Las Vegas becomes college basketball’s hottest battleground as Gonzaga, Alabama, Houston, and Tennessee headline the high-stakes Players Era Festival. With top-25 clashes, standout showdowns between Labaron Philon, Nate Ament, and JaKobi Gillespie, and NIL money on the line, the tournament’s rapid-fire schedule promises can’t-miss drama. Who claims a million-dollar prize and national bragging rights in this loaded Thanksgiving week slate? Andy Patton and Isaac Schade break down every marquee matchup—Gonzaga vs. Alabama, Iowa State vs. St. John’s, Kansas’s injury questions, and more—providing predictions, key player highlights, and bold championship picks. The hosts debate the chaotic format, potential upsets, and which Final Four contenders could emerge from the desert. Will Houston’s defense dominate, or does Alabama grab the best resume in college hoops? Get the latest insights, tournament analysis, and reasons to tune in all week long.

Tommy Lloyd and the Arizona Wildcats picked up a massive road win over the UConn Huskies on Wednesday, out-rebounding Danny Hurley's team by 20. The Huskies were without star center Tarris Reed, but this performance made it clear: Arizona is the BEST team in college basketball!

Michigan State Spartans stun Kentucky Wildcats with dominant Champions Classic performance. Can the Wildcats recover from their $22 million NIL investment disappointment?

KANSAS JAYHAWKS, DUKE BLUE DEVILS, KENTUCKY WILDCATS, and MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS collide at Madison Square Garden for the 15th Champions Classic. Will Darryn Peterson's hamstring injury derail Kansas against Duke's dominant Cameron Boozer? Isaac Schade moderates a roundtable featuring Lance Dawe (LO Kentucky), Matt Sheehan (LO Spartans), JJ Jackson (LO Blue Devils), and Derek Johnson (LO Jayhawks) as they break down both matchups. The discussion covers Peterson's likely absence and its impact on the Duke-Kansas spread, Michigan State's 21% three-point shooting struggles against Kentucky's nation-leading two-point efficiency, and Cameron Boozer's historic start matching Cooper Flagg's freshman dominance. Key analysis includes Kansas's size disadvantage against Duke's fifth-ranked height, Kentucky's physicality without injured guard Jaland Lowe, and Michigan State's desperate need for late-game scoring. The hosts reveal surprising Champions Classic historical records, debate betting lines that shifted dramatically, and share memorable moments including Zion Williamson's debut which Duke scored 118 points and Frank Mason's game-winner. Hear expert predictions, strategic breakdowns, and insider perspectives on college basketball's premier early-season showcase.

AJ Dybantsa nearly single-handedly erases a 20-point deficit for BYU against UConn, while Kingston Flemings leads Houston's freshman trio past Auburn in a nail-biting finish. Andy and Isaac break down how Dybantsa's second-half explosion fell just short in Boston, analyze Flemings' 22-point performance that carried Houston to a 73-72 victory, and examine Arizona's second ranked win over UCLA behind veteran contributions from Anthony Dell'Orso and Jaden Bradley.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS silence doubters with impressive road victory over ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE. Can BRADEN SMITH lead them to a national championship? The hosts break down PURDUE's 87-80 triumph in Tuscaloosa, where BRADEN SMITH cemented his status as college basketball's best point guard with 21 second-half points and TREY KAUFMAN-RENN dominated the glass in his season debut. The discussion covers breaking news about BYU COUGARS guard KENNARD DAVIS's DUI arrest not too long before facing UCONN, analyzing how DANNY HURLEY's squad will defend AJ DYBANTSA in his TD Garden homecoming. Key previews include HOUSTON COUGARS versus AUBURN TIGERS—a rematch of last year's infamous airplane fight game with KELVIN SAMPSON back on the sideline—and ARIZONA WILDCATS taking on UCLA BRUINS in a former Pac-12 battle pitting TOMMY LLOYD's offense against MICK CRONIN's defensive philosophy. Tune in for expert analysis on four days of elite college basketball matchups and predictions for the weekend's biggest games.

Virginia Tech Hokies basketball's Neo Avdalas is rewriting expectations as a 6-foot-9 point guard who left professional basketball in Greece to showcase his playmaking skills in college. The Greek freshman is averaging 18.3 points and 7.3 assists through three games with a remarkable 22-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio, including a 33-point explosion against Providence.

