College basketball scores, winners and losers: Kansas, Auburn, Purdue lose; open

March is still a couple days away, but the madness arrived early in college basketball Saturday as seven top-10 teams from the AP Top 25, including each of the top six, lost. No. 4 Purdue fell first, but No. 6 Kentucky and No. 3 Auburn soon followed in an afternoon that highlighted how fluid the NCAA Tournament seeding scenarios remain with just over two weeks to go until Selection Sunday. By mid-evening, No. 2 Arizona, No. 5 Kansas and No. 9 Texas Tech were also among the fallen. Then, in the late night window, No. 1 Gonzaga suffered its first loss since Dec. 4 at St. Mary’s.

Amid all the big-picture chaos are several conference races that look different now. No. 10 Baylor’s 80-70 win over Kansas sets up the Bears (24-5, 12-4 Big 12) just one game behind the Jayhawks (23-5, 12-3) in the Big 12 loss column with one week to go in the regular season. If the Jayhawks slip up in two games against TCU or in their regular-season finale against Texas, then a Baylor team with games against Texas and Iowa State could be in position to steal a share of the conference crown.

Purdue’s 68-65 loss at Michigan State dropped it out of a tie for first in the Big Ten standings as Wisconsin assumed sole possession of the top spot with a win over Rutgers. Upheaval was found in the SEC as well, with No. 18 Arkansas keeping its hot streak alive with a 75-73 win over No. 6 Kentucky. It marks 13 wins in the last 14 games for the Razorbacks, which are now just one game out of first in the conference following No. 17 Tennessee’s 67-62 win over Auburn. The Tigers have now lost three of their last six and are clinging to a one-game lead on Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee entering the final week of the regular season in the SEC.

As the regular season hits the home stretch and conference tournaments approach, the stakes are high across the country. Let’s see who the winners and losers were from Saturday’s action.

Winner: Baylor gets revenge

Baylor got its revenge for an 83-59 loss at Kansas on Feb. 5 by handing the Jayhawks an 80-70 loss on Saturday that required quite a rally. Kansas led 28-15 in the first half as the Bears played without top 3-point shooter LJ Cryer once again due to injury. Baylor didn’t knock down a single 3-pointer in the first half, but it did close the half on a 14-4 run. Flo Thamba scored a career-high 18 points to lead Baylor as he continues to play an increased role with fellow big man Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua out for the season. 

Freshman forward Jeremy Sochan also tied his career-high with 17 for the Bears. Given how injury-depleted the Bears have been during conference play, it was a great sign for this team that Thamba and Sochan could step up and carry a heavier load against an elite opponent like Kansas.

Loser: Gonzaga creates doubt

By falling behind 16 points and looking totally disjointed for large portions of an eventual 67-57 loss to St. Mary’s, Gonzaga gave credence to its critics. On the one hand, perhaps it was good for a team that has glided through the WCC slate with ease to be humbled entering the postseason. But there were some serious issues that surfaced in that game that renew the ever-present doubts over whether this program can finally get over the hump and win its first national title.

Loser: Arizona gets smacked

Arizona had a chance to clinch the Pac-12 with a victory over Colorado and an Oregon victory over USC. Instead, the Wildcats suffered a 79-63 loss at Colorado. The Buffs had just lost by 17 at home to a bad Arizona State team two days earlier, but they had no problem with an Arizona team that is projected to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Bennedict Mathurin did not score in the second half for the Wildcats after getting 12 points in the first half. Good teams are allowed to lose road games against quality opponents on the road every now and then, but it was surprising to see Arizona lose by 16 against a Colorado team that entered just 1-6 in Quad 1 games.

Winner: Wisconsin takes first in the Big Ten

With Purdue’s loss, all No. 13 Wisconsin had to do in order to claim solo possession of first in the Big Ten was to beat Rutgers. That’s easier said than done, however. The Scarlet Knights had knocked off Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan State in their last three home games entering Saturday’s showdown. Rutgers rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half to briefly take a late lead. But the Badgers closed it out to win 66-61 and claim the top spot in the league standings … for now at least. It’s been a revolving door atop the Big Ten this season and Wisconsin hosts none other than Purdue on Tuesday.

Winner: Arkansas is one of nation’s hottest team

Is Bud Walton Arena the toughest place to play in the country? What No. 18 Arkansas has done in its past three games inside the venue should put it in the conversation. The Hogs have knocked off Auburn, Tennessee…