Eye On College Basketball – Episode Summary: Kansas creams ISU, ending the Clones’ unbeaten run; UConn escapes Seton Hall; UT escapes A&M; Bucky escapes Minny + everything else from Tuesday night

Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander

Episode Overview

In this lively and insightful episode, Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander recap a jam-packed Tuesday night in college basketball, focusing on Kansas’s dominant win over previously undefeated Iowa State, UConn’s gritty road victory at Seton Hall, Tennessee’s double OT survival at Texas A&M, and Wisconsin’s buzzer-beater heroics against Minnesota. The hosts blend sharp analysis with their trademark banter, exploring the biggest results, standout players, coaching narratives, and implications for the wider college basketball landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kansas Dominates Iowa State, Ends Clones' Unbeaten Run

Segment Start: [01:26]

• Main Storyline: Kansas (Jayhawks) hand Iowa State (Cyclones) their first defeat of the season, 84-63, in Allen Fieldhouse.

  • ISU drops to 16-1.
  • Game was never really close; Kansas led by 21 at halftime.

• Gary’s Take:

  • “The only building that I do trust is the one in Lawrence, Kansas. And damn, did it show up again on Tuesday night.” [04:26]
  • Credits Bill Self’s record: “Bill self is now 26 and 22 when he plays a top five team. To be above .500 in your career with, you know, nearly 50 results against top five competition is incredible.” [05:10]

• Historical Context:

  • Largest win by a D-I team against an opponent 16-0 or better since 1972.
  • Largest Kansas home win over a top-5 team since 1995.

• ISU Perspective:

  • Matt: “You could finish fourth or fifth in the Big 12 and win the national championship. Not like, oh wow, can you believe NC State’s in the Final Four? ... This league, I don’t know that any has more teams that can realistically win the national championship than the Big 12.” [13:03]

• Key Players:

  • Trey White was “awesome.”
  • Darrin Peterson: Didn’t have to be a superstar, but still flashed moments of his elite potential.

• Media Note:

  • It was notable that Peterson spoke to media postgame for the first time in a while—a sign of Kansas moving past distracting off-court issues.

• Iowa State's Reaction:

  • “You get picked off… you’re off to a 16–0 start, you’re 16–1. The schedule benefits you next couple of weeks, so it won’t surprise me if at the end of the month Iowa State only has one loss.” [11:26]

2. UConn Escapes Seton Hall: Road Grit and “Winning Ugly”

Segment Start: [16:50]

• Norlander’s Recap (On-site):

  • UConn led after an 18–3 run to close the half. Seton Hall trimmed it to 1 with a minute left, thanks to their one made three-pointer.
  • Silas Demery Jr. hit clutch FTs late.
  • “This was… the first time that I ever covered a Seton Hall regular season game at the Rock… This was the first time I had… and a big game for Seton Hall.” [19:40]

• Shooting Woes:

  • UConn: 3-17 from deep.
  • Seton Hall: 1-16.

• Key Defensive Play:

  • Braylon Mullins’ block on a late 3-point attempt preserved the win.
  • Matt: “That’s the type of thing that moves him up six spots in a mock draft... I don’t think many people know he can move like that, recover like that…” [24:20]

• Historical Context:

  • UConn starts 7-0 in Big East for the first time since 1998-99 (first national title season).
  • 17-1 overall—their only loss, a 4-point defeat against Arizona with key players out.

• Big East Bubble:

  • Hurley “noted they don’t get many Quad 1 opportunities in league play. He’s right.” [28:28]
  • UConn now 5-0 on the road—best record among high majors.

• National Title Outlook:

  • “This team can win a national championship… Can UConn win three national championships in a four-year span? Yeah, they can do that.” — Matt [25:58]
  • Gary agreed, pointing to their consistency and the solid roster.

3. Bounce Around: Rapid Recap of the Nation

Segment Start: [30:30]

Nebraska 90, Oregon 55

• Nebraska is 17–0 with a 21-game win streak; two players hit 7 threes each.
• “The Fred Hoiberg story continues to get more and more interesting.” — Matt [31:04]
• Oregon’s injury-ravaged season is “going the wrong way” and puts Dana Altman’s future in question.

Michigan State 81, Indiana 60

• Jeremy Fears has a statement game (23pts, 10 ast). Spartans are 15–2.
• Cohen Carr, “one of the ten best in-game dunkers in college I’ve ever seen.” — Gary [36:47]
• Indiana in danger of missing NCAA tournament in coach DeVries’ first year.