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS stun KENTUCKY WILDCATS 96-88 as freshman MIKEL BROWN JR. erupts for 29 points. Can PAT KELSEY lead Louisville to an ACC championship in year two? The Bluegrass Beatdown delivers as Louisville dominates for 37 minutes, with Brown and transfer RYAN CONWELL combining for 53 points in front of the YUM! Center crowd. College basketball analyst DESHAUN TATE breaks down Kentucky's 14 turnovers and Louisville's complete transformation under Kelsey. ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI survive TEXAS TECH 81-77 without star center TOMISLAV IVISIC, as ANDREJ STOJAKOVIC has 23 points and a game-saving block in his second game back. LOCKED ON ILLINI host SUNNY VERMA analyzes J.T. TOPPIN's 35-point near-comeback and Illinois' defensive resilience. Additional coverage includes GONZAGA BULLDOGS' dominant 90-63 victory over CREIGHTON, MICHIGAN's overtime escape against WAKE FOREST, and defending champion FLORIDA GATORS' narrow win over FLORIDA STATE despite backcourt struggles. Tune in for expert analysis, statistical breakdowns, and insights on college basketball's biggest Tuesday night matchups.

HOUSTON COUGARS overtake PURDUE BOILERMAKERS for #1 ranking by just 3 points. Are AP voters overreacting to early-season results? Isaac Schade breaks down the week 2 AP Poll shake-up where HOUSTON claimed the top spot despite PURDUE receiving twice as many first-place votes, calling it a premature move by voters. The analysis covers dramatic poll swings including ARIZONA's 8-spot jump, NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS' rise after beating KANSAS, and why teams like FLORIDA and ARKANSAS shouldn't have dropped so far. IOWA STATE's explosive 38-19 run against MISSISSIPPI STATE gets examined alongside JOSH HUBBARD's turnover troubles, while XAVIER's shocking 30-point deficit to SANTA CLARA raises questions about the RICHARD PITINO era. The episode previews Tuesday's loaded slate featuring the #9 KENTUCKY WILDCATS versus #12 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS rivalry happening absurdly early, plus #11 TEXAS TECH at #14 ILLINOIS with injury concerns for TOMISLAV IVISIC and the Eastern bloc. Tune in for sharp takes on college basketball's biggest overreactions and must-watch matchups.

Alabama Crimson Tide guards stun St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden while North Carolina Tar Heels freshman Caleb Wilson outduels Kansas Jayhawks' Darryn Peterson in a battle of elite diaper dandies. Can Michigan State Spartans' defensive identity carry them through Big Ten play?

KANSAS JAYHAWKS clash with NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS in Friday's marquee matchup. Can freshman sensation DARRYN PETERSON lead KANSAS past the TAR HEELS at the Dean Smith Center with both teams looking to rebound from sub-par 2024-25 campaigns? ANDY PATTON and ISAAC SCHADE break down the weekend's biggest college basketball games, analyzing KANSAS vs NORTH CAROLINA's battle of blue bloods looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons. The discussion covers ALABAMA's guard advantage against ST. JOHN'S front court dominance at Madison Square Garden, JOHN CALIPARI's young ARKANSAS squad facing TOM IZZO at the Breslin Center, and GONZAGA hosting PORTER MOSER's OKLAHOMA team. Key matchups include freshman phenom CALEB WILSON's mobility problems for KANSAS, ZUBY EJIOFOR's interior presence for the RED STORM, and whether DARIUS ACUFF can lead the RAZORBACKS to a road victory against MICHIGAN STATE. The hosts provide predictions, injury updates, and betting insights for INDIANA vs MARQUETTE at the United Center plus MEMPHIS vs SAN FRANCISCO. Catch the complete breakdown of every ranked matchup and upset alert for college basketball's opening weekend.

The Arizona Wildcats took down Florida with freshman Koa Peat's 30-point explosion, while Texas Tech dominated without four key players. Can these early performances predict March success?

Duke Blue Devils stun Texas with Isaiah Evans' 23-point performance in the Dick Vitale Invitational. Can Cameron Boozer bounce back from his scoreless first half?

