Gonzaga Bulldogs among record 7 top-10 men's basketball teams to lose Saturday
For the first time in college basketball history, seven top-10 teams lost on the same day.
On Saturday, No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 Purdue, No. 5 Kansas, No. 6 Kentucky and No. 9 Texas Tech all lost, surpassing the previous record of six top-10 teams in the Associated Press poll losing in one day. Saturday was also the first time the top six teams in the top-25 poll all lost on the same day, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
The last time six top-10 squads lost in one day was on Feb. 4, 2017. It had happened five times overall.
Saturday's historic slew of defeats could have implications on Selection Sunday.
Gonzaga suffered a 67-57 loss at rival Saint Mary's. Arizona suffered a 16-point loss to Colorado, the worst loss by a No. 2 team in the AP poll against an unranked opponent since UMBC upset then-No. 1 Virginia in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA tournament, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Auburn finished 5-for-24 from the 3-point line in a 67-62 loss at Tennessee. Tyson Walker hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to play in Michigan State's win over Purdue, which followed the Spartans' 1-5 stretch in its previous six games. Kansas suffered an 80-70 loss at Baylor. Arkansas outlasted Kentucky in a 75-73 win in Fayetteville. And Texas Tech lost 69-66 at TCU.
Purdue's loss to Michigan State could mean that the Boilermakers, who no longer control the Big Ten title race, will end up in a fight to preserve a top-two seed. They're currently listed as the final No. 2 seed in Joe Lunardi's bracketology, while Auburn — 3-3 in its last six games — moved off the top-seed line after the loss to the Vols.
Baylor moved up to the top line and Gonzaga, Arizona and Kansas