Late Night Snacks: No. 5 Duke beats No. 1 Syracuse

By Raphielle JohnsonFeb 23, 2014, 3:05 AM EST

GAME OF THE DAY: No. 18 Kentucky 77, LSU 76 (OT)

A Julius Randle basket in the final seconds of overtime proved to be the difference as Kentucky beat the Tigers in Lexington. Aaron Harrison scored 21 points and James Young added 20 as the young Wildcats have now won two straight since losing to No. 2 Florida last Saturday. As for LSU, they missed out on what would have been a valuable win for a resume that needs quality results. And with both Missouri and Tennessee also losing, this was not a good day for SEC bubble teams.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

1) No. 5 Duke 66, No. 1 Syracuse 60

The rematch wasn’t as high scoring as the first game between the Blue Devils and Orange, but it didn’t lack for entertainment. Jabari Parker scored 19 points and grabbed ten rebounds in what may have been his most complete effort as a Blue Devil, and on the other side Syracuse’s starting guards struggled offensively. The big play: a charge called on C.J. Fair with 10.4 seconds remaining that ultimately led to Jim Boeheim being ejected. And as a result of this outcome Virginia has sole possession of first place in the ACC.

2) No. 11 Louisville 58, No. 11 Cincinnati 57

This finish set the tone for the day, with Russ Smith’s jumper with just under three seconds remaining moving the Cardinals into a tie for first place in the American. An underrated aspect of the game-winning play: Terry Rozier being calm enough to get the ball back to Smith as opposed to forcing up a tough shot. Cincinnati got off to a rough start offensively but managed to claw their way back into the game with the reserves being a key reason why. But it was Louisville that got the win, and they showed some signs of being capable of making a deep run this season.

3) No. 16 Wisconsin 79, No. 15 Iowa 74

Wisconsin picked up another quality win, holding off the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Frank Kaminsky led the way with 21 points and seven rebounds, and with the Badgers playing as they have been of late it’s time to ask if Bo Ryan has a team that can contend for the national title. As for Iowa, shoddy late-game execution did them in and likely ended their hopes of winning the Big Ten.

STARRED

1) Stephen Holt (Saint Mary’s)

35 points on 14-for-17 shooting in the Gaels’ 76-54 win at Santa Clara.

2) Langston Galloway (Saint Joseph’s)

Galloway shot 10-for-15 from beyond the arc, scoring 33 points in the Hawks’ 87-72 win over Fordham.

3) Cedric Kuakumensah (Brown)

Kuakumensah accounted for 30 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots in Brown’s 81-75 overtime win at Cornell.

STRUGGLED

1) Codi Miller-McIntyre (Wake Forest)

Miller-McIntyre went scoreless in the Demon Deacons’ 105-72 loss at North Carolina, missing all seven shots from the field and accounting for four assists and three turnovers.

2) Xavier Thames (San Diego State)

Scored seven points on 3-for-15 shooting in the Aztecs’ 58-44 loss at New Mexico.

3) Branden Frazier (Fordham)

Frazier, averaging 18.1 points per game, scored just two points on 1-for-8 shooting in the Rams’ 87-72 loss at Saint Joseph’s.

NOTABLES

No. 3 Wichita State moved to 29-0 with an 83-54 win over Drake. Tekele Cotton scored 21 points for the Shockers, who are the first team to go 29-0 since Illinois did it in 2005.
No. 2 Florida may be the nation’s top team come Monday but they had to work hard to ensure that, beating Ole Miss 75-71 in Oxford. The Gators are now 14-0 in SEC play.
No. 4 Arizona made quite the statement on Saturday night, clamping down on Colorado in an impressive 88-61 victory in Boulder. The Wildcats also shot 60% from the field and now lead the Pac-12 by two games.
No. 8 Kansas avenged their loss at Texas with an 85-54 whipping of the 19th-ranked Longhorns in Lawrence. Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points and Frank Mason added 14 for the Jayhawks, who are poised to win their tenth consecutive Big 12 regular season title.
New Mexico beat No. 6 San Diego State 58-44 in Albuquerque, moving into a tie for first place in the Mountain West as a result. Cameron Baristow accounted for 26 points and nine rebounds for the Lobos.
On a day that saw multiple bubble teams fail to help themselves, Stanford beat No. 23 UCLA 83-74 in Palo Alto. Chasson Randle, Josh Huestis and Anthony Brown combined to score 66 points for the Cardinal.
Stephen F. Austin won its 22nd consecutive game in exciting fashion, as a Jacob Porter steal and dunk with three tenths of a second remaining gave the Lumberjacks a 70-68 win over Northwestern State.
Southern Miss outscored UTEP 36-17 over the final 15:18 to beat the Miners 77-68 in Hattiesburg. The win pulled the Golden Eagles into a four-way tie for second place in Conference USA, with Middle Tennessee now in sole possession of first place.
Johnny Dee scored 16 points and Duda Sanadze added 15 as San Diego upset No. 25 Gonzaga, 69-66. Kevin Pangos scored just four points on 2-for-8 shooting.
Cal-State Northridge knocked off UC Irvine 81-75, dropping the Anteaters into a tie for first place in the Big West with UCSB. UC Irvine and UCSB meet Thursday night in Irvine.
Davidson beat Wofford 59-49 to maintain its two-game lead in the SoCon. De’Mon Brooks scored 18 points in the win.
No. 10 Saint Louis moved to 12-0 in the Atlantic 10 with a 66-59 home win over George Washington. The Billikens, who have won 19 straight games, lead Saint Joseph’s by three games.
Oklahoma beat Kansas State 86-73 in Norman, and the Wildcats have just one true road victory on the season: at TCU.