ARIZONA WILDCATS stun defending champion FLORIDA GATORS 93-87 as freshman Koa Peat dominates. Isaac Schade breaks down opening night's biggest upsets, featuring ARIZONA's comeback victory and #8 BYU COUGARS holding off VILLANOVA 71-66. LEIF THULIN from Locked On Wildcats reveals why he drastically underestimated Peat (& Arizona's) ceiling and explains FLORIDA's fatal backcourt flaws that prevent championship contention. JAKE HATCH from Locked On Cougars analyzes AJ Dybantsa's spectacular 21-point debut and BYU's surgical late-game execution under KEVIN YOUNG. Key topics include JADEN BRADLEY's clutch scoring stretch, ARIZONA's projected 18-2 start in the Big 12, RICHIE SAUNDERS playing through illness, and other standout freshman performances from Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff, and more. The discussion covers the Duke vs Texas preview in the Dicky V Invitational and what these opening night results signal for the 2025-26 college basketball season. Tune in for expert analysis on ARIZONA WILDCATS, BYU COUGARS basketball and the season's most impressive debuts.

College basketball returns after seven months as opening day delivers 108 Division I matchups. Can the Florida Gators defend their national title against Arizona Wildcats in the Hall of Fame Series, and will AJ Dybantsa live up to the hype in his BYU debut against Villanova?

The KANSAS JAYHAWKS and BYU COUGARS battle for the NBA's top draft pick. Will DARRYN PETERSON or AJ DYBANTSA claim the crown? ANDY PATTON and ISAAC SCHADE break down the Big 12 Conference preview, analyzing the championship race between dominant HOUSTON COUGARS and rising TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS. The discussion covers preseason All-Conference selections featuring J.T. TOPPIN, MILOS UZON, and PJ HAGGERTY, plus coaching hot seats for BOBBY HURLEY at ARIZONA STATE and WES MILLER at CINCINNATI. Key topics include KANSAS JAYHAWKS' potential rebound under BILL SELF after two disappointing seasons, KELVIN SAMPSON's unprecedented three-year dominance at Houston, and tier rankings for all 16 Big 12 teams including IOWA STATE CYCLONES, ARIZONA WILDCATS, and BAYLOR BEARS. Discover which eight teams will make the NCAA Tournament and why this conference features the nation's deepest talent pool in college basketball.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES face a season-defining challenge with star guard TAMIN LIPSEY recovering from a grade 2 MCL sprain just as the team prepares for the college basketball season, which comes complete with a brutal closing schedule. Can the Cyclones navigate a gauntlet that includes hosting KANSAS and HOUSTON before road trips to BYU, UTAH, and ARIZONA? NICK MAROVETS from Locked On Cyclones breaks down how MILAN MOMCILOVIC must increase his shooting volume, JOSHUA JEFFERSON's emergence as the primary scorer, and the impact of transfer BLAKE BUCHANAN from Virginia. The discussion covers Iowa State's returning core, an intriguing freshman class featuring 6'11" international prospect DOM PLETA, and how the team's depth will be tested in Big 12 play. Key insights include the coaching staff's aggressive approach to non-conference games and why this season could yield a deeper NCAA Tournament run despite a potentially tougher regular season. Tune in for expert analysis on Iowa State basketball's path through the nation's toughest conference and their prospects as a projected 4 or 5 seed.

Will Wade's arrival sparks a new era for NC State Basketball. Can the Wolfpack secure a top-four ACC finish and return to March Madness? Explore the impact of Wade's aggressive coaching style and the roster overhaul featuring key transfers like Darrion Williams and Quadir Copeland. The hosts break down NC State's exhibition game performance, analyze their challenging non-conference schedule, and debate the team's NCAA tournament potential. With insights from Locked On Wolfpack co-hosts Grayson Boone and Kenton Gibbs, get an in-depth look at the Wolfpack's path to success in a competitive ACC landscape. Tune in for expert predictions on NC State's season outlook and potential postseason run.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS aim for first Final Four. Can Rick Barnes' lifetime contract fuel a championship run?

College basketball's elite clash in thrilling exhibition matchups. Duke stuns Tennessee with Cam Boozer's 24-point, 23-rebound performance, while Kentucky dominates Purdue in a balanced scoring showcase.