It’s been a banner week for college basketball, as seemingly each of the country’s brightest stars are shining bright. The headliner of last week’s action was, of course, AJ Dybantsa facing off with Darryn
Peterson. However, that battle only lasted for a half, as Peterson was once again held out for “cramping”. We’ll always have this dunk though.
Prospect of the week: There’s too many to count!
Keaton Wagler earns the first mention here. Wagler scored 28 on Sunday to hand Nebraska just their second loss of the season, all but securing his place in the mid-to-high lottery in the 2026 NBA Draft. He’s been skyrocketing up draft boards as of late, for good reason! When you’re doing things that no one else has done before, you’re doing something right.
Darryn Peterson scored 18 first half points against BYU, but only played three minutes in the second half. Cam Boozer continues to be sensational for Duke, as does Caleb Wilson for UNC. Mikel Brown Jr. came alive in the second half as his Cardinal beat SMU. In the non-freshman category, Dailyn Swain continues to carry Texas through SEC play, garnering some first-round love.
The bar is really high for this class, and week in and week out they continue to push it higher. The show rolls on, and this week features yet another electric slate. Let’s dive in.
Games of the week
February 2nd
Syracuse at North Carolina – 6:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Kansas at Texas Tech – 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPN).
North Carolina has won a few in a row after bungaling their west coast ACC road trip. They’ve been led by Caleb Wilson, their outstanding true freshman. This is their last tune up before Saturday (more on that later).
As for the late game, perhaps there is no better conference for Big Monday than the Big 12. This matchup will feature Darryn Peterson (we think) facing off against the formidable Texas Tech duo of JT Toppin and Christian Anderson. After taking an unexpected loss at UCF on Saturday, expect the Red Raiders to come out hot on their home floor. If Peterson can go the distance, we’re set for a great one.
February 4th
Texas A&M at Alabama – 6:00 p.m. CT (SECN)
UCF at Houston – 6:00 p.m. CT (FS1)
For two of the top guards in the upcoming draft, these games represent different opportunities. For Labaron Philon and the Tide, facing off with a red hot Texas A&M group will be a great test. The Aggies play a fun brand of ball to watch, but opposing guards will be challenged with the consistent full court press and tempo at which they run. If Philon can handle this, it’ll be a test passed. As for Flemings and his Cougars, this UCF team just upset the same Texas Tech team Houston lost to last week. Can Flemings continue to play well? I like his chances in this matchup.
February 6th
UConn at St. John’s – 7:00 p.m. CT (FOX)
Friday night at Madison Square Garden with these two teams will be fantastic viewing. UConn has been coasting as of late, until a 24-point shellacking of Creighton on Saturday night. The St. John’s team they’ll be facing is riding high now themselves. This is a game that, as a basketball purist, you will want to see.
February 7th
Duke at North Carolina – 5:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Illinois at Michigan State – 7:00 p.m. CT (FOX)
Tennessee at Kentucky – 7:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Houston at BYU – 9:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)
It’s a backloaded slate on Saturday, as all of the day’s best tip after 5:00. Duke and UNC is one of the best rivalries in the country due to its long, storied history. While the legends of Coach K and Roy Williams are no longer roaming the sidelines, the passion and energy for these games remains. For the young freshmen in this matchup, it’s time to become legends. Performances in this game go down in the school’s lore forever. Who’s going to step up?
Elsewhere that night, Keaton Wagler looks to remain hot at Michigan State in what should be a slugfest. Tennessee is riding high with a revitalized Nate Ament, and they’ll be tested at Rupp Arena against Kentucky. Finally, the Big 12 features yet another banger, as Houston and BYU face off in the nightcap. Kingston Flemings and AJ Dybantsa won’t go 1-on-1 very often, but it’ll be great to see them each orchestrate. For Dybantsa particularly, can he find some level of efficiency against a Houston defense that will be swarming?
