College Basketball’s Top-2 Tumble

01/10/2024

By: Jeff Yoder

#1 Purdue Upset by Nebraska (88-72), #2 Houston Falls to Iowa State (57-53)

It’s been a wild season of college basketball, and we’re only halfway through. Tuesday night marked just the third time in the last 40 seasons that both of the top two teams in men’s college basketball were upset on the same night by unranked opponents. Both #1 Purdue and #2 Houston went on the road in the midwest and lost to some hungry conference opponents — Nebraska and Iowa State. The Boilers’ month-long hold on the No. 1 spot could come to an end, but it won’t be the Cougars taking it.

 

Nebraska def. #1 Purdue (88-72)

The Huskers outscored the Boilers 14-2 to end the first half after 7-foot-4 reigning Player of the Year Zach Edey went to the bench with foul trouble. Nebraska’s pressure defense continued in the second half, and the Boilers never regained the lead. Edey was in foul trouble throughout, and the Huskers ran away with it down the stretch to win by double digits in Lincoln.

 

Iowa State def. #2 Houston (57-53)

The Cougars committed 16 turnovers in their down-to-the-wire game with Iowa State. The Cyclones fed off a raucous crowd that powered them to big plays in crunch time. Neither team shot it well, but Iowa State had enough juice to hand Houston their first loss of the season.

 

Polls/Rankings Implications

Purdue’s loss was their second dropped conference game this year after an OT loss to Northwestern. No team in Division I remains undefeated, and #3 Kansas (13-1) is the likely new No. 1 team come next week. Most Recent AP Poll

 

Other NCAA Basketball Scores

#6 Kentucky def. Missouri (90-77)

#11 Duke def. Pittsburgh (75-53)

#14 Baylor def. #18 BYU (81-72)

 

Photo: Steven Branscombe / Getty Images