John Calipari wins Arkansas debut as 16th-ranked Razorbacks beat Lipscomb 76-60

John Calipari won his debut as Arkansas coach when the 16th-ranked Razorbacks held off a second-half rally by Lipscomb and pulled away for a 76-60 victory Wednesday night. Freshman guard Boogie Fland scored 17 points and Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis added 15 for Arkansas. Calipari, who left Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky after last season, had previously been booed incessantly whenever stepping foot in Bud Walton Arena.

Kelly and Jones lead No. 11 Auburn to easy 94-43 win over Vermont

Miles Kelly scored 21 points, Denver Jones added 16 and No. 11 Auburn cruised to a 94-43 season-opening home victory over Vermont on Wednesday night. Chaney Johnson had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Tigers, who have now won 55 consecutive non-conference home games. Auburn led Vermont by 25 at halftime and opened the second half on a 35-4 run.

Virginia outlasts Campbell to give interim head coach Ron Sanchez a victory in his debut

Freshman Jacob Cofie had 16 points, Elijah Saunders scored nine of his 11 points in the second half and Virginia outlasted Campbell 65-56 on Wednesday night to begin the Ron Sanchez era. Sanchez was named interim head coach on Oct. 18 after three-time national coach of the year Tony Bennett retired. Sanchez spent 10 seasons on Bennett’s staff at Virginia in two different stints, 2009-19 and 2023-24.

Freshman sensation Dylan Harper scores 20 points in No. 25 Rutgers’ 75-52 win over Wagner

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - (AP) — Freshman standout Dylan Harper scored 20 points in his highly anticipated debut to lead No. 25 Rutgers to a 75-52 win over Wagner on Wednesday night in the season-opener for both schools. Harper, a combo guard, is considered one of the top freshmen in the country and together with fellow first-year forward Ace Bailey, a major reason why the Scarlet Knights entered the season at No. 25. Rutgers was without Bailey, who was sidelined with an undisclosed injury he suffered Monday in practice.

Osobor’s double-double helps send Washington past UC Davis in Sprinkle’s debut

Great Osobor scored 15 points and tied a career high grabbing 17 rebounds and Washington rallied late to beat UC Davis 79-73 to usher in the Danny Sprinkle era on Tuesday night. In the season opener for both teams, Washington used a balanced attack with Mekhi Mason scoring 13 points and reserves Zoom Diallo scored 12 and Wilhelm Breidenbach 10 respectively. The Aggies' TY Johnson scored a career-high 35 points shooting 10 of 25 and 13 for 16 from the free-throw line.