TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Thomas Haugh had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the No. 1 Florida Gators to a 77-67 win over the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes in the season-opener for both programs. Rueben Chinyelu added six points and 14 rebounds for the Gators, who this time left Benchmark International Arena with a win. In the same building on March 22, Iowa ended Florida’s season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Acaden Lewis had 24 for the Hurricanes in his first game since transferring from Villanova.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The college basketball season tips off with many players unexpectedly gaining an extra year of eligibility. They have received injunctions from courts in various states after the NCAA adopted a new five-year eligibility model that did not apply to them as they wrapped up their playing careers last season. As of last week, the NCAA reported about 200 lawsuits involving 850 athletes. So far, most of the courts — though not all — have sided with athletes seeking another year of eligibility. But nothing has been definitively decided as the season gets underway, leaving coaches to wonder whether their players will remain eligible through March.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri will start the college basketball season Tuesday without key players Jaylen Carey and C.J. Gunn. Carey has been suspended by Tigers coach Dennis Gates for violating team rules, while Gunn is ineligible due to SEC rules after signing a pro contract. Both announcements came Monday, the day before the Tigers play Cleveland State. Expectations are high for Missouri, which narrowly missed being ranked in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. All-SEC forward Mark Mitchell remains eligible despite ongoing legal challenges to the NCAA's new eligibility model, but his status could change, adding uncertainty to the roster as the season begins.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Matas Vokietaitis scored 22 points on perfect shooting as No. 7 Texas opened its season with a 109-59 victory over Chicago State. The 7-foot player also grabbed six rebounds. Point guard Isaiah Johnson added 18 points for the Longhorns, while freshman Joe Sterling contributed 14, including four 3-pointers. Texas converted 62.5% from the field, including half of its 3-pointers. Freshman Marcus Spears Jr., a top recruit, scored 11 points with five rebounds and four blocks. Chicago State was led by Will Lovings-Watts with 13 points and Mike Price with 12.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tyler Tanner scored 20 points to lead No. 24 Vanderbilt to a dominant 93-47 win over Bellarmine in the season opener. Tanner, a preseason Associated Press All-American, also had six assists and two rebounds. Berke Büyüktuncel added 13 points, Ace Glass had 12, and Chandler Bing scored 11 for the Commodores. DeMarcus Surratt led Bellarmine with nine points. Vanderbilt shot 60% from the field and had 48 points in the paint. The Commodores returned Tanner and Bing but lost four starters from last season's 27-win team.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Bo Aldridge scored 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, and East Texas A&M shocked Oklahoma with a 68-64 season-opening win. Mohamed Diakite and Alonzo Dodd each scored 15 points for the Lions, who never trailed after taking a 13-12 lead with 12:59 before halftime. Oklahoma tied it at 58-all and 60-all with 2:51 remaining but never took the lead. Aldridge made two free throws with three seconds left to play to seal it. Pop Isaacs scored 15 points, and Derrion Reid scored 14 and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Sooners.
UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State is out of the top 10 of The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in five years, UCLA is in the top five for the first time in 25 years and New Mexico has earned its first ranking in program history. The Buckeyes plummeted from No. 2 to No. 11 following their 30-18 loss at Southern California. Miami is No. 1 for the third straight week after escaping North Carolina with a 38-35 victory. Georgia moved up a spot to No. 2 and was followed by Utah, Notre Dame and UCLA.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Zakiya Johnson scored a career-high 33 points and had 13 rebounds to help No. 9 LSU rout Southeastern Louisiana 129-35 in the opener Monday night. The Tigers scored the first 18 points of the game en route to the 94-point win, which was the biggest in school history. It eclipsed the 89-point victory over McNeese State in 2023 and a 115-26 win over the Lady Lions last season. Johnson scored 18 of her career-best point total in the second half and made 14-of-19 shots in 29 minutes. Senior guard Milaysia Fulwiley, who made her second career start at LSU, added 20 points and six assists. Mikaylah Williams had 19 points.
