College Basketball Opening Week Takeaways: UConn's Backcourt, Big Offense and Shock Upsets
The opening week of the 2026-27 college basketball season delivered a star backcourt at UConn, huge offensive nights across the country, and a string of shock upsets — including Purdue's first 0-2 start since 1976-77. Here are the biggest takeaways from the first week of the NCAA men's season in November 2026.
UConn Has the Best Backcourt in the Country
The clearest takeaway of opening week is that UConn has the best backcourt in college basketball. Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins combined for 44 points in the Huskies' 85-77 win over Michigan, with Demary doing almost everything: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 0 turnovers. UConn opened the season by beating Gardner-Webb 86-46, a win that gave head coach Dan Hurley his 200th win at UConn, and the Huskies later beat Wagner 83-41.
Offense Is Everywhere: Illinois, UCLA and Louisville
Opening week was a showcase for high-scoring basketball. Illinois scored 120 points against FDU and followed it with 112 against Penn, two huge offensive nights to start the season. UCLA beat then-No. 5 Arizona 84-75 in Las Vegas, a statement win over a top-five team, and the Bruins also scored 114 against North Florida — including a 35-0 run that turned the game into a blowout. Louisville produced a run of its own, a 33-0 burst against Morehead State.
Purdue's 0-2 Start Is Historic — for the Wrong Reasons
The biggest surprise of opening week is Purdue. The Boilermakers started the season 0-2 for the first time since 1976-77, and head coach Matt Painter is 0-2 for the first time in his 23-year career. For a program as consistent as Purdue, losing the first two games of a season is almost unheard of — it has not happened in nearly 50 years. Painter has built Purdue into one of the most reliable programs in the country, which makes the start even more striking.
Upset Week: East Texas A&M, Saint Louis, Virginia and Memphis
The upsets were the other big story of opening week. East Texas A&M upset Oklahoma 68-64 in its first-ever win over a power-conference school, then followed it by winning 72-71 at Rice — a week that will go down in program history. Saint Louis went on the road and beat Missouri 90-84, a road win over an in-state rival that showed the Billikens are ready to compete. Virginia routed Arkansas 91-72, leading by as many as 27 points, as Arkansas coach John Calipari's young team committed 15 turnovers against the Cavaliers' pressure. Memphis earned an 80-76 quadrant-one win over Iowa, the kind of result that matters for the NCAA tournament picture in March.
Monday's Games: Indiana, Crowe Jr. and Vokietaitis
Monday, November 9, added more to the opening-week picture. Indiana beat Syracuse 83-80 in a close game between two storied programs. Missouri freshman Jason Crowe Jr. set a freshman scoring record with 34 points against SIU Edwardsville, announcing himself as a name to watch for the rest of the season. And Texas center Matas Vokietaitis had 26 points and 9 rebounds against Grambling, a strong night for the Longhorns' big man. See our NBA scores from November 9, 2026 for what else happened in basketball on Monday night.
What It Means
One week into the 2026-27 season, the picture is clear: UConn's backcourt of Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins looks like the best in the country, the top teams are scoring at a remarkable rate, and the upsets have already started — East Texas A&M over Oklahoma, Saint Louis at Missouri, Virginia over Arkansas and Memphis over Iowa. Purdue's 0-2 start, its first since 1976-77, is the shock of the week and the early test of Matt Painter's 23-year run. The season is long, and November results are only a first look, but opening week gave us stars, scoring explosions and surprises in equal measure. For more on college basketball news and scores, follow our coverage all season, including the latest AP Top 25 rankings.
Read Also
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the best backcourt in college basketball?
UConn's Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins combined for 44 points in an 85-77 win over Michigan. Demary had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 0 turnovers in that game.
How many wins does Dan Hurley have at UConn?
UConn's 86-46 win over Gardner-Webb in the season opener gave head coach Dan Hurley his 200th win at UConn.
Which teams scored the most points in opening week?
Illinois scored 120 points against FDU and 112 against Penn, while UCLA scored 114 against North Florida, including a 35-0 run.
Why is Purdue's 0-2 start historic?
Purdue started 0-2 for the first time since 1976-77, and head coach Matt Painter is 0-2 for the first time in his 23-year career.
What was the biggest upset of college basketball opening week?
East Texas A&M beat Oklahoma 68-64 for its first-ever win over a power-conference school, then won 72-71 at Rice. Saint Louis also beat Missouri 90-84 on the road, and Virginia routed Arkansas 91-72.
Who set a freshman scoring record on Monday, November 9?
Missouri freshman Jason Crowe Jr. set a freshman scoring record with 34 points against SIU Edwardsville. Indiana also beat Syracuse 83-80 that night.
Comments
Post a Comment