I know the calendar still reads February (until Monday at least), but if this Saturday didn't feel like March, then I don't know what will.

The nation's top two teams lost. A colossal meeting of top ten teams drew a NCAA on-campus record crowd. Teams played their way in and out of the big dance. And, for some, it took more than one overtime.

Rick Jackson (AP)

Let's start with a performance by a team that could very well catapult it to the No. 1 ranking on Monday. I'm talking about No. 4 Syracuse, which handled No. 7 Villanova, 95-77, in front of 34,616 spectators in the Carrier Dome.

On a day where it seems as if parody ruled the top 10, Syracuse proved in front of a national audience that it is for real. While John Calipari may have the most talented squad at Kentucky, and while Bill Self may have a team sans weakness at Kansas, when Jim Boeheim has his team playing like it did Saturday, there is no question Syracuse can hang with any team in the country.

When Andy Rautins and Wesley Johnson are making shots, Brandon Triche and Scoop Jardine are running the offense, and Arinze Onuaku, Rick Jackson and Kris Joseph are dominating the post, this team looks down right scary. This is not to mention the vaunted 2-3 zone.

The Orange outrebounded Villanova by 12 (they grabbed 22 offensive rebounds) and forced 16 Wildcat turnovers. Six players for the Orange scored in double figures. Scottie Reynolds led Villanova with 16 points.

The win likely cements Syracuse's Big East title - it has clinched at least a share of the crown. It should also assure it a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. Lastly, with the top two teams in the nation losing earlier in the day, and No. 3 Purdue facing No. 14 Michigan State without Robbie Hummel on Sunday, Syracuse could very well take over the top spot in the nation.

If Syracuse takes over, it will supplant No. 1 Kansas, which lost 85-77 on the road to Oklahoma State.

This was only Kansas' second loss on the season and first since Jan. 10. Sherron Collins had 22 points and four assists in the loss. With two games left, the Jayhawks have a two-game lead in the Big 12. One more Kansas win, and the Jayhawks will clinch the Big 12 title. Kansas will host Kansas State on March 3 for a marquee matchup

Despite the loss, Kansas' body of work still aligns it for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. While the fight for the overall No. 1 is now up for grabs, it would take a lot to knock this Jayhawk team out of a No. 1 seed.

Oklahoma State was led James Anderson's 27 points and eight rebounds. Anderson, who made several clutch shots, should become a household name this month. A supreme talent, Anderson is averaging over 22 points and six rebounds a night. Kansas could not contain this NBA-bound star. Also, as a team, the Cowboys his 10 3-pointers on the afternoon.

J.P. Prince (AP)

Things weren't much easier for No. 2 Kentucky as it faced No. 19 Tennessee, the only other team to beat Kansas this year.

Bruce Pearl's team lived up to its giant-killer reputation by knocking off the Wildcats, 74-65. With both Kansas and Kentucky losing, it is the first time the top two ranked teams have lost on the same day in the regular season since Jan. 21, 2006, when No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Florida lost.

This game had its ebs and flows. Down 19 points in the second half, the Wildcats got a lift from, none other than, John Wall. Wall, who finished with 19 points, got Kentucky out in transition and got the Wildcats back to even with less than three minutes to go. Then, Tennessee's J.P Prince took over as the Volunteers scored the game's last nine points. Prince finished a game-high 20 points.

For Kentucky, this shouldn't have much effect on their seeding. A road loss to a good team will not likely knock them out of a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. One more win and Kentucky clinches the SEC East title.  For Tennessee, this could do a lot of good for their seeding. You'd be hard pressed to find another team with two wins the caliber of Tennessee. That should go a long way in the committee's mind.

The action wasn't all about No. 1 seeds, however. It was also about bubble teams, and nowhere was the bubble more fun than in the ACC.

Maryland and Virginia Tech, two teams that have a strong chance at making the field of 65, but aren't absolutely assured a berth, went at it in an instant two-overtime classic. Behind Greivis Vasquez' career-high 41 points, the Terrapins came away with the 104-100 win at Virginia Tech.

Vaquez scored 33 of his points after half time as he helped Maryland hand Virginia Tech its first home loss of the year.

Maryland, which all but punched it ticket to the NCAA Tournament with this win, has now won five in a row and seven of eight. Only a half a game back of No. 5 Duke for first place in the ACC, the Terrapins will host Duke on March 3. Yes - Maryland still has a chance at the ACC regular season title.

