Top 10 Duos in College Basketball This Season
- Joseph Klein
- Jan 27
- 6 min read
With college basketball now fully immersed in conference play, there’s been a large enough sample size to learn about teams throughout the country. From the top-25 teams to the best players in the nation, everything is starting to come into focus, including the best duos in college basketball.
How this list is ranked: Team success matters, but so does two-man impact: production, efficiency, fit (how their games complement each other), and performance in clutch moments. When applicable, the ranked-opponent notes below reflect the opponent’s current AP ranking at the time of the game.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 duos in men’s college basketball.
1) Texas Tech Red Raiders — J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson
Texas Tech has clearly been one of the top teams in the country this season, and much of that success is due to this duo.
J.T. Toppin is having a career year, averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He has been a constant matchup problem, dominating teams in the paint and stepping up in the biggest moments. Toppin has been especially impressive against ranked opponents.
J.T. Toppin vs. ranked teams:
Alongside him is Christian Anderson, who has taken a major leap this season. After averaging 10.6 points and 2.2 assists last year, Anderson is now at 19.8 points and 7.5 assists per game, ranking 3rd in the country in assists.
Anderson has been outstanding from beyond the arc, shooting 43.9% from three on 7.9 attempts per game. What makes this duo so dangerous is their balance. Anderson provides elite perimeter shooting and playmaking, while Toppin is nearly unstoppable inside. Their chemistry in the pick-and-roll is excellent, and together they’ve helped Texas Tech become one of the most efficient offensive teams in the nation. This makes them the top duo in college basketball.
2) Duke Blue Devils — Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans
This Duke team has been special all season. The Blue Devils currently sit at 19-1 and are ranked 4th in the nation, and much of that success comes from Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans.
Boozer has been everything Duke hoped for as a highly-touted recruit, averaging 23.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Once Boozer establishes position in the post, he is extremely difficult to guard, whether he is fading away or finishing through contact.
Evans has been a strong secondary scorer. The 6’6 guard averages 14.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and he is capable of scoring both inside and from deep. Evans is a reliable option who consistently reaches double figures, but he also has the ability to explode, as shown by his 28-point performance against Florida State. Duke’s duo ranks second in the country.
3) BYU Cougars — AJ Dybantsa and Richie Saunders
BYU currently holds a 17-3 record and has reached as high as 9th in the rankings, largely because of this pairing.
Richie Saunders has been excellent for the Cougars, averaging 18.8 points per game along with 5.5 rebounds. He is shooting 39.3% from three, but his biggest impact comes from his leadership. Saunders has spent his entire career at BYU and has become the vocal leader in the locker room, playing a major role in the team’s success.
AJ Dybantsa is what elevates this duo. He is averaging 23.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and has been dominant attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. The projected top-three draft pick has scored 20+ points in 12 of his last 13 games, showing elite consistency. BYU earns the third-best duo spot.
4) Arizona Wildcats — Brayden Burries and Koa Peat
Arizona is a perfect 21-0, with six wins over ranked opponents, and these two freshmen have been at the center of that success.
Brayden Burries is averaging 15.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. After a difficult start to the season, he has grown into a key contributor. Burries recently posted 29 points and a game-winning block in a close win at BYU. He is a physical scorer who can finish inside and knock down shots from beyond the arc.
Koa Peat has been equally impressive, averaging 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Peat is most effective in the post, where he can fade away or spin into finishes at the rim. He also has a reliable mid-range jumper and consistently gets to his spots. Arizona owns the fourth-best duo in the country.
5) Kansas Jayhawks — Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga
When healthy, Darryn Peterson is one of the top players in the country. He is averaging 21.6 points per game while shooting 42% from three on 6.9 attempts per game. Peterson can score from all areas of the floor, as evidenced by his recent 26-point performance against Baylor, despite making only two three-pointers and two free throws.
Flory Bidunga complements him well, averaging 14.4 points and 9 rebounds per game. He is a physical interior scorer and an elite athlete who finishes consistently above the rim. Bidunga also anchors the defense, averaging 2.7 blocks per game, making the paint difficult for opposing teams to navigate. Kansas rounds out the top five duos.
6) Houston Cougars — Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp
Houston is 17-2 and ranked 10th in the country, thanks in large part to this backcourt.
Freshman Kingston Flemings has been outstanding, averaging 17 points per game and 5.4 assists. He has consistently delivered in big moments.
Kingston Flemings vs. ranked teams:
Veteran Emanuel Sharp has also been strong, averaging 16.1 points per game. He is a dangerous perimeter shooter, and when he gets hot from deep, defenses struggle to contain him. Houston has the sixth-best duo.
7) Purdue Boilermakers — Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn
Purdue has enjoyed a strong season, at one point climbing to 4th in the national rankings, and these two have been central to that success.
Braden Smith has been one of the best playmakers in the country, averaging 15.2 points and 9.3 assists per game, leading the nation. He controls the offense, creates opportunities with his drives, and thrives in the pick-and-roll.
Trey Kaufman-Renn adds 12.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, doing most of his damage in the paint. His production has benefited greatly from Smith’s playmaking. Purdue’s duo ranks seventh.
8) Arkansas Razorbacks — Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas
Arkansas is having its best regular season in the past four years, sitting at 15-5 and ranked 15th, thanks largely to two freshmen guards.
Darius Acuff Jr. has been outstanding, averaging 20.2 points per game and 6.2 assists. He shoots 42% from three on 5.6 attempts per game and is also effective scoring inside the arc.
Meleek Thomas has been a strong complement, averaging 15.2 points and 2.9 assists per game. Together, the freshmen form the eighth-best duo in the country.
9) Iowa State Cyclones — Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic
Iowa State has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, posting an 18-2 record and reaching as high as No. 2 in the rankings.
Joshua Jefferson averages 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. He is a physical forward who frequently has the ball in his hands and consistently creates for his teammates. While most of his scoring comes inside, he is capable of hitting the occasional three.
Milan Momcilovic is a pure shooter, averaging 18.8 points per game while shooting 54.1% from three on 7.4 attempts. He is one of the best shooting forwards in college basketball. Iowa State earns the ninth spot.
10) Baylor Bears — Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou
Baylor has struggled at times this season, currently sitting at 11-8, but these two have kept the Bears competitive by combining for nearly half of the team’s scoring each game.
Cameron Carr is averaging 20.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The 6’5 guard can shoot the three at a 41.6% clip or attack aggressively at the rim.
Freshman Tounde Yessoufou averages 17.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He scores primarily inside the arc and does so efficiently. Baylor rounds out the top 10 duos in men’s college basketball.
With March just around the corner, these duos are already shaping the national picture. Whether it’s an elite pick-and-roll combination, a dominant interior scorer paired with a high-level creator, or two perimeter threats who can take over late, these are the top duos in men’s college basketball right now. As conference play continues and March Madness begins, expect these tandems to keep impacting games.
