CBB weekend winners, losers: Illinois, Texas Tech trounce top-10 opponents

The Boilermakers were unable to match the Fighting Illini’s physicality, getting outrebounded 13-3 on the offensive glass. This result is only the beginning of what should be an exciting Big Ten race.

Loser: Virginia Cavaliers

No. 14 Virginia led by as many as 16 points in the first half against No. 22 North Carolina, but ultimately squandered the advantage in an 85-80 loss.

Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson scored 20 points, but it was fellow forward Jarin Stevenson who fueled the comeback with 17 points in the second half. Virginia struggled to get back in transition and gave up two three-point plays in the final minutes.

The loss is the Cavaliers’ first at home all season.

Winner: Texas Tech Red Raiders

Lubbock, Texas, was "College Gameday’s" first destination this season, and the matchup there didn’t disappoint as No. 12 Texas Tech toppled No. 6 Houston in a 90-86 shootout.

The Red Raiders offense was rolling, dropping 55 points in the first half. Forward JT Toppin had 31 points and 12 rebounds for his 44^th career double-double. Teammates Jaylen Petty and Donovan Atwell added 18 points apiece.

Guard Kingston Flemings’ set a freshman scoring record for the Cougars with 42 points, but the defense couldn’t slow down Texas Tech’s offensive onslaught. The victory snapped Houston’s 16-game true road winning streak.

Loser: Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma’s lackluster season reached new lows in Saturday’s 88-87 loss at Missouri. After the Sooners went up by three, Tigers guard Trent Pierce drilled a 3-pointer to force overtime.

Oklahoma’s Xzayvier Brown broke the tie in OT with four seconds left, but just when the Sooners thought the victory was secured, Missouri’s Mark Mitchell drained just his eighth three-pointer of the year to win the game.

The Sooners fall to 11-9 and have struggled mightily in conference play since joining the SEC. HC Porter Moser’s seat is seemingly heating up fast.

Winner: St. John’s HC Rick Pitino

Rick Pitino’s storied college basketball career reached another milestone on Saturday, achieving his 900^th win. What makes it even better? He did it against his son, Xavier HC Richard Pitino.

The elder Pitino joins legends Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim and Roy Williams as the only coaches to reach 900 victories. After a shaky nonconference slate, St. John’s has gone 8-1 in Big East play and has a heavyweight clash against No. 2 UConn on the horizon.

Loser: Kansas State

While Kansas State wasn’t projected to contend for a Big 12 title, expectations remained somewhat high for a team that added star guard PJ Haggerty from the transfer portal.

Haggerty has delivered, averaging 23 points per game, but the Wildcats are 10-10 after a lopsided home loss to rival No. 19 Kansas. Kansas State has lost six of its past seven and has fallen far from 2023’s Elite Eight run.