Also in double overtime on Saturday, Davidson beat Elon, and Marshall beat UCF.

The Big East saw another upset. Notre Dame knocked off No. 11 Georgetown, 78-64, on the road for its second consecutive statement win without star Luke Harangody.

Notre Dame - welcome to the bubble.

The Irish, coming off a 15-point win versus No. 12 Pittsburgh, are now back at .500 in the Big East. A few weeks ago, Notre Dame was on the outside looking in in terms of the NCAA Tournament. Now, it is right in the thick of things.

With games remaining against Connecticut and Marquette, the Irish still have work to do, but a few more victories could propel them into the field of 65.

What's remarkable is that these two wins have come without the nation's second leading scorer in Harangody. The Irish have hit a combined 18 3-pointers in their last two victories. Notre Dame effortlessly shared the basketball, and it has played probably its best two games of the season its last two.

Ben Hansbrough led the Irish with 21 points and Tim Abromaitis chipped in with 19. Greg Monroe paced the Hoyas, who have lost three of four, with 15 points.

The Mountain West got in on the action as well as its two juggernauts took center stage. No. 10 New Mexico traveled to Provo, Utah and ousted No. 13 BYU, 83-81. The Lobos handed the Cougars their first loss at home this year (15-1) and got their first win in Provo in ten tries. BYU star Jimmer Fredette sat out most of the second half with a stomach bug.

This was New Mexico's 13th straight win. The Lobos last lost on Jan. 9 to UNLV. At 13-2 in conference, New Mexico is assured the No. 1 seed in the MWC Tournament and at least a share of the MWC crown. New Mexico is 6-0 versus ranked teams this year.

Dairese Gary led the Lobos with 23 points.

In the Big 12, No. 22 Texas A&M defeated No. 21 Texas, 74-58.

For complete results from Saturday, click here.

I still remember where I was.

All of six years old on a pull-out couch in my living room - way past my bed time - I stayed up for a classic game that only further cultivated my love for March Madness at a young age.

Christian Laettner (AP)

The game was Duke versus Kentucky. The year was 1992. The hero was Christian Laettner.

The game had already been a roller coaster ride. The momentum swings were massive and the superstars had come to play. Watching it, you had the feeling whatever team had the ball last was going to win.

In this case, it was the Blue Devils. Duke's Grant Hill was left unguarded, and he flung a pass nearly 80 feet into the arms of Laettner. Despite time rapidly winding down, Laettner found time to dribble, fake right and nail a turnaround jumper as time expired.

Duke 104, Kentucky 103. The Blue Devils were going to the Final Four.

The play and subsequent celebration is one that I recreated countless times in my basement. I was always Laettner. The shot always went it.

Laettner's legendary shot gave me my first distinguishable memory of March Madness. I have been hooked ever since.

That year, Laettner concluded one of the most storied careers in college basketball history, which included four Final Four appearances, with a second national championship.

Earlier this week, Laettner was inducted, along with six others, into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Laettner was joined by Wayne Duke, Tom Jernstedt, David Thompson, Jerry West, Davey Whitney and Sidney Wicks.

For more on the class of 2010, click here.

Remember when Dwyane Wade was a highlight reel waiting to happen in the 2003 NCAA Tournament? How about when freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a national championship that same year? Or, when Derrick Rose left us in awe with his array of moves that took Memphis within seconds of a title in 2008? Of course we do.

Want to relive these moments? NCAA.com is the place for you. NCAA.com is launching The Vault, a comprehensive video library that will contain complete game footage and highlights from every game played in the NCAA Tournament from the Sweet Sixteen to the National Championship since 2000!

You can watch a clip of Wade using his athleticism to score against Kentucky right here. Watch Anthony rallying his Orange teammates with a big three-point play against Texas in the Final Four here. And, see what kind of plays that made Rose the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, with his moves like this one in the national championship game.

If you're a college basketball fan, The Vault is for you. Sit back, relax and enjoy all of your favorite NCAA Tournament memories of the past 10 years.

It is being reported that Purdue forward Robbie Hummel has torn his ACL. Hummel left last night's game against Minnesota with a knee injury and was seen on the sideline in crutches. Hummel will miss the remainder of the season.

Robbie Hummel (AP)

Hummel, a 6-foot-8 forward, was second on the team in points and rebounds. He averaged 15.7 and 6.9, respectively.

Only a junior, Hummel still has one more year of eligibility left.