THE REST OF THE TOP 25

No. 9 Villanova 57, St. John’s 54
No. 14 Virginia 70, Notre Dame 49
No. 17 Iowa State 71, TCU 60
No. 22 Memphis 82, Temple 79 (OT)
No. 24 Ohio State 64, Minnesota 46

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UConn adds former Rutgers guard Cam Spencer from transfer portal

Associated PressJun 9, 2023, 10:17 PM EDT

Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports

STORRS, Conn. — National champion UConn added some shooting depth to its roster Friday, announcing the signing of former Rutgers guard Cam Spencer from the transfer portal.

Spencer, who graduated last month with a year of eligibility remaining, averaged 13.2 points in his only season in New Jersey. The 6-foot-4 guard, who played his first three seasons at Loyola of Maryland, shot 44.4% from the floor, including 43.4% from 3-point range.

“Cam is the perfect addition to our basketball program,” UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. “He brings a unique combination of high-level skill and feel for the game, with a fierce competitiveness that has allowed him to enjoy a terrific college basketball career thus far.”

The Huskies lost their top 3-point scoring threat, sophomore Jordan Hawkins, to the NBA draft, along with wing Andre Jackson Jr. and post Adama Sanogo.

Guard Tristen Newtown gave the Huskies a boost last month when he withdrew his name from the draft pool and returned to Storrs.

The Huskies began summer workouts this week, welcoming a top recruiting class led by 6-6 point guard Stephon Castle, a McDonald’s All-American from Georgia. The class also includes 6-7 wing Jayden Ross and 6-4 guard Solomon Ball from Virginia, 6-7 wing Jaylin Stewart from Seattle, Washington, and 7-foot center Youssouf Singare from New York.

“I think that some of my strengths will stand out in UConn’s style of play,” Spencer said. “They have a lot of great movement and they play so well together, with great chemistry. I think that I can come in and hopefully contribute to that.”

NCAA tweaks rules on block/charge calls in men’s basketball

Associated PressJun 8, 2023, 9:14 PM EDT

Jordan Prather/USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA is tweaking how block/charge calls are made in men’s basketball.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved rule changes on Thursday that require a defender to be in position to draw a charge at the time the offensive player plants a foot to go airborne for a shot. If the defender arrives after the player has planted a foot, officials have been instructed to call a block when there’s contact.

Defenders had to be in position to draw a charge before the offensive player went airborne under previous rules.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee members made the proposal after NCAA members complained that too many charges were being called on those types of plays.

The panel also approved reviews of basket interference calls during the next media timeout – if the official called it on the floor – a shot clock reset to 20 seconds on an offensive rebound that hits the rim, and players being allowed to wear any number between 0 and 99.

A timeout also will be granted to an airborne player with possession of the ball, and non-student bench personnel will be allowed to serve as peacekeepers on the floor if an altercation occurs.

Charlotte head coach Ron Sanchez resigns after winning CBI title

Associated PressJun 7, 2023, 1:39 PM EDT

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ron Sanchez resigned as head coach of the Charlotte 49ers.

Sanchez took over the 49ers on March 19, 2018, inheriting a team coming off a 6-23 campaign. In five years Charlotte went 72-78 under Sanchez, highlighted by winning the College Basketball Invitational championship this past season, the Niners’ first post-season tournament title in school history.

The 22 wins this past season are the most for Charlotte since 2001.

“Ron took over a proud but struggling program and carefully rebuilt it into a 22-game winner. He has led with class, dignity and devotion to our young men,” Charlotte director of athletics Mike Hill said. “His decision to step down from Charlotte was a difficult one for him and everyone associated with our program. We wish him and his family every happiness.”

Hill said the team has already begun a national search for a replacement.

“This is a bittersweet day for me and my family as I step down to pursue other opportunities,” said Sanchez, who came the 49ers after working as an assistant coach at Virginia under Tony Bennett. “It has been a tremendous privilege to lead the 49ers basketball program over the past five years and I want to thank Niner Nation for its support. I will be forever grateful to my staff, players and the university.”

Marquette extends Shaka Smart’s contract through 2029-30 season

Associated PressJun 6, 2023, 9:55 PM EDT

Adam Cairns/USA TODAY NETWORK

MILWAUKEE — Marquette coach Shaka Smart has received a contract extension after leading the Golden Eagles to their first outright regular-season championship and tournament title in the Big East.

