By R.L. Bynum
Caleb Love continues to be the leading scorer on a balanced Arizona attack, and the unbeaten No. 2 Wildcats will likely be No. 1 when the new AP Top 25 poll comes out on Monday.
Love had 14 points and two 3-pointers, with season-highs of eight rebounds (one short of his career-high) and three steals, with three assists and a block in Arizona’s 82–55 romp over Colgate.
It wouldn’t be Love’s first time playing on a No. 1 team. He was on last season’s UNC team that was No. 1 for three weeks. No. 1 Purdue lost Friday 92–88 in overtime at unranked Northwestern, and No. 3 Marquette lost 75–64 Saturday at unranked Wisconsin, opening up the likelihood of Arizona being voted the top-ranked team.
Love, averaging 13.3 points per game, had two 3-pointers and 10 points as Arizona (7–0) only led 35–30 at halftime. Arizona held Colgate (4–4) to one field goal in the first eight minutes of the second half to balloon the lead to 22 points and coasted from there.
Dontrez Styles rebounded from a tough game in a close Wednesday win to put up good numbers in a tough Georgetown loss on Saturday.
Styles had a season-low six points and six rebounds in the Hoyas’ 69–67 Wednesday home victory over Merrimack. In Saturday’s 84–83 home loss to TCU, he had 18 points, three 3-pointers, six rebounds, a steal and a block for the 5–3 Hoyas.
TCU won it on Emanuel Miller’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer shot while falling down from the right wing.
Rutgers’ women snapped a three-game losing streak with a pair of wins, with Destiny Adams putting up good numbers in both games.
Adams scored 19 points for her sixth double-digit scoring game of the season in an 82–48 Wednesday victory over Delaware State. Adams also had six rebounds, two blocks and two steals for a 17.7 game score.
On Saturday, Adams collected 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and a block as Rutgers (5–5) returned to .500 with a 69–48 home victory over Lafayette.
Dawson Garcia, Minnesota’s leading scorer at 18.3 points per game, had 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks in the Gophers’ 97–64 Thursday home win over New Orleans. Minnesota is 5–2 heading into its 6:30 Sunday Big Ten opener at Ohio State (Big Ten Network).
Justin McKoy collected 11 points and five rebounds in Hawaii’s 79–66 Thursday loss to Utah in Salt Lake City for the Rainbow Warriors’ first loss in six games this season.
Puff Johnson got his first Penn State start in the Nittany Lions’ 76–67 home loss to Bucknell. In 29 minutes, he had four points, six assists and a steal. D’Marco Dunn played 10 scoreless minutes off the bench with one rebound.
It was a rough week for the No. 19 Ole Miss women’s team and senior Kennedy Todd-Williams. She had four points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in Wednesday’s 64–58 home loss to No. 22 Louisville. She came off the bench for the first time on Saturday, contributing three points and a block in 18 minutes of the Rebels’ 61–59 home loss to Southern Miss.
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Todd-Williams is averaging 6.4 points per game, shooting 29.7% from the floor and 3 of 19 from 3-point range.
UAB fell to 4–4 with a pair of home losses. Will Shaver didn’t play in UAB’s 81–60 home Tuesday win over McNeese State, then played three scoreless minutes with one rebound in Friday’s 85–82 defeat against Southern Miss.
Tyler Nickel was scoreless, missing all five shots, and had a rebound in Virginia Tech’s 74–57 Wednesday loss at Auburn.
