Eye On College Basketball Podcast

Episode Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Gary Parrish & Matt Norlander
Theme: Wild Upset Week: Highly Ranked Teams Drop, Wild Finishes, and College Basketball Heads to Rome

Overview

This episode covers a historic run of chaos in the top rankings of men’s college basketball, with seven top-10 teams losing in five days—including Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa State, and UNC falling on the same night. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander break down the implications of these upsets, analyze the wildest games (especially in the Big Ten), and reveal a major scoop: Villanova and Notre Dame opening next season in Rome. In between, they highlight breakout individual performances, debate who to trust down the stretch, and swap their usual irreverent, host-driven banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

A Week of Upsets: Top Teams Tumble

• Seven top-10 teams have lost in a five-day window—a statistical rarity that’s energizing this year’s college basketball narrative.
  • [03:18] Norlander: "We have had seven teams ranked in the top 10 lose over a five day period."

Big Ten Madness: Purdue Survives at Nebraska

[02:07–11:17] Pinnacle Bank, Purdue 80 – Nebraska 77 (OT)

• Purdue blows a 22-point lead, but survives in OT on the road—a significant resume booster.
  • "Purdue walked in and Nebraska slipped and fell on its ass." – Norlander [04:17]
• Oscar Clough’s clutch OT bucket with 6 seconds left; Purdue went a stunning 46 three-point attempts (school record).
• Fletcher Loyer took 17 threes, leading the team with 18 points, but was inefficient.
  • "If you bounce that ball one more time, you are making a mistake." – Parrish [10:29]
• TKR (likely referencing center Trey Kaufman-Renn) dominated the boards with 19 rebounds.
• Nebraska now showing regression, with their third loss in four games.
• Both hosts openly joke about Parrish’s divided loyalties between Pinnacle Bank (Nebraska) and the Boilermakers.

Wisconsin’s Rally at Illinois

[11:17–22:43] Wisconsin 92 – Illinois 90

• Illinois, playing with a shortened rotation, led by double digits before Wisconsin rallied.
• Keaton Wagler starred for Illinois with 34 points, nearly won it with a last-second shot.
  • "I 100 percent thought that last shot was going in." – Parrish [13:57]
• Brad Underwood played just six; major injuries remain a factor.
• Wisconsin’s signature resume: two top-10 road wins (at Illinois, at Michigan).
• Both coaches lingered for an extended handshake, sign of mutual respect.
• "Five times in the last nine games Wisconsin has been down double digits and won the game." – Norlander [12:29]
• Underwood was demonstrably frustrated with Big Ten officiating postgame.

College Basketball Stealing the Show

[16:42–18:25]

• The hosts celebrate the volatile, exciting nature of this season:
  • "Right now, it’s not even comparable ... we are killing that sport." (re: CBB vs. NBA) – Parrish [17:32]
• College basketball praised for the parity, excitement, and engaging player narratives.

Wednesday Whip-Around: Top 15 Carnage Continues

[24:10–44:05]

ACC:

• Miami 75 – UNC 66:
  • Signature win for Miami puts them back on the bubble radar; UNC exposed after the emotional Duke win.
  • "If you look at the entire body of work, it was way closer to 20 than 11 even before what happened at Miami." – Parrish [27:41]
• Discussion on how many losses Miami (OH) can take and still make the tournament as a mid-major unbeaten.

Big 12:

• TCU 62 – Iowa State 55:
  • TCU’s Jekyll-Hyde resume, described as an “acid trip.” Seven and one in Quad 4, but major Quad 1 wins.
  • "Who the hell are you? ... This team is an acid drop." – Norlander [33:28]
• BYU 99 – Baylor 94:
  • A.J. Dybansa goes off for 36; freshman stars headline—only four major-freshmen to go for 30+ in six straight (Dybansa joins Durant, Beasley, Trey Young).
  • Fran Fraschilla called out draft analysts for underrating Dybansa; social media spat with Sam Vecenie.
  • Baylor’s struggles explained—lost centerpiece Robert Wright III to BYU.

Villanova-Notre Dame: College Basketball in Rome

[51:01–56:51]

• Norlander breaks major news: Villanova and Notre Dame (men’s & women’s teams) will open the 2026 season in Rome on All Saints Day, November 1.
  • Will air on FOX; first-ever official NCAA opener on Italian soil.
  • Multiple Catholic tie-ins, possible (but not confirmed) papal involvement at the games; logistical hurdles detailed.
  • "If any two schools are going to go play in Rome, this would be the reason why." – Norlander [51:23]
  • "Can we get the Pope on Ion College Basketball?" – Norlander [53:25]

More SEC & Big East Roundup

[44:57–50:36]

• Vanderbilt upsets Auburn on the road; Stephen Pearl’s emotionally challenging week after the Charles Bediako eligibility saga.
• Arkansas crushes LSU; Matt McMahon’s days rumored to be numbered.
• Villanova 77 – Marquette 74: critical victory keeping Big East bubble hopes alive.

Naismith Player of the Year Watch

[57:08–61:02]

• Leaders: Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybansa (scoring leader), Keaton Wagler, Yaxel Lendenborg, Joshua Jefferson.
  • "This is really one of the great seasons of college basketball we’ve had in a long, long time." – Parrish [59:00]
• Consensus: 10–12 deserving players, wild depth in the freshman class.

Preview & Closing Banter

[61:02–68:08]

• Upcoming slate: Florida at Georgia, UConn at Butler, Michigan at Northwestern—Thursday a notably slow night with only "Elvis Presley's alma mater" (Bryant) playing.
• Extended riff on the Villanova-ND Rome game, papal audience aspirations, and the ongoing “Pope vs. devil as podcast audience” running joke.
  • "Do we think the Pope has ever listened to an episode of Eye on College Basketball?" – Norlander [66:09]
  • "I think there’s a better chance the devil has listened to this podcast than the Pope." – Parrish [66:38]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [04:07] Norlander: “Purdue walked in and Nebraska slipped and fell on its ass.”
• [13:57] Parrish: “I 100 percent thought that last shot [Wagler’s] was going in.”
• [17:32] Parrish: “Right now, [college basketball] is not even comparable … we are killing [the NBA].”
• [33:28] Norlander: “Who the hell are you? … This team is an acid drop.” (About TCU)
• [51:23] Norlander: “If any two schools are going to go play in Rome, this would be the reason why.”
• [66:38] Parrish: “I think there’s a better chance the devil has listened to this podcast than the Pope.”

Important Timestamps

• 02:07 – Episode begins; chaos in the Big Ten
• 03:18 – Breakdown of top-10 upsets over five days
• 04:07–11:17 – Purdue-Nebraska, wild OT win, deep dive
• 11:17–22:43 – Wisconsin rallies at Illinois, Wagler’s brilliance, Underwood’s rant
• 16:42–18:25 – State of the sport vs. the NBA
• 24:10–44:05 – “Whip around”: Miami upsets UNC, TCU tops Iowa State, BYU-Baylor, etc.
• 51:01–56:51 – Villanova-Notre Dame to open next season in Rome
• 57:08–61:02 – Naismith Watch: Player of the year race
• 61:02–68:08 – Upcoming games, Pope & podcast jokes, wrap-up

Closing Thoughts

This episode is a microcosm of an electric, delightfully chaotic college basketball season. The hosts’ blend of sharp analysis, passionate fandom, and signature self-aware banter (plus a classic scoop about hoops in Rome) make it a must-hear for basketball fans—especially those savoring every minute of this unpredictable year.