The college basketball season is off and running, and eyes turn to midweek action for a pair of premier non-conference tests. 

Opening Week Results 

After No. 22 UCLA’s win over No. 5 Arizona in Las Vegas, other teams followed with some notable highlights. 

• No. 3 Illinois set a program record on opening night when it drained 19 three pointers in a 120-45 win against FDU. 

• Preseason All-Big Ten Team honoree Pryce Sandfort dropped 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting in Nebraska’s 67-58 win over Providence in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off. 

• Freshman forward Nikola Kusturica led UCLA to victory, dropping 26 of his 29 points in a flawless first half (9-of-9 shooting, 4-of-4 from deep) in his Pauley Pavilion debut. 

• Trey McKenney tallied a career-high with 22 points — all coming in the second half — in No. 16 Michigan’s national championship rematch with No. 4 UConn. J.P. Estrella’s 19 and Roddy Gayle Jr.’s 18 were right behind him, though the Wolverines fell short 85-77. 

Who let Nikola Kusturica COOK ?? The freshman leads all scorers with 26 points heading into the second half for @UCLAMBB ?? https://t.co/nA3TNpqC21

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 7, 2026

The slate continues to ramp up with two ranked midweek matchups. 

Spartans Take on Duke in Chicago 

Tom Izzo and Michigan State have recorded wins against non-conference rival Duke over the years, including a 2019 Elite Eight thriller and a 78-68 upset in the 2005 Sweet 16. On Tuesday night at the United Center, the No. 6 Spartans have a chance to write another chapter against the No. 2 Blue Devils at the Champions Classic (7 p.m. ET on ESPN). 

Michigan State will rely on Jeremy Fears Jr. to dictate the tempo and push the pace. The Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year enters Tuesday averaging a double-double through Michigan State's first two games with 12.5 points and 10 assists per contest. His leadership will be put to the test against a stacked Duke roster featuring freshman big man Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Wisconsin transfer guard John Blackwell, and projected top-10 pick Patrick Ngongba II. If Fears, Jordan Scott, and Coen Carr control the game against Duke's depth, Michigan State will have every opportunity to come out on top. 

Illini Face First Road Test  

After opening the season with back-to-back explosive home performances, No. 3 Illinois faces its first true road test on Tuesday night against No. 19 Texas Tech (8 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBCSN). It is a rematch of last season's thriller, where Illinois pulled away for an 81-77 victory in Champaign.  

Brad Underwood’s squad brings an offensive juggernaut into Lubbock, led by Andrej Stojakovic — who dropped 25 points in the Illini's recent blowout win over Penn — and guards Quentin Coleman and Stefan Vaaks, who are averaging 16.0 and 15.5 PPG, respectively.  

On the other side, Texas Tech remains a potent force playing without All-American forward JT Toppin as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury. The Red Raiders re-tooled around forward Darrion Williams with a backcourt fueled by former Illini guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. Tuesday gives the Illini an early chance for a signature win that could pay dividends come March. 

There’s more to watch, including defending champion Michigan hosting Marquette and No. 21 USC traveling north to face Cal. Check out the full schedule.