College basketball scores, winners and losers: Kentucky, ...

What’s Happening

Listen up: Conference play began for many teams Saturday as the action gained in intensity across the nation College basketball scores, winners and losers: Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, UCLA fall on rough day for blue bloods Conference play began for many teams Saturday as the action gained in intensity across the nation By Cameron Salerno , Isaac Trotter & Kyle Boone Jan 3, 2026 at 11:43 pm ET • 10 min read Join the Conversation comments Imagn Images The first weekend of 2026 saw most college basketball teams play their first or second conference game of the season.

6 Duke survived a scare against Florida State during a 91-87 win on the road, other blue bloods weren’t as fortunate. Kentucky dropped to 9-5 on the season and began SEC play with a 89-74 loss to No. (wild, right?)

Last year, the Wildcats opened conference play with a statement win over (eventual) national champion Florida in one of the best games of the season.

The Details

The Wildcats were riding a four-game win streak before falling to the Crimson Tide. 17 Kansas saw star freshman Darryn Peterson return to the lineup against UCF .

But, Peterson logged just five minutes in the second half and his team was on the wrong side of an 81-75 loss to the Knights. Almost two years ago to the day the Knights upset the Jayhawks in their first conference win as a member of the Big 12.

Why This Matters

12 North Carolina has been playing like one of the best teams in college basketball lately, but fell flat in its first conference loss to SMU . The 97-83 setback to the Mustangs snapped a seven-game winning streak dating back to a win over Kentucky in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Here’s how the AP Top 25 fared Saturday followed winners and losers.

This is the kind of move that can define a season.