College basketball has a funny way of making experts look like fools by lunchtime. You wake up thinking the Top 25 is a solid, immovable list of giants, and by the time you're checking college basketball scores today, half the leaderboard is on fire. It's January 17, 2026. The middle of the conference grind. This is where the "paper tigers" usually get shredded.
Today was no different.
If you just look at the ticker, you see numbers. But if you were watching, you saw Butler walk into the Prudential Center and treat No. 25 Seton Hall like a JV squad for large stretches. You saw Kentucky, a team that's been a total enigma this season, refuse to go away in Knoxville. This sport is chaotic, and frankly, that's why we're all obsessed with it.
The Big East Shocker and the Top 5 Sweat
Most people assumed No. 3 UConn would waltz through Georgetown. They didn't. They survived 64-62. It was ugly. It was gritty. It was exactly what Dan Hurley hates and loves at the same time. Tarris Reed Jr. basically carried the Huskies on his back with 15 points, while Georgetown's KJ Lewis missed a three at the buzzer that would have sent D.C. into a frenzy.
UConn is still undefeated in Big East play, but they're flirting with disaster. This was the third time in four games they've played with fire. Eventually, you get burned.
Meanwhile, over in Newark, Finley Bizjack decided he wasn't losing. He dropped 25 points to lead Butler to a 77-66 upset over No. 25 Seton Hall. The Pirates, who had finally cracked the AP Top 25 for the first time in four years, looked like they were still celebrating the ranking instead of playing the game. They shot a miserable 17.6% from three-point range. You can't win in the Big East shooting like that. You just can't.
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SEC Chaos: Kentucky Stuns Rocky Top
If you want to talk about college basketball scores today that actually shifted the narrative, look at No. 24 Tennessee losing to Kentucky. The final was 80-78.
Kentucky was down double digits in the second half. Most fans had written them off. Then Denzel Aberdeen happened. He put up 22 points, and suddenly the Wildcats looked like the team we expected them to be in November. Rick Barnes was seen arguing with officials late in the second half—classic Barnes—but the reality is Tennessee's defense just fell apart when it mattered most.
Elsewhere in the SEC:
- No. 10 Vanderbilt got a massive scare from No. 19 Florida.
- Georgia and Arkansas are currently locked in a slugfest in Athens.
- Alabama is preparing for a late-night showdown that could shake up the Top 10.
Vanderbilt is interesting. They were undefeated until they hit a wall against Texas earlier this week. Today was about seeing if they could bounce back or if the wheels were coming off. Losing your "zero" in the loss column does weird things to a team's psyche.
ACC and Big 12: Survival of the Fittest
In the ACC, Virginia Tech handled business against Notre Dame, winning 89-76. Amani Hansberry was a monster, going 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. If you're a coach, that's the kind of stat that makes you sleep better at night.
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No. 16 Virginia also fended off a very game SMU team, 72-68. Malik Thomas dropped 23. Virginia is still doing that "Virginia thing" where they grind the game down to a halt and make you hate basketball for two hours, but hey, it results in a "W."
The Big 12 is a literal bloodbath right now. Arizona (No. 1) is currently in Orlando taking on UCF. Everyone is waiting to see if the Knights can pull off the upset of the year. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has been preaching focus, but playing on the road in the Big 12 is basically like walking into a blender.
What the Scores Don't Tell You
The box score says Georgia Tech beat NC State 78-74. What it doesn't show is the fact that NC State's Quadir Copeland was playing on a bum ankle and still managed 16 points. Or that Georgia Tech shot nearly 60% in the second half.
We often get caught up in the "Who won?" and forget the "How?"
For example, No. 23 Utah State is currently battling Grand Canyon in Phoenix. That's a "mid-major" game by name only. Those are two tournament-level teams hitting each other in the mouth. If you aren't paying attention to the Western Athletic Conference or the Mountain West, you're missing the best basketball of the day.
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Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
Watching these games isn't just about entertainment; it's about spotting trends before the sportsbooks do.
First, stop betting on Seton Hall's perimeter shooting. They've had back-to-back disasters from deep. Until they prove they can hit a stagnant jumper, they are a high-risk team to back.
Second, watch the "Points in the Paint" for Florida. They are dominating the glass (plus-12 in their last outing) and it's making them a nightmare for smaller SEC teams.
Third, UConn is vulnerable. They are winning, but the margin for error is shrinking. If they don't fix their late-game execution against "basement" teams, they'll drop a game to an unranked opponent before February hits.
Keep an eye on the late-night scores coming out of the West Coast. Purdue is at USC, and Gonzaga is playing a sneaky-tough game against Seattle. By tomorrow morning, the Top 25 is going to look completely different.
Next Steps for Your Bracket
- Check the updated NET rankings tomorrow morning; today's upsets will cause significant movement for the "First Four Out."
- Watch the injury report for NC State's Quadir Copeland; his mobility is the linchpin of their transition offense.
- Start looking at Butler as a potential bubble-burster; their win over Seton Hall proves they can beat anyone in the Big East when Finley Bizjack is hot.