Purdue's next game is on Feb. 28 against Michigan State. This game will go a long way in determining the Big Ten title race. Currently, Purdue sits a game ahead of Michigan State and a half game ahead of Ohio State.

This injury will certainly have an affect on how the selection committee will determine Purdue's seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers had been in the mix for a No. 1 seed. Comparisons to when Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin got injured in the 1999-2000 season right before the tournament will certainly be made.
 
Earlier this year in a column, I classified Hummel as one of the most important players to his team's success.

For more on Hummel's injury, click here.

With the NCAA Tournament approaching, bubble teams are the talk of the land. A big week lies ahead for many of them, and Doug Kroll and Anthony Oliva discuss what a few teams will have to do in order to make the field of 65.

Every game counts this time of year, and two teams that appear to be on the NCAA Tournament bubble could not capitalize on opportunities last night.

Minnesota and Dayton each took on one of the best teams in its respective conferences trying to get a resume-bolstering win, but both teams lost.

Ralph Sampson III (AP)

Minnesota did come very close, however. Facing No. 3 Purdue, the Golden Gophers hung in the game until Purdue's Keaton Grant hit a jumper with 7.7 seconds left to lead the Boilermakers to a 59-58 victory.

Purdue' Robbie Hummel sat out the second half with a knee injury. The Boilermakers were led by JaJuan Johnson's 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. We'll have more on Hummel's injury as information becomes available.

Minnesota received a career-best 21 points from Ralph Sampson III in the loss.

For the Golden Gophers, it was another heartbreaking loss. This is the third time, the first two coming against Michigan State and Texas A&M, that the Golden Gophers lost by one point this season.

Minnesota has wins against Ohio State, Wisconsin and Butler on its resume. It is 7-8 in the Big Ten, and it is conceivable that it will need to finish at least .500 in conference to warrant an at-large selection. The Golden Gophers have road games at Illinois and Michigan, and a home game against Iowa remaining on their schedule.

Pudue now has a half-game lead over Ohio State for first place in the Big Ten.

In the Atlantic 10, Dayton lost to No. 20 Temple, 49-41, as the Owls moved into a tie with Richmond and Xavier for first place in the A-10.

The loss is Dayton's third in four games. The Flyers once looked like a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. Now, they are every much on the bubble as they sit at seventh in the A-10 with a 7-6 record.

Wins over Xavier, Georgia Tech and Old Dominion help Dayton's cause. The Flyers have three games left in the regular season, including a road game against Richmond, to turn things around.  

In the Big East, Notre Dame played arguably its best game of the season, and beat No. 12 Pittsburgh, 68-53, without star Luke Harangody.

The Irish hit 10 3-pointers and held the Panthers to 15 points below their season average to secure the easy win at home.

At 7-8 in the Big East, Notre Dame has, at the very least, vaulted itself into bubble consideration. The Irish don't have many quality non-conference wins to speak of, but they do also have a victory against West Virginia. With three games left, Notre Dame has three opportunities for quality wins. Notre Dame must finish strong, but it's not too far-fetched to think it could make the field of 65.

For complete results from Wednesday, click here.

This week's AP Poll has been released and you might notice something missing - ACC teams. Long one of the nation's best and deepest conferences, the ACC has only one team - Duke - in the AP Poll for the first time in 33 years.

Jon Scheyer(AP)

The Blue Devils, which have a game-and-a-half lead in the ACC, are the No. 5 team in the nation. Two ACC teams, Virginia Tech and Maryland, are knocking on the door of the AP Poll. These teams received the second- and third-most votes for teams not in the top 25, respectively. Virginia Tech had won eight of nine before losing to Duke, 67-55, on Sunday.

For complete results from Sunday, click here.

Maryland had a busy week that saw the Terrapins go 3-0 with wins over Virginia, NC State and Georgia Tech. The two-point win against Georgia Tech featured an improbable game-winning 3-pointer from Cliff Tucker. Both of these teams have done wonders for their NCAA Tournament resumes with their play the last month or so.

In the Big Ten, Purdue made a statement this week. As a result, the Boilermakers moved up to No. 3 in the nation. With a road win against Ohio State and home win against Illinois this week, Purdue captured sole lead of the Big Ten with an 11-3 record. Only a half-game back is Ohio State and Michigan State. Ohio State knocked off Michigan in East Lansing, 74-67, on Sunday.

