LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Johnny Furphy had career-highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds, Kevin McCullar Jr. added 20 points and seventh-ranked Kansas beat Cincinnati 74-69 in the first Big 12 matchup between the schools. KJ Adams Jr. added 11 points and Hunter Dickinson overcame foul trouble to score 10 for the Jayhawks. They bounced back from their loss at West Virginia and extended their homecourt winning streak to 15 games. Dan Skillings Jr. led Cincinnati with 16 points.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Eliza Maupin, Gabby Gregory and Serena Sundell each had 16 points and fourth-ranked Kansas State extended its winning streak to 13 games with a 58-55 win over 13th-ranked Baylor. The Wildcats played without injured standout center Ayoka Lee, rallying from a 13-point, first-half deficit. With Baylor trying for a game-tying shot at the end, Jaelyn Glenn blocked a game-ending 3-point attempt by Dre’Una Edwards. The 19-1 Wildcats had moved up three spots in the new Associated Press poll earlier Monday for their highest ranking since 2003. Maupin's 3-pointer with just over 7 minutes left gave them their first lead since the game’s first two minutes. Bella Fontleroy had 12 points and Edwards had 11 for 15-3 Baylor.
UNDATED (AP) — The AP Top 25 had another week of upheaval, with teams bouncing around like kernels in a popcorn maker. The same two teams remain at the top amid the poll turmoil. Reigning national champion Connecticut stayed No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, receiving 44 first-place votes from a 61-person media panel. No. 2 Purdue had 17 first-place votes. A loss by Kansas jumbled the rest of the top five. No. 3 North Carolina, No. 4 Houston and No. 5 Tennessee all moved up a spot by sweeping two games each last week. No. 25 New Mexico moved into the rankings for the first time this season after a pair of wins.
UNDATED (AP) — Kansas State has its best ranking in 21 years after the Wildcats moved up to fourth in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. The Wildcats, who climbed three spots, were last ranked this high in 2003. South Carolina remains the unanimous choice at No. 1 in the poll, receiving all 35 votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks cruised to easy wins over Kentucky and Texas A&M. There was some shifting in the top 10, with UCLA moving back up to No. 2 after beating Colorado on the road. The Buffaloes remained in the third spot. Iowa dropped to fifth after falling in overtime to Ohio State.
UNDATED (AP) — The Big 12 can make an argument as college basketball’s best conference the past few years, with two national champions in three years and multiple teams making the NCAA Tournament each season. This season has been no different. Even with TCU dropping out, the Big 12 led the way in this week’s AP Top 25 with seven ranked teams, led by No. 4 Houston and No. 7 Kansas. The slate includes Houston at No. 20 BYU, No. 23 Iowa State at Kansas and No. 20 Texas Tech at No. 11 Oklahoma.
UNDATED (AP) — The visual of one of the nation’s most popular athletes knocked to the floor after a fan who was staring at her phone collided with her while storming the court was a stark reminder of the dangers athletes face when crowds get out of control. Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark was shaken up but not injured in the collision, which occurred Sunday as she headed toward the locker room with teammates following a 100-92 loss to then-No. 18 Ohio State in Columbus. It was the second time in less than two weeks that fans have stormed the court at the end of a Big Ten game.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach. That's according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been finalized. Callahan replaces Mike Vrabel, who was fired on Jan. 9 after six seasons. The 39-year-old Callahan had a virtual interview with Tennessee on Jan. 12, the first of 10 candidates to speak to the team. The Titans interviewed Callahan in person on Monday and decided to hire him. Callahan has been the Bengals' offensive coordinator since 2019.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are trying to reach their first Super Bowl in 11 years. The last team standing in the way is the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs will be in town Sunday for the AFC championship game. That means a showdown with Patrick Mahomes and a stout Kansas City defense. And yes, the Ravens will have to contend with Travis Kelce — the tight end whose romance with Taylor Swift has brought the pop superstar to NFL games around the country this season. Baltimore beat Houston 34-10 on Saturday.
MONDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (3)North Carolina 85 Wake Forest 64
Final (7)Kansas 74 Cincinnati 69
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Cleveland 126 Orlando 99
Final Milwaukee 122 Detroit 113
Final Philadelphia 133 San Antonio 123
Final Memphis 108 Toronto 100
Final Charlotte 128 Minnesota 125
Final Boston 119 Dallas 110
Final Phoenix 115 Chicago 113
Final Sacramento 122 Atlanta 107
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Boston 4 Winnipeg 1
Final OT New Jersey 6 Vegas 5
Final Florida 4 Nashville 1
Final Arizona 5 Pittsburgh 2
Final Vancouver 2 Chicago 0