It was a weekend full of free throw happenings.

Auburn executed one of the best intentional missed free throws you’ll ever see. Instead of flinging the ball as hard as he could in the direction of the rim, Keyshawn Hall shot a normal shot to the left side of the rim, opening up Kevin Overton to hit a fadeaway 15 footer at the buzzer. Beautiful.

So many dudes don’t understand the rules in these situations and fail to hit the rim. Auburn didn’t win the game, but good on them for clearly practicing this scenario.

In other free throw news from the weekend Texas tipped a miss into their own basket in an eventual overtime loss to Mississippi State (might’ve wanted those points back!), the country got a glimpse of UCF’s John Bol’s (no, not related to Manute) shooting stroke, and 49% shooter Daniel Rivera hit 2 free throws with 3.6 seconds left to send the game to overtime in an eventual double overtime win for UAB. Free throw chaos everywhere.

Now for this weekend’s things…

1. The Warmth of an Embrace

For one reason or another coaches around the country were sharing the love. Micah Shrewsberry got a nice group hug as he charged after an official (presumably to also share love with a friend in need).

Ryan Odom and Bryce Crawford shared a sweet moment in time. Like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” came on at the school dance and you made eye contact with your crush on the other side of the gym.

Brian Adams and Nate Oats shared words of affirmation with each before a timeout. It’s great to have someone in your corner to help you be the person you want to be.

Whatever the reason, love was in the air. I hope you felt the embrace of the Bryce Crawford or Brian Adams in your life this weekend too.

2. Nebraska

Friday night’s win over Michigan State felt like the validating win for Nebraska’s relevance on the national scene. Ball knowers like you and I didn’t need to see proof, but taking down a top ten ranked Michigan State does wonders for program perception. Rienk Mast was awesome, and is an awesome Face of the Program type player. His game is quintessentially college basketball and he looks like he genuinely enjoys the moment at all times. This team narratively has all the pieces you want in an upstart program. They have a fun to watch leader in Mast, a coach’s son glue guy in Sam Hoiberg, shooters Jamarcus Lawrence and Pryor Sandfort, one of the best Swiss Army knives in the sport Berke Buyuktuncel, and a freshman coming into his own in Braden Frager. Not sure if anyone checked on their radio guy after Carson Cooper’s free throws, but proof of life would be appreciated.

3. Allen Mukeba

Dunks that shatter the backboard? Of course

Dunks that misalign the rim? Sure

Dunks that snap the wiring holding the shot clock in place above the basket? Thanks to Arizona State’s Allen Mukeba we can now say we’ve seen that specific type of damage occur as a direct result of a dunk.

And, of course, the glorious detonation.

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4. Braden Smith

Run of the mill 14 point 12 assist performance for Braden Smith to set the Big Ten’s all time assist record. There is not a better pick and roll passer in the country (and probably only a few ever), and the fact that he is that good in pick and roll at like 5’10 (I know the roster says 6’0, but let’s be real) is mind blowing. Defenses know he is getting to the free throw line area primarily to pass and it just does not matter one bit. He’s an equal killer in short and long rolls, and he is great picking his spots with the jumper to create future passing lanes. He’s as close as you can get to a symphony conductor on the court, and that was evident against Wisconsin, especially in the short roll.

5. Late Night Mountain West

I do subscribe to internet pal Lil Bona X’s theory that late night shit hits different on CBS Sports Network. I can’t really explain why. Maybe it’s because I know it’s keeping Gary Parrish awake into the wee hours of the night or because CBS puts more effort into their production quality than everyone else.
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I’ll take this theory one step further and say that Late Night Mountain West hits like crack and Boise State-San Diego State is all the proof you need. That game had a 20+ point comeback, a buzzer beater, and 3 overtimes. I have no empirical evidence to support this claim, but 9/10 Mountain West games that tip at 10pm ET or later on CBSSN feel this way. You’re gonna see some weird stuff, like a 3 player loose ball pileup in the corner leading to a wide open 3, but that combo of Mountain West and CBSSN has an air about it that makes for an elite watch after midnight. I don’t mean that sexually, but if you watch late night Mountain West you will see commercials for sexual enhancement medications. The side effects caused by these pills and by late night Mountain West basketball may be similar.

6. USF’s DJ

I know that basically every college basketball program from the A-10 level and above has a DJ, and many have in-arena hosts who provide commentary on the silly games they play during tv timeouts. I get that. What South Florida has going on at their games is different. Every whistle during UAB-USF featured club style mixes by a DJ who was also throwing his own ad-libs in. With 3.6 seconds left in regulation and USF up by 2 all you could hear was oontz oontz music with a dude screaming “WHAT UP TAMPA!?! WHAT UP TAMPA!?!” repeatedly in the background. The mixes were absolutely exquisite, highlighted by Danza Kuduro flowing into Let’s Get Loud to start overtime. I genuinely hope this was not just a one time thing, and I will pay attention to USF home games to find out.

7. Dai Dai Ames

Dai Dai Ames had 23 points for Cal in their extremely weird win Friday night over Notre Dame. Everyone knows and saw the 4 point play that was overturned and overturned again turning Micah Shrewsberry into a defensive end in run pursuit. That shot was the SECOND sprint down, no pass, get yourself open, step in 3 that Dai Dai Ames hit on consecutive possessions to bring Cal back in that game. He scored 7 points in 6 seconds all on full court self creation. Yes, the and 1 probably shouldn’t have counted, but damn to do that twice in a row down the floor in that spot is cold blooded.

8. SeattleU

Full transparency, as I write this it is early second half between SeattleU and St. Mary’s. SeattleU has a 4 point lead in Moraga, and I’ve decided that no matter the result my thoughts about this team still stand.

This is a banner year for SeattleU. They have wins over Stanford, Washington and Wazzu, they should’ve beaten Gonzaga in The Kennel on Friday night and now are giving St. Mary’s all they want on the road. They really are a few bounces away from having an at large case. They are awesome defensively and their leader is a 6’0 spark plug from Alaska. For years the gym with the massive inflatable bird has been a joke on the college basketball internet, but the team the bird stares at is playing some damn good ball. Watch them.

9. Stanford

This was Stanford’s week. I don’t know either.

10. The Kansas-UCF series in Orlando

Since UCF joined the Big 12 they have played Kansas 3 times in Orlando. The results are as follows:

• 2023-24: 65-60 UCF win
• 2024-25: 99-48 Kansas win
• 2025-26: 81-75 UCF win

When Kansas goes to Orlando they will either lose by a couple possessions or win by eleventy thousand. There’s no in between. To make it even more confusing, the Kansas team that won by 50 is easily the worst of the 3. Sure!

11. Blue Cain and Smurf Millender

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, has talked at all about Georgia adding a dude who goes by Smurf to their backcourt that already had a Blue Cain. Until Saturday, I had only heard Millender referred to by his Christian name, Marcus. This is malpractice, malfeasance, and unacceptable by all who cover the Dawgs. I, hereby, am taking it upon myself to apprise the public of the Blue Cain/Smurf Millender backcourt. I cannot stay silent in this matter and let this go unnoticed. Oh, they also combined for a hell of a game on Saturday too. 39 combined points on 9-17 from 3 in a win. That’ll play.

12. Boopie Miller

Boopie Miller put on a pick and roll masterclass in SMU’s win over North Carolina. He absolutely eviscerated Carolina’s drop coverage and toyed with mismatches when screens were switched instead. He finished with 27 points and 12 assists on 10-13 from the field for an offense that looks ripe to give a high seed problems in a second round game. He also had the ankle breaker of the year so far against Caleb Wilson. Had him playing Twister.

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