Villanova fell from No. 3 to No. 7 after back-to-back losses to Connecticut and Pittsburgh. At 11-3 in the Big East, the Wildcats are a game behind conference-leading Syracuse. A mammoth matchup between these two teams looms on Feb. 27 when Scottie Reynolds and Co. travel to the Carrier Dome with a Big East title in the balance.  

Contrary to the title picture in the Big Ten and Big East, the SEC race actually got a little clearer when Kentucky, which holds firm with its No. 2 ranking, defeated Vanderbilt, 58-56, on Saturday. With a two-game lead in the SEC East with only four games to play, Kentucky seems to have a solid shot of being SEC East champ.

For complete results from Saturday, click here.

In the Big 12, Kansas stayed at No. 1 with wins over Texas A&M and Colorado this week. Texas, which lost to Missouri, fell six spots to No. 21. The Longhorns have lost three of five, and will have to play the rest of the season without starting PG Dogus Balbay, who tore his ACL on Feb. 20. Freshman J'Covan Brown will likely play an increased role.

Northern Iowa, which clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title, jumped into the rankings at No. 25. Wake Forest, formerly No. 23, fell out of the rankings.

For more on this week's AP Poll, click here.

Separation in the Big Ten? Now, that would be too easy.

Two of the Big Ten's powerhouses met last night, and if No. 9 Ohio State was able to take care of business at home and knock off No. 4 Purdue, Ohio State and No. 11 Michigan State would have been tied for a, relatively speaking, huge two-game lead atop the Big Ten.

JaJuan Johnson (AP)

Instead, JaJuan Johnson and the Boilermakers defeated the Buckeyes, 60-57, to keep the Big Ten title race as clouded as ever.

Michigan State, the current leader, holds a half-game lead over Purdue with an 11-3 conference record. The Spartans are only a game ahead of the Buckeyes, who have a 10-4 record. Michigan State's next two games are against, none other than, Purdue and Ohio State. Further complicating issues is that Illinois and Wisconsin are only a half-game back of Ohio State with a 9-4 record.

So, the Big Ten has five teams within a game and a half of each other. Man, this is fun.

On Wednesday night, however, Johnson was the key for the Boilermakers. The 6-foot-10 junior shot 11-for-17 from the field on his way to 24 points and seven rebounds, including several key buckets. Purdue led by 13 at half, but Ohio State clawed back in the game. Johnson made sure the Buckeyes never got over the hump.

Ohio State was led by - no surprise here - Evan Turner and his 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Ohio State had won nine straight in the Big Ten. Next up for Ohio State is a trip to Michigan State on Feb. 21.

At 22-3, Purdue is off to its best start since 1987-88.

In the Big 12, Kim English scored 18 points to lead Missouri to an 82-77 win over No. 15 Texas.

The Tigers forced 18 Longhorn turnovers and outscored Texas by 14 at the free-throw line. This made up for Missouri shooting only 2-for-13 from 3-pont range. This win should give Missouri a pretty good inclination that it will make the NCAA Tournament. As one of the at-large teams that was in the field at last week's mock selection, this win only strengthens the Tigers' resume.

Texas should also be in the field of 65, but it has now lost six of its last nine, which will undoubtedly hurt its seeding. The Longhorns were led by Jordan Hamilton's game-high 24 points and Damion James'18 points and 11 rebounds.

For complete results from Wednesday, click here.

 
 

At last week's mock selection, Connecticut was a team that received only minimal discussion before being left out of the field of 65. With a road upset over No. 3 Villanova on Monday night, the selection committee may have to begin to think twice about the Huskies.

Kemba Walker (AP)

After what Jim Calhoun called an "embarrassing" loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 13, the Huskies responded with a potentially season-salvaging 84-75 triumph over Villanova. This was UConn's first substantial road win of the season - it had lost its last six road conference games. This win, however, coupled with a win versus Texas earlier in the year, certainly gives UConn a pair of distinguishable wins for its resume.

The Huskies, which shot 67 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line, were led by point guard Kemba Walker's 29 points and nine rebounds. Jerome Dyson and Stanley Robinson, Connecticut's other top talents, combined for 25 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Prior to the win, UConn has lost two in a row and five of its last six. If the Huskies want to make an NCAA Tournament push, they need to finish the season strong. And, their schedule is favorable.

