Pass the mayo, please

The GIST: Nonconference basketball was wild — remember when the now-No. 1 UCLA women snapped then-No. 1 South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak? But conference play is when stars shine the brightest. Here are the highlights from this weekend’s stacked slate.

🟠 No. 1 Tennessee men stay undefeated: The Vols remain the only unbeaten men’s hoops team after defeating No. 23 Arkansas 76–52 on Saturday. Senior guard Chaz Lanier led the way with 29 points and five (!!!) three-pointers. Rocky Top, indeed.

🌽 Unranked Nebraska men upset No. 15 UCLA in Big Ten opener: The Cornhuskers welcomed UCLA to the Big Ten with a 66–58 upset win on Saturday, handing the Bruins their first conference loss of the season. Nebraska is on a roll, tying a school record with 20 consecutive home wins. No place like it, after all.

🐻 No. 1 UCLA women continue to dominate: The Bruins improved to 15-0 after Saturday’s 73–62 road win in front of a raucous Indiana crowd. Junior center Lauren Betts recorded her ninth double-double of the season, posting 25 points and 12 rebounds to boost her Player of the Year campaign.

🍀 No. 3 Notre Dame women take down No. 17 UNC: It’s Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles’ world, and we’re just living in it. The guard duo delivered another standout performance yesterday, combining for 43 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 76–66 win over their ranked ACC rival Tar Heels.

The GIST: With just under two months remaining in the regular season, it’s time to check in on the college hockey scene. Two Big Ten teams sit atop the men’s and women’s rankings, but some of the usual suspects are close behind.

No. 1 Michigan State men: The Spartans haven’t won a national title since 2007 but are making a strong push for their second straight natty tournament appearance. Michigan State is on a seven-game unbeaten streak, led by junior left winger Isaac Howard, who’s tallied 14 assists and 13 goals this season.

No. 6 Denver men: The defending champ Pioneers started the season ranked first in the country but have dropped to No. 6 after five losses. That said, Denver’s still a powerhouse, rallied by senior forward Jack Devine, who leads the country in assists.

No. 1 Wisconsin women: Despite playing on ice, the Badgers are off to a hot start, winning 20 of their first 22 games. Wisconsin boasts a high-powered offense that leads the country with 114 goals — a whopping 28 more than the next-best squad. Puck yeah.

No. 3 Minnesota women: The aforementioned Badgers hold the record for most national titles with seven, but the Gophers are close behind with six to their name. Look for them to continue their quest for lucky number seven, led by senior forward Abbey Murphy and her 17 goals on the season.

The GIST: Pass the buffalo wings because the pro football postseason is finally here. To celebrate some of the most exciting months on the sports calendar, we’re hosting a free bracket challenge (March Madness style) and inviting you to join in on the fun.

What’s at stake: In addition to clinching the ultimate bragging rights as The GIST’s top pro football fan, the top three brackets will win Fanatics gift cards: $300 for first, $200 for second, and $100 for third — perfect for upgrading your sports apparel game.

How to play: Sign up for free and we’ll remind you to lock in your picks before the playoffs officially begin. It’s that easy!

The GIST: The Olympics are long over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your gymnastics fix, or a glimpse of your favorite Team USA athletes. Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles competed for their respective college squads this weekend, but it was Cal that had a golden performance.

No. 6 Golden Bears roar to season-opening win: Last year’s runner-up Cal took home the team victory over No. 9 Oregon State and No. 12 UCLA, despite standout individual wins for the Bruins and Beavers.

• Senior Jade Carey, who won all-around beam gold at the Paris Olympics, won three titles for Oregon State: beam, floor, and the all-around crown.

• Meanwhile, UCLA junior Jordan Chiles was victorious in the vault, tying with Cal senior Mya Lauzon. Sharing is caring.

No. 1 Oklahoma sweeps all five individual events in opening meet: The top-ranked Sooners lived up to the preseason hype, defeating No. 7 Auburn, No. 22 BYU, and No. 23 Nebraska in their season debut.

• Graduate student Audrey Davis and junior Faith Torrez won two events each for Oklahoma: Davis soared to the top in uneven bars, Torrez secured the all-around title. The pair tied for first on the floor. Talk about a dynamic duo.