The Tennessee Vols appear to be on the verge of making a key transfer portal addition. On3's Pete Nakos predicted on Friday that the Volunteers will land Duke Blue Devils transfer running back Star Thomas.

It was supposed to be more of a nail-biter — two top-20 teams competing against each other for the first time since 2013. But No. 16 Duke completely shut down No. 18 Cal, coming away with a 72-38 victory in a game that was characterized by the Blue Devils’ methodical defense — and even reminded Lawson of her days at Tennessee.

Midweek performances from high-profile college basketball teams ran the gamut from stunningly impressive to absolutely putrid as conference play ramped up during the first full week of the 2025 calendar year.

Auburn is back in the top spot in Monday’s KenPom update after going 2-0 in SEC play last week. The Tigers jump Duke for the No. 1 slot by creating separation in the efficiency margin category. Auburn begins the week with a +36.03 efficiency margin, Duke is No. 2 with a margin of +35.67.

FOX Sports national college basketball writer John Fanta reveals his latest top 25 rankings, with Michigan State and Duke on the rise.

Since losing two of three at the Players Era Festival, Houston has been the best team in college hoops, per Bart Torvik, and has a ridiculous 79.6 adjusted defensive efficiency. Tennessee is just holding on to the best defense crown at KenPom over Houston — 87.1 to 87.3 — but the Coogs are coming.

Johni Broome 's injury makes Auburn's spot more tenuous, but the Tigers beat Mississippi State by 22 even without him. Duke is barely breaking a sweat while blowing out inferior ACC competition. And then there's Iowa State, which has only a two-point loss to Auburn blemishing its résumé and just dispatched Kansas by 17.

Mike Lopresti is a member of the US Basketball Writers Hall of Fame, Ball State journalism Hall of Fame and Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame. He has covered college basketball for 43 years, including 39 Final Fours. He is so old he covered Bob Knight when he had dark hair and basketball shorts were actually short.

Highland School (Va.) five-star forward Nate Ament is already on tap to check out the Duke basketball program once again come early February, coinciding with the Blue Devils' home game against the archrival UNC Tar Heels in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

A couple of SEC squads in the top 25 take the court on Wednesday, Jan 15 with the No. 23 Georgia Bulldogs going against the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee will open its 2025 baseball season on Feb. 14 versus Hofstra at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols will host Hofstra for a three-game nonconference series. Tennessee will also compete in the 25th annual Astros Foundation College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

The sixth-ranked Tennessee men's basketball team is headed to the midstate for a bout with Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium. Tipoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET.