The Morning Mix

By Troy MachirJan 24, 2013, 8:00 AM EST

“Upset Week” continued last night on the college hardwood. Minnesota lost to Northwestern, Creighton lost to Drake, Butler lost to La Salle and Miami absolute demolished Duke. There were also at least six other games that can be classified as upsets as well.

Oh, and Drexel’s Frantz Massenat hit a 50-foot buzzer-beater to beat Hofstra.

Lets hit the links.

Thursday’s Top games:
7:00 p.m. – Purdue @ No. 2 Michigan
7:00 p.m. – No. 19 VCU @ Richmond
7:00 p.m. – Tennessee @ No. 23 Ole Miss
7:00 p.m. – Davidson @ Western Carolina
8:00 p.m. – Middle Tennessee North Texas
8:30 p.m. – California @ Utah
9:00 p.m. – UCLA @ No. 6 Arizona
9:00 p.m. – Wyoming @ UNLV
10:00 p.m. – Stanford @ Colorado
10:30 p.m. – USC @ Arizona State
11:00 p.m. – BYU @ Gonzaga
11:00 p.m. – San Diego @ Saint Mary’s

Read of the Day:
A lot of articles were written yesterday about the NCAA’s huge gaffe in the Nevin Shapiro case. Make sure you read Dana O’Neil’s take. It’s as spot-on as spot-on can be. (ESPN)

Read of the Day:
Luke Winn Power Rankings. That is all. (Sports Illustrated)

Top Stories:

What does tonight’s blowout loss mean for No. 1 Duke?: The Blue Devils lost to Miami by 27, and the score doesn’t properly indicate how bad the loss was. With no Ryan Kelly, and a banged up Seth Curry, the Blue Devils may be in an interesting predicament.

Drexel’s Frantz Massenat sinks 50-foot buzzer-beater to defeat Hofstra: Drexel was picked to win the Colonial Athletic Association this season, but as a result of injuries and inconsistent play during the first two months of the year, the Dragons have been a bit of a disappointment. That all changed on Wednesday night thanks to Frantz Massenat, who hit a 50-foot heave at the buzzer to beat Hofstra, 55-52.

Ramon Galloway’s last-second bucket earns La Salle upset of No. 9 Butler: Hinkle Magic doesn’t travel with Butler, as the Bulldogs were on the wrong end of a game-winning shot against La Salle last night. Ramon Galloway had a quiet night with just six points, but with time running out he drove the length of the floor, finishing a layup on the left side of the rim with two seconds left on the clock.

Despite Trevor Mbakwe’s effort, No. 14 Minnesota falls in upset loss to Northwestern: Northwestern’s zone disrupted Minnesota all night, holding coach Tubby Smith’s team to 33 percent shooting, including 5-of-19 from three-point range. That, added to 15 Minnesota turnovers, sunk the Gophers on Wednesday.

Drake holds off second-half run to upset Doug McDermott, No. 17 Creighton: In line with Wednesday’s theme of Top 25 upsets, unranked Drake used 20 points from guard Richard Carter to beat No. 17 Creighton, 74-69. The Bluejays have now lost-straight, although Doug McDermott played the game while battling the flu.

Scott Martin reportedly might never play for Notre Dame again due to injury: Notre Dame senior Scott Martin will be sidelined for two to three weeks as he takes time to rest an aching knee. There is the possibility, though, that the nagging injury will keep him off the court for the remainder of the year, effectively ending his college career.

CBT Podcast: Miami, Ole Miss and Oregon on the rise, Missouri and Notre Dame fall back: Host Troy Machir is joined by College Basketball Talk writer Raphielle Johnson to discuss a litany of different topics, including the teams and players that haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve, for both good and bad reasons. Miami, Butler and Ole Miss are just a few of the teams that deserve some recognition, and that’s exactly why we are here.

NCAA investigating improper conduct in Nevin Shapiro case, good news for Frank Haith: The NCAA may have made a rather large mistake in the Nevin Shapiro case, which could help out Frank Haith’s cause. What’s more, the NCAA may have had Shapiro’s attorney on their payroll, only no one actually approved it. They realized it when the bill showed up and people started asking questions.

Could the NCAA’s latest gaffe create a change to enforcement practices?: On Wednesday it was announced that the NCAA may have botched the air-tight case against Miami booster Nevin Shapiro. You would think that the NCAA would make some changes regarding enforcement policies, but again, this is the NCAA we are talking about.

Observations & Insight:
– Goodman and Parrish updated their Player of the Year rankings, and they have Dougie McBuckets at the top. (Hey wait a minute, I coined that phrase!). (Eye on College Basketball)

– If you thought Miami’s destruction of Duke was bad, check out what Southern Miss did to Marshall. 47-5 first half run. Final score: 102-46. Kyle Ringo provides the gory details. (The Dagger)

– C.J. Moore explains why Russ Smith’s trigger-happy approach will hinder the Cardinals’ chance at winning a National Championship. (Los Angeles Times)

– Believing is half the battle, and the Kansas Jayhawks believe they should win. (KUSports.com)

– Ryan Fagan profiles four teams once thought to be contenders that are now slipping in sliding down the top-25. (Sporting News)

– UCLA heads to the McKale Center to face off against Arizona in the game of the night. As Bruce Pascoe explains, the Bruins are a perfect opponent for the “White Out” event. (Arizona Daily Star)

– There were a lot of shocking surprises on Wednesday night, and Lehigh’s road victory at Bucknell is right up there near the top considering they did it without C.J. McCollum. (The Patriot News)

– Seton Hall’s Brandon Mobley and Brian Oliver returned from injury and scored a combined 23 points in the Pirates’ 55-47 win over South Florida. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Pirates. (New Jersey Hoops Haven)

– Iowa State was another team on the wrong end of an upset last night, as the Cylcones fell to Texas Tech (Ames Tribune)

– Akron center Zeke Marshall had nine blocks last night. No other MAC players has blocked nine shots in one game. Marshall has now done it twice. (Hustle Belt)

– North Carolina won their third straight game last night, defeating Georgia Tech 79-63. During the waning moments of the game, fans could be heard chanting “Go to Hell, Duke”. Classic. (USA Today)

Picture of the Day:
Reggie Johnson made his return last night in Miami’s drubbing of top-ranked Duke. Here he is throwing up “the deuces” with a fan following the 27-point victory and subsequent court-storming. What a swell guy.

Video of the Day:
Pierce Hornung should really practice his shot-blocking before he attempts to stand in Tony Snell’s way. Bad idea.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDShnijESRc&w=560&h=315%5D

Do you like the new Morning Mix? Hate it? Have a suggestion or want something featured? Troy Machir will take all your praise, insults and inquiries via Twitter (@TroyMachir)

Biden celebrates LSU women’s and UConn men’s basketball teams at separate White House events

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 11:56 PM EDT

Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK

WASHINGTON – All of the past drama and sore feelings associated with Louisiana State’s invitation to the White House were seemingly forgotten or set aside Friday as President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed the championship women’s basketball team to the mansion with smiles, hugs and lavish praise all around.

The visit had once appeared in jeopardy after Jill Biden suggested that the losing Iowa team be invited, too. But none of that was mentioned as both Bidens heralded the players for their performance and the way they have helped advance women’s sports.

“Folks, we witnessed history,” the president said. “In this team, we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.”

The ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes after forward Sa’Myah Smith appeared to collapse as she and her teammates stood behind Biden. A wheelchair was brought in and coach Kim Mulkey assured the audience that Smith was fine.

LSU said in a statement that Smith felt overheated, nauseous and thought she might faint. She was evaluated by LSU and White House medical staff and was later able to rejoin the team. “She is feeling well, in good spirits, and will undergo further evaluation once back in Baton Rouge,” the LSU statement said.

Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, Biden said, more than half of all college students are women, and there are now 10 times more female athletes in college and high school. He said most sports stories are still about men, and that that needs to change.

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally funded education programs and activities.

“Folks, we need to support women sports, not just during the championship run but during the entire year,” President Biden said.

After the Tigers beat Iowa for the NCAA title in April in a game the first lady attended, she caused an uproar by suggesting that the Hawkeyes also come to the White House.

LSU star Angel Reese called the idea “A JOKE” and said she would prefer to visit with former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, instead. The LSU team largely is Black, while Iowa’s top player, Caitlin Clark, is white, as are most of her teammates.

Nothing came of Jill Biden’s idea and the White House only invited the Tigers. Reese ultimately said she would not skip the White House visit. She and co-captain Emily Ward presented team jerseys bearing the number “46” to Biden and the first lady. Hugs were exchanged.

Jill Biden also lavished praise on the team, saying the players showed “what it means to be a champion.”

“In this room, I see the absolute best of the best,” she said, adding that watching them play was “pure magic.”

“Every basket was pure joy and I kept thinking about how far women’s sports have come,” the first lady added, noting that she grew up before Title IX was passed. “We’ve made so much progress and we still have so much more work to do.”

The president added that “the way in which women’s sports has come along is just incredible. It’s really neat to see, since I’ve got four granddaughters.”

After Smith was helped to a wheelchair, Mulkey told the audience the player was OK.

“As you can see, we leave our mark where we go,” Mulkey joked. “Sa’Myah is fine. She’s kind of, right now, embarrassed.”

A few members of Congress and Biden aides past and present with Louisiana roots dropped what they were doing to attend the East Room event, including White House budget director Shalanda Young. Young is in the thick of negotiations with House Republicans to reach a deal by the middle of next week to stave off what would be a globally calamitous U.S. financial default if the U.S. can no longer borrow the money it needs to pay its bills.

