
Just five minutes into the game at the Lloyd Noble Center, a popcorn machine caught fire-yes, a popcorn machine-and set off a brief but memorable delay. Flames shot up, smoke billowed, and the arena’s sprinkler system kicked into gear.
The broadcast caught the moment in real time, complete with a stunned play-by-play call: “We’ve got a full-blown fire going on right now!” And yes, it was indeed the popcorn machine.
Once the smoke cleared and the game resumed, Oklahoma decided to turn up the heat in a different way. The Sooners, trailing by two at halftime, came out blazing in the second half-shooting a blistering 67.9% from the field and knocking down 6-of-9 from deep. They dropped 94 on Georgia and walked away with a 16-point win, a result that could have real implications come Selection Sunday.
For Georgia, it’s a tough pill to swallow. After a hot start to the season, they’ve now lost five of their last six and are slipping dangerously close to the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Once considered a lock, they’re now clinging to one of the last four byes. And it doesn’t get any easier-they’re headed to Rupp Arena next.
Kentucky’s Road Opens Up
Speaking of Rupp, Kentucky’s upcoming schedule just got a little more manageable. A road trip to Auburn once looked like a major hurdle, but Steven Pearl’s Tigers are in a freefall.
Auburn just dropped its fourth straight game, this time falling 88-75 to Arkansas. Making matters worse, Pearl benched Keyshawn Hall-one of the SEC’s top scorers-for disciplinary reasons.
Without Hall, the Tigers lacked firepower, and the Razorbacks took full advantage.
That sets up a favorable situation for Kentucky, who’s looking to stack wins and build momentum heading into March. With Auburn reeling, it’s another winnable opportunity for a Wildcats team trying to hit its stride at the right time.
Big East Brawl at the Dunk
Elsewhere, the Big East delivered the kind of intensity that reminds us why it’s one of the toughest, most emotional conferences in the country. A homecoming for former Friar Bryce Hopkins turned into a full-blown altercation in Providence, and things escalated quickly.
Hopkins, now with St. John’s, was leading a fast break when he took a hard foul to the face from Duncan Powell.
That sparked a scuffle that spilled over into the benches. Powell was immediately ejected, but the fallout didn’t stop there.
Providence lost leading scorer Jaylin Sellers for the game, while St. John’s had three players tossed for leaving the bench.
Officials spent nearly 20 minutes combing through the footage, ultimately handing out six ejections.
And just when it seemed like things might settle down, Hopkins took another shot-this time from Jameir Jones, who was also ejected for a flagrant foul that had nothing to do with the ball.
Despite the chaos, St. John’s kept its composure and left the Dunk with a 79-69 win. It was a gritty, emotionally charged road victory in one of the Big East’s most hostile environments-and a reminder that in this league, nothing comes easy.
Final Whistle
From flaming popcorn machines to bench-clearing brawls, this weekend in college basketball had a little bit of everything. But beyond the theatrics, there were real consequences on the court-Georgia’s NCAA hopes took a hit, Kentucky’s path got a bit smoother, and the Big East proved once again it’s not for the faint of heart.
February basketball is here, and it’s only getting wilder from here.