Entering college basketball's stretch run, here are 10 things to get you all caught up

Congratulations on making it through another football season.

You came. You saw. You made your thoughts known on Bad Bunny, and thank goodness for that. Where would the world be without your approval of, or harrumphing over, a Super Bowl halftime performance? Thank you for your service.

Football is finito, the Winter Olympics are somersaulting by like a 115-pound snowboarder and baseball is still rubbing the sleep out of its eyes. This — right here, right now — is when you dive into the college basketball season if you’ve yet to do so. Selection Sunday is barely a month away.

To those who keep college hoops at arm’s length until all the footballs are back in the equipment closet, this 10-item catch-up on the men’s season is for you.

1. No. 1 Arizona and the Big 12

The Wildcats were 23-0 and unanimously first in AP voting before losing a nailbiter Monday at Kansas. Houston and Iowa State both are in the top five, and the Jayhawks solidly in the top 10. This is the top-ranked conference according to all the metrics, as strong — or stronger — toward the top as it was Baylor and Kansas won back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.

2. No. 2 Michigan and the Big Ten

Arizona has nothing on the 22-1 Wolverines, who lead all power-conference teams in scoring margin, and the Big Ten still could end up proving itself to be the best league. Nebraska, Illinois and Michigan State all are in the top 10, with old standby Purdue knocking on the door.

“I think there’s five legit chances to get to the Final Four,” television analyst Bruce Weber, who coached in the Big Ten and the Big 12, said of Illinois and its conference peers.

3. The Skyin’ Illini

The tallest team in the country has had even more height on the floor while 6-2 guard Kylan Boswell has been out with a broken hand, but Boswell’s eventual return will make a Final Four-caliber team even better, especially at the defensive end. The breakout of freshman Keaton Wagler has been dizzyingly impressive. The Illini are an NCAA 2 seed according to current bracketology, with a real chance to finish strong and move up to a 1. Circle Michigan at Illinois on Feb. 27 on your calendars in fat marker right now.

4. Best Big Ten tournament ever

At the very least, it’s certain to be a compelling West Side story from March 10-15 at the United Center. On the other hand, there’s a high chance of an all-too-classic screwing of the champion by the NCAA selection committee, whose members will be sipping umbrella drinks with their feet up by the time the final buzzer goes off on Sunday.

5. Sweet and Elite

The Midwest regional semis and final will be at the UC this year. It’s looking a lot like Michigan as the Midwest No. 1 seed, but Illinois still has time to roar through the next month and steal that sucker. Either way, Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games here will hit the spot.

6. Woe, Cats

Anyone else old enough to remember Northwestern’s back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances way back in 2023 and 2024? What a fall-off since then for the Wildcats, who went 7-13 in the Big Ten last season and are a miserable 2-11 this season. At least the next two games — against Michigan and Nebraska — should be nice and easy, right?

7. City living

DePaul has kept a lot of Big East games close, but there it is tied at the bottom of the standings anyway. Loyola is in last place in the Atlantic 10 — what has happened to the Ramblers? — and UIC is hanging in there in the top half of the Missouri Valley. Not a whole lot to see here, all in all.

8. This, that and the other

Miami (Ohio) is the last unbeaten left, at 24-0. It turns out having the 313th-toughest schedule, according to KenPom, makes things a little easier. Who knew? … Loyola has Saint Louis coming in next, and the Billikens are 11-0 in the A-10 and on a 17-game winning streak. Coach Josh Schertz to the Big Ten this offseason? … Defending national champ Florida is quietly — very quietly — in first place in the SEC, which is having a down season. Just don’t forget about the Gators.

9. National player of the year

Duke’s Cameron Boozer — son of ex-Bull Carlos — has it in the bag. He’s having a better freshman campaign than last year’s top dog, Duke’s Cooper Flagg, had.

10. National coach of the year

Michigan’s Dusty May? Arizona’s Tommy Floyd? How about Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg? They’re all in roughly equal contention, and several others — among them Illinois’ Brad Underwood — are still in the race.