This was a big Saturday in NCAA Basketball, with six matchups featuring ranked opponents and many “rivalry” games taking place. The results were as hectic as expected, with many intriguing outcomes that are going to have an effect on both the rest of the regular season, as well as the postseason.
Here are the top storylines that I gathered from the day, both good and bad from the 12 hours of action.
IUPUI wins first Horizon League game
Entering this Saturday, there were four teams that didn’t have a win league play. Three of them were Pepperdine (who won in OT against Portland on Saturday), South Carolina State, and Evansville, with the fourth being IUPUI of the Horizon League. The Jaguars have become a bit of a joke in NCAA Basketball, with a combined record of 4-27 in the past two years, including just one victory over a D-I opponent.
WHAT A DUNK FROM VINCENT BRADY II 😱 @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/eSeAUTURID
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 4, 2023
That was doubled on Saturday, with IUPUI beating Green Bay at home, 68-53. They led for most of the game and got 16 points each from Vince Brady and DJ Jackson. It was due for them, as the Jaguars have been playing teams close for the past month, including being in a one-possession game just a few days prior against Milwaukee.
With this win, Green Bay now becomes the worst team in the Horizon League. They already fired head coach Will Ryan over a week ago and have been getting blown out. Their lone win was against these Jaguars and between the two of them, the Phoenix are least likely to get another win the rest of the way.