A scarlet W

"It's quiet...too quiet." That's a phrase I would utter regarding nights like Thursday when there are only 11 games on the schedule. And yet while there wasn't the volume, there still were meaningful results to take away, including two impressive mid-majors, a freshman guard ready to emerge, and a controversial finish to a fun game.

Let's get to the news.

1. What the Buck happened at end of Ohio State-Rutgers?

Ohio State won its Big Ten opener, beating Rutgers, 67-66. But how it won was worthy of a March finish.

It wasn't just that it was close — 12 ties and 11 lead-changes — or that both teams were hitting difficult shots throughout, or that the Buckeyes (7-2) were doing it without one of their best defenders, 6-5 wing Isaac Likekele, who missed the game due to personal reasons.

It was all of that, plus this shot.

It was the lone basket that Tanner Holden made in 15 minutes off the bench. Not only that, he didn't even see it go in.

“I shot it and couldn’t really see because No. 3 (Rutgers’ Mawot Mag) was in my way, but I heard the crowd go crazy and I celebrated after that, and then 15 guys are rushing me,” Holden told the Columbus Dispatch. “I don’t even remember (seeing it), honestly. I think I might’ve saw it go through, but I heard the crowd more. I think that reassurance helped me.”

But...should the shot have counted? Watch the replay again (if you haven't already). Holden clearly steps out of bounds before shooting. He can't touch it before someone else does. But there was no call. Heck, the refs didn't even review the shot to ensure he got it off in time.

However, the shot was only set up because Rutgers elected to foul while leading 65-62 with just under six seconds remaining. Ohio State freshman Bruce Thornton hit both free throws to cut the lead to one, then immediately fouled Rutgers' Caleb McConnell. He missed the second of two free throws, setting up the wild sequence at the end.

Does Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell regret that end-of-game strategy?

"I mean, I haven't. I don't know anything about that, but I thought he was [out of bounds] because he was right in front of me. But I haven't. I just thought, you know, with our three-point lead right there, just get them to not be able to heave up a 3 with that little time left on the clock. And, you know, we got what we wanted, we got to the free throw line, and we just didn't kind of finish the deal. It’s just disappointing, but I have not seen any photos of anything.”

Should Rutgers have fouled up three or played it out? And should the refs have nullified the shot from Tanner Holden? Maybe. But I'm a fan of the players deciding the game on their own, and in those last six seconds, Ohio State executed better than the Scarlet Knights (6-3). And after being even-level for 99 percent of the game, the Buckeyes got that 1 percent tiebreaker to start Big Ten play on a thrilling note.

Ohio State's Zed Key had a fantastic game, leading all scorers with 22 points and 14 rebounds, outplaying Cliff Omoruyi (16 pts, 8 rebs) for Rutgers. 

So what did Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann think about the ending? We asked him on AFTER DARK.

2. No Kris, no problem for Iowa vs. Iowa State

The Iowa-Iowa State "CyHawk" series tends to be a one-sided affair (the final margin has been at least 18 points the past four years), but with star forward Kris Murray out for the Hawkeyes, one thought there might be a close game.

And then the ball was tipped.

A 15-0 run by Iowa to start the game set the tone for a resounding 75-56 win. It was a collective effort to replace Murray's production, led by Filip Rebraca with 22 points and 14 rebounds. The McCaffery brothers (Patrick and Connor) combined for 27 points and five 3-pointers. The team's performance also ensured coach Fran McCaffery could relax a bit during a milestone win.

Iowa State (7-2) simply couldn't shoot. Guards Caleb Grill, Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur combined for just 21 points and 1-of-15 from 3-point range. The Cyclones have enough goodwill to believe this is an anomaly, while the Hawkeyes (7-2) proved that they don't need Murray to do it all every game.

Other results from the night:

Michigan 90, Minnesota 75: Hunter Dickinson led all scorers with 19 points, but the star of the game was Dug McDaniel, the freshman point guard who took over for the injured Jaelin Llewellyn. He had 15 points and seven assists in 27 minutes. His backcourt mate, Kobe Bufkin, also had 15 points as Michigan (6-3, 1-0 in Big Ten play) ended a two-game skid. The Gophers (4-5, 0-2) appear to be the worst team in the league.

Colorado 93, Colorado State 65: A 55-point second half turned what was a competitive game into a blowout for Colorado (5-5). KJ Simpson's breakout campaign continues, scoring a game-high 27 points. Isaiah Stevens led Colorado State (6-4) in scoring with 15, but the other four starters combined to produce 25 points on 8-of-28 shooting from the field.

