Jamaal Franklin and Skylar Spencer (US Presswire)

ANAHEIM — As the final seconds melted away in San Diego State's 78-69 victory over UCLA on Saturday night, the Aztecs' irreverent student section delighted in taking one final parting shot at their neighbors to the north.

"We run Cali," the students chanted over and over again.

A statement that would've seemed ludicrous when Steve Fisher took over a program coming off 13 losing seasons in 14 years now is nearly undeniable. The Aztecs have earned the right to call themselves the best college basketball team in California after 26 consecutive wins over in-state foes including a pair of victories apiece over Cal, USC and Long Beach State.

That it was no surprise San Diego State added UCLA to its list of in-state victims is a testament to the trajectory of both programs these days.

[Also: Coaching icon Rick Majerus dead at 64 | Tribute]

UCLA, the school with 11 national championships, has missed the NCAA tournament two of the past three seasons and likely needs to land a bid this season just to save head coach Ben Howland's job. San Diego State, the school that had never won an NCAA tournament game prior to 2010, boasts a top 25 ranking, a 5-1 record and the swagger of a program that expects to beat high-profile opponents.

"I feel we are the best [in California] right now," San Diego State junior guard Jamaal Franklin said. "I'm not saying we're the best forever because there are a lot of good teams out there. UCLA is a good team. USC played us down to the nose at their house. But I feel we did a lot to earn that position right now and we've got to continue. We've got to try to make it 27, 28, 29 and 30."

(AP)

When the news came Saturday that former Saint Louis and Utah coach Rick Majerus had died while waiting for a heart transplant in Los Angeles, the tributes to him quickly became too numerous to count. His fun and quirky personality and his basketball genius were widely revered and his storytelling was legend. He was 64.

Here are some of the more notable reactions to Majerus' passing on the day he died.

Utah athletic director Dr. Chris Hill: "Rick left a lasting legacy at the University of Utah, not only for his incredible success and the national prominence he brought to our basketball program, but also for the tremendous impact he made on the young men who were fortunate enough to play on his teams. His standard of excellence extended beyond the basketball court and into the academic and personal success of his players. He will be deeply missed and we grieve for his family and all of his friends."

Loyola coach and former Majerus assistant Porter Moser, @PorterMoser
"RIP to my friend

Rick Majerus (Getty Images)

Anyone who has followed college basketball the past few decades probably knows a good Rick Majerus story or two.

There was the time he promised to quit at Utah if false allegations that freshman Britton Johnson had used a racial slur during the 1998 NCAA tournament turned out to be true. Or the day in 2005 when while working as an ESPN analyst, he favorably compared footage of actress Ashley Judd at a Kentucky game to watching adult videos in his hotel room. Or the introductory press conference at Saint Louis in 2007 when the school president began his speech by explaining Majerus' last name meant "great" in Latin only to have the coach correct him, telling reporters, "I think it means sausage-eater."

Examples like those of Majerus' rollicking sense of humor and larger-than-life personality are one of many reasons he'll be missed in college basketball circles. The former Utah and Saint Louis coach died Saturday at age 64, barely three months after he took a leave of absence from his

No. 17 Cincinnati remained unbeaten in thrilling fashion when Cashmere Wright hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to hand Alabama its first loss of the season.

Chances are only the most dedicated Crimson Tide basketball fans watched the disappointing end unfold because it happened during the first quarter of the SEC football championship game between Alabama and Georgia.

Kentucky suffered its first home loss Saturday since March 4, 2009

At the end of a restless Saturday afternoon at Rupp Arena, Kentucky players experienced something no other team in John Calipari's tenure has: A home loss.

Baylor avenged its Elite Eight loss from last March and snapped the nation's longest home win streak at 55 with an impressive 64-55 victory. The last time the Wildcats lost at home before Saturday was Billy Gillispie's final regular season game at Rupp Arena, a 90-85 setback against Georgia on March 4, 2009.

Even though Kentucky wasn't expected to be dominant this season after losing its top six scorers from last year's national title team, the way the Wildcats have started the season still has been a disappointment. They've lost more games already than they did all of last season, getting outclassed by Duke in Atlanta, humbled by Notre Dame in South Bend and now upset by Baylor in Lexington.

There's ample time for Kentucky to turn things around and a soft portion of the schedule ahead in which to make adjustments, but the Wildcats do have glaring flaws to correct before their next big test against Louisville on Dec. 29. Here's a look at Kentucky's biggest problems so far and what can be done to correct them:

1. Point guard play

NC State transfer Ryan Harrow isn't as talented as his predecessors in John Calipari's recent run of NBA-caliber point guards, but he was expected to do a credible job handling the position. Instead Harrow has struggled, taking two weeks off due to what the school has called an illness and a personal matter with his family and looking lost at times since returning.

(US Presswire)

They might as well have played this one in short shorts with the Four Corners offense and granny shots at the foul line.

Georgetown and Tennessee combined to miss 59 of the 90 shots they attempted Friday night in a SEC/Big East Challenge game that ended with a final score that looked like a typical halftime — Georgetown won 37-36.

You know ESPN analyst and legendary coach Bob Knight must have been gritting his teeth all the way through the broadcast.

Kansas freshman Ben McLemore stole a pass leading to a posterizing dunk over Oregon State guard Challe Barton at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Jayhawks beat the president's brother-in-law, OSU coach Craig Robinson, 84-78.

McLemore led the Jayhawks with 21 points, none more exciting than his impressive one-handed flush.

Oregon State's Ahmad Starks tied a school record with seven 3-pointers and grabbed a career best 16 rebounds but it wasn't enough to upset Kansas.

Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleRingo

(US Presswire)

Losing forward Tarik Black would have been a big blow to Memphis' hopes of earning coach Josh Pastner his first NCAA Tournament win, but it doesn't appear that will happen.

Black missed Thursday's win over UT-Martin because he was frustrated with the game and the team's performance so far this season. The Tigers were 3-2 before beating UT-Martin.

But after taking a night off to get his mind right Thursday against UT-Martin, he was back with the team Friday following a morning meeting with coach Josh Pastner, who was happy to have his co-captain as well as second leading scorer and rebounder back.