2013 Conference-USA tournament Preview

By Troy MachirMar 13, 2013, 3:15 PM EDT

Conference-USA has centered around just one team the entire year. The Memphis Tigers have thoroughly dismantled the entire conference, finishing with an unblemished record in league play. While the Tigers have received national acclaim for their performances this season, the rest of the conference has been completely forgotten about, and with good reason. SMU made a splash in the off-season with the hiring of Larry Brown, but that could not cover up the fact that SMU, along with the rest of the conference is not all that good. Southern Miss had a strong showing under Donnie Tyndall, but is lacking the firepower Larry Eustachy had at his disposal a year ago. Tulane has had a nice resurgence, capturing their first winning record in 2008. But those success stories are few and far between, considering the entire conference failed to accrue a single win over a top-25 opponent.

Check out a preview below:

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The Bracket

Where: BOK Center, Tulsa, Ok.

When: March 13-16

Final: March 16, 11:35 a.m. (CBS)

Favorite: Memphis Tigers
The perennial-favorites have lost just once since Christmas, and finished the season unbeaten in league play. Their lone loss came on the road at Xavier in a rare late-February non-conference game, and they won all of their C-USA games by a 13-point average margin of victory. Memphis’ issue is that they struggled to play up to the level of their competition in non-conference play. Luckily for the Tigers, they won’t find much stiff competition in the C-USA tournament. On top of that, they are also likely to get guard Antonio Barton back, who has been out with a foot injury for the past six weeks.

And if they lose? Southern Mississippi
While not as talented as Memphis, Southern Miss has a strong squad that is offensively gifted and well-balanced. Six different players can be primary scorers on any given night, and JuCo transfer Dwayne Davis, who was named C-USA Newcomer of the Year, has been hot as of late, averaging 28.5ppg in his last four games. Donnie Tyndall’s squad will need to limit turnovers, which has been their primary issue all season. If they can maximize the number of offensive possessions, they will have a real chance to steal a bid from Memphis and the rest of the NCAA tournament bubble.

Sleeper: Tulsa
OK, this is a stretch, a really, really big stretch. Yes, Tulsa is 16-14 overall and just 8-8 in Conference-USA, but I mean, why not? From what we’ve seen this entire season, it would come as no shock to me if Tulsa were to advance to the championship game. They have Danny Manning at the helm this year, the same Danny Manning from the 1988 Kansas “Danny and The Miracles” team. Plus the tournament is being held in Tulsa at the BOK Center. We’ve already seen some bizarre stuff from championship week. Liberty, a team with 20 losses, won the Big South tournament. Anything can happen folks.

Other Studs:

– Josh Davis, Tulane
The junior forward has been the conference-s most dominant player this year and averages a double-double per contest. He has failed to score ten points just three times and has scored 20+ points in nine games. He is Tulane’s catalyst and is involved on nearly every play. He ranks in the top-40 in the country among minutes used, and is among one of the best rebounders in the country, providing the Green Wave with extra possession.

– Joe Jackson, Memphis
He’s the Tigers’ team leader, top scorer and most important player. The Memphis-native is one of the most efficient offensive players in the country, and does a bit of everything for the Tigers, averaging 4.9apg, 3.1rpg and 1.7spg. In all but one of Memphis’ losses this season Jackson has struggled to assert himself in the offense. Luckily none of the losses came against C-USA competition, which means he is likely to be a force for the next four days.

– Elijah Pittman, Marshall
The junior forward leads the team in points and has been playing some of his best basketball since February 1st. Teamed with guard DeAndre Kane, the Thundering Herd have one of the better 1-2 punches in Conference-USA. They will need to ge the most out of their duo if they want to steal a bid from league-leading Memphis.

CBT Prediction: Memphis is going to win the tournament but only because I envision mass chaos throughout the entire C-USA bracket. This tournament often provides us with the unexpected, which could lead to a final between Memphis and 5-25 Rice.

You can contact Troy Machir on Twitter at @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.