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Nebraska Basketball Hits Top 10; UCF Joins Rankings

1/6/2026

41 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Nebraska Basketball Rises

Nebraska's men's basketball team entered the AP Top 10 for the first time since 1966.
Nebraska defeated Michigan State 58-56 to extend its 18-game winning streak, the longest in the nation.
The University of Central Florida (UCF) entered the Top 25 for the first time since 2019 after defeating Kansas.
Michigan remains No. 2.
Florida dropped out of the rankings.

Summary

Gators Fall Unranked

The Florida Gators men's basketball team has fallen out of the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll after a 76-74 loss to Missouri.
They opened SEC play at 9-5.
They are unranked this season, after peaking at No. 3.
The SEC now has five teams ranked, led by Vanderbilt at No. 10, while Florida has 21 votes, a de facto No. 29.

History

Historical Context

In 1966, Texas Western College made history by winning the NCAA championship with an all-Black starting lineup, defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 72–65. This victory challenged racial stereotypes and prompted major college programs to recruit more African-American players. The impact of this milestone is still felt today, as teams like Nebraska's men's basketball strive for recognition, recently achieving their first AP Top 10 ranking since then.

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Nebraska Basketball Rises

Nebraska's men's basketball team entered the AP Top 10 for the first time since 1966.
Nebraska defeated Michigan State 58-56 to extend its 18-game winning streak, the longest in the nation.
The University of Central Florida (UCF) entered the Top 25 for the first time since 2019 after defeating Kansas.
Michigan remains No. 2.
Florida dropped out of the rankings.

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