UMass-Lowell 85, UMass 80: The Minutemen (7-2) were without leading scorer Noah Fernandes for this matchup but were still favored at home over the River Hawks (10-1). Matt Cross had 19 points and five steals, and the bench chipped in 33 points, but the duo of Ayinde Hikim (23 points) and Everette Hammond (20 points) helped UMass-Lowell to hold onto the lead late. Vermont and Bryant were viewed as the favorites in the America East, but right now, the River Hawks have made a case to be in the mix.

Marshall 82, Duquesne 71: The Herd is now 8-1 on the season and four wins shy of matching last year's total. A 16-0 run to end the first half gave them enough cushion to survive a Duquesne (7-2) comeback, despite 37 points combined from Dae Dae Grant and Jimmy Clark. Marshall's starting guard duo of Andrew Taylor and Taevion Kinsey was just a little better, combining for 37 points, 13 assists, and six steals.

3. What to watch in two Saturday showdowns

We've got a couple of must-watch Saturday games, starting with a pair of Top 25 matchups. Here's a quick primer:

No. 8 Alabama (7-1) at No. 1 Houston (9-0)

Last season, the Crimson Tide won a thrilling 83-82 battle at home over the Cougars. Houston guard Marcus Sasser scored 25 points in that contest and should be the focal point for Saturday. The junior leads Houston in scoring with 16.9 ppg. 

But he left Houston's win against North Florida with an eye injury, something coach Kelvin Sampson is monitoring. According to Sasser, he's set on playing.

They'll need him. Alabama, led by freshman sensation, Brandon Miller, will be a handful. The Tide can shoot from outside and are one of the few teams who can compete with the Cougars on the boards. They grab 40 percent of their missed shots and are physical enough to not be overly bothered by Houston's rugged frontcourt.

The Cougars also have to watch Miller. The 6-9 forward leads the team with 19.1 ppg and 8.9 rpg and poses a matchup problem for any defense.

Houston has been spared from the "everyone is bad" talk this season and is the clear No. 1 team in the country. But Alabama has 40 minutes to prove that it's a free-for-all in college basketball. (3 pm ET, ABC)

No. 14 Indiana (8-1, 1-1) vs No. 10 Arizona (7-1, 1-1)

It's almost a mirror matchup of teams that feature the same weaknesses and strengths. Arizona wants to run and deploys an incredible offense. Indiana is a typical Big Ten team with an elite defense.

Both teams have All-American-worthy big men (Azuolas Tubelis, 20.1 ppg and 8.3 rpg for Arizona and Trayce Jackson-Davis 18.3 ppg and 8.6 rpg for Indiana), as well as point guards who can run hot and cold (Arizona's Kerr Krissa, Indiana's Xavier Johnson).

One key storyline is freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, who has missed the past two games for Indiana. It didn't need him to beat Nebraska, thanks to 39 points combined from Tamar Bates and Trey Galloway. If its starting guard can't go again, pressure will be on the role players in the backcourt to supply the offense needed to keep up with the 'Cats. (10:30 pm ET, FOX)

4. Five games with a little extra heat

Some games mean more. This weekend, a number of them feature either local battles or peg two former conference foes against each other. They're often the best part of college hoops.

Georgetown (5-5) vs Syracuse (5-4, 1-0): The Hoyas won last season's battle — important because it was just one of six Ws all season. This year, both teams have a dynamic young guard: Primo Spears for the Hoyas and Judah Mintz for the Orange. Georgetown ranks 331st in 3-point attempt rate, but 'Cuse's 2-3 zone could change that.

Xavier (6-3) vs Cincinnati (6-3): The Crosstown Shootout returns to Cincy after a 20-point drubbing at Xavier. Guards Souley Boum and Colby Jones have emerged as the go-to options for the Musketeers, and they take on the Bearcats' two leading scorers, David Dejulius and Landers Nolley. 

Kansas (8-1) vs Missouri (9-0): The Border Showdown returned last season after a nine-year hiatus. Well, kinda. Kansas won by 37 points in Lawerence. That won't be the case this season. While the Tigers haven't played anyone decent outside of Wichita State, they currently rank No. 1 in scoring offense at 93.1 ppg. With the game at Missouri, can Dennis Gates get a program-defining win against their regional rival?

TCU (7-1) vs SMU (3-6): After a four-year absence, this is the 194th meeting between these local programs. It's a bit lopsided on paper, as the Mustangs are in complete rebuilding mode. TCU has won five straight and has its full roster, but that home opener stunner to Northwestern State shows it shouldn't overlook this matchup.

Seton Hall (5-4) vs Rutgers (6-3, 1-1): Whatever emotions the Scarlet Knights have after the Ohio State game, they'll need to shelf them to avoid a letdown. Sunday's Garden State Hardwood Classic should deliver an exciting contest. However, the Pirates are dealing with several key players questionable for this game, including Alexis Yetna, Dre Davis and Kadary Richmond.

