When St. John’s and Villanova last faced off a month ago, the Red Storm were making a name for themselves as serious national championship contenders. Now ranked No. 9, St. John’s is riding a 10-game winning streak and climbing the AP rankings for the first time since March 2000. Head coach Rick Pitino isn’t letting up as his team prepares for another Big East test on Wednesday night. The Red Storm (21-3, 12-1 Big East) have been dominant, with their last loss coming in early January. That run includes an 80-68 home win over Villanova on Jan. 11, when RJ Luis Jr. dropped 30 points, and the team held Wildcats star Eric Dixon to 6-of-19 shooting. St. John’s dominated the

Kevin Durant will be back in action after missing three games when the Phoenix Suns host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Durant has been sidelined since Feb. 3 with a left ankle sprain suffered in an overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Without him, the Suns struggled, winning just one of three games and falling to 2-11 on the season when he’s out. His return comes at a crucial time as Phoenix, sitting at .500, looks to gain traction in the Western Conference playoff race. The NBA trade deadline brought plenty of speculation about Durant’s future in Phoenix, but the Suns ultimately decided to keep their Big Three of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal intact. Durant, a

Oregon’s promising season has hit a rough patch, and the Ducks will try to turn things around when they host Northwestern in a Big Ten showdown on Tuesday night in Eugene, Oregon. Once ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll, Oregon (16-8, 5-8 Big Ten) has slipped in the standings after a five-game losing streak, leaving them tied for 11th in the conference. The Wildcats (13-11, 4-9) have also struggled, particularly on the road, where they remain winless at 0-7. Oregon’s latest setback came in an 86-74 loss at No. 11 Michigan State on Saturday. The game showcased a stark contrast between halves: Coach Dana Altman didn’t hold back in his self-criticism. Oregon hit 10-of-19 from three-point range in the

Florida is proving to be one of the most dangerous teams in the country, and after taking down No. 1 Auburn over the weekend, the Gators are ready for their next big test—an SEC showdown against No. 22 Mississippi State on Tuesday night in Starkville. Winning on the road in the SEC is no easy feat, but Florida made it look routine on Saturday when they dominated top-ranked Auburn, opening up a 21-point second-half lead en route to a 90-81 victory. A key to that win? Walter Clayton. The star guard returned from an ankle injury and played all 40 minutes, finishing with 19 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. His return was much-needed, with the Gators missing second-leading scorer