Here is UConn's remaining schedule:
February 20    at Rutgers    
February 22    No. 8 West Virginia
February 28    Louisville    
March 3         at Notre Dame        
March 6         at South Florida

All of these games are winnable, especially if the Huskies play like they did Monday night. They key game in this sequence is the West Virginia game on Feb. 22. Luckily for UConn, it is at home. If the Huskies can win that game, it would give them another statement win, and that could make it tough for the selection committee to keep them out. Right now, the Huskies are 4-8 in conference. With five games left, they will likely need to get at least nine conference wins, possibly also coupled with a good showing in the Big East Tournament, to earn an at-large bid.

For Villanova, it was its second loss in four games. It also continued the stretch of Big East teams ranked in the top 10 losing. No. 5 Syracuse, No. 8 Georgetown and No. 10 West Virginia also were upset recently. At 11-2 in the Big East, Villanova is tied with Syracuse atop the conference.

Here is a look at each teams remaining schedule.

Villanova
February 21   at No. 21 Pittsburgh    
February 24   South Florida    
February 27   at No. 5 Syracuse    
March 2        at Cincinnati    
March 6        No. 8 West Virginia    

Syracuse
February 18    at No. 10 Georgetown    
February 23    at Providence    
February 27    No. 3 Villanova    
March 2         St. John's    
March 6         at Louisville    

Villanova appears to have a slightly tougher schedule down the stretch with some tough road games and home meeting with West Virgina in its last game. The meeting between the Orange and the Wildcats at Syracuse on Feb. 27. however, will go a long way in deciding the conference championship.

Cole Aldrich (AP)

In the Big 12, No. 1 Kansas proved that it can win on the road, even if it doesn't play to its potential. The Jayhawks trailed at times in the second half, but clawed to a 59-54 win on the road against No. 24 Texas A&M. The win extends Kansas' win streak to 11 games, and snaps Texas A&M's 16-game home winning streak.  

Three Jayhawks - Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry and Marcus Morris - finished with 12 points. Aldrich, who had a double-double with 10 rebounds, also set the KU single-season record with 98 blocks. Henry, a freshman, was crucial for the Jayhawks in the closing minutes as he made several key free throws. Kansas outscored Texas A&M, 18-5, at the charity stripe. Morris played in only 20 minutes due to foul trouble.

Sherron Collins had only seven points on 2-for-9 shooting, to go along with only one assist, one rebound and five turnovers. Collins didn't have his first field goal until the second half. Collins is without a doubt one of the best point guards in the nation, and it's a testament to Bill Self's club that it could pull out a road victory with Collins having an off night.

For the Aggies, it spoiled a day in which they jumped back into the AP Poll. Forward David Loubeau led them with 17 points.

For complete results from Monday, click here.

With back-to-back road wins this past week and a six-game winning streak in the much-underrated Atlantic 10, Richmond made the biggest splash in the AP Poll this week. The Spiders, who checked in at No. 25, are nationally ranked for the first time in 24 years.

Kevin Anderson (Courtesy of Richmond)

Richmond defeated Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure this week. The Spiders also beat then-No.17 Temple by 17 points on Feb. 6. Richmond now leads a wide-open A-10 race. With a 9-2 record, Richmond has only a half-game lead on Temple, Charlotte and Xavier.

With a title race that is very much up for grabs in a conference that will have a multitude of teams fighting for postseason berths, the stage is set for an exciting finish to A-10 play.

For more on Richmond making the AP Poll, read here.

In the Big East, it was all about upsets this weekend. Valentine's Day saw Syracuse and Georgetown fall to unranked opponents.

Syracuse fell from No. 2 to No. 5 in the poll as a result of its 66-60 loss to Louisville. The Cardinals snapped the Orange's 11-game win streak. Syracuse drops to 11-2 in conference, and is now a half-game behind No. 3 Villanova in the Big East. This is before Villanova's game against Connecticut on Monday night.

Georgetown fell from No. 7 to No. 10 on the heels of its loss to Rutgers. Jonathan Mitchell led Rutgers with a career-high 24 points as the Scarlet Knights knocked off a top-10 opponent for the first time in seven years.

Greg Monroe had 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four rebounds for the Hoyas. Georgetown, which was coming off a win versus Villanova, is now in fifth place in the Big East. Georgetown will take on Syracuse on Feb. 18.

For complete results from Sunday, click here.

Perhaps the best game of the week - and maybe even the entire year - came between the teams currently in third and fourth place in the Big East. In an instant classic, Pittsburgh outlasted and outwilled West Virginia, 98-95, in a triple-overtime test of endurance on Feb. 12. This was the longest game in the 179-game history of this heated rivalry.

