The 2023 Players Era Championship in Las Vegas brought some wild moments, surprise wins, and a few shake-ups for top college basketball teams. This year’s tournament was a blur of intense matchups and standout performances. It’s already hinting at a pretty lively season ahead. Here’s a look at the main highlights from the event, with a focus on Kansas, Tennessee, Iowa State, Houston, and a few others.
Kansas’ Resurgence: A Statement Win Against Tennessee
When the new AP Top 25 rankings dropped, Kansas landed somewhere unexpected—unranked in November for the first time since 2005. But the Jayhawks flipped the script fast with a gritty 81-76 win over No. 17 Tennessee in the third-place game. That victory felt especially sweet under the circumstances.
Overcoming Adversity
Kansas was missing star point guard Darryn Peterson for the sixth game in a row. Senior wing Tre White also fouled out with more than eight minutes left. Still, the Jayhawks found a way, clawing back from a 12-point second-half deficit. That’s some serious resilience and depth on display.
Head coach Bill Self gave his team credit, calling the win a real confidence boost. “We came here doubting how good we could be,” Self admitted. Beating Tennessee, even shorthanded, showed Kansas might be a force again once Peterson’s back.
NIL Earnings and Future Prospects
The win came with a nice bonus: Kansas players picked up $300,000 in extra NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) earnings opportunities. With a huge game against UConn coming up, the Jayhawks are hoping to get Peterson back and keep the momentum rolling.
Iowa State’s Impressive Run: A Top-10 Contender
Iowa State was one of the big stories in Las Vegas, finishing 3-0 in the tournament. Oddly, the Cyclones still didn’t make it to the championship or third-place game, which left head coach T.J. Otzelberger a bit frustrated.
Dominant Performances
The Cyclones took down St. John’s and Creighton, then absolutely rolled Syracuse 95-64. All this without starting point guard Tamin Lipsey, who’s been dealing with a groin injury.
Joshua Jefferson really broke out, averaging 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists over the three games. Freshman Killyan Toure filled in for Lipsey and showed he can score and create, too.
Looking Ahead
Lipsey should be back soon. Iowa State looks ready to make a run up the rankings and maybe lock in a top-10 spot. Their next game against No. 1 Purdue is a big test, but honestly, they’ve already shown they can hang with anyone.
Houston’s Mixed Results: A Learning Experience
Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars had a bit of a rollercoaster in Vegas, finishing 2-1. After a close loss to Tennessee and a hard-fought win over Notre Dame, they’re looking to regroup.
Challenges and Growth
The Tennessee game exposed some weak spots. Still, Sampson isn’t too worried. “There are some teams that play their best basketball in November. I’d rather play my worst basketball in November,” he said. It’s all about getting better.
Freshman Kingston Flemings has had some standout moments, but consistency is going to matter for Houston going forward. They’ve got a little break before facing Florida State—time to work out the kinks and come back sharper.
Other Notable Performances
Several other teams made some noise in the Players Era Championship, giving fans plenty to talk about.
Michigan’s Dominance
No. 7 Michigan took the championship in style, steamrolling No. 13 Gonzaga 101-61. The Wolverines looked locked in on both ends, and honestly, they’re starting to look scary good.
Auburn’s Strong Showing
No. 21 Auburn also turned heads, beating No. 14 St. John’s 85-74. The Tigers showed off a balanced offense and tough defense—could be a fun team to watch this year.
Want the full breakdown of every game and all the standout players? Check out the full coverage on CBS Sports.
The 2023 Players Era Championship gave us an early peek at what some of college basketball’s top teams might bring to the table. Kansas, Iowa State, Houston—those squads showed off their strengths and, honestly, exposed a few weak spots too.
With teams gearing up for what’s next, fans are in for some wild games and probably a few surprises on the way to March Madness. Guess we’ll just have to see how it all shakes out.
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