Jeff BorzelloCloseJeff BorzelloBasketball recruiting insiderJeff Borzello is a basketball recruiting insider. He has joined ESPN in 2014.Follow on X and Myron MedcalfCloseMyron MedcalfESPN Staff WriterMyron Medcalf covers college basketball for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2011.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsFeb 6, 2026, 09:00 AM ET
play0:32Darryn Peterson hits back-to-back clutch 3s to lift Kansas past Texas TechDarryn Peterson comes alive late with back-to-back triples to lead No. 11 Kansas to a big road win in Lubbock.
Cameron Boozer buries bucket against Boston College Eagles (0:18)Cameron Boozer buries bucket against Boston College Eagles (0:18)
Darryn Peterson hits back-to-back clutch 3s to lift Kansas past Texas TechDarryn Peterson comes alive late with back-to-back triples to lead No. 11 Kansas to a big road win in Lubbock.
Darryn Peterson comes alive late with back-to-back triples to lead No. 11 Kansas to a big road win in Lubbock.
In a season marked by incredible freshman performances on a nightly basis, head-to-head matchups between the best of the best have been rare.
Darius Acuff Jr. went against Kingston Flemings back in December. And AJ Dybantsa faced Darryn Peterson last weekend (though Dybantsa guarded Peterson, not so much the other way around, and Peterson played only 20 minutes). But we’ll get a premier head-to-head matchup on Saturday, when Duke visits North Carolina and Cameron Boozer goes to battle with Caleb Wilson.
It should be a massive game for both the Blue Devils and Tar Heels, featuring one of the best individual matchups we will see all season.
Despite the recent rise of Peterson, and the consistent efforts of players like Wilson and Dybantsa, there is still a gap between Boozer and the field. For perspective: Last season, Cooper Flagg had one of the best freshman campaigns in recent men’s college basketball history. This season, Boozer is averaging more points (23.3 points per game), rebounds (9.9 rebounds per game) and steals (1.9 steals per game) than Flagg did. He also has a higher player efficiency rating and offensive rating.
The bottom line is that Boozer has made the case that his freshman campaign exceeds the freshman campaign of the player who is favored to win NBA Rookie of the Year. — Myron Medcalf
Darryn Peterson hits back-to-back clutch 3s to lift Kansas past Texas Tech
We expect both players to defend each other (or at least we’re hoping to speak that into existence), which should make for an interesting subplot to the rivalry game. Can Wilson beat Boozer down the floor in transition? Can Wilson handle Boozer when he gets into the post? They have faced each other before: at the McDonald’s All American Game last spring, starting up front for opposite teams. Boozer tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds and won co-MVP honors, while Wilson struggled with three turnovers and zero field goals. But that doesn’t feel predictive of what we’ll see in Chapel Hill.
Peterson has played in only 12 of Kansas’ 22 games, leaving multiple games early and playing more than 30 minutes in just five contests all season. But when he’s on the floor, it’s hard to find a better player in the sport. He played just 20 minutes in his ultrahyped Jan. 31 matchup against Dybantsa and BYU yet still finished with 18 points and performed like the clear favorite to be the No. 1 NBA draft pick. Two days later, he struggled for long stretches against Texas Tech but made the game-tying 3 and the go-ahead 3 on consecutive possessions in the final 90 seconds. Had he played enough games to qualify, he would be fourth among all freshmen in scoring. — Jeff Borzello
Even the greatest freshmen have their flaws. We’ve witnessed some of Dybantsa’s in recent weeks. His ambition seemed to get the best of him when he insisted on guarding Peterson in the first half of BYU’s loss at Kansas while also struggling from the field. The 6-foot-9 star is still one of the brightest talents in college basketball, though it’s worth noting he anchors a team that’s in the middle of its worst stretch of the season — he scored 36 points in BYU’s loss to Oklahoma State, the Cougars’ fourth loss in five games — with contests against Houston, Arizona, Iowa State and Texas Tech ahead. — Medcalf
Wilson dropping one spot since our last update has nothing to do with his own performances; he has been as productive as any player in the country over the past couple of weeks, scoring at least 20 points in each of his past four games and shooting 60% or better in five of his past seven contests. He ranks fifth among all freshmen in scoring and rebounding, posting 11 double-doubles and eight 20-10 stat lines. Wilson and frontcourt mate Henri Veesaar form one of the sport’s elite post duos, and they’ll look to carry the Tar Heels come March. — Borzello