Gilbert Brown and Ashton Gibbs made clutch free throws late to preserve the hard-earned victory. Pittsburgh moved up six spots, from No. 25 to No. 19, whereas West Virginia dropped three spots to No. 8.

For more on this thriller, read here.

There was no other major movement in the AP Poll. Kansas, which ousted Texas earlier in the week, stayed at No. 1. Kentucky takes over the No. 2 spot after defeating then-No. 12 Tennessee, 73-62.  

Along with Richmond, Wake Forest, at No. 23, and Texas A&M, at No. 24, entered the AP Poll. Wake Forest dropped then-No. 20 Georgia Tech, 75-64, and Texas A&M escaped with a victory against in-state rival Texas Tech, 67-65, this past Saturday.

For complete results from Saturday, click here.

Want to know the purpose of the men's mock selection? Doug Kroll asks those who run it at the NCAA. Watch here!

After about 10 hours of going through the mock selection process, Doug Kroll and Anthony Oliva recap what transpired. Watch here!

Find out how the technology the selection committee uses has changed over the years, and how it helps them pick the field of 65. Watch here!

The mock selection is complete. Doug Kroll and Anthony Oliva give a rundown of the final day and entire process. Watch here!

NCAA.com followed around Dave Birckett of AnnArbor.com during the mock selection. Here is an insider's look. Watch here! 

Think adding teams to the bracket is easy? It's not. It's more of a bracket racket. Watch here!

The mock selection is over. Find out what the participants thought. Watch here!

A busy week of college basketball will continue in Indianapolis for the Division I Men's Basketball Mock Selection on Thursday and Friday. Members of the NCAA Selection Committee will facilitate as members of the media determine what the bracket would look like if the season ended this week. This will also explain the entire process the selection committee goes through in order to set the field for the purpose of demystifying the selecting, seeding and bracketing of the teams in the annual Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

The mock selection begins on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The first day, the entire process of creating the bracket will be reviewed. The 65 teams that qualified will be selected and the teams will start being seeded. On Friday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET, the seeding will be finalized. Finally, the teams will be put into the bracket.

Stay tuned to NCAA.com and this blog for complete coverage of the event, including a live blog and videos.  

Rivalry week kicked off in a big way on Monday with highly anticipated conference collisions in the Big 12 and Big East taking center stage.

Cole Aldrich (AP)

Let's start in the Big 12, where No. 1 Kansas really started to solidify itself as the top team in the nation. Utilizing a 22-0 run in the first half against No. 14 Texas, Kansas was largely in control throughout. The end result was an 80-68 road victory.

The Jayhawks now have a firm lead in the Big 12. At 9-0 in conference, Kansas has a three-game lead over second-place Kansas State and Texas A&M. Texas, once considered a contender for the Big 12 crown, is now 5-4 in conference. The Longhorns have lost five of their last seven.

This week is the Division I Men's Basketball Mock Selection, and these teams are currently going opposite directions in terms of seeding. Currently, Kansas looks like a lock for a No. 1 seed. Right now, the Jayhawks are the clear-cut No. 1 team in the nation, and their remaining schedule doesn't contain too many potential roadblocks. Texas, once considered a No. 1 seed, is dropping. With seven regular season games left - four of which are on the road - Texas is going to need some victories soon if it wishes to get a favorable seed. Rick Barnes' team no doubt has the talent, as seen by its 17-0 start, but Texas is really in need of a jolt.

Forward Marcus Morris, who has really helped this Jayhawk team hit full stride, led Kansas with 18 points and eight rebounds. For Texas, freshman guard J'Covan Brown was a bright spot, scoring a game-high 28 points. He may be in line to get more playing time. Texas' Damion James finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

In the Big East, we had a matchup of teams both ranked in the top 5 for the first time this season when No. 4 West Virginia hosted No. 5 Villanova.

Villanova senior Scottie Reynolds continued his stellar season with 21 points - 19 of them coming in the last 13 minutes - to lead the Wildcats to an 82-75 win. Reynolds also chipped in with five assists and three steals. This was the sixth time in Big East play that Reynolds topped 20 points.

With the win, Villanova moved into a first-place tie with No. 2 Syracuse atop the Big East, with a 10-1 record. West Virginia sits two games back in third place. Although a multitude of things can happen, Syracuse and Villanova have a fairly strong stranglehold over the conference race.

Five Mountaineers scored in double figures, led by Darryl Bryant's 15. For West Virginia, the loss snaps a six-game win streak. For Villanova, it's redemption for a loss suffered at the hands of No. 7 Georgetown over the weekend.

