College Hoops Week in Review: Frank Kaminsky, Michigan earn weekly honors

By Rob DausterFeb 24, 2014, 11:23 AM EST

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

I made a joke on twitter during Wisconsin’s win over Iowa on Saturday, saying, essentially, that if you’re a 6-foot-10 stiff, you should go to play for Bo Ryan because he’ll make you awesome in three years. I thought it was funny, because Wisconsin always manages to churn out big men that hit threes and post double-doubles like it’s nothing. Brian Butch to Jon Leuer to Jared Berggren to Kaminsky.

But, as always, tone got lost on twitter and some folks did not realize that what I was saying was tongue-in-cheek, because Kaminsky, like Berggren and Leuer and Butch before him, is not a stiff. At all. He’s a burly seven-footer that has an array of moves on the block, can beat big men off the dribble and buries threes. He may not be jumping out of the gym and he doesn’t have the kind of wingspan that makes NBA scouts drool, but he’s as skilled offensively as any big man in the country.

The last two games have been the perfect example, as he averaged 23.0 points and 9.0 boards while shooting 19-for-29 from three in wins at Michigan and Iowa.

Kaminsky’s development is the reason the Badgers are one of the Big Ten’s best against this season.

They were good, too:

Terran Petteway, Nebraska: After scoring 23 points in Nebraska’s win at Michigan State last Sunday, Petteway averaged 27.5 points in a pair of wins for the Cornhuskers this week. Nebraska is playing like an NCAA tournament team.
Doug McDermott, Creighton: This week is the perfect example of why McDermott is a shoe-in for National Player of the Year. He scored 55 points in wins at Marquette and at home against Seton Hall, and the national reaction was, basically, ‘meh’.
Leslie McDonald, North Carolina: McDonald averaged 20.0 points and shot 14-for-21 from the floor and 6-for-10 from three in wins over Wake Forest and Duke this week.
Julius Randle, Kentucky: Randle had 25 points and 13 boards in Tuesday’s win at Ole Miss, following it up with 15 boards and a game-winning putback to beat LSU in overtime.
Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico: Bairstow had 18 points, six boards and five blocks in a win at UNLV, following that up with 26 points and nine boards in UNM’s blow-out win over San Diego State on Saturday.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines finished off a sweep of intra-state rival Michigan State on Sunday, notching a come-from-behind win over the Spartans thanks to their talented perimeter duo. Caris LeVert scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half, while Nik Stauskas chipped in with 21 of his 25 points, busting out of a massive slump where he had scored just 51 points in his previous five games.

LeVert’s development is huge for the Wolverines. They need a secondary scorer, and he’s proven that he’s talented enough to carry the Michigan offense for stretches. But without Stauskas playing like ‘Nik Stauskas, All-American’, the Wolverines are simply quite beatable. It’s more than his ability to score — which, I should emphasize, is prolific; 21 points in a half is not that surprising out of the 6-foot-6 Canadian.

Stauskas is a tremendous playmaker. He’s not Trey Burke, and he’s not great going left, but when Michigan runs him off of ball-screens and curls on the left-hand side of the court so he can drive right, he’s able to find the open man. LeVert gets his buckets going one-on-one, and that’s important. But Stauskas, when he’s playing well, just opens up Beilein’s offense. Everyone becomes better, and that’s why Michigan is in the driver’s seat when it comes to the Big Ten regular season title.

They were good, too:

SMU: The Mustangs picked up a massive win on Sunday afternoon, notching their first notable road win of the season at UConn.
Louisville: The Cardinals, like SMU, needed to make a statement on the road. They did it on Saturday, when Russ Smith hit a game-winning jumper at Cincinnati. That followed up a win over South Florida.
Stanford: The Cardinal all-but locked up a bid to the NCAA tournament when they knocked off UCLA at home on Saturday afternoon. That followed a win over USC.
UMass: The Minutemen had struggled for a couple months, but after beating GW on the road last Sunday, UMass knocked off VCU on Friday night in Amherst. They’re now in a three-way tie for second-place in the conference.
BYU: The Cougars put themselves in great position to earn an at-large berth by beating Gonzaga on Thursday.

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.