Kerwin Walton had three points, one steal and one block in nine minutes Thursday in Texas Tech’s 103–95 loss at Butler as the Red Raiders fell to 5–2
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Oct. 14 exhibition — No. 11 UCLA 87, Cal 53 (road) | 27 minutes, 20 points, 8–18 FG, 4–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 fouls, +20
Sunday exhibition — No. 6 Texas 81, No. 11 UCLA 64 (in Cedar Park, Texas) | started: 31:15, 13 points, 4–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, -7
Season opener — 2 p.m. Monday vs. Lehigh, B1G+
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Tuesday exhibition — BYU 120, Western Colorado 36 (home) | didn’t start: 16 minutes, 13 points, 5–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +47
Season opener — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. Idaho State
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Oct. 11 exhibition — New Mexico 99, Oklahoma State 89 (home) | didn’t start: 24 minutes, 13 points, 3–10 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers
Friday exhibition — Oklahoma State 93, Tulsa 84 (home) | didn’t play
Tuesday exhibition — Wisconsin 82, Oklahoma State 65 (road) | didn’t play
Season opener — Monday vs. Incarnate Word
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday at Yale
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 37–3; won national championship; Cadeau MOP
Oct. 11 exhibition — No. 16 Michigan 87, Eastern Michigan 62 (home) | started: 26:49, 10 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 fouls, 8 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals, +28 (tied for team high)
Oct. 16 exhibition — No. 16 Michigan 98, Oregon State 83 (home) | started: 25:48, 27 points, 7–16 FG, 1–6 3FG, 12–15 FT, 1 rebound, 8 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 4 fouls, -1
Sunday exhibition — No. 10 Houston 83, No. 16 Michigan 66 (in Grand Rapids, Mich.) | started: 22:20, 9 points, 3–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–5 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 5 fouls, team-low -16
Season opener — Monday vs. Oakland, Big Ten Network
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3FG%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Oct. 13 exhibition — No. 5 Arizona 93, San Francisco 69 (home) | started: 31:03, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +17
Oct. 16 exhibition — No. 5 Arizona 82, San Diego State 67 (home) | started: 34 minutes, 12 points, 4–12 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals
Friday exhibition — Arizona 85, Eastern Washington 54 (home) | started: 22:48, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 foul, +18
Season opener — 10 p.m. Monday vs. No. 22 UCLA in Las Vegas, TNT
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Oct. 15 exhibition — Minnesota 72, Omaha 52 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 4 steals, 1 foul
Friday exhibition — Minnesota 89, Creighton 86, 2 OTs (road) | started; 13 minutes, 6 points, 3–4 FG, 0–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 foul
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday vs. North Dakota, B1G+
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Preseason rank: No. 15
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Oral Roberts, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Team record: 19–12
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Incarnate Word
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 33 games, 0 starts, 341 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 23 steals, 1 block
Season opener — noon Monday vs. Radford
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Monday exhibition — South Florida 104, Saint Leo 72 (home) | started: 18 minutes, 12 points, 3–4 FG, 6–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls
Season opener — 7:30 Thursday, Nov. 5, at DePaul
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 30–7; Final rank: No. 10
Oct. 14 exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 81, Drexel 52 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Oct. 18 exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 104, Rutgers 99, 4 OTs (home) | started: 49 minutes, 24 points, 8–17 FG, 2–7 3FG, 6–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Sunday exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 87, No. 7 Texas 74 (at Madison Square Garden) | started: 32 minutes, 18 points, 7–14 FG, 3–7 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 steals
Season opener — 6:30 Monday vs. Monmouth at Carnesecca Arena, ESPN+
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Team record: 20–14
Oct. 18 exhibition — N.C. State 77, Mississippi State 73 (in Greensboro) | started: 26 minutes, 13 points, 2–4 FG, 9–12 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 block, 3 fouls
Saturday exhibition — N.C. State 130, Lenoir-Rhyne 66 (home) | started: 23 minutes, 22 points, 5–5 FG, 12–13 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 1 foul
Season opener — 7:30 Monday vs. Campbell, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Season opener — Tuesday vs. Bethesda
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Oct. 17 exhibition — Providence 87, Pittsburgh 64 (road) | started: 31 minutes, 15 points, 3–10 FG, 2–7 3FG, 7–8 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Rider, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Team record: 18–14
Oct. 13 exhibition — Samford 71, Alabama A&M 61 (Boutwell Auditorium; neutral site in Birmingham) | started (never has started in 60 regular-season games): 12 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–6 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, team-high +17
Monday exhibition — Samford 80, Jacksonville State 75 (home) | started: 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks, team-low -17
Final exhibitions — 7 p.m. Thursday at Auburn
Season opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Berry
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Oct. 21 exhibition — No. 11 Louisville 89, No. 17 Kansas 83 (road) | started: 34 minutes, 12 points, 3–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 6–10 FT, 7 rebounds (tied for team-high), 4 assists (tied for team-high), team-high 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +8
Wednesday exhibition — No. 11 Louisville 71, Mercyhurst 39 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 10 points, 4–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, team-high 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday vs. Chattanooga
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via @ArizonaMBB