Speaking of the Big East title, Syracuse will be in action on Wednesday against Connecticut, losers of six of its last nine games. This is a matchup of two perennial powers headed in different directions. For Syracuse, this game is a must win to keep pace with Villanova. For UConn, the Huskies need a few statement wins just in order to help their NCAA Tournament chances.

A very similar matchup occurs in the ACC on Wednesday as well. Arguably college basketball's best rivalry, Duke and North Carolina, heads to Chapel Hill. Where No. 8 Duke, much like Syracuse, is looking to keep its top spot in conference, North Carolina, which has lost six of its last seven, needs to improve its NCAA Tournament resume with big wins. This is certainly an opportunity for Tar Heels.

A busy week of college basketball will continue in Indianapolis for the Division I Men's Basketball Mock Selection on Thursday and Friday. Members of the NCAA Selection Committee will facilitate as members of the media determine what the bracket would look like if the season ended this week. This will also explain the entire process the selection committee goes through in order to set the field for the purpose of demystifying the selecting, seeding and bracketing of the teams in the annual Division I Men's Basketball Championship. Stay tuned to NCAA.com and this blog for complete coverage of the event, including a live blog and videos.  

For complete results from Monday, click here.

For more on the AP Poll released on Monday, click here.

President Obama was not in attendance this Saturday like he was for Georgetown's triumph over Duke last week, but the Hoyas were every bit as impressive this Saturday. Behind Austin Freeman's 25 points, No. 7 Georgetown was dominant in a 103-90 victory over No. 2 Villanova.

Austin Freeman (AP)

The Hoyas controlled throughout and led by as many as 23 points in the first half. This was Villanova's first loss in Big East play and first loss since Dec. 13. Next up for the Wildcats is No. 6 West Virginia on Feb. 8.

Despite a measure of inconsistency - as seen by losses to South Florida and Marquette - Georgetown proved once again that it can be one of the elite teams in the nation. Freeman is one of the big reasons for that. The junior guard leads the team with 16.8 points per game, but he has been at his best in Big East play. He has scored over 20 points in each of the last four games.

Freeman's presence on the wing, combined with Greg Monroe's impact in the post, gives Georgetown a formidable inside-outside tandem.

Scottie Reynolds continued his stellar play with 24 points in the loss.

In the Big 12, the struggles continue for No. 9 Texas. Despite a late rally, the Longhorns lost to arch-rival Oklahoma, 80-71. Texas was down by 18 points by halftime.

Texas has now lost four of six after starting 17-0. The Longhorns travel to Kansas to take on the top-ranked Jayhawks on Feb. 8. The game will not have the Big 12 title race implications that many thought it would before, but it will still be a big-time matchup between two of the nation's top teams. This is an opportunity for Texas to improve its seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Once considered a No. 1 seed, the Longhorns will now want to earn some quality wins so they can move them up a few slots.

Tommy Mason-Griffin scored a game-high 24 points for the Sooners. Avery Bradley led Texas with 21 points.

In the Big Ten, Illinois defeated a Kalin Lucas-less Michigan State, 78-73. The win pulls Illinois and Wisconsin within a game of the conference-leading Spartans. Ohio State and Purdue sit only a game and a half back.

The Fighting Illini were led by Demetri McCamey who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Since losing three in a row in late January, Illinois has rattled off four consecutive wins. Illinois will travel to Wisconsin on Feb. 9 for a game with huge ramifications in the Big Ten title race.

No. 5 Michigan State was led by Draymond Green's 17 points and 16 rebounds. Lucas, the team leader who sprained his ankle on Feb. 4 against Wisconsin, expects to play against No. 8 Purdue on Feb. 9. Michigan State has now lost two in a row.

Things are heating up in the Big Ten and the conference is very much up for grabs. This week will be critical for many teams in the race.

No. 12 BYU, No. 19 Temple, No. 18 Vanderbilt and No. 20 Baylor also lost on Saturday.

For complete results from Saturday, click here.

Despite all the powerhouses in the Big East - some struggling, some thriving - little-known South Florida is starting to make some noise.

Last night, the Bulls ousted No. 7 Georgetown, 72-64, on the road. This comes after South Florida defeated No. 22 Pittsburgh on Jan.31. South Florida has now won four in a row in conference play for the first time in school history.

