Arizona, Michigan and Duke had looked like a clear top tier in college basketball as conference play began. All three spent time atop the AP Top 25 and went on to claim a No. 1 seed in March Madness.

INDIANAPOLIS - It was clear on March 13 what needed to happen. Illinois basketball blew two separate 15-point leads to Wisconsin. Giving up over 90 points to the Badgers, 69 of which came from just ...