Flemings had one of the best individual performances of any player — let alone a freshman — this season, finishing with 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting (4-of-9 from 3) and 6 assists in a road loss to Texas Tech. That effort came in the middle of a three-game run in which he scored at least 20 points in each, following up his 42-point performance with 27 points and five assists against TCU. As Houston rounds into top form heading down the stretch, Flemings has emerged as the clear No. 1 option in a lineup featuring three players who started the national championship game a year ago. That says everything. — Borzello
Acuff’s usage rate tells the story of his impact with Arkansas. In the NBA, Atlanta Hawks All-Star Jalen Johnson has a usage rate of 26.4; Acuff’s is 27.2. Despite the amount of weight he carries for the Razorbacks, he’s still one of America’s most efficient players. He’s shooting 40.8% from 3 and averaging 6.2 assists to only 2.0 turnovers. In a normal season, Acuff would have a strong case for Freshman of the Year. His biggest barrier is he’s a great freshman in a season full of them. — Medcalf
After a couple of down games in mid-January, Burries has returned to top form as one of the go-to guys for the nation’s best team. He was fantastic in Arizona’s road win at BYU, finishing with 29 points and getting to the free throw line 14 times. That performance was sandwiched by 22 points and seven assists against West Virginia, then 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in a road win over rival Arizona State. Burries’ overall numbers aren’t as eye-popping as those of other players on this list, mostly as a result of Arizona’s balance, but he’s not far behind. — Borzello
Mullins appeared on the verge of a true eruption game against Xavier, scoring 10 points before the first media timeout. But he picked up an early second foul and went to the bench, ultimately finishing with 13 points. Still, it’s clear he will become an increasingly key facet of UConn’s offense, given his elite shooting ability and the continued flashes he has shown as an effective transition player. He has made multiple 3s in 10 of his past 12 games and is averaging 11.8 points on 38% shooting from 3. — Borzello
Cameron Boozer buries bucket against Boston College Eagles (0:18)Cameron Boozer buries bucket against Boston College Eagles (0:18)
Jeff BorzelloCloseJeff BorzelloBasketball recruiting insiderJeff Borzello is a basketball recruiting insider. He has joined ESPN in 2014.Follow on X and Myron MedcalfCloseMyron MedcalfESPN Staff WriterMyron Medcalf covers college basketball for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2011.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseJeff BorzelloBasketball recruiting insiderJeff Borzello is a basketball recruiting insider. He has joined ESPN in 2014.Follow on X
CloseMyron MedcalfESPN Staff WriterMyron Medcalf covers college basketball for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2011.Follow on X
Biggest performance so far: 35 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Arkansas in Chicago on Nov. 27
Biggest performance so far: 26 points, 3 assists, 11-of-13 FG in 23 minutes vs. Baylor on Jan. 16
Biggest performance so far: 43 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Utah on Jan. 24
Biggest performance so far: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Kansas on Nov. 7
Biggest performance so far: 46 points, 9-for-11 from 3 at Purdue on Jan. 24
Biggest performance so far: 42 points, 6 assists at Texas Tech on Jan. 24
Biggest performance so far: 31 points, 4-for-7 from 3, 6 assists vs. LSU on Jan. 24
Biggest performance so far: 29 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals at BYU on Jan. 26
Biggest performance so far: 29 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists at Alabama on Jan. 24
Biggest performance so far: 24 points, 3 assists, 6 3-pointers vs. Providence on Jan. 7
Cameron Boozer buries bucket against Boston College Eagles (0:18)
play1:20Illinois’ Wagler talks about his historic 46-point performance in win over PurdueIllinois’ Keaton Wagler opens up about his massive 46-point outburst in the Illini’s road victory at Purdue.
Illinois’ Wagler talks about his historic 46-point performance in win over PurdueIllinois’ Keaton Wagler opens up about his massive 46-point outburst in the Illini’s road victory at Purdue.
Illinois’ Keaton Wagler opens up about his massive 46-point outburst in the Illini’s road victory at Purdue.