Virginia 79, Louisville 70

• Louisville (without injured freshman star Mikel Brown Jr.) falls to 3-4 in last seven.
• Gary: “Not an NCAA tournament team if he’s not in the lineup.” [41:06]
• Virginia is 15–2 (“Coach Odom’s group looks like the perfect fit.”) and an ACC contender.

Tennessee 87, Texas A&M 82 (2OT)

• Nate Amen scores 23 points, dominates OT.
• Tennessee outscores A&M on the boards 60–35. “I don’t think Tennessee will win the SEC or finish second or third, but they’re still a nightmare matchup.” — Gary [48:19]

Florida, Baylor, Other Highlights

• Florida rolls over Oklahoma for a resume-boosting road win.
• Baylor stops a four-game slide with a win at Oklahoma State.

Wisconsin 61, Minnesota 59 (Buzzer Beater)

• John Blackwell hits game-winning three after a K.Tyson tying trey.
• Gary remarks on the wild finish: “No timeout from [Greg] Gard, Blackwell goes down, sinks the winner from NBA range… a really, really cool vantage point. A good win for Wisconsin.” [50:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Predictions and the Allen Fieldhouse Mystique

• “In the past week…I have found myself…suggesting Bennett Sturts belongs on a first team All American…That’s damaged my relationship with Purdue fans…I’ve lost my way.” — Matt Norlander [03:13]
• “You could finish fourth or fifth in the Big 12 and win the national championship…This league, I don’t know that any has more teams that can realistically win the national championship than the Big 12.” — Matt Norlander [13:03]

On UConn’s Road Grit

• “UConn is winning in a variety of ways…I wasn’t on last week to even talk about the Providence win…So we’ve had some bumpiness to start 2026, but 17-1…They’re exercising the demons, unquestionably.” — Gary [22:53]
• “This team can win a national championship…can UConn win three national championships in a four year span? Yeah, they can do that.” — Matt Norlander [25:58]

On Coaching & Program Identity

• “If I’m an athletic director, I never want to have to replace Tony Bennett. I just want Tony Bennett to coach my team…But if you have to, you hope you get it right, and they got it right.” — Matt Norlander on Virginia’s Coach Odom [45:19]

On College Living

• “Nobody lives in a home with a printer that works perfectly. If you have a printer in your home, they will not work. I don’t know why.” — Matt Norlander [55:23]

Tribute to Bill Courtney

• “An extremely kind man…Always available…He died suddenly. It was not expected…rest in peace and nothing but the absolute best to everyone who knew and loved him, his family.” — Gary Parrish [61:58]

Important Timestamps

• [01:26] – Show Open/Primary Focus: Kansas vs. Iowa State recap
• [07:04] – Kansas’ need for a statement win; Bill Self’s narrative
• [13:03] – Big 12 depth & national title race implications
• [16:50] – UConn at Seton Hall recap and analysis
• [19:40] – UConn’s resume, conference context, and historical notes
• [24:20] – Braylon Mullins’ critical defensive play
• [30:30] – Start of national whip-around: Nebraska, Oregon, injuries
• [36:35] – Michigan State, Indiana, Cohen Carr’s dunks
• [41:06] – Louisville’s struggles without Mikel Brown Jr.; Virginia’s rise
• [46:20] – ACC contenders discussion
• [48:19] – Tennessee survives Texas A&M in double OT
• [49:58] – Wisconsin's buzzer beater win at Minnesota
• [61:08] – Jalen Lowe out for LSU; injury updates
• [61:52] – Remembering Bill Courtney, tributes and impact

Tone and Delivery

The hosts maintain their signature lively, self-deprecating, and often humorous tone throughout while thoroughly breaking down basketball results and implications. The interplay between Gary’s straight-shooting style and Matt’s energetic, slightly neurotic confessions (about printers, predictions, and aging) keeps the discussion relatable and entertaining.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• Kansas re-established itself as a Big 12 contender with an overwhelming home win against previously unbeaten Iowa State, reminding everyone of Allen Fieldhouse’s aura and Bill Self’s coaching acumen.
• UConn continues to find ways to win, even when not at their best, and looks poised for another deep March run with a battle-tested and flexible roster.
• Nebraska, Michigan State, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Wisconsin each scored important wins, with injuries and player health taking center stage in some storylines.
• The Big 12 and ACC are both deep and unpredictable, and national title race possibilities are wide open midseason.
• Listeners are treated to inside stories (and some printer rants) and reminders of the broader human side of the sport following the passing of coach Bill Courtney.

This summary captures the night’s notable upsets, player performances, evolving conference storylines, and the irreverent spirit of college basketball covered in every corner by two of its most passionate voices.