NCAA Basketball: Giants Kentucky and Kansas Fall, Syracuse Dominates

March Madness is rapidly approaching, but for some teams the madness has already began.

Giants would fall, conference titles were won (at least a share of one was), and National Player of the Year candidates showed tv land what all of the hype is about.

No. 1 Kansas vs. Oklahoma State

The top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (27-2, 13-1) choked down a dose of tournament-esque basketball Saturday when the unranked Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-8, 8-6) knocked them off 85-77.

Typically, a team that has dominated its league all year long would take care of an unranked conference opponent—that wasn't the case with the Jayhawks and Cowboys.

A strong second half wasn't enough for Sherron Collins and friends to dispose of Travis Ford's 'Boys in Stillwater.

Collins scored 22 points, had four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. The lack of tempo control and consistency was the demise for Bill Self's squad.

The Cowboys' James Anderson continues to make a case for himself in regards to his Big Twelve Player of the Year candidacy.

Anderson scored a game-high 27 points and shot the lights out from beyond the arc, converting on 4-of-6 from three-point land. Strong shooting wasn't all Anderson supplied, he led the team in rebounds with eight.

Self's Jayhawks should fall a couple slots come Monday, but will still likely remain in the nation's top five.

No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 17 Tennessee

Not only did Bruce Pearl's Volunteers (21-7, 9-5) play David to the Kansas Jayhawks' Goliath last month, they did it again Saturday to John Calipari's second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (27-2, 12-2).

Pearl's men have established a reputation as "giant killers" this season, and backed it up with their 74-65 win over John Wall and company in Knoxville.

Wall led the Cats' offense with 19 points, but the real story was the 6'11" Demarcus Cousins' double-double. Cousins finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks. With two stars seeking SEC Player of the Year honors, Kentucky promises to be a dangerous bunch to tangle with come tournament time.

J.P. Prince led the Volunteers' scoring attack with 20 points, Scotty Hopson finished with 15.

Three-point buckets were at a premium for both teams as they struggled to establish any type of long distance rhythm, but Pearl's men moved the ball and controlled the boards in the pivotal moments.

Depending on how the chips fall, Kentucky could find itself in the No. 5 or 6 position Monday.

No. 4 Syracuse vs. No. 8 Villanova

In front of 34,000 plus rowdy Orange fans (34,616 to be exact), Syracuse (27-2, 14-2) was able to clinch at least a share of the Big East when it trounced Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats 95-77.

Not only was this the biggest on campus college basketball crowd in history, but fans were treated to a duel between two of the land's player of the year candidates; Villanova's (23-5, 12-4) Scottie Reynolds and Syracuse's Wes Johnson.

Early on Villanova looked to be the sharper, cleaner, and hungrier team. That all changed in the second half.

Syracuse was able to dominate the boards and thrive on its inside-game Saturday.

The Orange giant, Arinze Onuaku scored 17 points and afforded countless second-chance opportunities for Syracuse that ultimately led to its blow-out over its conference nemesis.

Onuaku pulled down nine rebounds, eight offensive, and was just too physical for 'Nova to handle. Rick Jackson was also unstoppable down low; he raked in nine boards and scored 19 points.

Johnson finished with 14 points and 10 boards. The Orange's monstrous win over Villanova should strengthen Johnson's national and conference player of the year arguments.

Andy Rautins may be the most important player Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has, and he'll be one to keep an eye on come March. Rautins scored 12 points in 38 minutes; again proving that he's a work-horse that just flat-out competes every minute he's on the floor.

The Wildcat-star Reynolds scored 16 points, but he couldn't single-handily hold off the surging Orange in front of a group the size of a small city.

With its quality wins, Syracuse should mount the polls' No. 1-ranking Monday (even if No. 3 Purdue beats Michigan State).