Looking back at Tuesday's action ...
RISERS
* Indiana State. The Sycamores very much needed a true road win to hang their hat on. Then they went out and thumped Wichita State by double digits. That'll do, Trees, that'll do. Indiana State (15-7) now owns victories over Miami (neutral), Mississippi (neutral) and Wichita State (road) and still gets the Missouri Valley's two heavyweights (Creighton and Wichita) at home.
The possibilities of lousy losses still linger, but the Sycamores still filled a significant hole in their resume. They might be the night's biggest winner.
* Kentucky. Kyle Wiltjer scored 26 points as the Wildcats (14-6) collected arguably their most impressive victory of the season, surging past Mississippi 87-74 in Oxford.
Does this send youthful-but-talented Kentucky in the right direction moving forward? It's hard to say, but it does give the dual benefit of a top-50 win and a solid road triumph for John Calipari's bunch.
* Virginia. Another home win in the bank for the Cavaliers, who edged N.C. State to improve to 15-5. Virginia hasn't exactly arrived, what with its long list of dubious losses. But the Cavaliers shouldn't be discounted, either.
TREADING WATER
* Minnesota. After losing three of four, the Golden Gophers needed to get well against Nebraska. They did just that, posting an 84-65 victory in Minneapolis.
* North Carolina. The Tar Heels lost guard P.J. Hairston to a concussion but still handled Boston College on the road to avoid an unpleasant misstep.
* Tennessee. Nothing good would have come from a home loss to Vanderbilt. The Volunteers survived by a point.
DECLINERS
* Mississippi. The Rebels' nine-game winning streak is over, and along with it one of the few opportunities to collect an impressive victory in the SEC this season. Andy Kennedy's team heads to Florida on Saturday in what is quickly looking like it might be a week the Rebels get exposed a bit.
--- Patrick Stevens
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