Smart’s contract now runs through the 2029-30 season. This is the first extension Smart has received since signing a six-year deal when he took over as Marquette’s coach in 2021.

Marquette didn’t release financial terms of Smart’s deal.

“In a very short period of time, Shaka and his staff have done a tremendous job of establishing a winning culture, both on and off the court,” athletic director Bill Scholl said in a statement. “Shaka’s vision for the program is focused on extended, sustainable success. The individuals who interact with the team on a daily basis are able to observe frequent examples of growth and the excitement around the program is contagious.”

Marquette has gone 48-20 in Smart’s two seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament each of those years.

The Golden Eagles went 29-7 and won the Big East’s regular-season and tournament championships last season after the league’s coaches had picked them to finish ninth out of 11 teams. Marquette’s season ended with a 69-60 loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32.

Purdue’s Edey returning to school at NBA draft deadline; Kentucky’s Tshiebwe stays in

Associated PressJun 1, 2023, 11:17 AM EDT

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue’s Zach Edey decided it was the right call to go back to school instead of staying in the NBA draft. His predecessor as national player of the year, Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, is sticking with his pro pursuit.

And Connecticut’s reign as NCAA champion will begin with multiple starters having left for the NBA draft and one returning after flirting with doing the same.

The 7-foot-4 Edey and UConn guard Tristen Newton were among the notable names to announce that they were withdrawing from the draft, the NCAA’s deadline for players who declared as early entrants to pull out and retain their college eligibility.

Edey’s decision came in social media posts from both the center and the Boilermakers program that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament behind Edey, The Associated Press men’s national player of the year.

But Tshiebwe announced late in the afternoon that he would remain in the draft after a college career that included being named the AP national player of the year in 2022.

For the current champions, Newton (10.1 points, 4.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds) is returning after being one of four Huskies to declare for the draft after a run to UConn’s fifth national championship in early April. He scored a game-high 19 points to go with 10 rebounds in the victory over San Diego State in the title game.

The others were Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo, wing Jordan Hawkins and versatile guard Andre Jackson Jr. Sanogo (17.8 points) and Hawkins (16.3) have made it clear they have closed the door on their college careers, while team spokesman Phil Chardis said that Jackson (6.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists) would remain in the draft.

The Huskies have 247sports’ No. 3-ranked recruiting class for next year to restock the roster, led by McDonald’s All-American point guard Stephon Castle.

The NBA’s withdrawal deadline is June 12, but is moot when it comes to college players returning to school due to the NCAA’s earlier timeline to retain playing eligibility.

STAYING IN SCHOOL

TREY ALEXANDER: Creighton gets back a 6-4 guard who averaged 13.6 points and shot 41% from 3-point range in his first full season as a starter.

ADEM BONA: The 6-foot-10 forward and Pac-12 freshman of the year is returning to UCLA after starting 32 games as a rookie and averaging 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks – with coach Mick Cronin praising his toughness for “competing through multiple injuries for as long as he could” in a statement Wednesday.

EDEY: He averaged 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 assists while shooting 60.7% from the field. His presence alone helps Purdue be a factor in the Big Ten race.

JOSIAH-JORDAN JAMES: The 6-6 guard went through the NBA G League Combine and had workouts with multiple teams before opting to return to Tennessee for a fifth season alongside teammate Santiago Vescovi.

JUDAH MINTZ: The 6-3 freshman averaged 16.3 points and 4.6 assists for Syracuse, ranking third among Division I freshmen in scoring behind only Alabama’s Brandon Miller and Lamar’s Nate Calmese.

OWLS’ RETURNEES: Florida Atlantic got good news after its surprise Final Four run with the return leading scorers Johnell Davis (13.8) and Alijah Martin (13.4). ESPN first reported their decisions, while Martin later posted a social media statement.

TERRENCE SHANNON JR.: Illinois got a big boost with Shannon announcing his night in a social media post. The 6-6 guard is returning for a fifth college season after averaging 17.2 points.

SPARTANS’ RETURNEES: Michigan State announced that guards Jaden Akins and A.J. Hoggard have withdrawn from the NBA draft. Standout guard Tyson Walker had previously withdrawn in April, setting up Tom Izzo to have five of his top scorers back.

GOING PRO

KOBE BROWN: Missouri’s 6-8 swingman opted against returning for a fifth college season after being an AP first-team all-Southeastern Conference pick averaging 15.8 points last season.

JAYLEN CLARK: The third-year UCLA guard averaged 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while leading the Pac-12 with 2.6 steals en route to being named Naismith national defensive player of the year. Cronin called him a winner with strong intangibles who made UCLA “a better program because he chose to be a Bruin.”

BRICE SENSABAUGH: The Ohio State freshman averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in 31 games before missing his final two in the Big Ten Tournament due to a knee injury. He’s a potential first-round prospect.

TSHIEBWE: The 6-9, 260-pound forward is a tough interior presence who led the country in rebounds for two straight seasons (15.1 in 2022, 13.7 in 2023) while racking up 48 double-doubles. But he faces an uncertain next stop and is projected at best as a second-round prospect.