The first men's basketball Saturday of 2025 is underway with a loaded slate featuring 17 ranked teams in action.
Here's a look at some of today's biggest matchups:
No. 10 Kentucky picks up third top-10 win, hands No. 6 Florida first loss
No. 10 Kentucky exploded for 106 points in its conference play opener, knocking off No. 6 Florida 106-100 for its third AP top-10 win of the season. The Wildcats (12-2, 1-0 SEC) finished with six players in double figures, headlined by guard Koby Brea’s 23 points off the bench.
The Gators (13-1, 0-1 SEC) backed up their undefeated record from the jump, shooting the lights out of Rupp Arena early. By the matchup’s ninth minute, Florida had made 10 of its 15 shots and had put together an 11-point lead.
That’s when the Wildcats ratcheted up their play on both ends of the floor, going on a 15-0 scoring run spearheaded by guard Oteha Oweh’s 10 points. Although Florida eventually chipped away at Kentucky’s lead and tied it up at 40 apiece with less than three minutes left in the half, the Wildcats entered the break up 52-42.
The two SEC teams battled for leverage after halftime, as Florida and guard Walter Clayton Jr. clawed at Kentucky’s lead while the Wildcats fought to maintain the separation.
The Gators cut Kentucky’s lead down to one point four times in the second half behind Clayton and guard Alijah Martin’s combined 43 second half points, but were never able to make it over the final hump. The duo finished with 59 points.
Backed by a 10-0 run and pivotal buckets by coach Mark Pope’s deep bag of scorers, the Wildcats dropped 100 points or more for the sixth time this season, shot over 50 percent from the field and three and remained undefeated at home.
No. 5 Alabama rolls past No. 12 Oklahoma
No. 5 Alabama delivered a commanding 107-79 win over No. 12 Oklahoma on Saturday, handing the Sooners (13-1) their first season loss in a SEC opener at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide (12-2) dominated the boards with a 51-26 rebounding comparison, catapulted by Grant Nelson’s double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Alabama set the tone early by taking a 48-29 lead into halftime thanks to consistent outside shooting and multiple fast-break opportunities. Guard Mark Sears paced the Tide with 22 points and a game-high 10 assists. Freshman guard Labaron Philon added 16 points, including two three-pointers. Head coach Nate Oats’ squad displayed its depth with four players scoring in double figures and 38 points off the bench.
Oklahoma struggled to find answers for Alabama’s size, shooting just 26 percent from beyond the arc. Jalon Moore led the Sooners with 20 points and seven rebounds, but standout freshman Jeremiah Fears was held to 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting. The Sooners entered the game as one of three remaining unbeaten DI teams but were overwhelmed by the Tide’s physical defense.
Alabama improves to 1-0 in league play, while Oklahoma faces a quick turnaround in a loaded SEC schedule after seeing its perfect start snapped.
No. 1 Tennessee dominates No. 23 Arkansas
No. 1 Tennessee started SEC play on a high note, beating No. 23 Arkansas, 72-56, to remain undefeated. The Volunteers (14-0, 1-0 SEC) held the Razorbacks (11-4, 0-1 SEC) to their lowest-scoring outing since March 2019.
A back-and-forth struggle in the first few minutes, Arkansas was the first team to 12 points by the 14-minute mark. That was the last time the Razorbacks and coach John Calipari would have the lead, though.
Tennessee would go on 12-0 and 8-0 scoring runs before the end of the half, while Arkansas faced six-minute and two-and-a-half-minute scoring droughts. The Volunteers led 42-27 by halftime and out-rebounded the Razorbacks 27-12 — 11-3 on the offensive glass.
The second half picked up where the first left off. Tennessee continued to dominate, shooting 41.7 percent on 3-pointers to Arkansas’ 11.8 percent and out-rebounding the Razorbacks 24-17. Forward Igor Miličić Jr notched a career-high in rebounds with 18.
The Volunteers rank second in the nation in scoring defense (56.2 entering the game), and their 24-point win was a reminder. Alongside the impressive defensive performance, guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points with five 3s.
No. 3 Iowa State rolls past No. 25 Baylor
No. 3 Iowa State (12-1, 2-0 Big 12) continued its strong start to conference play, rolling past No. 25 Baylor (9-4, 1-1 Big 12) with a decisive 74-55 victory. The Cyclones showcased their dominance on both ends of the floor to secure their second conference win.
Iowa State set the tone early, shooting 47.8% from the field in the first half while holding Baylor to just 28.1%. The Cyclones took an eight-point lead into the break and never looked back.
Senior guard Keshon Gilbert led the charge, finishing the half with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.
The second half saw the Cyclones widen the gap, outscoring Baylor 41-30. Their agility in transition was on full display, with 12 total fast-break points.
Gilbert capped off his night with a double-double, maintaining momentum through the final buzzer. Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic also contributed significantly, each scoring in double figures to bolster the team.
The Cyclones now look to extend their unbeaten start in Big 12 play.
No. 13 Texas A&M Pulls Away from Texas in SEC Opener
No. 13 Texas A&M opened its first conference game of the season with a statement, defeating rival Texas 80-60 on Saturday night at Reed Arena. The Aggies (12-2, 1-0 SEC) overcame a 37-37 halftime tie by pounding the paint. They out-rebounded the Longhorns 41-31 and scored 48 points in the lane.
Wade Taylor IV led the way with 13 points and three assists, while Pharrel Payne came off the bench to add 15 on 5-of-6 shooting. Texas A&M’s aggression forced Texas (9-5, 0-1) into 12 turnovers and just 34.6% shooting from the floor, 26.9% from beyond the arc. The Aggies benefited from 30 bench points and went 24-of-32 at the free-throw line, widening the gap in the second half.
Texas freshman guard Tre Johnson, the SEC’s leading scorer entering the contest, was held to 11 points on just 2-of-13 shooting. The Longhorns played their first-ever SEC regular-season game but could not recapture the offensive rhythm they showed early. Texas managed only 23 points after the break.
With their seventh straight win, Texas A&M stays perfect on the season at home. The Longhorns will seek to regroup quickly in a challenging new conference landscape.