The president, who wore a necktie in the shade of LSU’s purple, said Young, who grew up in Baton Rouge, told him, “I’m leaving the talks to be here.” Rep. Garret Graves, one of the House GOP negotiators, also attended.

Biden closed sports Friday by changing to a blue tie and welcoming the UConn’s men’s championship team for its own celebration. The Huskies won their fifth national title by defeating San Diego State, 76-59, in April.

“Congratulations to the whole UConn nation,” he said.

Marquette’s Prosper says he will stay in draft rather than returning to school

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 7:08 PM EDT

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

MILWAUKEE — Olivier-Maxence Prosper announced he is keeping his name under NBA draft consideration rather than returning to Marquette.

The 6-foot-8 forward announced his decision.

“Thank you Marquette nation, my coaches, my teammates and support staff for embracing me from day one,” Prosper said in an Instagram post. “My time at Marquette has been incredible. With that being said, I will remain in the 2023 NBA Draft. I’m excited for what comes next. On to the next chapter…”

Prosper had announced last month he was entering the draft. He still could have returned to school and maintained his college eligibility by withdrawing from the draft by May 31. Prosper’s announcement indicates he instead is going ahead with his plans to turn pro.

Prosper averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds last season while helping Marquette go 29-7 and win the Big East’s regular-season and tournament titles. Marquette’s season ended with a 69-60 loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32.

He played two seasons at Marquette after transferring from Clemson, where he spent one season.

Kansas’ Kevin McCullar Jr. returning for last season of eligibility

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:18 PM EDT

Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports

Kevin McCullar Jr. said that he will return to Kansas for his final year of eligibility, likely rounding out a roster that could make the Jayhawks the preseason No. 1 next season.

McCullar transferred from Texas Tech to Kansas for last season, when he started 33 of 34 games and averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. He was also among the nation’s leaders in steals, and along with being selected to the Big 12’s all-defensive team, the 6-foot-6 forward was a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.

“To be able to play in front of the best fans in the country; to play for the best coach in the nation, I truly believe we have the pieces to hang another banner in the Phog,” McCullar said in announcing his return.

Along with McCullar, the Jayhawks return starters Dajuan Harris Jr. and K.J. Adams from a team that went 28–8, won the Big 12 regular-season title and was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where it lost to Arkansas in the second round.

Perhaps more importantly, the Jayhawks landed Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, widely considered the best player in the portal, to anchor a lineup that was missing a true big man. They also grabbed former five-star prospect Arterio Morris, who left Texas, and Towson’s Nick Timberlake, who emerged last season as one of the best 3-point shooters in the country.

The Jayhawks also have an elite recruiting class arriving that is headlined by five-star recruit Elmarko Jackson.

McCullar declared for the draft but, after getting feedback from scouts, decided to return. He was a redshirt senior last season, but he has another year of eligibility because part of his career was played during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a big day for Kansas basketball,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “Kevin is not only a terrific player but a terrific teammate. He fit in so well in year one and we’re excited about what he’ll do with our program from a leadership standpoint.”

Clemson leading scorer Hall withdraws from NBA draft, returns to Tigers

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:15 PM EDT

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson leading scorer PJ Hall is returning to college after withdrawing from the NBA draft on Thursday.

The 6-foot-10 forward took part in the NBA combine and posted his decision to put off the pros on social media.

Hall led the Tigers with 15.3 points per game this past season. He also led the Tigers with 37 blocks, along with 5.7 rebounds. Hall helped Clemson finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference while posting a program-record 14 league wins.

Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Hall gained experience from going through the NBA’s combine that will help the team next season. “I’m counting on him and others to help lead a very talented group,” he said.

Hall was named to the all-ACC third team last season as the Tigers went 23-10.

George Washington adopts new name ‘Revolutionaries’ to replace ‘Colonials’

Associated PressMay 24, 2023, 7:12 PM EDT

Getty Images

WASHINGTON — George Washington University’s sports teams will now be known as the Revolutionaries, the school announced.

Revolutionaries replaces Colonials, which had been GW’s name since 1926. Officials made the decision last year to drop the old name after determining it no longer unified the community.

GW said 8,000 different names were suggested and 47,000 points of feedback made during the 12-month process. Revolutionaries won out over the other final choices of Ambassadors, Blue Fog and Sentinels.

“I am very grateful for the active engagement of our community throughout the development of the new moniker,” president Mark S. Wrighton said. “This process was truly driven by our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and the result is a moniker that broadly reflects our community – and our distinguished and distinguishable GW spirit.”

George the mascot will stay and a new logo developed soon for the Revolutionaries name that takes effect for the 2023-24 school year. The university is part of the Atlantic 10 Conference.