Dominque Jones (AP)

At 5-5 in the Big East and 15-7 overall, South Florida has put themselves on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. The Bulls will need to get a few more quality wins and stay at or above .500 in conference play, but it's not foolish to think that they could make it at this point.

A big reason for this: Dominque Jones. One of the best-kept secrets in the Big East, Jones has been on a tear as of late. During this four-game win streak, Jones is averaging 35 points a night. The junior guard is also averaging 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in that span. He hasn't scored less than 20 points in a game in 2010.

If Jones keeps this us, South Florida is a dangerous team the rest of the way. Next up for Jones and USF is a road game against Luke Harangody and Notre Dame on Feb.7.

In the Big 12, we saw once again that it's not easy to be No. 1. Top-ranked Kansas, in its first game since regaining the top spot in the rankings, got all it could handle from Colorado on the road.

The Buffaloes, who got 18 points and 11 rebounds from Marcus Relphorde, actually took the Jayhawks into OT, only to lose, 72-66.

Despite shooting 18-for-38 from the free-throw line, Kansas was able to hold off a determined Colorado team. It wasn't until the extra period that Kansas was able to pull away.

Marcus Morris, who has really come on as of late for the Jayhawks, scored six of his 15 points in OT. Morris also added eight rebounds. His contribution is giving this offense an entirely new element. Morris teams with preseason All-American Cole Aldrich to form one of the nation's best duos in the post. Aldrich ended with 16 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.

Guard Sherron Collins added 15 points and five assists.

Kansas knows that it'll have a bulls eye on its back as long as it's the No. 1 team in the nation, but Kansas has the depth and upper-echelon talent to potentially go on a long winning streak.

Kansas travels to No. 9 Texas on Feb. 8 for one of the biggest games of the year.

In the Big East, No. 6 West Virginia defeated No. 22 Pittsburgh, 70-51.

Da'Sean Butler led the Mountaineers to their fifth straight win with 18 points. Pittsburgh has lost four of its last five after having won its previous eight games.

For complete results from Wednesday, click here.

We're back to square one.

The Kansas Jayhawks, our heavily hyped preseason No. 1 team, is back as the top team in the nation. Thanks to a big week that saw Kansas oust Missouri, 84-65, and outlast then No. 11-Kansas State in OT on the road, the Jayhawks are right back where many pundits belived they deserved to be all along.

To find out why Kansas is back where it started in the preseason, look no further than its preseason All-Americans - Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. Against Kansas State, Collins fought off a bout of back spasms to return to the game and make the key bucket with nine seconds left. The point guard is leading the team with over 15 points and four assists per game. Aldrich is starting to really assert himself in the post and has been dominant as of late. He has a double-double in his last three games, averaging 16.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in that span.

Marcus Morris (AP)

Swimngman Xavier Henry has continued his excellent freshman campaign, but it is forward Marcus Morris that is really starting to emerge as another star for the Jayhawks. In the past six games, Morris is averaging 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds a night. If Morris keeps this up and teams with Aldrich in the post, Kansas would have a frightening inside-outside combo to complement Collins, Henry and others on the wing.

A game against No. 9 Texas, which beat Oklahoma State by 12 on Monday night, on Feb. 8 looms large for the Jayhawks.

Kentucky, last week's No. 1, fell to No. 4 after a loss to Suuth Carolina. Villanova and Syracuse claim the second and third spots in the poll respectively. Butler at No. 23 and Northern Iowa at No. 24 jumped back into the rankings. Connecticut and UAB fell out of the top 25.

Connecticut, a Final Four team last year, lost to Louisville, 82-69, on Monday night - its third loss in a row and sixth loss in its last eight games. A win against Texas certainly bolsters UConn's resume, but the Huskies are going to need to finish the Big East schedule strong if they wish to return to the NCAA Tournament.

For more info on this week's AP Poll, click here.

On a different note, this weekend - Jan. 31 to be exact - was the 40th anniversary of LSU's Pete Maravich breaking the Division I scoring record. Maravich brought a rare flare to college basketball, and his legacy will likely live on forever. His records may equally stand the test of time. With 3,667 career points, Maravich is still the all-time Division I leader in points scored.

In any era, Maravich's record would be hard to break, but in today's game, with many elite players leaving early for the NBA, his record seems that much more unbreakable. Maravich, who played an entertaining blend of basketball that was well ahead of his time, is certainly one of the greatest players in college basketball history.

To read more about the Pistol's record-breaking night, click here for an article by LSU Public Address Announcer Dan Borné.