The Players Era Championship has really shaken up college basketball this season. Held right on the Vegas Strip, it’s quickly become a can’t-miss event, mixing excitement, controversy, and some wild competition.
This tournament is already giving us a sense of which teams might make serious noise later in the year. There have been some wild matchups, a few head-scratching moments, and plenty of talk about the odd format.
Top teams like Tennessee, Houston, and Iowa State have all had their moments. But honestly, the quirks of this event are getting almost as much attention as the games themselves.
The Physical Dominance of Tennessee
Day 2 brought a much-hyped showdown: No. 17 Tennessee against No. 3 Houston at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tennessee pulled off a gritty 76-73 win, getting a little payback for last season’s blowout loss to Houston in the Elite Eight.
The Volunteers’ defense was everything here. Houston got stuck in a seven-minute scoring drought in the second half, and Tennessee took full advantage, jumping out to a 10-point lead.
Key Performers
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie: Led Tennessee with 22 points. He was everywhere, just a really inspiring effort.
- Bishop Boswell: The sophomore guard chipped in 10 points, four boards, and three assists. His on-ball defense stood out, too.
Coach Rick Barnes had a lot to say about his team’s focus and communication. He pointed out that the players themselves were making key adjustments during time-outs, which you don’t see every day.
The game was physical, no doubt. Tennessee ended up shooting 29 free throws, while Houston only got 11. Houston’s Kelvin Sampson was pretty vocal about that.
The Rise of Bishop Boswell
Bishop Boswell made a name for himself in this one. Barnes has always liked Boswell’s defensive mindset and team-first approach—he spotted that early during recruiting.
Boswell’s willingness to step up and his relentless style have turned him into one of the better defensive guards out there right now.
The Unconventional Format of the Players Era Championship
People can’t stop talking about the Players Era Championship’s weird format. It’s not your typical bracket. Instead, matchups are set based on game scores, and the main tiebreaker is average margin of victory—capped at 20 points, supposedly to keep teams from running up the score too much.
This has caused plenty of confusion. Honestly, some teams are left scratching their heads, especially Iowa State, who got the short end of the stick.
Iowa State’s Frustrating Experience
No. 15 Iowa State actually won both of their games: a 78-60 win over Creighton and a wild 83-82 finish against No. 14 St. John’s. But their average margin of victory—just 9.5 points—wasn’t enough to get them into the championship or even the third-place game.
Coach TJ Otzelberger was clearly frustrated. He said he’d rather keep the integrity of his program than run up the score just to chase a tiebreaker.
Still, Iowa State is off to a 6-0 start and averaging 90.5 points a game. They’ll take on Syracuse next, hoping to keep the momentum alive.
St. John’s Resilience Under Rick Pitino
St. John’s had a tough 83-82 loss to Iowa State, but they bounced back with an 86-81 win over Baylor, handing the Bears their first loss of the year.
Coach Rick Pitino praised his team’s ability to shake off adversity and stay focused. Bryce Hopkins poured in 26 points, and Oziyah Sellers added 22—both were huge.
Pitino’s approach, especially his use of the transfer portal, seems to be working. St. John’s is hoping to leave Vegas 2-1 and give the Big East a little boost.
Recap of Key Games
This championship has delivered some wild games and plenty of surprises. Here are a few of the results that grabbed my attention:
- No. 17 Tennessee 85, Rutgers 60
- Baylor 81, Creighton 74
- Kansas 71, Notre Dame 61
- No. 15 Iowa State 83, No. 14 St. John’s 82
- No. 3 Houston 78, Syracuse 74 (OT)
- No. 21 Auburn 84, Oregon 73
- No. 12 Gonzaga 95, No. 8 Alabama 85
- No. 7 Michigan 94, San Diego State 54
- Maryland 74, UNLV 67
- Notre Dame 68, Rutgers 63
- No. 15 Iowa State 78, Creighton 60
- Kansas 71, Syracuse 60
- No. 14 St. John’s 96, Baylor 81
- No. 17 Tennessee 76, No. 3 Houston 73
- No. 7 Michigan 102, No. 21 Auburn 72
- No. 12 Gonzaga 100, Maryland 61
- San Diego State 97, Oregon 80
- No. 8 Alabama 115, UNLV 76
Upcoming Matches
The tournament wraps up with two big matchups:
- Third-place game: No. 17 Tennessee vs. Kansas
- Championship game: No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 12 Gonzaga
This Players Era Championship has definitely shaken up the college basketball scene. The format—well, people are still talking about it, and not always in agreement.
Still, nobody can deny the competition’s been intense. Watching these teams push each other in Las Vegas has been a treat.
If you want to dig deeper or just keep tabs on the latest, check out CBS Sports.
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