Here at the February fork in the road of the college basketball season, some formerly wobbly notable names would seem to now be heading the right direction toward March. The next steps might get a little tricky, though.<\/p>\n
Here comes Kansas.<\/p>\n
By mid-January, the Jayhawks had just lost to West Virginia and UCF to get booted from the AP rankings for the second time this season. Their 1-2 start in the Big 12 was their worst in 20 years. The health of phenom Darryn Peterson had become a daily anxious part of the narrative. Would it be the hamstring tonight? The ankle? Cramping? He missed 10 of the Jayhawks\u2019 first 22 games and was often taking himself out in others with cramps.<\/p>\n
MARCH MADNESS:\u00a0Michigan is new No. 1 seed in latest 2026 March Madness bracket predictions<\/a><\/p>\n But they have now won six in a row, three against ranked opponents, including shelling Iowa State by 21 points, beating BYU last weekend and Texas Tech in Lubbock Monday night 64-61. In that one, a most significant sight was Peterson on the court for a season-high 35 minutes. He struggled early but was out there at the end to hit two 3-pointers in the final 80 seconds, part of a 14-2 Kansas closing rush. The BYU and Texas Tech games gave the Jayhawks back-to-back wins over top-15 opponents for the first time in five years.<\/p>\n Next? The 17-5 Jayhawks have four games against top-10 opponents in 20 days, including trips to No. 1 Arizona and Iowa State. There are also home games with Houston and Arizona, the latter next Monday. Think Allen Fieldhouse will be loud if Arizona is 23-0?<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the conversation will continue to swirl around Peterson\u2019s health, from the fans in the stands to NBA scouts.<\/p>\n \u201cMy personal opinion is, it’s water off his back,\u201d Bill Self said about any collateral pressure that Peterson might be feeling from the subject. \u201cHe’s cut different when it comes to that type of stuff. I don’t think that we as a program should put extra pressure on him. But the pressure, he enjoys.”<\/p>\n Here comes Florida.<\/p>\n Remember when the Gators were 5-4? When they lost to Missouri and vanished from the top 25? When they were the gang who couldn\u2019t shoot straight?<\/p>\n Never mind. Florida has won 11 of 13 and hit 91 points in six of their past eight SEC games. The Gators inhaled South Carolina last week 95-48 \u2014 12 points more than they had ever beaten an SEC opponent on the road \u2014 and let the numbers describe what they just did to poor Alabama Sunday, 100-77.<\/p>\n They mashed the Tide by 72-26 in the paint and 25-0 in points off turnovers. The 72 paint points were the most for an SEC team in two decades. “Everybody’s afraid of Florida’s front court\u201d Alabama coach Nate Oats said. \u201cAnd rightfully so.\u201d<\/p>\n They had 55 points before they made their first turnover, four minutes into the second half. Florida finished with only two turnovers, fewest for the Gators in 30 years. They had 13 steals to Alabama\u2019s one. They shot the ball well.<\/p>\n