Tuesday’s college basketball slate was hyped as one of the best nonconference days all season, and let me tell you, it delivered. With upsets, close games, and pure drama in marquee matchups, it felt more like March than November out there. No. 1 Florida handled business on the road with an 81-72 win over Florida State, but the real fireworks came when two other top-three teams went down. No. 2 Duke got a massive wake-up call in a 79-73 upset loss to No. 5 Michigan State, and No. 3 Illinois wasn’t so lucky either, falling 74-68 at No. 16 Texas Tech. This season is starting with an absolute bang.
Duke Gets Schooled: A True Wake-Up Call for the Blue Devils
If Tuesday was a measuring stick for No. 2 Duke, they’ve got some serious work to do. Not only did No. 5 Michigan State beat them 79-73 in the Champions Classic, but the Spartans straight-up *dominated* from start to finish. This was hands down the most impressive win by any team in college basketball this season. Duke could not buy a bucket, plain and simple. Part of that was some questionable shot selection, sure, but a huge piece of the puzzle was Michigan State’s defense: it was physical, it was suffocating, and Duke just couldn’t get clean looks.
While Duke was reeling, Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. was putting on an absolute clinic. The dude was simply brilliant, dropping a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists. The way Fears Jr. controls the pace and runs that offense, there are not many players in the sport doing it at his level. He’s the best point guard in America, setting up his teammates for incredible looks in transition and in the half-court. He showed everyone why he was the CBS Sports Preseason Player of the Year. The bad news for Duke, or maybe it’s good news for their growth, is that their schedule gets significantly harder this month. They’re set to face UConn and Illinois, so they’ll certainly be tested.
Illinois Falls into a 20-Point Hole at Lubbock
Across the country, No. 3 Illinois also found themselves on the wrong side of an upset, losing 74-68 to No. 16 Texas Tech in a hostile road environment. You could practically hear how loud it was at Texas Tech just sitting at home watching. The Red Raiders came out absolutely firing, jumping out to a massive 20-point lead in the first half. Illinois tried to mount a rally, but Texas Tech held them off, thanks in no small part to Cruz Davis, who poured in 20 points for the Red Raiders. That’s a huge win for Texas Tech, and a tough pill to swallow for Illinois.
Even North Carolina had a moment of early-season jitters, only leading Wyoming by two points at halftime before eventually pulling away for a 76-63 win. They also had an upset scare against Western Carolina last week in their season opener before securing the win in the final minutes.
It’s clear after this Tuesday slate that the college basketball season is going to be wild. With Duke facing UConn and Illinois this month, and teams like Texas Tech already proving they can take down top contenders, we are in for an incredible November of hoops. Get ready, because it’s only just beginning!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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