5. Small players who've come up big this season

Kansas State is thriving under first-year coach Jerome Tang. The Wildcats are 8-1 and have a go-to guy in Florida transfer Keyontae Johnson, who leads the team with 17.2 ppg and 6.7 rpg. But this is Markquis Nowell's team.

The fifth-year senior point guard is averaging 14.6 points a game, and his 8.2 assists per game are second in D-I. Nowell already has three games of 10-plus assists, including a 29-point and 11-assist game in an overtime win over Nevada. Even dating back to his days at Little Rock, the 5-foot-7 playmaker has always been a double-digit scorer.

But Coach Tang seems to have tapped into the remaining potential of Nowell.

Nowell isn't the only guard 5-10 or shorter who's crushing it, either. Here's who would make my All-American "short king" roster.

• Darius McGhee, Liberty: Easily the most accomplished statistical player in the group, McGhee has multiple ASun Player of the Year Awards and is likely getting his third this season. The 5-9 scoring guard (21.1 ppg) has a number of prolific outings, including a career-high 48 points last season against Florida Gulf Coast.

• Kihei Clark, Virginia: McGhee may have the numbers but Clark is the one with the national championship ring. After five years and 116 career (and counting), the 5-9 guard is putting up career-high scoring (11.6) and three-point shooting numbers. With the Cavaliers in the top 5, Clark may be in a position to make another deep run in his college career.

• Damian Chong-Qui, Purdue-Fort Wayne: The fifth-year senior is a career double-digit scorer at both Mount St. Mary's and with the Mastodons. He's down a bit this season (7.8 ppg), playing a big role in last season's rise to tying for the Horizon League regular-season title.

• Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee: The former sixth man is now the Vols' leader. He's just 5-9, but is known for being one of the toughest guards in the country and made All-SEC Defense as a freshman a year ago. When he's on and running the offense well, Tennessee looks like a legit Final Four treat.

Can Washington end its drought vs Gonzaga?

A rivalry game on Friday features Gonzaga (6-3), which has won 13 of 14 and the last six games to Washington. The Huskies (7-2) have their best team since 2018, whereas the Bulldogs have already lost three games and are as vulnerable as they've been in five years. Can Mike Hopkins get a massive signature win as a program on the road in the Kennel? (9 pm ET, Root plus/WCC Network.)

What to watch the rest of the weekend: (All times ET)

SATURDAY

• Oklahoma (7-2) at Arkansas (8-1) ,1 pm (ESPN2)

• Louisville (0-8) at Florida State (1-9), 1 pm (ACC Network)

• NC State (8-2, 0-1) at Miami (9-1, 1-0), 2 pm (ACC Network)

• San Diego State (7-2) at Saint Mary's 7-3), 3 pm (ESPN+)

• Auburn (8-0) vs Memphis (7-2), 5 pm (ESPN2)

• Villanova (4-5) vs Boston College (5-5, 0-1), 5 pm (FOX)

• Boise State (7-2) vs Saint Louis (7-3), 8:00 pm (ESPN+)

• Creighton (6-3) vs BYU (5-5), 10 pm (FS1)

SUNDAY

• Oklahoma State (6-3) vs Virginia Tech (9-1, 1-0), 2 pm (ESPN2)

• Notre Dame (7-2, 0-1) vs Marquette (7-3), 4 pm (ESPN2)

• Maryland (8-1, 1-1) vs Tennessee (8-1), 4:30 pm (FS1)

• Wisconsin (7-2, 1-0) vs Iowa (7-2), 6:30 pm (FS1)

mor chicken rebounds

Zach Edey's career night Sunday against Minnesota — 31 points, 22 rebounds —  was so impressive, reporters asked if there was anything special motivating him. Well, now we know. It's also a good bet that coach Brandon Brantley might be ordering a lot of Chick-Fil-A this season.

Who's gonna win the Big Ten, anyway?

If there's anything we've learned from the start of the college hoops season, it's that there isn't a dominant team. OK, two things: Because the Big Ten is obviously better than pundits thought.

Purdue, Illinois, Indiana and Maryland are all among the top 15 teams in the country. Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Rutgers, they're all tough to beat and should make that league a compelling watch all season. 

Subscribe to The Field of 68 AFTER DARK on YouTube and click here subscribe to the AFTER DARK podcast.

Links as you consider getting started on Christmas shopping, before opting to wait last-minute.

• Everything to know from the NCAA officials at the SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.

• NC State starting center Dusan Mahoric is out indefinitely.

• South Dakota coach Eric Peterson is recovering after a fall on Wednesday night.

• Santa Clara's win over New Mexico State moved Herb Sandek to 66th on the all-time D-I wins list.

No college hoops fan shop is complete without a couple of shirts for Kentucky fans. And we aim to please at the Field of 68. Even more pleasing? You can save 20% by using promo code "DAILY" at the Field of 68 shop. 

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